Real Coffee drinkers!

Real coffee drinkers make a POT of coffee in the morning...not one cup at a time. Real coffee drinkers nurse that pot until around noon. We drink about two-thirds of the coffee and then go back for a warm up. Rarely do we drink an entire cup at one sitting. We carry it from random place to random place with us while we sip...it cools down...we refill/warm up and carry on! This cannot accomplished with the one shot wonder cups. 

Brewing a whole pot of coffee will fill the home with the delicious smell of morning coffee....without a coffee smelling candle! AND...you know what? A real piece of punkin' pie with the real cup of coffee is MUCH better than pumpkin flavored coffee. OR....a real chocolate brownie with your coffee is soooo much better than mocha flavored java. Even better...cook a pan of brownies while brewing a pot of coffee for the ultimate smell...and then eat that warm brownie with that freshly brewed coffee. It won't get much better than that! 

My brother and his sweet wife bought my mustache man and me a good ole' cheap Mr. Coffee coffee pot to use when we visit. Think they figured it might be cheaper than watch us go through dozens of their little creamer sized coffee shots each morning. But then...dadgummit...both of my daughters have succumbed to the one cup wonder craze. We're thinking we need our own traveling pot to take with us from now on. It's certainly not that we don't appreciate the efforts of our hosts. We do...we really do. We love them from the deepest place in our hearts...sigh...but clearly somewhere something is wrong. 

BUT...at least they have not fallen the way of Jim's brother and his wife (we love them from that same deep place)...they and even some of their kids now drink HOT TEA! It's just plumb embarrassing! If you live in Texas...you just can't put your pinkie in the air with those small dainty cups...folks get the wrong idea and think you're from England. 

Well...nuff said. No offense to anyone. I'm gonna go throw some cold coffee in the microwave and heat it up for one more sip before I make a new pot. :) 

Spring Break 2006

The following is an email I wrote in 2006...this was the height of our frustrational times with Papa...many have requested I send it to them again...so decided to post! 

Four generations....Jim holding Shelby, Andy...and Papa! This was taken on Father's Day
...celebrating sweet Dads. 

Sat...uneventful...begin to wind down...looking forward to the glorious week stretching ahead....putter around the house. Jim is under the weather...but goes ahead and teaches a hand gun class at Gander Mountain. Nice to be alone in the house.....ummmmmmmmm!!!!

Sun....go to pick up Papa at Stonebrook....he is surprised I am there. He thought we were in California?????? I have never been to California....don't reckon I am planning to go there....He had called Daisy and she was supposed to pick him up from church. He tells me that his phone is not working ... he fell on his cell phone and broke it. SO....I go to his regular phone...pick it up. It works just fine. I try to catch Daisy at church....can't ...call Bill, her husband...he is about to leave to pick up Papa. I tell him not to come...that I am at Stonebrook. He wonders if we canceled our trip to California?

Mon...Papa is distraught because he says he fell on this cell phone and broke it. Yes, it is REALLY broken into about six pieces. It cannot be repaired. Jim goes to Stonebrook (leaving around 10) takes Papa to get a new cell phone. Before he leaves he has to "fix" the regular phone (that was never broken???) They get to Cingular....they tell him (as we have told him a dozen times) that his cell phone cannot be repaired. SO....now we are on a quest for another cell phone. Papa is not thrilled with this idea......he wants his old cell phone repaired. Again....not possible. Finally, they try to get him an older model phone from the back of the store that is a little bigger, bigger buttons, etc. so that he can handle it. Now.....you need to know that this phone cannot be dressed in the different colored covers that Papa so enjoys. You know how he likes to change the covers to match holidays ...and screw up his phone. Well, he can't play dress up with the new phone....he is not happy!!!! Now....you know the Cingular drill...cancel the old contract, deactivate old phone, new contract, activate new phone. Then, patiently, Jim takes him back to Stonebrook, programs all the numbers for him and they have phone lessons! Gets home about 3 that afternoon......weary and frustrated....but it is only Mon after all.......and the promise of the week ahead is still hopeful!

Tuesday.......nine o'clock...phone rings......Daisy Miller. She is letting us know that Papa has called her and he wants her to come get him so he can take his old phone to Wal Mart so that they can fix it! She wants us to know that he is not happy with his new phone that he cannot work it.....and it is black! Yes, we are aware the phone is black......and NO....Wal Mart cannot fix the old phone.....AND even if they did it has been deactivated....a concept that Daisy is not quite sure about. So....I tell her not to go pick him up....that Jim spent the entire day with him on Mon and what Papa wants does not exist. Daisy gratefully backs out of the phone deal....and is glad to hear we didn't go to California!

