MY "LITTLE BROTHER"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, "LITTLE BROTHER"

This brings a smile to my face. The title of this blog is as old as he is. For so many years I would tell people, "this is my little brother", Valmond. I'm not sure why that description stuck. VP, as I call him most of the time now, hasn't been my "little" brother for many years. Why I never said younger I don't know.

He is two years younger than I am, and yes, I think that makes him just a bit past middle age now. (no comments from the peanut gallery, okay?) He's also been much taller than I since we were pretty young.

He has about half as many grand kids as I do, and I'm sure he has twice as much gray hair...but who's counting????, not me for sure.

...I remember times when he let me "dress him up", (very much younger brother)

...Times when we would sit under the kitchen table, in the old kitchen on Webb Drive, and tell stories that scared us both so badly we would get up and lock the back door, locking mom and dad in the backyard.

...The times I upset him about something, imagine that, and he would chase me around the house speaking in some unknown toung and saying "if you only knew what that meant"

...Playing Rook with Wayne and Sam and never understanding how they could win every game. I think about two years ago I figured out, when they talked about what color the telephone was, they wanted trumps to be black, or how the grass needed cutting, trumps would be green. It really took me a long time to get that one.

...I remember him doing my biology note book my senior year (he was a sophomore) and I would do his English papers. Bub, who came out with the better grade, never mind I don't need to know the answer to that one. We both passed, right?

...I guess this would be about the time he started working at National Food Store on Acadain. I didn't know sackers made so much money. Well, I guess you could say sackers sisters made pretty good money. I was really glad they got tips every day. Oh, did I ever tell you how much I appreciated you loaning me those tips??

...Then came the time I got really sick and had to come home and stay for a couple weeks (he would probably have been about 19 at the time). About all I could eat was crushed ice. Guess who brought a certain sister a huge cup of ice every afternoon and sat on the end of my bed just to visit? Yup, it was that "little" brother.

...I guess after "Little Wayne" was born and I was back at home again, those tips were burning holes in VP's pockets because he started a piggy bank for little Wayne and every afternoon he would come home and put the change in the pig. How did Wayne thank him, by burping up on his sweet uncle.

...Then there would have been Uncle Gowman and Uncle Bagins, where did those names come from, do you remember? Both of my girls do.

...Wayne, on the other hand remembers having his uncle Valmond for a fifth teacher when he was only in the fourth grade.

...I guess what I remember when I think about my "little brother" is family, both ours when WE were kids and our kids when they were young. I love them all. And dear little brother VP, I love you, more than you will ever know.


I also thank Our Father for showing us His love and giving us His grace.


I Love You, Bubby
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AGAIN


Sissy

KAELA WILL BE 15 ON WEDNESDAY!!

Fifteen years old. Does it seem to any of you like our grand kids are the same ages as our KIDS?? How can this happen...When my mom told me I would turn around a couple times and Wayne would be grown I thought she was exaggerating, just a little. Then after Connie started walking and was nearly ready to start school Toni made her appearance and I've been turning around ever since. I guess I expected they would grow up some day but I am still turning.

It's different now though. Now the grand babies are all growing up and I seem to be spinning instead of turning. I remember the day Kaela was born. Not the birth mind you, but the day. My boss would not let me leave when I got the call from Wayne that they were on the way to the hospital. I had only been at work about half-an-hour and went in to tell her I had to leave and why and she said, "Alma, the hotel comes first. If you leave then who will make your calls, check the meeting rooms, check the A.V." and on and on. I thought she was joking and said, "divide it up between the other nine women in the office?". She was serious, I was not given permission to leave to be at the hospital with my son and daughter-in-law. Les went and I cried ALL morning and into the afternoon. Every time I took a call some one would ask if I was sick and my answer was "YES"! About three o'clock (I got off at 3:30) she came to my desk and said, "Look, maybe I should have let you go, why don't I take you up there", for those of you who know a little about the Houston area, it was a little north and east of Spring. I simply told her to forget it. Someone would have to "cover" for her if we both left. Needless to say, it was not the happiest day I spent at work.

That afternoon though when we got to the hospital there was Kaela, with her family gathered around. How sweet she was. I remember she had a very distinct and one of a kind lullaby. Nothing could put Kaela to sleep except the vacuum cleaner. I think Wayne and Sandy must have burned out a dozen vacuums and a lot of carpet before Kaela would go to sleep on her own. Guess what, she still sleeps through vacuuming!

When she was about two years old she had the wildest curly hair. Pony tail holders were pointless with her because her hair was so fine and unruly they would not stay. She loved to be around people, hated being buckled in her car seat, and laughed her way through every one's heart.

