BOOT CAMP..GOOD-BY.

Our grandson, Justin, left for Marine Boot Camp Sunday. We gave him a going away party on Saturday. Lot of people, food and lot of fun but so hard to say good-by :(

Justin and his lady, Kierstin...




























Justin with Mom and Dad...





Justin with Grandparents Keesling...

Justin and Grampa talking with Jarrod, our other Marine Grandson that just returned from Iraq...

Justin with Grandparents Doud

Justin with his brother, Joshua and his lady, Kierstin...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CASEY...

It's our grandson, Casey's, birthday and we are wishing him a super Day...

Have a Happy Birthday Casey and remember we love you....

DAD'S BIRTHDAY...

October 9th would have been my Dad's 93rd Birthday. He was born in 1916 and named after his father, James Garrison Hopper in Lawrence, Oklahoma. He was the best Dad a child could ever have. My brother's, Jim and Jeff and my sister Linda will all agree with me on this. He had a way about him that let his children know when enough was enough but he was so loving, so playful and so caring. He was just the best!!!! He gave us so many good memories and such a happy childhood. Dad we love you and miss you so very much and each time we think of you, we smile. James G. Hopper ... 1916/1974

FIRST BIRTHDAY...

Today is our great-grandson, Keeyan's first birthday. We hope you have a great day little one and know we love you very much:

A WOMAN SHOULD KNOW"

A great poem that I want to share with you that my sister-in-law, Gloria sent me...

A woman should know... (by Maya Angelou)

MAYA ANGELO'SBEST POEM EVER

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own, even if she never wants to or needs to...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .... something perfect to wear if the employer, or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .. a youth she's content to leave behind....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ... a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to retelling it in her old age....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..... a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .... one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who lets her cry...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE . a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE . eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a recipe for a meal, that will make her guests feel honored...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE . a feeling of control over her destiny...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... how to fall in love without losing herself..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... how to quit a job, break up with a lover, and confront a friend without; ruining the friendship...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... when to try harder... and

WHEN TO WALK AWAY...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... that she can't change the length of her calves, the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... that her childhood may not have been perfect...but it's over...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... what she would and wouldn't do for love or more....

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... how to live alone... even if she doesn't like it....

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.. . whom she can trust, whom she can't, and why she shouldn't take it personally...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... where to go... be it to her best friend's kitchen table.. or a charming Inn in the woods... when her soul needs soothing...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... What she can and can't accomplish in a day... a month...and a year...

GOD CALLED HER HOME...

Thank you to everyone that sent prayers for my Aunt Anne. I guess God needed her more than we did. He called her home on Monday:

Anne Marie Gulick of Clinton, Mo passed away at the Hospice House of K.C. on Monday August 31, 2009. Anne was born Anne Marie Moore on Feb. 23, 1935 in Gentry Arkansas, the daughter of Benjamin and Minnie Moore. On Jan 10, 1954, Anne was married to Laddie Gulick until widowed on May 23, 2005. She is survived by three children, Stan Gulick of St. Louis, Missouri, Randy Gulick of West Covina, California, Diane Henderson of Kansas City, Missouri, and eight grandchildren as well as numerous great grandchildren and close friend Martin Zimmer. Anne was a proud member of many groups including the Mid-Day Optimist, The General Federation of Women’s Clubs, chairman of the Mo Girls Town, Lorne Kempher, and the Heartland Theater where she was not only on the board but in plays as well. She will be missed deeply by family and friends. Visitation will be at 10:00 and Services will be at 11:00 at First Presbyterian Church at 220 East Franklin street Clinton, MO on Friday Sept. 4, 2009. Please send memorials/flowers to the Church and those that wish to donate please send donations to the Hospice House of K.C., 12000 Wornall Road, Kansas City, MO 64145.

I Love you Aunt Anne...

