Happy New Year

Just wanted to say Happy New Year to all! I dont' post very often but try to come by and see what you all are up too. Pray you had a blessed Christmas and now a Spirit Filled New Year. Hugs ♥ Prayers Bonnie & Randy

Merry Christmas!

What a wonderful time we had with all the kids and grand kids over for Christmas. After opening the Christmas presents we all sat down to a really delicious dinner. All of us want to wish everyone of you a Merry Christmas. (See our photo gallery for more pictures.)

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all the Family and a Happy New year.

A Different Christmas Poem

Mary had a little Lamb

Mary had a little Lamb,
His fleece was white as snow.
And everywhere that Mary went,
The Lamb was sure to go.

He followed her to school each day,
When it wasn't against the rules.
He made the children laugh and play,
To have a Lamb at school.

Then the rules changed one day,
Against the law it became.
To bring the Lamb of God to school,
Or even speak His Name.

Every day got worse and worse,
And days turned into years.
Instead of hearing children laugh,
We heard gun shots and tears.

What must we do to stop the crime,
That's in our schools today?
Let the Lamb come back to school,
And teach our kids to pray.

Author: Unknown

BINGO!

Good evening family and friends. How is everyone doing this fine day? Margaret and I decided to just hang-out together today. We started out by visiting with Bill and Amy, then we headed south to Canyonville where we played Bingo. It must of been Margaret's lucky day because she won two Bingo's. I wasn't too lucky because I didn't win any Bingo's, but got on several times. Of course my sweet wife shared with me and even bought me lunch.

We are having Jack and Sammy spend the night because Bill and Amy are having their Sunday School class Christmas party at their house this evening. The boys are really getting excited about seeing all the presents under the Christmas tree. In just five more days they will be able to open their presents. I think grandpa and grandma are just as excited as they are. It's going to be so much fun watching them opening their presents.

I certainly hope everyone of you are doing well and that the Lord will bless you this Christmas Season. Everyone take care and if you get a chance, make a post and update us on how you are doing.

Early Christmas Present!

Well our 2002 little blue Buick finally became "Not To Dependable", so we decided to trade it in on a 2009 little red Chevy Impala. The bad news is that we now have car payments again. The good news is that we can travel now without worrying about "What's going to break down next".

This will probably be our Christmas present for the next six years. But I have to admit, it sure is fun driving it and I think Margaret likes the "Sporty" look.

Oh Christmas Tree!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Let me tell you, the Christmas spirit isn't in the air until the Christmas tree is up and decorated. And of course the grand kids presents around the bottom of the tree, making no room for Margaret and my presents. I haven't been too good this year so Santa probably won't bring me any presents, but I'm sure Margaret will get some.

I really enjoy the Christmas songs playing in the background and smell of cookies baking. Now tell me the truth, wouldn't it be nice to have Christmas everyday? HO! HO! HO! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Merry Christmas

At the park, silly faces

Want to Wish Everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Love Tina and the kids, Jacin too!

Trust Me!

Good Morning from Roseburg!

Good morning family. Are you all getting into the Christmas spirit? Hard to believe that Christmas will be here in only 23 more days. Everyone is doing pretty good down here in Douglas County. Margaret and I went out yesterday and got most of our Christmas shopping done. I've been working on my "Honey Do" list and seem to be making a little headway. Yesterday I started to put in the outside security lamps that I bought several years ago.

I am happy to see that some of you are using the "Family Pictures" slide-show on the blog. I really enjoy looking at all the updated photo's that are there. I would like to see more family members make updated posts, but I realize that a lot of you are still working and don't have the time to play around on the computer like us retired folks.

Well, I have to go. Everyone take care and don't stress out too much this Christmas season. Remember that "Jesus is the reason for the season" and you will be alright.

God's Blessings on this Thanksgiving Day

This has really been a nice day. Margaret and I drove up to Albany this morning and picked up Tara who will be spending the Thanksgiving weekend with us.

Margaret, Trey, Tara and I had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with all of the trimmings this afternoon. Thank you Honey Bun (Margaret) for fixing such a great meal. Like always, we all ate too much, but it was so good! Now it's time to just relax and wait for a few hours before we can start enjoying all of the deserts Margaret whipped up for us this year.

I had a nice conversation with Terry, Bonnie and Roy on SKYPE after dinner. I'm hoping Bonnie and Roy will get a cam for their computer so we can stay in contact more. I tried to get Tara and Margaret to walk in front of the computer cam to say "Hi", but both were stag-fright.

