My New Addiction

I skipped church today to play with my new toy!!!!!  O.K;, O.K., I know I shouldn't but, I DID do my own devotional time , first!! I read my devotional and said my prayers, then------scrambled as fast as I could  to my craft room! FINALLY, FINALLY I decided it was time to play with my new Cricut (pronounced CRICKET!) machine the kids got me for Christmas. It's soooooooooooooo awesome! It took awhile, as everyone knows, I'm electronically challenged, but I didn't ask for help, I did it on my own. I even read the instructions! HAHA! Oh, is this going to be FUN!!!!! I love it! I can't wait to start making cards and pages for my scrapbooks!!! It works like a computer keyboard, so that part is easy. Lining up the paper and getting the right size paper,etc. took a little practice. AND, I'm still learning! I plan to stay in my Craft Room all day---a perfect rainy, dark December 31st and play with my new toy! This is ONE addiction I won't give up for my New Year's Resolution! In fact, my New Year's Resolution is to do MORE scrapbooks than I did in 2006! SO, look out kids!!!! (I sure am glad LILY loves looking at my scrapbooks. She just might inherit them ALL!) HAHAHAHA!..........HAPPY NEW * CRICUT *---(I mean YEAR!)

Patrick's 23rd birthday!

Today is my baby boy's 23rd birthday! I woke up early this morning and was thinking about that early morning that I woke up 23 years ago. I remember driving up that hill to Baptist Medical Center Montclair and seeing all the Christmas trees, lit during that early morning drive to the hospital. I remember my nurse, how sweet she was and how she would brag to everyone, "This girl hasn't made one SOUND. One peep!" The reason???? I didn't feel a thing!!! That spinal worked wonders for me!!! I remember telling her, "I think the baby MIGHT be coming"! She took a look and squealed--"THE BABY IS CROWNING!" She rang up Dr. Parnell and he was eating LUNCH! She ALMOST delivered Patrick herself! HAHA! Lewis Patrick Fry weighed in at a whopping 9 pounds and 8 ounces! What a little doll he was !  And as he grew, so did that blonde , beautiful head of hair! It would turn WHITE in the summer! The only Blonde Child we  would have. NOW he shaves that beautiful thick head of hair and we ALL fuss at him---why would he shave such beautiful hair off????! I almost bought him shampoo to put in his goodie birthday bag and remembered---he doesn't NEED shampoo! I hope he'll GROW HIS HAIR back in 2007!!!!!!!!!!!......We are so thankful  that he is doing so well after his wreck  and he is only taking Advils now, no more pain medicines! HURRAH!.......He loved his gifts--especially his little scrapbook I made for him--he always appreciates everything I do for him like that. He's always so thankful and appreciative. That's why  I love to do things for him!! As he drove off, both Terry and I stood there and just watched. Watched until he turned the corner. Watched until we didn't see the car anymore. Neither of us wanted to move and we didn't for the longest time.  I think both of us had our hearts in our throats and yet, you finally have to let go. It's STILL hard for me to let "the baby boy" grow up.  And, now, everytime I think about him driving, I get nervous. I've got to let that fear go. I couldn't wait to see him  today and he wasn't here long at all  and a part of me was sad. I remember parties from years past and having Mimi and Daddy over to help celebrate. Seems like yesterday! Where have the last 23 years gone????? I just love him so much and amd so thankful that he is alive and well but I find it hard to let my youngest son grow up and away.  There are times I wish I could turn back the hands of time, but I know God has such a great future for Pat that I must trust him with Patrick's future and his life. I must put him BACK into the Hands that have held him all these years. But it's hard! (God, PLEASE continue to take care of my baby boy as he drives!).........HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PATRICK! I Love you  sooooo sooooooo much!

P.S. in case you couldn't tell ---PAT GOT SOME NEW WHEELS!!!!!!

P.P.S. Pat's cake is half and half! He loves yellow cake and WHITE icing. But, everyone else likes yellow cake and CHOCOLATE icing so I made it half and half! HAHAHAHAHAHA

Watching JAY JAY!

Last night Kemp spent the night with us! Terry picked him up and when they walked in and I tried to take him he grabbed his BIG T around the neck and emphatically told me, "NO, GranJAN!" He is a BIG T boy, that's for sure! He only wanted to sit in Big T's lap and watch "Jay Jay the Jet Plane" and "Thomas the Train"! Over and over again, we watched episodes! We know know all about Big Jake; Scruffy the Skywriter; buck toothed Steamroller girl (forgot her name) and of course, JAY JAY. Also we watched Thomas and CRANKY and all his friends. Soon, I was nodding asleep and so was Terry but Kemp was still flying his make believe plane!!!! He was sooooooo sweet last night and we so enjoyed him. I didn't even put him in his baby bed. I WANTED to snuggle with him, but guess what? Yep, you guessed it. He wanted to lie in BIG T's arms!!!! After Terry left for work, today,  I FINALLY got some hugs and kisses!

P.S. for everyone who's asked---Pat went to the doctor yesterday. His fracture hadn't changed much and when he does go back to work, he can only work for 4 hours for a couple of weeks. After that, he can stand only 20 minutes, then sit. The doctor said that 10 weeks should make a big difference! He goes back in 3 weeks. In the meantime, Stefanie has been sooooo sweet to cart him around and keep him entertained. TOMORROW is Pat's 23rd birthday! My baby boy is 23! I'm just so thankful that he is o.k. and I can't wait to give him a big, huge birthday hug and kiss!

