Yes, We Are Still Alive

I know it has been a long time since I last posted a blog entry. All I can say is WOW, how time flies. I keep getting emails and comments inquiring about how Gina and I are doing. We are both doing great. I figured I really needed to post an update to our blog. We or really I have been considering whether or not to keep writing our blog since I have went back to work. Writing the blog was so much easier to keep up when we were traveling but now that I am back working and living out of a hotel four days a week and traveling back and forth between Houston, Texas and our house in Louisiana there just doesn’t seem to be any time left to write. I apologize to everyone that has been so faithful in reading our blog the past two years. I will try to do my best in the future to continue posting.

Our last blog title was “Gina is recovering and Friends Visit”. That seems like so long ago but Gina has recovered from her surgery and is doing GREAT!!! All Praise goes to Our Father .
Okay, besides going back to work a big part of my time has been consumed with searching for a motorhome. As I had posted before we decided to sell our truck and trailer and switch to a motorhome. Well, after some very lengthy discussions we finally agreed that I was the one that wanted the motorhome and Gina was just going along with that decision. However, she loves me and knew how much stress I put on myself while carrying a four wheeler on the back of the trailer. So with that I say thank you sweetheart for giving me all of your support and willing to sell your dream trailer. I had also said that I would not tow a car behind the trailer either but, I’m going to try that too once I have everything setup to do it safely. (I didn’t say legally). My only desire is that I will not let it stress me out.

Our truck and trailer has set at our house for the past four months and every time I see it I miss it and the constant change of hotel beds gets me to missing it even more. So with that said we are moving our truck and trailer to Katy, Texas on July 31st. Of course, Gina had just about emptied out the trailer so now we have to put everything back in it which will take her a few days.

Gina with her Daughters in Grenada

Now that you know our current status I’ll try to give a broad overview of the past two and a half months. Gina enjoyed her recovery down in Grenada and spending time with her daughters.

She arrived back home in Louisiana on May 14th feeling better than ever. She got a clean bill of health from her doctor at the end of May which was welcome news for both her and me. I only thought she had energy before. She now could give the energizer bunny a run for his money. LOL

We have really been missing traveling and since I had a business trip planned the week before Memorial Day I decided to fly Gina with me to Cincinnati. Not that Cincinnati is the greatest places to take a vacation we still enjoyed a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. We had a great time together just enjoying each other. Upon our return back to Louisiana Gina spent a couple weeks in Louisiana and then spent a couple of weeks in Houston with me. We had planned a weeklong trip to fly up and spend time with our wonderful friends Mike & Janna in Montana and had thought Mike & Pat (Mom & Pop’s) were going to meet us there but they had other commitments. I’m not going to rewrite our happenings there since I know a lot of you read their blog too. So check out their blog if you want to see all the fun we were having. The intent of this trip was for me to have a little down time while Gina wanted to learn how to quilt from Janna. Gina had planned on learning back in February while we were in the desert. However, our travels were cut short due to our Uncle’s death and me getting a job offer too good to turn down. We were there June 26 to July 4.

I don’t like to end on a sad note. However, while we were in Montana we received some very sad news that the brother of our good friend John (JB & Brenda from Alberta) had died. Our hearts and prayers go out to him and Brenda during this very difficult time.

We are now looking forward to the birth of our first Grandchild due any day. Stay tuned and I’ll post pictures just as soon as she arrives. Gina and I feel so blessed and loved by so many of y’all for caring about us. Thank you all for all the comments and emails inquiring about us. We love you all!!!

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

Gina Is Recovering & Friends Visit

Another month has gone by. Whether we want time to go slow or fast it’s moving at the same consistent pace. This month has flown by. I would like to tell everyone how busy we have been but that is not the case. However, that's not to say we have not done anything. In a nutshell I have been working and Gina is recovering from her surgery.

After Gina’s surgery she was laid up in bed and taking it extremely easy as the doctor ordered. I went back to Houston for work and Nicole, our daughter was at home taking care of her. Two weeks after her surgery she went for her post surgery follow-up and was given the all clear to take her flight to Grenada. So on April 19th Rickey, our brother-in-law drove Gina and Nicole down to New Orleans for their flight to Grenada. They had a great flight and were greeted at the airport by Ashley & Parker.

