2019 Christmas Journal

 2019 Jan 7, Day Trip Guntersville State Park AL with Travis 

2019 Jan 11 & 25 Worked Killen Book Store 9-1 PM

2019 Feb 10, Ava Grace Birthday Party Deibert Park 2-4 PM

2019 Feb 18, Day Trip to American Village Montevallo, AL with Travis

2019 Feb 25-26 Trip to Paris & Tiptonville, TN with Travis 

2019 Mar 1, Killen Book Store 9-1PM

2019 Mar 2, Wings to Soar Wheeler Wildlife Refuge Decatur 11-12 PM

2019 Mar 5, Through the Back Door the Music that Bridged the Bayou Mardi Gras Luncheon Sheffield Library 11-1:00 PM (Storytelling)

2019 Mar 6, Yellow Deli Pulaski 

2019 Mar 7,  Get Dirty at Library Pruning Fruit & Ornamentals 11:30-12:30 PM

2019 Mar 16, Trolley Miracle Ride: Helen Keller in Living History – Learn the amazing story of Helen Keller, led by her great-niece, Keller Johnson Thompson. Includes a tour of Ivy Green, Keller’s birthplace. 

2019 Mar 21, Get Dirty at Library Spring Vegetables & Seed Exchange 11:30-12:30 PM

2019 Mar 23, Fathers of our Faith Trolley Tour First Presbyterian, Leslie Chapel Tuscumbia 

2019 Mar 24-30 Trip Naples, FL (Naples Botanical Gardens)

2019 Apr 2,  Ate lunch at Brass Lantern and Mimosa Cemetery Lawrenceburg, TN 

2019 Apr 6,  Sheffield Historic Homes Walking Tour 10-12 with Jimmy Austin

2019 Apr 6,  Macy & Matt Green Wedding Stormi Jo’s Barn 697 Co RD 251 Moulton, Al 

2019 Apr 7,  Wilson Park, UNA, McFarland, Heritage Park taking pictures

2019 Apr 16, Attended Sheffield Paint the Town with Clay Allison Sheffield Library

2019 Apr 19, Worked Killen 19-1 PM & Funeral Kenneth Sykes

2019 Apr 20, Walking Tour Business downtown Tuscumbia with John McWilliams

2019 Apr 26, Chinese Lantern Festival @Huntsville Botanical Gardens, Al 

2019 Apr 27, Sheffield Business Historic Walking Tour 10-12 with Jimmy Austin

2019 May 3,  Birthday Dinner at Logan’s with Mike, Hannah, Jake, Lindsey, and Chad Going to be Grandmother (Jake and Lindsey are going to have a baby)

2019 May 6,  Literary Treason with Dolores Hydock at Helen Keller Library, Pictures Spring Park (Storytelling)

2019 May 8, Day Trip Memphis Botanical Gardens and Dinner Bell Corinth, MS 

2019 May 10, Worked Killen Book Store 9-1 PM 

2019 May 12, Mother’s Day, a Card from Lora, Andy & Charity gave me herbs Sage Parsley, Ron gave me a Coleus Plant, and Mike gave Red Rose & Hummingbird Welcome Flag.

2019 May 15  Day Trip to Decatur Old Bank Gardens, Frazier Gardens, Delano Gardens, Children Garden Delano Park & we ate dinner at Jack's Decatur 

2019 May 16, Po-up Concert with Josh Goforth at Florence Library (Storytelling)

2019 May 16, Dishing up Dirt Stories from the Garden by Dolores Hydock& brunch (Storytelling)

2019 May 17-18 Shoals Front Porch Storytelling Festival 9-5 both days (Storytelling)

2019 May 21, Florence Ophthalmology Dr. Gray's Eye press up to 34 made an appointment to see Dr. Slater on June 17, 2019(May need surgery)