PRAYERS NEEDED

My dear sweet Aunt Anne, who is more like a sister or a best friend than an aunt had a stroke two weeks ago. After surgery she had another one and she needs all the prayers she can get. Her last surgery was a week ago Friday and she needs to wake up! Please pray for her and her children that are at her bedside. She is such a fun loving lady, I just want her to wake up, please just wake up!!!!!

SCRAPBOOKING CONVENTION...

My sister, Linda and I went to the Creating Keepsakes ScrapBooking Convention in Tulsa on Saturday. We haven't done anything together for a long time and what fun we had! My hubby drove us and when we were checking in they gave him a free pass saying they knew he was just there to carry all our wonderful purchases. How right they were! There was soooo much to see and buy you didn't know where to start. It really is a little over whelming. We both just stood there and looked, wondering where to start. It didn't take us long to get in the groove of things and it didn't take my husband long either. He is the one that brought the Blue box album I am holding and also surprised me with the Creating Keepsakes book "Computer Tricks for scrapbooking". I had been wanting it but wouldn't buy it for myself. He really is a sweet guy. After about three hours of shopping and a nice lunch we headed back home to Arkansas.

FARM TOWN ADDICT....

Anyone else besides myself, hooked on that stupid FB game FARMTOWN?????

I have been on that thing almost all afternoon with my sister, my grandson, my niece plus a bunch of farmers I don't even know! And you know what? We've been having a good time.

The idea is to plant crops that someone else harvests for money so you can buy things like houses, animals, paths, and rivers. You get your fields plowed by somebody else to get points to move up in the game. You also can get money and points by going to the Marketplace and getting someone else to hire you. The Marketplace is filled with “farmers”, yelling: HIRE ME! You can also instant message your “neighbors” to help harvest or plow.

It really gets bad, when your husband calls you to dinner and you say give me a couple more minutes, I just got a job picking cotton. And what's really bad! He understands and waits on you!

I just thought I would ask, since I feel so stupid for spending so much of my free time on there. So why don't you come and join me, have fun and feel stupid with me :)

IN IRAQ..ONE WEEK

Our grandson, Jarrod, left for Iraq one week ago. This is a picture of Jarrod and his beautiful mother, Shari, when he was home for Christmas. They have the "MOST SPECIAL" bond between "MOTHER AND SON" that I have ever seen!

Jarrod's family. A very special family full of very special people and very special love.

Jarrod and his Bride. Chelsie - a very special addition to our Family...

Our Marine! We are so proud of you...We Love You....Stay Safe

VICTORIAN MOUNTAIN VILLAGE IN THE OZARKS!

Yesterday we spent the day in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. It's a lovely little town here in the Heart of the Ozarks. They have all types of shops, art galleries, spas and have the sweetest Victorian Bed and Breakfast places for you to stay in. The "gingerbread" homes are carefully preserved and the pastel colors and ornate decorations are beautiful!

We rode the Trolly around town and then had lunch at DeVito's, a litte Italian restaurant. It was nice to sit in a lovely place to have lunch and cool out a little. It was very very Hot! and the Humidity was Bad!

If you have never been to this little town, you really should go. You would enjoy it as much as Ron and I do.

JOSH AND THE I.O.U.

Josh, my 16 year old grandson, came by my office today and asked if I had enough money for him to get something to eat. I ask "why is it that every time you come in here it cost me money?" I just gave him $5.00 yesterday to go swimming. He only asked for three dollars but I thought that he would need a drink and snack so I gave him five. (Any grandmother would do that , right?) Anyway he just laughed and left for a minute.

He came back and handed me this little note and said (with a big smile) put this on my account. On account that you won't get it back :)

He learned that line from his Uncle Jim out in California when we were there on vacation.

I put the note on my bulletin board and smile each time I look at it :)

DAUGHTER MEETS ONE OF HER IDOLS...

Suzy got to meet "Richard Petty" the other day and she loved it!!! Her family loves any kind of Racing. She took Justin's car and asked him to sign it, which he did. Sure made the day for Justin and her too.

Justin says this picture is for Uncle Kevin. Look what I got, Uncle Kevin....