Below are picture's I took of everyone after we were all done eating. As you can see, everyone is sort of "kicking back" and just relaxing.

Me watching Margaret reading the paper and watching football.

Margaret reading the paper and watching football.

Tara playing with the computer and giving grandpa a disgusted look.

Trey playing on his computer.

Simon "Can You Beat My Score?"

Good morning everyone... As you can see, I have placed another challenging game on our family blog.

This one really works the old memory cells. I probably played around with this game for several minutes before scoring a whopping "11" points.

Let's see if there are any of you out there that might be able to beat my score. Remember you are dealing with a senior citizen's mind. Good luck!

My new grandchild

Born Nov. 17th
1:29pm
7 lb 6 oz
Lynnzee Lynn Ligons

Visit With Aunt Maxine

Went over to see Aunt Maxine this afternoon. She is feeling much better but will still be a lengthy recovery time. Will be doing therapy in a couple of months.

A Veteran’s Day Prayer

Dear Lord,
Today we honor our veterans,
worthy men and women
who gave their best
when they were called upon
to serve and protect their country.

We pray that you will bless them, Lord,
for their unselfish service
in the continual struggle
to preserve our freedoms, our safety,
and our country’s heritage, for all of us.

Bless them abundantly
for the hardships they faced,
for the sacrifices they made
for their many different contributions
to America’s victories
over tyranny and oppression.

We respect them, we thank them,
we honor them, we are proud of them,
and we pray that you will watch over
these special people
and bless them with peace and happiness.

In Jesus’ name we pray; Amen.

By Joanna Fuchs

Good Morning From Roseburg!

Good morning everyone! Just thought I'd give a update on how we are doing here in Roseburg. Margaret and I are still enjoying our freedom (retirement) and seem to always have plenty to keep us occupied. Being we are getting lots of rainy weather down here, I've been working on all the inside home improvements that I have neglected all these years.

Last night we had fun watching Jack and Sammy for Bill and Amy. The boys are growing up so fast and they are so cute running around the house playing with each other.

Our Family News Blog seems to be doing pretty good. We now have 30 family members that have joined. I'm really excited that our family blog has done so well. My hope is that we will get more relatives to join in on the blogging fun of posting updates and uploading family pictures. I know that I enjoy hearing how everyone is doing and looking at updated pictures on the blog and in the photo galleries.

Well, that's about all that is happening here at our house. Now I want to see some more updates from the rest of you in the next few days. Take care and may our Lord continue to be with you.

update on the Klopp's

my kids for Halloween

they loved the pony rides :-)

the Canby trip to the Pumpkin Patch..tammy youngest was sick..big Garrett work, Jacin..war

at grandma's playing lego's

tori, tammy, me, raven at my moms


we r all doing good, keeping busy with the kids in school and enjoying some Tina time. love us

Shae-Lea 2nd Birthday

In Loving Memory - Louis C. Coutu

Louis C. Coutu, age 69, of Carol Stream, loving husband to Andrea Nee Sovcik; loving father to the late Clement, Louis, Andrew and Andrea; loving son-in-law to Mary and Bernard Sovcik; loving son to the late Wilfred and the late Mersellus; loving brother to Louise (Howard) Kuebker, John (Mary Ellen) Coutu, Margaret (Lloyd) Cannaday, Wayne (Sherri) Frost, and Mike Frost; many other nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Louis was a long time employee for the state of Illinois in the job service department located in Elgin. Visitation Sunday, Nov. 1, from 2 to 9 p.m. at the Brust Funeral Home, 415 N. Gary Ave., Carol Stream, IL. Funeral will be Monday, Nov. 2 at 12 noon, at St. Isidore Catholic Church, 427 W. Army Trail Rd., Bloomingdale, IL. Interment will be at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside, IL.

Spending Time With Grandma

Trick or Treat!!!

