John Birch Society - Overview of America - Part 1

First Grandchild to Graduate High School

Today we attended the graduation of our first grandchild, McKenzie. Only 13 more to go.

This was not your typical graduation. It was held in a church, the pastor and her Dad spoke, her grandpa prayed, she was surrounded by friends and family, and she also had her senior piano recital. You see, she is a homeschooler.

This was her day. Not shared with a bunch of rowdy, obnoxious teenagers but focused on her, her talents and her accomplishments. How proud I was of this young lady who is mature, responsible, talented, smart, very social (despite what so many say about homeschoolers being too sheltered and anti social) and a beautiful Christian young lady both inside and out.

It was also exciting to see so many Christian home school families with their children and how they pitch in and help with what ever need comes up whether it is helping serve the food, cleaning up afterward, or looking after little ones whether they were siblings or not. These kids know how to take responsibility for any need they see.

I am so proud of my daughters who sacrifice to teach their children and so thankful to God for sons in law who support, encourage, and help them. God has blessed us.

McKenzie, we are proud of you and love you very much. There is only one problem - I don't know where the time went. It seems like yesterday I held you in my arms for the first time.

Memories

Last month my middle daughter turned 42 and one of my granddaughters turner 12this month. Time is flying and my girls are growing older and the grandkids are growing up.

I remember vividly when Kellie was born. I had just been put in the hospital with high blood pressure. Ed came by on his lunch hour and I told him I was really hurting. He asked if I thought I was in labor and I told him I had told the nurses and they said I was fine. Little did they know. He left to go back to work and a nurse came in. I said I am really hurting. She checked me and said oh my gosh you are in labor. You didn't eat your lunch did you? I told her I did because they said I was fine, to go ahead and eat. She started out the door with me and I hollered somebody find my husband. He did case work and this was before cell phones. I had the thought that what in the world was I thinking to let myself get pregnant again when delivery was so hard.

They were able to find Ed. My doctor was sailing the high seas and an intern delivered her. I kept asking for something for pain and because I had eaten they wouldn't give me anything. The yound intern was so excited and asked if I wanted to watch the delivery in the mirrors. I said I might as well since I am awake. When she started coming he kept saying oh my gosh, oh my gosh she is so big! Easy for him. She weighted 10 lbs. 2 oz. and was beautiful. Not skinny looking like most newborns. Kellie was a happy baby and child and was a pleasure to raise (most of the time). She never gave us any trouble except for the mischief she got into with her sisters. She would cling to me and I feared she would never want to leave me. Yet she is probably my most independent.

I also vividly remember the day my 12 year old granddaughter was born. Her Mom had been walking around the neighborhood with her husband trying to get her labor going. My oldest daughter was down here to help and we took the other two grandchildren to the park. My oldest daughter was having some problems with her pregnancy so we were concerned about her. My cell phone rang and Marcy said the doctor was putting her into the hospital because she was in labor and the baby was "flat". No one bothered to explain this to me so I panicked, called my husband, left the other 2 children with my oldest daughter and we took off for the hospital. To me flat meant no heart beat. I prayed all the way to the hospital. We quickly went to her room and there they sat laughing and joking like they didn't have a care in the world. I wanted to strangle them. I found out flat meant a slow heart beat meaning the baby was probably asleep. We went back home and our other daughter, Monica, went to the hospital while we babysat. Soon we got the call that the baby was here and everything was okay. There is much more to the story but needless to say she is fine and a joy and pleasure to have as #5 grandchild. She says her papa is her best friend.

When I get down in the dumps about my health and inability to do the things I want to do, I look at pictures of my beautiful daughters and "perfect" grandchildren and realize how blessed I am.

A Little of This and a Little of That

Not a lot going on in my life right now. It seems it is dialysis one day and tired the next. The weather is beautiful and I did sit in the sun a couple of days. I feel like I could do so much more if only my feet did not hurt so much from the numbness and gout.

I had my fourth surgery on my arm trying to get it ready to use for dialysis. It will make my life so much better if it will work. The date for trying it is March 2nd. Please keep me in your prayers. For those of you who turn on the shower and get in and let the water run over you, be very thankful. I have not had a shower since June. I use a hand held hose and have to keep the site where they do dialysis dry. When I wash my hair, I have to lean side ways to keep the site dry. WHEN the arm starts working, I am going to get in the shower and stay till the water runs cold.

