Merry Christmas 2007

Here we are at another Christmas in Tennessee. Everything here is green and warm. How is it where you are? Winter Wonderland White, I know.

I haven't blogged in ages, doing lots on Facebook, which has been fun, especially playing scrabble with Heather and Lori Ann and trying to play these video type games with the grandkids, which I am not good at!

We have made significant progress this year settling in to our Southern life. I am starting to look at this time as a gift from God, yet another one!! For however long He keeps us here, I intend to enjoy and discover as much as possible.

I have really become fascinated with the Civil War battles that were fought near here. Even in our town there was a Union encampment. We have visited a couple of sites in Franklin and I just finished reading a historical fiction on the battle there. I loved the book since we walked through the house, the grounds and the graveyard that is the scene of this book.

Ya-Ya has had another successful term at her high school, she is half way through grade 10. Her more demanding subjects will be in this upcoming second half of the year.

Larry continues to like his work here. There are challenges but many bright and encouraging moments.

We have had so many lovely visitors this year. When we moved here I wasn't even thinking that people from home would make the 12 hour trip BUT we have been pleasantly surprised. Because of these visits we are getting around and seeing the sites too. I actually drove some new friends to Cool Springs Mall a couple of weeks ago. I couldn't believe it. I had been there twice with Larry and then these ladies wanted to go, they didn't want to drive so I drove. I am thankful for that GPS Larry had installed!

We are not sure we are settled at our church, not sure it is the fit for our family. But our intention is to stay involved, continue in prayer for God's leading and remain there until June, God willing, and then re-evaluate. During this Christmas season we have been travelling around to some mega churches to experience their Christmas concerts. Oh my, how powerful. There really is something about those mega churches, besides being big. The glory of God fell on those sanctuaries each evening through God's word being spoken and sung!

Well I'm off for Christmas in Canada. God bless you each one. Thanks for being our wonderful family and kind and generous friends.

Merry Christmas to all!
Grandma

Winning Ways

The Bison football team continued their winning ways into the playoff season. They beat Meigs County 51 to 12 on Friday night. This week we play our "thorn in the flesh" Pearl Cohn High School on our home field. The team will have to be mentally prepared for this huge challenge.

Ya-Ya's Thundering Herd band will continue to perform as long the football team continues to be in the playoffs. The State finals are December 8th, if we make it all the way!!

The Herd is now getting ready for their Christmas concert. Ya-Ya enjoys the Concert season, but her great love is marching season. On Saturday she joined The Herd in the Veteran's day parade here in town. A policeman saw our Canadian Flag canvas chairs and asked if we were really Canadian. I assured him we were and said that we were out honouring American veterans. He was very surprised and pleased. I didn't tell him how weird it feels. This nation's young have given so much throughout their history. God Bless America's Youth.

Thinking of you,
Grandma

November 2007: 4th Visitors

Our last visitors for this Fall season left today. It was a great month. We so appreciate those who make the trip to visit with us.

The highlight for all have been seeing Cecelia play her alto sax in the school's Thundering Herd Band at the Friday Night Lights football games. We also enjoyed hockey games, shopping, the Opry, church, shopping, the Grand Old Opry Hall of Fame and Museum, Civil War sites and did I say shopping!

Today Cecelia ran outside when she heard the Ice Cream truck in our subdivision and bought for herself a Drumstick, November 4th!! Ah, only in Tennessee.

Thanks again. See you all soon. Come on down.
Love
Grandma

October 2007: Third Visitors

This weekend we had Uncle Richard and Aunt Diane here for a few days. They enjoyed the drive South, stopping over night with their long time friends, the Quick's , who live outside of Detroit. Uncle Richard and Robert Quick have been friends since, well forever.

We took them to the football game up in Whitehouse where the Bison continued their winning ways; 12 to 10 over the Whitehouse Blue devils. It was a nail biter, exciting game. Uncle Rich and Aunt Diane were amazed, impressed, astounded by the dedication to perfection of the Thundering Herd band and commitment by the coaches and band teachers and students and parents to Friday Night Lights here in Tennessee. Being a former teacher, Uncle Richard really appreciated all that goes into these programs.

On Saturday we took them to visit another Civil War site in Franklin. This home was mainly a hospital for the Confederate soldiers after the Battle of Franklin in the Civil War. The McGavock's who owned the plantation at the time set aside 2 acres of their land near their family cemetery and dug up from the battle fields and reburied over 1, 400 Confederate soldiers. They placed small stones with just the initials of each fallen soldier and a number on each stone. They kept a hand written log book of the entire cemetery which exists today inside the home in a glass display case. The graves were arranged in order of states, with a larger stone marker with the number of dead buried from that particular state in that section.

We also attended the Opry on Saturday evening and heard Vince Gill and Josh Turner. It was a wonderful evening. Vince sang one of our favourites "These Days" to his mother who was there as it was her birthday weekend. Josh has this deep rich voice and is very charismatic (read: hot). The Opry is always just a great evening.

Ya-Ya went to another band competition back in Chattanooga. They placed 3rd in their division. This coming week they will be entered in the Tennessee State championships south of Nashville at Independence High School. This coming weekend our friends Dean and Barb will be here for a visit also.

What a great month we are having. Thank you to everyone who ventures South! And puts up with our travelogues.

Grandma

Band Competitions

Yesterday Ya-Ya's Thundering Herd Band played their best ever in the competition at McGavock High School near Opry Mills Mall. They ended up in the Finals in the evening and earned a 1st place in their division for Musicality and 2nd overall in their division.

Grandpa and I stayed for the Finals and the results. I wonder if these marching bands are turning into Show/Stage bands. The majority of the others in the Finals all included all kinds of drama, props, stages, very fancy presentations. The music and marching definitely took a secondary place. It was those bands that earned the majority of awards.

I wonder if our Music director will have to step it up next marching season. Our band is pretty traditional with our "Guard" having beautiful choregraphy and banners that add to and express the music. Where these other bands seem to express the dance, choregraphy, drama going on by the dancers, Guard, etc.

For example. One local band played music from Cirque de Soleil. The Guard were dress in pink ballerina tootoos, had whitened faces, pink tights and white wigs. They carried white step ladders onto the field and they climbed up and down the ladders, swung off them, etc.

Another band played music from an adaptation of The Wizard of Oz that is out in London, England, so I heard. There were witches, good and bad, huge backdrops, white smoke and wizard. It was weird.

Another band, Father Ryan, was very classy. Their band dresses in black and shiny gold. Their Guard swung 8 foot shiny brass poles around which caught the lights from the stadium and shimmered in the darkened sky. It was very beautiful, just unconventional - they won many awards.

From what I see, if The Tundering Herd, wants to move on in competition, they are going to have to go the way of the spectator at least in the routines they give the Guard to do.

The Herd has one more week of competitions and then we may make the State finals.

Love to all,
Grandma

October 2007: Second Visitors

It's Monday morning and we are saying good bye again. This time to our long time friends Rick and Brenda. They have lived in Calgary for 30 years now! Wow! How time flies! (Old and worn out phrase, but really applies) Of course the 4 of us have not aged during those years.

It is so amazing to see grandpa and Rick talk, they just chatter all day long and into the night. They enjoyed seeing Ya-Ya and her band and once again the Bison won the football game, undefeated! The highlight was the four of us going to a Predators vs Calgary Flames game on Saturday night. Before the game we went for dinner at The Merchants, which is within a block of the Sommet Center. As we were leaving the restaurant the pianist at the white grand piano began to play "Oh Canada"! I stopped in shock and listened. Apparently Rick had requested it in secret to the rest of us. This was a real high light for me of their visit.

Rick was quite concerned how the Flames would play, I think that was unfounded as they beat our Predators 7 to 4! I was highly disappointed because before the end of the 3rd period, 50% of the Predators fans began to stream out of the arena! Maybe Nashville doesn't deserve an NHL team. (hard to believe I said that!).

We showed them some sights of Nashville throughout the weekend. Yesterday afternoon we drove into Madison and visited Nashville's National War Veterans cemetery. It is an amazing site. Thousands of small white tombstones set neatly in diagonal rows across gently rolling hills. Grandpa and Rick got out of the car and walked among the Civil War tombstones.

It was a great 4 days. It is so very kind of family and friends who make the trip south, words cannot express our appreciation.

Now we have 10 days until Uncle Richard and Aunt Diane come for their first visit.

God bless!

Grandma

Kids Say the Cutest Things

In the dark, in the back of the van, Haley is leading Hunter in the sinner's prayer.

Hunter says "Is HE in there yet Haley?"

God bless them!

Grandma

October 2007: First Visitors

Rich and Christine and H and H have just left after a great 4 day Thanksgiving weekend visit. The highlight was attending the Bison football game in Greenbrier where the Bison continued their winning ways, they are 7 and 0! They will make it into the playoffs in November.

This means that Ya-Ya's band, The Thundering Herd, will continue to march and perform at Friday Night Lights. Rich's enjoyed seeing Ya-Ya play and march with the band. See Rich's blog at http://www.birchtv.blogspot.com/ for some of the highlights.

