Call me CiCi . . . or "Crip"

My ankle/leg has been hurting for at least six weeks now -- I've limped all over Alaska -- and everywhere else. Had x-rays done before our trip which didn't show anything. Well, today I had an appointment with an orthopedic doctor, more x-rays . . . and I have a stress fracture in the lower part of my leg. Woopee! Now I'm in a "boot" for six weeks. At least now I know what's wrong -- and that it's really something and not just arthritis. Don't know how it happened. I didn't fall, didn't twist it. Who knows. The boot actually helps it to feel better; it's just a pain to take off to drive (it's my right leg) and then put back on. Anyway, now I'm a crip for a few more weeks, but hopefully it will heal and I'll be good as new again!

Tonight we Skyped with Casey and Kate -- and Kate said our names for the first time! We were so excited! You'd have thought she quoted from Shakespeare or something! CiCi and PawPaw -- what wonderful words from a 16-month-old! Almost as good as the first time my kids called me "mama"!

Anna in Africa

While Stacy and I were having a good time cruising Alaska, our daughter Anna was travelling for a different reason . . . on a mission trip to Africa with SERV Ministries in Atlanta.

On her blog, Anna wrote on June 8, "As most of you know I have been in Africa on a mission trip for the past two weeks with SERV Ministries International. I will try here to briefly, somehow give you a vision of what we did and saw. If you would like to read more about our time there, check out the postings on SERVs blog while we were there." Read about her trip on her blog.

You can also read about their travels and mission work on SERV Ministries blog. It's humbling to read about the basic needs of the people in Kenya, and what we take for granted here in the U.S. And Anna said they were truly happy for what they receive and the blessings that God gives them. She said one lady who was poor and hungry passed up meals so they could be given to her neighbors. That is sacrifice. Thanks to SERV Ministries, Anna and the rest of the team that served the people in Kenya.

The Last Frontier . . . By Boat

Alaska was so cool . . . in more ways than one! The scenery is beautiful . . . snow-topped mountains, georgeous waterfalls, green everywhere . . . whales, seals and bald eagles everywhere! We had a fantastic time, but were glad to get home . . . except the temperature! It was in the 60s and 70s during the day and 50s at night! Perfect!



We got to Seattle in time to take a half-day tour the day before our cruise ship set sail. Our 3-hour tour with All Seattle Tours was great with our tour guide Joe giving a great narrative with all the sites -- he was funny too. It's a very interesting city -- funky and arty. I got to see the Fish Market and the oldest Starbucks and the Sleepless In Seattle house!

So we boarded the Carnival Spirit on June 1 for the trip up to Skagway and then back down to Juneau and Ketchikan. It's the 7-day Alaksa Cruise, and it's some beautiful country -- and the ship is beautiful. I highly recommend upgrading to a balcony room -- it's worth the extra money and you get to wake up to beautiful views! We were supposed to end at Victoria, British Columbia, but weren't able to dock because of wind (they said). That was a bit disappointing -- I was looking forward to seeing the gardens there -- but hey, they did give us an $11 refund! I was expecting at least a free drink!

Jeremy Lee at Wiregrass Travel booked our cruise for us -- and I HIGHLY recommend consulting him for any cruise or travel you're interested in! He helped with our sighseeing excursions at the cities we docked at, recommending Shore Trips which was less expensive than Carnival's side trips. At our first stop in Skagway, we did the Whitepass Rail and Summit tour up into the mountains on a train and back down by bus. In Juneau, we took the Mendenhall Glacier tour; and in Ketchikan we did the Ketchikan City and Saxman Totem Village Tour. All in all, a great time! Now, where do we go next? Hmmmmmm.....

Must love pigs!

I just realized it's been over a week since the kids were home and I haven't even posted the photos of our amazing granddaughter! It was absolutely the best weekend -- we celebrated niece Jessi's upcoming graduation (on the 27th) and Anna's birthday (on the 20th) -- and got to spend time with Kate (now 14 months and getting cuter all the time!) Kate had an entire family to show-out for -- and she did perform!



It's so much fun to see her laughing and running everywhere! She has this little stuffed pig they call "piggy" that she refuses to let go of. So I got up in the attic and found Casey's pig set that my sister Susan gave her when she was little. It's a mamma pig and three little piglets -- and I washed them and cleaned them up before their visit. Kate loved the pigs! She would bring me the bigger mamma pig and then try to carry all three piglets, all the while saying "Ph, ph, ph!"

Casey and John are bringing her up right -- she can't say CiCi or PawPaw -- but she can say "War Eagle" and "Auburn"! That's my girl!

Anna left on Monday for her mission trip to Africa with SERV Ministries. Prayers are appreciated -- and you can follow their trip and mission through SERV's blog. I got to talk to Anna today on the phone, and they are having an amazing time giving out food and ministering to the orphans. So proud of her and her dedication. I hope to one day join her on a mission trip.

Zoo memories

Zoo's are so much fun! Casey and Kate took a road trip to visit with Anna this past weekend, and spent the day Friday at the Atlanta Zoo. Such cute photos, and Casey said Kate loved it -- especially the petting zoo! She thought Kate was going to climb on the pig, because it was the same color as their dog Cherokee, and Kate climbs all over him!

When the kids were smaller, every time we'd go to Memphis to visit, we always took a trip to the zoo and Pink Palace with Nanny and to the Children's Science Museum with Grandpa Hank. They always loved the zoo. I remember one time when Casey was still small in a stroller, we were looking at an ostrich -- and Casey kept calling "duck!" It was hilarious, and everyone around us laughed! The monkeys and gorillas were always a favorite too, but their homes smelled pretty bad.