While Jim is running a few errands....I get three phone calls from Papa.....letting me know that the phone is not working out. He can't punch the numbers and because it is black he can't see it very well. He tells me that the people at Cingular are waiting for him to get there.....I assure them they are not! When Jim gets home he goes and picks him up and takes him to Cingular to see about trading phones. They wait for two hours......finally get to the lady.....and Papa goes into his big ..."let me tell you about my life" mode. He tells the lady behind the counter that he has had cancer and every week (he had about 5 treatments) for a year he had chemo. The chemo caused him to fall and when he fell he landed on his cell phone AND....now this is the good part....are you ready? You will really love this.......he broke his middle two fingers on his left hand! He raised up his middle two fingers and showed them to the lady! Because he has broken those fingers.....he cannot use his pointer finger on his right hand to punch in the numbers on his new cell phone. Well, good Lord! Why didn't he say so in the first place......who knew he had broken his fingers on his left hand.....that explains everything!!!!!!!

Finally, in frustration (because he is not getting his way) he decided he doesn't need a cell phone. God Bless America....Praise the Lord.......Papa without a cell phone....this is wonderful surprise blessing! SO....Jim returns the cell phone...cancels the new contract.....takes him back to Stonebrook. Jim gets home around 4.....goes to the back bedroom, shuts the door....it is dark in there. Around 7 that evening....Papa calls.....he is upset.....his cell phone is broken!!!! Jim tells him....yes, we are aware of that. Papa tells him that a man at Stonebrook fixed his old cell phone for him and now it doesn't work. Jim tries to explain that first of all.....the man probably didn't fix it......but even if he did that old phone is now deactivated. This is just too complicated of a word....they just don't get that.

Wednesday.....around nine o'clock.....phone rings. Who in the hell invented phones anyway? Alexander Graham Bell.....what were you thinking ....wasn't the world better off when we couldn't contact each other so easily. I don't know about you.....but frankly I don't really care if I am in the know every second of the day. It is Cingular! Yes, it is.....and guess who is there! Papa is at Cingular.....and is about the cross the highway to walk to WalMart.....where they can fix his phone. Then his son (that would be Jim) is going to pick him up there. I asked her how he got there.....she said well, I am assuming that your husband brought him and dropped him off......I said, NO....my husband is in the yard. It appears that George dropped him off.....thinking that Papa had already arranged with Jim to be picked up. AND...no...they cannot fix his old cell phone. I told her to NOT let him cross the highway to go to WalMart (I had to think about that one for awhile) SO......Jim went to Cingular to pick up Papa.....now he has decided he does want a new phone! NOW.....are you ready??????? He picked out the first phone that Jim got for him on Monday......YES, HE DID!!!!!! We are in cell phone hell!


Jim tried to explain to him that this was the very phone that they brought back yesterday because he couldn't punch the numbers with his broken fingers.....So Papa said, once again.....just forget the whole thing. I don't want a cell phone if I can't have my old cell phone. Jim takes him back to Stonebrook and about the time they get to Reba's Ranch house.....he changes his mind. Jim just stopped and pulled off the road and put his head on the stirring wheel. He says he just sat there for awhile. This patient God fearing man is about to blow.....I recognize the signs.

They headed back to Cingular....finally, they picked out another phone that is a flip phone.....but Jim thought he could handle it because the numbers are big....and there is a big red button for stop and a big green button for go. It is simpler. Completed more paper work.....took him back to Stonebrook, programmed it again.....and spent awhile in phone lessons followed by a stern lecture......got home around 4.

Thursday.....phone rings....around 7:30! It is not Papa....it is Andy.....who is number one in Papa's cell phone list. He and Bobbie got 8 calls from Papa between 5-6 this morning.........just making sure that the new cell phone works. Sometimes they could just hear him eating breakfast......sometimes he would just hang up. Andy wants his name removed......At about 8 I intercepted a call from Papa....Jim is not allowed to talk to him today. Papa just LOVES his new cell phone.......and just wanted us to know.

It is around 10 on Thursday morning.....please don't try to contact us.....we are packing for California!

