Andrew spent the night last night...

It's 2:30 am and he is wide awake.. on his "bed" wanting to watch cartoons... haha.. so am letting him so that as I work in my office next door... I am sure he will be asleep before long, but I have been wrong a bit.. haha....
Ann and Andrew made it home about 9:30 last night. I had finally given up on them and warmed up some leftovers, I had been thinking they might come home and we would go eat.. but after 4 hours.. I guess I was wrong.
Heather was tired, and I can not imagine who one must feel. My heart goes out to new moms who have babies who have family in the area and NO family in the area... I know from the farmer instinct in me that ladies need to have some rest after such, and know if it were me, I sure would want some peace and quite and would want some alone time to just let it soak in ... the wonder of birth. I know how nervous the "ladies" on the farm get when they are not "left alone" ... and some never get over it... which brings me to Heather. I think she has had lots of company from the get go... She is weak from all the bleeding, and giving birth, etc.. so I stayed home yesterday.. Hardest thing I have ever done in my life! This is not to say she doesn't want company because if you know the Moffat's, we love company!! haha.... Oh the problems of life! Imagine the opposite.. going through this awesome process and having NO one to walk through the door, for any reason... wow.. and that happens every day... rips your heart doesn't it...
But my little girl and her new daughter are doing great. Madison finally figured out what she needed to do on her end, and was eating really well last night Ann reported. Can not wait to see her again. They are to go home today, they think, so I may cancel my dentist appointment, and head to the hospital, to spend some time with them and help them move home if they need help. Paul's dad, Roy, is a deputy sheriff for Payne County, and retired Stillwater Police Officer, and full time farmer, and his mom, Joan, is the head nurse for a Stillwater "bone and joint" Dr. Couch, who is one of the best in Oklahoma (guess that makes her the best head nurse in Oklahoma, right? She is!), so they are always busy. Ann can get off about anytime, as she never misses work and has tons of annual leave and sick leave, too. She is her work's Miss Dependable, the one you can always count on, same with her mothering to the kids, she was and is the one that can always be counted on to be there! I am so blessed, and the family so very blessed that she was the rock the family foundation was built on.
Oh, found out last Wednesday night that Phil turned in his two weeks notice and is planning on getting back to his brick laying business.. he was so very good at it. I am so proud of him! He is so talented and loves the outdoors, and working for his self. He will do well, and he has his new wheel to make his pottery, so now he can be busy with both, plus his outstanding garden, and his awesome yard... and wonderful family... wow.. he might just be able to stay busy all the time, haha...
All I know for now. Today is to be moving day... for the Blankinship's. and all is well in the world.....

Jon just called.. and ...

Jonathan just called to tell us that Kaitlyn just had her first tooth break thru the skin.. he is so proud!! How cool is that. Jake just called and Heather and family might get to move home tomorrow about noon... Ann is still up there helping out around the hospital, and I heard that Great grandma went up for a bit this afternoon. She presented Madison Ann with her first bib, hand made by Great Grandma Moffat yesterday.. Paul was off to the Drs. appointment this afternoon, and I am not sure but Andrew might come home with Ann from Hospital to spend the night again, so Dad can get some sleep! He will be spending time with Paul's folks, Grandpa Roy and Joan this weekend, and of course checking on his new baby goats... and sis!
Not sure what else is going on.. not sure I want to know.. haha but still NO NOT A DROP... of rain!!
Later.. s

Andrew Paul B. with Madison Ann B on 5/4/5 at 8pm 

Today's Quote

Today's Quote

How rare and wonderful is that flash of a moment when we realize we have discovered a friend.

-William Rostler

Wonderful note from Joanna and Clinton this am...

Dear Stan & Ann,
Congratulations on the arrival of your new granddaughter.
Glad to know she and the rest of the family are doing OK.
I just knew I was going to get to share my birthday with a new family member, but guess not this time. Maybe next time. Grandchildren are such a joy and we are so blessed to have them. We are looking forward to seeing some of ours this weekend.
Happy Mother's Day to all the grandmothers and mothers in your family.
Love you,
Joanna

Thanks Joanna for the wonderful note... Heather told me that the actual due date was May 3rd. Madison came on May 4th, and ole Grandpa Moffat had suggested that they should wait till May 5th, then Madison would have had 5/5/5 for birthdate.. haha.. but that did NOT fly!! haha...
Great to hear from you. You guys are richly blessed with a big family.. isn't that most wonderful? Ours is medium, and hopefully, if the other kiddos will get "busy" there will be even more kiddos in the future.. haha..

3 more videos.. of Madison..

Video one

Video two

Video three

Enjoy... we are so blessed...

Second set of Madison Ann Blankinship Photos...

Here you go, we all went out to eat with Great Grandma Moffat... less Heather and Paul... for Mother's Day, since we had kids in town.. and then we dropped by to tell Heather and Madison and Paul good night.. they are doing well, Heather is very weak from all the blood loss and is still bleeding ... some. And Madison has not ate yet.. so they are concerned about that.. she just does not know what to do.. but she will... mother nature has a way of fixing things with time.. haha....
Andrew is spending the night with his Uncle Jake.. and us. Might be interesting...haha..

I took this second set while we were there.. Heather asked me to let everyone know that she appreciates all that everyone is doing, all the prayers, concerns.. and gifts, cards and calls! She is a very proud momma...

Anyway, here is the photos from tonight.. I normally run the photos through photoshop before putting them online..but just don't have the time so enjoy ..in the natural.. haha..

Here are four videos.. I have not watched them, don't have time..haha... of

Here are four videos of Madison with Great grandma Moffat, Heather, and others..

best to download them first, then watch them.. Just right click on your mouse and save to desktop.. then you can find them. When you are done... just delete them off of your desktop.

Video One

Video Two
Video Three

Video Four

Enjoy. Heather called and Jon/Randi/Kaitlyn made it up so we are heading back to Hospital to see everyone. Paul picked up Andrew and Andrew thinks his new sis is "ok".
Heather is doing better, but weak. They brought Madison in to have her first milk, and she fell asleep before she started. Heather said she was really blue when she "came out" but she is doing well now, very active and making noise... haha..
later... S

Madison Ann Blankinship, born May 4, 2005, first photos...

To see a photo album of the little princess, click here. Madison Ann is doing great, and mom, Heather is doing ok, in spite of losing about a fifth of her blood...
there is about a 100 0f them, and should be uploaded by 5pm...

Madison Ann Blankinship, born May 4, 2005!

Madison Ann Blankinship, 7lbs, 20 inches, born May 4, 2005 at 11:40am. Mom had another tough go, but not as bad as the first time when she almost died! Mom and Daughter are doing GREAT! So is both sets of Grandparents, and uncles and aunts... haha.. Click on picture to enlarge it to see her better....  

We just missed Madison Ann's arrival..

We just missed Madison Ann's arrival... she was born at 11:40am.. 20 inches and 7 lbs... and black hair.. and cute as a bug... pics later.. ... how cool cool cool....

Paul called and...

The delivery room just called Heather's Dr... so it won't be long... we are on our way up.. next post will tell you all when she arrived.. later.. grandpa... haha..

11:20am update on Heather..

She is now a 4... Ann and Jake just walked in.. and Heather is a 4 now and progressing.. might be an hour or two...... or quicker..
All is going well.
They have a real big emergency in the ER there and it has taken lots of staff down to it.. so Heather is feeling a bit abandoned right now.. but I am sure they are taking care of her... haha.. they better be!!
We will be heading that way shortly..
Jonathan called and they are leaving Roff about now.. so they will be here in a couple of hours..
More later.. Stan

Update on Heather...

Update ...

Heather just called.. the Dr. was just in and broke her water... told her he would see her in 3 or 4 hours.... Ann and Jake and I might run up and see her for a bit.. she is in labor/delivery room 1 in Stillwater Medical Center.. 372 1480 area code 405

later..

MADISON ANN UPDATE....

MADISON ANN IS SLOWLY LEAVING THE HANGAR FOR HER FLIGHT INTO THE WORLD. HER MOM IS AT 3, AND THE DR. HAS GIVEN HER SOME HELP TO GET HER MOTHER TO GOING.. WE JUST TALKED TO HEATHER AND ALL IS WELL, SHE HAS HAD TWO REALLY GOOD CONTRACTIONS... SO FAR.. TIME WILL TELL.. KEEP THEM IN YOUR PRAYERS... GOD IS WONDERFUL, AND HIS CREATIONS AMAZING!!

Today's Quote

I value the friend who for me finds time on his calendar, but I cherish the friend who for me does not consult his calendar.

-Robert Brault

Today's an important day in history.. or will be...