We very much want to go see Kellie and her family in KY but I need to get stable with this site before we go. If I let myself, I get very depressed thinking about how I just want to get in the car and go. It is going to be quite a trip for us but we are going to do it. I am ready to see those grandchildren.

Monica and her children came down last week and we enjoyed the visit. It gets kind of lonely sometimes. Of course, just like Marcy, Monica works the whole time she is here. Carrington and Clayton worked too. Clayton picked up leaves with Ed while Carrington helped me with my room. Just wish they could come and we could just visit.

The one high lite of my week is our Bible study on Monday nights. I have learned so much as Ed teaches us each week. I have been in church all my life but was never taught the Bible like now.

I cannot believe our first granddaughter will graduate from high school in May. I watched her come into the world and have enjoyed every minute I have spent with her. Her parents have done an amazing job teaching and training her. She is a beautiful young lady both inside and out.

All three of our daughters and their husbands are teaching and training their children to love God with all there hearts and they live that before them each day. I am so thankful that each of our daughters married godly men who are supportive of them as they stay home and teach the children. Not an easy job. All of the grandchildren are a pleasure to be with and we enjoy and treasure each one of them.

Cherish your families.

THOUTHS AND PRAYERS FOR A NEW YEAR

As we entered a new year, I was in bed and ready to turn out the light. Meanwhile, some of my grandchildren were gathered together and celebrating like the mothers use to - by bangging pots and pans. They are young and looking forward to what the new year will bring. I, on the other hand, was thinking about the year that had just ended and remembering all that had happened to me in the past year. I started the year 2010 with a very optimistic attitude but it started down hill almost immediately. I spent a told of 10 weeks in the hospital, lost most of the use of my right hand and part of my left. And my kidneys failed and I am now on dialysis. I also had to give up my job. I have spent a lot of time feeling sorry for myself and missing the ability to do the things I would like to do. Recently, one of my granddaughters reminded me that without dialysis I would not be here. Of course, she is right. I am saving up for a small computer so I can take it to dialysis. It will help pass the time.

I have had three procedures done on my arm so that I can get the perm ma cath (?) out of my neck and be able to shower without using the hand held hose. I also will be able to swim. It isn't looking real good right now but hopefully they can do something to msake it work.

This year is going to be a good year. I am going to enjoy my family and can not wait to see Kellie's new home. Please pray that I will keep a good attitude. Love to all.

Good bye 2010

We had a very different Christmas this year. Monica and her family and Marcy and her family were to be here Christmas Eve and Christmas day. Marcy was going home and Monica was to head to Albany to the other grandparents on Christmas afternoon. Sunday Kellie was coming and Monday everyone was coming back and we would have our Christmas together. Christmas week Marcy came down with the flu and one by one the kids began to get it. We have spent every Christmas of Marcy's life with her. So that was a disappointment. Also, it meant the Maynors and the Holcombs would not get to see each other. Of course, the kids were very disappointed.

We still had a wonderful Christmas, spending Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with Monica, Warren, Carrington, and Clayton. Kellie and her gang got there Sunday night and we were thrilled to see them. Scott was suffering with gout in his wrist the whole time he was here. I, of all people, knew the pain he was suffering. He is always the one who does the cooking so that was hard. He did help the night the Goldsmiths came back. He made some yummy meatballs.

If all goes well, Marcy and family will be here Sunday afternoon. We will have our snack foods that we all enjoy and open presents. The tree is still up and the lights are still on. Guess my cleaning girl will be putting away Christmas decorations for me next week.

I am praying that 2011 will be a much better year for our family. I wish for us and everyone who reads this will have a blessed, happy, and healthy new year.

CHRISTMAS IS ALMOST HERE!

It is December 23rd and I am not ready for what we call Christmas. I keep reminding myself that we are celebrating the birth of Jesus and if I don't have food cooked and sheets washed it will get done when the girls get here. I stay so tired and when the weather is changing, my hands ache and it makes it hard to do much. But - my family will be here and that is what matters. We may even get a touch of snow this year.

I will sit back and watch all the craziness going on around me. We have something to add to the confusion this year - Clayton got a dog for Christmas. I am now grandmother to Max. Clayton loves him - Monica and Carrington do not.

Ed has been so good to help me with shopping but we decided tonight we are shopped out. It will be different next year because I can't keep up shopping for 14 grandchildren. There may be some gift cards instead of presents for the older ones.