TREE DOWN, Decorations packed up!

 

I hate taking down the Christmas decorations! For one thing, it's sure not fun to UN-decorate the tree and then you have this PILE of pretty ornaments that you have to carefully wrap back up again so that NEXT year it won't be one big mess!  All I have left out are the pretty Christmas cards we got ! (TONS AND TONS of pictures cards this year!--, Now don't tell anyone, but Kemp's and Lily's were the prettiest kids pix we got, BY FAR!! hee hee) ANYWAY, We took the tree down the day after Christmas and I just put all the ornaments in a huge box and carried them----WHERE? UPSTAIRS ! Where they sat  until today. I had a MESS up here. I finished putting up all the other stuff downstairs and I just couldn't bring myself to do that yesterday. What I REALLY wanted to do today was play with my new CRICUT machine all the kids went in together and gave me for CHRISTMAS! It's the MOST AWESOME die cut machine EVER! You don't have to use a computer, either! I am DYING to use it! BUT, I wanted a time when I didn't have anything else pressing on me---like PUTTING UP THE CHRISTMAS STUFF! HAHA!......SO, anyway, here's a few pictures of the tree and my pretty decorations BEFORE they went to hibernate, for the next 362 days---

P.S. I'm going to add my new Cricut (prounounced CRICKET) machine website above! CHECK IT OUT!

 

Sharing a precious e-mail!

I received the following e-mail this morning, Dec.26th. As everyone knows,Dec.26th is a day of CLUTTER and taking running out  chasing the garbage man (like Terry did this morning)with TONS of oversized and overstuffed garbage bags with leftover Christmas!!! The tree looks sadly bare; the dishes are still in the dishwasher and sink; there are pieces of leftover paper and forgotten toys under the couch and everyone is in a slightly grumpy mood. All the joy and anticipation , OVER! I was feeling all those things when I stumbled upstairs , spilling (over brewed! shh! don't tell TErry) , coffe all over my ratty robe  and with a headache b/c I slept too long. This was the e-mail, below, that greeted me. It was so sweet I got teary-eyed. Rebekah (TATUM) Taylor is one of my "girls"--She and ,(is it Michael or Charles?)are the same age, grew up together in SUnday School at East Lake United Methodist Church and her parents are some of Terry and my best friends. We don't see each other that much anymore but when we do, it's like we were just together 5 minutes prior! Those kinds of friends who stay with you forever, in heart and soul! Rebekah, (and her sister, Jeannie), are like that,to all of us, too. BEAUTIFUL and SWEET! (yes, it's true!they are both!). Rebekah and Charles were even "girlfriend and boyfriend" when they were in high school for a season!(and now, Rebekah is married to an attorney who was in Charles' Law Classes,too! How funny is that?!). In other words, this family is DEAR to us! Rebekah and Mort are proud parents of a precious little boy, Hugh! She sent me  beautiful pictures of Hugh last night by the stained glass windows at MY (always will be "MY" church---ELUM, even though I go to RUMC now HAHA)church. So precious (Rebekah, I have some of Katie and Patrick standing by the very same windows)! I just had to add Hugh and her e-mail this morning to my JOURNAL page b/c her e-mail was so sweet. And  is so typical of the Tatums (even tho Rebekah's last name is TAYLOR now, I still call her Rebekah Tatum! HAHA), she is still the same sweet little girl she always was. Even more so today, if possible! THANK YOU REBEKAH for making my day. Your e-mail not only warmed my heart, but it even made this bitter coffee taste sweet! I LOVE YOU! mama fry.......

 

Mama Fry,

I just read your journal entry!  I'm getting all teary eyed in bed!  (that's were I do my best "surfing").  You are such blessed writer.  How I know you miss your Daddy.  He was so special to all of us.  There's just something about Daddies!!!   I don't know what I'd do without mine.  He understands me so well.  

Reading your entry reminded me of what a wonderful family you have.  Thank you for sharing with all of us!  It just warms my heart!!!  (Extra hugs to Patrick this year too!  SO glad he is home!!!)  Gee, just send hugs to everyone!

Love,

RLTT

 

