A few years ago , we were gone from the ranch for 5 yrs. 3 yrs were on meghan st in sacramento. The lady that owned the house next door to us came over to meet the new neighbors and after a little visit said" you have got to meet my mother, you will really get along." Well that was an understatement. From the time we met we were like soulmates.
Her name was gail, and we were almost the same age. we both lived in New Orleans the same time, during the 50's. We both had diabeties and wasn't very good at it cause we both liked food . We were both short and stout and and great sense of humors. We were both oppinonated. She was black and I am white but that didn't make a differance cause we saw each others hearts. I wish the whole world could get along like we did. We'd go to lunch on Thursdays at Home Town Buffet in North Highlands cause they had corn bread and black-eyed peas and catfish. and we'd laugh and act silly and tell people we were sisters.
She would tell stories about growing up with lots of brothers and sisters and their adventures in the city. Their dad was a janitor at a school next door to their house. and she' go to work with him sometimes. I loved to hear her stories as I was an only child and didn't have that kind of family closeness. She would tell some crazy story and then say " If I'm lying ,I'm flying." Her laughter was in her whole body. she'd throw her head back and let it out. She had two grandsons and lots of nieces and nephews and helped them all with homework and pretty well kept them on the straight and narrow cause not one of them was on drugs or in gangs and most got all A's in their schooling. That's pretty good record for kids today growing up in a big city.
Gail also had congestive heart problems and finally lost her battle 2 years ago in oct. when ever I think of her I remember that laugh and picture her waiting on the rest of us cause she did love the LORD. I have been sooooooo blest with the friends GOD has given me. And can't wait to see them again.

What a wonderful weekend we just had. Kat and Roy came up to work on the property they are buying from Rosalie . Then Saturday we had a bbq and Mike and Nancy and the girls and Melissas friend came and Nancys brother and mom. We haven't gotten together like that in a long time. The only thing Sharon and the boys and Steph weren't here so maybe next summer.

As the kids all grow up and go in different directions it is so hard to get everyone together. We use to get together on Thanksgiving or Easter. but with new in-laws we had to share. Now the grandkids are dating and working and here we go again.

Randa has been with us for 3 weeks working on the ranch and we have so enjoyed having her. The boys are back in school so we probably won't see them till Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Stephanie is doing great, she is graduating high school in Dec and I'm looking forward to being there for that. she has a great guy and a business of her own and really seems to have her head on her shoulders.

Matt is still in Italy and having a wonderful time being a dad and husband. It's so weird thinking of him being a dad when I can remember what an awsome little boy he was.

Sharon is doing good after losing Rick she is getting her life back in order and for the first time in her life is taking control of her surroundings.

Mike works intirely too much and needs to learn to slow down. but he gets that from his dad. sometimes they actually take the quades and go have fun. Nancy's mom moved up from cear lake area to redding so that is a good thing for her and her mom. we always need family near.melissa is a senoir in high school and sarah is a freshmen. so that's funny ,one going in and one coming out.

It's so funny that when u are raising your kids it seems like forever and your afraid of all the mistakes your going to make. And then when they are grown and gone you look back and it doesn't seem like it was that long. It's kind of like an artist that paints on a canvess and can't see the results until the painting is done. When I look at my canvess I'm really proud of how my painting has turned out."ONLY THROUGH GOD'S HELP !!! It's also like labor, when ur going through it it's not fun but the end results are so worth it. Labor pains are soon forgotten and the hard times with raisning kids are forgotten and you just remember the good things. I am so thankful for my family and thankful for the trials in our lives that made us who we are and what we will become.