Ok, I know it’s time to post another blog when my daughter emails me and asks where’s the blog update along with our other followers sending emails making sure we’re alright. It really pleases our heart to know there are so many of y’all that are thinking of us. We absolutely love you all. We also thank
Mom & Pop’s for letting you all know that we had arrived in Paducah, Kentucky for a Thurston family reunion. Well, enough of that here’s what we have been up to.
We left Smith Center, Kansas after they received a part that they were waiting on Friday evening at five o’clock. We normally would have waited to leave until the next morning. However, there was a severe thunderstorm coming through later that night and would be raining all day Saturday. We decided that we didn’t want to sit in Smith Center all weekend so that is why we departed so late Friday evening. Our goal was to drive until the storm caught up with us. We made it to Kansas City, Missouri before it started misting on us. Gina was watching the weather radar so we knew the storm was right at us. We stopped at a rest area around nine o’clock and slept while the storm passed over us all night. By six o’clock in the morning it was clear and we got back on the road driving toward St. Louis. Being that it was early Saturday morning there was no traffic.
Once we made it through St. Louis it was now a fairly straight shot to Paducah, Kentucky. We were meeting up with my dad and his two brothers, Jim and Mike. They were driving up from Louisiana.
Welcome to Kentucky
We arrived at
Duck Creek Campground at 2:15 just in time for the kickoff of the LSU vs Auburn football game. My dad and his brothers arrived during halftime and after we helped them setup I brought our 19” TV outside so we all could watch the game. Even though LSU lost it was still a good game. I grilled pork sausage for both a snack and dinner before we said good night.
Our first get together, My dad, Mike, me, Joyce, Nell, & Jim
Sunday morning found Gina up early cooking pancakes, sausage and bacon for breakfast. We enjoyed some of
Janna's homemade Chokecherry syrup. Man was it good!!! It’s rare that we eat breakfast but today was special since we had not seen my dad or Uncle Jim in four months. Later that afternoon my dad’s two sisters and husbands, Nadine & Walter and Diane & Jerry came by to visit. For dinner Gina made a big pot of Taco soup for everyone.
Monday found Gina cooking breakfast again minus biscuits, which Uncle Jim was baking. We all enjoyed another fantastic breakfast of smothered potatoes, sausage gravy, fried ham steaks, scrambled eggs and biscuits. The biscuits were topped with Janna's homemade Chokecherry jam. Not only do the bears love those Chokecherries Janna, but us Thurston's love them too. Everyone thanks you for sharing. (We'll definitely need to lose some weight after we leave this reunion) After Gina cleaned up everything we visited for a while with Uncle Jim & Aunt Nell. My dad and Uncle Mike drove over to southern Illinois. They were off to visit their cousins and to see the old farm where they grew up. The sky seemed to be clearing up by the afternoon so Gina and I drove to downtown Paducah for a little sightseeing.
Downtown Paducah, Looking down Broadway Street
(Established in 1873, it was closed between 1957 - 1997)
Now there is no way I can pass up chocolate
Gina called
Janna to see how Michael was doing after his surgery this morning. He was doing great and at the time was up walking. This was wonderful news to us. Yesterday he got word from his doctor that the tumor was malignant. We give Praise to and Thank Our Father for watching over Michael and providing comfort to Janna during this time.
Tuesday was another relaxing day and Neal, another one of my dad’s brothers arrived and Uncle Mike went and picked up his son Willie at a truck stop, which by chance was driving through Paducah. Willie drives for Celadon trucking. While he was gone my dad’s two sisters and husbands arrived at the campground. Gina had planned a get together for this evening and had cooked a big pot of chili for everyone. The men ate outside while the ladies stayed inside to stay out of the wind. Around eight o’clock everyone departed after we all said goodnight and finalized all the reunion plans for Thursday night and the weekend.
In this is picture: Jim, Mike, Walter, Jerry, myself, Neal, Dad, & Willie
In this picture: Gina, Nadine, Diane, & Nell
After it got dark everyone came inside
Wednesday found us relaxing the morning away visiting with my dad and Uncle Jim. Around noon we decided to go shopping. Really, we just go looking since we rarely buy anything. We ended our little shopping trip at Sam’s so we could buy some meat & cheese trays for our get together Thursday night.
Thursday around eleven o’clock Gina drove Aunt Nell to get her hair fixed. After they left and since the sky was clear I set out a few lawn chairs. I then walked over to my dad’s motorhome to invite him and his wife outside to chat and enjoy the beautiful weather. Once Gina got back home. We walked inside to get ready to head out to
Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park. Since all seven of my dad’s brothers and sisters had arrived we were having a small get together. There were a lot of deserts to go along with the ham & cheese trays we brought. Gina and I are really enjoying ourselves.
Eileen, Nell, Harold, Jim and the back of Roe
Gina & Georgina
Today we'll be heading over to Nadine & Walter's house for a Kentucky Bar-B-Que feast. I'm sure it will be another day of overeating. However, the fellowship with family will be Great.
Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.
