I ran across this message and I thought I would jot you a note and thinking of that little one being a year old now.  Hope you have had the opportunity to see those little ones since last August.

My grandson, Terry and wife, from Ohio and my son, Lenney and wife, from Georgia are coming the 22nd of this on month and I am looking forward to seeing them.  Terry will do much to my computer and Lenney will see my Quicken is balance OK and they  pitch in and do so many things for me.

The name Adeline would seem a rather popular name in your family. My name Adeline my dad took from a pretty Indian maid in this youth!  The only thing he spelled it Adeline and pronounced it Adelene!

When I was just a little girl, a neighbor, Mr. Coulson told me when I grew up I would be called Addie. And I never forgot it.  There was so much confusion as to what people called me that when I was grown my in-laws decided they would all call me Addie!  We were sitting at the dinning table one evening and each of the family had a different version of the name when speaking to me. I had grown accustomed to that as I grew up.  My brother-in-law, Carl Acheret, spoke up and said from now on she is Addie. And Addie it was and has remained Addie except from a few of my side of the family still call me Adeline (Adelene).

I am rather glad for the Addie name as when I was called Adeline, it would grind on me so much, I hated that name.  The reason being that when I was a little girl in grade school, the boys always sang, "Sweet Adeline" to me laughing while singing and running from me! I just knew it was a dirty song and of course they could never finish the song cause this little girl came at them with her dinner bucket chasing them all over when or if I caught them they got hit with my dinner bucket.  Knowing that it upset me they sang it quite often.  I was married before I learned it was not a dirty song but a very pretty one.  But the damage had already been done in my mind!

When I worked, I made certain that they addressed me as Addie as if they did not it usually turned out Adeline and I absolutely would not allow that. Except for one of my  Assistant bosses.  This Veterinarian, Dr. Rogers, was a perfect southern gentleman and I respected him so much I allowed it.  But you know what - when he was getting to transfer he came to me and explained that he knew how my name was supposed to be pronounced and knew my anxiety when called Adeline and all this time he was trying to get a rise out of me. As he had heard me many times let others know in no uncertain terms as well as the two Veterinarians over him, Dr. Couger and Dr. Manley!

My Middle Name, LeVeta, was given to me by my mother and she got it out of a story book. Sorry to bore you with this story but it came to mind and consequently had
to write it down!

I hope this finds you well and God Bless you and that little family.

BTW I have a lot of Gregory (s) in my data base but I could not find your name.  Might give a few names of your husband's ancestors to see if I have any of them.  Please

Take care most lovingly,  Addie here

I'm reading more and dusting less. I'm sitting in the yard and admiring the view without fussing about the weeds in the garden. I'm spending more time with my family and friends and less time working. Whenever possible, life should be a pattern of experiences to savor, not to endure. I'm trying to recognize these moments now and cherish them.

I'm not "saving" anything; we use our good china and crystal for every special event such as losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, or the first Amaryllis blossom.

I wear my good "purple" blazer to the market. My theory is if I look prosperous, I
can shell out $28.49 for one small bag of groceries.

I'm not saving my good perfume for special parties, but wearing it for clerks in the hardware store and tellers at the bank.

Someday" and "one of these days" are losing their grip on my vocabulary; if it's worth seeing or hearing or doing, I want to see and hear and do it now.

I'm not sure what others would've done had they known they wouldn't be here for the tomorrow that we all take for granted.

I think they would have called family members and a few close friends. They might have called a few former friends to apologize and mend fences for past squabbles.

I like to think they would have gone out for a Chinese dinner or for whatever their favorite food was. I'm guessing; I'll never know.

It's those little things left undone that would make me angry if I knew my hours were limited. Angry because I hadn't written certain letters that I intended to write one of these days. Angry and sorry that I didn't tell my husband and parents often enough how much I truly love them. I'm trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything that would add laughter and luster to our lives.

And every morning when I open my eyes,! tell myself that it is special. Every day, every minute, every breath truly is a gift from God.

