Uncle Jimmy looks good; J.D. graduates!

Uncle Jimmy and Jonny on their recent cruise.

By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea....

Uncle Jimmy had to promise he'd sleep in a lifejacket because of his sleep-walking.

J.D.'s graduation from 8th grade at Waverly.

JD with Jessica Kissick, Kelly's daughter.

Proud Mom and Dad, Craig and Melody, with J.D.

I love pictures of happy people :o) Thanks for sending them!

Today I slept in til 10:00, after a long day at the golf course in Belleville yesterday. Mario was like Mario Andretti driving me around the course on that golf cart. By the time we got in the car to come home, my insides had to be sedated! But it was a great day, beautiful weather, lots of money was made for the Quincy University Soccer Program, and we had a ball seeing old college friends. I will have pictures later.

Today we have the 50th Anniversary in the priesthood celebration for our "senior" pastor, Fr. Bauer, who has retired but is still having masses everywhere to cover for other priests and to help out Fr. John on the weekday and sometimes weekend masses. There is a parish reception following 5:30 mass that we will attend.

Time to lay me down.

The newest little Haycraft

This beautiful little boy is Logan James Haycraft, son of Jimmy and Eri Haycraft. The proud grandpa, Uncle Jimmy, sent these photos. Logan is a premie, so he will be in the hospital for another month or so. Uncle Jimmy reports that Logan has come through some struggles and is weighing close to 5 lbs and doing well. Let's keep this precious little guy and his mommy and daddy in our prayers.

You don't want to play Red Rover with Nolan....

Carrie's neighborhood backyard playground was open today, as the kids are out of school, and she has a full load of daycare kids. In the Red Rover game, Nolan put all his mite into two of the kids' chests with his shoulder and left them both crying. When Carrie explained that you are supposed to break through the arms, not ram them in the chest, he said "I don't want to play it that way." The little brute. However, a few minutes later, he was crying because he fell into a little mud puddle. Go figure.

Tonight the Dedes took a long walk to HyVee for supper, and walked back home again. Nolan was in the wagon, and Hannah took a couple of rides along the way. She did tell her mom that the walk was good exercise for her cause she needed to get some of the chubby off her belly. Well good luck with that Hannah. All us girls know about that.

Chris called tonight and will be in Quincy from Friday to Monday, June 5-8. Tyler's wedding is the 6th, so he will be involved in that all day, and we will be at the reception Saturday night. Mario leaves Sunday to work the week at ISD. But at least they will have a few hours together. We have decided to take a trip to Scottsdale the end of July and spend a few days there.

On Friday we go to St. Louis for a Quincy University soccer fundraiser--first time we have participated. It is a golf outing, which we will not do, but instead we are the official photography crew for the event. Mario will drive me around the course in a golf cart, and I will photograph all the sponsor signs and a player teeing off in front of each. There are 36 of them, so I will have to be on my toes to get all those shots. Mario will enjoy the comraderie(sp?) with all his old teammates and others who played before and after at QU. And of course I hope to get some candid shots for the QU Alumni publication. Why didn't I do this for a living? I can't remember.

Also looking forward to Bailey's graduation on Sunday. So the next few days are going to be busy ones. O, and I almost forgot, we are going to get a puppy. He won't be here until July, but this event promises to delight some grandchildren across town. Mario has already named him Chico. He is a Bishon, or Bichon, not sure of the spelling, but just like Kathy and Rick's dog. So Murphy will have a buddy. Hopefully the lady who is raising him will get him potty-trained, or at least started, by the time he gets to our house. :o) I can't believe I am doing this. And Mario is letting me.

God has always used ordinary people to carry out His extraordinary mission.

The longer I live, the more I recognize the truth in that statement. As Mother Theresa said so well, "We can do no great things. Only God can do great things. We can do small things with great love."

What is truly wonderful is that every day holds the possibility of a miracle.

Today Judy and I helped our ol' buddy Alan Knepler choose carpet and ceramic tile, paint, and a ceiling fan for his condo. He is moving back to Quincy at the end of June, and we will likely spend a day or two furniture shopping with him then.

I "kidnapped" the Dede kids and took them for ice cream this evening. Fun for me to hear the end of the school year stories. Hannah told me she needed two bags to bring all her stuff home. Cora said she just stuffed everything in her book bag. Judging from the look of the front room floor at their house, it all got dumped when they got home!

