Lots going on!

Well, lets see so much has happened in the last 2 weeks. We had my Uncle Gail's' funeral on the 13th. It was very nice and I learned a lot about him that I didn't know before. My dad's brother, his wife, and their son came up from GA. They didn't stay long though. Now, we're going through the cleaning process of Gail's stuff.
We had our first night of racing last Sun. on the 17th. Tony came in 10th and he didn't wreck. We brought the car home in 1 piece and if you know Tony that's doesn't happen a lot. He did a very good job. I was very happy for him that he finally got to take the car out. He's been waiting a long time for this and I could tell by watching him that he was thrilled. I love seeing him so happy and doing what he loves. Here's a few pictures from that night.







Here is the video I took of the heat race:

Here is the video from his in-car cam heat race.


My video-feature


In car-cam feature


School has officially started. We started on the 14th, but I didn't get my kiddos until the 19th. Needless to say, I've been exhausted these last few days. My morning class is 3-year olds and my afternoon class is 4-year olds (who got to K next year). The AM class is handful and wear me out! The PM class is great and they all are a bunch of clowns. Everyday they make me laugh with some silly story or question. All in all it'll be a great here. We've had some issues already this year, but nothing that won't keep me from doing my job. The days seem to be going so fast! Hopefully that'll stay!
Tony is gone for 2 1/2 weeks to NY for his job. He hasn't been gone this long in a while. Last night I went to the drive in the girls and George. We saw The Dark Knight and X-Files. Both were good. Today I went and bought my wedding dress!!!!! I'm so excited and it's so beautiful. The girls ordered their dresses. I wish I could post the pics we took today, but Tony's not allowed to see.
I start Grad. school on Tues. Not sure how I feel about going back to school. I want to and all but getting back into the studying and all is not what I want. I'll have reg. school, grad. school, and wedding stuff. My plate is very full. I'm done rambling now! Hope everyone has a great week and a good Labor Day weekend coming up.

My Uncle's Obit.

Well, these last few days have been absolutely crazy. I started my 1st official day of school on Monday (meetings and stuff) and again today. Lucky for us, we're not starting our kiddos until next Tuesday. The rest of the kiddos start Thurs. I've been working for what seems like weeks now and still don't have it all done. Granted, it's only been about 10 days since I left school. It'll all come together just not as organized as I would hope.

Tomorrow is my uncle's funeral. Here is his obit from the Neosho Daily News. There was also one in the Joplin Globe on Sunday.


Newtonia, Mo. - Gail L. Elery, a retired machine shop owner, passed away, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008 at Freeman West Hospital, Joplin.

He was born Jan. 5, 1925 at Anita, Iowa to William (Will) Elery and Winifred (Winnie) Steinmetz Elery. Gail graduated from Neosho High School, May 20, 1943, as salutatorian of his class. He was inducted into the U.S. Army shortly after graduation and trained at Ft. McClelland, AL. Gail was a member of I Company, 116th Inf. Reg. 29th Division. He served in Scotland, England, France, Belgium and Germany, receiving his first combat service on Omaha Beachhead on D-Day, June 6, 1944. He came ashore on Omaha Beach at 7:05 a.m., part of the initial landing force. Two days after landing, he was wounded in action in France in 1944.

Gail was then hospitalized in England for several months before being sent back to mainland, Europe. He was discharged in January, 1946 at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis.

Gail received the Purple Heart, ETO ribbon with three battle stars, bronze arrowhead, Presidential citation, a good conduct ribbon and unit citation for outstanding merit. Upon his honorable discharge from the service in 1946, Gail returned to live with his parents in the Newtonia community. He was a well known and highly respected machinist, working 11 years for Roderick Arms and Tool Company in Monett and later established his own machine shop in Newtonia where he did precision, custom and contract work. Gail was a longtime member of the former Newtonia United Methodist Church and currently a member of the Wanda United Methodist Church. He was treasurer and city clerk for the city of Newtonia for 16 years and was currently serving on the water board. He was an active member of the Newtonia Civil War Battlefield Association. Gail was instrumental in restoring old headstones in the old Newtonia Civil War Cemetery and did much volunteer work at that cemetery, fabricating various metal supports to protect the very old headstones and casting concrete headstones in the shape of a Cross for unknown graves. He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Grace Jackson and Louise Mefford. He is survived by two nephews, Howard Jackson and wife, June, Manchester, Ga. and Paul A. Jackson and wife, Janis, Webb City, Mo; three great nieces and 1 great nephew, Catherine Maddox, Warm Springs, Ga.; Angela Burke, Warm Springs, Ga.; Darlene Kate Jackson, Webb City, Mo. and Kevin Jackson, Warm Springs, Ga.; and several great nieces and nephews.