"People say true friends must always hold hands, but true friends don't need to hold hands because they know the other hand will always be there." I don't believe in Miracles. I rely on them.

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well "dance".

[Most of this was reportedly written by an 83 year old woman]
Addie here

Wondering just how many have been here and done that!  It is time to laugh a little!   Addie here in Kansas

Twas the night before Thanksgiving and all through the kitchen; I was cooking and baking and moanin' and bitchin'. I've been here for hours, I can't stop to rest, This place is a disaster, just look at this mess!

Tomorrow I've got thirty people to feed, They expect all the trimmings...who cares what I need! My feet are both blistered, I've got cramps in my legs, The dog just knocked over a bowl full of eggs.

There's a knock at the door and the telephone's ringing; Frosting drips on the counter as the microwave's dinging. Two pies in the oven, dessert's almost done; My cookbook is soiled with butter and crumbs.

I've had all I can stand, I can't take anymore; Then walks in my husband, spilling rum on the floor.  He heaves and he wobbles, his balance unsteady; Then grins as he chuckles "The eggnog is ready!"

He looks all around and with total regret, Says "What's takin' so long? Aren't you through in here yet??" As quick as a flash I reach for a knife; He loses an earlobe; I wanted his life!

He flees from the room in terror and pain, and screams "MY GOD WOMAN, YOU'RE GOING INSANE!!" Now what was I doing, and what is that smell? Oh, !!!!, it's the pies!! They're burned all to !!!!!!

I hate to admit when I make a mistake, But I put them on BROIL instead of on BAKE. What else can go wrong?? Is there still more ahead??  If this is good living, I'd rather be dead.

Lord, don't get me wrong, I love holidays; They just leave me exhausted, all shaky and dazed.  But I promise you one thing, If I live 'til next year,  You won't find me pulling my hair out in here.

I'll hire a maid, a cook, and a waiter; And if that doesn't work, I'LL HAVE IT ALL CATERED!

Addie here

Addie remembers 59 years ago!

Hopefully I will not bore you too much, but please allow me to tell you how well I remember 59 years ago today.  My husband, Cliff, and I were marriedin the Oskaloosa  Court House, Jefferson Co., Kansas by the Justice of Peace. He was 21 and I was 16 1/2 to the day!  We came to Topeka to his Sister, Stell,  and Husband's for our honeymoon.  That first night there were cold cereal and wind up cars under the covers when we got in bed.  You can imagine the cars noise as they ran down!   I remember so well, I did not want to get undressed!   I wanted the lights out!  Finally he said to me, well you are going to have to undress sometime in front of me during our married life.  So I guess I thought well this is it!   But I want you to know that was the fastest I ever undressed and got into my night gown in history!

Then the chievaree (can't spell) came a few weeks later at my folks house. I well remember Cliff buying the candy bars, Milky Ways, for women and children, and the cigars for men.  However, in one box of Milky Way Candy bars there was a lonely "Forever" Candy Bar.  And I remember where I was standing and what I was doing when he brought the box into me and said the Forever Candy Bar was for me that he was forever mine.  And he was!  Never looked (oh I better not say never looked as don't all men look) at another woman.  I never spent a jealous moment in my life because of anything he did.  We were very honest with each other. No secrets.  I suppose I should add here he did enjoy the pretty girls though. And sort of flirted with them or whatever you can call it.  Speaking of pretty girls.  He enjoyed so much the Dance Club on TV.  And one time when Amanda (now 12 years old) came from the living room where he was watching, she was hardly old enough to get sentences out whole, she said "granny Gramps is watching the girls"   And I told her, "that was all right but he couldn't touch"!  She went back in and told him, "Gramps you can watch but don't touch!"    We were always kidding him and of course I suppose she took it all in!  Kids are really sharp! Then one year for his birthday probably early 90's, Gary our son, had a belly dancer come out and perform for him.  He enjoyed that, but was surprised royally almost to the point I think he was somewhat embarrased if he could be embarrassed!   He keep the flower she gave along lovins on his dresser as long as he lived.  He died September 18, 1995.