When I was a kid, we always took a trip to the zoo before school started with the Goodfellow kids (there were three of us and five of them)! Back then, they had rides at the zoo too -- the little boats that went in a circle in about an inch of water and a small train you could ride on. One time, they were moving a white rhino -- I don't remember in or out -- but they had him in a huge crate, picking him up with a crane. I got my picture in the paper that time with the crowd watching. We joked which way we'd run if they dropped the crate and the rhino got loose!

Even when I was in high school, we liked to go to the zoo! When my sister was about 13 or 14 (before she could drive), Kathy, Rose and I took Susan and some of her friends to the zoo. We got tired before they were through, so we went back to the car (a light blue Rambler station wagon, no less) to listen to the radio and watch for cute boys (like we were cool in a Rambler station wagon)! Then here came Susan and her friends with a policeman! I thought, "What on earth have they done now?" But it wasn't them, they had a flasher! Oh my gosh, it was hilarious! He didn't try to abduct any of them, and I don't think they were scarred for life -- but the parents had to take them to the police station to look at a line up and mug shots. I don't even remember if they ever caught the guy! But what a memory!

Just a couple of things . . .

I've been remiss in my blogging, so I have several things to add today.

MawMaw's birthday was April 12, and Gary and Carolyn were home the weekend before. We all got together for dinner on Sunday. She insisted on cooking -- but at least we did take her out to eat at the Old Mill the night before. We didn't have enough candles for the cake, ha ha! Happy birthday, MawMaw! We wish you many more!

Stacy's been waiting for five years to get a chance at tickets for the Masters. He went with Jimmy Ralph Brannon the year before he passed away. This year he was able to get four tickets to the Monday practice round. He took Vernon, Tony and his principal Harold (that's how he was able to get off from school!) They all enjoyed their "man trip"!

And last, but not least, it's Cystic Fibrosis Walk time again, and this is a reminder of Eleanor Guilford, who has CF. She is the daughter of Robert and Coleen, and the granddaughter of Buddy and Patricia. Check out Eleanor's blog, and donate to CF if you are able. It's such a wonderful cause, and it is through their research that the drugs that keep Eleanor healthy are available. Isn't she precious -- and such a joy to her family. If you would like to read Coleen's letter about Eleanor's day, email me and I'll send it to you. It is so touching, and Eleanor has such a big heart!

“Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.” Isaiah 65:24

Loving Savannah!

Savannah, Georgia, is my new favorite place! Since I had a conference there a couple of weeks ago, Stacy and I traveled a day early to take in the sights. Words can't describe how much I love that place! The architecture, the parks (squares), the old warehouses on the river, the history -- and the homes! Beautiful - enchanting - mysterious - delicious - shabby cool! The flavor of New Orleans without the seediness.

We walked from our hotel the first night down to the river-front district -- and ended up on the bluff at Moon River Brewery (named in honor of Johnny Mercer who wrote the lyrics to the same-named famous song from Breakfast at Tiffany's - he was born in Savannah). Although they turned the lights out on us right after we were seated -- participating in "Earth Hour" to demonstrate their "greenness" and tribute to their idol "Al" -- we tried to read the menu (black with tiny white type) with one little battery-operated (are batteries really green?) tea-light. But the food was really good -- I had the Awesome Ossabaw Dip (cream cheese, roasted garlic, sun-dried tomatoes & scallions baked) and a chicken Caesar salad. But trying to eat my salad in the dark and not knowing what I was spearing with my fork was a challenge! And the NCAA basketball championships were on TV -- and they turned it off! There were some unhappy people in that place! We laughed and told our waiter that we all worked for electric companies (a group of us co-op communications people), and that we loved electricity and thought they should be using it! I had to try one of their beer specialties -- Wacky Wit (a hint of cinnamon with an orange slice) -- loved it!

The next day (Sunday) we took the Old Town Trolley Tour of the historic district to get a feel for the layout of the area. First we rode the entire circle (takes about an hour and a half), then got off in a couple of areas we wanted to explore. I love to read southern fiction, and so many of those books have been set in Savannah -- none more famous than Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil -- and of course the movie Forrest Gump! I didn't get the see the famous "bird girl" statue from Midnight -- but I did get to see the Forrest Gump bench (it's in the Railroad Museum at the end of the tour)!

That night we all ate at One-Eyed Lizzie's on the river -- then took the Ghost Tour from Moon River. We didn't get to see any ghosts -- but it was fun hearing the stories! Had a delicious Po Boy sandwich with fried shrimp and a mango/something margarita. Yum!

Monday began my conference, and we were tired that night and stayed in after the conference reception. On Tuesday, Stacy went to the Fort while I was in meetings all day. I had to give a presentation on "Engaging Our Employees" that afternoon. I had begged my co-op friends (I called them my groupies at the meeting) that they had to put "fantastic" on the review even if I sucked! I didn't choke and they seemed to like it -- so I survived my first conference presentation!

Since Tuesday was our last evening there, we wanted to eat someplace that would be really good -- not necessarily expensive, just good. Someone had recommended The Cotton Exchange, so after the group Riverboat Cruise, several of us decided to eat there. I had one of the nightly specials -- Shrimp and Grits, one of my favorite dishes! It was wonderful -- and our waitress was so nice.

I didn't get to visit any of the antique shops there, but I did get a couple of original pendants (for necklaces) -- one an aluminum diamond shape and a the other a fossil stone with interesting silver scrollwork! Usually I get a coffee mug for my souvenir, but we're kind of overrun with coffee mugs right now, so I got a tiny "Waving Girl" statue to diplay in my printer's box. I got to check out a couple of the many artists' galleries there -- and of course, we had to get some chocolate praulines! Ummmm! I can't wait to go back to my newest favorite place!