We had several little goblins visit us tonight, but I think the cutest was the little doggie and elephant below. Of course these two little goblins were followed by two pumpkins. (More pictures in our photo gallery)

Update on Aunt Maxine

Just want you all to know that Aunt Maxine is now home from the hospital and doing well aside from the long ride home. Looking forward to good food and rest. She goes back in in a couple of weeks to have the bandages removed
Blessings to you all

Grandma & Sammy Playing With Play-Doh

Aunt Maxine

Just talked to Aunt Maxine on the phone and she is doing fairly well considering all she has been through. She was sitting in a chair while I talked to her and she said that it was awfully hard to sit when you have a cut across your back and front also. She is in good spirits but anxious to go home. Does not know just when they will release her but hopes it will be soon. She has 4 therapists working on her so hopefully that will help. Not too thrilled with the food but.... She is thankful for all the prayers. Will let you all know more when I hear more.
Blessings to you all.

Carving The Pumpkins!

Prayer For Aunt Maxine

Please pray for Aunt Maxine as she goes in for back surgery Tuesday morning. They figure it to be at least 6 hours and hopefully only 3 to 4 days hospital time.

Memorial Plaque for Mike Parlette, Sr.

Happy Birthday Destiny

6 years old Happy Birthday Destiny Love Grandpa

God Send's His Blessings

New Family Slideshow

As you can see, to the left, there is a new "Family Picture" slide show. By now you have received an invitation to join the Family Picture album where you can put your most recent pictures so everyone going onto the family blog can enjoy them.

What is good about this shared family picture album is that you can either add your favorite pictures or you can remove them when you want to update with newer pictures. And, everyone gets to enjoy a slide show of every one's favorite photos.

Anyways, I thought I would give this a try being there are only a few of you that have your own photo galleries.

Visiting My Sister's In Grants Pass

We drove down to Grants Pass today and visited with Opal and Fern. While there Linda and Mark dropped in with their two little doggies. We really had a nice visit with everyone. Afterwards, we treated Opal and Fern to lunch at Apple Bees. (More pictures in my photo gallery)

Fern, Opal, Margaret, Lloyd

Linda & Missy, Mark & Adabelle

Happy Birthday Margaret!!!

It was sure a lot of fun celebrating Margaret's birthday this evening. The whole family came over and we had a wonderful meal with cake and ice cream for desert. What a blessing it was to have our two grand kids, Jack and Sammy here to help sing Happy Birthday to their Grandma.

Guess Who's Birthday It Is Today?

Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday dear Honey Bun. Happy Birthday to you.

THOUGHTS OF A SOLDIER'S MOM IN A TIME OF WAR

My Thinking Exactly... Conservative v. Liberal

If a conservative doesn’t like guns, he doesn't buy one. If a liberal doesn't like guns, he feels that no one should have one.

If a conservative is a vegetarian, he doesn't eat meat. If a liberal is, he wants to ban all meat products for everyone.

If a conservative sees a foreign threat, he thinks about how to defeat his enemy. A liberal wonders how to surrender gracefully and still look good.

If a conservative is homosexual, he quietly leads his life. If a liberal is homosexual, he loudly demands legislated respect .

If a black man or Hispanic are conservative, they see themselves as independently successful. Their liberal counterparts see themselves as victims in need of government protection.

If a conservative is down-and-out, he thinks about how to better his situation. A liberal wonders who is going to take care of him.

If a conservative doesn’t like a talk show host, he switches channels. Liberals demand that those they don’t like be shut down.

If a conservative is a non-believer, he doesn’t go to church. A liberal non-believer wants any mention of God or religion silenced.

If a conservative decides he needs health care, he goes about shopping for it, or may choose a job that provides it. A liberal demands that the rest of us pay for his.

(Click on title for "Some Soldier's Mom" Blog)

Happy Autumn

Our Time With Sammy

We sure did have a lot of fun with Sammy while Amy took Jack out to a movie this afternoon. Grandma and Grandpa enjoyed taking Sammy for a walk around the block and Sammy enjoyed playing with his Uncle Lloyd.

Newberg Visit

Margaret and I drove up to Albany yesterday and picked up our granddaughter, Tara for the week-end. We then stopped by mom and Jeannine's house, in Newberg, to see how they were doing. Mom seems to be getting weaker and does not communicate to much anymore. I really don't think she recognized us while we were there, but it was such a blessing to be able to see her.

Tammy was visiting with Terry when we arrived at mom and Jeannine's house. EvieLou, Herbietta and Rusty arrived shortly and we all had a good visit. I would have had pictures to post, but when I opened up my camera case, I discovered that I had left my camera at home.