We also attended the Predators game over Dallas. This was fun. Haley had her picture go up on the jumbotron twice during the evening. On Sunday we attended a "strategic partner" church in Franklin and then went to visit a Civil War site in Franklin where 9 000 were killed in battle within 1 hour of fighting. Most vicious battle of the American Civil War. The historian who took us on a guided tour was an amazing story teller.

We celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving on Monday with a traditional Canadian meal plus corn bread stuffing instead of bread and sweet potato casserole instead of lima bean and cream style corn casserole. The highlight for me was at the end of the meal when grandpa tried to teach Miss H how to wiggle her ears like he does!

With sadness we waved goodbye to them this morning at 4:30 AM. We are so thankful that many family and friends continue to want to visit us here.

Grandma

Lovely Night for a Wedding

We just got back from our first Southern wedding. It was held this evening in the First Methodist Church here in Gallatin. Beautiful old church. Candles were every where. After the service the streets in town square were lined with candles that led us all to the reception on the other side of the square. Very cool! The evening was pretty casual, no speeches, no head table, etc. The buffet tables were scattered throughout the hall: one pasta; one fish; one pork(?). The bridesmaids were dressed in dark brown taffeta with huge pink sashes that fell just below their waists. It was great to be included in such a special evening!

Yesterday The Bison won their 6th straight game 38 to 6! Wow what a team, hard to believe. Today Ya-Ya is at another band competition and we are waiting for her to call to hear how they did. In the preliminaires this afternoon one of our clarinets screeched and one of the clarinetists (?) fell during the routine. I thought, this is it, but they have made it into the finals! They have to place in this competition to have any chance of moving into the State finals in November.

Have a wonderful day of worship tomorrow.
Grandma

Only in Tennessee

The GM strike was settled over night and on Tennessee Morning news show they compared the NFL strike of a few years ago to the GM strike!!

Oh yeah a line worker at GM to a multi millionaire! Help I don't get it.

grandma

Time on My Hands

Today Tawny and his brother are here painting our Great Room and Kitchen. The colour is from Valspar from Lowes. We have always since forever been Benjamin Moore paint people but I am very pleased with this paint plus it was only $19.95 US a gallon compared to BM's $45!! We will need numerous gallons to complete this job.

So Mercy and I are stuck up in the Bonus room to stay out of their way. She would prefer to be down there helping out!

I went out this morning for a while and bought a place setting of dishes for the wedding we are going to this Saturday night here in Gallatin. Mercy slept in her kennel in our walk in closet while I was away.

Ya-Ya recovered from her busy weekend and picked up a 'special friend' in the process. The band did not arrive back at the high school until 2:15 Sunday morning. We let her sleep in on Sunday even though she did want to get up for church. We felt it best to let her rest.

It has been neat to see each of the boys new homes recently and to hear how well they are settling in. They are both very handy with electrical and carpenter jobs - something they have learned, been forced to learn on their own since becoming home owners.

It was always good to be around them before when they moved and grandpa especially, would help them, mainly hanging up all those pictures and shelves, etc. But they are doing excellent work now on their own. As we are here, on our own.

Make each day count with your loved ones. We never knew that we'd be here this time in our lives but as we say "If we HAD to move, Tennessee is a great place to live".

Your comments here are always welcomed and cherished!!

grandma

Five and Zero

The Bison won their 5th straight football game against the Dekalb Tigers 38 - 9. It should have been even wider margin but the refs called back 3 of the Bison touchdowns (what was that all about?!).

Ya-Ya could hardly sleep afterwards as she has a big day today. The Thundering Herd are going to two band competitions today. She has to be at the school by 8 AM and will be back at the school around 1 AM on Sunday! That's right morning!

Grandpa and I will go to the evening competition as we have to pack the Great Room up for the painters are coming on Monday to paint the Great Room, the Kitchen and the hallway!! Why you may be asking are Grandpa and Grandma having someone paint for them. We have these high ceilings in the Great Room and it is just too scary for us to paint.

Have a wonderful weekend. Happy Birthday Ricky!

Grandma

Home

I arrived back home last evening and went directly to the football game at Hendersonville's Beech High School who were playing our Station Camp Bison. The Bison won in another close match 17 to 10. The Bison have to tighten up their game as they progress through the season; they made some missteps and fumbles that teams may capitalize on in the future.

(Look at me giving football advice)

I have had a busy but good 10 days first with my friend Carol from BC travelling all the way here to go to Deeper Still with me in Nashville. Just excellent. Amazing two days with Beth Moore and Kay Arthur!
Then on Monday I flew to Buffalo and Jake picked me up and took me to their new home in Niagara Falls ON, for dinner. Great to see the grandkids. (get those directions out that dad sent you Jake). On Monday night Heather drove me to Hamilton where I was with Christine and kids until they moved out on Tuesday. I took H and H to African Lion Safari. It was the best visit to the Safari ever. There were very few people there. We did not have to fight the crowds nor the heat. Wednesday I travelled with them to Orillia as they moved into their new home there.

Rich drove me to the airport on Friday morning on his way to Pittsburg to visit a new church there that will be following the same format as the church in Orillia. I flew home through Air Canada (Air United Nations I now call it) out of Terminal 1. A huge and magnificent building!

Today I am tired but happy to be back with Larry (who picked me up in Nashville where he gave me a dozen roses) and Cecelia and our little Mercy.

Praise God for all of our family. May they be richly blessed as they begin their new lives and ministry in Niagara and Orillia.

Love
Grandma

Fall Creek Falls Labour Day Weekend

We have arrived home from an overnight at Fall Creek Falls State Resort Park north of Chattanooga.

We discovered some very breathtaking scenery and had a quiet retreat-like time. Double click on the photos especially this first one to get more detail!

This first photo shows an unknown couple sitting out on a ledge high above the canyon of Fall Creek Falls. We walked out to see the Falls and there to our left we saw this couple having a picnic out on this ledge. They must have climbed up the gorge rock face and walked out onto this romantic getaway spot.


At one point they kissed for all of us, as we all cheered approval across the valley!

We hiked down some pretty rocky hill sides and came out upon this swing bridge that Cecelia felt compelled to venture out onto.

One stop along the scenic highway we stopped at shows the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee in the distance. As we were taking this picture 3 young people finished their climb up the rock face infront of us.

We visited the camp grounds here thinking about returning sometime for a family reunion. One spot we stopped to visit was an old fashioned swimming hole with kids jumping off the rocky cliffs into the crystal clear water.

All this is a two hour drive from our home here. I know we will return often for our getaway close to home.

We think tonight of our dear grandkids starting back to school in their new cities. We pray for each one that God will bless them with many wonderful friends as they will be wonderful friends to the children there. We pray that each ones new journey will be soft and sweet and yet challenging, may they continue to be a blessing to all who know them.

Love

Grandma

Second Week, Second Win

The Bison and The Thundering Herd climbed the ridge to Springfield last evening for their second game of the 2007 Friday Night Lights Football season.

With me in tow as a Bus chaperone on the silver bus. The band is very well disciplined and very well chaperoned. The band is not allowed to shout out the windows, they have "All hands" checks (everyone puts their hands high in the air, this is mainly to check on the couples who sit together), upon entering the driveway of any school every one goes silent, they let the chaperones disembark first, they sweep out the bus on returning to their high school, there is no swearing or rough housing anywhere and they are taught to respect all adults. They very much discipline each other, speak to anyone who is out of line or mouthy! So my time as a bus chaperone was uneventful, almost peaceful!

The Bison beat Springfield Yellow Jackets 22 to 0. The game was well attended, with more people from Gallatin in the stands than on the Springfield side of the field.

I was very interested in seeing the town of Springfield. This is the town where Grandpa works. The district where the High School is, has lovely old Victorian and Arts and Craft style houses. A lot seem run down, but in their prime would have been a lovely neighbourhood.

The school's facilities are pretty basic. The Thundering Herd's tractor trailer got stuck in the driveway and needed some assistance to get pulled out. The tractor trailer with all the instruments, etc., would have arrived home much later than the band buses.

The band continues to improve. It is such a joy seeing Cecelia having fun and participating in such a positive environment.

Love to all
Grandma

First Game, First Win

At the season opener last night, in the hot and humid and packed out Bison stadium, our team pulled out an amazing victory over the locals from Hendersonville High.

In the last 10 seconds of the game, the Bison scored a crucial field goal to bring the score to 19 to 17! What excitment and celebration broke out.

Now Hendersonville High is a powerhouse and long established school that has been around since the dark ages and our Station Camp High is only 5 years old. When the Bison have played them before we have never put any points on the score board, so this was a huge victory to start the season.

The Thundering Herd, our high school band did a great job. They are so well trained and professional in all they do. The Herd only played one of their competition pieces at Half Time, because of the 100 plus weather they have not been outside much to go over the marching routines but they were near perfect as far as any of us could tell. Of course Ya-Ya tells us the mistakes made. I still stand amazed when I see her out there playing in the Star Spangled banner at Friday Night Lights in America!

Afterwards Grandpa and I stayed behind and helped clean out the spectator stands of garbage. The school pays the band $150 each night we do this. The Thundering Herd will be playing in Disney World next Spring so we need to help with these kind of events, much better than the fundraising events where we have to ask people to buy or order things they really don't need or want.

Have a great weekend.
Grandma

Wilson is 13 !

