B & W Company Picnic

Charlie works for B & W Clinch River. They had their company picnic in Oak Ridge a couple of weekends ago. They had several things for the kids to do, including a climbing wall. This is some of our group standing around at the climbing wall.

Pamela, (Seth's girlfriend), Misty, Seth & Malachi Malachi & Spook and a couple of other employees

Boone & Luke

My three boys were the first in our group to try it out. They decided to race. That's Luke on the left, then Malachi and Seth.

Ready, set... GO!

And they're off, with Luke in the lead.

Seth's bringing up the rear.

Luke & Malachi are neck and neck But Malachi found the buzzer before Luke.

And the winner is...Malachi!

Kyra & Keinzie climbed the wall too. Kyra actually climbed it 4 times before she was through

Elijah & Owen climbed the wall too. They both made it about half way up. They were climbing just fine, but didn't like the height.

Owen on his way down. I think he enjoyed that just as much, as the guy holding the line let him swing around.

Our friend, Wayne, climbed the wall too. The battery on my camera died after the climbing wall pictures, so the rest of these were made with my cell phone camera.

Keinzie pushing Owen & Elijah on the swings Owen & Keinzie Tattoos were also a "highlight" of the day Owen got several Our friend Wayne (the other Wayne's dad) also took a turn working at the tattoo table. Here he is giving Malachi a tattoo. Seth showing off his Dora tattoo Wayne insisted on giving him

Pamela receiving her tattoo

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All in all, a good time was had by everyone.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

I love you!

Front Yard Football

Front yard football games used to be a regular occurence at my house. But with the passing of time and children growing up and moving away, it doesn't happen so often anymore. There was one the other day, though, so I grabbed my camera.

The players: Seth, Luke, Anthony (Seth's friend) Malachi, Shawn (next door neighbor) Jason and Michael (friend)

Anthony blocking Jason

Have you noticed how fashion conscious my boys are?

Check out Jason's look.

And then there's Malachi. Don't you know it's the height of fashion to play football in boots? And by all means, don't hide the boots with your pants leg! Shawn & Malachi just can't figure it out.

Quit texting and play, Luke!

There goes Malachi, boots and all!

Game over, and he's still texting!

Just Like Him

This year has been another rough one so far, and it's not quite half over. What with Debbie's diagnosis of cancer, Mom's sudden death, the loss of another grandchild (Misty's miscarriage),and some other things that have happened, the storm clouds seem to have been gathering all around us.

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Sometimes, in the midst of the storm, we are aware of God's truth, but it's hard to grasp the reality of it. We seem to get caught up in the thunder, lightening and heavy downpours and forget that there is often a rainbow at the end, or if not a rainbow, a new awareness of the beauty around us in the sun reflected on the vibrant colors of freshly washed trees and flowers and landscape. We can't seem to see that God is still there, and that He's still in control. We know it, but we can't seem to believe it, to see it.

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Sometimes, in the midst of the storm, when the winds are howling, lightening flashing, the thunder roaring, and hope seems almost gone, God will reach down His mighty hand, and for just a moment in time, He'll roll back those clouds, and give us a glimpse that He is there, that He still cares, and that He Is In Control.

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He's rolled those clouds back for me, several times this year, reminding me that it's not about what I can see, but what He Can See. Not what I can do, but what He Can Do. Not what I know, but what He Knows.

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I'm so thankful to know that He loves me enough to reach down and roll those clouds away and give me that glimpse.

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The choir at church sang this song Sunday morning. As we sang, I was reminded.

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I am so grateful that it is just like Him!

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It's Just Like His Great Love.

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A friend I have called Jesus, Whose love is strong and true,

And never fails howe’er ’tis tried, no matter what I do;

I sinned against this love of His, but when I knelt to pray,

Confessing all my guilt to Him, the sin-clouds rolled away.

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Sometimes when clouds of trouble bedim the sky above,

I cannot see my Savior’s face, and doubt His wondrous love;

But He, from heaven’s mercy-seat, beholding my despair,

In pity bursts the clouds between, and shows me He is there.

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When sorrow’s clouds o’ertake me,and break upon my head,

When life seems worse than useless, and I were better dead;

I take my grief to Jesus then, nor do I go in vain,

For heav’nly hope He gives that cheers like sunshine after rain.

