16-11-28 (Read 2/28/26)

We had Deck the Halls yesterday. Beth and Rodney left for Houston before we started, but they stopped by on their way out and visited with us for a little bit and Beverly and JA came over and got to see them for a few minutes. Beth called later in the evening to see how it went. She and Rodney got stuck in miles-long traffic jams, so got home about three hours later than they usually would have. I can't remember exactly where she was in Louisiana when she called but it wasn't nearly as far as she wanted to be. 

Beverly and Annette sat on the patio and visited. Beverly talking about Standing Rock. Morgan sitting on the swing, holding Jaden, which she did for most of the afternoon. 

Barry stayed in his rocking chair and watched a football game. Brandon sat in mine and they talked easily about the game, and bees. A little while later Zak joined them, sitting on the sofa. 

Andrew spent the afternoon in the front bedroom, rolling up the Saran wrap ball of presents The game is something he saw online and thought would be fun. He is especially looking forward to watching others play it. He's helped me find dice and the saran wrap --- it has been a fun thing for us to do together. 

JA had to work, but got home in time for supper and for birthday singing. 

John and Kim were in Huntsville, but lots of people asked where they were. 

Chris and his new girlfriend got here about 5:00. Afterwards, Tyler asked me what my first impression was. I asked him what he thought, how he felt around her. He said that she has a special freezer at Drew's that she doesn't let just anybody get into, but she lets him. 

Brittany was studying, Faith wasn't feeling well. Barry got the volleyball net up for me, and most of the younger kids played volleyball and ran around kind of like a Goodtimes. Willo and Vivian were sick, too. 

Angela asked where I wanted to put the Family Promise bags, and I told her the bed. She did that, but then came and asked if I'd like her to put them on a spot on the bedroom floor so that I wouldn't have to move them later on that night. 

Things have just shifted. There aren't as many little kids running noisily through the house, and all of the kids and older grandbabies not only can do more, but offer to do more. There's just a lot less stress and trying to get it all done for me. I showed them where the Family Promise things were, and they set up the process and got it all done. Beverly said, "Mom, it is really pretty great for you to do this." 

Tori and Josh had to leave for a little bit to go get Zoey from the vet. Annette told them she was proud of them for being prepared for the expense. 

Chelsea came with Jaden, and left him with us for a few minutes while she ran to the laundromat. She said she told Evan it felt weird to do that. I think it was the first time she left him anywhere. 

16-11-14 (Read 3/1/26)

Saturday just evolved as one of the best days a person could ask for. The Alabama game started at 11, and Barry called to see if the Reeds wanted to come over. Tori and Josh came right about that time, and so Beverly, JA, Ange, Josh, Tori and I (and Bentley, Bella, and Zoe) gathered up to watch the game (or play Nine's at the dining room table while Barry and JA watched the game.) The weather was pretty, so we left the patio door open most of the time. Barry ordered pizza, Beverly and JA brought some snacks. After awhile Evan, Chelsa and Jaden came over. He got lots of hugs and attention and Angela got some great pictures. Beverly said, "That baby changed my day." 

There were only about half us here last night, but we got to see Kim, which doesn't happen very often, and Vivian. We were a little squisshy, maybe two seats short, but visited and had a good time. Beverly and Angela cleaned the kitchen up for me. 

Beth called in and we put on speaker to sing Happy Birthday. Rodney called and he and I had a nice visit. 

And I did the right thing. I've been smiling about it ever since. I'd been thinking on it. I thought maybe I should have some conversations first. Check with people. But then I didn't. Then I just did what I wanted to do and called Vivian aside, and told her about the money I donated to the scholarship fund when Tori and Morgan each graduated and that Angela is graduating, and that I thought that what I really wanted to do was help her, and that I didn't know if this amount of money would be any help, and her eyes filled up with tears, and she said that it would be half her tuition, and she just hugged me and hugged me and hugged me and thanked me and thanked me and thanked me. It was a very, very happy spot for me. 

Barry made the beans for dinner and just generally helped me. It made getting ready for dinner so much more fun, so much less exhausting. 

Chris and Tyler seemed to enjoy their time together, so I was happy about that. Chris has a job with a different glass company. 

Noah spent Friday with us, and that was fun. 

Barry had fun working with Kennedy and Angela in the pottery barn. They were using all kinds of tools and he brought out things they didn't even need because he was having so much fun watching them. 

16-09-12 (Read 3/20/26)

This computer logged in online, to the home network, just about as quickly as it used to. That's promising. We'll see if it does better than it did on my hotspot, because it kept on freezing up there. 

Second Sunday Supper was last night, and almost everyone was there. We were missing Amber, Kim and Willo. I enjoyed watching the kids as they arrived, greeting each other, heading for the back yard or the game table to enjoy each other's company. 

We celebrated our September birthdays, and Josh was able to be with us this time, so that was fun. We also celebrated Morgan and Brandon's engagement. "What are we going to sing to them?" someone asked. So, we didn't sing. I spoke. Just told them that we were doing this in our usual haphazard way, but wanted them to know that we are happy for them, that we are happy about this, that we loved them both --- and Brandon's face --- just looked like he was happy in the moment, happy to hear the words, in real life. Congratulations on Facebook are good, and short congratulatory words in person are good, but a banner and streamers and a little official congratulations --- that seemed to have an important place, too. I'll have to remember that. 

Kennedy and John W got here early to help me get ready and decorate and Brittany and Beverly and Angela. Tori came but when she went to check on her dad, who was working on Beverly's jeep in the shop, he was bleeding, and she said she'd decided he needed someone to watch over him. I can't remember what she told us he said about his cut, but she said she thought, "Aw, you need a buddy." 

Andrew, John and Rodney, sitting at the table, talking about Dragon Con. 

Some snippets of agreement conversation at the big kid table re: the Dakota Access Pipeline. 

I asked Barry to make the beans, and he did, and they were a hit. 

I used Crazy Jane's Mixed Up Pepper in the macaroni and cheese, and I really liked that. 

Skyler to Noah, as she left, "Be good in school!" 

Annette, coming up behind me as I was at the counter, hugging me, telling me how excited she is about the Purple Rain tickets, "But thing I'm most excited about is hanging out with you guys." 

Brittany's planning on get a double masters --- Business, and Coastal Engineering. Her engineering professor can not only get the Coastal Engineering master funded, she can arrange for Brittany to be paid while she's working on the project. 

Chris helped JA get Beverly's jeep fixed. 

Jaden came to his first official (unless you count the Alabama game at Beth's house) family function. Lots of cuddling and pictures. Beverly took him immediately, and held him until Chelsea was through eating, and then got her own supper. My camera has disappeared, so Brittany took pictures on her phone. 

Friday night, Barry and I went to a Black Jacket Symphony "Hotel California," with Beth and Rodney. They'd gotten tickets for us and his mom, and his aunt Susie and Uncle Jerry. So, we all went to supper together and then the concert, and had a a good time. 

Beverly, re: Chelsea, after they'd watched the game together at Beth's house: "She handled us all really well. I was really impressed."