My Heart is Full

Terry always says that I have a birth month -- not just a day.  It all started on last weekend when we kicked it off with a cousin sleepover and we got to have five of our six G'kids.  Sorry Calvin -- next year - little buddy.

On Tuesday we got to lunch with Dan and Marinelle McPherson -- dear friends -- tomorrow we will enjoy our traditional birthday celebration  with John and Janet Main outdoors on their lovely lawn.

Thursday Bethany and I brunched at our favorite restaurant in mid-town -- the newly remodeled --Wild Fork.

Terry and I went to one of our favorite restaurants -- Cheesecake Factory -- our first time to eat out since the COVID -- He has been planning for all sorts of ways to celebrate -- but the virus has redefined how we party just now.


 Rusty, Marshall and Katie's dog, was run over and had returned home with round-the-clock care so they were not able to come to Tulsa -- so I had two birthday parties!  What a weekend --  so much yummy food -- so much love and laughter --I am so blessed!

Katie had the house decorated --so fun!

Marshall had chosen the best of the best steaks!

Red Velvet cake from Nothing Bundt Cakes that was soooo delicious.  

A favorite of ours is the time we spend around the table after the kids clear out -- just doing what we do best -- telling our stories -- out-talking each other -- we can get pretty loud and rowdy - we LAUGH and LAUGH LOUDLY!!

Relaxing pool time let us see how Clara and Charlie advanced with their swimming lessons.

Bethany and Mat catered a wonderful Italian meal from Villa Ravenna 

Bethany knows how much I love Italian Cream Cake  -  

These decorations were by a former student and her husband Mallory Bowman Neph at turaloo.tulsa.  I'm so glad they got to meet Mat and Bethany!

Yesterday we got to celebrate Campbell -- she turned 10 and had her "friends" party last Tuesday to catch friends before they left for camp.  

Yesterday her daddy and mommy made outdoor brunch.  

We can't believe Campbell is already 10!  What a beautiful, special young lady she is becoming.  She taught us how to grandparent.  She has a curious mind and is one active girl!

Nana's Favs as Life Returned to Normal

We were finally able to open up and have everyone over for Holiday Brunch on Memorial Day.  It had been so many weeks of not having family in -- Life was returning to normal.  

Jack has been away from friends for 3 months and coming to our house is a big plus for him.  Jack loves projects he does with Pawpaw, to build & invent things, do chores to earn $Tree bucks, and loves Legos.  He is all about robots and creates personalities for them.  He helped me spray paint lawn chairs and ended up with blue hair and a blue forehead

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Sydney found a tarp in our garage and immediately decided we could create our own Slip n Slide.

Pool time at Aunt Bethany's is always the most fun

When we picked up Clara and Charlie for Cousin weekend at the half-way point (Stroud) they were all smiles all the way home)

Coloring is still a big deal with 3 of our Grands -- Sydney, Clara and Charlie

We have to take turns choosing who gets to select the video to watch

We have worked and worked trying to get our fort together -- finally, we were able to make it happen.

Tea parties include -- water, juice, lemonaide or whatever Nana lets them bring upstairs -- Girl Scout cookies are a fav with our bunch for these "parties".

Happy Birthday, Dad

Friday, 5/23 -- you would have been 100!  

Dad, you made sure we had our nightly Bible stories and prayers.

You were the man who always dressed in a business suit and went to work each day -- I loved seeing you all dressed up.

I remember you preparing for the song service on Sunday morning at our dining room table -- picking out songs.

You gave me lessons growing up on how to be a lady, and not be a sassy girl.

In raising our kids, what we were about as a young family was always important to you.  You and Mom would travel 12 hours to spend time with us in Abilene.  For 4 years you wintered with us.  Terry would travel to help you all drive back and then help with our care while you were with us.

 Our busy Church life was important to you.  You and Mom quickly made friends among the older people of  Hillcrest, where Terry was a minister.

Following your example - Terry and I made sure that our kids experienced the Church all over the world.

You faced hard challenges -- a car wreck in your mid-20's that left your arm frozen at a 90-degree angle.  Muscular Dystrophy robbed you of energy when you were raising us kids -- but it was always important that we learned to adopt strong values of faith and education.  You took us to family Bible lectures at Lipscomb and worked to make certain that we got a Christian education.  We weren't wealthy by any means -- but you made sure that we had vacations -- that we visited extended family and that we were growing in God's way.  You were always calm and peaceful -- gentle in your ways of dealing with people -- not given to anger.

You had many expressions, many of those I still remember as I go about life -- one of those is one your mother would quote -- "Beauty is as Beauty Does".

You taught me to drive and really didn't think I would get my license at 16 1/2 because I loved to sing as I drove.  I must have really gotten on your nerves.  You took me to the shoe store and let me get my first high heels (much higher than mom would have let me.)

We watched you confined to bed those 11 years on a respirator and a feeding tube-- you never questioned "Why me?  You missed so many family meals.

You took it all with faith and with a deep resolve to trust God.  I learned from you -- Some of those lessons are speaking loudly to me in this season of my life. 

You modeled a life of strong faith -- I love you so Dad and will see you in Heaven.  We will sit down on those golden steps for a long talk-- like we did when I was growing up and we would sit in our entry hall and you would give me your wise counsel. 

Celebrating Mommas

This Mothers Day - amidst social distancing - we were able to be with our four kids and six grands. Mat served the most wonderful dinner for all of us on Sunday night!

Celebrating Mothers Day is all about the children we get to mother and grandmother.

 Bethany had a recipe that my mother had handwritten embossed on a cutting board.  It is such a treasure!

Marshall and Katie reserved a house in Broken Bow -- we got to join them for 3 nights!  Thursday night's storm, knocked out the power until 11pm Friday night.  It was tent-camping in a luxury house.

Terry is holding on to both Clara and Charlie by the life support straps -- Charlie is sound asleep.

COVID-style boating.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CALVIN

We broke quarantine and headed to Edmond to celebrate Calvin Tucker's 1st birthday.

This little guy was ready to party!  We hadn't seen the kids for six weeks and Calvin had grown so much and has moved into his own to keep up with Clara and Charlie

Momma and Daddy were sentimental about their last baby's 1st Birthday.

Clara had been waiting on the Birthday cake all day and coached Calvin on taking his first bite.  Charlie had to sample a bit for himself.

Here's how a guy rides a Bee, little bro.

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Calvin Tucker Bell you came into the world as mommy and daddy were ready to make a huge move to bring you to Oklahoma and make you an "Okie".  They did lots of DIY projects to get your 
short-stay house ready to sell.  You were born on a Friday -- came home on a Sunday, and got to celebrate your Daddy's birthday on Monday.  In a month you became an Okie!

Your big sis Clara has doted on you and big bro Charlie has been glad to show you the ropes and teach you all about cars and superheroes and dragons.   





You have always been a laid-back chill kid and in the rough and tumble of 3 kids under the age of 5, you are coming into your own.

You seem to be coming into your own very quickly -- you watch the big ones and try the same so it's not long before you'll be walking on your own!

You never lack for someone to cuddle & love on you.  As you flash that cute little grin, people come running.