July 31, 2007

End of Week 2

Tim's new hat doesn't look like this anymore. It has big white paint sploches on it. His denim shirt doesn't look quite so nice anymore either!!

I am now sitting in the Portland airport waiting for our connecting flight to San Diego. We were blessed yet again in being able to go out standby and will arrive in San Diego about 1:30 instead of tonight at 10!!

I just opened and listened to the old Dean Martin/Foster Brooks dialoge on Airline Pilots. Thanks Barb - how appropriate ~~~~

But about OUR WEEK ckick on the underline to see more pictures . . . . We got ALL the lawn mowed and weedeated -- Clint and his tools were a HUGE help. . even the overgrown grass on the ugly mounds of dirt left next to the sludgy, green water, ugly, "duck stream" has been cut down!!

We finished primering the garage. It took all 4 of us. A lot of powerwashing, borard replacement, and primer - but we now have a big ghostly white garage and "condo". Defects were found (IMAGINE~~~~) and ideas were discussed. . and discussed . . and then discussed some more. We will see when we return. . what has changed and what hasn't. hehehe

We met with a person to level out the back yard and "dispose" of the "duck" pond and stream. . we haven't heard back about the when or if he even wants the job - - another thing for the list.

The big Cypress tree next to the garage. . . the one that is over 100' tall. . . will be coming down on the 8th. Even in the pictures you can see that it is leaning badly - right towards the neighbors house. Many in Eastside are really excited about it and several have plans to take the day off of work to see it done. They are so excited about this big event - makes me wish we'd scheduled it for after we come back up - But Sallie is going to video it for me - so I'll be able to see it - like watching a rerun football game. Still interesting but not as exciting as with the suspense!!! Anyhow, it was odd to see the excitement over the big "Event"!!

The guys hauled 3 more loads of brush out to Ron's. I mean 3 trailer loads, pushed and tied down!! And nothing came from anywhere other than the yard. A large load of junk was hauled to the dump - I spent 10 days trying to give away the 200' of "duck" wire and the over 100 posts that had surrounded our property!! No luck yet - it's still there!!

Sallie cooked dinner most nights - even after working all day - I think she was afraid that I would poison us with whatever I'd had my hands into that day :) (it worked - shes a much, much better cook than I). She also spent her days off over helping me on the things that needed done. She sprayed for mosquitoes ~ several times ~ showed me what I needed and where it needed to be treated to keep them down, she loaned me loads of lawn furniture (the living room is decorated in it!), she helped with the arborist job - showing us where to trim, what to cut, what was worth saving and what had pretty much died. . .

And to top our wonderfully busy and productive week - on Saturday Sharen and Jack came over to spend the night. They had been to his class reunion and went home via Eastside. We had a great dinner - Keith BBQ'd pork steaks and we all sat outside in our mosquito free yard and ate and my nephew Mike just happened to be in town visiting other relatives, so he was able to drop by for dinner and a little visit before heading off. We got to see thier new camper and we stayed up way late visiting. . . We had breakfast Sunday morning and they took off.

We did some looking at pick-ups (didn't buy anything). We shopped a lot. I was blessed by having a wonderful reporter who wrote a great article regarding Jeremy. We can pray that someone is really moved by it and the missing piece of the puzzle is put out there for the great team that has worked so hard over the years to solve the mystery of his disappearance.

They are calling our flight - so I guess I'd better log off for now.

Later. . . . . .

July 20, 2007

Meet Ellie

We've arrived in Coos Bay!! We had a great flight - was even able to connect to the Horizon flight just 20 minutes after we got to Portland so we arrived in Coos Bay at 6 instead of at 9. What a treat!!! Clint and Sallie picked us up and fed us dinner - Sallie is such a great cook!!

We had a good visit and spent the night in their camper - They loaned us their extra vehicle - so we've been good to go!!

The men have been working their butts off since Tuesday. They've cut down trees, piled brush, wore the belts off of the lawn tractor, mowed grass, trimmed roses, but the biggest and first thing they did was to tear down about 400 feet of duck wire. It really is the 2x2 chicken wire that is so totally ugly but the guy used it to keep his ducks in - and obviously his neighbors dogs out. AND IT SURROUNDED THE PLACE!! With those metal stakes every 5' or so. By Wednesday morning the last of the stakes were out, wire rolled up and Joe (Clint and Sallies sone) pulled the stakes out that had been driven into the HUGE tree out front!!

And Tim and I shopped, and shopped, and then got Keith and we went back shopping. Got beds and we spent our 2nd night here at home. I even had gathered enough "stuff" that I cooked dinner last night!!