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

What a great Christmas Day! I realized that today I have had 55 wonderful Christmases! WOW! How cool is that! I remember all those Christmases past---from the times when I was a child  to the times when our own children were small and were all at home! All  of my Chrismtases have their own wonderful memories and joys!!!! One memory from childhood is that Daddy would always run in that morning and tell me, "Merry Christmas, ANGEL!" Oh how I wish tonight I could hear him say it one more time! One year, when I was around 11, was one of my most vivid memories.It was Christmas Eve and Daddy had put on the stereo console the  Fred Waring Christmas Album (that and Mitch Miller!). We sat on the couch and for well over an hour didn't speak a word, but I sat in the crook of his arm and laid my head on his shoulder and we listened to that entire album while the magic of Christmas weaved in and around the room and connected our spirits---from the darkness of the room to the shadows the candles made on the wall to the smell of our Christmas tree, it is a memory I will hold in my heart forever. It was a magical moment in time. Nothing profound,just simply being.  Being QUIET on Christmas Eve and LISTENING and waiting.I wonder why that time was so special to me? Maybe because it was just us. When I was with Daddy, I was the center of his world. No one else invaded my space! I had his whole attention! Not only that, I always felt so secure in his arms. Like nothing could ever hurt me and that I could do and be anything in the world I wanted to when I was in his arms. He always listened to me and respected my opinions and made me feel like I was the smartest and prettiest girl in the world when I was with him.He challenged me to be the best person I could be. He encouraged me and laughed with me and called me his angel (and, his sweetheart).I think this year I've missed him more than any other since he's been gone. Why, I don't know.But I miss him. SO much tonight.  I cherish and relish those moments and the Christmas Eve night just reminds me of that. Each year, I pull that memory out and hold it close and tonight, even more so. As I'm writing, I'm looking at a picture of Daddy and Mimi that I made with my camera probably that very year---my 11th year. They are smiling in front ofthe Christmas tree.Daddy is almost chubby looking---I love it that he looks so robust and healthy and my mom looks so pretty! How old are they? I guess Daddy must be 50 and my mom, 48? Younger than I am now! Mimi has on a pretty dress and pearls--she looks like a young Jackie Kennedy so stylish and pretty!On the tree behind them are the tacky "icicles" I probably draped on the tree in clumps and I see the old ornaments on the tree, some of which I put on my tree now.Nostalgia is overwhelming me tonight and it feels, well , it feels good. Bittersweet. I hope my own children maybe are making memories like that, too. Not of me just running around the kitchen cooking (like I usually do!) but maybe they saw me on the floor with Kemp playing with the train or with Lily singing with Barney the Christmas Song. That's what memories are made of! I hope I made some for Kemp and Lily today like my Daddy and Mother did for me! I hope so!....And what about all those years of getting toys and believing with all my heart in dear old Santa?! I loved Santa Claus! And, the year he brought me CHATTY CATHY?! Well, he became my hero that year! That doll made me the happiest little girl in East Lake my 9th Christmas Day!!!!! And, Santa has faithfully and continually come each and every year of my life! This year was no exception!Of course, for all of us, it was a special gift to have our Patrick HERE this year, after the scare a week ago when he had his terrible wreck. No greater gift could I have received than to have him here with us today---smiling that beautiful smile and giving me my special "Patrick hugs"!!!!So, any other gifts after that were BONUS ones! And I got lots of those, too!..... Christmas 2006  started off quietly enough--- unlike Christmases 20 years ago when 10 feet would hit the staircase and 5 voices screaming, MERRY CHRISTMAS sounded throughout the Fry House! This year we only have our ONE baby girl at home.She came downstairs around 9 and we hugged and said, "MERRY CHRISTMAS!". It still seems weird not having any other kids around now on Christmas morning!! Katie and I  exchanged stockings and enjoyed eating some SISTER SCHUBURT sausage and biscuits!!! Terry went to church and  while he was gone,we reveled in the excitement of Christmas morning, just the 2 of us! It's that ANTICIPATION thing---will everyone like their gifts? What will the day bring? Even the cats and dog seemed to know Christmas was in the air! Last night, well, actually, it was early Christmas morning, Katie and I laid out all the stockings and I made a few pictures of the stockings filled to the brim as well as the toys Santa left here for Lily and Kemp and caught her half asleep on the sofa!!! But, back to later on this morning! Jon was here bright and early and then came Stefanie and Pat. Soon after, Natalie/Brad and Kemp and Michael/Kadie and Lily came next. Natalie made a delicious breakfast casserole and we ate that and laughed at the little ones as they went nuts over their gifts! After eating we opened gifts. It was, as usual, a madhouse! Paper and bags everywhere as well as new dolls/toys and gifts. Lily got her new Disney T.V. from Aunt Cutie and Kemp got his V-SMILE so he can be a big boy like Uncle Pat and Jon J on and play video games---only ones for little tykes! I can't wait to see him work it! He loved his THOMAS THE TRAIN that we gave him and Lily loved her Talking Stove and Arial, the singing mermaid! Pat Pat and Stefanie gave the little ones some books and dolls,e tc. and I enjoyed getting some super gifts, too! Money from Terry; a soft and cuddly warm up  suit from KEMP and a warm gown I'm wearing right now from Katie! Of course, I loved my SHUTTERFLY scrapbook that is filled (90 pages!) of pictures of my incredible trip> It turned out simply awesome. Terry loved his Shutterfly scrapbook I made him, too, of his Emmaus Walk! ......after gift giving and cleaning up "the kids" played a (LONG!) game of Monopoly. Pat ended up the winner!!!!!!! Kemp took a 3 hour nap and Lily took NO NAP AT ALL! Of course, the minute they got in the car to go home she was zonked out!!! We had another wonderful Christmas Day to add the memories of Christmas Past.! And already, I am thinking ahead to NEXT year to Christmas FUTURE!!!!! Oh  how I love my CHRISTMASES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!

P.S. Of course, we ended Christmas by searching for the CHRISTMAS PICKLE!!! Guess who the winner was? ONCE AGAIN, PATRICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He won a gift card! He got to hide it for the next round and it took them about 20 minutes to find it!!! MICHAEL won that time! I think Patrick will be our official "HIDER" of the pickle from now on! GO PATRICK! He won MONOPOLY AND the PICKLE PRIZE!

