70 Years..............A Legacy To Follow

My Grandparents were married August 25, 1942 on a Lunar eclipse.  This weekend was chosen to celebrate their anniversary before everyone starts school again.  Some of the family attended while others just could not make it work and they were very missed. It was very small, but very nice.

Tim, Darla Johnson and their family Bethany, Chelsea, De'Aun and Ashleigh, Steven and Yana Campbell. Kent and Diana Hawley, Cedric, Melanie, Brett and Nathan Hawley, Alan, Abigail, Andrew and Anna Weaver, Darla's Dad and step Mom, Aunt Myrtle (Marie's older sister) Ed  and Beth Fore, George and Sharla Fore were there to celebrate.  We had a BBQ Lunch that Darla made and was very good.  Beth read a poem she wrote in honor of Ellmore and Marie's 70 years together.  Some stories were told and then most everyone enjoyed some cake.  One story told was that as soon as they married they went to get on a bus for Wichita Falls and everyone followed them to the bus and threw rice on them.  One old lady on the bus got hit with rice and she stood up and said I am too old for this wedding stuff! She shook the rice off her dress.  Four weeks later this young couple moved to Medford, Oregon.  Ellmore's Dad told him because of the war, they would not make it past New Mexico.  They obviously made it to Medford where Granddad preached and the arrival of my dad came a year later.  They went home for Christmas and did not go back to Oregon because they missed being close to family.  Granddad then began preaching in Stanton, TX.

I am so thankful that I was able to make it and be there.  I was concerned since I was having Chemo treatment on Thursday before.

  Great Grandparents with the Great Grandchildren that were present. Brett, Nathan, Andrew, Great Granddad Johnson, Great Grandmother Johnson, Anna, and Yana.
Missing from this group, Rachel, Kate, Mark Johnson, Jocelyn Johnson.

The Grandparents with the Grandchildren present.  Cedric, De'Aun, Chelsea, Bethany, Ashleigh
Abigail, Granddad Johnson and Grandmother Johnson. Missing from this group is Matthew Johnson, Jonathan Johnson, Angela Huffman and Amanda Hawley.

There was a picture taken with everyone but because Alan was in it too, he could not take the picture.  Hopefully Ashleigh will get me a copy.

Lego Land with the cousins

Andrew and Anna got a special invite by Aunt Darla to go with my Aunt Diana, Cousin Cedric and his wife Melanie, their boys Brett and Nathan and of course Bethany, Chelsea and De'Aun to Lego Land Friday.  This is the first time Andrew and Anna have met their second cousins Brett and Nathan and Andrew fit right in with his boy cousins.  Of course they have something in common, STAR WARS!  I think he was just thankful not to be ganged up by more girls.  Andrew and Anna have been to Lego Land twice now and Alan and I have not been once............How does that happen?  We actually both had other plans and Darla was kind enough to invite and take them.  Anna enjoyed getting to spend time with De'Aun and Chelsea and her new friend Taylor that also went along.

Nathan, Brett and Andrew

Cedric, Melanie, and boys on a ride

Anna, Bethany and Nathan, a boy Bethany works with everyday are building away.

Another Ride!

De'Aun, Anna and Taylor

Aunt Diana joining in!

Chelsea braided Anna's hair.......how pretty!

Race Time!

Watch out Officer Anna is coming after you!

What? Andrew a policeman too?

He takes his job so seriously........

The end of a fun day!

As shy as Anna is, she really connected to De'Aun, Chelsea and Aunt Diana at Lego land.  I am so proud of her.  I saw her talking to all three at the anniversary party and hugging each one.  She really enjoyed herself.  Andrew just hung out with the boys and fellow Starwars fanatics and he really liked them a lot.

Brownwood and Early Memories

After we left the Lake House, we went to Underwoods and ate lunch.  This was a family favorite (especially the cherry cobbler) growing up.  It is interesting how the smell and the taste instantly takes me back to my childhood.

This is now what was my Dad's two stores, The Spinnin Wheel and The Doughnut Shop.  My kids think is way cool that their Grandad owned a Doughnut Shop.

Our old church: Brady Avenue Church of Christ.

Our house 107 Kings Court Early TX.  It looks really different!

The back of Early School.  I had science in that building.

The Gym

The  Cafeteria, Band and Choir Room and the old elementary school.

The High School that I spent six weeks at before moving to Houston.

Before heading home we stopped here at Allsups and the Kids asked if they could please get some candy.  I told them yes!  They were shocked :-)  I said my Mom use to bring your Uncle Matthew and I here once a week to get a piece of candy after school.

I enjoyed seeing all the old places and seeing how Brownwood and Early had changed.  My kids seem to enjoy my stories and the places that held memories for me.  Alan was just nice and humored me and drove where I told him to drive.  He really could have cared less.