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Oh, I could sing forever of Jesus’ love divine,

Of all His care and tenderness for this poor life of mine;

His love is in and over all, and wind and waves obey,

When Jesus whispers, “Peace, be still!” and rolls the clouds away.,

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Refrain:

It’s just like Jesus to roll the clouds away,

It’s just like Jesus to keep me day by day,

It’s just like Jesus all along the way,

It’s just like His great love.

New Look

I've been working on a new look for my blog. What do you think? Please leave a comment and let me know.

Happy Birthday, Wyatt!!

Today is my grandson Wyatt's birthday.

He's one year old.

Isn't he adorable?

Newborn

3 months 6 months 9 months 1 year old

Wyatt's coming to Tennessee next Friday with his mommy and big sister, Kylie. I can't wait to see him and smother him with hugs and kisses.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WYATT!!

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I LOVE YOU!

Debbie's On Her Way Home

I just talked to Wendel, and they were just getting into Oakdale on their way home. Please continue to pray for Debbie.

Rough Day

Debbie's had a rough day today. Go here for updates. Please continue to pray for her.

More Good News

Wendell posted this this morning:

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Maybe Home Wednesday The Dr's came in this morning (and when I say Dr's I mean Dr's in a herd) and they seem to think if Debbie can swallow today, they will send us home tomorrow without a feeding tube and she will be able to eat and drink well enough to continue heeling. The dressing on her arm will be changed and she will wear it for an additional 3 days and we can remove it at home or camping whichever. She says she did not sleep well at all. I would not know because I aired up my mattress and crashed about 10:30 last night, waking up only once in the night and then not again until the herd came in at 6:45. We are excited about the possibility of coming home. We both seem to think that will help her tremendously. Thanks for your prayers, calls and visits. Hope you all have a great day and please continue praying for Debbie, Granny Adkisson, Bro. and Sister Rose. We love you all.Wendell

Seth's Home From Colorado!

Seth made it home just a little while ago. It's so good to have him back home. I really missed him, but I'm so glad he got the opportunity to go. They were able to go up in the Rocky Mountains.

Bro. David Lewis

Pastor Bret Pallotta

Nick Lewis

Seth

A herd of buffalo

Elk

Elk

Above the tree line

Mile High Stadium

Another Update From Wendell

Wendell posted another update today News Flash from Vanderbilt.

Good News

Wendell called me as I was coming in to work this morning. He said that the doctors had been in and removed the remaining drains from Debbie's neck and arm, and had removed her trach. She's breathing well on her own, and can talk. She said hi to me this morning. They also removed the bandage to look at her arm. They said it looked good and was healing well. The place on her leg is healing well, too. Wendell said that they were talking about when to send her home. He thinks that they may send her home by Thursday. 'Course he was in a tizzy, (if you know Wendell you'll understand) saying that they flew in like a flock of vultures, sent things flying and flew out again, leaving him to clean up the mess (papers and junk on floor, etc).

On another note, Seth is coming home today. He left last Tuesday going to Colorado with Pastor Pallotta and David & Nick Lewis. The Lewis' are missionaries going to Colorado who have been in our church the last couple of years while they were on deputation. Seth and Pastor Pallotta went with them to help them get moved in their new home. They have had quite an interesting trip, and Seth has had a blast. I know that he probably won't stop talking for two weeks when he gets home! He's also flying for the very first time ever, today. They should get into Nashville a little after 3 today (Ms Tammy is picking them up and dropping the Lewis' off) and will probably pass the rest of the Lewis' in the airport. Mrs. Lewis, Hannah, Sarah and Nathan are flying to Colorado today. I know that they would all appreciate your prayers for a safe and uneventful trip. I can't wait to see Seth and hear all his tales. I have missed that boy!

Debbie's in A Room

They just moved Debbie into a room about an hour ago and just got her settled in. She is trying to sleep right now, and Wendel has gone to eat. She seems to be doing really well. The doctor said this morning that they will change the trach out tomorrow for a smaller one, which will allow her to breath some through her nose and mouth. If that works well and the swelling is down, they will then see about removing the trach. He said that she would like the smaller one better, because it would allow her to breath through her nose. They will also remove the bandage on her arm tomorrow to check the skin graft, and replace it with a smaller one. Most all of her pain is coming from the place on her leg and her arm. It burns. But the meds are helping. She is doing amazingly well, and will do much better once the trach is removed. She told me that the feeding tube she was so worried about "is no big deal", and has said she isn't even hungry. Please just keep praying for her. I know that she appreciates it more than you will ever know.

