Halloween at the Zoo

Another day at the zoo for Ava, Cael, Jude and I, but this time it is decorated for Spooktacular.   Kinda nice to have some different things to look at and take pictures of.

It's Mickey Jude!

Creepy flamingos.....

Seeing double Bam-Bams 

Angry Zoo Birds looking angrily at us.......

That is one huge jack-o-lantern!

And here is the white peacock, in case you haven't seen it.......

It was such a nice day we thought we had better take advantage of the zoo before it gets too cold to enjoy it.  Big disappointment...the train was closed for the winter. so sad.

Yes....I'm a FOZ!

Donna

Trunk or Treat 2012

Sunday evening was our annual Trunk or Treat at church.  Oh my goodness! there were probably 25 trunks decorated for this event, from Clifford the Big Red Dog to a Renissance Castle, all passing out candy.  Here's some pics of our little Ava the bumble bee and Cael the shark.

She just enjoyed walking around showing off her cuteness, I think.  Until she actually got to eat the candy in her pumpkin.  That might have trumped everything.

Uncle Roy is helping Ava win a can of soda.

Matt Kimbrough with his wild African animals in the trunk....Alf?

Knock over those angry birds, Cael!

Face-painting.....yes!

And who wouldn't want a spider on their face?

I just have to put this picture of Erin Ward on here.  She was a cave woman with her little dinosaur, Max.  Super cute, Erin!

Then we got to go inside to warm up and enjoy delicious chili.  Thanks to all who made this an extra special fun night for the kids!

Next...trick or treating Wednesday night.  We have candy, so....no tricks, please!

I do so enjoy these grandkids!

Mema

8 Year Old Jadon

Announcement:  On October 17, 2012 Jadon Creed Wallace turned 8 years old!!

This happens to be an especially fond memory for me because it also happens to by my birthday.  I thoroughly enjoyed spending my birthday at the hospital  that day in 2004 welcoming grandchild #7 into this world.

Jadon celebrated his birthday at his house with Nana and Papa, Great Gram, Aunt Mal, Uncle JC and Aunt Misty, Tyler, Haley, Kyla, Uncle Matt and Aunt Lindsay, Gavin, Cael and Ava, Pappy and Mema, Mom and Dad, Haven and Jude!  Whew! What a fun house full!  The kids made some slime, then Jadon opened presents.  We had delicious cupcakes and hot chocolate.  The theme was Star Wars...no surprise there.  Jadon knows more about Star Wars than Han Solo, I think.

After the kids played outside a while and the adults visited, the kids came in and decorated pumpkins.  What a fun time!

Jadon, you are so smart and focused.  You just amaze me at the books you read and give reports on.  You have an entrepreneur spirit and I just can't imagine where that will lead you as you become an adult.  You love God and His Word.  It won't be long before I will be asking you to explain a certain scripture to me.  We are very proud of you and love you very much!

May the Force (Jesus, the only true Force worthy of our worship) be with you,

Mema

Go Willard Tigers!!

Miss Haven signed up for a cheerleading clinic one Thursday night in October and they were invited to cheer at halftime of the Willard football game on Friday night.  Here's some pictures of Haven and her cousin Kyla cheering Willard on to victory, however they played West Plains so the cheering was all in vain....sad face.  I do think their cuteness made up for the loss, though.

Then here's a couple of pics of all three of the kids after the cheerleading routine doing their tiger growl.....

Fourth generation Willard Tigers!!

Grrrrroowwwwllll!

Mema

Happy Birthday to Me!!

Today, I am 63 years old.  I don't know why I felt it necessary to start off with that announcement, but there it is.  63 is not especially a milestone birthday, however, I thank the Lord for each year and feel incredibly blessed with the life He has given me.  Actually, I guess from here on out each birthday should be considered a milestone.

I am writing this in the truck on the way back to Springfield from Houston, Texas.  We left last Friday afternoon, stopped in Durant, Oklahoma for the night and drove on to Houston Saturday morning.  Gary and I always go in October because Ruth Ann Bischoff has a birthday on October 9th and we try to go as near to her birthday as we can.  This year she turned 9 on the 9th.