Cliff and I had many good times together.  After I retired in 1984 there was never a day went by we didn't play some sort of board game I don't think. Usually rummy or 5 point pitch.   He was a good player.  It is hard to play pitch with only 2 people so we played 5 point.  When we first started he bid 5 and I told him he could not make it so he reduced it to 4.  I told him he could not make that either in that game.   But he did!   He was a good Rummy player too!

We always laughed at ourselves.  Even though sometimes things got a little serious, we could always laugh through it all or at least afterwards. Seldom did either of get really mad at the other.  Don't get me wrong, we had our spats.  I remember one time there was a $20 bill that we got in an argument and for the life of me I can't remember what it was about.  But the bottom line neither of us would take it so it lay up in the kitchen window rather hidden behind the curtain for years. Until one summer we went on vacation and it disappeared!  The neighbor behind us looked after things while we were gone and it was so he could look through all our windows on the east side of the house and into the kitchen.  It was our habit for years to leave the key to the house in the mail box for relatives and friends to come and go when we were not at home.  The neighbor knew of our policy so thought nothing when a couple came and walked through the kitchen and left again shortly! Of course, he did not know them.  But I expect we did! Cliff sure wanted to know who that was, he was mad about it.  I laughed and said, "well neither one of us wanted it and someone else did so they took it." I did not want to know who did it.   I did not want a friendship ruined.  Needless to say the key came out of the mail box! What was interesting another $20.00 bill hang on the mirror in plain sight in the spare bedroom and it was still there. It was a $20 bill that Stell's (sister) and husband had left there for using our car while he was here from Oregon and since he would not take it back we told him it would still be there when he came back for a visit! BTW we took that one down too!  We decided why the one was taken because it was a conversational piece many times with many people!

My name is Adeline.  My dad name me after an Indian lady. But it is pronounced Adelene.  Because of the spelling I am sure I got called every ramification of the name there could be! It was at this sister Stell's house when families were gathered one day at the dinner table her husband noticing all the difference names they were calling me, said,  "from now on her name is Addie" And Addie it has been. However, my husband always called me by my right name even though it was spelled Adeline.  It would have hurt my feeling had he done otherwise.

This name caused a lot of headaches at school.   The boys were always giggling and singing, "Sweet Adeline"!   Boy I hated that song.  I thought it was a dirty song and they got hit over the head with a dinner bucket or anything else I could get in my hands!  It was not until I was married that I finally heard the song all the way through without hitting someone that Irealized it was a pretty song.  But I still have a bad taste in my mouth when I hear it!

Well I have gone on much too long now.  But just had to share my thoughts with my beloved group today.  God Bless each of you that have been patient enough to read this far!   BGRIN   Addie here

Hi -Happy Easter to you!  

I wish to share my week's adventure with you. It does not look like I will be going home until after April 15th.  Gary has people coming in from Wyoming to go fishing in ocean in his boat and a couple will be here for a week.  And then he has his taxes to do.  However, I am enjoying the days at the Jetty and the cove here and going to Sam's for a wiener and making the rounds for all the freebies!   As well as WalMarts etc.  I just like to wheel around and see things for sale, window shop I guess you call it.  Seems like a new adventure everyday!

One morning down at the jetty there was a coast guard boat going out with his blue light on and siren blowing.  They were going pretty fast for going out of the inlet.  He did slow down when there were a couple boats he had to go between.  He was headed out in the ocean - don't know what was wrong.  did not stay long enough to see him coming back.  It was trying to rain so did not stay long down there.  It is always an adventure to sit on the jetty and watch the activity.  The last couple days the waves have really been pounding the jetty and beach!  And making it difficult for Loraine to get down to all the places she likes to look without getting wet.

