lunch at aunt nellie's.

feb. birthday celebrations ended yesterday with lunch at aunt nellie's. amy turned 23 and we celebrated with her there. an invitation to slide your feet under aunt nellie's table is one you just don't turn down. here's why...fried chicken, creamed potatoes & corn, green beans, fruit salad, pink salad, steamed veggies, fried apples & hot, homemade rolls...for dessert, cherries jubilee, skillet chocolate pie, pecan pie and amy's birthday cake...angel food with chocolate pudding in the middle frosted with cool whip...my, oh my. Needless to say, the best thing that goes with that meal is a long nap after! Those in attendance were aunt nellie, mom, dad, amy, robin, gail, troy and me. we tied the afternoon up with a hand of continental, aunt nellie won, of course...it was a good day.

celebrating jerry.

better late than never. jerry's b-day was feb. 9, gail's feb. 8 and holly's feb. 19. we met at cracker barrel and celebrated last night x3...we were sung to and served up chocolate cobbler with a scoop of vanilla bean, yum! mom, dad, gail, alfred and troy were there. Can you tell dad and jerry are related? pete and repeat. It was good, as always.

blessed.

Today is my birthday and this is what I know for sure. I know that God loves me because he gave me these parents. It is so easy to believe my heavenly Father loves me unconditionally because that is how I have been loved in this life. 39+ years ago, mama gave birth to me and today...
she and Daddy gave me the world. What else was there to give? They've given and taught me all I'll ever need to know by loving God, each other and our family before me. I am blessed, in so many ways, but today I feel extremely blessed because I have them in my daily life and they let me be there...putting up with my bossy, worrywart self. Here is what else I know...I know that we and Daddy are facing a challenge with the necessity of dialysis and so we press on...toward life...enjoying the blessing of every day, knowing God is in control.

It's been a good day...lunch and a "globe building day" with Mama and Daddy and a lazy evening at home with Troy and our furry little girl-child. Thank you family and friends for all the "happy birthdays" and thanks Mama and Daddy for the "world". I love you.
-Holly

celebrating gail.

Yesterday was Gail's Birthday and we celebrated by taking her to her fave dining spot, Red Lobster. Happy birthday Gail, the years have been kind!

"kings don't eat better than this"

...that's what we're hoping to hear Dad say again soon. Learning to cook kidney friendly is proving to be quite the challenge. Having to watch sodium, protein, potassium & phosphorous means grocery shopping by reading labels, reading labels & reading labels. Have I got news for you...if you read all the labels we have...you'd stop eating. "Ignorance is bliss" is not doable for us anymore, and Dad has been quite patient with us trying to learn and adjust recipes, although everything lacks on the flavor side...we're learning though slow but sure. Dad's hemoglobin is up just a little and today he said he's felt better than he has in some time, great news! As a matter of fact, he's been a little full of himself to the point that Mom has threatened to put him "time-out". Potatoes are on the "no" list unless they are leeched...bless Mom's heart...leeches she does and she's got a roast in the oven for supper...maybe tonight is the night he'll eat like a king.

-Holly

under the weather.

Dad actually had a roaring fire but the flames didn't show up well when Mom took the photo. He spent a few days basking in the warmness of his fire downstairs and Mom worked up a cold. This cold/cough/general cruddiness has worked its way through me, Troy, now Mom and Dad. We did manage to gather to watch the superbowl yesterday, Gail came over too, hope she escapes the sickies. We're hanging in there and improving a little at a time.

-Holly

Sunday: day of rest...literally.

Quite peaceful around here this afternoon. Holly & I cleaned up after lunch and walked into the den to find our dear husbands asleep and basketball on the TV. Hope you're all having a restful Sunday.

-Edna (aka Mama, Maw, Grandma & GiGi)