New Season

As of October 17th, I have entered a new decade.....the sixties. Well, in age, anyway. It made me think of the past seasons of my life....where I was at, what I was doing....all the changes over the years. So, here's a little recap from 1949 to 2009.

Season 1: 1949-1959 - Childhood

Just a kid doing kid things, mostly with my cousin Mary who is just 6 months older than I am. Her mother and my mother were sisters and her father and my father were brothers....double cousins.....and we just lived about 1/4 a mile from each other. My brother is 3 years younger and my sister is 4 years younger, and they played with each other usually.

The Barbie doll was introduced in 1959 and I had one. Too bad I don't still have that Barbie in her original package in vintage condition. Sure wasn't thinking about that then.

I surrendered my life to Jesus and followed Him in baptism in 1958.

I had a boyfriend in the 4th grade......last boyfriend I had until Gary Wallace. :(

Season 2: 1960-1969 - My teens.

This decade included moving from Glidewell Elementary School (which was our little 1st-4th grade school in the Willard R-2 District) to Willard Elementary in the 5th grade. Like going from high school to college. The next eight years were not the happiest I ever spent. I was such a shy and nervous child through those years.....junior high and high school were the worst. I was uncomfortable speaking to anyone unless they spoke to me first. I felt like the person inside me was much friendlier and more fun than the person I was at school. I just couldn't figure out how to be that person in public. I was always comparing myself to the popular, pretty girls and falling way short. That just made me more introverted. I played a clarinet in band for two years, then dropped out. The best part of high school was volleyball. I played all four years and loved it.

Thankfully, my mom kept us in church, so I had friends and was involved there. Too bad I didn't realize at the time that my identity is not in what I do or what I look like or how many people like me. My identity is in Christ, who loves me so much He died for me on the cross...who is my Redeemer, my Savior, my King of Kings and Lord of Lords. How many times have I said, "If I had only known then, what I know now..."

This decade also included getting married. Whoa...in 10 years I have gone from the 5th grade to my first anniversary of marriage. (I did a post about our courtship last year sometime)

Season 3: 1970-1979 - My 20's.

This was the decade to have babies. So, in 1969, after being married a year in August, we decided to have a child. Our first, Gary Todd, was born in April, 1970. Second was Matthew Paul, born August 26, 1972, then Wendy Rebekah, born March 28, 1975. I stayed home with the children...mainly because that's what Gary wanted, but also I wouldn't make anything after paying a babysitter.

We not only welcomed our children into this world...we said good-by to my daddy, 2 grandpa's and an uncle as they departed this life.

Also in this decade, we moved the little 10x56 trailer we lived in at a trailer park to 20 acres on Farm Road 64, that my parents gave us. Then in July, 1972, one month before Matt was born, we moved into a 24x48 double wide mobile home.

We continued to add to our stock of quarter horses. Gary's dad gave each of the kids a colt. So we all had our own horse to ride plus some others along the way.

Season 4: 1980-1989 - My 30's.

In 1979 we sold our double wide and built our first house on the same property. These were the playing years. Gary and I both played softball. Sometimes on separate teams, sometimes on co-ed teams. I played some volleyball at the Y and in a church league. The boys started playing baseball and basketball in the 1st grade at the Boys' Club. Wendy started playing softball in the 3rd grade in the Willard league.

These were such fun years....Gary and I finally quit playing ball because the kids were so involved in school and sports. We were either at church or a ball game any given day of the week. The boys played American Legion Baseball in the summer and Wendy played on a traveling fast-pitch softball team.

I started working part-time at Glidewell Elementary School as the cook. I worked 9-11 am each day during the school year 1981-82. This was a transition year for the school district as they were getting ready to close the school and move the students to Willard. So, I needed to find another job. The custodian at Glidewell had a relative who taught sign language. I was interested in learning to sign, so I took a class from her. She worked at Associated Wholesale Grocers and gave me a reference for a job there. They hired me to work part-time in the shuttle office, but eventually I went full-time to Accounts Payable, then to Produce, then to Human Resources as Secretary to the Director, where I stayed for the next 11 years.

