Some of my favorite pictures

Just a few of my favorite pictures. Some are just favorite memories of events, of touching moments in time, and just because this is my wonderful family, that I love very much.

Last Game

Awesome season Shelbie!!

I just have the best time watching my grandchildren participate in "anything". They work so hard to achieve their own little piece of "greatness".

Tonight was Shelbie's last fastpitch softball game of the regular season. This year was a first for girls Babe Ruth Baseball, and it was fun. ** Since I last edited this post, she was selected to represent her hometown on a state team. They play their first game on July 11th, I am looking forward to it**

They started slow tonight, and we wondering if the heat was getting to them. It was hot and humid. They seemed to be sluggish, and were just going through the motion of the game. The opposing team scored first. It was 2 to 0. It stayed 2-0 for a while, then it was 5 and then 8 to 0. They came out to play field after the opposing team score the eighth run, and this time they put 'em out 1,2 3. Came to bat and scored 5. Shelbie was at bat three times. First and second times at bat she grounded out. The third time she hit an infield fly ball, and got a stand up double. She placed it in a hole, and scored two, and then scored herself. It was exciting.

Unfortunately they lost the game, but they played well and I just want to say, I enjoyed the thrills they provided. Thanks!

PRETTY ROSES and others

Since the roses were looking so beautiful this evening, I decided to take pictures of them. I have just two bushes. One is red, and the other is yellow. If you remember from another blog, the yellow was a gift from my wonderful neighbor Faye (the rose queen). I guess I needed sun to capture the petals from a distance, but you get the idea. I did the close up of the yellow rose that has opened today. I imagine the other buds are not far behind. There are several buds on the yellow bush. The red rose was here when I moved here, and it has been sorely neglected. Faye is amazed that it is still alive. But you can see from the picture it is blooming and it's lovely.

The extra picture I threw in here is of my hydrangea bush. I planted it last year, and it was nipped by jack frost. So all I got last year was green bush. This year I have the prettiest pink flower. It's not big, but it's there, so I guess there is hope after all. I love roses especially yellow.

Roses are red, violets are blue, I like the yellow ones how about you?

"MY" Niece...Muffy

I guess you are wondering what the title means. The pictures I have added here are pictures of MY niece. I wanted to make sure you understood the word MY, so I capitalized it. Possessive that way.
She is the oldest daughter of my youngest brother, Monte. I lost my brother in a motorcycle accident in 1993. Muffy, that's what she's called, I will explain that later. Anyway, she was not quite 16 years old when she lost her Dad.
I had only seen her a couple of times. Why you ask? It's not worth the time it takes to write it, so we will skip it. Several years ago, she and her sister, Mandy, decided to try and find me. With the help of their Aunt Marsha, they found Tim. They made the contact and I ended up with the nicest surprise one evening. I was face to face with two of the most beautiful young women I had ever seen. I didn't know who they were, I just knew they were gorgeous. It truly is an odd feeling, when your kids say "this is your surprise", and you don't know what they are talking about. Here stands two young women, a cute guy and two little boys, along with another older woman, that you feel you should know, but you don't! It has been a special gift getting to know them. I find myself wanting to know them more and more.

Muffy, here's where the name came from. I think I am right, and hopefully when she reads this she will correct me if I am wrong. Her eyes are like blueberry muffins, and her Daddy called her muffin, therefore...Muffy. Muffy has three of the cutest little boys. Axton, Aidyn and Alyjah. I could take that little Alyjah home and keep him, or as Danelle says...put him in my pocket.

We all had lunch together today. Alyjah asked me "Aunt Nancy, did you come to my birthday when I turned 5?". I said "no", he said "why not", and I said " because you didn't invite me to your party". He had a puzzled look and just simply said "oh". When he was done eating, he came and sat beside me and proceeded to tell me all about the Indiana Jones movies. He is a kick. Aidyn, talked mostly about Star Wars and all that goes with it. I have seen the movies, but I don't know a lot about the toys that go with it, so I couldn't carry on much of a conversation with him. I think he thought, since I had boys I should know this stuff. Axton is the oldest and such a polite young man. Please and thank you for everything I or someone else did for him. He and I had a conversation about sopapias (I know that's not spelled right), anyway, I shared with him about them and where they came from. I only know this because My Aunt Celinda told me. It was a great lunch and I enjoyed the time with the boys and of course their Mom.

