Introducing Mr & Mrs Lee Willmon

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Introducing Mr & Mrs Lee Willmon

Wordless Wednesday

Raining in Tupelo, MS

Life goes on!

Tupelo sendoff for the 155th

READ MORE ABOUT THE SEND OFF'S AROUND THE AREA

Friday, May 1st: Tupelo sendoff and flag presentation for the 155th Headquarters Company.
Staging at the National Guard Armory next to the Air Traffic Control tower at the Tupelo Airport on W. Jackson St. at 7:15am. The unit will be leaving out between 8am and 8:30am.
RC will be Butch Card (cell 662-523-8948)

I took the boys to school this morning & heard my friend Kelli (who is a Co-Host of "Your Hometown Morning Show" WIZARD 106 in Tupelo) talking about our local 155th leaving Tupelo.

Well I had my camera with me but really just headed over to the Armory to see the goings on. In route I passed the buses, big trucks, motorcycles (Patriot Guard Riders), Police cars & family in a convoy. Cars were pulling over for these guys. RESPECT. That is what came to my mind. These guys need it. I heard they are on their way for training for 2 weeks & then headed out of the country. Some for at least a year. I could not imagine. As I have said in previous post I have great respect for the servicemen & women. I have a ton of family serving.

Keep all these guys in your prayers as they serve our country & protect us.

CLICK ON PICTURES FOR LARGER VIEW

Made from my rear view mirror

When the moon hits the sky like a big pizza pie...

Came out of church tonight & seen this over the top of the back side. It was like a bright shining spot light over top. Isn't God amazing?

I have a new granddaughter

Annabelle Lillian LeBlanc

born April 6th, 2009

6 lbs 15 oz.

19 inches long

Wordless Wednesday

The buttercups on the hill of MDOT in Tupelo.

What the heck

Elves watching

I had to go to my church Wednesday morning to make some copies for my M&M's class that night. While there I ran across a little surprise while I was on my way out the door.

See me previous post of Christmas Traditions about the Shelf Elf. I just think this is just the cutest thing. The tradition not the elf. He is kind of freaky looking.

It was at the door where all the little kids are picked up from day school. I told my boys while I was snapping a pictures (Yes...I had my camera with me) I thought I seen him blink. Just funny to tell my big boys they better be good because elves are always watching from somewhere.

My daughter & I (with my granddaughter Abbi) went shopping today for Christmas presents. We hit a few stores & did get some gifts. Seems mostly for Abbi. Well honestly I am the grandma/nana. That's my duty. We stopped back by my house to drop off some things before I took them back home & I gave her the Christmas Pickle I had found for her. I found pickle ornaments at a local store here. Village Green on Main Street had them but when I asked if they had a spider they looked at me weird. Come on...you have a pickle & you think a spider is wierd. They were all sweet but it was funny.

M&M's tonight

For our M&M's (Music & Missions) class tonight at church we had a party before we break for Jesus' birthday. All the kindergarteners had a great time. Double chocolate chip cookie, chips, grapes & drink. We had a great time. Since I do the mission & craft part I had little coloring books made for them to take home & bracelets that said Happy Birthday Jesus on them. We ate, talked, laughed & Kathy the one who leads the Music part shared her Nativity barn with them that her father made for her many many many years ago with some figures she has. She read The Crippled Lamb to them. A touching story about a disabled lamb who finds he has a special purpose and place in this world.

Thank you Lord for such sweet people you put in my life that love you & honor you.

Life is Good

China guest

What does a Southern guy do on the day after opening day of deer season for youth's?

Take your son deer hunting of course. After church today my hubby got a call from a friend that said the deer were on the move in the afternoon because of the warm afternoons. Hubby & Chris threw on some hunting stuff grabbed a gun & hit the door running for our land. Chris (11 years old) has been wanting to kill his first deer so bad. No luck last year. Matthew (7 years old) just is not to interested just yet. He & I took the time to stay home & stay warm. I cut labels to use at the collection center tomorrow for OCC. Matthew watched TV & played out in the playroom. Such a peaceful Sunday afternoon.

Hubby called around 5:00pm. They were leaving the land. No deer in site. No deer roast yet. They did however bring home food. They brought home a hot & ready pizza from Little Caesars.

Now for my title of "China Guest".

