I met Joni when Chisholm School desegregated when I was in either 2nd or 3rd grade. She was much like me. We were best friends on the play ground. I had a little poem I used to sing to her everyday when I saw her. Over the years we would see each other in the store or something. I loved her to death! It never occurred to me that the poem I sang might have hurt her feelings because one sentence was kind of derogatory. Kids can say some cruel things. Anyway, I tried finding her to send her a Christmas card. I sent it to her last known address, but it came back undeliverable. I apologized in that letter if I had ever hurt her feelings. Well, she didn't get my apology before she died, and I'm truly sorry. She got married and I didn't know her knew name. Joni I'm sorry if I ever hurt your feelings. You were a great friend to me. I'll see you in Glory.

JONES, Mrs. Joni Merrell, 48,a resident of Wetumpka, AL,died Friday, May 15, 2009. Funeral Services will be held onFriday, May 22, 2009 at 2:00p.m. from Hillside MortuaryChapel Rev. Tyrone EavesOfficiating. Burial will follow inEastwood Cemetery Montgomery, AL. Family will receive Family and Friends onThursday, May 21 from 7:00p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at HillsideMortuary Chapel. HillsideMortuary Directing. She leaves to mourn: Her devoted husband, WayneJones; son, Perrin O'KeefeMerrell both of Wetupmka,AL; brother, Victor Merrell; twosisters, Verdell (Willie) Hightower and Linda Mays all ofAtlanta, GA and numerous ofnieces, nephews, cousins,and friends

Because I drop off and pick up a high school student at school every day, I see many strange things. Most of the time, the kids are running wild ripping their clothes off, untucking shirts, pulling up pants hanging off the backsides, swapping radio antennas on cars, you name it. However, this morning a nice young man was carrying his girlfriends book bag, and purse. She was wearing his Letterman jacket and holding hands with her beau.

The purse was huge, and unzipped. It was black and white making it very obvious to be seen. The book bag was handcrafted and made with pastel blue, yellow, and pink quilted material. These items were not something a "cool guy" would like to be seen carrying.

This guy was very cool; confident in his masculinity. There are good men out there, just hard to find. I liked it.

Barbies! What can I say. Barbie has everything. Women envy her. Men adore her. Barbie was my life as a child. I loved Barbies. This is a picture of the Barbie house where my Barbie lived. She had a friend named Midge, whose boyfriend was Allan. Skipper lived with Barbie and Ken. Ken happened to work with GI Joe, whose office was in my brother's room. It was a wild time. A lost era of make believe and innocence. More barbie to come...

Rhonda, one of my best friends growing up, lived right across the street from me. We lived in a tiny 7 street neighborhood with lots of kids our age. Unfortunately, these days, this neighborhood has gone to pot, literally. Anyway, we used to walk around the neighborhood with our donut radio on our wrist listening to WHHY 1440 FM, on your radio dial. She had a blue radio, and mine was yellow. Just another memory of times gone by...

Abigail Rose Trumbull arrived on Dec 16, 2008 at 8:49 am after 23 hours and 49 minutes of labor. She was 8 pounds 2 ounces, and 20 and 3/4 inches in length. She is scarfing down 2 ounces already. Bren had a bit of trouble during labor with her Bp. They stabilized her at one point at 51/30. And, the baby's heartbeat got to 188 once too. Thankfully, they both are fine. Bren said G cried and cried when she popped out. I have a NIECE!!! I'm happy because I have 4 nephews, and 3 sons. Abbey is our first girl on this side of the family!

She is on the way. Sissy is being induced today because of pre clampsia. Abbey will be here soon! Whoopi!

My sister is beginning to show signs of having her baby. She is 50% effaced, and 2cm dilated! I can hardly wait to see her. She said she thought she was farther along that the doctor said. I don't think it will be mid January either. It looks like they will be moving to Warner Robbins, GA. I'm SO excited!