Today's an important day in history.. or will be as this is the day of Madison Ann Blankinship's coming out party!! Yelp.. ole' Heather heads to the hospital at 8am... bet her and Paul are are chewing off their finger nails.. haha... and getting Andrew ready and heading out the door as I type this.

Jon and Randi are coming up around noonish.. and Jake is taking off work.. Phillip and Tammy are on standby with cell phones in hand... We are all so wonderfully excited about this very special day!

Life is so amazing, so full of ups and downs.. we sure need to take time to smell the roses... and sometimes in doing that, it allows us to honor and appreciate those that have left us too.... Grandpa Moffat would be so excited about Madison's arrival, and he would be working so hard to not show it.. haha.. But he would be proud. I think of others too, like my grandparents, the Siegrist. I will never forget the eyes of my grandpa Siegrist as he saw and held Phillip for the first time.... nor have I ever ever forgotten the first time I saw and held each of my kiddos.. I can tell you where we were, what was happening, and how I felt about each... at the time. What a glorious memory that is.... I love each of them, and their spouses more than I can express. I am so proud of each one of them. I will die without a dime in my pocket, that is my destiny... but the one thing I have perhaps in some small way left on this earth... is a wonder, no.. a great family... and that my friends, one can not put a price on! I know I am just a dad blowing off steam in the heat of this exciting moment.. but many times I have wondered in my life... "Lord, why me? What did I do to have to scrap and scrap and struggle every cotton pick'en day? Exactly when did I make YOU mad, Lord?".... Then, I remembered when, at the beginning of each pregnancy the prayer I had prayed with each of my children... "Lord, I will do whatever you chose for me in life, at whatever cost, make any sacrifice, do without all worldly possessions... if you would will to us healthy, hardworking kiddos with a tenacity for a life full of love, wanting to share all they have with others, and growing our family thru your will".

You know, looking back, He answered my prayers in the biggest way possible, giving to me so much more than I ever prayed for... and I, looking back, have "paid the price". Ann and I have never had an extra dime, and we have really been through some struggles, and we are truly best friends now, as we were when we were married, but in the end, what I asked for was given, and what I offered was taken... It was a deeply rewarding trade.

And I am so thankful, so wonderfully happy, so much in love with my family... I am truly... so richly blessed!

The following is a poem written by Judge Roy Moore from Alabama

Poem Written by Judge Roy Moore


As you know, Judge Moore was recently sued by the ACLU for displaying the Ten Commandments in his courtroom foyer. He has been stripped of his judgeship and now they are trying to strip his right to practice law in Alabama.

The following is a poem written by Judge Roy Moore from Alabama:

America the Beautiful,
or so you used to be.
Land of the Pilgrims'pride
I'm glad they'll never see

Babies piled in dumpsters,
Abortion on demand;
Oh, sweet land of liberty,
your house is on the sand.

Our children wander aimlessly
poisoned by cocaine,
Choosing to indulge their lusts,
when God has said "abstain".

From sea to shining sea
our Nation turns away
From the teaching of God's love
and a need to always pray.

We've kept God in our temples -
how callous we have grown.
When earth is but His footstool
and Heaven is His throne.

We've voted in a government
that's rotting at the core,
Appointing Godless judges
who throw reason out the door,

Too soft to place a killer
in a well deserved tomb,
But brave enough to kill a baby
before he leaves the womb.

You think that God's not angry
that our land's a moral slum?
How much longer will He wait
before His judgment comes?

How are we to face our God,
from Whom we cannot hide?
What then is left for us to do,
but stem this evil tide?

If we who are His children
will humbly turn and pray;
Seek His holy face
and mend our evil way,

Then God will hear from Heaven
and forgive us of our sins.
He'll heal our sickly land
and those who live within.

But, America the Beautiful,
if you don't - then you will see,
A sad but Holy God
withdraw His hand from Thee.

~Judge Roy Moore

Pass this on and let's lift Judge Moore up in prayer. He has stood firm and needs our support.

IN GOD WE TRUST !

Jake talked with Great Grandma Moffat this am...

He reported that mom said the trip was "ok". She didn't want him to know they had a good time... Haha...
She said that getting around there after the trip was hard and that the meal Saturday night was priced out of this world... You know Mom, if she can't get senior citzens discount, or free, then it's to expensive. All I know for now.. later.. s

Madison might be here Wednesday or so....

Oh boy Oh boy.. Heather called and she goes in Wednesday at 8am... oh boy oh boy.... yea haw... can't wait.. we have a neighbor who had a baby about two weeks ago and they brought her by for us to see last night and Grandma Moffat held her, said she was practicing for Madison.. haha.. good luck and God's speed... Madison.. I am still trying to get her to think, if she has a choice to wait till Thursday.. then it's 5/5/5 for a birthday.. how cool would that be.. haha.. later all.. (can you hear Heather moaning now.. haha)

Still Here

Well after a trip to Labor and Delivery on Friday night I am still trucking along. Madison and I let Daddy play his whole softball game through that night and then we headed to hospital. My contracts were 3 mins apart but nothing else was happening so they sent me home with pain meds and said to come back when stronger. She is still sitting high in there so she must not be ready.

As her Daddy would say right now she is a girl and she will make us all wait for her..

I have a call into the doctor this morning to see if we can get an induction done since her due date depending on who you talk to is the 2nd, 3rd or the 4th. I won a dollar at work today b/c bet the Marketing director that I would be here with baby in belly at 7:30 am and I was :)

We had our first set of twin Boer goats born yesterday afternoon. Granpa Blankinship and Granma came over and helped me get her in and the babies and then get hay and stuff for her in the barn. Thanks guys. I will get pictures posted as soon as I can get some of her and the two little babies.

Andrew is excited about Madison coming he has went from 2 days to 4 mins and then last night she will be here in 2 mins. I will keep everyone informed if we find out anything from doctor today.

Today's Quote

Mystery creates wonder and wonder is the basis of man's desire to understand.

-Neil Armstrong

Photos of Phil's Birthday gifts to me, that he made in his first pottery class... got his name on bottom and everything!! Just wanting to share... later.. enjoy the day! 

From Joanna and Clinton last evening came this note.. great to hear from them...

Hi Stan & Ann
Just read in your "Blog" about your mom going to Ft. Worth on the Heartland Flyer. We were down at the Post Office a few minutes ago (9:00 PM) when the Heartland Flyer went through. I thought about them and wondered if they were on that train. Hope they had a good time. We've heard it was a fun trip.
Also, wondering if your new granddaughter has arrived yet?
Hope all goes well for them. Hope the rest of the family are all ok, too. We are all tired from a busy weekend. Clinton worked with the "Christmas in April" and I helped distribute "Angel Food" on Saturday. Today was a busy day at Church, so we are ready to rest on Monday. :) Only thing, I got a lot of sewing to do.
Take care,
Love,
Joanna

Thanks Joanna for sharing... love to hear from you guys!!

We think that mom made it home, but it would have been ....