We drove out to EvieLou's house to see Jeannine's little motor home that she got a few weeks ago. Jeannine park's it out on EvieLou's property because she can't park it in the mobile home park where she and mom lives. Being an RV'er is a little new for Jeannine, but I think she will really enjoy herself when she starts traveling.

After taking the tour of Jeannine's motor home, we drove over to Herbietta and Rusty's house for a late afternoon lunch. Rusty took us on a tour of their fifth-wheel trailer they just got. What a nice little trailer, just the size for them to go traveling around the country in.

On the way back to Roseburg, Tara got sick so we ended up taking her back home. Poor Tara, she wanted to come spend the week-end with grandma and grandpa in Roseburg.

Another RV'er

Four Days With The Grand Kids!!!

It sure has been fun around here the past few days. We volunteered to watch Sammy and Jack while Bill and Amy enjoyed their selves on the coast celebrating their fifth anniversary.

This afternoon we took the boys to the Wildlife Safari where we enjoyed walking around looking at all the animals. This was really the highlight of the boys visit because it was such fun watching them run around showing us all of the animals.

Before heading over to the Wildlife Safari, we stopped by Abby's Pizza where we treated the boys to pizza and spuds. We found out that Jack was the better pizza eater and Sammy was the best spud eater.

Enjoy the below sideshow of our visit to the Wildlife Safari.

God's Blessings for Bonnie!

This is an update from Bonnie's website dated: Thursday, October 1, 2009 6:47 AM, CDT

"Hello, so wonderful to be able to share good news with you all. My ca125 held, it was a very pleasant surprise and usually doesn't happen once it starts the upward climb; to hear stable disease is good thing. So yesterday I got Abraxane #6 and my Dr said we'd continue with this one as long as it keeps working. Once again ~ thanks for all the prayers :-D I have said this before but worth repeating "we know the prayers are the extra power the chemo needs". Yes this was a very pleasant surprise. We always remain hopeful but yet try to stay in the reality of it also."

Click here to go to Bonnie's website for additional information.

Hello Everyone from Everyone here in Bend

Hello Family and Friends. I just wanted to update everyone on how we are all doing out here in good ol' Central Oregon. Spirits are high for us all. One big weight has been lifted off my chest...I got a job! The whole family feels a sense of relief, I feel relief. Thank you Lloyd and Margaret for coming to Bend a few weeks back. I really feel that was a great impact on my life. I love you both. Jason just competed in his first Motocross race up in Prineville on Saturday the 26th. It was track and trail riding (which was the most difficult). You could say I was saying many prayers through out the day for God to keep Jason safe. Well, he did and Jason finished in 2nd place out of 10-15 other riders. His time was 1 hour 40 min. to complete 4 laps at 6.5 miles per lap. That's 26 miles. His Dad and I are so proud of him. Jason also had the pleasures of visiting with his older brother Dustin, whom he hadn't seen in 6 years or so. They had a great time.
Well, I guess that is all for now. Everyone take care and love life.

Happy Birthday Sammy!

The whole family met at River's Fork Park today where we all celebrated Sammy's 2nd Birthday. We had a nice picnic lunch and topped it off with Sammy's Birthday cake. Sammy and Jack both enjoyed playing with all the new birthday toys. (Additional pictures in our photo gallery)

Sammy checking out his birthday cake

Jack and Sammy eating birthday cake

Sammy with Grandma

One Happy Grandma & Grandpa!

Rhonda, Ray and Willow

Family Update From Roseburg!

What a lovely day it's going to be. Margaret and I just got back from the Y and are enjoying a cup of coffee. In a few minutes Amy should be arriving with Jack. We get to watch him while Amy takes Sammy into the doctors office for his annual checkup. That little Sammy sure is growing. Hard to believe he will be 2-years old this week.

Everyone here in Roseburg is doing fine. Bill is still enjoying his job with ODF&W and Amy is still enjoying being the Music Director of our church. Both seem to be keeping pretty busy. Bill's health seems to be about the same.

Trey is getting bored and a little irritated about not being able to find a job here in the Roseburg area. I think as soon as his house sells, he will probable start looking up in the Eugene/Springfield area. I think that Douglas County is probably the worst hit with unemployment according to all the reports I read.

Well I can't think of anything else to exciting that is happening around here. I would really like to hear from all the other family members to see what is happening in your neighborhood. So, set down for a few minutes and put your thoughts together and let us all know what you are doing. You might even post an updated picture or two.

Take care and may God continue to bless each and everyone of you.