We can hardly believe that our eldest grandchild turns 13 today.

Wasn't it just yesterday that we all gathered in Scarborough, throughout the night, waiting for him to 'show up'.

Jim and Bonnie played cards and board games with Jen all night to keep her amused. Becky and I kept going in to see how Jake and Heather were doing. After some exciting moments, not exactly the word Heather would use, our little Wilson was here. All pink and beautiful and strong!

We remember the next day when we went back into the hospital to visit them all. Heather was still in the 4 bed ward at that time, Jake rolled the bassinette out into the visitors room for us and Rich and Christine to see baby Wilson. As he approached us he shouted, really, "Don't touch the baby!!!!!" We all jumped in alarm. I forget what the reason was for that.

Anyway by the third day everyone was calmer. We all sat around a visitors room and passed Wilson around from Grandparent to Great Grandparent. Lots of unbridled pride in the room that day.

Happy Birthday Wilson, you continue to be a joy to all of us.
Grandpa and Grandma

Mercy's First Birthday

Here is our sweet little Mercy on her One Year Birthday!

She has turned out to be a lovely companion. That is why we called her Mercy. We were doing our daily Bible devotions and it was about Mercy and Grace are God's companions for each of us. I told grandpa if we ever had another dog, I wanted to name her Mercy.

Our Blossom died 3 days before we moved to Tennessee. Two months later we began to look for a new puppy. We called about some Cock-A-Poo puppies "just east of Nashville".

We phoned Heidi, the breeder, got directions to her farm. Her place turned out to be just outside of Chattanooga! We saw Mercy when she was only 10 DAYS old. We claimed her as our own and went back 7 weeks later and picked her up.

When we were driving home from Chattanooga, a car passed us on the Interstate with this licence plate, MERCY B !!!!! How shocking and confirming that was for us.

So Mercy's mom is a 20 pound cocker spaniel and her dad is a 15 pound white miniature poodle. She looks like her mom but has the hair of a poodle.

She has been a very fun, happy, playful puppy. Recently she has turned into a lap dog. She enjoys sitting up for afternoon naps with grandma and loves having her ears and belly rubbed.

Happy Birthday Mercy.
Grandma

Music City Superspeedway

Not to be confused with Music City Speedway at the Fairgrounds.

This venue is south of the city. It is a 1.3 mile track. We saw two races, we were mainly there for the Toyota Truck race in the late afternoon. We had seats in the Family Section, no alcohol nor smoking. The only bad thing we were in the first row of that section, so we were pretty close to the smoke and the drunken racecar fans. I won't mention here the gross things we saw and heard. Nothing like a drunken redneck.

But it was a good afternoon. Grandpa loved it. It was his anniversary gift from Ya-Ya and I.

I am sure we will go again, we will make sure our seats are a little further away. I had nightmares about all of those people getting in their cars and driving home on the same roads we were travelling on.

Love to all,
Grandma

Cruisin' On The Cumberland

Last night Grandpa and I celebrated our 37th anniversary on the General Jackson river boat out of Nashville. We had an amazing steak dinner followed by a wonderful show entitled "Sing". Five extremely talented musicians and their back up band led us through all genre of music: jazz, blues, rock and roll, gospel, inspirational and even two country songs. They have powerful voices. All full of energy and fun. Absolutely a family show, not one hint of inappropriate content. They all, even the 3 men, must have changed costumes 10 times!

We had such a good time. Before dessert our waiter told us to go on the deck and see the lights of downtown Nashville. It was all very romantic - yes Grandpa even kissed me a couple times during the dinner!

For me this was the best event we have been to since moving here, for grandpa it was second only to the night we saw Vince Gill and the Oakridge Boys at the Opry.

We both say, this is something to take visitors to, no question about that.

On toward the second 37!
Grandma

Black and White Painters

We have found that here in the South they have interesting cost cutting ideas. Like today we were downtown Gallatin and a group of 5 local prisoners were painting the light poles. Yes there they were in bright daylight in their black and white stripped coveralls (I am NOT kidding). The man from the utilities company was sitting on the back of his truck with his arms folded watching them. We didn't see any guards around but I am sure they were near.

They also use the prisoners to pick up the trash along the interstate and side roads! Last night at Ya-Ya's band practice they were told to only use the bathrooms in one particular part of the school as the prisoners were in the school scrubbing floors, etc., getting ready for school opening tomorrow.

Free and enthusiastic (to get outside) help! What do you think?

Love
BAB

What Must I Do?

What must I do to get YOU, yes you, to leave even a little bitty comment on my blog. You can do it anonymously, so no one knows even your name. Just click on Anonymous.

I would love to have you respond, pick out my spelling and grammatical errors!

I really want to hear from you.

Why do I write this blog - well it started out as a travelogue for our kids of my adventure here settling in to Tennessee but it has turned out for a place for me to save memories; to express my hopes and dreams and frustrations.

So write something, I really want to hear from you. Your advice, your wise counsel, your reaction, whatever.

Love you,
BAB

Oh How He Loves Us

This afternoon Grandpa and Ya-Ya had quite the trip to the airport from Mini Yo We. Lots of traffic, they were even detoured off the 407 onto the 427 due to construction. Grandpa would phone me here in Tennessee and report that they were not going to make the flight home.

He would phone and then say that the highway opened up. Ya-Ya was praying in the seat next to him and I prayed here at home.

Once they arrived at the border the line for customs was backed up worse than he had ever seen it. Someone told him the back up would take at least an hour. He phoned me again to say they for sure would not make their 3:30 flight home but they would continue on to the airport and get tickets for tomorrow and go back and stay overnight at Rich and Christine's, as they had kindly offered.

I got off the phone and was led to pray "Lord please open a way for them as you did for Moses crossing the Red Sea". I could see in my mind cars moving out of the way. I thought as I finished praying, who do I think we are, we aren't Moses. Well, within 15 minutes Grandpa phoned to say that they were through customs that a man was directing one or two cars every once in a while to go into that special Nextel line, I think it is. Grandpa does not have that special Nextel pass, but they were allowed to pass hundreds, literally, of cars and got through and would indeed and did indeed make their plane with time to spare.

This afternoon showed us all very specifically again how God cares for us as individuals. About each small detail of our lives.

We give Him all praise and glory and thanks.

Grandma

Taking back our skies

I take my triumphs where I can get them.

1. For any of you who have been here this Spring and Summer, you have been swooped by a family of screech owls at night. Well, we haven't heard or seen them at all this week. We are thinking they have flown the coop, so to speak. The babies must have been old enough and all have left the old tree in our neighbour's yard.

2. Now don't think I have flipped out but I have finally found a glass cleaner that doesn't streak our mirrors. This has been a pain in my elbow for years. I don't know if they changed the Windex formula but it began streaking our mirrors. Yesterday I picked up the Publix home brand of glass cleaner. It claimed to be streak free, I thought, "Yeah I have read that before". Well it works, my mirrors are shiny and streak free.

I know, I am just not busy enough! To care about such things, but it has really bugged me even when I was busy and more active.

Free and clear,
Mom

Updates

1. While we were on vacation Mercy turned 11 months old. Happy Birthday my little sweetie-kins.

2. Jake and Heather purchased a lovely home in Niagara. Move in condition, I believe, even the timing will be right so all will be settled before school. Thank you to those who have prayed so faithfully for this.

Continue to seek God for the sale of their home in Erin. They could rent it but it would be much smoother to sell it before they have to move.

3. Rich and Christine have found a home in Orillia and put in an offer. There is already another offer on this house so this will be a 48 hour waiting game. The sale of their home in Hamilton should be finalized this week.

4. It is being announced at The Meeting House today that Rich has resigned. It will be a difficult day for many.

5. We had a lovely visit with Erna on the way home. She will be 90 in January. She is fraile but getting cataracts removed sometime soon and her mind is sharp and still lives in her home, doing everything for herself except her lawn, which bothers her to have someone else mow her lawn. Way to live Erna!

6. Our trip home was uneventful except for a deer being hit by a car just in front of us. It sure flew up in the air, I thought it was some huge bird, dad thought it was blanket flying through the air.

7. Larry escaped the criminal justice system once again. We got off the I 65 at Portland where the speed limit goes down to 40 mph. Well, he didn't adjust quickly enough and we were stopped by a very young man in a blue suit. He let grandpa go with just a warning.

I should have been the dumb blonde and said out loud, "Larry they just let you off two months ago in Greenbrier for speeding". But I didn't.

Well, it is off to church. Have a blessed day,
BAB

Heading Home

Our holidays for 2007 are almost over, we are heading home tomorrow. We have had a wonderful time - being with kids and grandkids and Aunt Connie and Uncle Dave.

Lots of news, Rich has resigned from The Meeting House and he and Christine and H and H will be moving to Orillia area where Rich will be helping a church there with multi-sites. He has had over 5 wonderful years with Bruxy and the staff at The Meeting House but he is feeling led to help this newer work that has been started in Orillia. Rich and Christine are selling their home in Hamilton and are in the process of finding their new home in Orillia. It is wonderful that they already have some longtime friends who have also moved to that area.

We stayed a couple of nights with Rich's. Had the opportunity to spend time with H and H and see them at their swimming lessons. They have made great progress. We all went to Hutch's on the Beach for dinner one night.