I worried so about what to take to the staff at dialysis and was trying to bake cookies. I realized I would never get enough baked so I made 4 pies and took them to them yesterday. Not one person thanked me. I didn't do it for the thanks but you still like to be appreciated. Oh well.

I pray that everyone has a blessed Christmas and a safe, happy, and healthy New year.

Thanksgiving Out the Door and Christmas In

Wow! Decorated the house and table for Thanksgiving and one of my daughters and her family came for the day. Also had a member of our Bible study group who lives alone come and join us. My daughter and granddaughters fixed a lot of the food. I ordered dressing from a local restaurant and with much, much help from my husband, Ed, we got the turkey cooked and the mashed potatoes fixed. We made a recipe from The Pioneer Woman that you can make ahead of time. I put two things on the table from my childhood. Celery stuffed with pimento cheese and pickled peaches. Of course, no one would try the pickles but my husband and I enjoyed them. Some of the grandchildren liked the stuffed celery. I fed the baby several bites of peach and he would make an awful face but he kept eating. It was so funny. He finally raked the last piece off his tray and onto the floor. He had had enough!

After the girls got the kitchen clean, Matthew with a lot of help got all the Christmas decorations out of the attic. Matthew loves to decorate. The more lights he can put up outside, the happier he is. He was so cute (don't anyone tell him I said that) decorating because he was having so much fun. When he was little, he would say "ights are on, ights are off". Madeline, with a little help decorated the tree. It looks beautiful.

Now I have a tree up and fall decorations every where. I have some work to do. I can't complain. They got so much done - gutters cleaned out, roof blown off, leaves raked, and all the Christmas up up. They are go getters.

Today I have been matching up what I have bought for each one and what it cost. I like things to come out as even as possible. Yesterday we were still sitting at the table when Malachi, aged 4, came from the back with a rifle in his hands and a big grin. He had gone into Santa's workshop and that is a no, no. Madeline puts a big keep out sign on the door as soon as I start my shopping. Guess Malachi doesn't get it. We had to explain that Grandma buys for all her grandchildren and that might not be his present. That is the only thing he has asked for.

Well, I am getting tired. Ed took me to our little mall today and pushed me around for a while so I could enjoy being part of the crowd. That is love when your husband takes you to the mall on black Friday. He is not a shopper but he knows I love it. He did get two new pairs of pants out of it. I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and as we look towards the celebration of the birth of Christ, let us remember what his love and sacrifice mean to us.

It's Beginning to Look a lot like Thanksgiving

I am looking forward to the holidays this year. I have done most of my Christmas shopping on line. Of course, Ed says I shop till the stores close on Christmas Eve. It is rough with 14 grandkids and trying to get ideas for all of them. I have already bought - fooled you, grandkids- I know you are the only ones who read my posts.

Marcy and her family will be here for Thanksgiving along with my cousin Bette, her husband Haskell, and may be her daughter, Connie. We use to spend Thanksgiving together when Bette lived with us. I am so looking forward to it. Of course, I can't do all the things I want to do to get ready but my kids keep saying don't worry so I am not. Monica is going to Albany to be with Warren's family and Scott's Mom and Dad are going to Kentucky. A lot different than last year when every one was here.

I have much to be thankful for and I have to remind myself when I am sitting in the chair at dialysis feeling like I am going to lose it if I can;t get up. Three and a half hours drad by.

I pray for each of you to have a blessed Thanksgiving. Oh, I found out today that my new little great nephew who will be born in April will be named after my brother and his granddaddy, John. I wish he was here to see his two kids all grown up and married and could enjoy his precious grandchildren. He will be celebrating Thanksgiving in heaven. I miss him so much.

Life Does Not Always Go the Way You Plan

My grandchildren have been after me to post but my life changed abruptly in January not long after I posted last. I went to the doctor for a simple procedure on my finger to clean out an open wound of gout. I ended up in the hospital for 6 weeks with mrsa (a serious staph infection). I came home very weak but slowly began to get stronger. On June 4th I had my last physical theraphy session and had just gotten in the car. My doctor called and told me I needed to go to the hospital as soon as possible. I had terrible swelling and couldn' get it under control. I was put on dialysis and spent two weeks in the hospital and two weeks in rehab. I came home very weak and not sure how we would manage. My husband told me we were going to be okay and that it was just going to take time to get stronger. He is my encourager and my helper and without him I couldn't make it.