Daddy Bob Lessons

It is September. Every September I get a lump in my throat about now...do a lot of reflecting, less talking...more listening and thinking. This week marks three years without Dad. It was this week that we spent together on Hospice floor in Abilene...when the world outside seemed far away while Dad slipped away. I miss him. It is now when I return to the blog site...go to the month of September and travel back through time to remember.

I often think of the way he leaned forward as he sat with his big ole' rough hands clasped together...and the way he chuckled. I miss his crusty take on life....his wise words....his politically incorrect... but right on target way of thinking. I just miss Him. He was not much for soft words....but I knew he had a soft spot in his heart for me...and I never ever wanted to disappoint him.

Lesson: My dad was generous. Now if you knew him you would laugh at that statement....because he was VERY tight with money. He was frugal....well...really....just tight! He was a saver...loved a good deal. He loved making a good deal. But...when it really came down to it....he was generous. If  he knew you were in need....you could count on Dad. BUT...here was the deal. If he gave money to you it was a gift....no strings....no pay back....it was a gift. He didn't want you to go on and on about it....or even really acknowledge he had given you anything. He was notorious for slipping bills in your pocket and saying..."don't tell momma". Momma didn't care...but I just think he didn't want anybody thinking he had such a tender side.....We often heard from others that he had helped them out. He had a soft spot for folks down on their luck...or folks society had rejected for one reason or another. So he went about doing good quietly...in secret....and it made it all the more special to those of us on the receiving end. I learned about giving and receiving from my earthly father...which made the giving and receiving of gifts from the heavenly Father all the sweeter.

Lesson: Dad forgave. Make no mistake about it....when we messed up we paid the consequences. Many a time I behaved myself simply out of the fear of the wrath when I got home. It wasn't physical....just a "won't put up with it" authority that kept us in line. Dad separated the silly from the serious....we never wanted to disappoint him. What I really appreciated was when something was over....it was over. Your punishment phase was paid....then done. We didn't re-hash it....discuss it forever....it was done. As an adult I have come to appreciate his style more and more. Consequences, Forgiveness...Grace....Forgetfulness....hmmmm once again my Dad modeled for me heavenly qualities. Truthfully, I don't think he knew what he was doing. I doubt he planned to be or do what he was.....I think most parents just do the best they can. I think Dad was just a man of incredible integrity and common sense. He just followed his heart and lived as he believed was right.

Lesson: Dad laughed. He just got the biggest kick out of so many things. He told the best stories....and when he got tickled.....he was so funny. On his death bed....he called Guy and I to come in close....we leaned in expecting some revelation or some words from the heart.....he whispered, "I wanna tell you kids something...." We leaned in closer...."You're gonna have your hands full with your momma!" We pulled back, looked at each other....and all giggled. So much for heartfelt gut wrenching last thoughts. It was really just him.....being him.

Lesson: Dad didn't linger. When Dad knew it was time...he was ready. He didn't want rounds of chemo....he didn't want to fight what he believed was just fighting for a few weeks of sickness....he didn't want to put anybody out. When the doc asked him if he understood what being moved to the Hospice floor meant.....Dad replied, "Let's get on with it!" And...he did. He was ready....he was at peace. What a lesson! Why are we so afraid to go....when we have been promised so much?

Lessons: Generosity, Forgiveness, Laughter....and Hope....my Dad's legacy! By the way....Dad was not perfect...and he would not want me to make it seem so....he was a forgiven sinner that struggled each day....but that is the point really! :) Can it really be three years?

Arrival of Ansley Kate!

The third granddaughter has arrived! After much speculation and some side betting on date, weight and other details....Ansley Kate Johnson decided to arrive two weeks early! Good girl! She weighed 7 lbs. 2 ozs. and was 19" long. On the morning of June 16th Amy's water broke....and we headed to the hospital. Having babies is not what it used to be...let me just say. Amy arrived at the hospital calm and showered. They hooked her up and gave her the juice that kicks it all in high gear. Amy had said she would just like to have it natural...Katie and I did a little eye-rolling. After about an hour of off the charts labor pains that were really close together....Katie finally said, "Amy, it is the 21st century....you don't have to do this!" SO....bring on the epidural AHHHH.......after that we visited, laughed, played cards and enjoyed the day. Around 3 or so....the nurse came in and checked her...."7"....woo hoo! Then around 4 Amy said she was feeling a little funny....not really hurting....but funny....nurse checked and shooed everyone out of the room....we were having a baby! I was allowed to stay in the room along with Katie and Greg. Well.....it is just a miracle. There is just nothing quiet so exhilarating as seeing a newborn baby arrive. Believe it or not it leaves me speechless....weepy every time.