(more!) CHRISTMAS EVE

Since Brad had to be at Church of the Advent most of the day/night and Natalie had to sing at the Christmas Eve Service at RUMC, we offered to keep Kemp here while she was busy practicing and during the service. We had fun letting Kemp watch the Christmas Eve T.V. Specials. What I didn't see was him sneak into my bedroom and find part of his train set for tomorrow! HAHA! I had to sneak it away from him amid screams and get his mind off of "MY train set!" ........His mommy just left with a tired Kemp who is ready for bed and for Santa to come! Here's some pictures of Aunt Cutie reading him "The Night Before Christmas" and also some pix of him watching "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" with Big T!

Mimi gets a present from Santa!

We went to see Mimi today! This year, it was just Terry, Katie , Jon and me. (Kadie/Michael/Lily and Brad/Nat/Kemp went yesterday because Kadie's family were having their Christmas together today).We had a nice visit! I took her stocking that Santa filled as well as a Letter Santa sent here for Mimi! Here's what the letter said!

Santa heard you were such a GOOD LITTLE GIRL that I wanted to bring you your very own baby doll !!!! Maybe Doris can bring her baby dolls down for a visit!!!! When you’re not playing with your sweet baby doll, just let her rest on your bed where everyone can see her, too!

 HO HO HO ! Merry Christmas!!!!!!!

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!
LOVE!
SANTA CLAUS

 

Christmas Eve!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, today is the day all kids all over the world have been waiting for! The day when they check their list , not TWICE, but a gazillion times, in their letters to SANTA! HO HO HO! Santa is coming tonight!............We had the annual Fry Christmas Party last night! It was EXCEPTIONALLY great last night b/c we had Patrick there, snapping pictures and laughing and enjoying himself and in much less pain than last week! Of course, he is moving slowly and having to wear his brace all the time, but he's getting used to it. He gave Stefanie her Christmas prezzie early---a new camera--so, they were both making , GET THIS, more pictures than I usually do! HAHA! Pat/Stefanie and Katie were snapping so much it looked like the paparazzi were here!  I don't know if I like that---When I make pictures, I'm NOT IN THEM, I saw some of me that looked pretty hideous ! ( I need to look at them before they put them on MySpace!HAHA).Everytime I turned around I saw flashing! HAHAHA! The pictures I'm putting here I made, I'm not about to load any of those of me on there! HAHAHAHA........First, we ate dinner. Terry ordered a beef tenderloin and we made sandwiches with them. Kadie made a huge  (DELICIOUS) salad to go along with it and we had chips and dips, etc. Terry also had bought some shrimp this past week when he went to Mobile so we also had them. He had boiled them in this strong "crab boil" stuff and the house smelled like a fishery! I had every door and window open yesterday afternoon ! HAHA! Apparently, the kids loved them, they are all gone!  After eating, we went into the den and started the DIRTY SANTA. Some were VERY dirty! HAHAHAHAHA! Everyone took a number from a bowl from 1-12 . Stefanie was #1 so she went first! Then you could either grab a gift from someone OR choose one on the floor that was wrapped. As usual, Dirty Santa, was  hilarious. (I went ahead and gave the little ones a couple of gifts I had for them on Christmas so they would have something to play with).  I think one of the funniest gifts was from Charles and Michael. Bad boys! I thought MY gift, the singing dog, was the cutest. Everyone WANTED the gift from Katie---a Barney coffee set or the one from Stefanie---a WalMart gift card (KADIE stole that from me)!  JON got Charles' Dirty Santa gift! That was the funniest thing EVER! Jon's ears might STILL be red this morning!...... Then, everyone opened their gift from whomever had their name. They got some great stuff! I think MINE and TERRY'S and Natalie's gifts were some of the best! Terry got a Palm Pilot from the kids and I got this die cut machine, called a CRICUT,  for scrapbooking! (the kids went in together and gave Terry and myself our gifts). Kadie had Natalie's name and got her this original painting of an angel for Natalie that is just beautiful! I can't remember what all everyone else got, but I think everyone was very happy with their prezzies!!! After that, we watched a little T.V., then played around with the little ones. They were so cute---Lily in her smocked Christmas dress and Kemp with his new little hair cut! They were so good and sweet---as usual! Charles had a great time teasing Kemp! HAHAHAHA! He would grab one of his toys and Kemp would WIG OUT! Charles would go look thro the toy box and randomly pick up something and Kemp would scream, "That's MINE!" It was sooooo funny!  Check out the pix to see Kemp freaking out at Charles! HAHAHA>.......After eating some red velvet cake and drinking some coffee and just hanging out, sadly, the FRY CHRISTMAS PARTY was coming to a close. One by one, my sweet kids/in-laws/significant others and grandbabies---left. Then, Terry and I looked at each other---grabbed the REMOTE and said "PEACE ON EARTH!" HAHAHAHA! Seriously, this is what makes our life worth living---having our beautiful family together and enjoying life and each other and , most of all, understanding the REAL meaning of CHRISTmas, which came in the form of----a baby. Praise God! Speaking of PRAISING GOD, I must go and get ready to do just that today, on this glorious Christmas Eve and give thanks to God for letting me able to do just that with Patrick this year.

 MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!!!