Jake and Heather continue to search for a home in Niagara. They are very near to closing a deal there. Please pray into this move and for the sale of their house here in Erin. We had the wonderful opportunity today to return to Erin to babysit The Cousins, pick them up from soccer, etc and stay overnight to help Jake and Heather to stay in Niagara until a new home is found.

We had a wonderful visit with Aunt Connie and Uncle Dave at Kettlepoint. We attended Miss Saigon at the little theatre in Grand Bend; kind of risque in parts but beautiful music, especially the duets. Then we went for dinner at The Old School House. We also attended their church for Wednesday night Prayer meeting. Their pastor is an excellent Bible teacher and we could tell that the Libby's are well loved and cared for there.

Tonight we took The Cousins to Pizza Hut and then to see Ratatouille. We had a good visit. Tomorrow we take them to their soccer camp and to a day camp for Miss D then head home. Stopping in to see dear Erna on our way.

This week began with us taking Ya-Ya into camp, bitter sweet time for us all. We are encouraging her to come back next year for the LIT leadership training for a month or so. She is growing up! Remember the first year we took her there and all she did was catch grasshoppers instead of joining in with the rest. She has really grown from that.

We are finding our way being grandparents from a distance. The kids graciously let us interrupt their lives like this. My heart still longs to be more available but I am learning slowly to not look back to press hard into what God wants and plans for my life. I feel our little family is changing once again with these big moves, another adjustment, but I must take one day at a time and one visit at a time.

Thanks again dear family. Love you all forever
Mom

July Visit

Our friends from Burlington, the Andrews, just left. They have been here for 5 days. We all attended TheCall at LP Field here on 7 7 07.

You know it is very hard to describe that day. It was billed, not as a festival nor concert but it was prayer and a fast. In 95 F heat we fasted for the day; prayed for the turning of this nation towards God and away from moral decay; we had communion with the 55 000 plus; attended wedding ceremonies of 3 couples right there in the stadium; heard Michael W. Smith read a letter from George W. Bush; knelt on the cement floors of the stadium in prayer; saw close to 10 000 mainly youth down on the field praising God through prayer and worship music. Much much more we heard; it was a day of repentance for the 40 million aborted children in this country. We heard from a former abortion doctor; a young woman who was talked into an abortion in her teens; a couple who have adopted a rescued baby; a man who paid for an abortion. We need to speak out and support pro-life politicians and the church needs to step up and support these moms who decide to let their babies live; the church needs to step up into the adoption arena. We need to pray for the dismantling of abortion.

My own thoughts on this, as a foster mom, I have some experience and knowledge and witness, I think the church needs not to be afraid of raising other women's children. The children are innocent, they are the victims and the church needs to get over itself and this fear.

We stood in silent protest, with red tape over our mouths with the word "LIFE" written on the tape, for the murdered and innocent. Powerful but just a small description of the day. Apparently God.TV will be re-broadcasting this event in the days and weeks to come, if you can find it on the Internet.

Well, back to reality, laundry and the like. May I never forget all I experienced and pledged on 7 7 07 and may God continue to lead me in His will for my life.

Love to all
Grandma

Happy Canada Day!

To Y'all! It was a year ago today that we left Canada and moved here to Tennessee. In lots of ways it is hard to believe.

We are wearing Canada Flag pins today and have a USA flag and Canada flag hanging out front. Never have we been so patriotic.

Like I have said often, if I had to move anywhere, Tennessee is a great place and it would be perfect if all of you were here with us. But we each have our own lives to live. God has chosen this path for the us right now in our lives.

Our friend, Bill Andrews, told us almost a year ago to not miss why the Lord moved us here, there is a reason and a lesson. Part of it is definitely for Grandpa and his work life, part of it for Ya-Ya, she has blossomed. For me, I feel still in a holding pattern or I have missed His reasoning. In my mind I recognize lots of great things about this move, my heart and spirit just need to catch up.

Last evening we celebrated Independence Day with church friends way out in the country. We drove along numerous winding roads, some only 1 car wide until we reached our destination. This couple lives on 60 acres. About 10 acres are cleared for their beautiful homestead. We parked and walked back through the woods to another clearing where they have a picnic area and huge volleyball pit, two outhouses with running water and a huge BBQ that can cook maybe 50 hamburgers at one time. We walked down a hill, through some more woods to a lovely little fishing pond where Ya-Ya and lots of the teens and kids were fishing.

In the evening there were fireworks, Grandpa brought some that were like a cannon and blew high into the sky and then starbursts. He also brought some long sparkles for the kids. A great evening.

Have a great day, we love you all,
Grandma

Companion

Loneliness is my companion the past few days. I know where it comes from. When it gets tired of me it will leave. I just needed to get it out in the open and shine some Light on it.


BAB

Historial tour of Gallatin

For almost a year now I have wanted to discover downtown Gallatin. So this morning, in this heat and humidity Ya-Ya and I went off and visited the Gallatin Museum. Three floors of interesting artifacts, even back to early American history.

The best parts for me was a hand drawn map of Gallatin and surrounding area by a civil war soldier. It measures about 4' by 4'. It has very tiny printing; names the owners of the different homesteads; has little hand drawn trees with the shadows for the forested areas; it marks the little streams, etc. It also was supposed to have the location of the Union army encampment marked but I couldn't see that.

The second best was the display of Randy's Record Shop. Now do any of you remember DOT records? If you look on your old 45 rpm records that have the DOT label you will see they came from - GALLATIN, Tennessee! It started in Randy's Record shop on Broadway in Gallatin. He was the very first mail order record business. The Pat Boone fan club (to which I did belong as a pre-teen) was headquartered at DOT records!

So I mentioned to the ladies there about it being too bad that Randy's Record Shop was torn down and it was just an empty lot on The Square. They looked at me puzzled. I said you know where the historical plaque is to Randy Records Shop. They said "Oh no, they just moved that sign there because it kept getting hit on on Broadway Street!"

I thought only in Tennessee would they move a historical plaque away from its place of significance! We drove by the original building after lunch (I will tell you about that in a second). It is an abandoned building now, pretty shabby looking, where a Mexican restaurant used to be. It would be great to mark it and fix it up.

We went to Lariviere's Restaurant on the Square. It is a huge store, with the original brick walls exposed and beautiful hard wood flooring. The food was excellent. The place was very busy but the best part - they will accept no tips! Maybe that is why their business is booming.

That was enough for one day. A couple more places we want to discover on another cooler day.

Love to all
Grandma

Facebook

Are any of you on Facebook? My kids got me on it. I don't really understand all of it. Seems like a more private blog, they invite people to be their "friends". I am on Facebook as others friend but I don't understand yet how to get "friends" of my own.

Oh well. People think I'm cool because I'm on Facebook, little do they know how little I know!

Way Cool Grandma, NOT!
BAB

Weekend Pictures June 2007

Miss C. in dance recital costume.

Mr. H. on 3rd base at t-ball.

Miss D. at Jr. Kindergarten celebration!

Good Busy

We have just returned from another whirl wind holiday "home". We had such fun entering in to each of the kids and grand kids lives at different times in their weekend.

We saw Mr. H. play T-ball. Most fun part was when from the sidelines Grandpa encouraged him by telling him about his good hit and running the bases. Mr. H. looked straight at Grandpa and said "Thank you Grandpa Larry". Mr. H. totally concentrates when he plays T-ball.

We also were very interested in hearing Rich's account of his missions trip to South Africa. His church sent a team there to determine how best to help serve in the AIDS-Hiv pandemic there. His insights were very fresh and things we hadn't heard or seen on news reports.

We attended Miss D. kindergarten celebration in Erin from Jr. kindergarten. She was so happy and knew the actions to all of the songs. She and her mom later showed us a dance Miss D. made up to one of their celebration songs. I think Miss D. should have danced that at the celebration. She has such dainty moves for such an active 5 year old.

We had a good visit with Jen. We also visited with our two special friends Barb and Paula who presented Ya-Ya with another award and a lovely cheque for her accomplishments this past year. Ya-Ya had a few hours with her best friend K. Lots of smiles and hugs.

On Saturday we met Jake's for a birthday brunch for Miss C. (10 years) and Miss D. (5 years). Aftewards we attended the girl's dance recital in Erin. It was totally country and western music that all the dances were based on, even the ballet numbers. Ya-Ya groaned and said "I can't get away from it!". The 3 Cousins were gorgeous and all are lovely dancers!

In the evening we attended a 50's and 60's event and roast beef dinner and auction to help raise money for the new church building in Erin. Heather was in the band and all were dressed in poodle skirts, etc. Heather does an amazing job producing all of the bands pieces and made her keyboard swing especially during "Great Balls of Fire" number!

We arrived back at our hotel in Stoney Creek after midnight and were awakened at 2 AM, with loud music coming from the next room. Grandpa had to call down to the front desk 4 times before the people turned off their music and settled down.

With 3 hours sleep, maybe, we attened The Meeting House in Hamilton where Rich was working that day. We were pleasantly surprised at the vibrant and large congregation there at the Silvercity movie theatre. In the afternoon we spent some time with Rich and Christine and H and H. They had arrived home from a camping weekend with H and H's school.