2019 May 25, We Rocked the World Trolley Tour 12:20-4 Tuscumbia Visitor Center 

2019 May 26,  Memorial Day Celebration with family Cooked Chicken Stew & Grilled Hamburgers & hotdogs

2019 June 4,  Tuesday Day Trip to Atlanta Botanical Gardens Atlanta, GA

2019 June 7,  Worked Killen Book Store 9-1 PM

2019 June 12, Day Trip Cooks Museum Decatur 

2019 June 17, Doctor Appointment with Michael Salter Maynor and Mitchell Eye Clinic 

2019 June 25, Tube placed in Right Eye Surgery Center Huntsville Dr. Salter 

2019 June 22, Baby Hughes Revel (Hayne) BOY  

2019 June 28, Checkup on eyes with Doctor Salter 

2019 July 7,  Spring Park Tuscumbia taking pictures 

2019 July 10, Checkup on eyes Doctor Salter 

2019 July 12, Worked Killen Book Store 9-1 PM

2019 July 19, Visitors Center to listen to Angela Hacker and James LaBlanc(Handy Fest)

2019 July 23, Switched from Direct TV to Dish 

2019 July 25, Visitor Center to listen to Kerry Gilbert and Hugh Banks (Handy Fest)

2019 July 31, Stitches removed from the right eye, Doctor Salter 

2019 Aug 5,   Took Ava to Pre-school to Register 

2019 Aug 8,   Spent the day with old friend Dot Winstead

2019 Aug 9,   Killen Book Store 9-1PM

2019 Aug 13,  Lab work for Pellets and picked up Ava at School

2019 Aug 14,  Receive new passport in mail

2019 Aug 22,  Cataract Surgery on left eye Doctor Salter Dinner Walton’s Family Restaurant Huntsville

2019 Aug 29,  Recheck on Left eye Doctor Salter Ate lunch at Dave’s & Busters 

2019 Sept 9,  Grandparents Day at Rogers with Ava Grace(ME, Hubby, and Teresa Clanton)

2019 Sept 12, Return to Oka Kapassa Killen Town Hall W/Amy Bluemel, Lyndon Alec (Storytelling)

2019 Sept 13, Worked Killen Book Store 9-1

2019 Sept 14, Wilson Park Walking Tour led by Billy Warren

2019 Sept 16, Day Trip Huntsville Botanical Gardens 

2019 Sept 19, Cleaning Dentist 

2019 Sept 20, Chiropractor visit 

2019 Sept 30, Helen Keller Deliverance a Silent Film Helen Keller Library

2019 Oct 3,   Last stitch & scar tissue removed right eye, Dr Salter 

2019 Oct8-11  Trip to Pigeon Forge, Luminights Dollywood Pigeon Forge, TN 

2019 Oct 15,  Recheck on Right Knee Doctor Goodman 

2019 Oct 18,  Rogers Homecoming Parade with Andy & AVA 

2019 Oct 19,  Finding Huntsville Walking Tour 

2019 Oct 22,  Trunk N Treating Elgin took AVA

2019 Oct 23,  Belue Pumpkin Patch with Andy & AVA 

2019 Oct 25,  Killen Book Store 9-1 PM 

2019 Oct 27,  Historic Markers, Lagrange Park, Spring Park 

2019 Oct 28,  Day Trip Historic Markers, David Crockett Museum, Park, Brass Lantern

2019 Oct 29,  Trunk N Treating Killen Park Took AVA 

 

2019 Nov 2,   Killen Book Store 9-1PM 

2019 Nov 8,   Killen Book Store 9-1PM

2019 Nov 10,  Fiddlers, Banjo Players & Strawbeaters: Our First Pop Musicians Indian Mt

2019 Nov 13,  CBS

2019 Nov 16, Tracy totaled her car (Hit a deer)

2019 Nov 20, CBS, Dr Haggstrom 2:45

2019 Nov 23, Edith MIlberger dies

2019 Nov 28, Thanksgiving at Mikes

2019 Nov 29, Thanksgiving at Jenkins Went with hubby and his sister to buy a Nissan Sentra at Bramlett KIA Decatur, Wheeler Wildlife Refuge, Enchanted Forest Christmas Trees (they only had a few decorated).

2019 Dec 1, Tracy fell and broke her foot

2019 Dec 3, Keller Imaging Mammogram & Bone Density Test 12:45 PM 

2019 Dec 4, CBS, Dr. Salter 1:45 PM, Root Canal Shoals Creek Dental & Tinsel Trail Hsv

2019 Dec 5, Root Canal 1 PM did not take 

2019 Dec 6, Trees of Christmas @TVAM

2019 Dec 7, Christmas Brunch w/Dolores Hydock Clarion Inn 10 AM

2019 Dec 8-13 Pigeon Forge, TN w/Sherry, Bobbie, Teresa

2019 Dec 9, Tracy's foot surgery 

2019 Dec 14, Spend the morning visiting my new great-grandson, Hayne

2019 Dec 15, Athens North Pole Stroll, Decatur’s Enchanted Forest, and took Andy, River, and Ava to Santa Land 

2019 Dec 16, Two Root Canals Smith & Smith Endodontics 9:30 AM & glued Bridge back on

2019 Dec 17, Dr. Evans placed a post for the new Bridge & Travis temporary crown

2019 Dec 18, Christmas Brunch at CBS

2019 Dec 20, Pick up Lora at Nashville Airport

2019 Dec 21, Christmas @ Mikes 6 PM

2019 Dec 23, Took Lora to Nashville Airport 

2019 Dec 25, Ronald’s Birthday/Mike’s Christmas/Visit Dad

2019 Dec 27, Rock Pile, Spring Park, Railroad Bridge taking pictures

2019 Dec 31, Becky’s to play games with sisters

2020 Christmas Letter Activies

 Merry Christmas,

My year started with Cataract Surgery on my right eye on Jan 8, followed by a bridge on a tooth on Jan 21. 