December 23rd

Getting ready for the family to come over tonight! I just made a Red Velvet Cake (see pix!) and now I'm cleaning the house! (WHY, I don't know! It will just get messy in a few hours! HAHA). I'm excited to have all 5 kids and their significant others/Kemp and Lily tonight! Terry decided NOT to cook out but , instead, order a Beef Tenderloin. YUM--!......We're going to swap gifts and play DIRTY SANTA! Watch out, kids! We've got some good dirty Santa gifts! HAHAHAHAHA

Santa bowling!

Well, it's 3 days till Christmas! Last night Katie went bowling with Jon's fraternity brothers and their dates . Jon was so sad he didn't get to go, b/c he had to work one last day in Auburn. (I couldn't believe Katie even went without him! HAHA!) Here's some shots from their bowling night! CUTE! HO HO HO!

MORE Pat Pat

Patrick is sound asleep downstairs! I'm waiting for Terry to get here and we'll have dinner. It was fun hanging out with Patrick today! I think he feels much better! His back, tho, is covered in a big red peeling rash. He thinks it was from the air bag that came out during the wreck! It looks awful, I know it burns and itches!!! I hope he's not allergic to the medicine! .......I looked at him sleeping so peacefully and a lump came in my throat again---I am just so overwhelmed with thankfulness to GOD for letting Patrick cheat the jaws of death like he did. What a Christmas Miracle he is!

Pat Pat

 I think Patrick is slowly getting better. I am hoping each day he feels more like himself. Natalie said he ate dinner last night and I talked to him this morning and he is sore but moving some. I hope to bring him over here tomorrow to watch our new T.V. that is going in at this very moment! Here's some pix I made last week of Kemp and PAT PAT.! I hope it won't be too long until he can throw Kemp up in the air like that again!!!!!!!!!!!

Natalie's SOLO (& Pat is going home!)

Here's some pictures I made right before I left to go to the hospital to see about Patrick! Natalie sang a solo, even upset about her baby brother! Konie told me "it was incredible! Beautiful!" I hated to miss it but I did get to hear her practice---here are the pictures of it and some of the others from the Praise Team as well. The two lead women singers are: NATALIE & NATALIE!!!! Yep, 2 Natalies!........PATRICK IS COMING HOME TODAY! I'm fixing to go help him get settled at Nat's. He wants to go to his own bed. I don't blame him. In a few days he will come here........more later

Our Christmas Miracle

 

  HE'S going to be O.K., but I wanted everyone to know that Patrick had a terrible wreck on Saturday night on the ramp on Hwy 280. He is going to be o.k., PRAISE GOD, but he is in the hospital (Brookwood MC), and will hopefully will be discharged tomorrow. He is one LUCKY young man. He was going off of Hwy 459 to Hwy280 and lost control ,(let me guess, SPEEDING probably?) , swerved and tried to compensate for the swerve and his truck flipped not once, not twice but 3 times! (yes, it is totaled).  He called Brad and he refused going to the hospital  in an ambulance but around 5:00 A.M. the pain got so bad that he got his girlfriend to take him to the hospital. Pat called us and the rest is history. We got the call every parent never wants to get but thank GOD he is alive and will recover. He IS in a lot of pain b/c he has a compressed fracture in his lower back--the orthopedic doctor told Terry if had been any higher he could've been paralyzed.  And, a couple of cuts on his head. So, you could say, we got Christmas EARLY this year having the good news that he will fully recover.  I spent the night with him last night and he has had so much company today it looks like a party in his room. I hope he has had time to rest! He will be in a back brace for 10 weeks and of course, his truck is totaled so he won't be driving for awhile!  I think he is coming here to recuperate, (he lives in Natalie and Brad's downstairs apt), for a few days- (probably thro Christmas) -unless he decides he'd rather sleep in his own bed! We'll decide that tomorrow!...... All his brothers and sisters were hanging around him on Sunday watching his every breath.  Yes, there were some tears between us and lots of hugs and love. While it was a scary time, it was awesome to see all the kids come together with Terry and I and support their little brother. (You might say we're all beside ourselves our sweet Pat is  going to be o.k.!! haha! The tears turned to joy and smiles as we got back good reports from all the tests.   Yesterday was tough, however, when he had to  leave to go and have the Cat Scans and MRI to make sure nothing else was wrong, but we are just overjoyed that all tests came back fine. Well, not really "fine"--he still has a serious back injury, but compared to what COULD have happened---well, we are just so very thankful that nothing else happened to our sweet Pat that we are just beside ourselves with thankfulness. Please, however, keep him in your prayers b/c  this is PAT! Pat loves to be outside hunting and fishing and always on the go. He even loves working at Mark's Outdoors and won't be working for at least 3 weeks. He'll be antsy to say the least!!!!! So, pray for patience for him! HAHA!...... Again, just wanted you all to know and it's easier to send an email to let you all know b/c my phone has been ringing off the hook and I haven't been able to call everyone yet! Again, we say thanks for the love and prayers and we are so very , VERY thankful that our precious: Son/Brother/uncle is on the road to recovery!...Yes, Patrick is truly our CHRISTMAS MIRACLE!!!!!!!!!!!

 

P.S. Just to show you he's o.k., here's a couple of pix I made last night at the hospital!

The MOOSE is up!

