A Question for God

Why did God feel like we had to have wisdom teeth? I had 3 of mine pulled when I was 50 and it wasn't fun. My mama had hers pulled Friday, the 15th, and her's wasn't fun either. She has had problems with her jawbone bleeding. I didn't know that bones bled, but her's did. Finally on Thursday she had some smushed up real food as opposed to jello & soup. I feel for her. It's just not a fun thing to go through.

What a Weekend!

OK, I'm posting this way late. We had a wonderful weekend the 15th through the 18th. First, I actually got to take 2 days of VACATION!!!! First time that's happened in 2 years, because it had to be saved up for doctor visits. We stopped in Kyle and left Sandy there to play with Kowboy, thinking he wouldn't bark all night there with Kowboy for company. Not. We picked up Nikita & Ana and took them to San Antonio for the weekend.



Tami's mom & dad from Odessa were there for the weekend, too. It was great to get to see Marva & Bud again. It's not just every family whose inlaws are such good friends. We had 6 adults & 8 kids in Kelly & Tami's house.


Saturday morning we all got gussied up and went to Aubrey's first piano recital. She played "Sleeping Beauty Waltz" and was #25 on the list of 31 players. By the time it got to her turn, she was white as a ghost. But you would have never known it. She played so beautifully and did a great job. Every player got a ribbon, but when Aubrey finished her waltz, Ms. Penny called her down to the microphone where she presented Aubrey with a medal just like the Olympics for "Most Improved in Age Group." We were all so proud for her. After she finished the color came back to her cheeks!

Since I had all 8 grandkids there and dressed up, I grabbed the opportunity to take a group picture.

All the kids were excited for Saturday afternoon to get here so we could go swimming!!! But the weatherman had different plans and brought a much-needed rain that just poured out shortly after lunch. It dropped the temperature about 20 degrees. So no swimming. I went upstairs to see what the kids were all doing. All of them except for Ashlynn who was napping, were in the bedroom we slept in with Nikita. They had dragged the blowup mattresses around and had SICK kids lying everywhere. Kora & Nikita were doctors. It was a hoot. Lauryn informed me that she had a bad cut on her arm to get stitches. Brynna had the swine flu. Ana had a towel wrapped around her head. She told me that she had the kind of cancer that I had. Hailey had BOTH swine flu and my cancer. Aubrey was in the closet---it's a pretty good sized one---because she had diptheria and was in quarantine. I told the 2 doctors that they sure had a lot of patients, to which Kora says with all seriousness, "Yes, we have been extremely busy lately."

Sunday morning we all went to Kelly & Tami's church and enjoyed dinner on the grounds together there. Then that night was Kora's recital. Where Aubrey had to wait and wait for her turn to play, Kora got to go FIRST!!! When we arrived at the church where they take lessons, there was a lady playing the piano. Boy, was she playing the piano! Her name is Gloria Roe and she is a major pianist/musician.

Kora played Fur Elise and she played it wonderfully! It was a grand way to begin the recital. And when she finished Fur Elise and was exiting the stage, Ms. Penny gets the microphone and gets a trophy to present to Kora as the "Best Pianist in Studio" of her students. WOW. Those Smith girls did good!!! We were all so proud of her. She looked absolutely beautiful in her formal dress.

We left from the church after the recital to get Nikita & Ana back to Kyle so Nikita could get up Monday morning to go to school. Sandy was soooooooooo happy to see us. And we were soooooooo happy to see him! Leaving him there with Kowboy did not solve his barking problems, so we're going to work on him in the backyard here with his electric collar to see if we can't get that activity stopped. We spent the night at Tony & Elena's and left around 9 a.m. Monday to head back home. Sandy was so happy to be back with his people. But he has been a tuckered out boy all week. Really just started acting like himself again on Saturday.

It was a wonderful weekend and we're so glad we got the good visiting time in!

The Doctor's Appointment that Wasn't

Forgot my checkup today with Dr. Laidley! I called her office later in the afternoon when I remembered it and got a lecture. The next appointment they had open is July 9. I'm just glad that Dr. Laidley doesn't answer her own phone. My breast surgeon is not the lady you want to have to make excuses to.

Happy Mother's Day!

One of the best compliments I can get is when I cook something (once in a blue moon) and when someone says, "I love your xxxxxx----well, I love Granny's xxxxxx!" Because almost everything I cook is from my mama's arsenal of good eating. I talked to Mama & Daddy this morning before we went to church to say Happy Mother's Day to her. Words can't express the love, thankfulness and blessings I feel to have a mama like Maude Elizabeth Edwards Swaringen. They don't make 'em like her much any more. Love you, Mama!

Dog Playing Dead

This video from the David Letterman show of a Beagle named Baillie is just hilarious.

Good Neighbors

Last night while we were running Sandy before our one mile walk, I was visiting with Carla, our neighbor. She was out in her yard edging. Come to find out, she was laid off by Bank of America 3 months ago and has had no luck in job finding. She worked in the mortgage underwriting department for 9 years. Carla brought me flowers while I was going through chemo. We didn't know her at all then and she didn't know us. Another neighbor told her about my breast cancer and she brought the flowers. We were able to express our appreciation to her again yesterday for that simple gesture that touched our hearts. You can't have too many neighbors like Carla.