Christmas came early for Merle this year!!  He had enough work with all the wood he had cut the past few weeks to be busy cutting into stove length and splitting until close to Christmas. Saturday changed all that for him. I had asked the youth if they would be willing to move the wood that was cut (about 6-7 pick-up loads) over to our place for a donation to their youth fund.  They agreed to it, and about 25 youth, sponsors, and Jacobs family came to surprise him!  They not only did what had been asked, but more.  Check out the story in pictures!

The stacks Merle had started behind the garage         55 ft of 10 ft long logs ready for cutting!

Letting Merle know what they were going to do        That pile did not take long - many hands!

Unloading one of the two dump trailers                   The stacks were soon begining to shape up

Some wood got sent along a line to the stacks! (I wonder how many sore muscles were found the next day) They all left telling us how much fun they had, and we tried to impress on them how grateful we were for their help, and how much time and effort they had saved Merle.

There were several chain saws brought, and a wood splitter.  By the 2:30 PM, all the logs had been cut into stove length, and the group was headed home.  Merle and Elizabeth began splitting the wood, and finished the last one at 11:30 PM. Oh yeah -- with the flood light mounted on the ladder so they could see.

We went to bed a very tired family, but feeling very blessed and thanking God for all the willing hearts and hands that helped that day.  I know that it is not the end of cutting wood, but this just seemed to me like a huge mountain for Merle.  There are already two more places that would like to have him take out a tree or two.  We are so grateful for "free" wood, and love the warmth of it in the winter. Nothing better than backing up to a nice warm wood stove -- and using it to cook on if the electric goes out!

We have been blessed many times over!

Merle had been cutting trees for firewood about two miles from home.  His brother offered to bring his forklift and tractor with forks and help him bring the trees home in 10 ft lengths!  Merle had most of the trees down and  ready to go, but needed the help of his brother and the forklift to take the last two down. Tom and I spent most of the day watching it all happen.

Merle had Tom with him on the forklift for about an hour. When Tom went to take his nap, he pulled his thumb out of his mouth - "I rode the forklift!", stuck his thumb into his mouth and dropped off to sleep! It only took about three minutes from the time he got on the bed until he was fast asleep. 

When they unloaded the logs at home, they sort of laid them side by side so Merle could cut and spit them without them rolling.  Merle guesses there is about 60 feet of ground covered by those logs, waiting for him to get them cut into firewood length. I'm not sure his brother realizes just how much work was saved for Merle by doing this.  Merle would have had to cut and split the wood over there, and then load a pickup to bring it home for the wood pile

Now we have a taste of the gratitude others felt when Merle would help them in times of need.

I've been tagged to mention a few things that are "different" about me. Now, we must remember that "normal" is only a setting on a dryer -- so each one of us is different from the other!  That is the way our Master made us, and gives us the privilege to add color to our world! 

1. I was never asked to be married, but have been married to the same man for over 34 years! (He asked me to    be his "life companion"!)

2. Would rather make a meat with side dishes for a meal than make a casserole.

3. Thinking that I would slow down after 55 -- I now go to work at 5:30 AM and take care of a 2 year old boy until 3 PM each day! (Been doing that almost 2 years now.)

4. Although my drawers and closets have to be organized - the rest of my life is a "catch as catch can". Plans can change in a minute!

5. When traveling (and have flexibility) you will often find me taking a side trip or adding a stop or two.

My husband brought me a white teddy bear wearing a red bow tie and holding a red heart that said "I love you" the evening of Valentines Day!  It is not often he gets me things like that, and I will treasure it - and the cute song that it sings!  It even looks like his heart is just pounding so hard while he sings!

Yesterday when I went to work,, Tom was a very sick boy.  He had this stomach virus that has been going around, and so we spent the day at their place.  He was quite the lazy boy, sleeping a good bit.  His father came home soon after I got there, and spent the day in bed - he had gotten it also.  That has gotten everyone at the resturant this past week.  We are praying that it won't come my way!

Merle and I are planning to go to Piegon Forge, TN this coming weekend. It would be nice if we would see some good white snow while we were there!  Both of us would enjoy that so much. We are hoping to get there in time on Saturday evening to enjoy one of the dinner/shows that are available.  We have been to Dixie Stampede during one Christmas vacation, years ago, and really enjoyed it.

The Lord is blessing Merle with trees to cut into firewood - really close to home.  The last ones even loaded the wood onto the dump truck and delivered it here for him!  Now that is a blessing!  Loading a dump truck with new wood is no easy task!  He had someone come to him with several more trees that are down, and more that he can cut.  Maybe the "new" time coming in the middle of March will help him after he gets off work.  I know it won't be many "extra" daylight hours at first, but it won't take long to give him an hour or more in the evening. He can get a lot done in those "extra" hours. Many times I give thanks to the Lord that He has provided a strong and willing worker to take care of me.