Gus Macker Weekend

Blake's team and friends

The fans.

The weather was perfect for Gus Macker weekend. Blake's team lost in sudden-death overtime in the early game Sunday morning after playing 3 games Saturday. The crowd seemed much smaller this year than in past years when there were estimates of 20,000 people in the downtown area throughout the weekend.

We enjoyed Memorial Day weekend very much. We had dinner with Fr. John at Maya Saturday night, joined Carrie and Tony's annual neighborhood Memorial weekend fish fry/deer cookout Sunday night, and met Ray and Judy and Tim and Justine at the Abbey for dinner tonight. No cooking for me the whole weekend!!! AND....a highlight of our weekend....we spent about an hour on the web-cam this afternoon with Makenna. Chris told us she has learned a new word....MINE! I'm pretty sure she learned that at day-care. She carries her "Hello Kitty" purse on her shoulder just like Mommy Maria and puts her little plastic animals in it. It's so great to see her face light up when we come on the screen, and she throws kisses and kisses the screen. And the "Bye, wuv you" today was the first time we've heard her say that. They will be here in Quincy for Tyler's wedding in a couple of weeks, so we are looking forward to having them here for a few days.

I watched the season premiere of "Glee," and I think it will be an entertaining TV show. Also want to mention seeing the Idols on Larry King tonight--Adam has an invite to sing with Queen. No surprise there. He'll fit right in with them. Now this Idol tour show would be one I would love to see!

Proud Grandpa Eddie and Grandma Connie with Amber

A great family day.

Photos from Las Vegas

There was some kinda fun goin' on in Vegas on May 16. Congrats to Amber on making her First Communion. We know she's got the spirit of Jesus in her soul already....

Another ballplayer in the family. Noah--you look good in that uniform! (Heidi and Luke's son)

Idolmania Is Over for Another Year

Adam supporters were the minority. I was on the fence. Liked 'em both.

All seats were reserved for Kris fans. "Where do Adam's fans sit?" asked GMA.

Food plentiful. Glad we didn't do drive-through on the way!

Carrie came in 2nd place on the money board.

Missy was the big winner--over 50 bucks!

Marty collecting from the banker and accountants for her gang.

Loser. But she had a lot of fun. We agreed on many things throughout the competition.

I got $21+ of my $24 back, so I called myself a winner of sorts....more than 2 bucks worth of fun for sure. However, Jack, holding $1.21, at the bottom of the money board after doing all the work....well I feel for ya buddy. Thanks for the memories. Better luck next year. Talk to Missy before you vote!!!

A better day!

Dylan in action on the baseball field in Las Vegas.

Blake in action in a past soccer game.

Today was a better day. I was awakened by Mario this morning at 9--he said "You've got to come see this." So I rolled out and followed him to the patio door. Out in the field behind our house were two little Dede girls running through the overgrown wildflowers in their nightgowns, free little spirits grabbing a few yellow daisies for me. I wanted to grab the camera, but I couldn't take my eyes off the picture I was looking at. Both on the mend, and me too. So we got some good healing overnight, and got ourselves to church. Grandpa Jerry came by for them after lunch and took them to a skating party, and I went to my friend Martha's graduation party. She just finished her theology degree at QU, and I work/collaborate with her at church. Then Mario and I met at friends Jim and Sue Bowe's for another graduation gathering for their son, and we got to see Tim and Justine there. It was a nice easy day of relaxing and enjoying the company of good people. I love celebrations!

A slow Saturday at our house

Lindsey sent this photo of Andy and her as well as the one below of Amber, Dylan, and Lil Boy.

Blake is playing on a soccer team that is having some great success in this traveling season. (He's in the back row, 2nd from right.) They won the tournament they played in a couple of weeks ago and are in Rockford for the State Cup this weekend. We've had a slow day here. I found out yesterday at the doc that what I thought was another case of esophagus inflammation was actually a little pneumonia. So I am staying on the slow side for a few days. We have Cora and Hannah while Carrie and Tony and the boys are in Rockford. Hannah is battling strep and Cora....don't know what's goin' on with her, but she's been in bed all day, no appetite and a little feverish. So Mario is off to Tim Bruce's surprise 50th birthday party, and us 3 girls are just hangin' out.

Tomorrow promises to be a better day for us! :o)

Pics and News from Steph in Alaska

Stephanie

Donnie

Their puppies.