Today we spent the morning working on the lawn tractor while Clint and Keith hauled away brush and clippings. Sure looks different - already!! And Tim and I went shopping again!! (Of course we had to go lots of places to get the belts for the tractor) And we are all pooped with a big PEE. So we laid off a little early and I "borrowed" Sallies dsl line to upload pictures so all can see!!

Better head out tho'. I need a shower really, really bad. And still have stuff to do!! But we are having a great time. Sallie and I plan to yard sale tomorrow to see if we can't find stuff that we just can't live without:)

Click on the link above and see how far we've come in so little time. And we've still got another week!!

July 18, 2007

We are HERE

Just to let everyone know that we made it. I don't have a consistant internet connection right now but I'm working on it. We got here last night and have spent the day "setting up house" and I've got some pictures taken. So bear with me - I will get updated as soon as I can!!

July 13, 2007

6 Days Old!!

Baby Cavell is 6 days old and getting
lots and lots of lovin' from Amah and Papa. Not that we get a whole lot of time to hold him ~ every one of the kids as well as Mom and Dad want their turns!! Greedy People!!! hehe

We have been so totally blessed by being able to be here during this time. It isn't all grandparents that are able to be so much in thier childrens lives and live so far away! I feel so truly blessed!!

He is such a great gift!! He and Tetee spent the day shopping with us today.

We spent most of the day finishing off the things the kids (and me) will need right after we get back from Oregon. I think all of the kids (and I) are suitably attired for the cruise ~ only 25 days left!

We head for Coos Bay to see our White Elephant on Monday. It will be great to see old friends and relatives in Oregon.

We've also put the "little house" in Florida on the market ~ actually ~ we asked a friend to put a For Sale sign in the window. It is offerred completely furnished and at a great price. In the 2 years since the hurricanes the carport is new, new siding and stucco has replaced the old finish so it looks really nice. It has even has room to park an extra vehicle!!

And after lots of soul searching and much talking with God . . . we've also decided that we will probably put the RV on the market when we get back to Florida in October. It is a 1999 Bounder, 34' w/1 slide out. It is in really good shape with less than 20,000 miles on it. We drove it cross country and back 2 years ago and took a trip to Georgia in it last year. I have to clean our personal stuff out of it (that's why we have to wait until October) - and if it doesn't sell - we will probably take it to Oregon next year and leave it there. We just do not use it as much as we thought we would.

We really feel that the Lord is leading us to make these changes - but if this isn't His way . . . it won't happen. We are both trying really hard to "let Him lead" in our lives.

July 7, 2007

Baby CB


Amah
Originally uploaded by Amah
Here is Master Covelle Braydon at about 17 hours old. Click on this picture for the rest of the pictures from his first vists by his siblings. We had to go in 2 trips - the room was to small for us to all go together!! And Dad will be back in port tomorrow morning. Mommy and Baby are doing great! God has blessed us yet again!! He is a perfect little boy with none of the possible issues that had shown up on the ultrasounds. Thank you God!!

The Stork has Landed!!

Covelle Brayden was born at 10:16 on July 6. He landed at 8#10.5 oz and 22" long. He is perfectly formed and as of 3 am PST - in perfect health. I left them to sleep and come back to S'te's to get things ready for breakfast.

The land line here is down until after 3 pm on Sunday - so cell phone is the only communication. She is at Balboa Medical Center in #332. She will probably be home either late tonight or early morning.

Well, off to take the team to see their new sibling!!
PS I will have a picture uploaded by this afternoon!!

July 3, 2007

Happy Independence Day

Happy July 4th, Birthdate of our Declaration of Indepencence, to all!!

It's time to live up to what our forefathers wanted for this Nation when they signed the Declaration, formed the Armies, and fought so hard!! They would be saddened to see what this wonderful God inspired nation has become.


As for here, we celebrated Brayana's 11th Birthday with her choice of dinner - Grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, complete with macaroni salad and tater tots!! Cake and ice-cream were for dessert. She got a much needed hamster to love and cuddle!! Like - she doesn't have any company around here or anything heeeheee!!


We are still on the baby wait and tonight the 4 middle ones have karate practice. We go (S'te waddles :)) throughout our days and just wait, and wait, and still again wait. I know, it will be in God's time - but I (and I'm sure S'te) is wishing it would be soon. Even after 30 years, I remember the the last month.that.lasted.at.least.a.year before Baby showed up. Vividly :)


Have a wonderful 4th
and lets all work at
making God proud
of this
"One Nation Under God, Indivisabel,
With Liberty and Justice for All"