Joyce, everyone had been wondering where you were. You had not be blogging. I can't believe you had not mentioned having a room built. Maybe when we talk, I do all the talking. I do realize I'm more of a talker than a listener, sorry. I went back to the doctor on Thursday and saw Dr. Williamson, who had done my last surgery. He asked how much weight I was putting on my leg. My answer was I was following his instructions. And he asked what that was and I told me no weight at all. He is allowing me to try putting 35 pounds on it for two weeks and then increasing it. But if I had any aching pain to stcp. When I asked why he had told me that I had to wait for 6 months, I can't even remember what he said. Gene had taken two bodies to Arlington National Cemetery so Sally had taken me to the Doctor. I just told him that he had to make his schedule so he could go with me so together we could remember. This Thursday, we have our depositions, with Edith (my boss) and her lawyer, the man who hit me and his insurance company lawyer, the woman who pulled out in front of him and her insurance company lawyer, me and my lawyer. They told me after I spoke, I could leave, but I asked if I could stay to see what others had to say and the answer was yes, so I plan to stay. I really don't know what its like. I have an appointment with my lawyer before we meet with the others so he could brief me. I've realized these past two weekends, how glad I am to be able to work. On the weekends, when it is so pretty outside and Gene is working, I am so miserable. I'd love to be outside in my yard, but cannot get out of the house by myself and I really can't do much in the house. It's just not my style to sit and watch TV or read all the time. Last Saturday, I had s omeone drop me off with my walker at Greenbriar Mall. I got a wheelchair from the mall and stayed about three hours before Gene finished work. He call about picking up a rental movie for us and I told me that he could pick me up first. He was surprised that I was at the mall by myself

Happy Birthday Jeremy. It slipped my mind. I believe I also forgot Corey's birthday also. Old age I guess.

Hello to everyone out there. Bertha asks what up with us getting a new room so thought I would reply. Since it is our turn to host Christmas and our family is getting larger and larger, we needed another room so that everyone would fit! We're building a sunroom on the back of the house. Not a large one at all, 16x14. They laid the foundation this week but at the rate they're going, it will probably be Christmas before it's finished. I think it's bothering Ed more that me as he is a "let's get it done and get outa my yard" kinda guy. He is planning to lay the floor and we will do the painting but hopefully that is all. It seems that no matter what, he is not going to take much time off from work so thought this might be a way for him to relax and get away, even if it's not very far. We've been talking about doing it for a long time.
Happy birthday to Jeremy today. Hope your birthday wishes all come true.
We're planning to go down to the lake tomorrow. Anybody else who wants to come is welcomed.

Hello

Everything here is kinda Normal again. Back to school after a week off. Enjoyed my week, but as usual, didn't get much done. Had a nice visit with Chris & family the week before Easter and Howie & family on Monday after Easter. Made a trip back to Suffolk to meet Howie to pick up my keys and phone after Clay got them out of my purse on Monday at Margaret's. Whenever I was doing something that Amber could stay with me, I invited her to come. It would have been a little hard for Hannah to keep both children at Cherry Welding & get much done. I really enjoyed working in the yard, even though the interior of my home probably needed attention more.

Little Clay is pretty busy now. He even fell into the pond at the back door last week. Hannah and I were right there, but he was too quick. He was trying to retrieve his ball. After the initial 15 second cry, all he would say was B-ball! B-ball! B-ball! That's when we realized why he fell in.

Hannah has been working hard to get her yard back in shape. After Isabel, they cut all their pine trees down so they are trying to get the yard landscaped and get the grass back growing. Jason and a friend are doing lawn care in the afternoon and on weekends. He already works 12 hours most days at Jimbos Jumbos. I really don't know how he can do it. That summer heat already is hard on him. A good part of his day is outside and that late afternoon heat mowing and weed eating is bound to take a toll on him.

I guess the lack of blogging means that everyone is in pretty good health, although Rick has had some recurring knee irritation. When his problems began two years ago, the first indication was that it hurt the knee to let it hang down when sitting on a high seat without th foot touching the ground. He is not on any prescription meds at present, just Aleve once a day.

Got great news! Scott Venters's brother made a profession of faith last Sunday. His wife, Betty is a great, gentle lady and a wonderful Christian. She has been praying for him for a long time and asking us to also. Tommy, Scott's brother, hardly ever went to church with her. Over the last few months, he's been a couple of times. Well, during the invitation, after the first verse, the pastor said we'd sing one more verse. Then Tommy went up. I looked over at Betty and her son who is a senior in high school and they were both all to pieces hugging and crying. In a few seconds, they were both up there at the front of the church and in a huddle crying. By that time, no one was hardly singing, cause there wasn't hardly a dry eye in the church. Oh, what a joyful day!

Heard that Joyce and Ed are building a new room on their house. What's up with that?

May will be pretty busy. Planning Bible School, end of the year program for the Goose Nest, helping out a neighbor with her daughter's wedding. She's having two ceremonies. One, a traditional wedding in Edenton, and one in Cary, an Indian (husband's family is from India) wedding. I'm going to both. One on the 15th and one on the 16th - should be interesting!

Hope all is well with you and yours! Love, Bertha