Finally, 10 days before Christmas, we get our moose set up! It was a great day to do it, tho, because it was about 75 degrees outside--WARM! (See-- Katie has on FLIP FLOPS!). We got Jon to help us---actually, I think he did all the work!!! I'm just glad the big ole moose moves like he's supposed to after being stuck in a box all year! Poor Moose!....The first group of pictures (after the one of Jon RIDING the moose) are from Jon/Katie's friends Christmas party the other night! Cute pix....OH! Guess what??? WE GOT OUR BEAUTIFUL COUCHES! HURRAH!!!!  THEY ARE GORGEOUS! And the most comfortable things I've ever sat, excuse me, LAID on! I think they are more comfortable than our BED!! I love love love them! I'll post some Pix of them later on.............KEMP is much better today. Hurrah!

more of Kemp's allergic reaction!

Brad and Pat came over tonight to eat with us and hang out with us while Natalie had the Little Lambs Christmas Party@ their house. Kemp was itching and miserable so we put him in the tub. You can really see how bad his allergic reaction is to penicillin in these shots! I reminded PATRICK that if he ever took a dose again, he'd look like that, too!!!!!......poor little Kemp, his FEET are so swollen that he can't even walk. He kept holding his arms up to his daddy and saying, "HOLD YOU, DADDY!" All he wanted to do today was watch "Jay Jay the Jet plane"! I finally got him to eat some cheese and some pudding. That's it. He just looks so bad and I'll be so glad when he gets BETTER! I am keeping him tomorrow, too, while Nat works. I am praying he's feeling better tomorrow, bless his little heart!

Kemp's allergic to PENICILLIN!

Poor little angel boy! Our little Kemp has had a terrible reaction to penicillin! Just like his Uncle Patrick and Aunt Katie, Kemp is allergic to it! Natalie called me concerned yesterday and said he had lots of whelps on him. I met her at WalMart and the first thing I said was, "looks just like Patrick did so many years ago!" She even got the pharmacist to look at him while we were at WalMart and he thought it looked like a penicillin reaction, too. Well, this morning she called early, in a panic, saying he looked HORRIBLE and she and Brad were taking him in to the doctor, early. Sure enough, the doctor said he is VERY VERY allergic to it and to watch him carefully the next few days. He is here now,  asleep.I was planning on keeping him anyway b/c Nat is having the LITTLE LAMBS PLAYSCHOOL CHRISTMAS PARTY at her house tonight. I just found PATRICK'S pictures that I made of him (he was about 8 months old) and, yes, looks JUST LIKE Kemp does! I('m going to put a pix of him on here, too, so Nat can see Patrick looked JUST LIKE THAT!). I know how she feels, too! It's horrible to see your little boy covered in those HORRIBLE looking sores!!! Even Kemp's little hands are swollen--he has places EVERYWHERE. Like a horrible case of chicken pox, but I think--_WORSE! Every place on his body has a place on it. Looks like he was burned with cigarettes! I hope he gets better SOON. (Guess he won't be getting his pix made with Santa this week!!!)..........Kemp, I hope you feel and LOOK better when you wake up! I LOVE YOU!

"I'm a PRINCESS, DranDran!"

We are still laughing about the story Kadie told about Lily Monday! She informed her mommy that "I AM A PRINCESS". She thought that was cute until she found out that PRINCESS LILY has a mind of her own. Especially regarding ROYAL CLOTHING! All Lily wants to wear these days are DRESSES. And CERTAIN ONES! Lily got in her mind to wear a summer dress that she loved. Not just for a day, but she did NOT want to take a royal bath OR go to bed without wearing her Princess Dress!!! Michael got so frustrated with her and , Lily, in turn got so mad at her daddy because he said she could not wear the dress to bed!!! Kadie had to sit her tiny princess down and say: 1. Princesses have to take baths 2. Princesses CAN wear pants 3. Princesses have to be sweet to their daddies!!!!......I have laughed for 2 days thinking about her throwing a ROYAL fit about that dress!!!!!! Our Princess Lily is such a funny little girl!!!! Who knows what she'll be wearing on Christmas Day! Since she was about 18 months old, Lily has been able to recognize ALL the Disney Princesses. SO, I don't know if I take CREDIT for her Princess behavior or take the BLAME for it! HAHAHAHAHA

I LOVE SANTA CLAUS!

Even though I still can't HEAR (my ear is still stopped up b/c of an ear infection!), I can decorate! I haven't pulled out everything this year, but I did decorate some!  I love putting out the kid's old Santa pictures each year on the mantel! And, my favorite decorations are the big Santa's I bought while living in Riverchase at Christmas Village about 15 years ago. A lady from North Carolina made each one by hand--each face is so unique and different and she used antique clothes and toys to put in Santa's pack.She took months to make each one. I have 2. One sits and the other stands. (They were very expensive even 15 years ago but I'm so glad I bought them. Sometimes I leave them out year round. Konie Bryant and Debra Rogers alos have some of these incredible Santa's). The lady  who makes them doesn't come to Christmas Village anymore or I would have bought some more! I think she had  health problems so I doubt she makes them now, which makes them even more special. Her husband carved the boots out of wood and he also made some of the toys that Santa holds. Each one has a tiny Bible , too! I let the tall one in red, hold my childhood stocking that my mom made me. These Santa's are truly my favorites because Santa to me has always been magical and REAL to this "little girl" who believed in him so long !!  What am I talking about?! I STILL believe in him! HO HO HO 

Walt Disney World!

