Rode to San Antonio, Texas with Terry and Ann, Paul and Tim. Christina and Marley had a great Reception. I enjoyed seeing Sara and Melissa and their families. Rode to Bay City Texas with David and Cyndy.

We had a great Christmas in Texas. It's been great to visit with Michael and Alison. Today I have eaten WAY TOO MUCH, way too many times. I hope to starve a few days and see if that compensates. I doubt it, but I have to try something.

Picked up sea shells on the beach of the gulf of Mexico. Went target shooting with David, Tim and Paul. I learned that a scope doesn't necessarily make it easier to hit a target. It's very difficult to hold the gun steady. A good support helps.

Thursday, Cyndy and David are flying me home. Cyndy has a wheel chair at the airports to haul me around. I like the wheel chair, I'll try it again. I get to stay in Indiana until Christina and Marly pick me up and bring me to their Monterey, Mexico reception. Cam and Kathleen called today, they're picking me up the end of January and I get to return to North Carolina for a few days. Life is so exciting!

I signed up to digitize census records on Family Search. It's a great chance to use my computer. I've finished about a page and a half, so far. I've been doing 1910 California records. Some of the foreign names, Sweedish, Portugese, and etc. are so dimly written, that it's fun trying to decipher them.



Jan. 4 We had a birthday party for Lauren this evening. We went to the Cracker Barrel. Lauren' parents and her sister Tabitha came. Stephen and Ramona and about ten others. We sat at two large tables. The waitresses sang "Happy Birthday" to Lauren. I enjoyed visiting with Lauren's mother and dad. I think we all had a good time getting acquainted.

I'm happy to be home, but I had a great visit to Monterrey, Mexico. Christina's Marley Davis, has a marvelous family in Monterrey. His parents live in San Antonio, Texas, and his mother's family lives in Mexico. His grandparents and uncles, aunts, and cousins put on a fantastic reception for Christina and Marley. Those Spanish speaking people dance, and dance, and dance. I danced until I dropped. They laughed and said, "Too much Tequila!" They fixed my food with just the right amount of hot sauce, everything was delicious. I must have put on 50 pounds. They gave me a room to my self in their beautiful home. They sent me home with a trunk full of gifts. Nearly every one spoke better English than I did. I didn't practice my Spanish very much, but they were very helpful when I did try. I had no idea that there was such a huge city as Monterrey in Mexico. They started building in the valley, but now they're building up the side of the mountain. Church was interesting. I understood a few of the words, but I felt the Spirit. I sang the hymns in English. They didn't have enough Hymn Books to go around for me to sing in Spanish. Shopping was fun. The prices were frightening until I learned that 1 dollar was worth 10 Pesos. I fell down and broke a bag of glassware. I'm getting clumsy in my old age. The knee I landed on is still quite sore, but I'm not using crutches any more. Christina got on the computer and arranged for a wheel chair at each of the airports, so I didn't have to run to catch my planes. It is great to be home.

Marley's parents' and grandparents' names:
His parents are:
> Ana Luisa and Michael Davis
His grandparents are:
> Begonia and Eugenio Hernandez

North Carolina

23 Nov. 2009o
Rode to Pfaftown, N.C. with Cameron, Kirsten, Dan, Bethany, & Brett. Went to see the sad remains of Kathleen's jewelry store. It's closed now. Not enough sales of jewelry to pay the rent. Visited "Sewingly Yours" sewing machine store close to the jewelry store at Lewisville, N.C. Bought quilt sewing books and embroidery patterns. My credit card wouldn't work, so Cam paid for them for me. Went to the Mall with Cam, Kathleen and Kirsten to have Kirsten's ears pierced for her birthday. Kathleen told us about having her ears pierced with a sewing needle and thread. Practiced using New Family Search and Ancestral Quest. It's amazing what those programs can do. They do research for me while I'm asleep. When I log back on they show me information discovered while I was asleep with my lap top turned off. Incredible! Having Thanksgiving dinner today (Thursday). Have enjoyed getting acquainted with Kyle, Connor, and Kirsten. I tried to put their names in Family Search, but was not permitted to add their names. Can't put names of living persons unless they are my children. Grand children aren't permitted I guess. I'll check with Family Search Help next week. Kirsten will be baptized Saturday, and then we'll head back home.

Came to Michigan with Vickie. Had a great week. Went to the Temple Fri. night. Get to talk in Sacrament Meeting Sun. with Vickie and Phil. Maybe I'll talk about Grandpa Hudson and Grandpa R.K. Homer. (Now that they're fresh on my mind.)

Devin, Amy and Hallie

I came to Peoria, IL with my daughter, Vickie. My granddaughter, Amy is showing me how to blog. I'm a slow learner, but I think I'm getting it. I've had a ball with my 18 month old great granddaughter, Hallie. She has a ring in my nose that she uses to lead me around where she wants me to go. I bought her a harmonica to play. She holds it up to her lips, but she hasn't learned to blow in it yet. She's a smart little rascal, so she'll be playing in no time at all. She is an irresistible cutie. Even when it's cold outside she makes me go out and get her trike which has a handle on it so I can push her around. We have a lot of fun with it, but one of us runs out of energy long before the other one does. Vickie is taking me to Michigan tomorrow (Monday), so I'm going to miss Hallie.