One day I got so tickled.  A young girl was walking to go by me (I was sitting in the neck of the jetty) and a pelican was over to the right of me walking slowly toward the middle and the girl, probably around 20, must have thought he was coming after her as she put on her breaks and watched him big time!  Shortly a couple pelicans came flying in from the other direction and landed on the jetty - boy she let out a scream and turned around and ran back toward land!

One morning I saw more dolphins at least 4.  The first that got my attention was the chatter they make but by the time I got my wheel chair turned around all I saw was what looked like a nose or top of a head go down.  Then a little later they came by twos, jumping up, from the ocean and around the "T leg" and doing all kinds of wandering around between the beach and jetty area.  Neat to watch.  The sunsets are gorgeous to watch from the jetty.  Loraine got some pictures,

A couple of days it was pretty windy and there were lots of kite skiers and sail skiers between the beach and jetty area and beyond.  There was so many I could not keep count of them accurately. Had to be around 8 kite skiers and 14 sail skiers.  Saw several jet skiers beyond them that came out of the inlet.

One morning we went to the Captain's Galley for breakfast.  It sure is a neat place to go.  They had the best country fries I have ever eaten out.  Tasted just like I like at home when I can fix them.

On Sabbath of last week Lori took me to Sabbath School and Church.  It was such a wonderful blessing and the church was so friendly.  Lori checked me out a couple tapes to bring home and watch.  They have a service to pick up people from the island and take them to church but with more checking it is not a van and so it would be too difficult for someone other than my family to get me settled in a car to ride etc.  So won't be going after all.  I do so love my Sabbath School class discussions!

Lori and Bill came down on a Thursday and stayed through to the next Monday afternoon. They went with Gary to get his boat at Stewart and drive it home.  It was a sight to see them drive up and back in toward the sea wall and park along the swimming dock.  Took all four of them to get the job done and get it stabilized and tied up!  Gary did not have the lift adjusted for this boat yet.  But they came and done that so he puts it up on the lift now.  That looks pretty simple.  Then they had to scrub down the boat as where it had sit in the water for just a few days it was already starting to get stained and stuff on.  It was a sight to see Loraine and Gary in the John boat paddling around washing down the boat!  Having a boat like that might be nice but to me it sure looks like a lot of work goes along with it.  The tank holds $400 worth of gas!  And I don't know how long it would last. Not long enough probably.  The boat has two motors on it so that should take more gas I would
think, but then what do I know.

While Lori is here she takes care of me most of the time with bath, bed and other personal things.  One day we had a picnic while they were here which was great!  She got her ski jet into the cove and rode around. It was great fun to watch her.  She didn't go to fast, maybe a little faster than she should have though!   They don't like boats or anything going fast in the cove because of the waves banging against the sea wall.  She road it up to JC park area and Loraine took me up there and I got to watch her cut all kinds of "didos".  She had Baby, her little poodle, on with her and, of course, she had a life jacket on Baby.  I really enjoyed that!  She also took Baby to Stewart to ride home on the new boat.  She looks so cute, so little and that yellow life jacket around her!  Baby is a little old lady, she is in dog years as old as I am I think!  She is so cute to watch.  She follows Lori around and also Loraine.  Lori says she like Loraine better than her.  But I doubt that but Loraine holds her and I get so tickled she goes off to sleep in her arms and is so satisfied to be there.  Loraine talks to her (like Lori) and she acts like she understands.

While they were here we went to Jensen Beach.  Bill and Lori got me a blue padded chair with an umbrella on top. & had large rubber yellow wheels. Gary helped them get me in it (which is not a small task) and they rolled me down on the beach and Bill dug a hole down in the sand for the wheels so I could be level and get my feet in the water.  I love the ocean and better yet if I can get my feet wet!  Lori dug a hole so the water would pool some as the waves came crashing in!  It was really nice.  I tell you the Hickman clan is quite a group!  Fun to see the onlookers watch us and I expect they would not care to be taken for relatives of ours because of our wild antics!  When we were going down the ramp, Bill was behind the chair and Lori in front to help and especially pull out over the sand and Bill kept talking to himself about he didn't know if he could do this that he never did this kind of thing before and other remarks I can't think of and Lori kept saying you can do it ! and giving him encouragement.  I get so tickled at those two kids!  They are certainly dear to my heart!  I do so love to hear the ocean crashing and rolling.  I sit in wonder of it all.  Our God is such a good and powerful God!  Loraine picked me up some small shells from the Jensen Beach.  I want to get a little glass jar to display them in and sit on the kitchen window ledge which will remind me of my experiences there.