We think Mom made it home, but it would have been very late last night, so bet we hear something this am... and nothing... from Heather this am. I think she goes to the Dr. this morning, and she is hoping... the actual due date is tomorrow, I think.
Thru the grapevine... Phil got his new "wheel" and is now able to enjoy creating his art/pottery at home. He can spin his things at home, and take them to Stillwater to Multigraphics, where he can keep taking the classes and fire his work there. I bet before long he is teaching the classes!! He gave me a set he has made, a really neat bowl and a pencil cup... for my office, but I am afraid to use them, DON'T want to break them, ya know!! He is so gifted. But then all my kiddos are...haha.. not an opinionated dad, right? haha...
Jonathan was helping me on a website I am creating for a real estate agent/family friends in Stillwater, and I ran aground trying to figure out how to solve a problem, and Jon just fixes it in less than 30 mins.. and then... I create another problem, and he fixes it in about 15 mins.. another genius... haha...
Heather is my go to person. When I run behind or need help, she is always there, and helps me in ways to numerous to count. Over the years, she has been my right arm on lots of my web things... She has a great deal of writing knowledge, and knows so much more than her ole dad.. but that's cool, right. Isn't that the way it's supposed to be, haha....
Then there is Jake. Jake is the entertainer of the family. In more ways than one. Every family has one. Jake can get us laughing in less than a second, his songs and music are so moving, but beyond that there's Jake... the "uncle" who is a video game wiz.. He can buy a new game and in less than a day play through the whole thing. His mind's eye sees things that others never see. Now if he could put that to use in the "money" area, he'd be RICH beyond belief!
..............more grapevine.. got side tracked, right!
Heather and Paul and Andrew are having baby Boer Goats.. they had a pair of twin 'LADIES' born yesterday when Heather was home ... she saw the whole event unfold before her eyes.... Her father in law Roy, came over and fixed a place in the barn for them, since it was spittin' rain, and very cool for MAY 1st!
Tammy's Boss left, and that move left Tammy acting as administrator and teacher. She is not too happy about that, at least that's what I hear. She truly enjoys teaching and is good with the students, and simply does not like the administration side to well. She has had lots of "directors" come and go... and survied them all. She put together a slide show with pics of her students playing ect. and put the music from Billy Dean's new cd, a song titled 'Let them be little' playing as it showed the pics ... She presented it at an evening get to gether of the parents last week, and it went over very well... she is very gifted too..
Paul is playing baseball on the Stillwater Police Dept. team this spring... Heard they didn't win their last game, but .... they play for the sport and fun. I also heard the PD team has lots of injures, hummmmmm????? not sure I should have put that here...haha... Paul loves to hunt... and Andrew always mentions about once each time we keep him how "daddy hunts deer and shots them and eat meat". He is following in his dad's footsteps, as he LOVES the outdoors, and has since he was born.
Austyn is going to enjoy his last summer coming up, and heard he is going to play Tball too. He starts big Kindegarten next fall in Stillwater. He has found the video games that Jake plays to be very entertaining too, and Saturday, Jake ran into town and picked up a game for Austyn to play and Jake had an extra controller .. so he took it over to Austyn's so Austyn and his dad.. haha... could play video games. Jake's report is that Austyn is learning FAST how to make the moves to win...
Well, think this might go on and on.. but in the interest of your eyes.. and my lack of thoughts.. we better end it here!
The most important thing that happened was Saturday! I bought Ann a push lawn mower to mow our acre and half yard with and she mowed it and it looks cool! Aren't you proud of me!! It took her about 5 hours .. but she did it... see you never get to old to have fun!!!
While she did that, I went to Stillwater and Coyle to take pics of the auctions going on for the website I am working on ... I stopped in Coyle to shoot some of the main street buildings.. finished, got in my car to head home and had went one block and round the corner about three blocks away came a motorcycle, two motorcycles,..... 4, 18, 45, 55, 78, 91, 127.. of them.. I had missed the money shot by about a minute. The Stillwater Harley Club at Tommy Foreman's Harley House... was having a ride to eat at noon somewhere west of OKC, and they were joined by another club in doing this. It would have been so awesome... imagine standing at the west end of the main in Coyle and seeing nothing but cycles fill it for about 3 mins.. There was about a mile and half of nothing but cycles. Now that would have been a money shot, looking east from west end of Coyle with nothing buy cycles filling the street for as far as the eye can see.. Oh well, maybe next time, huh, .... yeah, right.
Ok.. till next time.. enjoy the day we have been given!!

From Uncle Ivan, another golden gem.... haha.. love those mistakes..right guys... haha

Thank God for church ladies with typewriters. These sentences actually appeared in church bulletins or were announced in church services: -------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bertha Belch, a missionary from Africa, will be speaking tonight at Calvary Methodist. Come hear Bertha Belch all the way from Africa.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fasting &Prayer Conference includes meals.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The sermon this morning: "Jesus Walks on the Water."
The sermon tonight: "Searching for Jesus."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our youth basketball team is back in action Wednesday at 8 PM in the recreation hall. Come out and watch us kill Christ the King.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Don't forget your
husbands.
---------------------------------------------------
The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a conflict.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say "Hell" to someone who doesn't care much about you.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Miss Charlene Mason sang "I will not pass this way again," giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Barbara remains in the hospital and needs blood donors for more transfusions. She is also having trouble sleeping and requests
tapes of Pastor Jack's sermons.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Rector will preach his farewell message after which the choir will sing:
"Break Forth Into Joy."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.
--------------------------------------------------------
At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be "What Is Hell?"
Come early and listen to our choir practice.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to follow.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 AM. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B. S. is done.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new tithing campaign slogan last Sunday: "I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours "

Grandma Moffat gets back from her train ride...

to Ft. Worth with Uncle Calvin, her brother, and Aunt Agnes.... They left yesterday and were "doing DAllas" last night and then they get to ride the Heartland home this evening.. how cool... Phillip was helping with grandma's dogs and things.. heard he and Austyn were riding the three wheeler and doing wheelies on it.. haha.. I am glad they had fun...

Heather just drove in with Andrew, so guess they are not in the hospital...

wanted everyone to know.. and if I could get Jon to get online with me.. we might could see Kaitlyn while Andrew is here... too.. how cool would that be??? ahaha.. love the space age....

Today's Quote

Today's Quote

It’s the things in common that make relationships enjoyable, but it’s the little differences that make them interesting.

-Todd Ruthman

Today's Quote

Nothing is so embarrassing as watching someone do something that you said couldn't be done.

-Sam Ewing

here's the latest...

Heather and family are on way home... she is having contractions but not strong enough to keep her so they will be heading home and maybe tomorrow... or Sunday.. who knows.. when little Madison will be here.. but this we know.. it will be soon... night all...

Shhuuuuuuuu.. heather said not to tell anyone...

but she called at 15 mins till 8 to say she was at the ballpark with Paul and Andrew and was starting to have contractions... sheeeeee don't tell anyone.. ok.... keep it on the downlow.... hahaha... gosh I'm as excited as when the kids were born!!! now don't tell anyone.. haha.....

She thought they might head to the hosp in a bit.. haha.. ole pro she is.. ... now again.. don't tell anyone..

Today's Quote

Today's Quote

That they may have a little peace, even the best dogs are compelled to snarl occasionally.

-William Feather

Well, here we set, waiting on that Madison....

guess she will check out of her "room" when she is ready too... not when we want her too... haha.. no word yet andit's 7:10am on Friday.

Today is Uncle Calvin's 80th birthday! Happy Birthday Uncle Calvin, hope all is well with you all. I sent several emails over the last few months but have not heard a thing back... haha.... So I guess you have been to California and back?

I did here that Mom and MK are taking a Heartland Flyer trip to Ft Worth with Uncle Calvin and Aunt Agnes this Saturday and Sunday... in typical "mom" fashion, she is letting Uncle Calvin pay for the trip!!!!!! Love my mom, but geeze... on his birthday.... oh well,

To Uncle Calvin, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HAPPY 80TH BRITHDAY!!!!!!!!!!! AND MANY MANY MANY MORE!!! Hope your day is special and happy and filled with joy and wonderful things.... happy birthday!

Well, that is about all I know. I took on a real estate site and an auction site to work on for their websites... and I found out that one of them was a much bigger chore than I imagined. So I now have 8 that I try to keep up with and at times, they are much much bigger than I am.. if you can imagine, haha!!

Talked with Jon yesterday. He has been really busy at work. He is my knight in shinning armour when I get into trouble, like yesterday... haha. I can not believe he is so gifted at figuring out things... Man, God did not bless me to think that way! I was all in a tizzy so called up my knight, and he informed me I just needed to calm down... get a grip.. and he'd fix things.. and he did. I don't know what I would be able to do without him!

Jon and I did get webcams so Grandma M and I can "see" Kaitlyn more often.. but we have not had time to "hook up" and 'see' her yet! hopefully soon!

Ann, David and Mike have "leased" their mineral rights. First time in years... High oil .... maybe. keep your fingers crossed that they drill and hit! haah

I have been in contact with Jamie Murray, atty regarding Grandpa's "instrument left in him" dealy... nothing yet.

Dad's estate is moving slowly forward thru probate.

Mom sprayed the Kastle place and her land at home for weeds, now lets hope it rains and quick or she just threw away her money, as nothing over here is growing at all. the grass has stopped and so have the weeds, and they need to be growing to take in the spray to kill them. our yard has not grew an inch in over two weeks.. so hopefully she didn't throw away her money...

Jake got his ole blue tempo running an is motoring around in it.. sure looks different in it instead of the dually. He is happy with his new job, and seems to love the work and the people there, well, most folks there!

He started recording a new cd and stopped about half way through it, but has the songs down, and the studio owner brought it by the other day for Jake to have. He was here and told him that he appreciated it and he sure seemed a bit happy about it. Perhaps someday, he will get back to his music, as time moves forward, and things get better...

Well.. it is very dry here. yard is looking brown for the first time this spring.. not dead but the grass has a brown tint to it....

don't have to mow.. haha...


Later, enjoy the day...

Madison Ann is in the hanger.... taking on fuel, and about ready to leave her warm home for the last 9 months...

Can you tell I am excited.. haha... I am fired up! Grand daughter number two is bout to born!! Madison's mom called me a bit ago, and told me the Dr. had stripped her membranes, and that she is a solid two, working on three, and she called from Walmart.. so all is good in the world.. haha...

how cool.. I can't wait.. grand child number four.. now if we can get parents who own slot for number one to have number five... haha... I love them all.. how great to be a grand dad!!