Dialysis three times a week is not my choice of a way to spend time but I try to make the best of it. Most people sleep or watch TV but I usually take the paper with me and a book. Sometimes I do snooze a little. The place I go is brand new and the people who work there are very nice. I see my doctor there once a week as he goes from chair to chair so that is nice. So far I am doing well and have lost 50 pounds. The nurse yesterday said she thought 40 of it was extra fluid. I do feel much better.

My biggest problem is my gout which has crippled my feet and hands. All the things I love to do I can no longer do such as sewing and quilting. I can still read and I may try my hand at painting again. My life is certainly not what I thought it would be at this age. I wanted to be able to visit grandkids, swim with them, play with them and just have fun. One day when I was feeling very down my granddaughter, Mariah, said "Grandma, I'm just glad you are sitting in your chair."

It is too bad that I had a head knowledge of my body being the temple of God but never lived that way. It is so important to take care of yourself.

This has been a rough year with my illness, car air conditioning going out, and now we have to replace the air conditioning and heat in the house. Lige goes on and you have to keep on keeping on as Ed would say.

Another thing that has been very difficult is finding out Kellie and her family are moving to Kentucky. We will not be able to see them nearly as much and not be able to watch Lily Kate learn to do all the things she will be doing in the next few years. She is an absolute doll. We want be able t hop in the car and go see them because I will have to make arrangements for dialysis when we go. We will go though. They are going to live in a beautiful area and I pray they find a house big enough for all of them and good yard for the boys.

Well, now I have posted and I will try to do better from now on. Hopefully, my posts will be happier from now on.

Welcome 2010!

Wow! the years fly by and before you know it, it is a new year. I think of all the promises or resolutions I have made over the years and how quickly they fade.

This year I have goals. Nothing great - just simply to take better care of myself both physically and spiritually. I would like to make a difference in someone's life this year. I want to make memories for my grandchildren. I want to be more faithful in writing in the grandchildren's
journals. It is painful to write but I can do a little each day. I want to spend more time in God's Word and have a better understanding. I want to spend time with my two Christian "partners", Pat and Mildred and learn from them. I want to spend time with my grandchildren, especially the older ones, encouraging them in their interests. I want each of my grandchildren to see Jesus in my life. If I can do all these things, it will be a good year.

Our Christmas time together as a family was wonderful - loud, fun, and crazy. The kids seemed pleased with their gifts and the "Cousins Productions" play was great. Only one person was missing - Joey. May be someday he will come back to us. He is in God's care. My niece got engaged and I pray this time she has planning her wedding will be a time of joy. She has always been special to me and I haven't even met her fiance. Her Mom thinks a lot of him. My prayer for them is they have "three" in their marriage and they can make it through the good times and the hard times.

May each one who reads this have a blessed New Year.

Christmas Joy

Even though it is only December 5th I have already had a wonderful Christmas. The day after Thanksgiving everyone was gone but Kellie's family. The guys had gotten my tree and decorations out the night before and set up the tree. Kellie and Scott left to go shopping and the kids and I decorated the tree. It was so much fun. That afternoon the girls, Abigail and Lydia, shut ourselves in "Grandma's workshop" and they wrapped all my presents while I told them funny stories of their Mom when she was younger. We had so much fun and it was great to be able to spend time with them like that. I did find out that Lydia takes after me - she loves Bob's peppermint candy. She ate LOTS of it.

Last Monday my daughter, Marcy, called and asked if I could take a day off from work. Of course, I said yes and Wednesday night McKenzie and Madeline came to spend a couple of days with us. What fun we all had! McKenzie wanted to spend time sewing (she left her sewing machine at home and also the directions for what she was making). Luckily I have two machines and we were also able to figure out the pattern. Madeline wanted to bake and she made 5 different kinds of cookies (yummy). They got to take a walk with their granddad over to where they use to live and they enjoyed that. We ate mexican and watched "A Man Called Peter" and we all cried (or felt like it) at the end. Well, at least I cried. We had a wonderful time and I hope made good memories for all the kids. Time spent with them is very precious and we treasure every minute.

Next week we will spend a couple of days with Carrington and Clayton and then Christmas with all the gift giving, food, and the wonderful Christmas program the kids do each year.

I wish for each of you happy times and the making of wonderful memories.

