Happy Birthday Ashley

We have slowed down a little. However, Gina and I have been working all day everyday out in Gina’s garden. The biggest problem is that there is a large Oak tree in the middle and we did not pick up any leaves back during the winter. So to say that there were a lot of leaves is a huge understatement. We’re almost done and all the flower beds are looking great.

Shane, our son-in-law had surgery to replace his ACL on Thursday. He is recovery well and will start physical therapy on Tuesday. Thursday night found us going over to Phil and Wanda’s house, which are our other son-in-law’s parents.

Happy 26 Ashley


Me, Gina, Ashley and Parker


Phil, Parker, Wanda and Ashley


Parker, Ashley, Paige, Josh and their four children
(Cameron, Caleb, Colby, & Carson)


Even Paw Paw Lemoine stayed up late to celebrate with Ashley and to wish her well on her trip to Thailand

They had planned a small get together to celebrate Ashley’s birthday before she departs for Thailand Friday morning. We are very close to Phil and Wanda and their children. Friday morning Ashley and Parker stopped by to say bye as they were leaving for the airport in New Orleans. Ashley’s trip to Thailand is for two weeks while she completes some requirements for medical school. Around lunch we took Angel and Zoey to get groomed at Petsmart. After five months they were really needing their hair cut. Later in the afternoon Parker came by and picked me up so we could go to the Apple store. I have been looking at the new IPad and wanted to go play with one to see if they are as good as the reviews say that they are. Plus Parker has a friend that he graduated college with that does personalized training after they buy a new Mac. I was very impressed with all aspects of the IPad and believe it will do everything that Gina and I will want it to do. I would have bought one there at the store. However, they didn’t have any in the store so my options were either go on a waiting list or order it online. As soon as I got home Gina could see my excitement and disappointment. Her respond was quick, just get online and order one for my Father's Day present. She didn't need to tell me twice. Come on Father's Day. LOL On the way back home we stopped and picked up Angel and Zoey and they looked beautiful.

Our Beautiful Girls Zoey and Angel

This morning we heard from Parker to let us know that Ashley made it safely to Bangkok and was resting in a hotel room. She still has to catch one more flight tomorrow down to Phuket, which is where she will spend two weeks.

Mike and Pat called us Thursday night to let us know that they are parked on their lot in Custer, South Dakota and were getting all settled in. We are so glad they made it up there and can now relax a little. The past two months have been real hectic between buying a house, moving in and then the sudden lose of a son. They need a little relaxing and as Mike says "what better place to relax than in God's Country.


Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.

Settling Back Into Our House

Settling into our house in Louisiana, even though it's only for a little while. We have been moving so fast since we arrived back at our house that's it’s nice to finally slow down just a little. Now that Shane has graduated we’re now focused on getting Gina’s garden cleaned up and looking beautiful so she can find places for those “special” rocks from California and Arizona. First, Shane along with Gina and I would like to thank everyone who sent comments and emails congratulating him. We also want to give a BIG thank you to Rickey, our brother in law for cutting our grass and for keeping our yard looking good.

Sunday found us relaxing and going over to Paw Paw Jack & Maw Maw Sue’s house to eat lunch and visit with them. On Monday, we both decided to get out and work in Gina’s garden.


I wouldn't call this work when you can cut grass at 12 mph


Now this is what I call work but Gina calls it "having fun"

Mostly we cleaned up leaves and cut the grass. (In our mutual agreement Rickey doesn’t cut the grass inside of Gina’s garden since my 62 inch lawnmower doesn’t fit inside the fence of Gina's garden). Overall Gina is pleased on how well it looked since we had a harder than normal winter and it did snow twice here. The winter was hard on some plants. However, most of her plants did survive. The biggest lose was our three palm trees. We still have a lot of work left but we’ll get there.

Yesterday, we called and spoke with Mike and Pat before they left North Ranch. They were already hitched up and ready to pull out. They got on the road heading north by eight o’clock. We prayed with them on the phone and wished them safe travels. After Gina got off of the phone she picked up Aunt Nell & Uncle Jim so she could bring Aunt Nell to the doctor. After the doctor she took her to get a manicure. Aunt Nell is doing well considering she’s 83 and is still recovering from breaking her hip three months ago and required her to have a hip replacement surgery. We invited them along with my dad to our house for coffee and dessert last night. Gina had made some fresh banana pudding and I cannot tell you specifically that it tasted good since I do not like bananas. However, they all said it tasted great which I’m sure it did since they all had seconds and there wasn’t much left.

Aunt Nell and Uncle Jim


My Dad

After they left we received a phone call from Mike and Pat to let us know that they had arrived safely at Utah’s Goose Neck State Park. They also let us know that they would not be posting a blog on Wednesday since they did not have internet service. They will get back on the road this morning heading for Craig, Colorado. This should put them close enough to make their arrival on to their lot in Custer, South Dakota sometime late Thursday.


Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.

Congratulations Shane ! ! !

Congratulations Shane, you have worked so hard and we are very proud of you!!

Well to get everyone up to date. After we said our tear filled goodbyes to "Pops & Mom", Mike and Pat we left Tucson, Arizona Tuesday morning. We arrived at our house in Louisiana Wednesday afternoon and have been running non-stop. First, Nicole and Shane, our daughter and son-in-law came by to visit. Then my dad stopped by which was followed by our aunt and uncle. We had a great visit with everyone and catching them up on our travels for the last four months. Around eight o’clock Nicole took Gina to Walmart to buy some food for a small dinner that we are having at our house Friday evening after Shane’s graduation. Thursday found us sleeping in until Nicole our daughter was knocking on our door at eight o’clock in the morning. Mom and daughter had a whole day planned together. I on the other hand had phone calls to make and take care of some personal business that I had put off until we got back to Louisiana.

Our primary reason for coming home was to celebrate and rejoice with Shane on his graduation from Louisiana State University. As we woke up Friday morning we knew today would be busy. First of all Gina had to start cooking and while she was doing that Nicole was decorating our house. We were having Lasagna upon Shane’s request. His commencement ceremony was starting at four o’clock and afterwards they along with his family were coming to our house for dinner.

The graduation was excellent and Shane was a very excited man. This has been a nine-year journey for him. After he graduated from high school he attended LSU until September 11, 2001. He decided then that he wanted to serve his country and would attend college later. On January 3, 2002 he left for Marine Corps boot camp. On February 1, 2002 he married our daughter and took her to Georgia. After a year there they were transferred to California where he would be deploying to Iraq. After his safe return back to California he began to think back about his goal of graduating from college. Finally on November 28, 2005 he was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps and in January 2006 he started classes at LSU. So here we are four and half years later and after a culmination of determination and hard work he has now reached his goal of graduating from Louisiana State University.

Shane on Stage


A very happy wife and an ecstatic husband


Shane's family


Our family

After everyone arrived at our house we all set down for dinner and celebrating with Shane on his graduation from college. Well done and we are so proud of you!!!

Congratulations Shane

This was only the first celebration. Tomorrow, Nicole along with Shane’s parents are having a party at their house.

A table commemorating Shane's accomplishments


Shane's cake in the shape of the LSU football Stadium


Shane and his new LSU watch

We had a great time at the party especially being able to celebrate with Shane on his great accomplishment. We look forward to seeing what God has in store for his future. We wish him the best of luck on all of his future endeavors.

Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.