Sure sign of spring... a flock of geese flies over the west field headed north ... now, if we could get some rain! 

Here's a pic of the "baby" John Deere moving dirt for the new Goober Drilling site about a half mile east of highway 177 on Lost Creek Road... on way to Grandma Moffat's home. I think it is bigger than Andrew's "gator", haha... 

You have to know a bit about gay lingo to get this.. from Heather.. another funny...

An airline's passenger cabin was being served by an obviously gay flight attendant, who seemed to put everyone in a good mood as he served them food and drinks. As the plane prepared to descend, he came swishing down the aisle and announced to the passengers, "Captain Marvey has asked me to announce that he'll be landing the big scary plane shortly, so lovely people, if you could just put your trays up, that would be super."

On his trip back up the aisle, he noticed a well-dressed rather exotic looking woman hadn't moved a muscle. "Perhaps you didn't hear me over those big brute engines. I asked you to raise your trazy-poo, so the main man can pitty-pat us on the ground." She calmly turned her head and said, "In my country, I am called a Princess. I take orders from no one."

To which the flight attendant replied, without missing a beat, "Well, sweet-cheeks, in my country, I'm called a Queen, so I out rank you. "Tray-up, Bitch"

Today's Quote

What we need is more people who specialize in the impossible.

-Theodore Roethke

In case you like to read and have time.. Stumbling Heavenward is a great blog by Rev. Tillman.

Here is another really good motivational blog "Stumbling Heavenward" by Rev. Tillman, El Paso, TX Immmanuel Church.

t'was a really good day...

Even ole Jake had a good day. The owner of the studio where Jake recorded his newest music brought by an unmastered copy of his last ten songs he wrote and recorded... being unbiased. haha... get it.. Jake's songs rock!

I saw a gleam in his eye that had not been there in a while... who knows...

but all in all it t'was a good day...

And Austyn and his dad dropped in... and Austyn wanted to show us his new seat... How cool. It even has a pocket or two for stuffing things in and they close up out of the way... and he and his dad had to Happy Meals and two dogs.. how cool is that???  

And Madison's mommie.. went to the Dr. and this is what Heather reported this week... Well had my second non stress test with Madison today..Dr looked at the
tape and said that everything looks great she was moving and very active
especailly when my contractions took over and when she felt like she did
not want the monitor on her or me pressing it on her to find her
heartbeat.

Dr told the little tech that he would see me Thursday for my appt if
not before then .

So that is where we are at the countdown is on...


Heather

 

Kaitlyn, 6 months and getting ready to be 16!!

Ok mom, what's for dinner? Then Jon writes... We took Kaitlyn to the doctor today for her 6 month checkup. It is hard to believe that she is already 6 months old. ... want more? Be sure to check out his blog, he actually updated it.. wow, how cool!!

Yes, Grandpa, these are my boots and they do to fit~~!! 

Thought for the day...

An attitude of gratitude creates blessings.

-Sir John Templeton

This is a photo of the hole ... where trailers used to be, to the right of the barn. ah... the changes of life!! 

The end of 21 years.. of work.. kind of a sad pic, but in it's day, it was a humming place with lots of friendly customers, and happy folks visiting about this and that, and we got to keep up with familys growing, etc.... now.. no more... 

Curtain Rods; from Heather another great goodie... too cute~~~!!! Revenge is sometimes... AWESOME!!

She spent the first day packing her belongings into boxes, crates, and suitcases.

On the second day, she had the movers come and collect her things. On the third , she sat down for the last time at their beautiful dining room table by candlelight, put on some soft background music and feasted on a pound of shrimp, a jar of caviar and a bottle of Chardonnay.

When she had finished, she went into each and every room and deposited a few half-eaten shrimp shells dipped in caviar, into the hollow of the curtain rods. She then cleaned up the kitchen and left.

When the husband returned with his new girlfriend, all was bliss for the first few days. Then slowly, the house began to stink. They tried everything; cleaning, mopping, and airing the place out. Vents were checked for dead rodents and carpets were steam cleaned. Air fresheners were hung everywhere. Exterminators were brought in to set off gas canisters, during which they had to m ove out for a few days.

Nothing worked. People stopped coming over to visit. Repairmen refused to work in the house. The maid quit.

Finally, they could not take the stench any longer and decided to move.

A month later, even though they had cut their price in half, they could not find a buyer for their stinky house. Word got out and eventually even the local Realtors refused to return their calls.

Finally, they had to borrow a huge sum of money from the bank to purchase a new place.

The ex-wife called the man and asked how things were going. He told her the saga of the rotting house. She listened politely and said that she missed her old home terribly, and would be willing to reduce her divorce settlement in exchange for getting the house back.

Knowing his ex-wife had no idea of how bad the smell was, he agreed on a price that was about 1/10th of what the house had
been worth, but only if she were to sign the papers that very day.

She agreed and within the hour his lawyers delivered the paperwork.

A week later the man and his girlfriend stood smiling as they watched the moving company pack everything to take to their new home, including

......... the curtain rods.

I LOVE A HAPPY ENDING. DON'T YOU??????

Courage...

Today's Quote

Courage is fear holding on a minute longer.

-Thomas Fuller

Feed Barn, the end! The trailers for the store are on their way to new homes today. So the Feed Barn is officially done, the end. Just wanted to share a pic of the activities with ya... later.. enjoy the day..

Today's Quote

Today's Quote

Days are scrolls: write on them only what you want remembered.

-Bchya Ibn Pakuda

From Heather: Here is an ad from Saturday Night Live.. regarding tattoos... haha

Saturday Night Live ad for Tattoo Remover.. and why... haha...click to view~! Download to desktop, then delete after viewing...

Andrew Paul Blankinship and Kaitlyn Brooke Moffat doing what cousins do, for parents and grandparents... haha! Enjoy the day, thought you needed something better to look at, haha!
Posted by PCCPA; Please, click on image to enlarge.

Can you believe things like this are on the net??? gosh.. this was 50 years ago this fall!! 

and yet another one..... 

Geeze.. look what sis found!!! Can not believe I was young once... wow... and the glasses are just about back in style.. haha... BTW, Grandma Moffat made the shirt for me out of Chicken Feed bags that we bought at Yukon from Yukon Flour Mill when we lived there. I think this was the ole 8th grade photo in.. haha... 1960... gosh... 

This looks like a really neat tour of the community... if you have time and the want too.... Enjoy the day! 

Our phones lines are down, or something.. we have no phone

and yes, Ann paid the bill!! haha...

She last talked with Jon about tomorrow and I wanted to call and let Phil know and ............... no dial tone..
so tomorrow, roud about 5 -530pm dinner with Jon and Randi and Kaitlyn at our home. Cook out.. bring whatever you wish to, or nothing at all... up to you...

They will come up in around noon and Jon is taking Randi to Joespi's for lunch.. then back here after a bit of shopping and ready to eat bout 5pm. or so...

who ever wants to may join us. Ann says there will be hamburgers on the grill, so I need to get propane for the grill, huh.. haha..

later.. sorry about the phone..

Stan

Today ...

Not a lot going on this week. I been building web sites... one for Music Industry University, one for Pickens Auctions, started one for Gregg Pickens Real Estate, and working on a new one for Flatland Entertainment, plus keeping up with my PCL. Long days sometimes, haha... I hear that Heather is really getting uncomfortable, with Madison Ann about to be born. Her and Paul checked in at Stilwater Medical Center and did all the paperwork. I hear that Paul bought Madison a couple of outfits to wear to the Fair this summer, haha... Tammy stopped by and borrowed the camera to take some more pics of her kiddos at school. She is working on a really neat thingy for presentation at school for her kiddos using powerpoint presentation with a really neat new song that just came out as the background music. Austyn was in Grandma's candy jar.. haha...
Our neighbor, our family mechanic, dropped by and picked up the pieces to the Case tractor at Phillips that has had the front end broken off of it since last October. Maybe we are a step closer to getting it fixed, we will see... haha..
Jake has been helping Fred Shultz on his ranch. They are AI'ing one group of cows next week so they been cycling them, getting them ready, selling show calves and bulls, and his boss had knee surgery so he has been extra busy there, plus they are getting another set of cows ready to put embroye another group. This is one of the highest tech ranches in OK. They, Fred and Jake, are eagerly awaiting their first clones, that are supposed to be here and ready to implant after the first of the year. This will make them the first in OK to implant cloned cattle.
Phil has been working hard at his new job. He said they are getting a new round of computers, and he is really excited, as the old ones were really dated and slow and hard to see. He is gardening, and making pottery, and ... a bunch of other things, too. I will share that I recieved the rest of my birthday gifts from him, but will wait till I get my camera and take pics to show you how really awesome the gift was!!
Ann is busy mowing our yard this am. Jake and I got her an early Mother's Day present, a new push mower for the yard.. and her.. haha!! I had a dentist appoinment this am, and if you know me, you know I dislike dentist. But I have a new crown, and go back for more work starting next week, yuck!!! I did wash Ann's car, and did some maintaince work on it. And that is something when I do that!!!
Grandma is getting a new Angus Bull from Alpha Angus south of Perkins. They raise AI Angus, registered, and raise them on grass, so what you see is what you get! No fancy hair cuts, or extra fat from feedlots here! I think we pick him up in the am, or MK and her, not sure who.
Jonathan and Randi, and Kaitlyn are coming up tomorrow to visit and bring up some of their Easter pictures for us, so I bet we try to get all the kiddos together for either lunch or dinner tomorrow, that will be so cool!!
Love my kiddos!!
Paul was chasing a "bad guy" who tried to stab another person, and the bad guy jumped over a bridge, and Paul chased after him, and hurt his knee... Paul won of course. You can not out run the Stillwater Police Officers!! He is also playing baseball for the first time ever on the Stillwater Police Dept. team. Heather and Andrew go and watch, and say they are having a ball. Andrew has made friends and all is well! They raise goats too, and have a round of babies due when Heather is due!!
Not sure what else to report, all is well and good, and if it would just rain, we'd have it made!
Have a great day... remember to stop and smell the roses!

