Hope everything went well with Clay's procedure.

We're looking forward to Dad and Joan and Howie's family coming for Thanksgiving. We're disappointed that Chris' family will not be able to come, but understand about Michelle's mother not being able to travel and not leaving her alone, since she had neck surgery week before last. It would have been fun for all of the grandchildren here decorating the tree, but maybe another year. We're also looking forward to hosting the Byrum Family Christmas on the 13th for lunch, maybe late lunch. I assumed that everyone enjoyed the gag gift idea. So anyone who wishes to perticipate can do so.

In case I don't get back on the blog before the end of the week, I want to wish the old man, Ricky, a happy 50th birthday. ENJOY! 50 seems very young.

God works in mysterious ways. Most of you know about our furnace problems from the hurricane. Estimate for fixing was about $500. with no guarantee that they could get it working and recommended replacing which our lowest estimate was $7,700. With our medical expenses and no help from flood insurance and no help from FEMA, we called and asked to try to fix it for $500. I received two calls that day while I was at a funeral from Bobby from Miller Oil who was suppose to fix it. He said that maybe I didn't remember him, but he remembered me from The Lincoln-Lane Foundation. He said he had a furnace, or whatever was needed, that he would give me if it could work on mine. His father and mother didn't have central air and decided this summer to replace everything with central heat and air. He sent the technician out the next morning at 8 and everything fitted and we only had to pay for the labor at $150. When I called to thank him, he said that the foundation had helped get his son through William & Mary at a difficult time for them. I believe I was the one that told him about the help when he was at the Foundation when we were replacing some units. This has really been a bright spot in our lives recently.

Gene will be having his out-patient surgery on Thursday. As Gene puts it, he getting a new generator. He thinks it'll be nothing and would love to go to the Admiral's hockey game that night. They have been away for 10 days and will be back that night, but my guess is that he will not be there. He may surprise me. He's tough.

We were suppose to go to Elizabeth City this past Sunday, but his dad called and asked us not to come. I had a warning that he might call. He called while we were not home on Saturday and said that he was having a problem with incontience (bowel not blatter) and would have to cancel our visit. We called back and said that we didn't have to go out for lunch, that we could bring something and just visit with him, but he said no. He had been in the hospital with pnomonia (sp) and we didn't know it until he was home. I wish he could feel closer to us. We try, but it just seems that he is always pushing us away since Carolyn died. We'll keep trying and praying about it. It's so hard to understand since our family wants each other around when we're going through troubles, but I guess people are different.

Love all of you guys and really appreicate all that was done for me during the last three months. Oh, by the way, I moved back upstairs to my bedroom this weekend, but totally organized but sleeping up here now.