5:00 AM -- we have SNOW!!!  The ground is turning white!  Wonder how long it will come for us, Abbeville is having light rain.  We are just inside the "wonderland" band of weather!  My parents are here, and at 4:30 AM we were all looking at the SNOW, and then the others went back to bed while I got ready for work.  I actually get to go out into the "wonder" world of white!

If you fly United Airlines, and wish to change your plans - there are several options available to you.  1. Pay $100 per ticket to have it changed, 2. Wait until four hours before the flight and call and have it changed for $25, or 3. Go to the ticket counter and speak to the AGENT (not the machine at the counter!) within four hours before the flight and get it done for FREE!  All of these changes will depend on whether they have seats available on the new flight. (Any changes in price for the ticket will come your way)  We did this on Friday. 

On Thursday night at around 9:30  we noticed that the ticket we thought was leaving at 7 AM on Friday was actually booked for 7 PM!  We arrived at the airport at 4 AM on Friday and were able to leave on the 6 AM flight with no "re-ticket" fees! It was truly a blessing, and I wanted to share with you about that new policy!

I have no idea what the other airlines have - but check them out.  It may be of use to you some day!

My youngest sister, my daughter and my mother will be accompaning me to attend my Aunt Sally's funeral on Saturday. She was my Uncle Marvin's second wife, and we did not get to know her very well. It will be in the Portsmouth area at noon.  We are leaving here on Friday evening, and traveling to Emporia, Va., before stopping at a motel for the night. It gives Mother a few less hours to travel in one day, and we will only be about two hours from where we are going. (We may even travel back there for Saturday night to help break up her ride. We have to keep remembering that she is 80 - not young anymore!)

My sister would like to see the ocean, and Mama and I would like to see one of her sister-in-laws before we head back. If Mama sees her now, then Daddy won't have to go anywhere once he gets to his destination up there in a few weeks. They will be there from Feburary 3 - 10. If anyone in the Va. Beach area would like to go see them, message me and I will give you a contact number!  They love to have people stop by and chat! and laugh! and see pictures!

The following message was sent to me by the daughter (my neice) of xanga.com/dgailhun. Messages can be posted on her last entry or by messaging her. You may send a copy of this to anyone who may know my sister.

Dear Family and Friends,

            Mom had surgery on her right shoulder because of a torn rotor cuff on January 5, 2007. It will be hard for her not to be able to do a lot of stuff for the next six weeks. We would like it if you would send her a word of encouragement or a letter during the next six weeks. We would appreciate that. We want her to rest and not to worry so much about the things that are “not getting done”!

Laura

PS - She is doing fine. Took a little bit to wake up after surgery, but then she probably needed every bit of that rest! She is at home, and must wear a sling for at least six weeks.

Wishing you a

Blessed New Year!

This year, as your subscriptions reach my email, I will lift you up to our Heavenly Father in prayer. Prayer is the most powerful tool we have in this life. So often we treat it as a "last resort" type of thing, seldom realizing the strength of it. It gives us a "direct line" to our Heavenly Father!

We will be spending this evening with some friends to bring in the New Year. Everyone is bringing something to share on the food table, and we will be enjoying games and generally relaxing with one another.  It is something we have done for the last few years, and really enjoy catching up with one another.

May you find Jesus dear to you each day of the coming year. He can be the "bestest" friend you will ever find!

MERRY CHRISTMAS WITH LOVE!

This a picture of the two favorite boys in my life! We had gone to give Isaac his birthday presents, and these two acted like they were the two best of friends- and had not seen each other for many months!! Tom asked to see Isaac as soon as we arrived, and walked into the house like he had been there many times! Isaac proceeded to show him around the place, so excited to have Tom there! It did this Grandma's heart a lot of good! This was taken as we were ready to leave, telling each other "Merry Christmas"! Sorry it is a little blurred - but I just think the look in Tom's eyes tells the whole story!

Our friend, Lee, had surgery last week. Elizabeth brought her to our place for lunch today, and to spend Christmas Day with us. Stan and Joyce O'Bannon and Aunt Ruth were also guests at the dinner table today.  We ate some of the spiral sliced ham that Merle had been given by his boss! Honey glazed - wonderful!  Tomorrow we will bake a turkey for lunch - with potoatoes and green beans.

Merle will not have work on Tuesday, and that makes it hard for me to get "out and about" if he is at home! It would be nice to just spend the day with him, we'll see.