From a convicted felon comes this bit of advice....

Today's Quote

Life is too complicated not to be orderly.

-Martha Stewart

LaNeta Jean Liebscher Guth has a birthday today... all day long..haha....

LaNeta Jean Liebscher Guth Happy Birthday today. Seems like somewhere in my past I had a birthday for 45 to, but not sure how many years ago, haha!!!

Anyway, happy birthday LaNeta! and many many more!!!

Today's Quote

The fly cannot be driven away by getting angry at it.

-African proverb

Before you speak.....

Before you speak, ask yourself, is it kind, is it necessary, is it true, does it improve on the silence?

-Sai Baba

Lil' Sis wins BIG award ......

Lil' Sis, with Kaitlyn...
Posted by me. Please, click on image to enlarge.

Yelp, Marilyn won a BIG woodie last week from her place of employment for the last oh, 20, 30, plus years of work! The Center for Veterinary Sciences held their Annual Awards Banquet April 8, 2005. Marilyn Kay won the Stratton Staff Award which involves money and award. The award is named after Dr. Louie Stratton, one of the vets who were among the first to come to our dairy when we moved to Stillwater, and he was a life long friend. Just wanted all to know... and yelp, we are all proud of her and her many accomplishments!

Went to Great Grandma's yesterday morning to see about a few things, and she happened to be in a picture taking mood, so we took a few of her and the beautiful bibs that she is making for Madison and Kaitlyn. They are really neat and you can tell how proud she is by the wonder work in the pieces. She is really a wonderful seamstress, and is finally getting a chance to show off her skills. She has made several baby quilts too... and Christmas stockings.. love her work, and NO there is no bias here, just cuz I am her son, does not mean a thing.. haha... enjoy the day. Of course, I took many photos.. so I will post later. Some of them are of Wheat on the east side of our farm where Marilyn lives. It is the last field we have in wheat.
Posted by PCCPA; Please, click on image to enlarge.

Uncle Ivan sent along this ditty..

Just in case you are wondering... Ann and I laughed so hard we cried over this... Uncle Ivan out did himself on this deal!! I am sure there are times when Grandmothers react strangely but .... hahaha this ditty is Why grandmothers should not baby sit!

Welcome - Our Moffat Family Blog

Heather sends along this note with... a link to click if you want to see how she feels, with Madison Ann's arrival not too far away, plus job and home and son and husband and goats and hahaha..... Heather is StReSSeD OuT!!! click on pig..

Today's quote...

Today's Quote

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Aunt Thelma Wiseman, Grandpa Shaklee's sister sent this note along about Pete...

Stan I haven't forgotten, but I do have some excuses. Ha Pete has had
pneumonia and was in the hospital for 2 weeks , he is feeling much
better, going to the Mall to see his buddies this morning. Every
morning they have their coffee and gossip, or talk which he says. Ha.
A customer asked me to crochet her 50 scrubbers by the 12 of April, well
I had to get on the ball and get them made, but I beat the deadline, and
she has already picked them up. They don't order just 2 or 4 anymore, it
is 50 or a hundred, then it gets me on the ball. I can't seem to get
any ahead. I love to make them and keeps me out of trouble.

Another goodie from Uncle Ivan...

THIS SHOULD RATTLE YOUR BRAINS A LITTLE

If you ever feel stupid, then just read on. If you've learned to speak fluent English, you must be a genius! This little treatise on the lovely language we share is only for the brave. Peruse at your leisure, English lovers. Reasons why the English language is so hard to learn:

1) The bandage was wound around the wound.
2) The farm was used to produce produce.
3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
4) We must polish the Polish furniture.
5) He could lead if he would get the lead out.
6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.
8) A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
10) I did not object to the object.
11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
13) They were too close to the door to close it.
14) The buck does funny things when the does are present.
15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.
16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
17) The wind was too strong to wind the sail
18) After a number of injections my jaw got number.
19) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.
20) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
21) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?

There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple.
English muffins weren't invented in England or French fries in France.
Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat.

Quicksand works slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.


And why is it that writers write, but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham?

If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth beeth? One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese?


Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend. If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it? Is it an odd, or an end?

If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?


In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital? Ship by truck and send cargo by ship?



Have noses that run and feet that smell?

How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise ! man and a wise guy are opposites?

You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out, and in which, an alarm goes off by going on.

English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all. That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible.

P.S. - Why doesn't "Buick" rhyme with "quick"?

From Uncle Ivan...

CHALK ONE UP FOR THE OLD DUDE
An older, white haired man walked into a jewelry store one Friday
evening with a beautiful young gal at his side.
He told the jeweler he was looking for a special ring for his girlfriend.

The jeweler looked through his stock and brought out a $5,000 ring and showed it to him.
The old man said,
"I don't think you understand, I want something very special."

At that statement, the jeweler went to his special stock and brought another ring over.
"Here's a stunning ring at only $40,000," the jeweler said.
The young lady's eyes sparkled and her whole body trembled
with excitement. The old man seeing this said,
"We'll take it."

The jeweler asked how payment would be made and the old man stated, by check.
" I know you need to make sure my check is good, so I'll write it now and you can call the bank Monday to verify the funds and I'll pick the ring up Monday afternoon," he said.

Monday morning, a very teed-off jeweler phoned the old man.
"There's no money in that account."

"I know", said the old man,

"but can you imagine the weekend I had?"

The curious paradox ....

The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.

-Carl Rogers

From Randi Moffat.. enjoy...

Two tall trees, a birch and a beech, are growing in the woods. A small tree begins to grow between them, and the beech says to the birch, "Is that a son of a beech or a son of a birch?" The birch says he cannot tell. Just then a woodpecker lands on the sapling. The birch says, "Woodpecker, you are a tree expert. Can you tell if that is a son of a beech or a son of a birch?"

The woodpecker takes a taste of the small tree. He replies, "It is neither a son of a beech nor a son of a birch. It is, however, the best piece of ash I have ever put my pecker in."



Wipe that smile off your face!

Creativity is....

Today's Quote

Creativity is God's gift to you. What you do with it is your gift to God.

-Bob Moawad

Welcome - Our Moffat Family Blog

Did ya see??? click the pic to go to the rest!!

From Clinton and Joanna comes this dittie..

Subject: This is so worth reading!





Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids?

If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions.

"How old are you?" "I'm four and a half!"

You're never thirty-six and A half. You're four and a half, going on five!

That's the key.

You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead.

"How old are you?" "I'm gonna be 16!" You could be 13, but hey, you're gonna be 16!

And then the greatest day of your life . . . you become 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony . YOU BECOME 21.

YESSSS!!!

But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk! . He TURNED; we had to throw him out.

There's no fun now, you're Just a sour-dumpling. What's wrong? What's changed?

You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you're PUSHING 40.

Whoa! Put on the brakes, it's all slipping away. Before you know it, you REACH 50 and your dreams are gone.

But wait!!! You MAKE it to 60. You didn't think you would!




So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50 and MAKE it to 60.

You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday!

You get into your 80s and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30; you REACH bedtime.

And it doesn't end there. Into the 90s, you start going backwards; "I Was JUST 92."

Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. "I'm 100 and a half!"

May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!

HOW TO STAY YOUNG

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay " them " .

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. " An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.



7. Surround yourself with what you love, Whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable,
improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity!