I am so happy to have this chance to spend with Muffy, everyone needs a connection to their history and extended family. I was fortunate to have an aunt that told me about my extended family and it's exciting to share some of those stories with someone else who wants to know.

Muffy is married to Scott, I don't have a picture of him, but he is a handsome, nice guy. Muffy adores him so I guess he checked out okay. I think my brother would have approved of him, maybe not in the beginning, because what Dad wants to let go of his little girl. Muffy is smart, pretty, ornery, but very loving, a wonderful mother and a special niece. Gee, am I a lucky aunt or what?

My Oldest & Bestess Friend

This is Sharon, for those of you who don't know who she is.

I have known Sharon, it seems like most of my life. We were cousins by marriage, and now we are not. We are just besties

We grew up together as newly married ladies. We were pregnant at the same time, both times. Our oldest children were born six weeks apart, Tim was first, then Michelle. Then Todd was born eight weeks before Mark. We have shared many many things over these years. When the kids were little, and I mean little, we would get together at her house or mine and play games. We spent lots of hours together comparing notes on child rearing. When Mark was seven months old, (1971) we moved to Newton, it was hard to leave my friend behind. Not too long after that, they moved to Sioux City Iowa. One Thanksgiving, Gary and I and the boys went to Sioux City. We were all going to have Thanksgiving together. Interestingly enough, neither Sharon nor I had ever cooked a turkey. When we got it out of the wrapping, we both just stood there and laughed. It was most definitely naked. We cleaned the package of giblets out of the chest part. Only thing, when the turkey was done, we found the "other " package of giblets that was in the butt. It was a dinner to remember. From Sioux City they moved to Des Monies; then a suburb of Detroit; Piscatoway NJ; and finally Simsbury CT. John's job with the US Postal Service moved them around a lot. In the mid 1990's, Sharon came back home to Wichita. Her daughter lives in New Orleans, and her son in Chicago. She is the proud grandma of two beautiful kids, Lily and Luke. Through all of the moves, Sharon and I always remained close. When my boys were married she came from Simsbury both times. How many of you can say a friend traveled all those miles just to share in a family joy. Sharon's family lives here. Her brother and his family and her mom. She lost her dad to Alzheimer's a few years ago.

Sharon is the kindest most loving, giving person I know. I have said many times that without her friendship and strength I would not made it through my time of grief. She made her self available all the time, not just some of the time. I will always be grateful for her friendship and love. We have done some crazy things over these years. We have gone on trips together, been lost together, slipped and slid on ice, when we should have been at home. For most of the past ten years, we have set aside one night a week just to have dinner and talk. We can talk about anything without offending either of us. She gives me advice and I return the favor. We have grunted and groaned about everything you can think of. Nothing is off limits. It is so good to have someone you can talk to without it traveling to places it shouldn't go. She has always celebrated the successes of me, my kids, my grand kids, birthdays etc. And in return I have always done the same. When you're feeling low, you can count on a card in your mailbox, or a bouquet of flowers. I can't say enough about Sharon. She is my lifetime friend and I cannot imagine my life without her in it.

PaPa and Valleri WAIT'N for those babies!!

This is Papa and Valleri, sitting together in the waiting room at St. Joseph's Medical Center. You ask what are they waiting for? Well this is the day Emily was born.

Here they are again, in the waiting room at Newton Medical Center. Can you guess who they are waiting for? Yep! This is the day Shelbie was born.

When I find the third picture I will add it. It is, as you probably have guessed. Waiting for Landon. It is so much fun to look at these pictures again.

WHY??

I bet you are wondering why all of these old pictures are appearing. I started a scrapbook a long time ago, and I can't seem to get it done. So, I am using my blog space to share these pictures and brief stories about the pictures. Sorry if you're bored, but I am trying to preserve some of this stuff while I still remember it. Maybe I will finish the scrapbook, maybe not, but at least some of it is here.

