Brody turns 32!

Elizabeth and Charles sure setting up the room for Brody’s birthday party.  Brody wanted Pizza Hut.  We had the private room which gave Lane and Landon room to wander around freely.  Elizabeth brought coloring books and transformers for the boys activities. 

I must say the noise blowers was Lanes favorite. 

Alisha and Jonathan. They always show up if possible. They have the longest drive. 

Elizabeth and Charles standing up. Savannah is sitting with us.

Mr. C enjoying the birthday celebration. 

Brody loves to fish.  The birthday cake Elizabeth and boys designed is perfect. Lane at first said he wanted his dad to have a Superman cake. Then said his daddy loved to fish.

Overall the evening celebration was great.  Lots of laughter along with memories being shared. I am so proud of Brody and the life he is building for himself and his family. Happy birthday Brody! 

 

Lane T~Ball pictures

Emily did a great job on Lane’s pictures.  I am going to print them out for our photo album.  

This is my favorite photo of Lane with his bat. 

 

Kiva Loan

 So today I had email that I had money in my Kiva account. Was $28.00 and that is enough to make a new $25.00 loan.  Went looking for the “perfect person” to lend the funds, finally settled on a country I hadn’t loaned to before.  I also tend to loan to women entrepreneurs.  

This loan would be no different. Her name is Saikhanzaya from Mongolia. She will use her loan to invest in essential equipment for her ice cream business.  In Asia 86% of people surveyed were able were able to manage there finances as a result of their loan.

Kiva expands financial access to help underserved communities thrive. This is my first loan to lend for 2025. But hope to loan at least 4 more loans this year.  I normally wait till I have $25.00 repaid and use that to fund a new loan.  Which means I keep my original loan rolling over to keep helping others. 

My 1st loan I made was March 21 2012. Have made 36 loans to 31 countries. Am wanting to try to make loans to as many countries as possible. I have also made several loans here in USA. Will try to loan to someone in USA at least once a year.  The total amount loaned is $885.00.  

If you haven’t checked out Kiva go check out their website.  I also donate $4.00 or more for every loan I make, which is tax deductible. 

40th class reunion

Has it really been 40 years since I graduated?  This is our classmates you made it tonight. Might be missing a few that opted out of taking a group picture.  We graduated with 101 classmates.  The turn out was better than our last reunion thankfully. 

To tell the truth I wasn’t very popular in school and didn’t want to be there. In fact I really thought that once done with graduation I wouldn’t care to meet back up with our class. Except for a small group of friends, who I have kept up with thru the years. My school friends was Cinda, Brenda, Janine, Sherri. I normally worked and hung out was students older than me.  So as far as reconnecting with my classmates I was glad to see them, but couldn’t help thinking of how I had distanced my self from many of them during high school. Thru the years I have stayed in touch with several friends. Of course Brenda and I are first cousins but felt like we were raised as siblings, so that bond can’t be broken.  

Going to the reunions thru the years has gave me others perspectives on school. Many similar to my own experiences. I just didn’t see outside myself on what others was dealing with thru high school. 

I wonder where my year books went?  Am sure thru the years they got misplaced.

This group photo was taken Friday night.  I didn’t attend as I had left work early due to being ill. Am glad to have the pictures of everyone. 

Glen and Cori

Nancy

Ernie

Sharla and Dawn

Me and Cinda

Sharla’s family

Janine and Ann

Lori and Cinda

Brenda and Rhonda

Sherri 

Cathy and Mrs Barker (Todd’s wife)

Don Mr Miller, Ann Miller, Lori Delk

Cinda, Brenda, Nancy, Sherri, Steve & Janine

Rhonda

Cinda,me and Brenda

Things I have learned from this reunion.  We are all a child of God.  We all did what we could to get thru our school years. Even the ones that bullied and made fun of our social status can change their attitudes. It humbles me that there were teenagers just like me trying to survive in difficult circumstances and yet, we couldn’t share our experiences with others. 

I also realize that old narratives no longer matter.  I am making new friendships with my former classmates and learning about who they are now. Makes me glad to know that we are in control of our own destiny and how to grow into the future as old classmates. 

It felt right to attend and glad I went to celebrate 40 years of being out of school. 

 

Gifts for 58th birthday

Flowers from Trevor and family.

Flowers and Visa card from Blake and family

Gift set from Alisha and Jonathan

Brody and Savannah and family gifts.

Gift from Shelby my dear co~worker.

Cards and tucks ins I got as well.

Elizabeth and Charles a weekender bag. 

Sam Co~worker got me this cure Lego set. 

I was totally blessed this year.  So great full for everyone who celebrated my birthday with me thru the month.  I sure feel the love from everyone.