Lake Brownwood Trip

Once again we were blessed by a family at Weatherford Christian School.  The Brown Family are co owner with other family members of a very nice lake house at Lake Brownwood.  They offered for us to stay there to get away when we needed it.  We took them up on the offer on and left our cares in Weatherford and headed to Lake Brownwood on July 19.

The house sleeps 23 people "comfortably." We stayed in the master bedroom while the kids headed to the room of bunk beds.  They thought that was the most amazing bed they had ever slept on.  Alan grilled every meal except breakfast which he made for me anyway and we ate every meal out on the deck enjoying the beautiful trees, fresh air and the lake view.

Thursday night we watched Dolphin tale then went and looked at the Sunset.  I, for the first time in months slept so good.  The room had a window unit and the bed had a thick comforter and soft sheets.  It is my favorite way to sleep.....a cold room and lots of covers.  I had been having issues with coughing attacks during the night, both nights I slept through the night.

I woke up Friday morning and Alan made my breakfast of scramble eggs, bacon and fruit and iced tea (of course) and I ate out on the deck while Alan and the kids headed down to the dock and fished.  I was at peace, and very calm and enjoying the beautiful view and even reminisced of the times my family came to Lake Brownwood in our trailer.  I took the moment in and stayed there until it was lunch time.  Alan grilled hot dogs and after lunch, Alan and Andrew went to Walmart to get a few things and to rent another movie for us to watch that evening. Anna and I stayed inside because it was 101 by this point and I took a nap and she watched Cars 2.   Once Alan and Andrew came back we headed down to the dock and the kids went swimming and Alan fished.  I put my feet in the water and laid on the dock and just enjoyed the water.  Alan grilled steaks and I baked potatoes for dinner.  Alan and I decided we wanted to sell and everything and move there...........wouldn't it be nice if it were that easy?  After dinner, fishing and swimming again until about 8:30.  The sunset was absolutely beautiful! It was then time for showers and movie time.  The kids watched their own movie and Alan and I watched the Iron Lady.

We really hated to leave this morning, but I left rejuvenated and energized.  I really needed this trip and Alan did too.  When thanking Mrs. Brown for this weekend, she said when you're ready again tell me and I will put you on the calendar.  We will have to do this again.  It is only hour and forty minutes from our house.

Blessed Twice

Over the years I have been fortunate to work with many choir, and voices students.  Some years are not as memorable as others but there are a handful that I will never forget because they work hard to achieve very difficult goals and look outside themselves to be a team player and to help others in need. 

When I found out March 12 that I have breast cancer my world shut off and all I could think about was my family, praise team and my students at school and how this will affect them.  I really considered not telling my students at all.  Just keep it private.  My husband, and Mac, my co teacher insisted that I need to because the students were asking why I was at the doctor all the time.  So I eventually told all JH and HS students in April.  I really did not expect the reaction I got.  Tears everywhere, shocked looks, speechlessness.  I assured them that they caught it early and I will be fine.  One asked, Mrs. Weaver, why you? You are so young and you do all the right things?  All I could say is cancer does not discriminate, but I am a fighter and my faith will get me through this.

I had another surprise coming...........The High School choir and Theatre department came together and formed a bake sale.  How they raised that much money on one bake sale I will never know but it was an outstanding amount and if that were not enough, our Spring Choir concert was also accepting donations on behalf of my family. Every choir student wore pink ribbons on there formals.  One of my students read a pose over breast cancer and there was not a dry tear in the church.  Mac read a speech.......by this point I am not hearing anything he is saying except "Abigail, Alan, Andrew and Anna, just know, you are not alone." Then everyone stood up and clap.  Again, more money to help us out. 

I have always been a very private person.  There are many times that keeping your mouth shut is what you should do.  But in this case, It was the right thing to tell.  I could not do this alone.  I am very grateful to my students and I pray that IF something happens like this to them someday, they are repaid 10 times the support they gave me.

Blessed!

My brother and sister in law introduced my family to Tim Hawkins over a year ago.  Since then we have bought all of his DVD's and watch them when Alan and I need a good laugh.  Last Christmas my brother introduced us to Tim Hawkins newest DVD that had two other comedians on it: Bob Smiley and John Branyan.  My brother and his wife surprised us with tickets to the Tim Hawkins concert with John Branyan.  It was a lot of fun and Alan and I had a great time having a rare date night. 

Our preacher stopped me on the way out of church one day and was so excited to tell me that a couple from our church happened to be good friends with Bob Smiley and he agreed to come to our church to do a concert on May 20.  What I thought was just going to be a great night of laughter turned out to be a surprise for my family.  The concert was turned into a benefit to help us with the medical expenses that I have acquired in the past three months.  God certainly knows what he is doing when he moves us to a place at a certain time.  These past three months would have been unbearable without the love and support of our church family and so many others and also those who remain anonymous to us who have been so generous whether financially, cards, prayers, food, babysitting, daily text, hugs. showing up at the hospital at 6AM just to pray over me, and much more.  We are truly blessed!

  Bob and the family at Oak Ridge Church of Christ