A Family Visit - Part II

Continuing with our family visit to Tennessee.

The first night we were there we had the privilege of celebrating Billy's 44th birthday. We had a lovely dinner at a Steakhouse and there were 14 of us present. What a great way to get to visit with almost everyone at one time and one place.

Brother Jerry, Birthday Nephew Billy, Billy's younger son, age 13, Jake.

Billy's younger brother, Joe, with his younger daughter.

Billy's older brother, Wayne, with Joe's oldest daughter, Lindsey. Wayne, Billy & Joe are the 3 son's of Mickey's only sister, Jane, who is deceased, and bother-in-law, Ronnie.

Billy's wife, Diane, and older son age 15, Will, had just returned from a 17 day trip to France the last night we were there. From left to right are Diane's father, Diane, Ronnie, Will & Jake. We were so glad we were able to see Diane & Will before leaving and get to see all the pictures from France of their wonderful, exciting trip. This picture was taken in the sunroom of Billy & Diane's home.

One of the highlights of the trip was getting to visit Billy & Diane's 100 acre farm with this wonderful cabin.

Jerry unlocking the door while Ronnie & I look on. Mickey taking the picture, of course.

This cabin was the original house on this farm. Billy had it dismantled, the log boards numbered and then re-assembled with additions and improvements added.

The living room fireplace.

The upstairs bedroom with fireplace.

You can see they have kept it as authentic as possible, and also having all the modern conveniences of water, heating and cooling, electricity, etc.

Jerry and Diane's Longab*erger baskets.

An old couple (Mickey & I) rocking on the front porch of this quaint lovely cabin.

Billy invited us to spend as many days here at the cabin on the farm as we wanted but we declined on this trip. But took a rain check!!!!

On our way home we stopped and spent a day and night with Helen, our sister-in-law. Helen was married to Doug, the brother just older than Mickey, We had hoped to pick Helen up on Sunday and take her with us to Nashville but she was in Florida. Fortunately she got back in time that we could see her and spend a wee bit of time together. Helen has always had the greatest sense of humor and a joy to be around.

We had planned to spend a couple of days in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, and at a cabin with our neighbors Wayne & Jimmie on the way home but............. On our way home we hit a terrible thunderstorm and tornado warnings. We actually spent over an hour sitting in the parking lot of a truck stop at Russelville, Arkansas as the storm blew over us. It was quite fierce and we were just so thankful we did not get caught on the road in that storm. Another prime example of God taking care of us!!!! We had stopped to eat a bite of lunch when they made the announcement over the loud speakers of the impending storm. After this experience and the fact it was raining all around the area we made the decision to come straight on home.

This trip made me so aware of how truly blessed Mickey & I are. Out of the 4 sons & 1 daughter that made up Mickey's siblings we are the only one's who are still together and have not lost a mate. As most of you know, we are working on our 51st year of marriage. We not only still have each other, which is so wonderful, but we are both healthy, very happy and enjoying life. We have this wonderful extended family on Mickey's side, plus the ones in Virginia and of course our own wonderful 4 children, and 3 grandchildren. Plus our Lord and Savior.....who could ask for more?