This is Dianne Hines. She was the co-drum major at JD my senior year. She died Wednesday before Thanksgiving from Melanoma. It is hard to believe that someone my age passed away. I feel a loss. I didn't know her other than the interaction at school with the band. This shows that I'm getting older, that we can die at any time. I had the same feeling when Princess Diana died too because she was also born in 1961. People my age....dying.

Her Obit:
BRODMAN, Melinda Dianne Hines died November 26, 2008, succumbing to a protracted illness. She was a resident of Pike Road, AL after having moved from Newport News, VA in 2007. She was the widow of Air Force Col. Gregory N. Brodman. They had been married for 22 years at his death in 2005. Dianne was born in Madrid, Spain, on January 17, 1961, the first of four children of retired Air Force Col. and Mrs. Walter E. Hines, III. She attended schools in Okinawa, Japan, Springfield, VA, Belleville, IL, Norfolk, VA, and Montgomery AL, where she was co-drum major of the Jefferson Davis High School band in 1978 and 1979, and participated in the Montgomery Junior Miss competition in 1979. She lived with surrogate parents Nancy and Jim Lucci during her senior year when her parents were reassigned to Randolph AFB TX. She studied piano under Madeleine Farago in Springfield, VA, Sara Ellen McGowin in Montgomery, AL and Dini Albidress in San Antonio, TX. At the end of her music studies in San Antonio, she joined her younger sister, Laura, in a joint recital which served as the catalyst to winning a piano performance scholarship to the University of Alabama. As an Air Force wife, she lived in Schertz, TX, Fayetteville, NC, Sumter, SC, Beale AFB, CA, Hurlburt Field, FL, Newport News, VA, Fort Belvoir, VA, and Homestead FL. Along the way, she worked in various positions with the Federal Civil Service at many of those locations, receiving such honors as Civilian of the Year and Civilian of the Quarter multiple times. Equally important, Dianne was active, along with her husband Greg, in every community where God planted her; e.g., volunteering in a variety of roles at Special Olympics events, greeting patrons at Spurs' games, and preparing care packages for enlisted airmen and their families. She had just completed her long quest to become a certified Master Gardener and was a member of the Capital City Master Gardener Association. She was a communicant of All Saints' Episcopal Church, where she recently re-affirmed her baptismal vows. She is survived by her parents, Walt and Mary Eleanor Hines, Pike Road, AL; siblings, Laura Hines Wittman of Millstone Township, NJ, Julie Hines of Montgomery, AL, and Barth Hines of Millbrook, AL; aunts, Linda Hines Ensor of Powell, TN, Nancye Hines of Lenoir City, TN, and Nancy Loose of Shalimar, FL; uncles, Leonard Hines of Lenoir City, TN, Evan Loose of Shalimar, FL, Sam Ensor of Powell, TN; great-uncle, Jack Massey, Jr. of Palatka, FL; father-in-law, Bob Brodman of Mercer Island, WA; brothers-in-law, Cole Brodman of Mercer Island, WA, Lane Brodman of San Antonio, TX, and Kevin Wittman of Millstone Township, NJ; sisters-in-law, Donna Brodman of San Antonio, TX, Kara Brodman of Mercer Island, WA, Claudia Milena Hines of Millbrook, AL; nieces, Olivia and Isabel Wittman of Millstone Township, NJ, Miranda Goins of Montgomery, AL, and Shelby Brodman of Mercer Island, WA; nephew, Jackson Brodman of Mercer Island, WA; a host of cousins; and her beloved dogs, Simon and Nellie. A funeral mass will be held at All Saints' Episcopal Church, 645 Coliseum Blvd, Montgomery AL, on Tuesday, December 2nd at 11:00 a.m. Dianne will be interred at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery with her husband, Greg. See www.diannebrodman.com for times and other details. Contributions in memory of Dianne should be sent to the Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation, 255 Clifton Blvd, Westminster MD, 21157. This foundation was formed by a cousin in 2004 and sponsors significant research and education on melanoma prevention, detection, care, and cure. See www.melanomaresource.org for more information.

