CATCHING UP...

So my sister, Judith, reminded me this week that I have not updated the blog since April 1st. I am glad to know that I do have a few faithful readers, and I am sorry if you have been checking for new posts and have been disappointed. I promise to do better moving forward. Today I have made it a point to add several new posts, so make sure to keep reading. This week has been a blur with my POA (Plan Of Action) meeting in Grapevine, the passing of my Nanny, and Sutton's involvement with Rebuilding Together. I am hoping things settle down a bit next week. Hope everyone is doing well!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ASHLEY!

I am a little late in getting this posted, but our dear friend Ashley celebrated her birthday this week. Sutton and I are so thankful to have Ashley and Justin in our lives. Friendship like theirs is very hard to find and we know God has truly blessed us by bringing the Whites into our lives. Ashley is wise beyond her years and I always look to her for sound advice and support. She is also one of the most fun people I know and we always have such a great time together. She is kind, thoughtful, caring, genuine, hard working, creative... Basically she is every good thing you would imagine a great friend to be. I always tell her we are kindred spirits because we share so many of the same thoughts and interests. Happy belated birthday, Ashley! I hope you had a great day and wish you many, many, many more!

PEACE BE WITH YOU, NANNY...

My sweet Nanny passed away on Monday. She had been in poor health for the past year and I know she is now in Heaven with my Mama June, Grandpa, cousin, and so many other loved ones. She was a special lady who we all loved so much. She set a wonderful example for all of us. Here is her obituary because I think it does a great job of explaining what a wonderful, full life my Nanny lived...

Mary Louise Swenson, 86, of Stamford, went to be with our LORD on Monday, April 21, 2008. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at the Bethel Lutheran Church in Ericksdahl with Revs. Pete and Carol Weist officiating. Burial will follow in the Bethel Cemetery under the direction of Tankersley Funeral Home.

Mary was born July 17, 1921 in Eastland County to B. K. and Winnie Meador Gandy. She moved to Jones county as a child and grew up there. She married Oliver Swenson on November 15, 1937 in Avoca. She and her husband farmed and ranched until Oliver's death in 1988 after over 50 years of marriage. She was foremost a wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother to all of her children. She was a homemaker and helped Oliver in the farming and after and only after her children were raised and her local grand children were in school did she go to work outside the home. Mary then worked as a sales clerk in Stamford for stores such as Anthony's, the Green Stamp Store and Dobbins Drug Store. As a teenager Mary wrote the Avoca news column for the local Stamford paper. She was a former leader of the P.T.A. in Avoca schools, where she also served as a room mother, and a member of the Bethel Lutheran Church in Ericksdahl where she taught Sunday school for many years.

Mary is survived by 2 daughters, Brenda Hawkins and husband Bo of Aspermont, Madeline Taylor and husband Tommy of Colleyville, 1 son-in-law, John Bill Oman and wife Belinda of Ericksdahl, 2 very attentive neighbors, Milton and Linda Martin of Stamford, 3 grandsons, John Hawkins and wife Brenda of Lubbock, Steve Hawkins and wife Tammi of Haskell, Eric Taylor and wife Peggy of Bedford, 8 grand daughters, Mary Hare and husband Brent of North Richland Hills, Jill Stangl and husband Fred of Lubbock, Holly Taylor of Austin, Jennifer Kelley and husband Tom of Yoakum, Jessica Detton and husband Dennis of Hereford, Judith Grotegut and husband Chris of Hereford, Johnna Page and husband Sutton of San Angelo, Ingrid Tusa and husband Jacob of Reagan, TX and 16 great grand children. She was preceded in death by her husband, 1 daughter, June Oman, 1 grand son, Bill Hawkins, and 1 brother Bruce Gandy.

The family asks that all memorials be sent to the Gibson Care Center for their back yard landscaping project % of Family Circle Services, HC 64, Box 13B, Aspermont, TX 79502.

THE PAGES GO GREEN

This week has basically been a blur, but I did want to acknowledge the fact that it was Earth Day on April 22. Back in January, we decided it was time to start taking care of our resources and that we should start recycling. Sutton was not very excited at first because it does take some extra effort, but I think it is definitely worth it. We recycle our plastic, glass, aluminum and tin cans, newspapers, magazines, cardboard, and plastic shopping bags. I think I had been totally unaware of how much stuff we were throwing away that could be reused until we started recycling. We take our stuff to the S.A.F.E Recycling Center in San Angelo about once a month. Our neighbors, the Chessers, have also gone green, so we share this duty. Another small change we have made is that we try to use canvas shopping bags whenever possible. Sometimes I forget them at home, but I am really trying to do better. We are also using natural cleaning products. I have tried several, but Chlorox Green Works is my favorite so far. It works really well and I love the way it smells. Sutton gives me a hard time, but I truly believe just these few small things that we are trying to do will make a difference! So my question for you today is, what does Earth Day mean to you and what green things are you doing?

EASTER FUN

We spent Easter weekend with my family in Yoakum. This was the first time we have all been together at one time in over a year. It was especially fun with all of the kids including my 5 month old nephews. The weather was warm and it felt like spring. After church, the guys grilled hamburgers and the kids hunted Easter eggs. Here are a few pictures...