Nashville

Getting ready to head to Nashvile to see Debbie. She was doing good last night. Still haven't moved her to the step down unit due to lack of a room. Maybe today. Update later.

Nebraska Grandkids

Wyatt, who will be 1 on June 12th.

Kylie, who turned three in January.

Tasha has updated the pictures on her blog. These two I stole from her site to tempt you to go look. They are too cute to miss. I can't wait to get to see them. Tasha and the kids will be in Tennessee on the 19th of this month.

Just Talked To Wendell

I just talked to Wendell for the first update today. He said that Debbie was still doing as well as could be expected. They had had her up and had given her a bath. They are thinking that she may be moved to a step down unit tomorrow. I asked him if they still thought they would be removing the trach in a couple of days, and he said yes. That is what bothers Debbie alot. She feels like she's not getting any air because she can't breathe through her mouth or nose and when they remove the oxygen they have placed over the trach to do something, it makes it even worse. But for now, all seems to be well. Please continue to pray.

Latest Update

For Steph's 3:00 update, click here.

Morning Update

I just talked to Steph and she was on her way to the hospital for visiting hours. She said she'd talked to Wendell, who spent the night in the SICU waiting room, and he said the doctors had been in and said Debbie looked good and was doing good. Please keep praying!

Just Got Home

I just got home and wanted to post an update before going to bed, as I plan to sleep late in the morning before going to work at noon. We got to go back and see Debbie before we left the hospital. Wendell stayed back there throughout the whole visiting time and the rest of us went back one at a time to see her. Pastor Jones, Steph and Jess all came back talking about how good she looked, especially compared to last time. I was unable to be there last time, so really didn't have a point of reference. She did look amazingly well for all that she's been through. While I was in the room, one of Dr. Nettervilles associates came in to check on her. He walked past her bed to the next one, and then came back. He told us that he didn't think she was the right patient because she was interacting with us. He said that most of the time his patients aren't even awake at that point, much less trying to communicate. He said she was doing really well. He instructed her to relax and try to rest as much as possible. She would mouth things to us, and I did pretty good reading her lips. As we were leaving the room, she told us to pray for her. It is so hard to see your little sister laying there like that, knowing all that she's been through and all that's ahead. It makes me hurt for her, and there's nothing I can do to take the pain away. Once again, I ask you to please pray for her. Pray for a quick and complete healing. Pray she'll have the ability to tolerate the pain and that there will be very little pain. But most of all, please remember her prayer request...that God will giver her grace. He has been so good, and merciful, and gracious! We can never thank Him enough.

Debbie's Out of Surgery

Debbie's out of surgery and doing good. It took 10 1/2 hours. We should be able to go back and see her soon, they told us it would be about an hour, and it's been close to that. She has a trach and a feeding tube. If all goes perfect, she'll have the trach for 5 to 6 days. The said they didn't want her to eat or drink anything for 7 days. She has alot of tissue in her mouth for the flap, but it will shrink as the healing takes place. The place on her arm is 8x12 centimeters and then she has a cut up her arm where they took the vein. They took skin from her left thigh for the skin graft to her arm. They said that they wanted her conscious and breathing on her own today, and she will have to begin working her mouth almost immediately to prevent it trying to close again. Please pray that the healing will be quick and complete. And for the Lord to give her grace. That is her constant request. I will update again after we get to see her.

Wendell Spoke To The Doctor

Wendell just spoke to Dr. Netterville. He said that Debbie was doing great. The have clipped the scar tissue and muscles and have her mouth open all the way. The are currently suturing the graft and attaching the blood vessels and getting them to work. They took out several lymph nodes, and he said it did appear that one may be cancerous, but they won't know till they send it off. He also told us that they were ahead of schedule and may be finished before 7:30. That's what we know at this time. Please keep praying!

1:53

Still waiting. But our numbers have grown. There is Dad, Me, Wendell, Steph, Jess, Karen, Aaron, Punky, and Pastor & Mrs. Jones.

11:12

They've updated the screen and it says that the surgery is in progress and patient doing well.

In Surgery

Not sure what Wendell said to get that look!

Debbie is in surgery now.

We're At Vandy

We are at Vanderbilt and they have taken Debbie back and are prepping her for surgery. They are saying it should be about 12 hours. I'll update as soon as I know more. Please pray!! She was nervous about the surgery and had said they'd better hurry and call her or she was leaving! She also tried to get me to go when they called her name, but I was having none of it.