Well, Thanksgiving went off without a hitch. Hubby's brother came and went; brought his stuff. He smokes a great ham. Hubby's children came later than expected, but he was glad to see them. Hubby's mother didn't get to come down though. She isn't doing so good in the nursing home. The turkey was great, and I love dressing with cranberry and gravy. So, after I ate, I was down for the count for 2 hours with the sugar rush that knocks me out. Hubby made me a German Chocolate cake; kinda gummy but good. Not his usual fluffy cake. I missed hubby's youngest brother and his wife. I've been so sick with the coughing stuff that I was sleeping longer than usual. I guess the medicine knocked me out. Green bean casserole was good. Sissy called to say her foodie was good, and explained how she short cut most of her dishes. Brother called said they were at Aunt's house. Cousin invited me over, but we ate so late, I didn't get to go see them. It was a good day, but naturally, my kids were at their dads, so I was a bit lonely. But, that is the case every year. Last year they spent it with me, so it was exciting to have them on a Holiday. Heath took Lucy to see Juno yesterday, so she was excited. All in all there was a lot to be thankful for. Thank you Lord for family, and friends, but most of all Jesus, my Savior!

Dawn was this cute little doll that was slightly smaller than Skipper, Barbie's kid sister, yet she was larger than a liddle kiddle. Interestingly enough, she looks much like Twiggy, the ultimate skinny girl that started all of this "thin is in" crap in the 60's. Twiggy was a bone; a Halloween skeleton with skin on. Except, Twiggy had a pixie cut like Disney's Tinkerbell. But, Dawn was boat loads full of fun and just added to the Barbie craze I had going on as a child. Wonder what Twiggy looks like these days?! Hhmmmm.....

Chrissy was a doll I played with when I was growing up. Just another in the doll collection. Her hair would grow with the push of her belly button, and get shorter by winding up a knob on her back. She was hours of fun. I had many dresses to change her into. She had a sister, named Velvet; my sister had her. One of my friends had a Chrissy doll too, but her hair was prettier than mine. I exchanged dolls with her without her knowing it because I wanted her doll. I guess that was the only time I ever "stole" something; although, it was an unknowing swap. Chrissy came out in 1969, so I was 8 at the time. But, I knew better than take something that wasn't mine.
I've loved dolls for many years, and with boys, didn't have the opportunity to purchase dolls for my children. Kris did want a My Buddy, and a Cabbage Patch Kid named Fred Maxwell. Wes wanted a Barbie at one time for his GI Joe. Don't think Heath ever asked for a doll. But, boys have to learn how to be Dads, so I guess it was fine.

The Thanksgiving season is beginning to be overtaken with Christmas decorating. Growing up, after we got home from Aunt Clara's house, Thanksgiving afternoon was the time my brother and I put up our Christmas tree while Momma and Dutzy took a nap. We'll have a host of folks over on Thanksgiving, but I'm sure we'll get around to putting up the tree in the next week or so.

Wesley was saying last night that he loved the way his dad's house looked at Christmas, all festive with lights, greenery, and cinnamon. So, I guess I'll have to work a bit more on decorating this year. Getting creative is gonna be the problem what with limited things. This will probably be the last year he will be living at home, so I'd like to make it special. All of my boys will be gone somewhere after next year, leaving me with an empty nest. Amen or Oh me, as Brother Lenny always said.

Most of the leaves are now off the trees, and leaves are heaped in the yard. What a mess, but the crunchy sound when you walk on them is homey feeling.

The 25 days of Christmas is on TV, and I love watching all of those Christmas movies. The Snow Globe was on last night. Cute, unrealistic, yet heart warming. Well, gotta get on that cornbread!