So back to reality. Loads and loads of laundry but great memories. It is a complicated world -living apart from our family. I have very torn emotions; knowing we need to live and grandpa needs to work but also we would love to live closer and be a help as we can be but that is not the life chosen for us right now in our lives.

I encourage all:

Cherish
Yesterday

Dream
Tomorrow

Live
Today!


Grandma

Fire and Water

Yesterday was a weird day.

As Ya-Ya and I went out around noon we saw a huge black cloud of smoke to the west of us. After getting my hair cut it was still there. After going out for lunch it was worse. We decided to try and go to the Bible book store but we were stopped in a huge traffic jam. Later at home we learned a tanker truck ran into the back of a dump truck on the 386. It reminded us of the huge truck accident outside Milton years ago, where the truck exploded under the overpass bridge and that bridge had to be rebuilt I believe. The pavement yesterday was melted also but T. DOT worked over night and the 386 is open this morning. The overpass bridge is still closed until they determine the damage if any to its structure.

On our way home from that traffic jam, as we approached Long Hollow Pike from Harris Lane, a huge plume of water was gushing up in the air, I don't know, higher than the trees, from a newly installed pump station there!

But great news. The 386 will be finally officially be opened all the way to Gallatin on Friday afternoon, 4 months ahead of schedule. This will help Grandpa get to and from work much safer and quicker! It will really take the pressure off Long Hollow Pike and 31E for we locals.

Also it was announced that we are getting a JC Penney's and a Target in Gallatin, within a 5 minute drive of our house! Ya-Ya and I are excited! We love Penney's.

Now if we could know for certain that the Predators are staying, all of our ducks would be lined up in a row, so to speak.

Love to all,
Grandma

Destination: Destin, Florida

Here we are Ya-Ya and I in Seaside, Florida. This is a gorgeous artists village 30 miles from Destin. All of the houses and stores are beautiful pale watercolours. It was originally settled by artists and writers now mainly a haven for rich Texans. The town next to Seaside is called Watercolor! Where, too, all homes and businesses are watercoloured, clap board siding with white trim. You can see from the back ground there are still the fabulous white sand beaches.

We went out on a glass bottom boat to search for dolphins. It didn't take long. We saw about 5 or 6 different schools of dolphins come near our boat. Even a baby dolphin with its mother!

This area is called the Emerald Coast of Florida. We never knew such beauty existed. It is out of the way but very worth the visit for a beautiful beach vacation

We are so thankful to be given this opportunity.

Love,

Grandma

Updates

June 1st already! We moved here 11 months ago today. Here are a few updates:

1. Ya-Ya completed grade 9 with 6 A's and 2 B's (nothing below 85% the way they work the grading system here). She will have a pretty heavy course load next year with a full year of french and she will be taking Algebra I. She goes to the beach with us for vacation; will go to the same beach with her youth group in July; she will attend Camp Mini Yo We in July for two weeks; she gets home from that and attends Band Day Camp at her school.

She will be somewhat busy.

She has made a couple of friends here. 'Talks' on the computer with her friends from Burlington. Many aspects of Tennessee she is starting to enjoy. We are so proud of her progress and putting up with us.

2. Mercy is now 10 months old and weighs just over 11 pounds. She is adorable. She is playful but has just recently enjoyed sitting on our laps for a little cuddling and a nap. She is house broken and trained, finally. She loves to play ball with grandpa and goes for walks to the pond with grandma. She loved it this year when the Grandkids got to visit and she got to go up North and visit them. When she hears the neighbours outside she thinks that they are "her kids". We have to tell her no they aren't ours.

3. Grandma continued all year to do Bible study at the first church we attended here. The ladies who teach are awesome and our little church doesn't have, as yet, a ladies daytime Bible study. Prayer request.

I am also getting more involved with the Bridge ministry here in our town. Candy Christmas (I believe she is a professional gospel singer) has this huge ministry she started in Nashville feeding the needy who live under the bridges in Nashville. She has extended this ministry to the less privileged here in our town. We pack weekend backpacks for about 45 children from one of the schools in downtown Gallatin plus every month we serve a hot meal to about 200 and give them all the groceries to take home that they can carry. This is a more physical ministry than I have ever been involved in, real change, but rewarding.

Well I guess Marriage Encounter was physical at times more mental and emotional but this Bridge Ministry is all physical. Both have (had) prayer as the basis for all we do (did).

4. Grandpa has pretty much completed the transformation of the plant here in Springfield. He is working on a new project for his same boss, which will mean a change of job, location but not a move for us (good thing!). God willing.

5. We continue to miss the kids and grandkids but they are so faithful to phone and have each now visited us twice here in Tennessee. We will be able to visit them this summer a couple of times. All this is wonderful, but its not the same. But at least, I am not getting stuck in my memories as I did for so many of the first months here. So I am making progress.

6. Rich is going to Africa on a two weeks missions trip with his church. They will mainly visit AIDS orphanages and schools. Jake and Heather and kids are preparing for a move to Niagara Falls, Ontario to minister there at Glengate Alliance. Pray for the boys and their families for protection and God's will and purposes in each of their lives.

7. Our little church is growing and in a building campaign right now. Not an official fancy financial campaign, just the pastor keeps putting the vision he has for ministry here with a new building and also his vision to build churches in Europe and to send teams to the Sudan.

That's us for now. Have a great summer. Thanks for all who have prayed for us, encouraged us and continue to be part of our lives.

Love from
Grandma

Music City Motorspeedway

On Saturday evening Ya-Ya and I went with Grandpa to the car races in Nashville. The Speedway is at the State Fair Grounds. It, like the baseball stadium a couple of weeks ago, is pretty run down. I think Gaylord Entertainment needs to help some of these local venues to spruce up or redo their stadiums.

But we had a great time. I liked the Dwarf car racing the best. These Mini Racers speed around the inside quarter mile track, lots of tight turns and door bumping. But we stayed well into the night to watch Grandpa's favourite the late model Firebirds and Camaros race 100 laps, we stayed for about 80 of those.

Last night Ya-Ya and Grandpa went fishing at Station Camp Creek near the boat launching area. I went but read my book "The Life of Pi". It is actually one of the books Ya-Ya has to read for English class this year in Grade 10. I am not thrilled with it. I hope it gets better. It is very religious right now the writer thanks some Hindu god that led him to find Jesus!! Yuck. Ya-Ya is reading the other book she has to read "Troy". We will switch books later in June.

Does anyone know anything about this book "The Life of Pi" ?

Anyway Grandpa caught a Large Mouth Bass, about 10 inches long plus another one got away, I actually saw it on his line, splash up out of the water. Ya-Ya likes her new grown up fishing pole that Grandpa bought for her this Spring.

Today, is Memorial Day here in the USA and we are going to the Zoo. Thanks Ella for phoning us about your bike accident with Clara and allowing us to pray for you and for the kids for saftey this summer out playing and on your bikes. That was so kind and thoughtful of you, it all helps us to feel part of your lives! :)

Have a great week.

Love to all,
Grandma

Predators Comment

You are waiting for my word on the sale of the Predators!

It is not lady-like. So I apologize.

It is not grandma-like. So I apologize.

It is not Christian. So I am sorry. Forgive me.



But the sale _ _ _ _ _! It is a Predator Fans word for any who have attended a game here.

If the rumours coming out of Ontario are true the team will probably be moved, not next year, but sometime. I just hope the corporations and media of Music City get on board and go all out and begin to show up and buy tickets.

BAB

Grandma

Award and Visit

Our special friend, Barb M., flew home last evening. She was here for Ya-Ya's band concert, a "Sounds" baseball game and lots of shopping!

Last Monday afternoon was the Station Camp High School Underclassmen awards ceremony. Ya-Ya was awarded the English I award and a perfect attendance award. Grandpa took a half day off work and we went to see the ceremony. Afterwards we took our youth pastor, David Huff, out for celebration ice cream sundaes at the Marble Creamery, yum!

In the picture below from left to right is Stu Parry a friend from church, Pastor David and Ya-Ya.

Mother's Day

It is nearly 7 PM, I praise God I have survived this day. Thanks to my family. We had breakfast at 7 AM on our new patio that grandpa had poured this week. We sat and watched the birds come and feed on the new bird feeder Ya-Ya gave to me. It is filled with wild song bird seed. We are helping to feed the Blue Birds that live in our neighbourhood. While we were outside H and H and Christine phoned but we were too late to catch it and only heard their message.

We had a wonderful morning at our church, Sumner Life. They really recognize Mother's Day here more than I remember at home. But it was fine, I got through the service sans tears. After church there were messages from Jake and Jen. It was wonderful to hear their greetings.

Grandpa took us to Demo's for lunch, we hardly had to wait at all for a table and then we drove up to Rocky Top and bought a new hanging plant for the planter grandpa installed out at our mailbox. It looks so lovely.

We had our evening snack outside and continued to enjoy the day. In the quietness of our backyard we talked about other Mother's Days; grandpa would take us all to some lovely large buffet; Rich visited once early before church (I think we were still in bed that time) and Jen and Ya-Ya often supplied me with breakfast in bed. Tears came as I told grandpa today, "Tennessee is a great place to live, it would be perfect if the kids were here".