Bits and Pieces

It has been a while since I posted and a lot has happened. I had a major gout attack and was down for a couple of weeks. Lost the use of my left hand. It is slowly coming back but still don't have any strength in it. Gout has just about robbed me of everything I enjoy. I did get a good report yesterday that my uric acid level had gone down. That was the first good news I had gotten since I started having problems with gout.

I am looking forward to Thanksgiving when all my girls and their children and husbands will be at our house. What fun we will have and it will be a zoo with 14 grandchildren. Everyone will bring something and I will fix the turkey and dressing. Ed may have to get in on the "fun" and help me in the kitchen.

We are in Blue Ridge GA right now. This is one of our favorite places to visit; especially Mercier's Apple Store. We will be taking apples (pink lady) back for the three girls. Yummy!!! Saturday we will go to Carrington's drama recital and Sunday we will drive to Marcy's for the girls piano recital. A very busy weekend! Nothing else we would rather be doing than spending time with our grandkids. Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A WEEK MAKES

My last post was of the joyous news of the birth of our new grandson, Myles. We had rushed to the hospital with excitement. A week later we were rushing back to the same hospital with fear and dread of what we might find.

We had been to Valdosta to visit our daughter, Kellie, and her family and celebrate the birthdays of two of our granddaughters. I also had a visit with my cousin and her husband and we had had such fun. On the way back home we were going to stop at Marcy's house and leave her wheat which we had forgotten to leave when we stopped on the way down.

We pulled into the driveway and I sensed something was wrong. Her van and my other daughter, Kellie's van, were not there. (Kellie had driven up for the day to see Myles). McKenzie and her cousin, Lydia came out of the house to greet us. The news was not good. Marc, Matthew, and Malachi had been in a wreck. Malachi was in the house with scratches and a leg that was hurting (later discovered broken). Matthew and Marc were at the hospital trama center in Macon. The news was that Marc was okay and Matthew was hurt with a possible head injury.

Marcy's neighbor rode with us to the hospital to drive Kellie's car back and help us find the trama center. When we got there we went to Matthew's room. I thought I would pass out when I saw him. This person laying there with his eyes shut and not responding could not be the boy that always has such a sweet smile for his grandma. His face was cut in many places, his collar bone was cracked, he had a possible broken leg, other internal bruising, and a concusssion. The concern was his lack of response. After what seemed hours had passed, he began to come to and they moved him to a room. By the time we left the hospital, he was talking to us.

Throughout the whole ordeal, we can see God's merciful care was there. There was miracle after miracle, from a neighbor coming upon the accident and able to call his mother who called Marcy, to Kellie pulling in the driveway just in time to take Marcy to the scene of the accident to get Malachi.

Marcy and Marc are blessed with a wonderful church family and four men went immediately to the hospital to be with them. They took care of many little details and also provided a car for them to use.

Yesterday we were able to visit Marcy and her family and see for ourselves that the family is okay. Malachi has learned to move around quickly on his bottom with his cast and Matthew beat me at Scrabble.

We are thanking and praising God!

It's a boy!!!

Yesterday morning we received a call from my son in law, Marc, and he said that were at the hospital and baby # 6 was about to be born. We quickly got dressed and arrived right after he was born. He weighs 8# 12oz. and is 21 inches long. He looks like his sister Madeline but has dark hair. He is beautiful. He checked out perfect and his Mommy was busy nursing him when she noticed he was blue looking so off to the NICU. This is nothing new for them since 3 others have had breathing problems but still not pleasant. Talked with Marcy today and he is checking out fine and will soon be back in her room.

This is grandbaby number 14 and it was just as exciting as all the other births. Each child is special and unique. I got to see him but not hold him but we will visit Friday on the way to Kellie's house and I will get to love on him a little while. Then on to Kellie's to love on Lily Kate #13.

God has truly blessed us with wonderful children, great son s in law, and 14 "perfect" grandchildren. What more could you ask?

My granddaughter, Carrington, has been telling me I needed to do a new post so here goes. I have been pretty much "chair bound" because of an attack with my gout. I am tired of TV and tire of the computer. Don't have anything to read.

I had hoped to put a lot of wisdom into this blog, but I haven't done a real good job. I stay busy looking at my granddaughters and daughters blogs instead.

I few days ago my daughter, Monica, wrote on tribute to her childhood on her blog. It made me so happy to read of the memories she has and that they are good memories. She made me cry but they were good tears.

