THE STORM OF 2010

I  was jolted out of a deep sleep around 5:00 a.m. August 6, with thunder and wind like I have never seen or heard before.  Sidney and I quickly made our way to the living room while trying to collect our thoughts of what was taking place all around us. 
The thunder actually shook the house, and the cracking and popping were deafening.

Only minutes after it started it ended.  We were able to look out our windows to find trees and limbs down blocking all of the ways out of our house.  We were only able to get outside through the garage door.

Cleanup took 5 days with neighbors and family jumping in to help us.  There were over 20 trailer loads of limbs and branches hauled off to my neighbors field to be burned at a later date.  That doesn't count all the wood big enough to burn in a  fireplace.

As we drove around the neighborhood to assess other people's damage we found we couldn't go south on 61 because of electric lines down, we couldn't go toward TT Hwy because of lines and trees down.  Electric was out for the day, but I have to say that Ameren UE worked quickly and very hard to bring everyone's electric back. 

Our roof is damaged, we had a broken window, and some other damage to our property, but no one was hurt.  God reminds us once again that everything we have can be wiped out within a few minutes.  We must always keep our eyes and focus on Him.

FAMILY TIME AT THE BONTANICAL GARDENS

I treasure the times that I get to spend with my grandchildren, especially knowing how quickly the years pass by.  So while on vacation in June, I requested a day together at the Missouri Bontanical Gardens (Shaw's Garden as I fondly remember it).

The maze and feeding the fish are always the highlight of our visit, but I always enjoy the wonderful photos that we get while there.  Michelle went with us this year and took some really great photos but her computer crashed and she lost them, so here are a few of mine (less great) that captured  Grandma's special time together.  Thank you family for humoring me and letting me spend some great moments with you.

Michelle is our family photographer but we were able to capture

her picture while she tried to find her way out of the maze!

Never too old for riding the sheep.

The 4th of July at the Hubers

GRADUATION! SUCH A PROUD MOMENT

It seems like yesterday that I watched my three boys walk across the stage to recieve their diplomas.  The time has gone by so fast.  They are all grown men now, married with their own children.  I have loved my family; my sons, my daughter-in-laws, my grandchildren.......Ah!  The memories!

Last week we celebrated with our oldest grandson, Elisha, as he walked across the stage to receive his diploma, ending his time in high school.   Not only did he graduate, but he graduated with honors.  He was the top of his class of 300ish kids.  Grandpa and I were so proud we could have busted our buttons!

Elisha is enjoying his last summer before college.  College!  Surely it can't be!  Surely he will stay close to home and and never leave us!!!  But as life moves on, so does Elisha!  And off he will go to college this fall.  Truman College at Kirksville.   We are so proud of this tall lanky boy as we are watching him turn into a man.  I am so happy that God chose me to be his grandma!  I couldn't have chosen a better young man anywhere!

Grandpa and I love you Elisha!  We will be praying for you every step of the way as you go forward in life.  God has a plan for you and I know you will keep Him in the center of your life.

DOG SITTING FOR THE KIDS

The things we do for love!  That's a song title isn't it?  If not it should be.

Scott and Michelle took their family to Disney World this past week and we volunteered to "dog-sit" their newest addition, Skipper.  Skipper is a half chocolate lab and half Australian Shepherd and has a tail that is long and is all muscle!!!  I nick-named him "Gonzilla" because of the way he would clear a room with his tail anywhere he went.

Now I have two small dogs, Mollie, a Cairn Terrier, and Penny, a Rat Terrier who love people and other dogs.  They were excited to see Skipper come.....at first.  By the second day Mollie would do anything she could to dodge Skipper's tail.   Skipper just wanted to play, but each time he came near, Mollie got a good whop!

Because Skipper is still in the puppy stage Scott and Michelle made sure they brought an ample supply of raw-hide bones for him to chew.  They warned me to keep all shoes out of his reach and anything else I valued (Michelle has lost all of her flip-flops this year).   I obeyed the instructions and we didn't lose one thing all week!  Penny, the Rat Terrier, seldom chews her raw-hide chews that I buy for her, but this week she never stopped chewing them.  The only response we heard from her was a "grrrrr" anytime poor Skipper walked near her.  He was a little afraid of her at the beginning of the week but by day three he did what we do and just ignored her.

