2010

As I close out another year, I look back at the year that just may have been one of the most difficult years I have ever experienced. My son was divorced and awarded full custody of his children. My mother became ill and now requires around the clock care. That has taken a toll on our whole family since we care for her ourselves in shifts.With the major caregivers being myself and Louie. She is no longer the person that raised me. She is very difficult to live with and care for. I still have hope that she can improve, but it doesn't seem likely.
At work things have improved. Business is much better than last year. People are slowly getting jobs again. I hope 2011 will see gains in the job market for many unemployed people. I want my friends and family to know that I love them and I hope 2011 brings peace and prosperity to all.

Fall 2010

My son's family has experienced big changes this last year. He was divorced and was awarded full custody of his kids. He met a great girl and they are building a solid realtionship. My grandchildren love her and that is wonderful. Here are a few pictures. Mercy

John Tyler (JT)

Stacey, JT, Little JT and Mercy

Iraq war is declared over! 7 1/2 years after it started the last full combat brigade crossed over to Kuwait. Remember the beginning, Mar 2003. Had a WNDU news reporter in my living room. They wanted reaction of local familes of Company B Marines in Iraq. Was a big deal then. Didn't even made the TOP story on local news stations tonight. I was watching it on MSNBC. Know more about Iraq than I ever needed to know...

Bits of Summer 2010

Jt at the Elkhart County fair July 25th, 2010 Mercy and Nick dancing at Brooke's wedding on June 26th, 2010

JT, Nick and Mercy at Nick's 5th birthday party, 2010

Mercy riding the pony at Nick's 5th Birthday party. Now those parents know how to host a kid's party.

Mercy trying out Papa's old skate board.

Daddy's girl

Mercy and her daddy dancing the night away at Brooke & Kevin's wedding. I love this picture. Wish it was clearer. The lighting made my pictures blurry. Can you believe how tall she is getting? Hard to believe she is 6 years old. Harder yet to believe that JT is 27 years old!!

Easter 2010

Easter was fun again this year. The kids got to stay with us and wake up at our house to their Easter baskets from the Easter Bunny. JT loves his Mater car

Just what she wanted!! She looks so big in this picture.

Checking out their Easter baskets.

My 2 angels on Easter morning.

Homecoming 3/24/2007

Hard to believe it has been 3 years ago yesterday when our Marines returned home after their 2nd tour in Iraq. For those of you who have never experienced a homecoming, it is comparable to giving birth or getting married, only with a big sigh of relief. We forged bonds with Marine families that will last a lifetime. I love and miss my Marine Corp family. There will always be a place in my home and my heart for a United States Marine. Semper Fi.

Grandma's Poor Baby

Do not let your grandkids play with their parents. Big J, Little J and Mercy went to Kid's Kingdom yesterday to enjoy the warm, sunny weather. Big J had Little JT over his shoulder as they were going down a tunnel. Little JT lifted his head just as they were going under a 2x4 cross bar. He cut the back of his head open. 3 staples later he was good to go. Of course his dad felt so guilty he took them to Chuckie Cheese. I called him last night to see how he was doing. He told me that a spiderman tent would make him feeling alot better. Then his sister had to milk his injury. Mercy told me that JT told her that I would get "them" something. I guess she thinks she deserves something for her pain and suffering because she witnessed him getting hurt. I hate to tell her that I think he is going to cause her more suffering. He is only 4 and he has had a broken leg, and cut open his arm after putting it through the storm door. Grandma's poor little baby........

Kids....

Look closely at Mercy's eyebrows. She decide to trim them with her dad's nose hair trimmer. When asked if it hurt she said "no, but I will never do it again." Thank goodness she didn't take them all off.

Dad

It was 4 years ago on January 26th that my dad passed away. The days are easier, the memories are sweeter, but a still miss him like crazy. He was one of a kind. He was a great person and loved by everyone who knew him. Over 700 people came to pay their respects when he passed away. My family was aware that my dad knew "everyone", but I don't think we realized the vast number of people that he touched in his life. He left his mark on this earth. There are so many wonderful things I remember about him. I smile when I think of all the silly things he did. I laugh when I remember how mad he would get at me when we played cards. He took it so serious. He had to win. He knew the dates of everyone's birthday. He loved his grandkids, and he melted over a little great granddaughter named Mercy. She was Poppy's girl.

His former employer named a company award after him. The top employee of the year now will receive the Marshall Holycross award. Which includes a cash prize and a trip. They are nominated for the award. They have to exemplify a strong work ethic, moral standards, and a dedication to their jobs. As they said "If there is such a thing as a perfect employee, Marshall would have been it"

My siblings and I are very proud to have been his children. We have a high standard to live up to.

2010

Another day of snow flurries in Indiana. 2010 has started off with a bang. I remember when I was a kid we would be praying for snow days. If we were lucky enough to get a snow day, we would sit around all day in our PJ's and watch TV, the good shows like Loony Tunes, Gilligan's Island, and I love Lucy. Sometimes my sisters and brother and I would pray cards and broad games. Now South Bend schools would have to their doors covered in snow before they cancel classes. Sorry, kids, you were born to late to enjoy school broad personnel with common sense. It does make the Notre Dames campus beautiful. So for January let it be snowy and then if we are lucky, February and March will see very little amounts of lake effect or system snow falls. Since it makes very little difference to me what kind of snow it is. SNOW is SNOW.