One day she and Bailey and I were going shopping and to lunch at Souper Salad. I think Kaela was maybe four and I kept calling them Baela and Kaley (which I still do). Finally she said, "Nonna, why don't you just call us guril one and guril two"?
Kaela has grown into a sweet, beautiful and always smiling young lady. Don't tell her mom or dad this, but when she comes to Nana's she helps with little ones, sweeps or vaccuums, loads the dish washer, anything I need help with. I am looking forward to watching as the next few years go by and knowing that her smile and blue eyes will always shine.
Kaela Bug, I Love You and hope your birthday is great!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Nana's Peapod

Have you ever seen such a sweet little pea?

I know Cade must think Nana will never post his blog entry. I started one as soon as we returned from Denver but somehow never got it completed. In a way I'm not sorry because now I have some comparison pictures. You know the tiny baby ones compared to the six week ones. Thanks to his mommy and daddy following tradition. I want to think she will break it when he becomes a year old and keep getting them done. Most of us have fewer pictures as baby gets older. Hunter will be two in less than a week and I am having to reuse pictures already.

We had a wonderful time visiting with Libby, Bernard and Cade. (oh, did I mention Kelsey?) She is Cade's watch puppy. Did I say puppy? She only thinks she is a puppy I'm not sure I want to see her when she's five. I hope Cade will mind half as well as Kelsey. They've done a great job with her. Once she got right up by Cade and put her face on his feet and didn't want Nana or Papaw to pick him up.

The first couple nights we were there, Cade had a tummy ache and tried his best to tell us about it. All we did was feed him and mommy and daddy took turns sleeping on the couch while holding him. Then on the third night I noticed he seemed to eat, cry and eat again. Pulling his little legs up when he cried. We determined it was colic and brought in the "baby walker". Everyone knows who that is...papaw...He has spent many hours through the last 18 years walking grand children with colic. They seem to respond to his calm, security.

Now here we are, almost eight weeks into Cade's life and we have some new pictures. He continues to grow and will soon pass up his mommy. I'm serious! He will for sure get much bigger and will grow into a young man before we know it. Hold him now mom and dad because he will soon be holding your hands in his and walking you instead of the way it is now.

We love you sweet Cade and can't wait to see you again.

WHEN DOES A MEMORY START

Are they from years gone by and become memories when we are old, or do they happen as we live life and become more precious as time goes by? That's one of those questions, you know, the chicken or egg sort of thing.

If you have known me for a while, or have followed this blog over the last couple months, you know there aren't answers to most of the questions I have about life. Life happens, through the Grace of our Lord, and we live and love through it.

Today has been another chapter in a friendship that started several years ago in a hospital in Galveston, Texas. The very beginning of this story is for another time, but through that beginning a very special lady came into our lives. That is when God, working through Jill Jones Douglas, changed my life.

Jill was, at first, a pre-transplant co-ordinator working to help secure a "new" kidney/pancreas for me. We saw each other every month for "labs" and tried very hard to maintain a professional nurse/patient relationship. Lots of things happened and several trips for the anticipated transplant occurred over roughly four years.

Finally one night in August of 2004 I received a phone call while our family sat at Chili's having a family dinner. By this time Jill had moved to post transplant and I had a new co-ordinator. As God would have it though, Jill happened to be on call that evening and called to tell me we had a 7 out of 7 match for "KIDNEY ONLY". Of course we didn't see that as the answer we were seeking but Jill said, "Mrs. Fenter, (there, that professionalism) think about this really hard, this is a perfect match; I can't advise you, but if I had to make the choice for a loved one, this would be my choice. Think hard about it and call me back within an hour. We do have others waiting but I wanted to offer it to YOU first". Les and the kids and I discussed it and one of them said "Mom, what did Jill say, that's what we need to do". That's what we did. Before that transplant took place, lots of stuff happened to my little kidney but Jill watched it, literally, for me until we went to surgery. She reported on it daily for three days.

On August 18, 2004, mid-afternoon, we went to surgery. Me being the questioner I am, Les said I questioned the doctors and anesthesiologist until they rolled me into surgery. I don't really remember much about all that. Actually, I think the family made up a LOT of dumb stuff they said I did anyway...

In June of 2005 during a clinic visit Jill told me she had met her Mr. Right, or Mr. Douglas as it were, and would be moving to Denver in July. I just knew at that point I would not be able to continue on my road to complete recovery without my Jill. I think I cried a river of tears and while everyone at UTMB continued to be wonderful and completely supportive I missed her smile and encouragement so much.