It was very cold and a light snow was falling as young Jimmy Dorche piloted his Ford Escort down the street toward the City Park. Snow on Thanksgiving was a rarity in this part of the country and It caused almost as much excitement as the traditional turkey Dinner, the traditional afternoon of football, or the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on television. But none of these things were on 17-year-old Jimmy's mind at the moment as he carefully maneuvered his car over the blacktop. He had his own tradition to tend to and what=2 0he was looking for he would probably find in the deserted park. Usually bustling with activity, even on cold days, the park was practically empty now. Everyone was home with friends and family enjoying their Thanksgiving turkey. Jimmy was tempted to have a bit more dinner himself, but his second helping sat on the car seat beside him along with a big hunk of Mom's homemade pumpkin pie and a Thermos bottle of hot coffee. Jimmy wouldn't succumb to temptation and eat more today. For the past two years, Jimmy had established a tradition for Himself. He had never suffered a hungry day in his life.
The son of an unwed teenaged mother, he was given up for adoption As an infant and was taken in by a Christian family. When he was fifteen, to honor his Lord as well as his parents, he decided to take his second helping of Thanksgiving dinner to the Park to share with a homeless man or woman.

His first year, he had found a man who had been on his own since he was thirteen. In the summer he worked odd jobs, but in winter he lived at the local rescue mission where he earned an occasional dollar by cleaning up the place. The second year, he shared his Thanksgiving dinner with an elderly man whose wife had died long before and his children had moved to another city.
They never contacted their father nor offered to help him in any way. "I reckon they're ashamed of me," the rheumy old man had said. Throughout the year, Jimmy often thought about the two men.
He had gone to the mission to try to find them, but they were Gone without a trace.

Now Jimmy wondered who he would meet this Thanksgiving. As soon as he arrived at the park, he saw a ragged woman sitting hunched over on the bench of one of the heavy concrete picnic tables provided by the city. She wore an old battered red coat and a dark wool cap over her matted, graying hair. Close beside her was the tattered bag that carried all her worldly possessions.
Jimmy pulled the car into a parking place and got out. He took the covered dishes and the Thermos bottle from the front seat and began walking toward the bag lady.

When he stood in front of her, she jumped as if she had suddenly been awakened from dozing. She looked up at Jimmy. Suddenly her eyes brightened and she started to speak but, instead, she lowered her head and stared at the frozen ground.

"God bless you, ma'am," Jimmy said, smiling. "I have brought you some Thanksgiving dinner. Would you do me the honor of sharing it with me." The woman looked at the food. She was very hungry -- she hadn't eaten since last night's dinner at the mission. She nodded and Jimmy served her food, uncovered the plates, put a napkin and silverware on the cold concrete picnic table, and
poured her a streaming cup of coffee from the Thermos. Then he watched her as she ate. Although it was very cold in the park, he felt warm inside. The God of love was clearly at work within him. He loved his tradition and he intended to continue it -- and more -- for the rest of his life.

When the woman had finished, he cleared the table and put the dishes into a pile. He poured another cup of coffee into her Styrofoam cup and closed the Thermos. Then he reached into his wallet and pulled out a twenty dollar bill. He thrust the money into her gnarled hand. Then he reached over and kissed her lightly on the forehead. "May God richly bless you, ma'am," he said softly. "And thank you for giving me the honor of sharing my Thanksgiving dinner with you." With that, Jimmy picked up his dishes and returned to the car.

She had stayed in the city purposely to see him grow, but remained carefully in the background and out of sight so she would not embarrass him or cause him pain. Her own life was a shambles -- time spent in state mental hospitals and, at other times, living on the streets. But she had seen him grow into manhood and was very proud of his many accomplishments. Today, she had longed to tell him who she was, but could not bring herself to do it. Instead she thanked God that He had so richly blessed her today, in spite of her trials. Tears welled up in her eyes. She had seen her son on Thanksgiving and he had loved his mother.

"The greatest among you will be your servant." (Matthew 23:11)

Anonymous

God's Word is an amazing piece of Literature. Not only is it God's infallible word, but it is an ancient document. Bible study is one way to get to know God. Beth Moore opens God's Word with amazing clarity and excitement. I look forward to hearing her on Wednesdays on TV. I wish I could find a local Beth Moore Bible Study group.

