Happy Birthday Ms Margie and Grady

Sunday afternoon we headed up into the mountain part of the state, this time to help Grady's Mother, Ms Margie celebrate her 80th Birthday. This is their home on River Road, Grady lived next door in the white house with flags EVERYwhere, patriot that he was.

Ms Margie is just SO beautiful, and her family had her a fantastic afternoon party. There were so many people there that we could'nt keep count. OH... it was her 80th Birthday!!

Today (Thanksgiving) is the first Birthday Grady has missed on earth, he would have been 64. John and I found this little white marble puppy to place on his gravesite (sand for now, VA is working up a very nice tribute for him)

And this is our Bonnie Blue moments after we got her home that Sunday evening, I was so shocked that I didn't focus properly as she struck the same pose as the white marble puppy.

GRADY IS SMILING DOWN ON ALL OF THIS!!

Bonnie Blue Bradshaw Meacham

Papa John meets and greets Bonnie Blue. She has quiet a little history behind her, is the niece of our Gabby and Cissy, and the grand niece of our Gromit. Her parents, Lissa and Kail, belonged to our friend Grady who left us last month. While Grady was so sick, Lissa and Kail stayed with us, giving us a family of five schnauzers. (you should see THAT doggie door with all trying to go in or out at the same time). While they were here, Lissa went into heat (that made life interesting as well) and puppies were born October 10th, just a week after Grady died. Being our friend for many years, as well as our schnauzer provider, Grady left ALL of his canines to John and I in his will. Our goal was for all, Lissa, Kail and 4 new puppies, to simply have good loving homes! Lissa is with Grady's sister Ginger, Kail went home with sister Joan (who has Wunder, brother to all of our pups), one of Ginger's friends got an almost black female, Becky wants to keep Butch (see next picture), and WE, Papa John and I were the lucky recipients of Miss Bonnie Blue, the solid white schnauzer!

Butch, the only male in the litter!

Bonnie is already special. She is just 7 weeks old, is already potty trained, eats real food, is full of energy and is a fiesty little girl!!
Grady had been working on having a pure white puppy for several years so we consider ourselves very lucky to not only see his dream come true but to have her as our own. THANKS GRADY!!!

Gromit and Cissy

As if on cue, I was completing the last post and looked over to see who was still awake with me. There lay Lord Gromit, posing for the picture I wanted before. Guess he wanted to have his moment on the blog too!
Then I got the picture downloaded and now see Cissy in Gromit's old spot in *their* chair. We have had this chair for years, it should have been tossed long ago but they love it, is an extra wide overstuffed, loooks like a miniature love seat. I have to admit they did all recover from illneses, surgeries, and bad days in this chair, and it was Gromit's POST in front of the window where he stood sentry at the old house. Gromit is our defender, our guard, our doorbell and our alarm system. The weekly pool guys learned fast to befriend him or get nipped!

The grandchildren tolerate all 3, as all 3 go balistic when a child runs. They (the kids) like to get at one end of the hall with the pups in the Den, call to them, then run like banchees, get the pups in motion (chasing them) and the kids rapidly disappear into a bedroom and slam the door shut!

(yes, it was hilarious and no we didn't make them stop)

Gabby Gail

Gabby was the only one that would sit still for a *show and Tell* of their new beds!

Aren't they cute? John found them at Big Lots, got all they had (3, all we need) and our den looks like a canine spend the night party!

All three already are loaded with toys, blankets and occasional dogs!

Gromit and Cissy enjoy them as much as Gabby, but none claim one in particular, all claim all and that is when our recliners are not available!

Gabby is extra special as she is the one that woke me up when Carter had seizures. The first time he was postictal, the second, the seizure was in progress.

You can bet that I hit the floor when she wakes me (nudges and licks my face). On her latest wake up call, John was in the hallway on his hands and knees, could not walk due to a surprise exacerbation of Gout. Gabby Gail is GREAT!

Little Miss Madeline

Does it get any cuter than this?

Miss Madeline, Jamie's grandaughter, Daniel and Alison's daughter, sweet British Baby!