Jeff has had a few of his Chinese people from China in the past couple of weeks. They come here once every 18 months or so. Jeff is with Ashley Furniture. (NO-He can not get you cheap furniture. NO-He can not get you a job) They wanted to experience some southern culture while they are here. Yesterday we took them to our land just for that. Hubby had gotten a big 4 wheeler from a friend & took both the boys 90cc 4 wheelers. He took a couple of guns for target practice, rubber boots to hike down the trail & fishing rods to catch some bass. They seemed to have had a great time. When we were getting ready to leave we went to a little store up the road on HWY 15 to have BBQ (lunch, 午饭 wǔfàn or zhōngfàn). It is called Pam's Place. Stop by for great BBQ. It is cooked right out front in a barrel & they thought that was really something. Toby & Ken speak pretty good English. Jennifer does not speak any. Her being around me had to be a hoot. I just talked & talked. I had the guys tell her some things but as women we have our communication. I had looked up a 4 page list of things to say or rather have her look at the paper & point to the words.....It did not help.

Jennifer using Chris' little 22 Henry. Our lake in the background.

Jennifer & me/I (Yes-it was dang cold)

Jennifer, Toby & Ken

Toby, Jennifer, Ken & Hubby

Toby & Ken riding on the back of the truck coming out

Loading up to go eat.

Loading up the 4 wheelers to go eat BBQ

Our guest are due to go back at the end of this week. They have been staying in a local hotel. We will be having them as dinner guest Tuesday. I look forward to entertaining such wonderful friends from another culture. You learn so much.

Goodbye (informal)--
拜拜。 Bai-bai (Byebye)

Bless you--

Yi bai sui

I NEED TO START WRITING THESE THINGS DOWN.

Well I thought the day was starting out great. I had a one on one teacher conference at my youngest one's school. Conference was great. I left the school & ran over to the church to make copies for tonights kindergraten lesson. (More on that later). I got my copies done & made more coloring sheets for kids to put in their OCC boxes of "About Me". Well I went walking up the hallway & looked over at the side down toward my SSClass room. A sign hanging on the door frame. Bible Study on "Forgiveness" was in session. OOOOPPPS. I had signed up for that. My SSClass teacher (who was going to be leading it) had given me my book last Thursday & I had just talked to her this past Sunday that I would be there. I NEED TO START WRITING THESE THINGS DOWN. Sorry Kay!!! Do you forgive me?

Well no sooner I get home I have a card in my mailbox that I missed my dentist appointment! What appointment? Oh man I NEED TO START WRITING THESE THINGS DOWN. When I stopped working outside the home in 1997 I gave up my appointment book. I didn't need it any longer. WRONG. You need it more. Things come up & you have to write them down. "My sharp is not as mind as it once was." I heard that somewhere once.
Well you can be for certian I will make my apointments tomorrow. Matthew has a dentist appointment & I have to be at the church at noon for a group that is "Praying for America"

Click on either of the links (I hope both) to get involved.

Oh heavenly father, please give America and its leaders knowledge and wisdom to know and do your will and grant them protection from their enemies in Jesus' name we pray, Amen.



or



America has turned its back on its rich spiritual heritage that once encouraged a fear of God – respect and trust of Him – and a life of morality directed by the conviction that the Bible is the Word of God and should be honored as such in all matters of life.





Got to go get ready for M&M's tonight. (Music & Mission's)
We are going over Jeremiah 29:11. Here is what goes home to the parents at child pickup.

"Tonight we talked about sometimes in someone’s life they can get off track but the Lord has plans for them so he gets them back on track.
He has plans for you so he forgives you.
We crumple the paper up on the bad things that can happen & then we are reminded the Lord has plans for us so we straighten the paper out.
We tear the edges away for the sins in our lives.
It can then be matted & framed for their bedroom or bath.
I have one in my boy’s bathroom for them to see each morning."

Where does time go

It seems I just did a post. Time is my enemy. I get so tied up with........stuff. I hoped to have did a blog with my everyday stuff but that gets busy. The boys take alot of time so I pick them over my blog. I am sure everyone can say that.

Celebration Village went great. I never heard the final total of how much was sold. I seen people shopping but I think maybe not as much as they normally would. This picture was made on the last day, Saturday. Pictured below are myself (white OCC tee, black slacks, no jacket) & 3 other volunteers for the booth to promote Operation Christmas Child. Our regional Coordinator did a great job getting enough volunteers to come all 4 days. I popped in & out managing to make sure all was going good, everyone showed up that should & snapping a few pictures of the people helping & the things going on around. Most people passing by the booth thought we were selling something until I finally made the yellow sign you see in the picture below. ByTheWay---Do you do a shoebox yourself?