Throughout the last four years we have remained friends, e-mailing often and almost getting together on one of her visits to Galveston. She came to visit her dad, to help after Ike came to call, to see her daughter and just to try to hold a family together. We couldn't manage our schedules until today, here in Denver.

This morning, five years and one day after transplant, we sat in a restaurant, ate breakfast, laughed, cried and laughed some more. We started catching up on our families, events and people we share in common. I know somehow this friendship will continue and it will not be four years before we see one another again.

I know this, like most of my blogs, makes much more sense to me than to you. These are the times life collides with memories and memories become part of life.

As I sat across the table from her and looked into her smiling eyes, I couldn't help thanking God for yet another glimpse of what eternity is going to be like. I know He works out problems and overcomes distance even when we don't see how.

Love ya, Jill.

Alma

Welcome to First Grade

++++++------FIRST GRADExxxxxx=======

Surely not! It can not be...but yes, it's true. Today Zackary went to register and get his class assignment and his teacher's name. They told him his class could change, depending on the number of enrollment. He had this happen to him last year after the first week. That doesn't sound like a big deal in Kindergarten, but it made an impression on him because he wasn't keen on the idea. He is, however, looking forward to school starting.

Not the best picture, but who needs a camera when you have a cell phone, right?

On the way to get school supplies...DON'T get me started! Can any one remember what in the world we carried in our new school bag other than ONE pencil, a new tablet and maybe lunch money and one box of crayons???? He needed THIRTY pencils, about NINE different writing tablets, TWO kinds of construction paper, TWO kinds of manila paper (what is that? Wal-Mart hasn't gotten it in ever. Zack said it was probably something like vanilla but you couldn't eat it) He needed TWO dry erase markers, different tips on them, FOUR boxes of twenty-four crayons, folders WITH brads and folders WITHOUT brads, some red and some blue and one green...did someone say a FREE education? Of course the above isn't nearly the whole list.

I think the most disturbing part of the trip was when we were leaving the store and talking about his teacher. He told us some of the kids in his old class said she was really mean (we didn't have any of those, did we?). When Toni asked who had said that, of course it turned out to be Willieam/William, the little boy who was in trouble more last year than Zackary. Willieam also told Zack that if kids were on anything but the yellow, orange or red they were strange. No wonder he struggled to stay on the purple and green toward the end of school. I thought peer pressure was something we still had a little time to work on. Wayne was in the 6Th grade before being smart wasn't cool anymore.

I know Cheyenne has also gone to register and get her supplies and new clothes. I haven't had a chance to talk with her about being ready to go back or not. I feel like Chey will be ready to get back to friends, friends and friends. She is a little social bug.

Abby was on a break for a couple weeks while mommy went to visit aunt Libby and her new baby so I'm sure she has started back by now. While she and Abram were here for a week she was glad to have a break but wanted to read a book. She did very well. I hope she doesn't have a problem with her teacher...(mommy home schools her so it might be difficult to have a parent/teacher conference).

I thank God for my little ones and ask each one who reads this post to not only pray for them, but for all the little one's returning to school. We have a lot going back, or going for the first time. Pray also for our teachers. They have a job that could weigh heavy if left alone to do it.

Love to all
Nana

Special People

******MAKING MEMORIES******

Up to this point I have been recalling memories from our years as children in a loving Christian home, living, loving and laughing... Making memories.

Today I want to change focus and look at the memories we are making now. Hopefully ones our children and grandchildren will remember with as much fondness.

This blog started on Thursday afternoon when "Old Uncle Wayne" and Wa arrived. Zack was hoping to play another game of "run the bases" but he couldn't find a ball or bat. Maybe next time, buddy. Don't look now but there is a memory in the making.

Over the weekend we had the pleasure of blending two families. Not a new concept for our family, in fact most of our family is blended. The love and joy we have received and hopefully shared has blessed us deeply.

Jason Parker is in Houston working for a construction company, Griffin Construction. They build nursing homes around the country and he is here to oversee the building of one in Northwest Houston. (Exactly opposite from where we live) Jason is LaJuanah's son, a delightful one I might add.

I'm not sure if he is over a site from breaking ground to opening the doors, but what we saw was impressive.

He came down on Friday night and spent most of the weekend with us learning what it means to be in a crazy, loud family. We went out for dinner Friday night in Kemah, on the Boardwalk...yes the one that Ike destroyed. LaJuanah is crazy with the camera so, beware.

"Little Wayne", Uncle Wayne and Jason outside of Ichabons...

Dinner for Jason and probably Wayne, Tonty, was raw fish.

Saturday morning we went to see his job site and another facility his company is building and he was overseeing for the weekend.