She is long and skinny. Her skin is too big for her body. Her feet and toes are long....and she just might...maybe have a touch of red in her hair. She has long but very light eyelashes....and big eyes that seem a little too big for her delicate face. She is beautiful. And.....she is loved and adored by many. Amy and Greg will be incredible parents....and it will be fun to watch them on this journey of love. I am betting she will be funny, tall and lean.....and athletic! Life is unfolding all around....we can guide from the side....and be a constant source of prayer and support for the kids....and their kids! Do you think round two will bring three boys?

It's (drum roll please) another GIRL!

My baby is now having a baby! How can that be? Used to be..in the old days...the sex of the baby was a mystery until the moment of the arrival. There were all kinds of predictions based on the heart beat...whether the mother carried the baby out front or "on her hips". I always carried everything on my hips...so that was no help to me! When I carried my babies....I just knew with a mother's heart that Andy was going to be a boy. I even dreamed him! I actually had a dream of my great grandmother Clark rocking a baby with a head full of black hair cooing to him and saying...."This is the prettiest baby boy I ever saw!" I knew from that moment on I would have a boy. And...I did! I was equally sure Katie would be a girl. And...she was! Feeling pretty confident about my motherly instincts....I just knew Amy was going to be a boy! The docs predicted it....I 'felt' it....everything pointed to a boy. On January 14th...two weeks early...Matthew Saunders became...Amy Elizabeth! She has been early and doing things ahead of time...in her own way ever since! 

Now our Amy is due to deliver around the end of June. No more do we wonder and guess. Technology has decided for us! Or...has it? The ultrasound says the baby is a girl. But....the umbilical cord is remaining stubbornly between 'her' legs. It is almost certainly....a girl....with a niggle of a doubt! For now....we are thinking pink. I am excited either way. Another little girl would be so much fun with the other two. We can just have princess parties forever! But....a boy would be so much fun too. We will take either! Today....her name is Ansley Kate.  Praying for good health...and a happy heart....she is already surrounded by grandparents, aunts and uncles, and lots of friends that can't wait to meet her and cover her in with baby love! And...if she is a he....well....we will keep our receipts just in case! :) My prediction...this baby will be early...and over 8 lbs....and....either a girl or a boy! :)

Moving Day !

For over a year now Amy and Greg have been living in Papa and Gran's house. Their energy and creative flair gave new life to the tired old family home. Jim's dad, Papa, built the house over fifty years ago. It was literally the "house built upon the rock"! He purchased four lots...sold two and built their home on the remaining two. It is a white frame house on a hill....now with black shutters. For about 49 years...the shutters were gold...a source on contention between Papa and Gran. Gran wanted to experiment with different colors...Papa refused to change them! The kids planted grass, painted rooms, added nice touches...and remodeled both bathrooms. But...as all young couples do, they longed for their own first home to create their own memories in their own way. 

With the government promise of a tax credit and a down payment in hand the kids went house hunting. In January they found what they felt was the perfect house. By the end of February they had completed the deal and were ready for the move. After realizing the cost of professional movers....they sent out an all call.....and friends showed up in droves. At one point in the morning I counted sixteen young strong backs! YEA! It felt like the cavalry had arrived! By noon all their belonging were in the new shiny house...and once again the old Hull House fell silent.

Jim and I have pondered whether to move there ourselves. It is a strong house, bigger....and there are many sentimental feelings surrounding its history in the family. But...we have memories invested here in our own home. Even our yard is a place where each tree has a history and a purpose for the planting. So....there is now a For Sale sign in the yard at the old home place. Potential buyers come and go....no nibbles yet. Our hope is some day a young family....with dreams of a bright future will look at it and see all the potential and once again....there will be laughter, tears, and stories to be created from the sturdy white house on the hill.

Royal Celebrations!

Christmas now takes a back seat bookend birthdays of royalty! Shelby Grace' birthday is three days before Christmas and Emma Grace' birthday is seven days after. Emma will forever believe that the world is celebrating her birthday on New Year's Eve! Sharing a middle name was not the only thing they had in common this winter. They both had princess themed parties! Both are certainly worthy of such royal hoopla. Pink, crowns, bling and feathers were accessories to a castle cake and a crown cake.

Now....if Amy could manage to produce a male heir to the throne....we could break this tradition with camo or pirate parties in June! God is good!