Dealing with Cancer

Dad was diagnosed earlier this year with B-cell lymphoma in his right cheek, stage four! A couple of dentists had thought it was an abscessed tooth that was causing the pain, but finally sent Dad for more complete tests. Dad is taking a chemo regimen that has proven results, has just completed Round Four with PET Scan to be taken tomorrow and we find out how successful this program has been on Friday. We are so thankful for all prayers during this time (expecting Round Five and Six to be in September and October - with possible radiation after that).

Addition to our family

I'm a month late getting this post published, but we are so proud to have Carter Alan as a new addition to our family. Barron and I traveled to Killeen to spend time with Elizabeth and family for several days in early July, then on to Fort Worth for the birth of our newest grandchild. Nate and Megan are very proud parents, and we are certainly very proud grandparents!! Elizabeth even made an "Auntie" shirt for the birth-day!!

Nate and Megan's Wedding

August 27, 2012 was the big date and all the family gathered at the home of Gordon and Candy Jones for the big event.

  The Dad

The Mom

The Big Sis

The Preacher

The Bride and Groom

My big kids

The grandkids with the happy couple!

2012 Wilkins Reunion

All pictures made at the reunion are posted on my FB page, but thought I would at least share some of the family group pictures:

Summer 2012

So much has been going, for old retirement folks we sure stay busy and on the road. The first of June we took off for our planned trip to Texas. Nathan had flown in to spend a few days in both Cullman and Phenix City (visiting extended Benton family and friends), and we enjoyed his company on the road trip to Texas. Dropping him off in Fort Worth, we headed on down to Killeen where Elizabeth and family were awaiting our arrival. That evening a special evening at the SHH was planned to celebrate the ministry of Ken and Judy Wooten who had been the SHH directors, and were instrumental in getting the actual House built. They have moved up in Cadence to become an area supervisor over the various ministries in Fort Hood area. Chris and Elizabeth were made the new Directors over the SHH just a few months earlier.  Over the next few days, we had such fun together, even enjoying a day of swimming at a friend's pool. Nate and Megan were able to drive down on Tuesday and spend a couple of days with us at the SHH.

We drove up to Fort Worth/Weatherford on Thursday and stayed with our dear friends, the Sutherland's for several days. One of my favorite treats was to get to spend an evening with my former lady boss attorney, Mary Nan Doran, and catch up on our lives. Boy, I have missed her!!

Sunday was a delightful day beginning with Sunday School and worship at Willow Park First Baptist Church where we were members the last few years we lived there, and then as many as possible joined together for dinner at local restaurant. Nate and Megan were able to be join us as well.

Nathan's former Chicken Express boss, Gordon Jones, invited us over to see their new home and pool, and we got to see their daughter, and meet their new grandchild as well.

We were sad to leave, yet always ready to go back "home".

We missed out on going to Benton gathering for Father's Day, just too tired from the TX trip, but at least we had been together over Mother's Day weekend just the previous month. Then sister Karen invited Julie and I to join her and Steve at their condo in Panama City Beach while various other family members enjoyed their timeshares over the Fourth of July week. This was and always is a special time to enjoy the ocean, the pool, cool breezes, and time together playing cards, games, eating, and sharing.

VBS starts next week at Spring Arbor and I was involved in the publicity and BLITZ community outreach this week, so it has indeed been a busy time. Saturday (tomorrow) will be the George Wilkins family annual reunion and we are so excited to get to see each other again, and of course eat wonderful food!! So glad that so many set this time apart to be together. Looking forward to Kinard (Tiny) and Jackie Latham being out overnight guests tonight since they travel here from Columbus, GA for the reunion.



I think I forgot to mention that while showing Barron's aunt, Martha Nell Scott Wildman, some of the Benton Scott Family Tree on Ancestry, and bragging about the 1902 letter she had written by her great-grandmother to her grandmother (from OK to AL), we learned of a Steed gathering at the annual Shiloh Campmeeting in Bowdon, GA. We got invited to come, so we made a quick Saturday trip over, taking Aunt Martha with us, and you can find those pictures posted on my FB page.