The Girls

Well, here they are, Gary's girls. This was taken before Valleri was born. When our sons got married, these two were just as much a part of our family as if they were born into it. You hear the nightmare stories of really rotten daughters in law, but that is not the case here. Our family was truly blessed when our son's chose them as their life partners. They fit together like "peas in a pod". It's so nice that they like each other, not to mention that they are the best Mom's to our grandchildren, and wonderful wives to our sons. What more could you want for your children? They look so young in this picture, get it YOUNG. Danelle hails from a very small town in northwestern Kansas, it's a miracle that they ever met, guess that is what God does, the miracle thing. Michelle is a Wichita girl, and as the story goes, she and Mark didn't like each other. Here again, miracles at work. I am so glad she changed her mind, him too. Gary loved these two, and they loved him back. They gave him so much joy in the time they had together. Thank you girls for all that you are, and all that you have given to our family, I love you with all my heart.

"YOO HOO"

Mark, Valleri, Grandma Yoo Hoo holding Emily and Gary (1997)

Tim, Grandma Yoo Hoo holding Shelbie and Gary (1997)

Over the years I have talked to some of you about Gary's Mom. The kids called her "Grandma Yoo Hoo". I guess you are wondering why she was called that. Well it all started when Kerrymaie was born. Yoo Hoo would come to visit her great granddaughter, and when she came in the door, she would yell "YOOOO HOOOO", thus the name was born. Attached are a couple of pictures of what we called a generation picture. So enjoy, and sorry Landon, you were not born yet.

Yoo Hoo was always so excited when a new great grandchild arrived. When she passed away in 2000, she was blessed with 9 grandchildren; (8 boys and 1 girl); 16 great grandchildren: (5 boys and 11 girls). If she were here today, she would be enjoying a great great grandson, and looking forward to the birth of the second great great grandchild. My oh my what a legacy she has. She was the oldest of her siblings, and was the last to survive. Her sons preceded her in death, and it was a very hard time for her. She just did not understand what God's plan was when Bill and Gary passed before her. But she is dancing in glory now with them. Praise the Lord.

The RED Apron

I mentioned the RED apron below, so here is a picture of it. It is the only one I could find, and as usual, Dad was grabbing the "short" hairs on Tim. Ornery ornery!!
We lived in a country home the years our kids were growing up. We had a beautiful yard, and the first summer after we had the extension on our patio poured, we added a table and chairs. River rock surrounded it and there was a walkway from the original to the new. When they poured that patio, Gary had them put a strategically placed hole, that was so the umbrella could go through the table into it's hole, it made it lower and steadier against that Kansas wind. If you check out the folks in that picture you will see: Tim, Danelle, Michelle, Mark, Dad and the little blue eyed bombshell Valleri!! You will notice that Missy is pointing at something and has the undivided attention of her Papa. It looks like Michelle is holding Emily, Shelbie had not arrived yet, she arrived later that year.

Any man can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a DAD!!

Time out for a hug at a rest area in Silver Dollar City on our last vacation together. We rode the rides, got wet on some of them. When I said last vacation, I simply mean, before they went off to college and eventually got married. A time when they were still our "little" boys.
Summer of 1971, Dad with his boys at Eldorado Lake. It was a "Young" family camping trip with Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle Burt's family and us. We had a tent city, and always enjoyed the time together, that is, until it started to rain. It seemed to always rain on us. It would not rain for weeks, then let the family put up the tents, and here comes the rain. We were magnets for the storms. This was Mark's first summer at this type of adventure. It looks like Tim and Daddy were in a very important discussion. Tim probably wanted to go lakeside and fish. The other man in the picture is Gary's brother Bill (Burt).

Yep, you guessed it, in the recliner with full control of the remote. After a hard days work you would find him there, sometimes asleep with Skippy and LT. Skippy would sleep on the top of the back of the chair, and LT in his lap. Later the pets were replaced by sweet little munchkins who joined us.