As you can see, it looks like Nat/Brad and Kemp had so much fun in Walt Disney World! I can tell when Kemp started getting sick, tho, he was SLEEPING in several pictures! Natalie said it was SOOOOO hot while they were there!!!She said she wished she had worn shorts!

I can't wait to take Kemp AND Lily when they get a little older. Lily will freak out seeing CINDERELLA and ARIEL! She loves those Disney Princesses!

It's beginning to look like Christmas!

It's FINALLY beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here! I'm better, still coughing and my ear still is stopped up (might have to go back and have a re-check on that!) BUT feel better enough to do some more decorating! Brad got the tree in yesterday afternoon and then, last night--Terry, Katie and KEMP helped decorate! Kemp is feeling 100% better---back to his little playful self and we were all so glad! He was our entertainment last night (Nat/Brad had their Christmas Sunday School party to go to)! He made us laugh the whole night! Terry is mesmerized by him. Always! He danced; played; sang and has this thing about OWLS---we think because there is one in his Halloween book, he is scared of it! So, he would get the book and say, "NO! Don't read it!" and would shut his eyes and shake that head! (Natalie said he did that in Walt Disney World in the Haunted Mansion and the Pirates of Carribbean, too! Hides his head and squeezes shut his eyes! HAHA). We laugh at the cute way he shakes that head! His hair (which is gorgeous, like brown silk!), shakes everytime he shakes that head while he suqeezes those big eyes shut! He was so adorable last night and we so enjoyed him! And, he was so SQUEEZEABLE in those velour pajamas he had on! .....Speaking of their Walt Disney World trip, I will add those pictures next week! They borrowed Katie's camera so we just got them back and downloaded them.Some really cute ones. Just too bad he was sick and not feeling good while there!

Brad brought Kemp over around lunchtime yesterday because he was having a "melt down" at school. He saw his mommy and was crying and because he didn't feel well, he just fell apart. I told Natalie to get Brad to just bring him here since I was feeling much better. He walked in and was just fine!!! I could tell he didn't feel that well (he has an ear infection and bad cough---just like his GranJan!) but he played for about and hour and then took a LONG winter's nap. I called Nat and told her to just let him stay the night! He had to have his medicine, tho, so Terry dropped by Nat's and picked it up after work. He was sooooooo sweet and we enjoyed having him so much!!!  Here are a few shots from last night AND from today. When Brad came to pick him up, Terry was gone to WalMart with Kemp. On the way home, Kemp fell asleep so Terry got out of putting the tree up since he had to hold a sleeping Kemp! HAHAHAHAHA! At least the tree is up. Now I've got to decid whether to even decorate the thing! HA!

Helpful Crew!

I have been sick for several days! I went to the doctor and my my chart it said: Acute Bronchitis and Otitis Media. (The O.M. is ear infection for those who don't have medical knowledge! HAHA!) JUST LIKE LAST YEAR, I have an ear infection, of all things! It started stopping up and I knew that's what it was! YIKES! BUT, after 3 days of high powered meds I am starting to feel human again! HURRAH! The coughing has been the worst. I don't know HOW Terry can sleep with me continually coughing. After I got the cough medicine (you take it at night)---it knocks me out! Maybe I cough---I don't know! HAHA!........One reason I feel so much better is because Michael, Kadie, Lily and Brad came and helped us move our furniture back into the room! It looks fantastic! I couldn't be happier with my floor and new paint job!! I feel like I live in a CASTLE!!! It reminds me of stone floors in the old castles we saw in Europe!!! Right now, especially, since it doesn't have much furniture in there. I love it, really!!!!!!!! Kadie swept/cleaned and climbed up on the table and CLEANED MY Chandelier!!! It looks great! I love that chandelier---we brought it from our house in Riverchase. It is so pretty but was so dust filled it looked, well, BROWN! Now it is back to shining brightly again. Everything looks so pretty and I'm soooooooo excited!!!  Not only that, but Kadie also brought our dinner that night! THAT Made me feel even better! Poor Nat couldn't come, she and Kemp are still sick , too.......I think our couches are coming Dec.16th and our new big wall T.V. is coming a week from Monday! I can't wait! Christmas for me is coming a little early this year and I couldn't be happier! A HUGE thanks to the kids for helping move the furniture back!!!

P.S. I have some more pictures of Lily in her cute little outfit she has on.  Becky sent a huge box of ADORABLE clothes to Kemp and Lily for Christmas!  (my friend, Becky, in Florida)! More on that tomorrow!

P.P.S. Jacob Bishop is going home from the hospital today , FINALLY! Hurrah!