Thought youall would enjoy reading this. jfw


AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Today....

Not much new going on here. It is starting to get really dry, and the ole ground is cracking. We truly need a good soaking of rain. It only sprinkled the last 4 times it was supposed to rain, and Grandpa Moffat always said... "If we miss rain three times in a row, we are in for a long spell of dry weather". I sure hope for the sake of the cattle and grass, that this time, his saying will not be right, haha!
Heather is having a lot of backaches... Madison Ann is getting closer to arriving. The Doctor told her Madison is now head first and fixed and awaiting ... so we are now down to weeks before her arrival. Remembering my experiences, not sure Paul is aware he and Heather's life is about to change ... big time! And I love him to death. Not griping, but just thinking... I would say that about any of my boys too... Just a guy thing, guess it's cause we don't carry the child, probably, but there is something about seeing, holding, touching, the child at birth that kicks in that instinct and brings it home. Oh, yea, we think we know, we think we are ready, we think we are on the same plain as our wives, but... only when the child arrives... haha... sorry ladies... just how God made us!!
Haven't heard much from Phil, but I bet he is gardening, and making pottery, and routing semi's!
Jonathan and Randy were working on their yard last weekend, weeding and feeding, and getting ready for summer. He seems to stay really busy with work and home and Kaitlyn, too. But then Jon does his best work under pressure!
Tammy is getting ready for summer and all the things she needs to do. Also, trying to find a place for Austyn to be in school this summer. Is he really going to be 5 this December, wow.. .... ..
Paul is playing in summer league baseball with the Stillwater Police Dept's team. He is enjoying it. First time since he joined the force that he has not been on nights, therefore, now, being on the day shift, he can enjoy this. Heather and Andrew have been attending the games while she can, and of course, Andrew has met a friend his age there and enjoys playing with him while his daddy plays ball. The games are only one hour long, since there are so many teams and so few places to play in Stillwater.
Randi has been taking care of Kaitlyn and their home. She is a really good mom and truly enjoys taking care of Kaitlyn. They make a great pair and you can really tell they "get along" when visiting too. Kaitlyn does not what to leave her mom's arms, and if she does, and gets in a bind in some way, only mom can fix it.. and that's ok, cuz that's what mom's do best!!
Jake attended a Crawfish Boil held at his work place, the OSU Vet. Teaching Hospital on campus of OSU yesterday. The Boil was put on by Science Diet for the students, faculty and staff, and I heard there were scores of folks there and lots of food, not just Crawfish, but other things as well. Jake loves New Orleans...
All I know for now... Enjoy the day!

Pear Tree Photos...

posted a few pics of the pear tree in front of home from a few days ago... enjoy!

Editorial: Baylor Lady Bears make Texas proud

04-06-2005 Editorial: Baylor Lady Bears make Texas proud
There´s much joy at Washington-on-the-Brazos today.

The Baylor Lady Bears are champions of the women´s basketball world after a resounding 84-62 victory over Michigan State on Tuesday night in Indianapolis.

The 22-point victory is the second-highest winning margin in an NCAA championship game after Tennessee´s 23-point win over Louisiana Tech in 1987. Baylor is only the fourth team (the third women´s team) to ever beat three No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament en route to the title.

Baylor had expected to meet perennial powerhouse Tennessee in the finals - well, actually, most folks thought No. 1 LSU would play the Lady Vols for the title - but Michigan State rallied from 16 down to stun the Rocky Toppers after Baylor came from 15 back to upset LSU.

There would be no rallying Tuesday night as Baylor got the big Michiganders down early and never let them up.

The Lady Bears finished the season with a sparkling 33-3 record including three wins over Texas Tech, the last one on a last-second shot in the Big 12 Tournament finals.

It was an extra sweet victory for the fiery and fiesty Baylor coach, Kim Mulkey-Robertson (oddly enough, smartly outfitted in a blue pant suit of a color befitting North Carolina State - but we won´t nitpick).

The former Louisiana Tech star became the first woman to ever play for a national champion and coach one was well, joining former North Carolina coach Dean Smith (he played at UNC as well) and Texas Tech´s Bobby Knight (he played for the 1960 champs at Ohio State and coached Indiana to three titles) in an elite group.

It was sweeter, still, in that Louisiana Tech somewhat insultingly offered her only a one-year contract to succeed Hall of Famer Leon Barmore as head coach five years ago. Coincidentally, former Louisiana Tech head coach Sonja Hogg once coached at Baylor.

After leading Hammond, La. to four state titles, Mrs. Mulkey-Robertson played for Louisiana Tech and was a 5-4 sophomore on the 1981 team that beat Kansas, 70-39 for the championship of the Plainview Queens Classic.

During her 19 years at Louisiana Tech, the team went to the Final Four 11 times and won three national titles, two while she was playing. She also was a summa cum laude graduate and two time Academic All-American who, not surprisingly, demands the very best from her players.
She has coached Baylor to a sparkling 131-38 record in five years.

The mother of two is married to a former Louisiana Tech quarterback.

After the men´s basketball scandal (including one player killing another) at Baylor and its football team falling on hard times, the achievement Tuesday night brings a much-neeed morale boost to the Waco institution.

We salute the Baylor Lady Bears for putting another jewel in the crown of the Lone Star State. Posted to MyPlainview: APRIL 06, 2005 14:59 CST

There´s much joy at Washington-on-the-Brazos today. The Baylor Lady Bears are champions of the women´s basketball world after a resounding 84-62 . . . From The Plainview Daily Herald

Ed's Note.. last time I will post on this.. sorry, but this coach amazes me!!

Coach Kim Mulkey-Robertson and the Lady Bears of Baylor... very impressive win and are todays honored National Champions!

KMR is first woman to win titles as player, coach


INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Baylor now has a basketball team it can celebrate. And what a celebration it was.

Baylor's Sophia Young hung on in the paint, and got to hang on to some NCAA title hardware, too.

The Lady Bears hugged, flopped on the floor in giddy delight and embraced their coach as a rainbow of neon-colored confetti rained down on the RCA Dome.

All they had wanted was to be a shining light for a university stained by scandal.

One dazzling national championship ought to do.

Sophia Young's 26 points, Emily Niemann's precise 3-point shooting and the brilliant, energetic play of the backcourt carried Baylor to an 84-62 victory over Michigan State on Tuesday night for the school's first NCAA title by a women's team.

"What a team I get to coach!" coach Kim Mulkey-Robertson said. "It wasn't the coaching, it's these guys taking me for a tremendous ride."

And it was a fast one.

Five years after Mulkey-Robertson took over a team that went 7-20 and was last in the Big 12, the Lady Bears were pulling on championship hats after a run through the tournament that included three victories over No. 1 seeds -- North Carolina, LSU and finally the Spartans.

Both teams were playing in the finals for the first time. The margin was the second-largest in a championship game, falling one point short of the record set in 1987 when Tennessee beat Louisiana Tech 67-44.

When the horn sounded Tuesday night, the players jumped in unison amid the streamers and screamed "We won! We won!" as fans chanted "Mul-key! Mul-key!" -- a tribute to a coach who had taken the program to heights never before imagined.

Lowest preseason rankings for eventual national champs
1992-93 Texas Tech 15
1993-94 North Carolina 9
2004-05 Baylor 8
1991-92 Stanford 7
1995-96 Tennessee 6
1990-91 Tennessee 6
1978-79 Old Dominion 6
* Michigan State was No. 15

"She doesn't accept anything but the best from her players," Baylor's Steffanie Blackmon said. "She's just hard on you, but it pays off, 'cause hey, we're here and we won the big thing right now."

They did it with unforgiving defense that disrupted almost everything Michigan State tried and by poking enough holes in the Spartans' matchup zone to stay comfortably ahead after zooming to a 19-point lead in the first half. Niemann keyed the arly surge and finished the first half with 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting from behind the 3-point line; she finished with 19.

"I think (Niemann) was the whole key to this game," Michigan State coach Joanne P. McCallie said. "If you take 51 off the floor, it was a different game. She was definitely the X-factor."

Not that the Lady Bears were resting easy after that. Knowing that Michigan State had rallied from 16 down to beat Tennessee two nights before, Baylor kept attacking, making steals and scrambling for loose balls.

The Lady Bears' killer instinct was a perfect reflection of their feisty coach, who practically glowed in a bold aqua blue pantsuit as she stormed back and forth in front of the bench, calling plays, pleading for calls from the officials and cajoling her players to keep pressing -- even with a 20-point lead.

They responded.


Michigan State men's coach Tom Izzo, whose squad lost in the Final Four, made the trip to Indy, only to see the Spartan women fall short, too.