Nicole & Gina's Arrival in Grenada

Right after Gina's surgery Thomas emailed us and told us he was leaving the ship for somewhere and he couldn’t tell us.  He assured his mom and I that he would be safe. This set off a lot of emotions for us. However, Our Father calmed our fears while we prayed for his safety. He surprised me on Easter with a phone call.  To say hearing his voice felt wonderful is a gross understatement. We only got to talk for a few minutes but those few minutes were fantastic. For even better news I received an email from him on Tuesday letting me know that he was back on the USS Green Bay. I immediately let his mom know and we both rejoiced and praised God for keeping him safe. He also sent us a picture and he let me know that he had been in Oman doing some training exercises with the Omanis.

Thomas in Oman

Gina on the other hand has been enjoying her stay in Grenada with our daughters, Nicole and Ashley. She is still following the doctor orders and taking it easy.  She spends her time by sitting and laying on the beach and working on her tan.

Gina looking great on the beach

Mom and daughters enjoying time together on the beach

This past Monday morning I received an email from Rod & Deb letting me know that they were passing through Louisiana and wanted to catch up with me as they knew Gina was in Grenada. I immediately emailed them back to let them know I wouldn’t be home until Thursday night since I work in Houston Monday to Thursday. They said that was fine since they wouldn’t be in the area until Friday. They were currently in Beaumont, Texas. As I was driving back to Louisiana on Thursday evening I decided to stop at the campground and visit with them.  It was so good to see them again. I made plans to bring them dinner on Friday after they got setup in the campground they were going to which was about 12 miles east of our house.

Friday afternoon I made a big pot of crawfish etouffee and rice. I drove out and had dinner with them while catching up on all their travels since we left them in the Arizona desert in February. A wonderful evening and they made plans to come by the house on Saturday.

Saturday when they arrived they surprised me with some hot salmon croquettes with a fresh homemade dill dipping sauce. Thank you Deb and they tasted great!! After that wonderful snack / lunch I took them to our local produce stand and they picked up a few items. Deb commented that she loves to find local farmer markets as they travel. They dropped me back off at the house and I told them I would meet them later in the evening for dinner. They were grilling fresh salmon tonight since Gina and I left the desert the morning before they grilled salmon for everyone that was there with us. Rod & Deb traveled through Alaska last summer and brought back a whole lot of salmon Rod had caught while in Alaska. Dinner was again great. Not only did they grill salmon but also cooked some fresh green beans she bought earlier along with some Japanese rice & Cilantro. It was so wonderful to see and visit with Rod & Deb again. Their daughter went to school at LSU and one of her friends live in the area so they have plans to visit her before they continue their travels further east.

We may not be traveling right now.  However, Gina and I always think about all our RV’ing friends and this was a great treat for me to have Rod & Deb stop and visit for a couple of days. I had a great time and thanks for the wonderful meal. I wish Gina could have been here to enjoy our little get together. Safe travels as y’all make your way toward Red Bay.

Gina is feeling better and continues to recover well. Additionally, Thomas has been kept safe and out of harm’s way. Both are answered prayers and we thank everyone for their prayers. We serve an AWESOME God and we stand amazed as He answers prayers.

One of the many Sunsets Gina is enjoying as she recovers

(I'd say that's a pretty nice setting to recover in)

Gina wanted me to pass on to Mom & Pop's out in Arizona that the little spillway made with rocks looks good!!  Gina said those rocks look like rocks she would have chosen.  She's glad to see that a little of her has rubbed off on both of you.  She only wishes that she was out there with y'all finding more special rocks.  She sends her love to y'all as I do too.

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

Surgery Is Over & Recovery Begins

Gina and I are humbled again by all the comments and emails after yesterday’s long awaited update on us. As you can tell we have been extremely busy.

Nicole, our daughter arrived last night from New York to be here with her mom today. We left for the hospital at five o’clock this morning and that is after Gina soaked in the bathtub with a solution prescribed by her doctor. The good part of getting up so early is that the hospital is only five miles down the interstate from our house. We arrived promptly at 5:15 and was pleasantly greeted by a very nice volunteer who called Gina by name. This went a long way in calming Gina's fears. At least she knew they were expecting her.

Gina's surgery was right on schedule and began at seven o’clock. She was finished and in recovery by nine o’clock. Soon after the doctor came out to let us know how her surgery went and he seemed to be very happy with everything and told us the surgery went extremely well. I want to thank everyone for lifting Gina up in prayer. All Praise and Glory goes to God. He not only helped calm Gina’s fears today but also brought her through all of this great. God takes care of his children. Now the recovery process begins and I’m sure she will be back to her self in about two months.

Gina and I really want to express our sincere gratitude and thanks for keeping us in your prayers. We have always ended every blog with this saying: “Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with”. Today we rejoice for giving us such a wonderful day and for bringing Gina through her surgery. Our Father is so Awesome!!!

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