Because of learning ASL, the Harmonettes invited me to go with them and interpret in sign language some of their songs. Truly a blessed experience and precious memory in my life.

It just so happened that at this time Gary was promoted to Supervisor at Southern Missouri Containers, where he had worked since January, 1976, but he had to work nights. This was a tough time, because we hardly saw each other. I worked days and he worked nights. Yuch! He did get to leave work and go to the kids's ball games, then go back to work. He worked this schedule for 3 years before he went to day shift.

In this decade, we also saw our oldest, Todd, graduate from Willard High School. The same high school we had graduated from 21 years earlier.

Season 5: 1990-1999 - My 40's

Matt graduated from Willard in 1990 and Wendy in 1993. So, now all the kids are out of high school and started in college. This decade brings the marriage of our daughter, Wendy and the birth of her first child, Lucas. It also brought the death of my mother and Gary's father, 3 months apart in 1994. Our church was burned by an arsonist in 1993. We rebuilt in a new location and began experiencing revival and growth. I left AWG to work at Hamlin Memorial Baptist Church as the pastor's secretary in 1993. Then I left there in 1995 to be our pastor's secretary at Springhill Baptist Church.

Season 6: 2000-2009 - My 50's

This decade has been a whirlwind of grandkids. In this decade, both boys married and 9 more grandchildren were born - Bailey, Gavin, Micah, Ruth Ann, Jadon, Haven, Jude, and Cael. We said good-bye to one of them, little Karis Rose Wallace who was stillborn on August 29, 2003.

In January, 2000 I had two surgeries, two weeks apart. While I was off work, I really became convinced that I should leave my job and find a part-time job so that I could be available to help with any grandkids that might need me. I left in April, set up an office in my home and began working for Global Encounter Ministries (www.globalencounter.org) , allowing me to babysit for four of our grandchildren, Jadon, Haven, Jude and Cael when needed. Thank you, Bob and Joy Caldwell, for this incredible job opportunity.

Next Season - My 60's TBD

This is such an abbreviated account of my life -- all 60 years of it...all 720 months.... 3,120 weeks... 21,900 days... 525,600 hours.... 31,536,000 minutes...........

Donna

Anybody Got A Rake?

Fall, my favorite time of the year is here! I don't even mind these rainy days. It just makes the leaves more beautiful. I love the cool, crisp air.... walking through the brown leaves on the ground.

I used to try to rake the leaves in the fall, but finally figured out that if I left them, eventually the wind blew them off into the woods anyway. And what doesn't get blown away, gets chewed up in the lawn mower in the spring. I love living where I get to experience all four seasons in a year.

Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8. "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven; a time to be born and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot; a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to tear down and a time to build; a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance; a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them; a time to embrace and a time to refrain; a time to search and a time to give up; a time to keep and a time to throw away; a time to tear and a time to mend; a time to be silent and a time to speak; a time to love and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace." That passage goes on to say that God has made everything beautiful in its time and has set eternity in the hearts of man, yet we cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Isn't that the truth?

I believe we have seasons in our life, as well. Isn't that what those verses are talking about?

I think that will be my next post.

Donna

Happy Birthday to Me!

So...continuing the activities of October 17th....Karla, Heather, Lindsay and I went to a baby shower for my cousin, Mary's, daughter, Heather Dunn. We had a great time visiting with all the cousins. Showers are about the only time we get to see each other.

For several days, I had a funny feeling that the kids were planning something for my birthday. I said things like, "Gosh, I hope no one makes a big deal out of my 60th birthday. I would just as soon forget it." or "I wonder why the kids didn't say anything about going out for supper or give me a card or anything?" But I got no response from anyone. So I felt a little foolish and self-centered for thinking that.

