Happy Birthday Mom.

Wow, lots of breaking news this morning. "Twins" Puckett dead after stroke. Dana Reeve, widow of Christopher Reeve succumbs to lung cancer at 44.

Kirby Puckett, once an example of health, sports, and excellence, whose career was cut short by glaucoma dead at 45 after a massive stroke.

Dana Reeve, I want to be her when I grow up. What an example of dedication, of strength, of determination. The devotion she demonstrated as she cared for and nursed her paralyzed husband until his death in 2004 has no equal. The commitment she showed as she headed the Christopher Reeve Foundation and lobbied for stem cell research. She is survived by two grown step children and a fifteen year old son.

What is fair about life? The past two weeks have made me waiver, made me question the why's and why nots. If I could only see the big picture.

Krl and I continue to be ill. We are hacking and coughing, blowing and spitting up snot. Needless to say we are not on top of our game. Yesterday Krl was so weak she asked me to take her to town and to the bank. While she was getting ready I told her the SUV needed gas so I would return shortly. She told me to take Maple Syrple with me because she was already figuring out we were fixing to leave the trailer. Out the door Maple and I went, her hopping around, very excited. I opened the door and in one bound she was inside. We made the short drive to the fuel center and I rolled the window down halfway in order for her to watch and converse with me. Finally we were through and headed leisurely back to the trailer to pickup Krl. Maple was sitting in my lap looking out the window as I turned the a/c on and pressed the button to put the window up. In an instance the SUV was filled with yelps and cries and I was trying to figure out what was wrong. I had one arm around Maple's middle trying to put her in the other seat but with no results. It was about now I realized that she had become curious with the window going up and I had inadvertently rolled her nose up in the window! Yikes! That has to hurt. It was difficult to explain to Krl how Maple got the purple spot on her muzzle.

We decided to take Maple with us to Garden City and to Big Spring. We dropped Maple off at the vet's to get her shots for the new year while we ran several errands. Upon our return the vet's assistant asked us if we knew what was wrong with Maple's nose!

Thankfully we returned to the compound with no additional appendages maimed or incapacitated.

We continue to be disappointed and devastated by Ollie. Yesterday we learned that we were the high offer on her refrigerator ($800) but we were one of three people she sold it to. Let's see, $800 + $300+ $300. We also learned that she told her Mom we never paid her (we have the cancelled check with her signature and finger print in the bank statement). Daddio says he is kicking her out! Maybe it's time for Lou Ann to send Ollie to rehab!

Be the real deal.

FATHER I pray for healing for Krl and me. I ask safety for Adam and his men. I ask YOUR blessings for Memama on her birthday. I pray for those ill and in need of YOUR healing and care. I ask comfort for those who are sad and hurting from loss. I pray for those like me who struggle to follow YOU. I pray for our spiritual family and our leaders. I pray for the efforts being made to expand YOUR kingdom. I pray for Richard, Anastacia, James and Terah along with our prayer partners Jenavene and Susan. Oh for a stronger faith.