I had three abscesses and three root canals in December, causing me to have a bridge replaced.

On March 10, I had a total knee replacement (on my left knee) just before our country was shut down with no elective surgeries. 

I stayed overnight and went home to do some of my therapy at home. I went to Peak Performance for physical therapy.

My knee did not respond to therapy as it should, causing the orthopedic doctor to have to manipulate it. 

I spent March, April, and part of May getting physical Therapy.

During this time, hubby was staying at home with me and still getting paid. 

He went back to work full-time in September. (He works for a contractor of the government with full pay)

June, our Granddaughter Hannah gave birth to our fourth great-grandson, “Atlas,” just a few days after our great-grandson River celebrated his second birthday in June.

We could not go much of anywhere, so I spent much of my time working or attending to my flowers. Most of which are in pots, which I only had to water and fertilize. We got a lot of rain this year, which helped with my plants.

We didn’t see much of the grandkids or great-grandkids all summer. 

When school started back, we helped with our great-granddaughter, Ava. 

She would go to school for a couple of days, and we would keep her for a couple of days. 

Because of the pandemic, we were limited to activities. We did go to some of the parks where she could play by herself and parks with fish, turtles, and waterfowl. 

We took her to places where she would see Halloween displays, and we took her to a trunk-n-treat. (Lowes, Home Depot, Party City) 

We took her to see the Tinsel Trail in Huntsville and the Enchanted Forest in Decatur.

We have tried to keep her entertained. 

On the first of November, Dad fell and broke his hip; his health had been going down for some time. He had lost 30 pounds in the last few months. My sister took him to the doctor, and he had recommended calling Hospice. 

He lived a few days after he fell. We buried him on November 8; he was 93 years old. 

He had a graveside service, and all the family was there. 

We celebrated our great-grandson Hayne’s first birthday on Sunday, December 13, at the Strickland Hotel. 

Hayne will have Christmas two times this year because he got more presents than most kids get all year for his birthday. 

On December 22, Tuesday, Hubby and I took Ava, our five-year-old great-granddaughter, to Franklin, Tennessee. We rode north along Natchez Trace through Leipers Fork to Franklin, Tennessee. We ate dinner at Mellow Mushroom, and we saw Santa riding on a Harley through the window at Mellow Mushroom, but he was gone by the time we finished our meal.

Ava wanted to see the 100 or more-foot Christmas tree in the town square. We took a few pictures in the square and headed back to the car when, once again, we heard Santa on his Harley. Santa stopped, and I took a couple of pictures with Ava with him. She had to give Santa a real hug, not a hand bump. She was overjoyed about seeing the Real Santa Clause. (That’s what she said) and was singing Christmas carols for most of the ride home.

We celebrated Christmas on Sunday, December 20, at Jack and Lindsey’s new home. Loved seeing the four great-grandkids, Ava, River, Hayne, and Atlas, opening their Christmas presents. Their favorite toy was a barking dog for the boys, and Ave got a cat mewing cat. All the great-grandkids love animals.

On December 25, Friday, my four sisters and I celebrated Christmas with a nice meal of chili, cheese dip, and a variety of sweets. Afterward, we played several games of UNO and Dirty Santa until 9:30 PM. 

Dec 29, My four sisters and I met at Los Trojas Cantina to celebrate my sister's (Teresa) birthday. 

Tomorrow, Dec 31, I am going to keep my great-grandson River, who is 24 months old. I have not kept him all year for health reasons, so we will see how that goes. Right now, we live in a 40-foot RV and not much room for running and playing. Two-year-olds need a lot of space. 

Friday, Dec 31, from 6-9, hubby and I will attend the gender reveal of our fifth great-grandchild that will be due sometime next year in July. 

Well, I guess that about wraps it up for 2020. 

This was a very different year; we lost my dad, and we celebrated the birth of our fourth great-grandson but could only see him virtually.

We attended Hayne’s first birthday party.

Our son, daughter-in-law, granddaughter-in-law, great-grandson, hubby, and I all had the Coronavirus.  

I had a few health issues, but all in all, it has been a good year.