One of his passions was playing golf. He always said that you needed dress sharp and look the part you played. That way no one would ever know if you played the game well or not. His only request on Father's Day was that his boys play a round with him. Being the age that Mark was, he rebelled about that, but always went, and always had a good time. Gary said that Mark was a natural at the game, his center of gravity was low and that gave him the advantage of playing well.

Wonderful pictures tell the story of a gentle man who was a wonderful father, and memories of Father's Days past. In later years, he always fired up the grill and cooked steaks, chicken, and shrimp on Father's Day. According to Valleri, her "Papa cooked the best chicken she ever ate. " She was his sidekick at the grill. I am sure those who were present at those Father's Day cookouts remember the RED apron he wore. Looked good, because he always wore shorts and his legs were always hanging out. What fun we had!!

Volunteering is more...........

As most of you know, I am volunteering at a local hospital. This is the third week for me, and I have found it to be very enlightening. Originally, I said that I would get back to you and report on the experience. So here goes.........

When I started I was paired up with "Gary". Gary is president of the volunteer's association. I asked him today how long had he been doing this, and he only said " a long long time". He is the go to person for anything you need to know. Now being the type of person I am, I continually quiz him on anything and everything I think is important to me and how I do this job. I am sort of anal about that type of thing. I want to do it right the first time, and I believe that experience in doing, is the best teacher. What I learned today is unbelievable and totally amazing to me.

The volunteer association of the Via Christi system worked and raised a quarter of a million dollars last year. That money is distributed to various areas that Via Christ supports. Such as:

*The Sister Mother MaryAnne Clinic: supported lactation education for indigent mothers and their children.

* Koch Arena: helped buy equipment needed for the sports medicine clinic located at the arena. Interns of the system work and learn in that clinic.

* Gave $1,000.00 scholarships to worthy Teen Volunteers for further education in any in state university or college.

*Gave monetary grants to: Our Lady of Lourdes Rehabilitation Center and to the Good Shepherd Campus (drug & rehab center).

That is just to mention a few recipients. I was amazed. I had no idea what the volunteers did other than their usual duties. These volunteers are our senior citizens and our teens. They are totally dedicated to their association and the accomplishments of the association.

I asked Gary how was the money raised, and he said: they have T-towel sales, the two hospital's gift and flower shops; all of the vending machines; jewelry sales and bake sales.

The volunteers of the Via Christi system are more than just a room number, letter delivery, wheelchair pushing or delivering those beautiful flowers. I have a new respect for them and what they are about, and feel privileged to have been allowed into that circle. It is not only the seniors of our community, it also the teens. Together they are making the hospital stays of the client better and less stressful, and working to give back to the hospital in areas that are in need.

So when you buy a gift or flowers from one of the shops, or support a bake sale, or buy a t-towel, etc. You are supporting the work of the volunteer and all the good they do and continue to do.

Baseball

Was it ever HOT!! I had forgotten just how hot it is, sitting at a baseball game in the full blazing Kansas sun. I had the pleasure of watching Landon play his game this evening. His game was early evening, so it had not had time to cool off. As I sat there I was trying to remember doing this very same thing many years ago. Was it that hot? Unfortunately it was, but I was younger and tougher~~ I think. Landon plays pitching machine baseball. A machine pitches the ball, and they get up there and hit it. It was fun to watch him. He was at bat three times. He hit two doubles and one single. He played center field, first base and pitcher. That kid can run like there is no tomorrow. He is fast. I did not take my camera so I don't have a picture of him. His Dad took one with his phone camera, hopefully he will send it to me. When the game was over he looked so tired and hot, and said he didn't feel too well. I think he had enough of the heat and just wanted to go home. In this type of game, they don't keep score, so I don't know who scored the most, but it was fun to watch him show off his skills. Great game Landon, you are my HERO!!

It's All About Attitude........

Have you ever seen a cuter girl? I love to watch this beauty, she is loaded with so much energy, personality and mucho fun. She is styling here, when I saw this picture, I knew I had to swipe it from her Mom to add to my blog. Just so I could look at it when ever I wanted to.