Ms. Elsie in a better place... may she rest in peace.

Ms. Elsie was a dear friend.

I had been living in Henderson for a little while... making friends in the neighborhood. I had been hanging out with a boy a few yrs younger than me. He introduced me to his next door neighbor: an older lady. Little did I know this was a beginning of a great friendship.

Whether we were sitting in her kitchen chatting while she made one of her yummy pecan pies, playing a fun filled game of Rumikub, picking peas in Beckville, or attending church at Trinity, we were always enjoying time together.

I haven't seen her in a few years, as Alzheimer's really took Ms. Elsie aways from us long ago. It started out as forgetting simple things... we all do it. Then it quickly morphed into becoming dangerous... not remembering where she was... or why she was there. It broke my heart to see her in the nursing home... sitting there thinking that she was visiting... not realising she had been there for over a year. The last few times I went to visit her she remembered less and less. Our conversations consisted of repeating the same questions over and over. She atleast seemed to remember me... she was happy to see a familiar face... as familiar as it could be. The last time I visited her... she has been moved to a special security wing because she was a flight risk. That was the hardest visit... because that smile and twinkle in her eye that had once said "Oh... I know him... yay a familiar face in this unfamiliar place " was no longer there. It wasn't that she had forgotten my name... or those times we had eaten at Johnny Ozarks... or the time she let me try the homemade "dill pickles"... that were much spicier than I expected... or the many times we sat next to each other on the pew in church. It was that Ms. Elsie was no longer there.

Today, as I checked my hometown newspaper online I saw what I hoped I'd never see... Ms. Elsie's obituary. I don't even know why I checked it today... I only look at the website every few weeks. As the news sinks in... I am sad... but I rejoice in knowing that Ms. Elsie is with someone who is very familiar to her... someone who was always with her... Our Lord and Savior...Jesus.

Ms. Elsie... I miss you... I love you... and I'll see you when I see you.

- Your friend,

Chance

Happy Birthday Dad!

Today is my Dad's birthday. I was glad I got to see him on his big day... he took the day off and got to stay in town... so we got to have breakfast... him, mother, and I. I also got to hangout with them this weekend. They came into town this weekend for my Baptism (plus we had two family birthdays). It was great to have some family time this weekend.

I hope he had a great day... and got to relax some!

Happy Birthday Cassie!

To the lady that is by far the wittiest, prettiest, smartmest, and craftiest gal I know... Not to mention awesome mother, fabulous cook, and uber Aggie... Thanks for being my amazing (and my favorite) Sister... Have a SPLENDID birthday... Happy 25th! With Love... Smile and be Happy!

Cassie grew another year younger this past Friday(17th). Here are a few pics of the two of us: