Central High School Football!

Ranes and Blace both were Thomas County Central High School graduates!

Tonight is the perfect opportunity for Braydon, Tyson and Kayleigh to go to the game.

In my best Grandma fashion, I had already prepared with school memorabilia, Blace found some face paint crayons and did GREAT jobs decorating all!

Mamoo didn't want to go, so we got pics with her before we left.

Actually she said the only reason she EVER went was to watch her daughter play in the high school band! I think I did much the same with Ranes and Blace.

Central Wins 20-19

Ranes and Heather relax?

Well Ranes looks pretty chilled,

Heather appears to be working, but in the South
Georgia temperatures outside.
Does that count as relaxing though?

72 degrees

~~~and I mean the water, not the air

Blace appears to be willing to blow up the floats

Kayleigh plans to go down the slide

Tyson and Kayleigh fish out Nemo and Lady Friend

So next thing I know, they are IN that cold water!

I think my heart would stop!

Truth is, they are having a wonderful time, have spent little time out of the pool!

Mamoo's Birthday Week

Mamoo (Thelma Dekle Blow) will be 80 this week!

We have all sorts of fun planned for her,

all sorts of family coming from all over to visit.

She was 77 and waiting for heaven,

then 78 and doing great,

then 79, just doing fine,

NOW SHE"S 80 AND ONE SPECIAL LADY

We say she is a good lady, Mother, daughter, sister, special one,

cause that's all that matters when it's all said and done!

THEY HAVE ARRIVED!!!!!!!

No visuals this moring, only mental pics. Our Utah babies made the trip safely, ending up in Jacksonville Florida and driving a huge van to Georgia! As they rounded the bend to the homeplace (Mamoo's, where we were all sitting on the back porch waiting with the most excitement of the year) we heard 4 horn toots, then 3, then 2, then the van pulled up in the backyard and the fabulous five unloaded! You can forget a lot in this life, but that moment will not be on the list. ALL got a lion's share of hugs, kisses, greetings, *look how tall you've grown*, *how handsome you are in your new glasses*, *what is the password* (a skill Braydon and Tyson developed when they were 3 and 5, last visit).... it is the same *where's my chicken nuggets*, or *I love you*. Aunt Blace met Kayleigh for the first time, love at first sight on both accounts, Bears were brought in, names were explained, Capri Sun's distribited and we relaxed just long enough for Braydon and Tyson to grab their things and move next door to Grandma and Papa John's house. In the DARK, they had to go (with flashlights) to check out the pool, it is still there, then to see there names on there respective hooks in the Cabana for any new toys (none, they get to pick today) and off we go on to inspect the house for *changes*.
Naturally, Gromit, Gabby and Cissy felt invaded, but they tolerated well, seem to undersatnd that these are our grandchildren and in a short while all will be back to normal when they are the everyday canine babies.

At bedtime, things have changed. I donned the same flannel nightgown I have worn since their births, got out their favorite book that they like me to read from..... and they had other toys in their backpacks already in action! What happened??? Do I not get to fall asleep in the middle of a story anymore?? Will I have to pack the book away?? (we have been working on the same book for a long time)

Anyways, they are sound asleep still, sausage are sending sweet signals that they may be accompanied by pancakes and syrup!!!

The truth will hit home when they step outside into the 63 degree air, we will see how fast bathing suits happen then.

I am loving this, relish being a better word. Just imagine how bad it will be when I get the camera. Where is that camera??

THOMASVILLE FLY IN

This is my Uncle James, my mother's older brother (82) and the pilot of the family.

As long as I have known Uncle James, he has been interested in planes, anything to do with planes, and actually took me for a ride when I was younger. His story is a long one. Here is a link to his life's work ~ http://www.powerofthepast.org/

You can see what he has been doing all these years, what his goal is, and how it has developed thus far. He is on our local TV everyday, telling his story, is one of wonder for sure!

Anyway, yesterday was the 2008 fly in, Mother, Blace and I went together, saw many relatives, cousins John, Janice, Randall and Linda running in the background, taking nursing home groups on tours in a special cart pulled by a tractor. (Yes, we thought of Mr Meacham, the first fly in he has missed since he joined the flying angels, an avid aviator imself) Uncle Waymon and Uncle CL (other brothers of my Mother) were boiling large vats of peanuts and distrubiting to all who can't eat them fast enough!! While we were there, another bother, Billy, was at my house visiting John who was too sick to go this year. THANKS for the company Billy!

~First Grandaughter~

In all of the excitement of the day (and week) I left off the icing on the *Hands On Thomas County* Cake! At Cherokee Park, we were walking the mile circle around the lake and literally *ran into* Sky, Devon, Ariana and Callie. They had worked at one of the schools doing a mural!

Sky has about 3 or 4 more inches to be taller than us.

She is ELEVEN! (Should we get her a basketball soon?)

This beautiful butterfly found Callie.

I think it knew she loves animals and wants to be a vet.

TYSON IS FIRST!

Just look at this handsome lad with his new *Specs*.

He is on the way to Georgia this coming week with Braydon and Kayleigh.

Papa John and Georgia Grandma can HARLDY wait!

~He Was Our Brother, He Was Our Friend~

Grady C. Bradshaw Jr.
MANCHESTER —

Grady C. Bradshaw Jr., age 63, of Manchester died Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008, at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Atlanta.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008, at Northside Baptist Church with the Rev. Bill McCullough officiating. Interment followed in Meriwether Memory Gardens with the following serving as pallbearers, Scott Steiner, Rickey Steiner, Roby Therman, Christopher Therman, Greg Self, Dustin Hale, Jonathan Jones, and John Wills.