I got to have talks with Jake and W. and Miss D. and Rich. Jake's were going for a walk in Guelph and then out to Pizza Hut. Jake and Heather have been called to Niagara Falls to Glengate Alliance church there. They will move sometime this summer. If anyone would like a great family home in a lovely community check out Jake's blog at: www.birchbarq.blogspot.com
He can also give you recommend of a powerful and passionate church in Erin.

Happy Mother's Day to you. Thanks again for all who write and read this blog. God's richest blessings to you this day and the next.

BAB

7 7 7

Last evening we went to another praise and prayer evening at a church in Nashville to prepare for TheCall on July 7, 07 at LP Field in downtown Nashville.

This evening was held at a Spanish speaking church in the area not far from the Zoo to those of you who have been there with us, you will remember the neighbourhood.

It was once again a very lively evening. When we first arrived the room was filled with vibrant sounds and sights of the Mexican people worshipping God. The sanctuary was large, there were maybe 400 people there.

The plans are progressing with the 7 7 7 day of repentance. It will begin at 7 in the morning with a quiet, (no music, no sounds, no signs, no banners) walk of confession from downtown Nashville to LP field. The majority of this walk, is on Church Street, which is the center of the homosexual population of Nashville (what a coincidence to Toronto) (!!!). The events at LP Field run from 10 AM to 10 PM.

Apparently, I have not checked this anywhere else, so I cannot personally confirm this, but it was announced last night that Al Gore wants to have a series of huge events called S O S - Save Our Selves (!!!!) on the same day July 7, 2007. He first tried to book LP Field in Nashville, but of course it was already booked by The Call people. He then tried a couple other venues around the USA. He settled at a stadium in New York City and simulcasting around the world. A lady has since booked a huge area in Washington DC for another large prayer and fasting event the same day.

Lots going on in the heavenlies this July 7.

Hope you can be here 7 7 7
BAB

Retreat

I just spent an amazing over night with women from our church at Falls Creek Falls Inn. Falls Creek Falls is a State park in east Tennessee, near Pikeville.

We stayed in the Inn where virtually every room has a lake view. In the morning we looked out over the lake through a wall of windows. The lake, small boats of fishermen and on the far side of the lake tree filled rolling hills.

If you love wilderness with all the conveniences of home this is the place for your next escape. They have this huge Inn, plus fishermen cabins that hang out over the lake plus cabins in the forest, plus camping and picnic sites plus larger cabins that sleep eight to ten with all the amenities. All of the roads in the park are paved. There is horse back riding, crafts and swimming pool, boats to rent, a golf course, loads of hiking trails.

On our way home we walked down to the falls. There before us was this deep and wide gorge. On the far side we saw two of the three falls dropping hundreds of feet over rocky cliffs into a basin. There are hiking trails down into this gorge.

I loved this place so much. Grandpa says the three of us will visit sometime this summer to check it out for a future family reunion.

God bless you.
Grandma

Second Spring

Spring has sprung a second time for this year. If you remember I bragged about the beauty of Tennessee in late March before we went home for Easter.

Over that week Tennessee had three terribly cold and frosty days. When we arrived home, it looked like an early fall. All kinds of trees and bushes were 'burned' a rusty brown. It was awful.

Well, most trees are coming back. From their bottom branches slowly creeping upward, the fresh new green growth of Spring is appearing.

We have been told by experts to keep watering and do not trim nor fertilize. By June we should know whether our Japanese Maple in the front of our house will survive. Right now that is the only plant on our lot that is showing absolutely no sign of life.

Apparently the Tennessee strawberry crop is all but ruined and Tennessee is known for its strawberries. The grape crop is somewhat damaged also for this year.

We are having warm and rainy days so each day we see an improvement in the landscape.

God bless you this Spring,
Grandma

On The Road Again

Jake and The Cousins are on their way back to Erin after a wonderful visit. We visited the Adventure Science Center, The Nashville Zoo and Chuck E Cheese and did some shopping. We were kept very busy and had lots of fun. They all agreed the Zoo is THE best.

We were able to take W. out for ribs which turned out to be just excellent. I am so glad we purchased that trampoline last year when we moved here. The weather was cool enough they spent lots of time out there. So much so that E. sprained her ankle during a collison with W. on the trampoline. She is quite the trooper. We got a wheel chair and Grandpa pushed her all around the Zoo and at Chuck E. Cheese last night she hopped all around to play all of those "pre-gambling games - as Jake calls them".

We certainly love our kids and grandkids and cherish these times they take to come and visit us. We are off to Franklin to the Fine Arts Festival. Ya-Ya has entered a piece of her art work, cartoons.

Love to all who read my blog,
Grandma

The Predators

Last night Grandpa and Ya-Ya and I attended our first ever NHL playoff game. The seats were ok, in the corner at one end of The Nashville Arena on the lower level. Not the best ever, we still like the second level the best.

The game did not start until 8 PM so we decided to eat on Broadway, the main street of downtown Nashville. The Arena is at 501 Broadway, the front doors of the Arena come out onto Broadway. Anyway, we parked and walked down the street to the Market restaurant. We had an amazing meal. It was served to us by a very personable young man who graduated last year in Marketing from Austin Peay University, in northwest Tennessee, but he cannot find a marketing job just now that pays more than waiting tables. He earns over $35 000 US waiting tables!

Anyway, as you all have heard the Predators lost and are now, as we speak out on the golf course for the summer. The Sharks deserved to win, they are an excellent passing team. The Preds are light on defense and get too many penalties plus some of their stronger players are on the injured list.

Well as Leaf fans say, "There is always NEXT year!"

We have so enjoyed our trips to the games something the 3 of us enjoy doing. Last night grandpa bought he and I Predator hockey shirts so we are all set for next season.

Have a great weekend.
Grandma

Our Prayers

We think of all those families grieving the loss and injury of their children, friends and family members at Virginia Tech.

As was said in the service today there are no words to describe the loss and sorrow and horror we all feel.

Let's all remain in prayer for protection and peace and healing and help.

BAB

C and D and D and L

We are just finishing up a great visit with them. The weather has been coolish and wet but we have had another great visit. They can see why we are enjoying the South in many ways. The highlight was a beautiful day at the Nashville Zoo andan evening at the Opry.

Pray for travelling mercies for them today as they begin their drive home.

Love to all,
Grandma

An Early Fall

When we were up in Hamilton we bragged about the daffodils were finished blooming, all of the flowering trees and bushes were in full bloom and we had the lawn mowed twice.

We arrive home to leaves withered and brown on many trees and bushes in this area. Apparently on Easter Sunday they had a tremendous frost!

I am concerned about the Japanese Maple we have in the corner of the front yard up next to the house. It doesn't look good at at all. The experts are saying 3 or 4 weeks before we do anything.

Does this mean football will start early too?

BAB

Big Fire

Sad news for this area of Sumner County. Yesterday afternoon Johnny Cash's lakeside home burnt to the ground. It looks like only the stone fire place is left standing.

We always drive first time visitors past this historical landmark in neighbouring Hendersonville. It was a 14 ooo square foot, clap sided home that sits right beside Hickory Hollow Lake. Johnny Cash lived there for over 30 years.

Barry Gibb of the pop group The BG's bought the house a year ago and was having it restored to use as his summer home and recording studio. Locals feel Barry Gibb will not have the house rebuilt. It would be a beautiful property for someone to purchase and build on. The old fashioned stone and timber fence and gate house were not damaged by the fire, so the property will always be marked for history.

Many of you took pictures of the estate which we could just barely see through the trees. I was told it had an enormous rose flower stained glass window over the front door, I guess that too would have been ruined. Some scenes from the movie "Walk the Line" were filmed right on the property and in the home.

Grandma

I Don't Usually Rant

But what is going on with all of the negativity and back biting and disrespectful talking in the media! High profile people dirt talking other high profile people. High profile people dirt talking young college students. High profile people dirt talking the President, his work, his life and his views.

Where does that anger and disgust come from? Why is there this lack of respect and character assassination oozing out?

Where have loyalty and admiration and encouragement and sensitivity and respect all gone? What joy is there in bringing another down? Especially in front of the whole world?

I am a mom, I don't have the answers to ANY of the worlds problems. Let's just calm down and respect others, find the good in all, bring an encouraing word before any word of disgust comes out of our mouths. I really don't think any of us should rant, rag on another until we have walked at least a mile in THEIR shoes and then walked and listened to them another mile.

That's it for my rant.
Grandma

Great White....Easter

We have returned from our Spring Break trip to family and friends in Ontario.

We had such a great visit. Tremendous hospitality. Three amazing church services at three very different congregations. Fun times with grandkids. Lots of laughs with dear friends.

We were having such good visits we hardly noticed the crappy weather. Noticed I said HARDLY noticed. Well we arrived home here and my outside fern is frost bitten and so are the new little leaves on the trees. I hope everything comes back. I do believe the fern is a goner.

Let me tell you how great a traveller Mercy is. Mercy is a wonderful traveller. She sat for hours looking out of her kennel both up North and our trip back South. She was perfect in each new home and family we visited. No accidents at all and she is only 7.5 months old.