Yesterday would have been my nephew, Raymond Andrew Monfee's 23rd birthday. He died on August 25, 2008 from a fatal motorcycle wreck. It was actually a "crotch rocket" as they have been named. I miss him. He was a good kid, a hard worker, a great bearer of the name Monfee.

Like so many who have gone before us, Mother, Daddy, Nancy, G3, Morris, we will see you again. Thank you God for your way of salvation through the death of your Son, Jesus, our Savior! If you don't know Him, you might want to seek Him.

PS: I just found out Aunt Honey died today.

The homeless population in America, and the world, is increasing everyday! The American dream of home buying is becoming an unreachable goal for many. Apartment rental prices are soaring. If you are lucky, and can afford a home, prices and payments are huge! What is one to do?! The world isn't the Garden of Eden; it is a mean, cold, cruel, and dangerous place to be!

Homes are being foreclosed on everyday. Then, banks are turning around selling them for pennies on the dollar. Why not charge the occupants pennies on the dollar until the economic crisis resolves itself? Families are driven to bridges and underpasses. I'm sure the Dept. of Transportation will figure out a way to tax those boxes, I mean homesteads.

People are having to live multi-generational if they have family. People are having to share apartment costs with roommates; often times, these are unfamiliar people. Nonprofit organizations dedicated to housing the homeless are bulging at the seams; yet, there isn't enough funding to continue this major increase in services.

People require shelter. It is one of the three basic needs in life: food, clothing, and shelter. Something has to give! But what? And when?

Is this not a great picture! I love the colors of fall. They are glorious. God is good to provide such a multitude of color. Thank you God, creator of ALL things! I love you!

This was a picture I took of a rainbow in Selma, AL on the way home from Dallas. It was the first time I actually drove through a rainbow. I called my sister, and told her that I had driven through the rainbow, but didn't find a pot of gold at the end of it. She replied, "Well, I guess you were at the beginning of it." It was funny at the time.

Color amazes me: how white light breaks down into so many colors is amazing. So, if black is the absence of color, and white is the presence of color, then I'm a person of color. Wouldn't that make sense? Anyway...

I'm painting a bedroom, and I am wondering what color to paint it. I've had to paint a coat of primer over the present color, and need one more coat to kill the color. I guess I'll have to get the bedspread before I decide what color to use. I sure hope it isn't blue, I've had blue rooms in the past 3 houses I've lived in.

Just once I'd like to have a pink room, well, I can't say that because I had a pink kitchen in Livingston. Well, maybe I should say, I'd like to have a foofy room; a nice girly girl room.

Color your world today! I think I'll color mine blue...it's cold...burr.....

Holly Hobbie was the cutest, most wholesome doll. This was another lunch box I had. I love the falling leaves, the colors of Autumn, and whimsy of little girls.

I never had a little girl. What fun it must be playing with dolls, yet being all grown up. Stretching the imagination along with a little daughter seems like a treasure lost. Sara would have been my daughters name. I did get to enjoy Tabitha, my niece, who was killed post-tornado due to a tree falling on her while she slept. We did the Kaboodle thing every morning. I even bought her a kiddyboodle full of kiddy makeup. And she loved her Mister Potato Head earrings. We painted fingernails, and toe nails. It was a joy.

My sister is having a girl, but I won't get to enjoy her. Possibly, some child of mine, which I doubt, may eventually get married, and have a daughter. Otherwise, I'll just have to babysit the nursery at church, I guess.

Autumn is such a festive time. Although I detest Halloween and everything it stands for, I do love Harvest time. The moon was full this morning, and popping huge just over the horizon at 6:00 am. The smells are different; the nip in the air is fresh. Golds, rustic reds, olive greens, cocoa browns, what a beautiful combination of color.

Here is my short poem: Ode to Autumn

I feel Autumn in the air.
Take a moment, stop and stare.
All the leaves upon the trees,
are now swept up by a brisk, cool breeze.

Doesn't nature ever stop?
Must the leaves change their frock
from lovely green, to red and gold?
What a sight to behold!

It's all in the Artist hand.
Sit back, relax, see Autumn again.