Coming back up out off the beach when we got to the ramp, Bill was walking backward behind the chair and Lori as in front pushing on the chair handles to help him and Loraine was pushing on Lori's rear to help her.  I was singing to them "Mule Train" and Lori got tickled and said Stop granny I am laughing so much I can't push!  Then when we had to turn a corner to go up another ramp, the big umbrella about sideswiped a man holding a little boy that were standing there watching us.  So Bill put down the umbrella and apologized!  That little boy had such a amusing look on his face watching us.  All the while Gary was taking a video of the tribe! When we turned in the chair I got in my wheel chair and they were taking me to the car.  Well there are several stairways places and a ramp to go down.  I guess Loraine though they were heading for the stairs & she said don't take her down there & I said Oh No don't throw mama under the train!  And that got the attention of on lookers also.  One guy was starting down a stairway and stopped and backed up to watch us.  He was grinning also!  Anyway I had a blast and think the kids did too the way we were all laughing.

Just Me here at Gary's on Thumb's Point

Addie's Florida's adventures 

The last week of March through April 19, 2002. I have been to the Jetty a number of times since I have last written and always new things to experience!  Just when I think I have seen them all, it always seems another day brings a new adventure!  Loraine takes me to the Jetty every day the weather allows.  Manatees have been visiting the jetty quite regularly.  It is funny how they swim under the water and come up with their nose peeking through to get a gulp of air.  And sometimes roll their nose down under themselves and you see their back poking up like a round ball before descending.  There are other times you see them swimming flat along the top with their nose out.  Very seldom do I see their tail.  When I do it has a "fan-like" look.  One I saw swimming along the jetty looked as though he had done battle with a boat motor. They apparently go down to the bottom and eat moss etc. and then come slowly up to the top of the water to get a breath or two!  Sometimes you see one, sometimes two and three in the jetty area.!
 
In fact I've seen them on all sides of the jetty "T".  As the boats come in the inlet and travel on down the inlet and get down to Mangrove Matties there are big signs requiring the boats to go slow as there are manatees to watch out for as they get badly cut up with the boat motors.  The fishermen do not like them as they apparently disturb the fish.  However, one day I saw them in the area where an older fellow, who kids me about where my fishing pole is, was fishing and he had caught some flounders and a beautiful blue fish even though the manatees were out that day not far from where he was fishing.  Then there was the morning Gary gave one a drink from the hose right here at the house!  Odd to me how they love a fresh drink of water out of the garden hose.

Mangrove Mattie's is scenic place to eat.  It sits along the water edge of the inlet and the wall facing the inlet is open air but can be closed with glass panels when needed, like rain etc.  They are located about two blocks from where the jetty starts out toward the ocean from the park.  It is at this point on into the Indian River that the boats have to slow down for the manatees.  The Manatee center is just over the bridge from the island into Ft. Pierce on Indian River.

One morning I was sitting facing the inlet and the waves were coming in from the inlet and a wave looked like it was coming toward where I was sitting but coming from the other jetty on the north island.  But as it got closer I saw it was not a white cap but a water-bank full of fish (lots and lots of them) which gave the appearance of fish flying in a bank of water!  I use the term flying as I don't know how else to explain what I saw.