Getting Lost in Miami

In church today, our minister asked if anyone had taken a wrong turn? 
He told the story of  God choosing Jonah to preach to the wicked people in Nineveh. 
Jonah hated the people of Nineveh and chose instead to go in another direction.

It got me thinking about some of the wrong turns that I have made in my life.

The first wrong turn was during my trip to Miami.
I flew to Miami to be with my daughter during her surgery and recovery.
I sat in the waiting room while my daughter was having her surgery, the nurse came out and gave me a prescription for my daughter for painkillers and antibiotics.
She said I should get the prescription filled at the nearby Publix Pharmacy, which was within walking distance.
We had taken a taxi to the surgery center (keep in mind we did not have a car to drive).

A couple from Rochester, New York, was going to the pharmacy to get their prescription filled, and the nurse asked them if I could go with them.

The couple was polite and said I could go.

The woman was getting breast implants on Friday. 

The nurse gave directions to the Publix Pharmacy to the husband.

We walked to the parking deck and loaded into their rented red mini car. 

Their luggage was still in the car, and they had not yet checked into their hotel.

The red mini car had two doors that opened from the outside and two more that opened from the inside only.

Off we went in search of the Publix Pharmacy. 

We went to Flager, then NW, on Forty-second Avenue.

Next, we went SW on Forty-second Avenue, where we stopped at Publix.

The woman and I got out of the car and went inside the store and I asked one of the women working at the check-out where is your pharmacy?

The woman replied we have no pharmacy. 

The woman from Rochester, NY, and I started to laugh. 

Then, we went on to explain our search for a Publix Pharmacy.

The woman at the check-out register drew us a map to the nearest Publix (which I later found out was the wrong pharmacy). 

We took so many turns that I was completely lost when we finally found the Pharmacy.

We gave our prescriptions to the Pharmacist, and he said it was going to take at least one and a half hours to get the prescription filled. We asked why it was going to take so long, and they replied that one of the prescriptions was a narcotic drug and only one pharmacist had access to the drug. 

We rode back to the surgery center, where I was dropped off.

I thanked the couple for letting me tag along with them. 

I never saw them again.

I went to the lobby to wait, there, I met a couple from Charlotte, North Carolina.

They said that they both worked for the US Post Office in Charlotte. 

They said that they had four children, two boys and a set of twin girls.  

She was having breast implants done that day.  

I told her husband that he had better get her prescription filled before she came out of surgery because they had told us it would take an hour and a half to fill. 

The hubby dropped off her prescriptions.

His wife went back to surgery before my daughter came out of surgery.

My daughter came out of surgery around 5:30PM, she was in a lot of pain. She kept saying just shoot me!

We had to wait until 6PM to leave because the owner was going to give us a ride to the hotel, and the surgery center did not close until 6PM.

We rode to Publix Pharmacy to get my daughter's prescription 

What we thought was a quick stop turned into stopping at two different Publix.

We arrived at the first Publix, and as I was going up the escalator, I met Mural. (Man from Charlotte, NC)

We walked to the pharmacy together, and I said to him this place does not look familiar.

I was next in line, I gave my daughter's name to the pharmacist, and she tried to look up my daughter’s prescription.

The pharmacist said you must have left the prescription at another Publix Pharmacy.

So, I walked back to the car and told my daughter and our driver that it was the wrong Pharmacy. 

My daughter was not happy about that at all. 

We went several miles in the wrong direction when I said, I think we are going in the wrong direction.

I said to the driver, the Publix where we need to go is not far from the first one because I remember coming back down West Flager St.

The driver said, Now I think I know the correct location, it is a new Publix Pharmacy.

We arrived at the correct Publix pharmacy, and I got in line to pick up my daughter's prescription.

The woman in front of me kept asking questions about the prescription she had just filled. 

 I did not think she would ever shut up!

Finally, I got my daughter's medicine; the cost was $2.00 I paid and left.

On the way home, the driver said, “I have not eaten all day do you mind if I stop at Wendy’s?”

He ordered a Coke, fries, and a large hamburger. He asked if we wanted anything to eat, and we said yes, so we ordered a junior cheeseburger and fries. 

I offered to pay, but he paid for everything.

My daughter was sitting in the backseat.

When she opened her pill bottle, she dropped one.

I was sitting in the front seat, and I had to unbuckle my seat belt, lean my head toward the back, and put my butt up in the air to look for that pill. 

Never found it!

We arrived at the hotel, got out, and thanked the driver.

The driver had to pull the seat out to reach the pill. 

He said I have two small children, and I don't need a loose pill floating around for my kids to get their hands on.

You can get lost by disobeying God, 

You can get lost in your mind, 

You can get lost by not paying attention

You can get lost anywhere!!!