January 20,2010

Hi Friends,

Last few days before we leave. Yesterday I took out my carry -on suitcase and Lucky jumped right in. He wants to go no matter what he goes in. How funny! I'm trying to remember to get everything put on vacation hold and tie up loose ends. Got the important things done--- like manicure and pedicure.

The big questions is whether I will fit in the clothes I left down there last year. I really have a lot of work to do and I am hoping Bonaire and the nice weather will motivate me. I plan to do walking, diving reading, napping and as little eating as possible. Now that Lucky's behavior has improved we should be able to take walks without disturbing the local dogs and geckos. I am trying to get visits in to our kids before I go but their schedules are busier than mine. Tomorrow I will see Jason play basketball and last week I saw Matthew perform in his show choir. They came in third in the competition last weekend and have another one this weekend. If you ever watch Glee on TV, that is kind of what he does.
Everyone in the family is good. Michael is going to Phoenix for a conference so he will get to visit Karen and Mark while he is in town. Their weather has to be better than ours. We're having freezing rain right now.

Just read the Kite Runner. Forgot I had read it before - that is always fun. Did that with a movie a couple weeks ago. I remember the part I just read or what I just saw but don't remember what happens. Hope that is just senior moments.

By the way, The organization Feed My Staving Children that is sending food to Haiti is the same organization that our church has been packing food for for the last year. We go there quarterly with about 60 people from Carillon for two hours and pack food for the orphanages which is passed out by missionaries. They are funded strictly by donations from companies and privately. Glad to see they got some good press.

Bye for now. I will update from Bonaire.

God Bless.
Mary Anne

yeah 2010!

Hi Friends,
Well, here we are in 2010. The kids have all gone home and Cas and her family have come back home after being in Florida for a week. Lucky and I are enjoying some leisure time and I realize I have been too busy the last few months and have to give myself permission to have a day with nothing to do.

I bought a net book computer to take to Bonaire and am trying to figure out how to download books on it from the library. I just successfully downloaded one to my MP3 player with a lot of help from Cassie. How do these young kids figure all that out? These books are free as audio books so it is a better deal than Kindle. Books are important in Bonaire as we do spend time reading in the afternoons and evenings.

Three weeks from today we will be on our way - the "we" being Ed and Jayne and Lucky and me. I should start making lists now.

Hope you all had a good New Year and that God blesses you in the year to come.

Take care,
Mary Anne

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Boxing Day in Scotland
Hi Friends,Well, a few of you have found my new site. I will send an email to some of you so you can get here. If you sign up as a follower, you will get an email when I post and then you don't have to keep checking the blog when there is nothing there.Christmas Eve was great. I spent the afternoon with Cas and Kirk and family decorating Christmas cookies after a wonderful brunch. Then I sang with the ensemble for Christmas Eve service at 5 P.M. The last two songs were "O Holy Night"( which Joe always did as a solo) and Silent Night (which is always good for a cry). Luckily the lights were out and we were all holding up candles so I wasn't real obvious. I came home and watched part of "Its a Wonderful Life" and then fell asleep. Christmas morning I was lazy and then went to Kev and Tracy's for the afternoon and evening. It was a really rainy day but then it turned to snow and today it is snowing like crazy. Karen and Mark are headed downtown to celebrate their first anniversary at the same hotel as last year. They should have a pretty day down there. We probably have several inches of snow. Cas and family are headed down to Florida to see Kirk's folks for a week. I have their dog Molly while they are gone so Lucky has someone to play with. (How do you not end that sentence with a preposition?) They should change that rule!I got my Skype up and running and talked to my pen pal in Scotland this morning. That was great. I hope to get back there to visit sometime.I am still finding little things around the house that belong to different children and grandchildren but it was comforting to see the house full of shoes, bags, toys, DS's computers etc. I never mind the mess.Well, I think I will go out and see what is on sale after Christmas. That may be a big mistake. No, on second thought, the snow is too bad. I'll stay home. Denny is going to drive us to the show this afternoon to see a Sherlock Holmes movie.Hope you all have great holidays. May you feel blessed by Christ for family and friends. I sure do.Take care.Mary Anne

Merry Christmas 2009

Hi Friends,
I decided it was time to start my own blog. Joe has been gone a year now and it seems appropriate to do something on my own. My life is full of family and friends and some work. I'm not sure what will be interesting but in case you want to keep up with me and my life in a general way, this is where you will find it.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I am spending Christmas Eve with Cas and Kirk and family and tomorrow I will be with Kev and Tracy and kids. I will be singing at the Christmas Eve service later today at Carillon.

I will leave the other blog intact in case you want to read it.

Take care and God Bless.
Mary Anne