Then, Gary told me on Saturday afternoon to be ready to go at 5:00 because he was taking me out to eat. I asked where and he said "It's a surprise." Well, that just triggered my suspicions again, because I can't remember the last time he decided where we were going to eat. He always leaves it to me. Then Matt called and asked to borrow our kid's table and chairs because they were having company over to watch the fights. Since when? I told him they would not fit in his car. He said okay, but Gary came through and said that we could drop them off on our way into town. All the time, I'm thinking....hmmmmm, is it or isn't it?

When we got to Matt and Linsay's house, I saw my brother's pickup and several other cars parked along the street. When I walked in, I was overcome with emotion because there were so many of my dearest friends and family. And they were there for me! It was a wonderful "surprise." My sweet daughters-in-law and sister had been planning this for weeks and it was truly a gift of love. The table was decorated so beautifully, we had lasagna and fettucini and salad from Ott's Pasta, plus the cutest cake. Karla had prepared a tray of candies that were invented in 1949 and bought me a Candyland game (first came out in 1949).

What a wonderful and memorable night!! Wonderful because Karla and Heather and Lindsay were the most perfect hostesses and helped me usher in this new decade of my life with joy and laughter and fun!

Memorable because out of the 23 people there that night, all but 5 of us got some sort of the flu. Every day someone else came down with it...from Sunday through Thursday that week. Some had vomiting, some had diaharrea, some just had the aches, chills, respiratory stuff. Can you believe it? Well, I just hate it for everyone that got sick, especially the babies. So far I haven't come down with anything,.....but, hey, thanks for coming to my party.

Thanks to everyone for all the cards, gifts, and expressions of love I have received this birthday. I am truly one blessed 60 year old woman.

Donna

Happy #5, Jadon

Saturday, October 17 was a very busy day for the Wallace families. Jadon's 5th birthday party was at 10:00 on Saturday morning. Jadon stayed all night with us Friday night so that Daddy could put his new bunk beds together and surprise him at his party on Saturday.

Nana and Papa, Aunt Mal, Great Gram, Becky, Miles and Jack, Uncle Matt and Aunt Lindsay and Cael, Mema and Pappy were all there to celebrate with Jadon. Mommy made cupcakes to look like Jadon's favorite thing.....a train!

Lots of great presents!!

And......Nana and Papa took him for a ride on the Branson Railway last Saturday!! A ride on a real train!! He was so excited!!

Well, 5 is a big deal....and Jadon Creed Wallace is a big deal!!

I love you Jadon,

Mema

Happy 6th Birthday, Ruth Ann!

Hello Everyone, we're in Houston, Texas for a few days at the Bischoff house, celebrating Ruth Ann's 6th birthday. Here's our greeters when we drove in:

Great birthday supper of hamburgers and hot dogs from the grill:

How old are you Ruth Ann?

Now to the birthday party....... Ruthie wanted her mom to make a cake with High School Musical on one side and Barbie on the other side.....so....here's what she came up with. I love this cake!!

View from one end:

View from the other end:

High School Musical side:

Barbie side:

Mema, Ruth Ann, Pappy.....

Yeah for presents!!

Fortunately for us, this was the week for Hi-5 Kids Choir to sing at church. Lucas, Bailey and Micah are in this choir. They sang two songs: All of Me and Serve the Lord. They did an outstanding job.

After church, the Bischoffs took us to "Pappy's Cafe" for lunch. I just had to take this picture of Pappy and the kids under the sign.

Tomorrow is shopping for Mema and the girls and golf for Pappy and the boys! Fun, fun, fun!

My love to 6 year old Ruth Ann,

Mema

Tammy the Turtle

Here's our new pet, Tammy the Turtle, named by Haven Elizabeth Wallace. (First picture is a little fuzzy. )

Tammy has a story:

About two months ago, my brother brought over this tiny baby turtle he found in his yard. He thought the kids would enjoy it. They were all here and played with it and carried it around all evening. When everybody was ready to go, my sister put little turtle in one of the fish ponds. Well, I never could find it again and thought it probably had died.