Jonathan and Sarah Meacham

John's brother Marc and wife Cathy live in Queensbury New York.

Their children, Sarah and Jonathan are SO special, were adopted as babies from another country and have been a blessing and a joy to Marc and Cathy.

(I am becoming an adoption advocate like Wendy)

Marc is a radiologist, he and Cathy run a vein clinic as well, so I am amazed at the time they manage so well to spend with Jonathna and Sarah.

If you recall the Oklahoma University blog, Marc and Cathy met at Oklahoma University!

Jonathan, the next great violinist, playing for Cathy as she prepares dinner

Jonathan attended the Brendon Harris (2nd baseman with the Minnesota Twins) baseball clinic locally. Brendon graduated from Queensbury and comes back to put on a clinic in the area every year. Jonathan hasn't come down from the clouds since

Brendon complemented Jonathan on his hitting.

(Jonathan is also an award winning speedskater)

Sarch received her varsity letter for swimming! Her coach said some great things about her,

(ask me, I can add some great things too)

Even though in upstate New York, these Meachams managed to miss the SNOW for the second time. We are COLD this morning in South Georgia.

Mamoo and Me

I went to sit at the dentist office today while Mama had an 80 year old tooth pulled...

(no she did not know I was there, I came in after she went inside)
She came out after an hour or so, was glad to see me I think, I asked her if she was ok!

She said the Dentist had a hard time getting the tooth out~

She told him it was because it had become attached to her~

He told her he only had to use 2 little sticks of dynamite, not the usual 4~

We got to her house (I followed her home), she stopped in the middle of the road to get her mail at the driveway's edge. I started to go around her to get to my driveway.

She let her window down to speak, I let mine down to listen~

She said *I HAVE TO GO BACK*!

I told her I would go back for her, what did she forget???

She said *MY TOOTH*

I asked her if I should go back and get it or call the Dentist to save it (it's late afternoon)

She replied that she had to have it today!!!!

Of course I had to ask why~~~

*The tooth fairy won't come*

PS~ Late Note~ Everything we send her way is marked with a verbal or written *From the Tooth Fairy* She is loving it, recouperating slowly but in the right direction.

Cousin Kim

Jessie, third cousin to Sky, Lacey, Braydon, Tyson, Kayleigh and Carter

~Click on the picture for an amazing view~

I am SO blessed with a huge, wonderful, loving family,
the direct result of Godly Parents and Grandparents that brought us up
in the way we should go.
Granted that we didn't all go the way intended in the timely fashion they would have preferred.
On the other hand, not one that I can think of has departed from our early teachings.
My Mother's only Sister has two daughters, my cousins.
Kim, the youngest, has a God Given talent like no other in the family.
The work you see above is a sample of her talent.
To become the believer I am, follow this link

http://www.kimstonephotography.com/

Tired Little Dinosaur

Ok, this may be outright theft! I got this adorable picture from Carter's Mom, Jen, as well as an adorable story that goes with it. I have a great affinity for both children and rocks and the temptation to BLOG it is overwhelming, so I waited til I could stand it no longer~ and see that Jen is not going to blog it, yet?
SO!
Here is the story verbatim~ (The Paris Family was out Trick'r Treating")

"These rocks are in the front yard of the people who live maybe 5 houses up.

He must have been exhausted because as soon as we walked by, he ran over to them like he'd been waiting all night for that super comfortable spot and sat down.

I had to carry him home or he may have stayed all night.

Maybe dinosaurs like to sleep in rocks, I don't know."

Now tell me, could you have resisted sharing this? THANKS JEN!!

Storm Mountain Dutch Oven Chapter

Last Chance Cook-Off and Dutch Oven Gathering
Sportsman's Warehouse

SouthMidvale, UT

This is the 4th child of my manchild, Ranes!

He loves DOG (Dutch Oven Gatherings) and we have come to like it as well,

(the eating part, not the cooking part, LOL)

The WORLD event will be in March, we hope to join them!