The true spirit of giving

I'm so proud of Katie and Jon! They decided that instead of giving each other Christmas gifts this year, that they would give Laura's grandkids their SANTA toys this year!!! The other Fry kids also have contributed to the huge room full of Santa toys for all 4 of Laura's little grandkids. Laura's grandkids range in age from 12 years down to 5 years. 2 girls and 2 boys. We (yes, I got to be in on it too!) had a blast going to Toys R Us and buying the items on their "wish list". Laura said not to get it all but there were only a few things for each child, so Katie pretty much got everything they asked for (Terry also gave her some money to help get it all). She started by looking for specials in the paper and sure enough, we got some great deals. Pat met us in Toys R Us and gave us some money as well (which touched me b/c I know he doesn't really have much to spare these days! HAHA). Natalie bought BABY ALIVE clothes and diapers for the BABY ALIVE doll!  I think Michael/Charles are also going to contribute--maybe towards a gift card for groceries since we finished  with the toys. I bought Laura a throw away camera and made her promise to take pictures of their faces on Christmas morning! I'm so proud that the kids love giving to those less fortunate than themselves. I remember vividly that Christmas Eve that Charles and Terry and Michael were frantically wrapping gifts for a boy Charles had been tutoring  (as well as his brother and sister). I remember being afraid for them to go that late on Christmas Eve into the projects but I got a sermon from my own son that night--he said, "Mom, God is not going to let anything happen to me tonight". Terry rode with him anyway and I remember thinking how selfish that must have sounded on my part---worrying about my own child's safety when he was doing what he felt compelled to do. Of course, that is one of the reasons Katie wanted to do the same thing this year. She remembered that night. She was probably only about 6 or 7 but it made such an impact on her heart. She has such a giving heart., too.(just ask Kemp and Lily!). Actually, not to brag, but ALL my kids have giving natures. I'm so thankful for that.  As I look at all  piles of beautifully  wrapped packages in her room, it makes me so proud! It brings tears to my eyes because it isn't something I have taught them (although I have always tried to teach them to share what they have), but  it is  also something God has impressed on their hearts.  I know that feeling, too. It's like you're compelled to do something for someone else and the JOY you get back is soooooo much greater than the gifts or services you offer.  It amazes me each time how good you truly feel when you give, not just from the pocket by cash, but give from the heart. What an incredible feeling. And I am so thankful that they "get it" and respond to that call.  To me, that is the true meaning of Christmas---giving until you feel the pinch. I needed to be reminded myself. And when I hear someone say, "I don't have the Christmas Spirit" I want to say, THEN GIVE SOMETHING TO SOMEONE ELSE and you will find that "Christmas Spirit"---over and above what you thought was possible!!!!........ :)!

P.S. We DID find the Baby Alive Afro American! a couple of weeks ago!! Katie found it online so we took the white one back (in the picture!) and got the black one! WHEW! Katie was so worried about that ! I think we found the LAST ONE in the USA! HAHAHA

 

 

 

 

This brightened my day!

I tossed and turned last night b/c I am sick! I have a form of "the crud"--coughing/sore, sore throat/lethargic---generally feeling rotten. Most of the day I have spent in the bed watching T.V.--dozing and taking meds! BUT, I heard Katie scream "LOOK OUTSIDE!! QUICK!" and ran into the back yard to see this beautiful hot air balloon right over the lake! I know the people inside laughed as they saw me run back into the house, looking like a madwoman, grabbing my camera!

Kemp is with MICKEY!

Natalie called yesterday morning early and said they "were pulling into the Magic Kingdom" right then! That it was actually HOT and she wished she'd put on shorts! She said Kemp was the best traveler ever on the way down there! Brad took Katie's new camera and she has a "1 G -SD" card, so they can load it up with pix to bring back! I can't wait to see pix of Mark and Charlie's little girl, LIBBY, as well as pictures of the Nathanson's! As many of you know, it was because of CAMP MATOAKA , owned by the Nathanson's that brought Brad and Natalie together!!!!! That fateful summer, in MAINE, Natalie met Brad the 2nd day they were there and it was a love match made in heaven!!! Mark and Charlie also worked there as well. Also, their friends from Camp Matoaka , Chrissy and Norm (no kids yet) from Atlanta, also went down to WDW to see them ,too. The Nathanson's only child and daughter, Rachel, who is Katie's age (21) was only 11 when they worked at the camp. She is in college,  (can't remember where!), but insisted she come to WDW to "SEE KEMP!" She always adored Brad, like a big brother, so I'm sure she is having a BLAST with Kemp as he sees all the characters and BUZZ LIGHTYEAR!!! He'll love the big action Buzz I wrapped up for him as one of his "goodies" to open on the trip. She is saving that one for on the way home. (I bought a bag full of small gifts---coloring books/toys/ snacks/books/DVD's---things he could do while riding for Natalie to pull out at intervals on the way down. Of course, he loves his DVD's and with their new SUV and DVD player, he watched lots of movies on the way down!!!!)....I'm so jealous, I want to be there today! I wish I could click my heels and be there today as they are walking around! Kemp has the SWEETEST little voice and he'll say, "look, mama! Look daddy! Mick Mouse!" I can just hear him!!! WAAA! I miss him!!!!!!

We're glad Jacob Bishop is better today!

 My niece, Becky (Bryant), and Scott Bishop's 2nd son, Jacob--age 6, has severe pneumonia!  He has had a couple of very tough days!He had surgery yesterday to relieve some of the fluid and will be on antibiotics for several weeks! We are so thankful today that he is better, just hope he continues to improve! Not only that, but they have 3 other boys at home to worry about (all which have been sick as well).What a scary time for all of them! Continue to keep them in your prayers! I put their names on Discovery UMC's e-mail prayer list as well as on RIVERCHASE UMC lists! .........Natalie, Brad and Kemp are on the way to WDW! I haven't talked to them today, so I don't know how far they got, but they are on the road heading towards "MICKEY MOUSES' HOUSE", as Kemp says! I can't wait till they get back so I can see pictures of Kemp's face as he sees the Disney characters; sees the PIRATES; sees MICKEY MOUSE!!!!