 I am sure that is not the term but they really was so silver looking and glittery and a bank rolling in like just like a white cap!  Except this was a "fish cap"!  They were not really big but really moving fast toward me, in a solid bank of water and fish raising about a foot high off the inlet.  A pelican was trying to get him a bite but I do not think he made it.  All the time I was down there that morning there were fish jumping up out of the water.  Not real big ones though. Talk about jumping things. Even the stingrays jump out of the water!  And one day in the inlet I saw a beautiful orange and white funny shaped fish!  Shape of an angelfish but much much larger jump out of the water.  I asked Gary what kind it could have been but he couldn't tell me so made me wonder about my eyesight as he can always tell me if I describe it.  But then Loraine's friend while they were out boating saw the same thing so know I was not seeing things!  Loraine always wheels me down and back in the wheel chair and one day coming back about half way home, a flying deal came over head that looked like a winged kite with what looked like a boat affair connected under him.  He was flying pretty high but yet close enough I could make out the head of a person in it.  It flew toward the jetty.  It would be interesting to see if he landed in the ocean down by the beach or not.

Some days the ocean is pretty choppy.  And it really gets bad coming back from the ocean into the inlet.  One such day when Gary and his friend and son and my grandson, Bill, were coming back from fishing it was really bad.  Lori and I were down on the jetty and when the boats came in they really rocked and almost buried out of site in the ocean. We waved at Gary's group but took a while before any of them seen us I guess.  Bill finally waved back!  Bill said coming into the inlet he could see nothing but a walls of water on all sides of the boat for a little bit!  The sail boats rocked back and forth so badly I was certain they were going over.  But none did.  But I had never been down there when they were having so much trouble coming into the inlet.

I felt so privileged to be able to spend Easter weekend with Lori.  Lori and I had lots of good quality time and good talks.  She took a cot to the jetty with us and I, at least, really enjoyed my day with my granddaughter!

It is neat to watch the pelican fish for themselves.  It would appear that they can see the fish under the water; because once in a while their beak quickly goes down into the water.  Then he will raise his head slowly and let the water drain out of his pouch or whatever you call it and then he puts his head straight up and lets the fish slide down his throat.  Sometimes you wonder if he is having a hard time swallowing or not for it seems to take him at times quite a while to get it down!  Usually though the pelicans are beggars of the fisherman.  Looking for a handout.  The fishermen clean their fish down off the Jetty in the park where there are tables and running water for such.  The pelicans are all gathered around and each clamor for any discarded fish parts.  They are always on the jetty hoping the fishermen will give him a bite of his bait or leave their bucket unattended and he will help himself!  One day they were so cute as I went out on the jetty; here they were! lined up every so often spaced like sentinels facing the inlet like they were guarding it.

One day while sitting on the jetty there was a person that was swimming on a surf board going from the farthest point on the jetty slant-wise across the inlet toward the beach on North Hutchinson Island.  He made it and climbed up on the rocks and over their jetty and onto the beach.  I was really concerned that he would make it as there are so many boats going and coming in the inlet.  That side is a park that you have to pay to get into to use the beach and other facilities.

Gary stores his left over bait in a container of some kind with a lid on it and keeps it in the water just off the sea wall here at the house.  One time he went to get the bucket and turns out an otter had helped himself to his bait tearing the lid right off and the shrimp all gone!  The neighbor had a similar experience.  He went to lift his container out of the water and every time he would lift it up something kept pulling it back down!  And it was the hungry little otter!  Needless to say they are not too fond of the otter.  Gary is thinking of trying to trap it in a box like trap affair.

The cormorants are also down to the jetty either sitting on top of the light poles or in the water fishing for a fish.  They dive and stay under the water quite some time and then up they come sometimes with a fish and sometimes not.  And then down again they go!  The other night here at the house there were a large bunch of cormorants flying all together toward the other side of the cove.  I had never seen a big flock like that before all together.