I was so happy to get a couple of emails and a note from Stephanie tonight. She says it is so beautiful there and changing every day. She is working at the University of Fairbanks Bristol Bay Campus in registration and as an office assistant to professors and instructors.

I took a day off today from all activity and just stayed on the couch and in bed. I was very tired and hurting in my chest, so I just did some reading, sleeping, and watching TV. Tomorrow the girls will be here while the boys and Carrie and Tony go to Rockford to the State Cup soccer tournament. On Saturday we have an evening birthday gathering, and on Sunday, QND has graduation, and we have a couple of parties to attend. So I do want to get myself in good shape for the weekend.

Tuesday was Judy's mom's memorial service. It was beautifully and simply done, and I think there's something to be said for that. We had a very nice dinner afterwards with the family at the country club. Judy's relatives went home today. She will miss her mom and their weekly outings and daily phone conversations. I will remember her mom as a sweet lady who liked to have tea and cookies and enjoy music. My favorite memory with her is when I got the 4 Andy Williams Christmas show tickets in QND's silent auction and invited Judy and her mom and a friend to go. It was at the Fox Theater in St. Louis. Mary Jane was quite a fan of Andy Williams, and I think she truly enjoyed seeing him still hitting all those high notes. It was a great concert, and we had terrific seats. It was a big trip for her, and I am glad to have shared that memory.

Our Blessing Hospital Breast Cancer Support Group, or the party pals as I prefer to call the gathering, met this week. The theme for the evening surrounded the dress, food, and customs of the Titanic. I invited my friend Norma from Bible Study to go. She enjoyed it, and so did I!

I was ready for Ty to get the boot from Dancing With the Stars. It was hard to see Danny go from Idol. I thought he did "You are So Beautiful" as well as the song could be sung. Next week will be very interesting. Kris the heartthrob against Adam the rock god. Can't wait to see what they do next.

Mario is winding down at QND. Their last days of exams are next Wed. and Thurs. He is ready to be out of school. His translating job will wind down too. He has been a busy fellow over the past month. But he still has time for softball 2 nights a week and indoor soccer.

And me....well I read a lot, help in whatever way I can with grandkids, and do whatever I can to be strong. I have some little jobs to do for St. Peter's Church that I enjoy. I seem to be weak again in my upper digestive tract, in spite of eating a pretty bland diet, no acidic foods, very little gluten, no soda or alcohol. Thankfully I have medicine that pretty well controls the pain that comes with the digestive upset. My oncology report this week was stable, so I am still blessed to have no recurrence of those aggressive, angry cancer cells (that's what they called them). Now that's something to celebrate!!!

Everybody have a great weekend. Love ya all.

PS Heard from Emily Johnson...dont' think I am newsbusting...she is getting married January 1st. Now that will be an easy anniversary to remember. Congratulations, Emily.
Also, Mary Beth is having surgery Friday; please remember her in your prayers. Best wishes to you MB for a successful procedure. :o)

Cora's 11th Birthday Celebration

Grandpa Jerry brought a frog! (He didn't know about the toad from earlier in the week!) The kids were delighted; Daddy Tony freed the frog later in the evening.

Hannah presenting her Mother's Day present to Carrie.

Opening Grandma Ginny's and Grandpa Mario's gifts. The certificate is for a class at the community college called "Stitching for Kids." She will go for 3 classes for "backpack mania." I took her today to get the fabric and supplies.

A fun shirt for hanging out. We all like hearts.

Opening presents.

Big bro.

Little bro in the tent. The birthday party included an outdoor movie and sleepover complete with tents in the back yard.

The birthday girl watching the movie from the patio. Or is she sleeping through the movie? Can't tell. She told me her tent stayed awake talking til 3 AM. However, she could not recall what they talked about!

Nolan and buddy watching the movie.

Hanging out in Grandpa's recliner Saturday night.

Thanks for my mother's day flowers Carrie and Chris. :o)

Uncle Jimmy called today to ask me to let everyone know they have cancelled the baby shower/picnic they were going to have for Jimmy and Eri in June. The baby was born prematurely last Sunday. Eri had developed an infection, and that caused the baby to come early. His name is Logan James Haycraft. He weighed 3 lbs., 11 0z. He will be in the premie center at Northwestern University for awhile. Uncle Jimmy asks for prayers from everyone for this newest little Haycraft and his parents. We can do that. At a later date, let's get something together for Logan.