We are starting to see OCC come to an end soon. Yesterday I met our Regional Coordinator at the TV station to go on the noon show. She did a great job. She needed support. She wanted me at her side on camera but she has worked so hard on this on a complete volunteer basis. She puts in alot of hours. She deserved that time. We load ALL the boxes at the warehouse Nov 17th-24th that comes from all the surrounding areas of Tupelo. Last year apx 16,000 shoeboxes went out of Tupelo's Collection Center. Pray for more boxes this year.

Booth set-up

Well our booth at Celebration Village is finished. We hope to get some attention to Operation Christmas Child to get the word out how important this is.

Here is how Samaritians Purse describe's it.

"Sending a message of hope to children around the world"
"Operation Christmas Child brings joy and hope to children in different types of situations around the world through gift filled shoe boxes and the good news of God's love. This program provides an opportunity for people of all ages to be involved in a simple hands-on missions project while focusing on the true meaning of Christmas - Jesus Christ.
Operation Christmas Child is another way to reach out to local and global communities; just by filling a shoebox with age appropriate items, we can give hope to children in over 90 countries."

Mac

Our Prince Blackey Mackey

Mac for short

Mac was one of the 9 foster babies we

took care of from the litter from

Tupelo-Lee Humane Society

Click on the picture for a larger view.

Read the poem & look at his tag on his collar.

Rain Rain Go Away

Storms moving through Tupelo.
What comes with October?
Tornado weather!
Passed us over. Saved again.

Old Pictures

Click on picture for larger view

While walking around during "First Sunday" I got a picture of my hometown square from a vendor by the name of Garry Morgan. I love pictures of my hometown. Mostly older ones.

The Scottsboro Boys Trial occured on First Monday April 1931.

Another type I love is to go back & get "after" pictures when I find an old one. My hometown square is still quite active.

This is the old Bynum's grocery on Broad Street when it was a 2 lane. I lived across the street. Then change comes along & a Sherwin Williams is built. It is still there today.

The city has a project that you can buy a brick for the gazebo project on the square. My husband & BIL's bought one for their mother. I have to say I was a bit disappointed that it was dirty & not laid very well. I hope after the next batch is put down they redo some.

My mother was in desperate need of cleaning out her outside shed & ran across a few of these old postcards of my dad's. We spent a great deal of time out somewhere or another with my dad making pictures. He ran Boots' Photo Service off "The Square". I sure did spend alot of my time there it seems.

On the back of the postcard reads......."The late Calvin McGee, Chief of the Creek Indians East of the Miss. River with Long White eagle at TA-CO-BET (Aug. 1969). This was Chief McGee's last visit to "God's Mountain". Located six miles east of Scottsboro, on Highway 40.

Rainy Day in Tupelo

(Looking south on Gloster across from Lowes.

This is where the tornado came across a few months back.)

We are still getting the effects of Gustuv here in Mississippi. With 2 more hurricanes coming to the coast it may rain until next year here. Had some errands to run today so I had no chose but to go out in it.

Quote added

I added a little quote to this photo. I have always loved this little saying I heard years ago.

Storms moving through Tupelo

The cloud that lingered after the heavy rain passed through.

Got a nice light show from it.

The show that followed.

Storms today

Well I'm not saying we didn't need the rain but........I could do without the strong storms. I went to drop my son off at a swimming party & before I could make it back rain hit like BAMM. Could barely see to make it to my driveway. Jeff had Matthew go & get in the inside bathroom until it passed over. Matthew took what was important to him. Our newest cat, MAC. Some kind of strong wind had dropped down. I had a plastic Adirondack chair on the front porch that wound up broken in pieces in a neighbors yard & several things blown around the yard. One of my poor little crepe myrtles about 8' tall didn't fair very well. You can see in the picture. Alot of limbs were down in our yard. I messed up an umbrella walking under a tree. About the time I went under a big limb fell & hit me. My umbrella that is. Our neighbor was not so fortunate. Bradford Pears are notorious for breaking in the slightest wind. They had 3 cars buried in one that snapped. Not much damage but still a headache to deal with. My neighbor had 2 sections of their fence fell into the other neighbors yard. That can be put back up. They have their house for sale also & the real estate sign was flat on the ground. I went back to pickup my son from the swim party. They didn't get the bad stuff from the storm but swimming was out. For some odd reason the hostess did not want water fried kids at the party. (I am kidding) They still had alot of fun there inside playing.

Any of my family that knows me can guess what I grabbed to go back out & pick up Chris from the party. DING DING DING We have a winner........my camera. Come on a storm comes over & me not take it with me. Get real.

My poor little crepe myrtle

Limbs scattered in the yard

The one that got me

My neighbor that didn't fair as well. 3 vehicles under this.

My husband in yellow. Mention a chain saw & tools & they are like kids.