Services will be Wed., Aug. 13, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. at the former Newtonia United Methodist Church, Pastor Steve Thomas will officiate. Burial will be in the Neosho IOOF Cemetery, with full military honors to be conducted at the graveside service. Friends may call at the Clark Funeral Home, Granby on Monday from noon to 5 p.m. and Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The family will receive friends on Wednesday morning from 9:30 a.m. to service time at the Newtonia United Methodist Church. Contributions in memory of Gail may be made to the Wanda United Methodist Church, c/o Clark Funeral Home, PO Box 26, Granby, MO 64844. Online condolences may be posted at www.clarkfuneralhomes.com

My Uncle Gail

I know in earlier posts I stated I would post a blog regarding my Uncle Gail's health. Well, sad to say this blog has come a little too late. He passed away about 30 minutes ago. I'm sure you're asking, "what in the world are you doing on here?" At the moment in time there's nothing I can do. My parents are with him at the hospital waiting for the funeral home. He's in Joplin and I'm in Neosho and the funeral home is in Neosho as well. My luck by the time I got there it'd be too late. Best thing I can do is stay home and wait and pray. So I guess I will go ahead and update on the my uncle's condition. I guess it all really started last Nov. when he came for Thanksgiving he had lost a lot of weight, wasn't eating hardly, and said he was dizzy. His chiropractor related the dizziness to his bp meds I think.Gail is not one for Dr.'s and doesn't go. So during this time between Nov. and May nothing had really been done. He was still healthy in everything else including his mind and spirit. Granted was 83, so his age did play a part. The tornado came and gone and one day his insurance agent was out at the house and Gail received a phone call. He needed to go immediately to the hospital as his kidney function was 40%. The very nice insurance agent drove Gail from Newtonia to Joplin (45 min. drive) where my parents met them. He was admitted with high bp, UTI, and kidney failure. He spent a few weeks there and was in good spirits but knew his time was probably coming to end. He had to go on dialysis so he had a tube thing inserted to make it easier I guess. We moved him to a nursing home about 3-4 weeks ago. Yesterday morning my parents received a phone call stating they had taken him to the hospital. His kidneys were functioning at 4%, he had some rash (still unsure what is was) and another UTI. He has had a catheter this whole time mind you. My parents stayed most of the time and went home around 9:30. I got a phone call at 11:45 that the hospital had called and said my parents needed to get there. Not too long after my parents had left that night, Gail had started slipping away and was on meds to keep him calm and that it wouldn't be much longer. My mom called this morning saying it wouldn't be much longer. Only 2 people could go in so I didn't go first thing. Tony and I were going to leave and go this afternoon when my mom called and said he had passed. He went peacefully so that was a good thing! So now you have the rest of the story-sorry it was just a little too late. Please keep is in your prayers over these next few days!

I found the "one"

****Lft to rt! Stephanie, Brooke, Sarah, me, Anita (Steph's mom), and my mom is taking the picture. ****
So yesterday was my appointment at David's Bridal. We all met at Chatters in WC including Stephanie's mom who is going to be a part of this and had great food! Off to David's Bridal! We did the bridesmaid dresses first. They will all be the same color however, each a different style. The girls got to pick their own style and it worked our very well. They will be Truffle with pink sashes. Their dressed took a whole 10 min!!! Piece of cake! Then it was my turn to be a little princess! I had already gone through the book and picked out some I wanted to try on. First was the undergarments (Stephanie had to help me get the bra part on. Breathing??? What's that.. oh yeah that thing I couldn't do for a bit! It was fun trying on dresses some were absolutely hideous and awful. Look better in the book. I can't post the pics since Tony's not supposed to see. As of last night when we left it was narrowed down to 2. Both of which are beautiful and different than the each other. I love them both! Everyone else loved them both too but my mom loved 1 more than the other. I came home last night exhausted. 2 1/2 hours of trying on dressed wears you out! I could hardly sleep last night. In my sleep I dreamed of only 1 of the dress and not the other. The more I've thought about it I know it's the one. Not the one my mom chose though. We're going to wait until they have their sale and order it which I hope is soon!

Wedding Bells will be ringing!

Well it finally happened, after a long time in waiting. Tony proposed yesterday morning (Aug. 3, 2008). Granted it wasn't the most romantic but it was nice and it's the thought that matters. I knew it was to happen soon as I have my appt. today at David's Bridal that was scheduled 2 months ago. So the countdown clock had been ticking and seeing how Sunday was the last day I knew it was coming eventually. Tony at one point, put the ring on my toe (we were laying on the couch). Nothing came of it. We were too meet Brooke, Randy (Brooke's dad) and George at 12:00 to go eat at Chicken Marys. I had just finished getting ready and Tony asked if I was done. We were standing in the bedroom and I told him yes and he pulled the ring out of his pocket out it on my finger and said nothing...lol. I said, "And?" His reply was, "I already know the answer." I said, "What's the rest?" He got down on his knee and asked the rest of the question. Of course I said yes. WE TOLD NO ONE!!!! All of these people have been waiting and asking so they can keep waiting and figure it out on their own. HEHE! My parents were at church so couldn't call them. I sent a pic to Tony's parents and some people at work. I didn't even tell my best friend Stephanie. I called her up and asked if she wanted to go lunch. Her comment was, "Is that all you called for?" thinking I was calling to tell her I got engaged. In reality I was, but not telling her. She'll find out today at lunch. We showed up at Randy's house. Brooke answered that door picked up my hand (I usually wear a ring on my middle finger) so she just glanced and thought it was that one. Of course my smile gave it away after she was hounding Tony to propose already. My parents didn't find out until later in the afternoon. My mom could tell but wasn't sure until she picked up my hand hiding in my pocket. She called my dad and told him he needed to come home right away. He thinks somethings wrong and rushes home. I played it out as if something happened to my car. I was drinking a glass of water with the ring being obvious and Tony and my mom hinting. He was right next to me all he could think of was I had a new watch (which I didn't). I got tired of him not figuring it so just held out my hand. Everyone is thrilled. Now our appt. tonight will be official. So begins the 11 months of wedding planning and stress. Date is July 11, 2009. Here are some pics!