Some days has been windy and the ocean looks rough and crashes against the jetty sometimes when it is windy they really come crashing in and crash really much higher than the jetty.  The water comes over the jetty.  The North Island Jetty really gets crashed against.  The water looks to go at least three times as high as the jetty itself.  Sometimes you look out into the ocean and as far as you can see there are white caps rolling in fast.  It really gives the jetty a beating sometimes and Loraine has to be careful as to where to sit me.  There have been a few times that she has put me up on the board walk or down in the park at the edge of the jetty wall where the tables are because of the wind.  It is amazing to me how the ocean white caps meets the inlet water and all the crashing it does and yet the tide can go out anyway when all that water from the ocean is rolling in.  God certainly has mysterious ways. 

I have really spent some quality time with my granddaughter Lori while I been here.  When she comes on the weekends she takes good care of me (bathing and personal needs also) and takes me to church and the jetty.  It is quite a site to see her with her roller blades on rolling her granny to the jetty.  Get several almost stopped to watch and comment and smile.  One fellow comment to me about Baby, her little dog.  I was holding on to Baby with her leash and Lori pushing me with Baby walking beside us (running)!  I told him I was just out walking my dog! 

We have lots of fun like the day, she, Loraine and I went to Vero Beach and took lunch with Baby.  Lori and I and Baby were going on in and Loraine bringing in the eats when the Park attendant hollered at us and told Lori no dogs allowed in the park.  Lori said, Baby was my hearing aid dog.  Goodness knows I need help hearing that's for sure!  It was so hot that Baby could not have stood it in the car.  Right inside Baby took a dump and he saw it and Lori said I suppose you want me to clean that up and he said yes which Lori would have anyway.  Anyway Lori and I got so tickled later and she talked to me with sign language but I couldn't tell what she was saying, but she told me not to talk because I couldn't hear so I had to talk back to her in sign language!  Oh I tell you what a tangled web we weave! And then to get so tickled we about couldn't stand it!  Anyway Baby stayed with us.  I expect the park attendant thought he was no match for my talkative granddaughter.  And he was probably right!  She is one of a kind and I am so glad she is my granddaughter!  Laughs a many!

There are always boats at the jetty, all sizes!  I saw a big big yacht come in the other day and the Windjammer (a big sailboat) goes out regularly taking tourists out for two hours of sea adventure.  It was built and launched in Maine in 1982 and is a replica of an 1890's coastal schooner.  It can carry 30 people.  It is a hands-on type so the guests can have a great time learning all about running it!

They had a fishing tournament here recently starting on Friday.  We were going down to watch them go out but got all ready and it was raining so missed that but watched as they came in both days.  Later in the day when we drove by the Marina the boats were all lined waiting to weigh their fish!  The winner was 60 some pounds.

While here I have been researching Bill's family on his mother's side, Koster.  I have had some real good luck on the Gen Forum posting board.  I have located Roger Brown and his brother, Denny, whose grandmother helped raise Bill's mother.  Her mother died when she was three months old and Roger's grandmother partially raised Bill's mother.  Roger has sent me some a picture of his mother, her sister, and Bill's mother when they were children.  He also sent me a wonderful picture of Bill's mother when she was a young lady with her personal handwriting across the corner of it.  And gracious enough to tell me I could keep them even though he had sent me pictures on the computer.  I hope to correspond with Roger when I return to Kansas.  There is much yet to be learned about the family.  Lori has become interested too and helped me with it and her interest is still high so maybe I will have a genealogy granddaughter yet which would please me very much

We are getting ready to leave for Kansas Monday, 22nd.  Gary wants to leave real early but don't know how that will work out.  I think it is high time I get home I have been gone now for 3 months.  I will have to learn all over how to get into my routine.  One thing I am really concerned about is that my caregiver that took care of me is no longer available at Assisted Health Care.  That is really worrying me.  Donna was such a good little girl and all broke in etc.  Breaking in new ones is not fun and especially finding one that is suitable to your needs.  Oh well the Lord will provide.  Might say a little prayer for me!

Addie here

Wonder if anyone knows the Biblical names for Iraq. . .   

and, if you've read or are reading the "LEFT BEHIND" series, knowing  one of those answers will be even more interesting. . . Joy Stalnaker

Joy since you asked please may I respond and I hope you don't mind.