Penny "grrrrr"

Skipper really took a liking to Sidney and followed him everywhere!  If Sidney went out to the garden, Skipper was there beside him.  Skipper likes to stick his nose into every hole or new crevice he can find.  He also likes to give big licks to those he loves.  One morning as I was undressed, ready to step into the shower, I was the receiver of one of his big licks.....right on my bare bottom!   He then laid down in the doorway until I exited the shower safely as if he had done his job.

Skipper & Mollie with Sidney

By Saturday Skipper was showing signs of wearing out.  He had run and played so much outside that he was ready for some sleep and sleep he did...almost the entire day!   On Sunday, the day his family was returning, he again slept.  I think he knew they were returning and he would need to get his strength back.


When Oli  and Andrew came through the door Skipper met them with a huge lunge and a big lick.  He knocked Oli to the floor and she giggled with glee!  Skipper had his family back and his vacation to Grandma and Grandpas had ended.   I'm sure he will want to come back to visit us again someday and me, I'll welcome him, tail and all.

FAMILY ROOTS

Holman/Moody Cousins

Aunt Mary Jane, Uncle Dub (James) and Uncle Jerry Reando

Recently I watched a tv show about celebrities finding their roots.  Emil Smith was tracing his family tree, and said "You don't really know who you are until you know where you came from".  I'm learning that our past helps us to understand why our fathers and grandfathers, mothers and grandmothers behaved the way they did, helping me to understand some of their actions.  There were a lot of things that they simply couldn't help.  Some of them didn't learn to read or write, some were married so young that they didn't know how to be great parents because they were still children themselves.  We also learn how courageous they were for picking up and traveling across the states to make a  better life for their family.  There are possibly many factors that enter into our ancestry and I personally find it facinating to uncover some of these secrets.

Jerry and Vicki hosted a gathering yesterday for the Holman/Moody family that included cousins and aunts and uncles  (pictures will be added later).   Jerry has reseached Ancestry.com and has traced our roots.  He has put together a book that includes census records, death records, etc.  We now know where many of the Holmans lived years and years ago.

This was a wonderful time of learning.  We enjoyed a great meal and good company. 

If you have information about this family that you want to share please feel free to add it.  We will be handing this information and pictures down to generations to come.  Our children will know who they are, and hopefully will do even better than those who have gone before them.  After all, isn't that the hope of every parent alive?

THE SIDNEY AND RUBY HOLMAN FAMILY

Patty, Sidney, Sid Sr., Ruby, Jerry, Linda, Larry, Connie, Randy

I'm not sure of the year, but I remember why this picture was taken.  This was the last time all of the family was to be together before Jerry shipped out for Vietnam.  We had enjoyed time together at Ruby and Sid's house and I wanted to get a picture of them all together before Jerry shipped out.


Sidney had already been to Vietnam during the years 1965 to1966 so it was extra hard to think about Jerry  going to be going to that dangerous place.  It was hard on Sidney to have to let his little brother go.  I'm sure John Huber felt the same way since he had already served his time in Vietnam also.


Jerry and Vicki were already married when he was sent into the war so again, it was extra hard on them.  Much prayer  was sent up for Jerry's safety and Vicki to have peace during that year.  God heard our prayers and sent Jerry home safely, for which we are grateful.


War is a terrible thing.  It has destroyed many lives and helped to save many others.  We are now praying for Neil Goff, Jennifer Holman's husband, to return from Iraq safely.  We have word that he will be returning toward the end of February, 2010.  Please keep him in your prayers.


                                                                                                                            Posted by:  Brenda

OUR PASTOR AT HORINE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

 Chester and Mildred Donoho with

Ruby and Sid

This was the pastor of Horine Presbyterian Church and the man that led Sid Sr. to the Lord.  The Donoho's would drive to Horine every Sunday, stay all day, preach in the evening, then drive back to St. Louis and go to work the next day.  They were very faithful.

The story goes something like this:  The Donohos would visit the Holman's home every few weeks to invite them to church.  Sidney Jr. says he remembers hiding the beer cans when they came!  After visiting the Holman's over and over, Bro. Donoho asked Sid if he would agree to come to church for 4 Sundays in a row.  If he would agree, then he (Bro. Donoho) would stop visiting him.  They shook hands and made the deal.  The rest is history.  Sid Sr. got saved and his entire family.  All because of the faithfulness of one man and one woman who had a love for the Lord and for people.

Are you one of those who is saved because of Chester and Mildred Donoho?

                                                                                                                                                                      Posted by:  Brenda Holman