Yes, indeed, busy, busy, busy!!!

May is here!

I have been busy with my Body by ViSalus 90 Day Challenge ... which was very successful. I lost 27 pounds and 15 inches ... yea for me. I also joined a gym and have enjoyed the using the equipment, the Aquacize, and the non-impact aerobics class. Now to get serious about my second 90 Day Challenge. 

Barron stays busy with the Cullman Long Term Recovery Committee. We recently hosted an electrician from Denver who volunteered his services for 2 weeks, and we volunteered to provide his housing.

In March, I enjoyed a trip to Sky Valley with my oldest sister, Cathy, and Mom. We enjoyed a beautiful week of spring weather and shopping!

In February, Elizabeth and family came to Alabama and surprised her grandparents on their 91 and 85 birthdays.

We thought Nate and Megan were getting married in June, but those plans have been delayed .. at least at this point. We are looking forward to a trip to Texas later this month to visit with kids and grandkids, but also to see our Texas friends in the Weatherford/Willow Park area.

Parents celebrating birthdays

The girls were enjoying setting up their version of an animal trap.

The guys finally decided to build a ladder to get up in the tree.

This is my BEFORE picture on Feb 1.

This is my ACCOMPLISHMENT picture on April 30.

Christmas 2011

It's now Tuesday, December 27, weather is cold outside and the gas logs are putting out some heat. We left Alabama on Dec. 9 and headed to Texas. We began at our son's apartment with him and his fiance, Megan, and new puppy, Slugger. We did a little shopping, went to a football autograph signing, but mostly just enjoyed time together. Had a big surprise when Kevin and Melinda Cook and their grandson showed up at Chicken Express for dinner. Melinda cut my hair for several years while we lived in Willow Park.

On December 11, we headed south, worshipping at Westland Heights Baptist Church in Fort Worth, which was the site of our BFC mission project this past June, then stopping off in Weatherford to visit Scott and Sheila Haines, who have just moved back to the area from California. Enjoyed lunch with them and seeing their new home.

Traveling on south and west, we showed up at the Soldier's Hospitality House in Killeen that evening - and the grandkids were waiting to give us hugs and kisses. We enjoyed our time with them, and meeting members of the military community at Fort Hood. Nate and Megan came down the next Sunday and we had "Christmas" with the kids ... gifts from Daddy Barron and Grandmama Jan, Family gifts, and also from the Benton clan. On Wednesday, we had a wonderful time watching the kids open gifts from each other and their parents.

On Thursday, Santa came through and left the grandkids quite a few goodies. During the time with them, we took the gang out to see "Arthur Christmas", then took the kids out for dinner one night. The granddaughters decided they needed a "separate time with grandparents" so we enjoyed lunch at Cracker Barrel, ice cream and playground at McDonalds, followed by a mini-shopping trip to Barnes and Noble bookstore.

Enroute to Phenix City on Friday to have a few days with Jan's family, we met up with Nate and Megan in Shreveport, enjoyed breakfast at McDonald's, and got introduced to Megan's Dad. Arrived in Phenix City in time to see the family at Brent and Christina's home - newly married in October. Nate and Megan arrived not much later. Saturday was spent preparing goodies for the Sunday gathering, and having fun with the Pelletier family. We are always so thankful for them hosting us when we are in town.

Sunday was breakfast and lunch with the entire Benton clan that were able to gather at Mom and Dad's house. With the parents being 90 and 84, this was a very sweet time and we made sure to get family group pictures.

Monday was a quick shopping trip with Julie and a friend, and then we headed home to Cullman.

 
Cathy, Billy, Scott, Patti and Hunter

Karen, Steve, Amy, Derryl, Ashlyn, Derek, Devin

 

Jan, Barron, Nate and Megan







Julie, Mark, Brent, Christina, Kyle

 

Jay and Josh






Kevin, Cheryl and Sarah