No go!

Well, this last week has been absolutely crazy. Last Friday (July 25th), Tony's cousin Roger passed away in his sleep from a heart attack (47 yrs. old) so because of that it changed our plans for the weekend/week. We were supposed to meet Monica and Aaron at the property on Tues., but instead we had to meet them on Sat. morning. Tony and Aaron went and walked the property a bit. Again, our concern was flooding but nothing had been found out 100%. Well thanks to the wacky neighbor, he sealed our thoughts. He came and started talking to Tony and Aaron and come to find out it does flood-worst was in 85. We don't want to take any chances. He said that it hasn't really bad since then, but it does get pretty high and has washed out the bridge on occasion. Good for us, not good for Monica and Aaron as they just lost their sale. I don't want to spend $$ on flood insurance and then if something does happen spend our time rebuilding whatever is destroyed. The hill looks as if it has been washed out as well. This property sits at the bottom of a hill anyway. So where does the water go?? DOWN DOWN DOWN! I'm sad we didn't get it, but I'm glad at the same time. It will save us a lot of work $$$, and headaches down the road. I called them later that day to tell them we had decided not to buy the land. They were disappointed and I explained to them way. Nothing against them or anything but they really had no idea about the flooding. It had never crossed their minds. I stated that maybe they needed to find out more about it and tell people of they are interested. The impression I got was, 'We're not telling anyone, if they buy it it's their fault not ours." I think they were suckered into buying the land and realized it and now are wanting someone else. There's a reason why it hasn't sold after being on the market for 9+ months. I would want to find out that reason, because 4 acres for 15k is cheap. So, Wed, I got a call saying they had talked and were willing to negotiate the price and pay the 1st year flood insurance. That's nice and all, but are they going to pay when our stuff is destroyed?? Needless to say our answer is still no and it's back to square one!
Sunday, we were to go racing but because we were having to go in Indiana for Roger's funeral we didn't want to spend the $$. We left on Mon. morning for Indiana. We drove 7 1/2 hours to a suburb about 12 miles N. of Indianapolis. We first stopped at this A & Uncle. They were very nice and had an awesome house. I got the approval from them. Never met this side of the family before. His cousin Stephanie came over and we went to eat at Olive Garden. I thought I talked a lot-but she's got me wayyyy beat! We went back to her house to stay. Tues, we went to his cousin Lori's house (sister of Roger) and sat and talked for a few hours. Next, we went to his Aunt's house and met up with Roger's other sister (Theresa) and went to the church to visit with Preacher. This has been really hard on the family as Roger lived with Theresa and her family. Tony has been taking it hard as well. Roger and Tony's dad were very very close and so they spend a lot of time together when Tony was younger. After that, we went to Theresa's house and ate dinner and said and talked and got their approval too. These two sides of the family are sooo totally different. They both like me so that's all that matters. The visitation was Wed. evening and it was very nice. The funeral was Thurs. and it was nice as well. Roger was an avid mountain bike rider and so they had his bikes in the funeral home and had a military service there. He is to be cremated later and his ashes scatter in Mohab Utah. I never met Roger, but from all the stories I've heard and all the pictures I've seen I feel like I've known him forever. I am so grateful that I went with Tony and got to see Roger and hear all of these wonderful things. Heart problems run in the family (the men) and it's not good at all. All of this makes me worry about Tony and I keep pushing him to go get checked out. "I know I know" is the answer I get. I don't want him to be the next! After the service we went to Todd's (Theresa's husband) sisters house for dinner. We left and went to the visitation for Tony's great aunt. She passed away on Sat. We were there for 3 1/2 hours.... UGH! To Tony and I it was boring but for everyone else it was the chance to talk. We left for home Fri. morning stopped in St. Louis to eat at the Cheesecake Factory. YUUUUMMMM!!! We got back home around 5:30. Never so glad to be home! We went to bed very early and slept sooo good. His cousin's house was not comfortable. Beds were hard as well as the couch. I will have some more NEWS to post hopefully by tomorrow as Tony leaves on Monday for work and I have my dress appt. Hope everyone is doing well!