Today is back to reality. Loads and loads of laundry. Ya-Ya returns to class for her last 6 weeks of grade nine. She has a very specific goal now, since her visit on Thursday to Sheridan College and the Animation 4 year degree program. Lots of good advice was given to her: don't give up on your dreams and draw, draw, draw!

For me, I didn't cry much, until we were within an hour of home and on a country station a song came on from Faith Hill, we think, about not giving up on loving and singing and dancing and living even though life doesn't work out the way we planned. I cried and cried. Ya-Ya passed Grandpa note asking what I was crying about.

Thanks again to y'all for a lovely and great visit. Keep in touch.
Love you,
Grandma

Hancock House

Last night Grandpa and I attended a Vision Dinner for our church at the Hancock Bed and Breakfast House. What a beautifully restored old log house. The meal was outstanding topped off with out of this world Southern Pecan Pie, like I have never tasted before!

We had a delightful dinner with new friends from our church and another couple we had never really connected with before. Afterwards we all moved into a dark panelled with original wood slabs room for the pastor's vision statement and a look at the drawings for the church building.

Our young pastor has been given a new vision for our church which included building churches in Europe and doing missions in the Sudan. His has a renewed continued vision to help the needy in our town, which he has recently been given an insight into, children in elementary school stealing snacks from back packs because of their hunger. A local ministry is sending home with many of these children weekend backpacks full of food for themselves and their families. And yes I said weekend backpacks. This is in our town where $1 Million homes are being built in another area of town.

We were very humbled to be included in such an evening. I cannot explain the spirit within that room, but it was powerful and beautiful and totally holy.

We are off, see you soon.

Grandma

Spring has Sprung, sneeze, ahcoooo!

It is glorious outside here in mid Tennessee. All of the trees are in full bloom with purple, and red, and pink and white blossoms. The grass is green and growing and our lawn has been mowed once already March 22 and we are watering the front lawn every other day!

In the midst of all this glory and beauty and 80 F temperatures, my allergies have returned. After 20 years free of seasonal allergies they are back in full force. This is NOT a pleasant sight!

The cold temperatures I see registered up home almost look inviting for our spring break next week. Notice I said ALMOST!

Bye for now

Grandma

Beauty in and out!

We just had the new granite countertops installed this morning. They look amazing. I am so pleased with them and the workmanship, of course, was done by two Mexicans. I feel like rolling out some pie dough on the cool hard granite, weird thought!

While the men were here, I was watching a news show and saw that I can now, as of today, March 20th, plant any geraniums and petunias that I want here in Tennessee!

Wow, what a country.
Love to all
Grandma

Chilly!

Rich and Christine and H and H just left. We had such a great week. Many fun times at the Zoo; the Science Center; the Opryland hotel; the Grand Old Opry; at the Cracker Barrel and at Sonic; H and H ran through the water sprinkler and bounced on the trampoline; Rich and Christine stayed at a B and B here in town in a log cabin!

But now they are on their way home. They have lots of snacks and drinks to eat and DVD's to watch. We pray for travelling mercies for them.

The weather has turned chilly yet sunny and bright so we hope the roads are clear all the way North.

Thanks again kids for fun and happy times. Tonight we go to a Predators game. I am so glad we have those tickets to take the loneliness off this day.

Love to all
Grandma

Shouting Gibbons

Rich and Christine and H and H are here for their March Break holidays. Yesterday we went to the Nashville Zoo and were all greatly surprised.

It is an excellent zoo, that is 6 years old. It is smaller than Toronto Zoo but much more animal friendly. Most of the natural vegetation, trees, shrubs, etc. have been left and the animal habitats spread throughout.

The zoo is clean and easy to get around in. The most amazing display were the Gibbons near the front of the park. The four or 5 monkeys swung from the high trees tops. They screeched and laughed and whistled to one another. The noise was loud and very entertaining.

The meerkat display was huge and the kids and Rich stood up in the middle of it all in an enclosesd display! They looked like part of the meerkat colony.

We loved it all so much Grandpa bought a membership so we can take any who visit us here for a day at the zoo.

Have a great day.
Grandma

A Career for Mercy

This morning Mercy was barking and scratching at the garage door to get out. That is not HER door for letting us know she needs to GO.

This was at 6:15 AM. So I put on my jacket and took her out into the garage. She immediately went over to the van and put her front paws on the back doors and was sniffing like crazy.

Our van is chock full of coffee. Last night a large group from our church put together 2 800 1.5 oz packets of coffee along with a pamphlet about our church that we will give away on Saturday.

All the boxes of coffee and pamphlets got put into our van and Mercy sniffed them out right through the van, the garage, the closed door!

The pamphlet reminds people of the switch to Daylight Savings time and also tells them about our church, where it meets and the time, etc.

I think Mercy has a future as a drug sniffing dog!

Grandma Coffee (H and H it's true)

Thundering Herd and Owls

Ya-Ya's band earned a #1 Superior rating in the competition yesterday at Middle Tennessee State University Concert Bands competition. Congratulations Ya-Ya. The band now gets to go in the State championships in April at Austin Peay University in northwest Tennessee.

Mr. Waters was aiming for perfection. At last week's Preview Concert, he had 4 Band teachers from around the State come and critique the band. On Tuesday he had a Band Professor from Vanderbilt University attend the class and adjudicate them.

We are hearing a different kind of music in the large tree in our neighbour's yard, that over hangs our driveway. We have noticed for the past week, 3 huge owls hang out there at night. They swoop low around the neighbourhood and make like a clicking sound. They are huge with white underbellies. Apparently a few years ago buzzards used to make that old tree their home.

Always something interesting and new to discover here in mid Tennessee.

Love to whoooooooooooo-all
Grandma

7 7 7

Last evening we went into The Factory in downtown Nashville with friends. This is a church in a warehouse in the old, old industrial district of the city. Where we were told to never walk alone even in the daytime.

Anyway inside these huge wooden doors was an amazing church. Bruxy and Rich and the guys would feel right at home.

Jeff (I think he last name is Neale??, used to be with Sonic Flood) was the praise and worship leader. This was 3 hours of raucous rocking worship music. These are advance times to prepare for TheCall-Nashville on July 7, 07 thus 7 7 7. It is being held at L P Field where the Titans play. It is to take back the USA from 40 years of moral decline in North America. There is a website www.thecall.com to find more about it. They were talking about Grandpa and my generation how all the bad stuff started with our generation. Made me feel a little guilty.

It will be a very powerful weekend if these pre-meetings are any witness. Ricky Skaggs and his wife were there and were very encouraging to those who attended. They said people from Canada and Europe are signing up to attend in July.

On Saturday evening we went to the youth pastor and his wife's for an evening with other parents of teens. Only 3 couples attended which was embarrassing but we had a good time getting to know them and they found out more about our family. I am glad we went!

Have a great week,
Love
Grandma

So that's what happened

I read this morning that on Wednesday at the Nashville airport an American Airlines worker went beyond their duty and used her special pass to take Al Gore and his staff through a special room where they did not have to go through security.

Mr. Gore was to meet a security guard on the opposite side of security but when Al Gore arrived the security guard asked him if he had already been through security, he told how the American Airlines employee helped them.

Well this is a no-no in this post 9/11 world. E V E R Y B O D Y goes through security so back they went (this must have been when grandpa saw Al Gore).

The American Airlines employee has been put back through the training on security a second time. I guess she doesn't know that Al Gore "puts his pants on one leg at a time" as the expression goes.

Love to all,
Grandma

Creative Memories

This morning I went to Kathy's house (her husband hired Grandpa, almost 3 years ago). She had a friend there that sells Creative Memories scrapbooks, etc., etc.

I decided it really is time for me to get all of our thousands of photos organized. Yes we must have thousands, as Grandpa and I have been married for 36 years now and if you times that by the number of double photos that grandpa takes and orders!!

So I bought a box that will start me to get organized 2 500 photos in one box! Plus I bought this little paper cutter thing, I am supposed to crop the edges as I sort.

Anyway, I can see a corner of our Bonus room becoming my sorting area, if I give away that old love seat, which I want to do anyway.

I need inspiration on where to start and how to organize. Looks like fun though.

Love to all,
Grandma

P.S. I still think the pages I have seen Heather and Christine do are the most gorgeous and creative of any pages I have seen anyone do.

Memory Lane

This morning I was telling Ya-Ya about the time that Jake and Rich and Grandpa and Grandma sat on folding chairs at the end of the visitors bench at the old Olympia Arena in Detroit.

Toronto Maple Leafs were playing the Red Wings that night. Lanny MacDonald reached over the boards and said to Jake who was sitting either right at the end beside the door onto the ice or the second chair in, anyway Lanny McDonald said to Jake, "Hey kid, touch my stick for good luck". Jake was shocked, I think, but did as Lanny asked. That night Lanny scored a hat trick.

After the game grandpa and I yelled at Lanny to give Jake his stick but he didn't hear us. That was a wonderful evening. We have never before nor since had seats like that. They were folding chairs right at the end of the visitors bench. Grandpa often held the door for players to go on and off the ice, more for protection from getting wacked with the door.

That was one of the last hockey games they held at the Olympia before they built the Joe Louis arena downtown. Ya-Ya and I got talking about this because she noticed the octopus hats that Red Wing fans wore last night here in Nashville. She wanted to know what that was all about. She was fascinated by this story that we told her.

