Merry Christmas from the Varner's

Merry Christmas from Bev & Richard

Merry Christmas from Brian and Ryan

Merry Christmas from Rebecca and Stephen

Merry Christmas from Stephen, Freya, Max & Henry

Merry Christmas from Lisa, Bryan, Joshua, & Kayla

I Promise to Post More Frequently!

We had such a fun Thanksgiving. On Thanksgiving Day Richard and I were in DeSoto with Mother and Dad and Stephen, Freya & boys stopped by on their way to Kansas. It was beautiful weather and we had such a good time. On Friday we hosted the Varner Family Thanksgiving

and had lots of fun, lots of food, lots of visiting ! Saturday evening the family went to Chuck E Cheese and I always marvel how the "big" kids help the "little" kids to have a good time! Here is Stephen entertaining Henry.

Grandpa helping Kayla pitch the balls.

Brian giving Max some shooting pointers.

Auntie Rebecca entertaining Henry.

And you are wondering what this is??? A week ago we got a call from Richard (while he was on the road) from a "foreign" number. He had a slight mishap with his cell phone. The forklift driver must have driven over his cell phone. Richard operates on the premise that everything can be fixed if you just work with it, so we were all wondering who he was going to ask to "fix" his phone. When he got home he brought his pieces in a Burger King cup and had faced the fact that this was beyond help!

It's Been a Long, Long Time!

Happy Birthday, Brian! We waited until Rebecca was home for the weekend from Denver to celebrate Brian's birthday. Nothing like dinner with the "fam" after church.

Not quite 24 candles on the cake!

A picture of Joshua and Kayla from the church Fall Festival. What a fun evening!

A Big Weekend to Indiana!

Bev, Lisa and the children started on Thursday and we spent the evening and night with Grandma and Grandpa Smiley in DeSoto.

Kayla and Great-Grandpa spending a few moments in the porch swing. The rain followed us all the way there and we would soon find out would follow us all the way to Indiana. (Thanks to Hurricane Ike!)

Finally.....we arrived in Bremen and the cousins got to spend time together playing.

Janelle and Doug at the wedding reception.

I had to include this picture showing the huge bouquet of flowers. We have been following the journey of growing these flowers all summer and they were beautiful. They were even picked in pouring rain.

518 N 6th Street DeSoto, Mo 63020

This is Mother and Dad's new home. Barry had flowers growing on the deck that were just beautiful. I know he had just finished staining the deck, too! Everything looked so nice!

The very first morning, Mother sat down and played hymns at the piano.

Susanne and John were organizing the kitchen.

This picture doesn't do justice to the huge pantry just off of the kitchen. No more trips to the basement to get canned goods.

This is Marilyn and Barry's home, right next door. ....and this finishes the month of June!

Moving Day June 25

Boxes were everywhere packed, ready to be loaded.

The movers arrived and everything was loaded in two hour's time.

These guys were professionals. Even the lawn mower was no problem. We had plenty of room to spare in the truck.

Well, folks, I can't even write a fitting caption for this picture. This was just a very tender moment as Mother and Dad walked hand in hand to begin a new chapter in their lives.

Last Sunday at Houstonia Community Church

Frank Higgins presented Mother and Dad a nice plaque thanking them for all their years of service at the church.

And of course, a nice potluck dinner followed the service. Visiting at the table with Mother and Dad is Donna, Gayle Ryan, and Lorraine Boughton

Lots of good pictures.....and we were all smiling by this time :) !!

Mother and Dad

Nothing like the porch swing, but Kayla wasn't interested in joining Gr Grandpa & Gr Grandma. Their porch swing is being used daily on their deck in DeSoto.

Our Yard Sale

It was perfect timing that Houstonia was having a city-wide yard sale the weekend before the move to DeSoto. The afternoon before the sale we had a downpour, but everything was protected with plastic. Friday and Saturday were beautiful! Again, it was a bitter sweet occasion seeing many old friends.

Dad's truck sold, but not without a story behind it. Guess it just didn't want to leave :)

How many grandchildren have taken rides in this little wagon behind the lawn mower??

Dad even had the owner's manual for this 2-wheel garden tractor with the attachments. I'm so glad Rollie Boughton bought it.

And some of us were really, really tired at the end of the day. Susanne, I think you were doing more than just "resting" your eyes!

And In the Month of June....

Here's Mother and Dad getting ready to dine at McDonald's after church.

The city of Houstonia gave them a nice "Farewell Reception." It seemed everyday was an emotional moment. So many friends; so many memories; so many goodbyes. Mother and Dad were given a lovely clock that chimes on the hour. A perfect gift.

We had a nice evening at my cousin Gwen's in Sedalia. Dad's brother, Kenneth, and Aunt Helen were also there.

Another big event was selling the entire property to the school district. The school is very dear to Dad and he really desired that they would buy the property.

Dear Friends.....Judy Hunter and Dorothy Dawson.

A New "Chapter" Began April 4, 2008

This has been "home" for me in Houstonia, MO since I was born. But for my mother and dad, it has been home for their 69 years of marriage, and mother had lived here since she was 8 years old. So, for over 85 years, this has been "home." Every single picture I've taken has wonderful memories. (I can't believe I was allowed to practice my pitching with my target underneath the bay windows --- not much room for error!) After Dad experienced a stroke in his "good" eye on April 4, we began the journey of relocating to DeSoto, MO....right next door to my sister, Marilyn.

Our living room, dining room, and kitchen.

It was still very cool those early weeks in April, but Mother and Dad took regular walks. Mother typically points things out with her cane. (Mother doesn't have "blue" hair....it's her fuzzy warm hat!)

Dad adapted to his limited eyesight quickly and we had to remind ourselves of his low vision. He continued to do the mowing.

The apple trees blossomed out and were beautiful. It was a bumper crop of apples this year.

A Family Chuck E Cheese Night!

When everyone is home, it's tradition to go out one night to do something...like bowling, or miniature golfing. With four children 3 yrs and younger, these options just didn't sound like "fun," so we tried a Chuck E Cheese night and it was a success. The little kids (and the big kids) went from one game to the other with their tokens and tickets! Fun, Fun!

Kayla is just having fun sitting on the jet ski!

Ryan and Lisa trying their skill shooting baskets.

I love it when the parents help their children have fun. This time I think Stephen was have more fun!

Ryan was trying to swat the flies with the swatter. Another fun game!