Mr. Bradshaw was born Nov. 27, 1944, in Meriwether County, a son of Grady C. Bradshaw Sr. and Margie Self Bradshaw. He was retired from the State of Georgia as a correction officer and was a U.S. Navy Veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a member of Northside Baptist Church and the Manchester Jaycees.

Survivors include his mother, Margie Self Bradshaw of Manchester; his children, Dawn B. Young and her husband Mike of Griffin, Diane Keen and husband Jack of Griffin, Keith Bradshaw of McDonough, Toby Bradshaw and wife Carmen of Ellerslie, Melody Wills and her husband John of Shiloh; three sisters, Joan Jones and her husband Joel of Rome, Carole Winkles of Shiloh, and Ginger Bradshaw of Auburn, Ala.; and 14 grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or the American Lung Association.

Smith-Steele-Meadows Funeral Home, Manchester, was in charge of arrangements.

Heaven's choir gained a Baritone yesterday!

Grady C. Bradshaw, a long time family friend,

ended his 15 year battle with Cancer that cost him his voice.

He missed it most, can now use it again!

Listen to that Baritone! WOW

~We will miss him much~

*You are flipping PAINT on me*

Look at that paint flying!

Is that John I see in there too?

He doesn't want to miss any of the fun (and is a great painter to boot)

Susan *had a hammer*, and used it well.

She was tall enough, and brave enough to do some of the ladder duty, as was most of the others.

Melissa had a brush and as usual, ran circles around the rest of us.

Bonnie finds a bucket of paint and got busy, she was good on the ladder too!

~HANDS ON THOMAS COUNTY~

Saturday was a great day across the County with over 1700 good folks out helping where help was needed. Yards were cleaned, houses were painted, rescue mission decorated inside and out, many different projects completed by many willing hands and it was actually FUN! Afterward we were treated to lunch at Cherokee Park by Grandadies BarbQue, sipped donated sodas and lapped up donated Blue Bunnie Ice Cream Rockets.

Many helpers represented Archbold Hospital,

we were all given cool purple shirts with *Hands* already on them.

Our smaller group, Archbold Wound Center and Hyperbaric Medicine,

were mostly together on a house painting. This is Tere, our Director.

Sandra was great on the ladder!

I stuck to the *right height* screen door!

Once we reached the park, music was keeping us stepping and we were in the midst of all of the others workers. The park was great, not only beautiful but sunny and peaceful with ducks wassling, folks walkking the perimeter, some stretched out in the grass relaxing.

This is our group all ready to work

We ended up with more *handa* on our backs, not original issue,

and for some reason, matches the house paint!

You don't see the sweat involved here!

We had a great time, will do it again next year!

Meet The Wogans

So, as promised a few days back, I bring you the Wogan Family, near and dear to my heart folks for several years. Grandfather Jamie lives with his chocolate lab *Moose* in East Grinstead, sons Daniel and Duncan have now married (Alison and Sarah) with children Madeline and *sonogram*, we will fill in that blank in some months ahead. You can see them all in the pictures with Madeline below.

I also promised a story about Alison, Madeline's Mum!!

I first visited in the winter of 1997 . Jamie, Moose, Daniel and Duncan were still under one roof. To say it was a highlight of my life was an understatement as I, to this day, recall the enchantment of the Wogan household. At that time, Daniel and Alison were dating and she came down to visit while I was there, told me of Ashdown Forest. I had read some of the Pooh tales, and thought them to be pure A. A. Milne fiction, no idea that there was a point of reference and many truths!
We traveled from East Grinstead to East Sussex, about an hour South of London to many of the enchanted spots where Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin found adventure!! Alison told me the story of Poohsticks as we stood on Poohsticks Bridge. We selected sticks and tossed them in, running to the other side! To make the event more exciting, it was a rainy day at the end of several rainy days and Ashdown Forest had a muddy bottom in many places. Jamie and I were prepared if for no other reason, we had on *sensible* shoes of the older generation, so we really paid little attention to our feet, were all caught up in marching through the forrest, expecting to see Winnie pop out!! Alison won my heart that day as I looked down to see she had on dress sandals with mud covering her feet, her shoes, and portions of her legs.... she had not complained once and was content to show and tell of this delightful place in the woods!

THANKS ALISON! I want to come back with my grandchilden one day, and hope you will lead the adventure again. If I can't do that, I can at least tell them about it.. and the Wogan's.

(PS...I have learned that my memory is not serving me well. Jamie tells me , and sent a picture, that Alison had on sturdy boots! Where in the WORLD did I get this from? Was I dreaming? Hopefully Alison can help me out here! Who knows, it might be another great story to tell!)

Little Miss Madeline

MADELINE

Madeline's Baptism

Mum Alison and Dad Daniel with Madeline

Madeline's First Birthday

~Welcome To The World Bailey Girl~

Bailey Erin Andrews

1 October 2008

8:30am MST

6lbs 7oz 18in

*Conner and Mason have a beautiful baby sister*

~ANOTHER GRANDBABY~

Speaking of sonograms (and I was, just yesterday), allow me to introduce the newest grandchild of our family friend, Jamie, from across the waters. (he and his family really are more family than friends, so their JOY is our JOY!)

So this is new baby, will be a first child for Sarah and Duncan, a second grandchild for Jamie, and maybe a boy, as his first son Daniel and wife Alison , have an adorable bundle named Madeline. Come back tomorrow, I will let you meet Madeline and tell you a delightful story about Alison!

~CONGRATS TO OUR BRITISH FAMILY~

pssstt.... is that Duncan's nose I see??