Wayne Wonderland

Two weeks ago Jack and I took a few days(he was feeling good)  and headed down to Wayne County to enjoy the beauty there and to do some fishing. Wayne County is where my folks grow up and where we always went on vacation so to me it feels like home. We had a great time even though the fishing was not good. Driving around brought back a lot of good memories for us.

On the way down the mountains were so green.

This is the view I had while Jack was fishing and I was reading.

If you look close you can see Jack as he is fishing at Bicknell Bottoms.

Pond by the famous Mill.

The Mill, Mom can remember going there as a little girl.

Love the red cliffs!!!! Looking towards Thousand Lake Mountain

There is no Place Like HOME

It may not be a big beautiful mansion on the hill, but it is what we call home. After a year of being out of our home we are finally back in and it feels so good. At this point we are not sure how long we will be here, but for now it is great and we will enjoy it while we can and take one step at a time. Now to get things put away and settle in for as long as that is.

This great lady is my Mom (she just turned 93 this week) who let us live with her while we were waiting to move back into our home. We can't thank her enough for her generosity in letting us invade her home and her privacy.

Mom and Mitch

Mom with her new Great-Granddaughter Brighton Evy Brooks (Mark and Michelle's)

Brighton Evy Brooks

I would like to introduce you to our newest grandchild, Brighton Evy Brooks. Born February 27 at 6:35pm weighting 8.5 oz. and 20 ins. long. She is Mark and Michelle 3rd daughter and our 18th grandchild. So very welcomed to our family and a beauty.

Not sure she was happy to leave her warm home of 9 months.

We got to see see her the next morning, so cute!!!!

Sleeping in my arms, nothing better than holding a sleeping newborn.

Meeting Grandpa for the first time.

(yes, grandpa's hair is growing in.)

My turn.

Denali holding Brighton for the first time, love her smile. I think she likes her.

Mark even gave her her own Logo!!!!!

Cherie

This beautiful lady is my sweet niece Cherie St. John. She has been fighting Breast Cancer with courage, faith, determination, humor and love. She has been an inspiration to me. No matter how you look at it Cancer is no fun and not for the weak. Most of the time when you ask her how she is doing she will say "Better than I should be." Alway a positive attitude. Cherie has always been full of fun and when she is around there is a lot of laughter. I love that she always sees the good in everyone. As she is losing her battle I want her to know that I love her and think the world of her. I can also say I know that all the Brooks love her and that she is one of their favorites.

LOVE YOU CHERIE

 I love her smile, when you see it you can't help but smile also.

 Even when she lost her hair she is a beauty with class and style.

Cherie with her cute sisters.

A little update on Jack and a big update on our blog

To begin with it has been to long since I have updated my blog so I thought it was about time I did that. So now it is post overload. Read what you want (if anyone is reading these), but at least we will have a record of what has been going on.

As for Jack, he is now on his third round of chemo on Tuesday he will start his 3 week break. His last (on the 29th of Jan.) MRI showed no growth in the area where the tumor was and the Doctor kept saying that the MRI looked good. His blood was also good, right where they need to be. We were very encouraged We are so thankful and know it is because of all the prayers in our behalf. Thank you. Another thing that has became very clear to us is that things are in the Lord's hands and that it is His timing and not ours.

McKinley's Big Day

On February the 2nd McKinley was baptize a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. How very proud we are of her deciction to do this. It was a great day and McKinley was very excited to take this step. What a cutie she is.

Just before the program started.

Her and her Dad

We are so glad we could be a part of this great day. Love you McKinley!!!!

Winter Wonderland

It all started about the 10th of January when we got back from VA with the snow coming and then it snowed and snowed and snowed. I think we were starting to think it would never stop. And boy was it cold!!! After it was all said and done it was the coolest January since 1949 and the snowiest since 1993. I am glad that we could hunker down in a nice warm home and wait the storms out.

View from Mom's basement at the beginning of the storm.

Same view as more snow came, the tree is more buried.

View out the front door, we got 25 inches in this storm with more storms to come.

After about a month without seeing the sun it was a welcome sight.

Everybody  had a lot of icicles hanging everywhere, love the sun on them.