First of all when I look at Iraq I look at it quite differently than say the editors of Time, Newsweek Magazines Etc.do.  When I look at the map of Iraq and I see not only what the CNN continually shows us: Baghdad, Basra, and Kirkuk etc. but in my mind's eye I see Babylon south of Baghdad where Daniel and his companions witnessed for God; farther south is Ur, which Abram [Abraham] left at the call of God.  In the north was Nineveh, the city to which the reluctant prophet Jonah was sent with a saving message.  These are not mentioned on the news but these places and Biblical historical events are parading across my mind as the current event unfold. Old Testament history provides us with such rich history of this area of the world.  And what about the Garden of Eden!  There is so much beautiful history in this country and sadly we rarely stop to give it much thought.

Saddam Hussein, whose removal is a goal of this war, sought to capitalize on Iraq's ancient heritage.  He endeavored to unit the fractious elements of the nation - Sinnis, Shities, and Kurds -- under the dream of the golden past of Babylon and Nebuchadnezzar.  But it was not to be nor will it ever be nor should it be! God sets up kings and God brings them down!

You all will recall the image that Nebuchadnezzar dreamed of during Daniel's time.  How the head of gold represented Babylon and then the loosing of the kingdom to Medo-Persia [you will recall that Cyrus was named [by God] 125 years even before he was born] and on to Alexander the Great of Greece and then to Rome which the legs of iron represented.

These nations were doomed to fall as Daniel prophesied!  History books prove the prophecy given by Daniel concerning Nebuchadnezzar's dream in every aspect down through the toes. And it behooves me to believe that the rest of the prophecy will materialize also. Therefore I am like Abraham of old, I am looking for a kingdom made without hands to dwell in!  Oh what a glorious day that will be when Jesus comes to take His people home. Oh how wonderful it will be to live in that new kingdom that Daniel John the Revelator told us so much about!

Let us be ready!

When our precious Jesus comes to take us home what a glorious day that will be.  I am so looking forward to touring my mansion in the New Jerusalem and living in the earth made new and at last as Isaiah said, "He will swallow up death in victory, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces....."  But most of all I am looking forward to seeing my Jesus and telling him in person how sorry I am for the pain I have caused him and caress his nail scared hands.

I have been thinking a lot lately of what He went through for me and all who believe in Him.  It was no small thing He did for us.  It was enough that he was made to feel isolated and rejected but the suffering he was put through. But the horrible things at the end.  The spitting in his face, the hitting with their fists knocking him down, flogging him.

Do you realize what those whips were like in those days! I have read about them, they had steel balls on the ends of each of the several leather strips and then sharps bones weaved into the ends so that when they hit they dragged them down there backs tearing the skin open.  He had lost so much blood he could not finish carrying the cross up the hill!

He was stripped naked and they lay his open wounded bleeding back on the pole and nailed his hands outstretched to the cross!  Then His feet!

As they stood the pole up his body weight strained against the nails and breathing was nearly impossible only would he be able to suck in his breath. To breath in he must push on his nailed feet to get in a more standing position to draw in his next breath!

He had lost so much blood that he thirst.  Oh what Our Savior suffered for us!  I will never be worthy only through His righteousness can I be found blameless.

I think of His prayers and how at the end He even sweat blood. There is a condition that this is possible I have read and studied about it.  One under terrible stress can cause something to break down [something about under our skin etc -I'm too old to remember exactly now]   He died of cardiac arrest as water and blood flowed from the wound as they pierced his side!  I prefer to think He died of a broken heart!

Normally they break the legs so they will die faster for if the legs are broken they cannot push themselves up to breath properly and their death comes faster.  They did not break Jesus legs he had died by the time they had broken the other two's legs. [which further fulfilled prophecy]

Well I must close with this and hope you have been kind enough to stay with me to the end and allow me to share my thoughts with you all!

May God Bless each of you that reads this and draw you ever closer to Him.

Most Lovingly, Addie here