I was just thinking, what was the name of that restaurant we used to go to often before the games in Detroit? Was it Carl's Steakhouse? That was where I first had pickled herring - yum.

Now I know where Rich gets his love of raw fish!

Grandma

Saturday Night Live

Last night was our time to volunteer to help raise money for Ya-Ya's Thundering Herd High School Band. We travelled into Nashville and helped serve desserts at the GEC (the arena where the Predators play hockey) to all of the Private Suites. After the game we cleaned up the Suites after the fans had left.

It was a thrill entering the GEC through the employees entrance then we were led deep in the GEC where on the way we encountered many of The Predators playing "soccer" outside of their dressing room area. They had to stop playing to let us walk by. We recognized the goalie Vokoun, also Tootoo and Kariya.

We worked for 5 hours. It is very labour intensive. We set up these huge dessert carts, more than carts, with delicious, decadent looking desserts. Near the end of the first period we pushed these carts along to our designated Suites, where we served the guests as the waitresses kept account of the number of desserts taken for each Suite.

After the game we cleaned out the dirty plates, etc. and garbage from each Suite. This was back breaking and not so pleasant.

But if the band fulfills all of their obligations to the GEC, they could earn $5 000 this year plus have opportunity for more dates next season.

Earlier in the day we had another neat experience. We went into a granite wholesaler and picked out the actual slap of granite for our new kitchen counter tops. It is called Creama Bourdeux brought in from and mined in Brazil.

I think that is enough excitement for one weekend, we are going to crash this afternoon.

God bless you!
Grandma

Grandpa's Joke of the Day

Child; "Grandma, what is that wrinkley thing on your arm?"

Grandma; "Grandpa".


Love Grandma and Grandpa

Emergency Radio

Our emergency radio sounded an alarm at 12:22 AM today. It said that our town was in for a severe thunderstorm. In the middle of the announcement lightning, wind and hail started powerfully and abruptly. Grandpa and I got out of bed and went into the living room. Hail was hitting the windows on all sides of the house. That was interesting.

It was a fast moving storm at 40 MPH so it didn't last long. This morning we had a six inch hail drift up against the patio door. Mercy loves chewing on the hail.

Mercy is on antibiotics. We think she ate something that has disagreed with her. She is such a garbage dog when I take her for walks. I am forever pulling dirty kleenex, styrofoam, etc. out of her mouth that she finds along the way.

She is on a bland diet of cottage cheese and rice mixture for 5 days.

Grandma

Dam Meeting

Tonight Grandpa and I went to the meeting about the condition of the Wolf Creek Dam. It was an excellent presentation by the Corps of Engineers. There 1000 in attendance.

The basic issue is that in the 1930's and '40's when they built the dam they did not extend the concrete far enough and deep enough and so now the limestone base on the dirt edges of the dam are leaking.

The situation is serious but a catastrophic break is not imminent. They are beginning to rebuild deeper and wider walls which could take another 8 years to complete.

They had topographical maps showing the worse case scenarios for our town. Worse case we would have 21 hours to evacuate before we would see any changes at all in the river and creeks around here. Worse case the water does not come anywhere near our subdivision.

We would evacuate because of destruction that would be south of us. We are not worried but now we have the information in order to talk over our evacuation plans and be aware.

It felt very bizzare to me while sitting there to be hearing speakers talk about a dam break that might involve our family.

We look to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for His continued protection.
Grandma

A Tale of Tennessee

This morning in the local newspaper I read a powerful and touching story of some very rich and revealing local history.

It is being filmed as a documentary by ACT 2 Communications, a Nashville based media production company.

To parapharase the events. It all began in 1963 with two brothers asking a group African-American boys if they could join their after school pick up basketball games in the park that separated their two neighbourhoods. One of the brothers and one of the African-American boys became close friends until they both entered high school. They went to segregated high schools here in our town! The brother went to Gallatin High which still stands and the African-American boy went to Union High School, I have no idea where that building is today.

In their senior year at school their two basketball teams met in the finals for the year, up in Springfield, where Grandpa works, (more connections). The team from Gallatin High School won by 8 points. The brother walked toward center court where his childhood African-Amercian friend stood crying over the loss, but ready to congratulate his friend and the team from Gallatin High School.

At that moment the crowd grew still, the brother grabbed his childhood friend at center court and hugged him as they both cried and cried. You see the Union High school was being closed down and all the youth from the town of Gallatin would be attending Gallatin High together in September. The hushed crowd broke into cheers.

This union at center court broke the ice for this community that still exists today. These two men are still in this area and have both become successful in their careers. They are helping with the retelling of their story for this documentary.

I can hardly wait to see it. I didn't retell this story very well, left out many details, but it truly touched my heart this morning and endeared me more to my new surroundings.

I remember the one and only time I ever saw segregation. My parents took us on a road trip to Kentucky when I was about 12. We stopped at Calumet Farms, we should try and find that, since we live here now. Anyway we went into the lunch room for a meal. A sign on the door read: Whites only to the right. I remember thinking how strange is that. We often went to downtown Detroit and ate at the lunch counter at Kresge's and everyone sat together. I grew more aware in my teenage years of the struggles going on in the South.

Praise God He made each one of us, we are all His precious children.
BAB

Welcome Rich and Christine

Our son Rich is now totally blogged. You can see his blog at www.birchtv.blogspot.com.

Our son Jake started us all blogging, he has blogged for a few years now, you can see his blog at www.birchbarq.blogspot.com.

Enjoy!

BAB

Valentine's Day Flurries

Unlike our family in Canada we are only experiencing very light flurries and a cold breeze today.

Overnight our families up home have experienced 6" of snow at least and cold and windy weather. The kids are off school.

Jake blogged their patio set covered in what looked like white 12" cushions on their patio chairs.

Out with the red, in with the new colour choice for Valentine's - Pure White love.

Love you forever
Grandma

Difficult Day

Grandpa found out this morning that the husband of one of his co-workers died on Friday evening. The man had fought hard to stay here for his wife and family and friends.

He braved numerous surgeries and treatments. His wife battled valiantly with him. She tried to be at work and care very specifically for her husband. Grandpa did not always ask her each day how Charles was, but would let her come in and speak whenever she felt she needed.

We often remarked here at home where Jolene found her strength. We know she is quite open about her faith in Jesus Christ, she even has a picture of our Lord hanging in her office at work. Something very rare yet powerful in this day and age.

Grandpa visited the funeral home today at noon. He was quite sad as he returned to work. Our prayers are with Jolene at this time. We know for certain that Charles is now free of pain and healthy and is praising God in heaven.

Grandma

Too Bad So Sad

We were at the Leafs vs Predators game this evening in Nashville at the GEC (Gaylord Entertainment Center)(pronounce Geck rhymes with deck). It was a back and forth game with lots of penalties. The Leafs played better than I have personally seen them play in years. The Predators won 4 to 2.

We had excellent seats in the 200 section. One section lower (closer to ice) that our past times there. The seats had more leg room and were padded.

A highlight for me was; as we were eating our dinner at the Grill Snack Bar, Barbara Mandrell walked right past us. This was my first time here to see a real live country star up close like that. And our friend R. had blogged earlier this week about seeing her the first night she was at the Opry years ago! And now we see her here just a couple days later.

She looked amazing in a full length white wool coat, white wool slacks and white turtle neck sweater.

As the game started two families came and sat in the row in front of us. All wore Maple Leaf sweaters. There were lots of Maple Leaf fans at the game. Any way, the youngest child, a little boy, ended up sitting right in front of Grandpa, but as he was taking his seat his little leg slipped through the back of the seat. Grandpa rescued him. The parents seemed oblivious to all that went all with the little guy. They were at the other end of the row.

Ya-Ya enjoyed herself. She wore her Maple Leafs home shirt and carried her Canadian Beaver stuffed animal. She loves letting folks know that she is Canadian.

I have never felt very patriotic, but as they sang the Canadian National Anthem, I sang along and found myself getting all choked up over it. Absence truly does make the heart grow fonder.

Have a great weekend.
Love
Grandma

Blue Birds in Tennessee

When I have gone on my morning walks with Mercy down by the old abandoned barn on the next property, I have been startled to see Blue Birds.

I don't mean Blue Jays. These are smallish, round bellied, bright blue coated, orange-red breasted Blue Birds.

Like the Blue Bird of happiness. Being from Canada I thought they were a myth. Just yesterday I saw another one in our backyard. I called into Ya-Ya to bring me the camera, but the Blue Bird had flown away.

If I ever get a picture I will place it on this blog. I looked on the WWW and found out that we could build some kind of box for them to nest in. We won't be doing that.

Wasn't it Blue Birds that brought Cinderella her dress? I don't know, but I have some picture in my mind about something like that.

We have noticed many different kinds of birds here. The most notorious is the Mocking Bird. It wails away in the tops of the neighbours tall trees all summer long. I have told you of the Turkey Vultures that daily circle the fields on the drive into school. We have also heard all kinds of little songbirds.

I guess I am getting anxious for Spring. We read today that Buffalo has 50 inches of snow on the ground. 50 inches! Whatever that is in centimeters, it is still alot of snow.

Love to all,
Grandma