Young was unstoppable in the second half, scoring 18 points. The 6-foot-1 junior, who came to the United States from the West Indies at age 15 and had never played basketball before that, was named the most outstanding player of the Final Four.

"Well, all those moments all just paid off right now," Young said. "This is what I came here for and I'm living my dream."

Young went 10-for-19 from the field, grabbed nine rebounds and had four assists. Blackmon helped out with 14 points in the second half to finish with 22.

The victory completed an unprecedented double for Mulkey-Robertson, who became the first in the women's game to play for a national championship team and then coach one. She was the starting point guard when Louisiana Tech won the first NCAA title in 1982 and later became an assistant coach at Tech, spending 15 years there before taking the Baylor job in 2000.

The Lady Bears (33-3) finished the season with 20 straight victories and helped erase an ugly stain on the university, which was rocked two years ago by a scandal in the men's basketball program that was uncovered after a former player was accused of killing a teammate.

"Look up at these fans," Mulkey-Robertson said. "That's how we changed the Waco community. We're a positive in Waco and at Baylor University. There's a lot of good there, there's great programs, great coaches, and this is one of many more to come."

Michigan State (33-4) had reached the title game with unselfish play that epitomized team basketball. But guards Kristin Haynie and Lindsay Bowen had to do it almost by themselves in this one -- and that was asking too much.

Bowen scored 20 points and Haynie 17, but Baylor negated Michigan State's two powerful inside players. Kelli Roehrig scored only eight points and Liz Shimek had seven. Baylor also owned the boards, outrebounding Michigan State 45-22.

"There was a lack in the post area," Roehrig said. "We really didn't hold our own."

Baylor led by 12 at halftime after blunting a mini-rally by the Spartans at the end of the half. Michigan State hung around for a while early in the second half, giving the Spartan fans -- who included men's coach Tom Izzo and football coach John L. Smith -- hope that another big comeback was possible.

Teams that beat three No. 1 seeds en route to national title
2005 Baylor women (Michigan State, LSU, North Carolina)
1997 Arizona men
1988 Louisiana Tech women
1987 Tennessee women

Not this time.

Baylor kept getting the ball to Young and Blackmon for baskets, while guards Chameka Scott and Latoya Wyatt kept harassing Haynie and Bowen. With under seven minutes to play, the lead had grown to 22. Even the Spartans had to feel they were finished by then.

Wyatt, a reserve who played only two minutes in Baylor's semifinal win over LSU, also contributed eight points and six rebounds. Scott added seven points, four rebounds and three assists.

When it was over, McCallie, who engineered a five-year turnaround of her own, managed a bright smile as she shook hands with Mulkey-Robertson, knowing the Spartans had lost to a superior team.

"They're hurting a lot right now, as we all are because the season's over, and it's just a funny feeling to have it be over," McCallie said. "But in the long run, they're going to look back and realize that they were part of the greatest team ever at Michigan State and one of the greatest teams ever."

Baylor frustrated the normally efficient Spartans from the start with its sticky man-to-man defense. The Lady Bears tipped passes, contested shots and often had Michigan State desperately seeking a good look at the basket with the shot clock winding down.

At the other end, the Spartans couldn't find Niemann and she made them pay. Her first two 3s gave Baylor a lead it would never relinquish and her four baskets from long range made it 32-13. Bowen and Haynie then led a 12-run that pulled Michigan State to 34-25.

The momentum was swinging the Spartans' way and then Niemann doused it with an NBA-range 3 from the left side with eight seconds remaining to take the lead back to 12.

It was more of the same after that. Baylor never stopped until it was time to celebrate.



Final
Baylor 84
Michigan State 62

__________________________ Ann turned me onto ladies Bball... she said it's faster, and more agressive.. and she is right, wow.. that's were the basketball the guys played when I was young went, to the ladies.. and they do it and do it well! Coach Kim just makes you proud of yourself, even watching the Ladies Bears in action, and seeing her react, was like .. unbeleivable. Her and Bob Stoops, two wonderful people who are inspiring our kiddos to greatness! It takes a champion to build one, and Coach Kim proved that! She was on the National Championship team of past years, and now has coached a National Championship team. And she is, as is Coach Stoops inspiring just to watch them carry themselves and work the players... and when they talk... they talk intelligently, words full of meaning, chosen just right, to inspire...

Ok.. done...! I was simply blown away by the Lady Bears of Baylor! Now the Big 12 Conference has a National Champion in it's midst for the first time ever in Basketball!! I am still out of breath from watching the game last night!!

Today's Quote

Today's Quote

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.

-Dalai Lama

Today's Quote

Today's Quote

We are not here to be successful. We are here to be faithful.

-Mother Teresa

Uncle Ivan sent this along, but it sure fits for a lot of us!!

Uncle Ivan sent this along with a note attached...... "Loving flowers, I am now turning into a snap dragon, my back has snapped and my tail is dragging!" .... and I understand!!
Posted by PCCPA; Please, click on image to enlarge.

Ok.. this one will work right I think. Click on the photo to make it larger!! Andrew and Austyn came over to visit this weekend and we had a blast! Austyn is really growing up, and can play for hours.. well, so can Andrew, haha!! Austyn had figured out Grandma's spinning wheel and how to make it go fast and then he had a belt he could pull against the wheel and stop it... kinda cool we thought. On Sunday the new sherriff in town dropped by. Sherriff Andrew Paul Blankinship that is. He was shooting Grandma's ducks in her boat on the wall, and then he thought he ought to walk around in Jake's boots, haha, well, he has big feet, but not quite that big! Anyway, photos online now.. videos later as I get time! enjoy! oh yes, one of the pics has Andrew and his mom and his new sister Madison who will be here in a month or so.. too...
Posted by PCCPA; Please, click on image to enlarge.

New photos of grandsons online...

Not sure this photo will work correctly if you want to make it big. Hope it does...
There are new pictures of the grandson's at Grandma Moffat's playing from this past weekend... Will tell more later.. but right now this site is not working correctly.

A friend of mine was at Honor Heights Park in Muskogee

Aaron Moore was in Muskogee this weekend to photograph the Red Dirt Rangers Concert there for us (PCL), and took some nice shots of the foliage there... cool pics.. These photos were shot at Honor Heights Park in Muskogee... a really nice park on the west side of Muskogee and on tAwesome Blossom's by Aaron Moore, from Red Dirt Rangers in Honor Heights Park, Muskogee.... Enjoy these park photos...

Today's Quote

Today's Quote

Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.

-Bill Gates

From Uncle Ivan comes another gem.... THE MAMMOGRAM ......

THE MAMMOGRAM ......
I actually kept my mammogram appointment. I was met with, "Hi! I'm
Belinda!" This perky clipboard carrier smiled from ear to ear, tilted
her head to one side and crooned, "All I need you to do is step into
this room right hereee, strip to the waist, thennnn slip on this gown.
Everything clearrrr?"
I'm thinking, "Belinda ... try decaf. This ain't rocket science."
Belinda skipped away to prepare the chamber of horrors. Call me crazy,
but I suspect a man invented this machine. It takes a perfectly healthy
cup size of 36-B to a size 38-LONG in less than 60 seconds. Also, girls
aren't made of sugar and spice and everything nice.it's Spandex. We can
be stretched, pulled and twisted over a cold 4-inch piece of square
glass and still pop back into shape.
With the right side finished, Belinda flipped me (literally) to the left
and said, "Hmmmm. Can you stand on your tippy toes and lean in a tad so
we can get everything?"
Fine, I answered. I was freezing, bruised, and out of air, so why not
use the remaining circulation in my legs and neck and finish me off?
My body was in a holding pattern that defied gravity (with my other boob
wedged between those two 4" pieces of square glass) when we heard, then
felt a zap! Complete darkness and the power went off!
"What?" I yelled.
"Oh, maintenance is working. Bet they hit a snag." Belinda headed for
the door.
"Excuse me! You're not leaving me in this vise alone, are you?" I
shouted.
Belinda kept going and said, "Oh, you fussy puppy ... the door's wide
open so you'll have the emergency hall lights.
I'll be righttttt backkkk."
Before I could shout "NOOOO!" she disappeared.
And that's exactly how Bubba and Earl, maintenance men extraordinaire,
found me, half-naked and part of me dangling from the Jaws of Life and
the other part smashed between glass!
After exchanging polite "Hi, how's it going" type greetings, Bubba (or
possibly Earl) asked, to my utter disbelief, if I knew the power was
off. Trying to disguise my hysteria, I replied with as much calmness as
possible. "Uh, yes .. yes I did, thanks."
"You bet, take care" Bubba replied and waved good-bye as though I'd been
standing in the line at the grocery store.
Two hours later, Belinda breezes in wearing a sheepish grin and making
no attempt to suppress her amusement, she said. "Oh I am soooo sorry!
The power came back on and I totally forgot about you! And silly me, I
went to lunch. Are we upset?"
And that, Your Honor, is exactly how her head ended up between the
clamps........