Look here for the Storm Mountain Blog!

http://stormmtn.blogspot.com/

First Place Main Dish

Herb Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Wild Mushroom Sauce

First Place Bread

Jalapeno Cheese Rolls

First Place Dessert

Chocolate Raspberry Tart

Furure Grill Master

Is that a Candy Corn?
According to Carter's mother Jen, he has a huge appetite! Being a grill master night be a good thing for sure!

SNOW VS SUN

This day in Utah

(Thanks Ranes, hope you are warm and dry soon, a really nice suede jacket is in the mail)

Today in Georgia
(the Angel Trumpets, not the Victorian Child)
Sky, the Victorian Belle, dressed for Thomasville's annual Victorian Christmas, December of 2007.
The flowers are blooming right now exactly as shown.
What a contrast!

Sentimental Journey

We left Thomasville for Oklahoma on Halloween.
How fitting that the next two days are All Soul's Day, All Saint's Day,
the day we are transporting Mr Meacham to Mrs Meacham in their eternal resting place,
as WELL as a huge home OU football game!

This is the Meacham homeplace where John's grandparents (Mom and Pop he called them) raised their children, Martie and Ferrell who were born in 1924 and 1926. John recalled visiting when he was young, walking across the street with his Grandfather to see the dinosuers in his office in the Science department of Oklahoma University Being the first Grandson, I can imagine how Pop felt with litle John in tow. (VERY PROUD)
Mr Meacham (Ferrell) talked of 712 Lindsey St many times in the past few years. A few times, he would be half awake, half asleep, mentally back in this house, talking to Martie who he loved SO much. (called her a *spitfire* sister)

This is how close the Meacham Homeplace was to the University. I believe you might could watch the football games from the upstairs rooms on 712 Lindsey. John pointed out exactly which room was which from the outside, and noted the huge backyard that his father hated mowing as a child!

John's reaction to this downtown theatre was hilarious! I think that Brother Jack may have been present as well, due to the closeness of age. Anyway, John recalls going here to see Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Movies! He had a Cowboy hat, western shirt, jeans and COWBOY boots! Amazingly enough, we did visit a Western Store in Oklahoma City. John selected a *Crocodile Dundee* hat, the Cowboy Specials were not him any more I guess.
We would have simply stopped and visited if the town were not filling FAST with
tailgaters and football fans.

St John's Episcopal Church

No matter the angle, the church was beautiful. The gardens were especially nice with a great entrance poem stating~

VADE ME CUMM

(Your *Go With Me*)

Your own bible is your tour guide to *go with you* as you grow through the Garden of Eden! Enter in Peace! Genesis 2:15

My favorite, St Francis, who wrote this poem

(I first read it when I was 9, it is still the most significant I've read yet)

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.

The journey is almost complete, John has hand carried his father's cremains from Georgia to Oklahoma, now delivering him to the Church the Meachams attended, grew up in, all still in Norman. John is actually holding his Dad here.

Father Dwight and Twila, who conducted the service, which was most touching as
John's Dad has at last joined his Mom as they both desired and planned.
John put the cover back on the Niche, which was special as it was the one last thing he could do for them.
Mission Accomplished!

Oklahoma University

Mr Meacham was a very proud Sooner!
We loved to hear him tell stories of how Sooners arrived in Oklahoma, as well as stories of OU. Every Christmas and Brithday, his sister Martie would send him OU shirts, blankets, sweats, switch covers, noise makers, anything and everything OU.

The Meachams have a large OU history beginning (as far as we know) with John's grandfather, who was a noted football player as an undergraduate,

then went on to teach

and become the Dean of Sciences..
There is an hall the Student Union named, *Meacham Auditorium*.

Ferrell, his sister Martie, and well as Marties best friend Patti (Ferrell's future wife, John's Mother) all went to OU.
The next generation to attend was one of John's 4 brothers, Marc, where he met his wife Cathy, some cousins etc. We think Mr Meacham loved it best, he wore his 1948 classring with a gold Kappa Sigma insignia as long as I knew him. In fact we spent much time tracking the ring down when he would forget where he had put it. More than once, it was in the bedside table, but he always knew when he didn't have it on!

What an incredible walk down memory lane, wondering about the changes as three generations of Meachams looked at this huge clock