I wish every child could have good memories of their childhood. If I had to say what is most important thing you can do for your child, it would be:

1. live your faith before them

2. spend lots of time doing family fun activities

3. don't stress the little things

4. have many holiday traditions

5. time with grandparents (my kids had so much fun with my mom and dad)

6. be consistent with discipline (we were not so good with this one)

For example #4 - Bunny tracks on Easter "as he stepped in a plate of flour by the front door"

Christmas calendars (we made homemade ornaments out of scrapes of ribbon, lace, paper, etc. and put them on a poster board calendar we drew)

picking apples in the fall and going to a pumpkin farm

None of the things we did cost a lot of money. Take advantage of what is around you.

We try hard to make good memories for our grandchildren too. I love Christmas (eveything about it) and I try to make it fun for all although we are getting a little crowded. The grandkids do a play each year and last year we had to move to the church.

Family is the most important thing we have and praying for each one is very important. That's all the wisdom I have tonight. You better read this, Carrington.

Life Changes in a Flash

This has been a rough summer for our family. Several of us had a virus that lasted three weeks for me. I haven't felt real good all summer and about two weeks ago I went to the emergency room with congestive heart failure. I had gained a lot of weight and most of it was fluid. This makes it very difficult for my heart to work and it also weakens it. I spent three days in the hospital and came home feeling no better. I have lost twenty pounds of fluid and am beginning to feel better.

Last Saturday night I was watching TV when the phone rang. Ed answered it and I could tell it was not a good call. It seems about 2:00 that afternoon Mariah had been kicked in the chest by a horse. This is the second time she has been kicked. She had been taken to Macon by ambulance and was at Children's Hospital. She had a laceration to the spleen and they were watching it for bleeding. She spent three days in the hospital and now they are having to keep her quiet while it heals. This is not an easy task for any child but especially Mariah. She is busy playing outside all the time.

As I think about all that has happened, I am reminded how precious life is and how precious our families are. I feel so blessed to have so many grandchildren and wish I could spend more time with them. I enjoy telling them stories of the past and I hope they pass these stories down to their children and grandchildren. My hearts desire is to make good memories for my grandchildren. I wish the little ones could have known the active, busy grandma that the older ones remember. My goal is to try and get in better shape so I will have time with the little ones too.

I am so proud of the way our girls are raising their children. Tonight we ate out and I cringed as I watched a little baby (About 8 or 9 months) eating off his mothers plate and drinking her coke. My girls work hard to feed their kids in a healthy way. I hope they keep these habits as they get older so they can have long, healthy lives.

I do't know what the future holds but I do know Who holds the future. Each of you that reads this let your family know how much you love them. Life is short.

Pictures of Lily Kate~

About two weeks ago, we went to visit Kellie, to see Lily Kate. She is so precious! I love getting to see them for the first time!

Lily Katherine has arrived

Well, baby 13 decided not to be a 4th of July baby but we will still celebrate her birth every year during that time, I am sure. Her name is Lily Katherine but will be called Lily Kate. She weighed 9 pounds and is 20 inches long so she is a chunk. Mama Kellie had a pretty long labor but it took only 2 pushes to get her into the world. Marcy, Kellie's sister who is due in September, is praying her delivery will be that easy. With Kellie was, Scott the coach, Marcy, and the two big sisters, along with the midwife. Thirteen grandchildren and this birth was just as exciting and she is just as precious as all the others. Each child is unique, wonderful, and created in the image of God. How amazing and what a miracle. We thank God for a safe delivery and a precious, healthy baby. I have been sick so I haven't even gotten to see her yet but thank goodness for e-mail and pictures.

A Real 4th of July Celebration

I got a call tonight July 3rd and it looks like grandbaby # 13 will be a "A Yankee Doodle Dandy", a real live niece of Uncle Sam. I have wakened several times during the night and immediately prayed for Kellie and the baby. It is hard not knowing if she (Kellie) is in the hospital, in labor, or possibly already holding the precious baby girl. It is also hard not to be on my way there but I have been sick and running a fever for nearly two weeks and we are sure not going to take any stupid chances. I can't wait to hear who she is and to hold her. I wonder she will look like Abigail or Lydia? What will her personality be like? My prayer for her is that she will be healthy, happy, and love the Lord with all her heart as she grows into a young woman. Will post the name as soon as I know it. Better get back to sleep.