Ward and Melanie sent this lil' note along to us and it kind'a fit us too.. so we share...

The other day a young person asked me how I felt about being old. I was taken aback, for I do not think of myself as old. Upon seeing my reaction, she was immediately embarrassed, but I explained that it was an interesting question, and I would ponder it, and let her know.

Old age, I decided, is a gift. I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body­- but I don't agonize over it for long.

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become more kind to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to overeat, to be messy, to be extravagant. I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.



Whose business is it if I choose to read until 4 am, and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 50's & 60ies, and if I at the same time wish to weep over a lost love, I will. I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten ­ and I eventually remember the important things. Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turn gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver. I can say "no", and mean it. I can say "yes", and mean it. As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer the question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. For the first time in my life, I don't have to have a reason to do the things I want to do. If I want to play games on the computer all day, lay on the couch and watch old movies for hours or don't want to go to the beach or a movie, I have earned that right. I have put in my time doing everything for others, so now I can be a bit selfish without feeling guilty.

I sometimes feel sorry for the young. They face a far different world than I knew growing up, where we feared the law, respected the old, the flag, our country. I never felt the need to use filthy language in order to express myself. And they too will grow old someday.

I am grateful to have been born when I was, into a kinder, gentler world.


Yes, I like being old!

Austyn came over and stayed a bit today... he's growing up!!

Lookie who came to see us today! Austyn came over and stayed while Phil and Tammy went to the funeral of Carl Tarver, who was killed in the wreck early in the week. Phil reported it was the biggest funeral he had ever been to. But Austyn was wound up and was having a big ole time making Grandma's spinning wheel go fast! So wonderful to have the grandkids around! And another one is almost here! Heather is a month away from adding Madison Ann to the Blankinship lineup! We are all getting very excited about her arrival... needless to say... And then Jonathan called night before last and let Grandma Ann listen to one extermely wound up Kaitlyn jabber on and on.. how cool is that! Anyway.. enjoy the day, God is Awesome, things are going well, and all is good!! 

Today's Quote

Today's Quote

There are victories of the soul and spirit. Sometimes, even if you lose, you win.

-Elie Wiesel

Today's Quote

Today's Quote

The only way to find the limits of the possible is by going beyond them to the impossible.

-Arthur C. Clarke

from the tulsa world.. different take..

School bus, truck collide; 2 killed
By PATTI WEAVER World Correspondent
3/30/2005

View in Print (PDF) Format


CUSHING -- Two people -- one of them a student -- were killed Tuesday in a crash of a Ripley school bus and a truck pulling a stock trailer at Oklahoma 18 and Eseco Road, eight miles southwest of Cushing.

Another student aboard the bus and the bus driver were injured.

The truck driver, Carl Edward Tarver, 58, of Cushing, was killed in the crash and his passenger, Linda Tarver, 55, was injured, an Oklahoma Highway Patrol communications officer told The Associated Press

Ripley Elementary School Principal Lisa Pitts said that Sandra Combs, a 10th-grader who recently turned 16, was killed.

"Her dad, Carlos Combs, was driving into his driveway when he saw the bus spinning" on the highway less than a half-mile away from his home, Pitts said.

"It's sickening. It breaks your heart," Pitts said, fighting tears as she stood across from the Ripley school bus, with its front end demolished.

"We had nine kids on the bus -- a sixth-grader, junior high and high school students. This is the end of the route," Pitts said.

Parents arrived at the accident scene quickly, she said. "Kids passed around a cell phone and called their parents," she said.


Another girl, a 10th-grader, was also injured in the crash, Pitts said.

"She was taken to the Cushing hospital. She'll be all right. She's in fair condition," said Pitts, who did not release that girl's name.

"Both girls were in the front seat. Sandra was behind the driver; the other girl was on the other side," Pitts said.

Ripley School Superintendent Kenny Beams said that the bus driver, Jimmie Sue Blose, who teaches music in the elementary school and was driving a substitute route, "was hurt pretty bad."

Blose was flown by helicopter to St. John Medical Center in Tulsa, where she was in critical condition, Pitts said.

A witness, Eric Sams, 21, who works as a car fabricator at Wheels of Past Restoration directly across from the accident scene, said he had stepped outside at 4:03 p.m. for a smoke break when he heard "a loud screech."

"I heard a big boom, like a bomb. I ran for my boss, Dennis Francis, for help, to call 911.

"The truck loaded with cattle hit the front of the bus," which was going east on Eseco Road crossing Oklahoma 18, while the truck was traveling north on the highway, Sams said.

"The bus had stopped and went on," Sams said.

"The bus was taking off. The truck hit the front end of the bus. The bus spun completely around. The front axle of the bus bounced off, onto the road.

"The axle bounced, hitting the front of the bus," Sams said. "Four of us moved it, about 40 feet, out of the road."

He said he, his employer and co-workers, Michael Talent, 18, and Andy Johnson, 21, all worked together to move the about 500-pound axle.

"Four or five of the kids got out of the emergency exit of the bus. The bus driver looked slumped over in the seat.

"The girl who died was lying in the stairs of the bus. Her leg was caught under the bifold door.

"Michael and I jacked the bus up trying to get the door off her leg. Some men were yanking on the door," Sams said.

"It's the worst thing that ever happened that I've seen. It happened so fast."

Cushing Deputy Fire Chief Brent Kerr said, "This is one of the worst accidents we've had here in quite a while; a lot of people, a lot of chaos."

Neither Kerr nor Oklahoma Highway Patrol Lt. Jerry Coyle would release the names of any of the victims.

Superintendent Beams said that Wednesday "will be a voluntary day" in which students would not be required to be in school.

Counselors will be there for students who attend classes Wednesday, he said.

Update on tragic wreck last night....

School bus crash victims identified

By The Associated Press
RIPLEY -- A school bus collided with a flatbed pickup truck near this small Payne County community, killing a 16-year-old Ripley High School girl and the driver of the truck and injuring at least two others, officials said.
Sandra Deann Combs, 16, of Agra, a passenger on the school bus, and Carl Edward Tarver, 57, of Cushing, were killed in the 4:05 p.m. crash on Tuesday, said Diann Warnock, a communications officer with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

Combs was pinned for about 1 1/2 hours by jammed bus doors before Cushing firefighters were able to cut her free, troopers said. She suffered massive head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.

Another passenger on the bus, Halli McKintire, sustained head and internal injuries and was taken to Cushing Regional Hospital in stable condition, the OHP said. Her hometown and age were not available.

The bus driver, Jimmie Sue Blose, 50, was flown by helicopter to St. John Medical Center in Tulsa, the patrol reported. Media relations coordinator Hether Haddox said Wednesday morning she could not release information on Blose.

Firefighters worked for about two hours to free Tarver from the wreckage of his truck, but he died of massive head injuries at the scene of the accident, the patrol said.

A passenger in Tarver's truck, Linda Lou Tarver, 54, sustained head and leg injuries and was taken to Cushing Regional Hospital before being transferred to Deaconess Hospital, the OHP said.

There were six other passengers on the bus but information about them, including names, ages and hometowns, wasn't immediately released.

The bus was eastbound on a county road when it failed to yield to the pickup, which was pulling a cattle trailer northbound on State Highway 18, Trooper Steve Burrows said in a report on the accident. The truck crashed into the bus on the front passenger side, Burrows said. (This means she ran the stop sign!!)

Eric Sams, an employee of an auto shop near the intersection where the crash occurred, witnessed the crash.

"The bus was spun completely around," Sams said. "The front axle of the bus bounced off onto the road and onto the bus."

The impact mangled the front end of the truck all the way up to the driver's side windshield and tore off the hood of the bus. Yellow debris from the bus and wheels were strewn about the area.

Ripley softball coach Tony Cazzelle said classes would be voluntary Wednesday and that counselors would be on hand to meet with students. "It's just a little town, and something like this touches everybody," Cazzelle said. "I know that everybody here knows everybody, and half of them are related."

Cazzelle was coaching the girls' softball team when he found out about the crash.

"We finished the game, and I told the girls after the game," he said. He said Combs "was a real good friend to several players. We all prayed..."

Students were encouraged to arrive about 9:30 or 10 a.m. Wednesday. Buses were not scheduled to operate, officials said.

The Ripley district has about 300 elementary pupils and 125 high school students.

The community is about 16 miles southeast of Stillwater and about eight miles northeast of Perkins.

Today's Quote

Today's Quote

Yesterday is history, Tomorrow is a mystery, Today is a gift. That's why it is called the present.

-Unknown