Happy Thanksgiving

Wow - it just cannot be possible that Thanksgiving is only two days away!  Where has 2011 gone...it's almost 2012.  And doesn't that just sound so futuristic?!

I've taken this week off except for some work bank deposits and then the bulletin on Friday or Saturday, and have I been busy!  I knew the house wasn't as tidy and clean as I would love for it to stay, but I've really put in some hours and muscle to get things looking nice.  That's not to say a couple of rooms will be "locked" from any visitors we may have! Ha!  Those will come in time.  But even though I'm already pooped, it is sure a great feeling knowing that our home is clean.  Even got the outside pressure washed by a neighbor (he could use the extra money and it was less than renting a washer and taking the time to do it).  Also had a dead limb cut down that was threatening Carl's car and Mike's truck...so we're on a roll!  Think we can even put up Christmas decorations next weekend! How sweet is that!?!

Since I won't be posting anything else before Thanksgiving, I just wanted to wish everyone a wonderful day/weekend with family and friends.  We will all have lunch with Carl's mom at her assisted living facility, then will have a family meal at our home in the late afternoon with our in-laws-to-be, who will be in town. 

Don't think we'll worry about shopping on black Friday, but anything can happen!  Enjoy your shopping to those who will!

Blessings to all!  I am thankful for you and my dear family and for our Father who has shown me so much grace!

Excitement in the Air!

Gary and Jeannette Daviduk

and

Carl and Melissa Vinson

are thrilled to announce the engagement

of their children,

Nichole and Charlie

[became official at sunset on the beach

in Pensacola, November 5, 2011]

 

beautiful, 1+ caret, princess cut diamond, in a
four-prong platinum setting



We are so happy for Nichole and Charlie and pray for a wonderful life's journey.  No specific date has been set for their wedding, but their choice is to have a small family ceremony.  For now, Nichole has to focus on studying for her Boards coming up in January.  She will graduate December 9th with her CRNA - Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist!  [She has been an RN for over 10 years and decided to move into this field, which she will share with her father!]

We are very proud of Charlie and Nichole and are looking forward to their future together. Decisions on job locations and further plans are being determined and once the plans have been put into motion, we'll share a post on what is to come for them.

[please NO wall posts on Facebook to either of them...only "Message" if you wish to send them greetings...they want to be able to tell some more of their close friends in person]

Veteran's Day

We pause to salute and honor our Veterans - past and present - for their sacrifices over the approximate 235 years of our country's history.  May we all reflect on our blessings of living in this country - with the good and the not so good that we hear criticized - thankful to all who have served in any capacity to keep us safe.

My family has been honored to have had several members who have served in the armed forces over the years...let's see if I can recall at least those in the immediate first line family...

My Dad tried to enlist, but he was color blind and could not serve [he was a member of the Alabama Highway Patrol for several years, so thank you for that service, Daddy!]

Dad's brother, Howard (Mutt) Baker was in the Navy in WWII.
Dad's niece Jan Davis Cole, served stateside as an RN in the Air Force during the Viet Nam era.
There may be more on the Baker side, but as Dad was the baby of five and had nephews/nieces older than he was, I just don't know others... :)

On Mom's side, we had my uncle John Dee Pinkerton in the Army (WWII, I believe).
Mom's brother, Curtis B. (Bud) Pinkerton, was a career Air Force pilot in WWII, Korea, & Viet Nam, and was a retired Colonel at his death.

My brother, Philip Baker, served in the Army National Guard in Alabama.

My sister's husband, Carl Edward Kirkley (Ed), US Air Force career.  They had the honor and pleasure of serving in Italy, Germany, and several bases across the U.S.  Thank you, Eddie!

Carl's Mom had a younger brother, Barney Stroud, who served in the Army during WWII in Italy.

Carl's dad, Cecil E. Vinson, was in the Navy and was a Chief Machinist Mate on the USS Downs in Pearl Harbour.  We are grateful he did survive the attack and made it home to later become Carl's father!  Here's a couple of pictures...

Carl's mom was an RN and worked as a nurse

in the various cities where they were stationed.

So, you see, we have been blessed with a number of honorable service men and women in our family.  Here's the newest generation...Lance Corporal William Theodore Baldwin (Theo), 22...a US Marine, currently stationed at Camp Pendleton, California.  He has recently returned from a tour in the Far East and is scheduled to deploy again in February.  God bless you with safe travel, nephew!  (He is actuall a great nephew, the son of my niece, Renee' and her husband, David, from Lake Blackshear in Cobb, GA).

Here's a couple of my favorites for closing out this posting today...God bless America!

"An American Soldier"

"God Bless the USA"

Olene Pinkerton Baker

I still miss my precious mother.  Today is the 16th anniversary of her death and it seems like it was just yesterday.  She was only 73 and loved deeply by her husband, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  It's hard not to question why she was taken from us much sooner than we wanted, but God also knew she was tired and would not want to live longer or be a burden to her family if she could not be the active, giving person she had always been. 

She loved working in her yard - and the yards of her children and grandchildren...it was therapy for her, she said.  She could talk to God and pour out her heart, then be ready to face whatever came her way. 

Mom always tried to do something for someone else every day.  We witnessed her cutting a neighbor's yard when they were sick or out of town for an extended time, she would take elderly friends to the doctor, take a disadvantaged co-worker to the grocery store or to buy clothes for their children, find resources for a single mother to be able to get glasses for her children, send cards to those who needed encouragement, visit her out-of-town children and clean their houses or work in the yard.  Meet half-way so her grandchildren could visit more. Quit her job to stay at the hospital with her daughter-in-law after a kidney transplant so her son could keep his job and insurance.  Prayed for her children to find love and happiness, and the Lord.  She loved and supported us unconditionally and was there whenever we stumbled or made really dumb mistakes. Always in our corner, loving us.

So many "Precious Memories" of the love and wisdom she gave us. We love you and miss you so much, but God has an awesome angel in His presence.

Halloween 2011

October has come and gone in a flash!  It's been a busy month, and ended just as busy.  But quickly, I'd like to share some pictures taken yesterday afternoon and evening as we enjoyed some Halloween fun.

Fun Pumpkin by the door - reversable to "Happy Fall, Y'all"

Carl and Mrs. Vinson on the porch at Broadview

Some residents on the porch waiting for the "Trick or Treaters" parading by.

Would have taken children's pictures, but with the privacy issues, decided not.

But, there were lots of cute costumes and precious little ones.

Bettie Lemley (95) with Mary, the Broadview Activities Director

(Mrs. Bettie is a Timberlane member, too)

Me with sweet "Brice". His mommy was giving a tour of

Broadview, so I had the pleasure of dog sitting a while.

Some of the great staff at Broadview!

We enjoyed our little party at Broadview Assisted Living!  The staff always works so hard to help their residents enjoy any holiday or special event!

After a quick trip to the store and even quicker supper, we were ready for the "Trick or Treaters".  We didn't have very many this year, even though we live in a good neighborhood for such...we enjoyed the ones who came by.  

This makes Buddy's 8th Halloween.  When he was tiny, we'd hold him and let him greet each group of children.  Now that he's grown (and a bit heavier), he has to watch from ground level...and this year with A.J. too, we had to put up the doggie gate to keep them in the house while giving out candy.  This sad little picture remains the same each year....

Sitting at the gate waiting for more children...

no more came   :(

Happy Fall Y'all!