Here we are at the American Girl doll store.  She decided she would buy another doll with her birthday money from us.  Bailey has Rebecca and Ruth has Ruthie (Kit Kittredge's friend) and Saturday she chose McKenna.  The sales clerk asked her if she thought McKenna would get along with the other two.  Ruthie said, "I hope so."  Well, I certainly hope so, too, Ruthie.  Wouldn't that be a bummer if they didn't get along.

Oh my goodness, that store is the best, well, if you are a girl anyway.  I don't know how long we spent there, but we could have stayed longer (if we had more money, that is.)  Here they are with their dolls.  Bailey and Ruth are the teachers and I think class is in session now.

That evening we had birthday supper and cake for Ruthie and I.  Wendy's famous spaghetti and meatball cake.  Yellow cake topped with fondant spaghetti and brownie meatballs with strawberry jam on top for sauce.

Sunday we went to this place for lunch.  Ever heard of it?   It is an Italian restaurant and very good.  I just thought the name was kinda funny.  We never did find out what it means.

Tuesday night Lucas had a football game.  It was raining the whole time so we sat in the lawn chairs under umbrellas.  Fun time!!  I guess you will figure out Lucas is #1.

 It's a pretty big middle school to have this many boys on the team.

And here's Lucas's pants before going into the washing machine.  Yuck!

Soaked to the skin................

Gary took Lucas and Micah to the golf course Monday after school, while Wendy and I took the girls to Target so Ruthie could spend the rest of the money she got for her birthday.

We had a wonderful time, but, as usual, it is hard to say goodbye to this family we love so much.  I kept telling myself, "I'll be back in November for Bailey's birthday, then they will be here in December for Christmas."

Hey, Micah, I just noticed I do not have one picture of you on here.....what's the deal?  You know that means that next time I go there your face will be plastered all over my blog.  Maybe I will put your Pedro picture on here.  Huh?  Vote for Pedro!

Happy birthday to me!

Donna

My Brother

What else can I say about William J. Murray than what I wrote for his memorial service?  I loved him so much and will miss him terribly.  Our brother/sister love has just grown deeper over the years.

Well, you think you know someone…….I thought I knew my brother.

I knew he was a great son, uncle and brother, although it must have been difficult at times being sandwiched between two sisters.

I knew he trusted Jesus as his Savior as a child and loved God’s Word.

I knew he was politically conservative, to say the least, and opened my eyes to the political scene and was my resource for knowing who deserves my vote.

I knew he was an avid reader and was extremely knowledgeable about a multitude of subjects. He should have been on Jeopardy. He would have cleaned up.

He loved to hunt mushrooms and fried up a plate of morels that were out of this world. He loved to grow tomatoes, make the best pot of fresh green beans, and talk about our family history in Greene County. He taught himself to play the guitar and banjo. He wrote many beautiful poems. He loved our kids and both of our boys worked for him and learned carpentry from him.

But just when you think you know someone…… you hear stories about his character and integrity from those he worked for and with and who knew him in the community. I have heard over and over the phrase, “you could trust him.” I hear stories about his kindness and generosity from those who have been recipients of it, stories of his humor and funny antics…like when he painted big red flowers on the sides of Gary’s old blue pickup he got from his grandpa. We don’t know why… What can I say? He was 15 and it was the 70’s. Flower Power!  So there you go…. Then I hear his love story and how deeply his heart could love and commit to his best friend and fiancé, Donna Marie.

I feel like I know him so much better now, but I miss him so much more. He has left a void in our family that will only be filled when we get to kneel with him at the feet of King Jesus in worship forever.

Some of my favorite pictures:

I did not know that he wanted to be cremated, but he had told Donna on several occasions that was his wish.  He did not want to be displayed in a casket or be buried in the ground.  So that's what we did.  None of our family had ever been cremated before so this was kind of foreign to us. But, hey, it's just a shell, right?  These old bodies eventually turn to dust and ashes anyway.  And one of these days we will have new bodies in a glorious new Home!  

Thank you Jesus for seeing us through this grieving process.  Saying goodbye to B.J. hurts just as bad as the others of our family who have gone on, but thankfully, we have a Comforter who comes to us in our sorrow and brings sweet peace. And then we go on.......

.........never forgetting,

Sis