Site of new nursing home...

Finished project...

Mid afternoon on Saturday The Family descended full force at our house where we ate, laughed, and played NERTS, what else would this family do??
This is the practice hand. I don't think it prepared him one bit for the real thing...

The real thing and guess what, he and Toni won. Beginners luck, or a nerts star? Only time will tell. Wayne and Candi were not good losers.

He got a "call" late Saturday evening, AFTER he and Toni won the Nertz game. You have all either known or been the one on "call" and it isn't fun. I'm not sure if he thought the game would go on all night and couldn't think how to escape, or if he is just a dedicated supervisor. The latter I'm sure, but that call came later in the evening.

While all the craziness went on those who didn't play watched and went a little nuts from kids and noise. I have to admit my house isn't exactly arranged for different indoor activities. We had much fun and look forward to another weekend soon.

I am going to post pictures of Jason and his family so we will all know the real part of his life. His wife's name is Kim, son is Ryley and daughter is Josie. They look like they might understand something about family and fun.

Ryley and Josie...

Jason and Kim...

Kim and Josie, love the smile and the dimples...

We are looking forward to Kim, Ryley and Josie coming to Houston in September and hope we get to share a little of their time.

Welcome to the family y'all.

Our Memories

****Are They Fact or Fiction***

There are times when I think God gave me a very prolific memory. I remember the color of the dress I wore to the eighth grade pepster "dance" at Prescott...shh, don't tell anyone it was a DANCE. Some of you remember the one, it was white with a sheer green over skirt. I wore it when I won the twist contest with Vic Polito....shh, don't tell that either, my dad might get upset, and my mom (who didn't know we were a "date") would lecture me about what nice girls do and don't do. Dancing of course was not a nice thing.

I remember climbing the magnolia tree in Myra's front yard, along with her help, and breaking off the lowest branch and then hiding it under the front of the house. Well hidden there, what, two or three feet off the ground? I think I remember wishing we had hauled it off and put it under someone else's house, maybe blocks away. And then I sorta, kinda, remember blaming it on Cathy, ...uh surely not.

You know there seems to be a vague memory of a game we played at night (when my parents didn't realize it was dark outside) called sardines. Not one person hiding their eyes while everyone found their own place to hide. No, everyone ran off in different directions to hide and when one found another, they hid together, then number two came along and hid there as well. Soon you had every one in the same space, like on the ditch bank behind my house waiting for the last one to find us all.

Baseball with the tin can and big stick in the street under the street lights.......Until someone had to go to the bathroom, then the parents started looking for us all and made us come in.

Oh, the best memories I have are of holidays. The ones that involved food. Funny, huh, they all did.

Back then we could go for miles on trick-or-treat and bring home grocery bags of candy and eat it right on the side of the street. No trips to the ER to have it all x-rayed.

I loved that Thanksgiving came just five weeks before Christmas. Aunt Marion started making all those yummy desserts and stored them on the hutch in the dinning room. My eyes were always sneaking peeks to what was new.

Then the Christmas tree went up on December 15th and presents started going under it, without names. Sam, remember the time we shook every package and put them back not knowing mom had placed everyone's in a certain place. I was so upset because I got boys socks and you looked really funny when you had to model "step outs". On Christmas eve we all went to grandma Abbott's and everyone got a present).

Then New Years Eve came and the holidays started over for another year. Those were the best years.

Myra, Sam, Jerry, Valmond, Wayne, do y'all remember when it became our turns to take over doing the celebrations? Planning the menus, buying the presents, cleaning before and after the party, somehow some of the magic was gone. Of course, I still love that time of year.

I have a memory of Nannie just beating the tar out of Myra and Cathy with a baby bed slat. Of course the slat was made for a doll bed and was not more than 1/4 of an inch thick and made of balsa wood or something like it. Needless to say, I tried never to "get caught" doing what Myra was doing.

I remember Unc making me stand behind one door and Sam another because we were laughing (of all things) and maybe screaming and calling each other names, or even running in the house, but this is my blog so I get to remember it the way it happened, in MY happy dreams. I really do think it was Sam's fault.

I remember an out of town Istrouma football game we went to on the bus to Bogalousa (SP) I do think we were all on that bus. Myra, June, Me, Sam, the Dantoni and Polito boys, as my dad called them (at least that's what we'll say he called them). I do believe that was the only time I deliberately lied to my dad. I think he paid Sam's way to the game so he would check up on us.

I wish I had pictures for this blog, but I don't. If anyone does, please figure out a way to post them. Everyone of you are precious to me and the memories are so fun.

Thanks for being my partners in a beautiful life.