But...on Tuesday evening, I was cleaning the pond and found little turtle just swimming around in that big pond with the 2 big goldfish. So I brought it inside, put it in a small bowl with some water and gave it some fish food. I am assuming it is an aquatic turtle since it had been living in water all this time. The next day, the grandkids and I went into WalMart and bought a fish bowl, some stones and aquatic fish food. I asked the kids what we should name the turtle....suggested Franklin, or Tommy or Timmy. Haven was adament that the turtle should be named Tammy. So....Tammy, it is.

Well, when Todd got here, he told me it was a box turtle, I said no, I'm sure it is an aquatic turtle, he said no, it has a box turtle shell. I looked up aquatic turtles on the internet, but it didn't look like a slider, or snapping turtle or any of the ones in the picture.

This morning, Haven came in and the first thing she said was, "Can I hold little Tammy? Oh, Hi Tammy, I love you!" Jadon and I looked up Box Turtles on the internet and sure enough, Tammy is a 3 toed box turtle. Box turtles do enjoy swimming and need the water, but they also need soil and rocks.....so....we will be heading to the pet store to find something more suitable for a box turtle to eat and to reside in.

I wonder if Tammy misses her goldfish friends and being outside. Too bad. She will just have to learn to love being carried around and played with by new friends.

More adventures to come, I'm sure.

Mema

Catch-up!

Here's some catch-up pictures from September into October. Gavin's Mighty Mite games started a couple of weeks ago on Thursday nights. Their record so far is 2-1. Go Willard Hokies!!

Heather and I finally got to go back to Silver Dollar City. It had been a while, so the kids were really ready for those rides. Jadon and Haven rode "Fire In The Hole" for the first time. Jadon rode in a seat by himself and the guy running the ride told him he was really brave. Haven liked it because it was fast...she prefers the fast rides. We all rode the train and Jude got to ride the frogs and caterpillars with mommy. He's a pretty brave little boy, too!

Cael is up on all fours now.....crawling all over the house! I really need to get a picture of him pulling up. He has started doing that, too.

Jadon stayed all night with me and pappy on Friday night and Karla and I took him to the Mall and Toys'R Us on Saturday morning to shop for presents for his 5th birthday. I usually take the kids to Build-A-Bear for their 5th birthday and let them pick out an animal and clothes. Since Jadon already had Oscar, his giraffe, he chose to just get clothes for Oscar, especially a football uniform.

He spent Karla's money at Toy's 'R Us on a Nerf Crossbow and a mini-excavator.

Can you believe these two little boys are big enough to play together? They were so cute I just had to get a couple of pictures of them. I'm sure they will always play nicely together and never fight.

Well, Heather, I just have to put this in and tell the story. Sorry, but it's so priceless.

I let Jadon and Haven go outside to play for a little while before naptime. When I went to get them, this is what I found. They had switched clothes and were calling each other by the other's name. They came inside and I told Haven to put her pull-ups on. When she took off Jadon's pants, she had his underwear on! I looked at Jadon thinking ?????, but Haven's underwear were still on the trampoline. Well, they switched back to their own clothes. I asked them why they would do that and Haven said, "I wanted to be bubby and Jadon to be sissy." Of course.

Actually this is better than the last time I let them go out by themselves and found them jumping on the trampoline stark naked....their clothes laying on the trampoline! You just never know what each day is going to bring!

Jude wanted me to take his picture, but he just didn't want to smile. I think he looks so much older here. But.....he is almost 20 months!

Friday Gary and I will drive to Houston, Texas to spend the weekend with the Bischoff's and celebrate Ruth Ann's 6th birthday. October is a big birthday month for our family. Karla's birthday is the 7th, Ruth Ann's is the 9th and Jadon's is the 17th. Oh yeah, mine is also the 17th....but that will be another post.

Road trip.......

Donna