OUR OHIO TIME COMING TO A CLOSE SOON.

We are still facing stressful times here in Ohio. But we are trying to move forward with our plans to head to Florida on January 3rd. This gives us time to enjoy the holidays with the family here. We will miss being with our son, Ben, in Minnesota and now with Victor who is going to join Ben for the weekend. We are wishing Victor safe driving and a fun time!!
Early in December we made a trip to Indiana for the burial of my mother's last living sibling, Howard, who passed away in December in California. We had him returned to Indiana where he grew up so that he could be buried with his parents and a brother and sister-in-law. Though the weather was intensely cold, we survived the time at the graveside and then met back with the family at my sister, Pearl's house. We had a very nice visit with much reminiscing with old photo albums.

Audrey with her Uncle Howard when Gary and I
were in California,
where we stopped to see him in 2014.

Photo of the siblings, except Howard, when they met at the
home place in Roll, IN in 1963 when their father passed away.
Howard did not make it back from California at that time,.

Howard with his brother, Bruce, when they visited in
Garden Grove, California in 1974

Cousins and their children and grandchildren as they gathered at Pearl's.

David, Julie, Anna, Angie, Nicole, Paul Jr and Pearl

David, Victor, Gary and Jeanne

Jeanne and Norbert's daughter, Nicole with husband Ron
and their children

Jeanne and Norbert with their family.
Norbert was kind enough the take care of the graveside
service and memories for us.

Thank you Jeanne, Norbert, Pearl, and Liz (not present) who planned the event. These times are never easy, but this more so because it had been so many, many years since most had seen Uncle Howard. We were glad that we could bring him back to his family. And so glad to make his landlady in California, Sennie, happy to grant the wishes that he had expressed to her in recent months. We will be forever grateful to she and her husband who were so kind to him for his last eight years.

Our stay in Ohio has continued with visiting with friends and relatives as usual. The camera was not always present at these events, but I will record the pictures that I did take.

Class of 1962 Luncheon at Salem Air Park restaurant.

More of Class of 1962.  Bud so glad that you came out
for the event, and Sherry as well.
We never know when we go to these luncheons who
will show each time. But it is always a nice visit.

I got out for one of our scrapbooking days and had a wonderful time with visiting and lunch.

Mary Ann, Leah and Dee

Eugenia and Betty

Looks like the four Christmasteers to me!!

Our TOPS chapter had their annual Christmas dinner at Boneshakers in Salem. They have a wonderful menu and we are so glad that an old building has been opened back up.  Gary and I also went there to have dinner with our friends Larry and Gloria Cecil on another evening.

Barb, her friend Bonnie and Ellie

Nancy, Shirley (our fearless leader) and Audrey

Another Barb and Joann

Janet and Shirley

Our Monday Bible study group had their Christmas Dinner at Cheryl's house and a fun time was enjoyed with much great food!! I look forward to getting some new recipes.

Carol, one of our leaders.

Ann giving a gift to another leader, Cheryl,
who is also hostess most of the meetings.

Ann, Renaye and Judy

Judy with Marty, Mo and Anna

Mo and Anna

Judy, Marty, Carol, Ann, Anna

I am so glad to share in this Bible study as it is a great prayer and praise support!! I will look forward to joining them again when we come back to Ohio.

Gary has been doing his usual of meeting with friends and walking the Mall. So he is getting his exercise to wear off this extra eating!! His friend, Rick, took us out for dinner last week and that is always a fun time. Thank you, Rick!!

And we have a couple more dinners out before we leave, so we hope that weather co-operates! Also for our trip south!!

Take care and God Bless!! Happy New Year to you all, wishing you a healthy one!!

THANKSGIVING HAS COME AND GONE

As forecast for the weekend of November 20th, before Thanksgiving, we had snow!! Br-r-r-r

Driving south on Tippicanoe Rd for church in Salem

Looking from our balcony to the walkway that goes to the
carports,  now enclosed for winter.

Looking from the walkway out to the pool area.

Looking from the walkway up to our balcony.

We had Victor in for Turkey day and all of our family except Miranda and Doug here in Ohio in for dinner on Friday. Had a lovely visit!! Miranda and Doug we missed you!! Hope that we can connect for Christmas.

Victor, Savannah, Richie and Lynn

Richard and Lynn stayed longer in the afternoon.
We so seldom get to spend time with them as they are so busy.
It was great!!

Now we are back to our usual schedule of meetings, lunches and Gary's Art classes. Following my evening with my TOPS friends, we took a side trip by Bob Sebo's to look at his Christmas display. I imagine that it grows larger each year, but I never tire of seeing it.

The gate at his drive.

The return trip, and in come a string of cars.

I also stopped by to take a picture of Gano's display, or rather part of it.

I have since been shopping, mostly for a few decorations and stocking stuffers. I enjoyed spending the Saturday after Thanksgiving decorating for our Christmas setting.

Welcome

I need to stop back at the stores to get a few more things to decorate the balcony with. I have to remember to be conscious of size so that it stores in our closet easily!

But I sure enjoy wandering through the stores, I just hate the checkouts! I swear they have multipliers on there!

Next week, God willing, we will be going to Indiana, leaving Tuesday. We are going out for a Memorial Service for my Uncle who died at age 95, providing the plans all come together okay. I always enjoy visiting with my sister and she is always bugging me to come. So we will barge in on her. And it will all end way too soon.


Gary and his friend Rick have been out to have a day of picture taking. They were disappointed that the original plan did not pan out, but they found plenty more to see.

It is a good thing that we can find plenty to do at home since we only have one car.
This past Tueday, we took Gary's sister, Janet, home from the nursing home after rehab. She is doing so well that we are amazed. Now if she follows the doctor's orders explicitly she could be fine for a good length of time. I think that she doubts the diagnosis, which we believe is denial. Oh well, what ever makes her happy. Unfortunately, we are all adding the years on. Just pray for good health to continue.
You all take care and God Bless.