Nonna Debby's July 2009 Memories

Mandy’s Fam came for breakfast on Friday the 3^rd. They had arrived from VA late the night before. It was so good to see them. I was waiting at the garage door for them to get out of the truck. Layla came running like greased lightning and just about knocked me off my feet when she hugged me. Olivia was right behind her and gave me a quick and happy hug and then ran to hug Roxy and spent the rest of her time with her. At least she hugged me first.

We went to Rocky River on the 4^th. Mom and Hazel joined us. Later that afternoon, Bryce, Mandy, Lori, and their families came to play in the river. Prater’s BBQ did the cooking for us, but we kept it warm over a fire in the fire pit. Mandy, Lori, and fams spent the afternoon with us after church the next day, too.

The 4^th annual Camp Nonnanee was full of fun. We camped in tents the first night, and in Little House the second night. We watched Anne of Greene Gables and Nanny McPhee; cooked over an open fire; made banana boats, cookies, and pizza; created tissue bouquets, Rockettes, pinwheels, sand jewelry, & t-shirts; there was water gun fun, rock collecting, nature walks (both in and out of the river),and campfire singing. The evening devotionals ended our days in just the right way. The last night we had a family cookout that concluded with a performance by the Camp Nonnanee singers – finest bunch of granddaughters you could find anywhere! All the girls got along so well and were just a delight for Pa & me.

Mandy’s Fam spent the night with us on Friday night (10^th). The girls stayed with us the next day while M & M got everything packed up to leave for VA. While they were gone, I took Layla to do a little shopping. She bought some stamps so that she and Olivia could write me. I gave them envelopes and stationary, and so far, I’ve received FOUR LETTERS. It is so fun to hear from them. We also received really sweet notes from the Shepherd girls last month. All our recent correspondence is still on the kitchen table for subsequent readings. Anyway, the time arrived for the Goodwill/Crawfords to depart and there were a few tears (understatement).

Joe went with Brett to the UTC orientation on the 13^th. He has transferred there from Motlow and will be staying in a dorm.

I went for a visit with Mom on the 14^th and took her some of our bounteous harvest. We had a nice visit as always.

On the 15^th, I painted the Jones’ baby’s room. Blue. Gracie has since painted bi-planes and clouds on all the walls and it looks so good.

Joe and I went out to eat one Saturday night at Foglight. It’s a really neat restaurant in Walling that overlooks the Caney Fork. I’m not a huge fan of their food, but it’s a great spot to eat. I do really like their cheesecake, though. I think it’s the best I’ve ever had anywhere. The proprietor’s wife makes them.

Joe spoke in Shelbyville on the 19^th and gave one of the best talks I’ve ever heard him give. We enjoyed seeing some old friends while we were there and enjoyed the meetings very much. That afternoon we visited both grandmas.

Brett gave me the book, Three Cups of Tea, for my birthday. It was written by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. I finished it a few weeks ago. What a good book! What an inspiring story! It’s the story of a mountaineer (Mortenson) who drifted into an impoverished Pakistan village in the Karakoram mountains after a failed attempt to climb K2 in 1993. Moved by the inhabitants’ kindness, he promised to return and build a school. The book is the story of that promise and its extraordinary outcome. Over the next decade he build not just one, but fifty-five schools – especially for girls – in the forbidding terrain that gave birth to the Taliban. It’s a riveting adventure as well as a testament to the power of the human spirit. Mortenson refers to it as his mission to promote peace – one school at a time.

Here’s a quote by the village chief that Mortenson met at the beginning of this story, “Here (in Pakistan and Afghanistan), we drink three cups of tea to do business; the first you are a stranger, the second you become a friend, and the third, you join our family, and for our family we are prepared to do anything –even die.” Great read.

I also read a few other books. They were about husbands, and babies, and teenagers. I’ve laughed out loud quite a bit as I’ve read them. I was reading something on-line and found them recommended as books written in Erma Bombeck style. Since I read every book she ever wrote several years ago, I thought I’d give these a try. I wasn’t disappointed.

I did some shopping for Mom on the 23^rd and then delivered the things on her list. After we got things put away, we broke green beans that Joe had picked for her. Another nice visit.

We hadn’t attended any of the Main Street Live performances this summer until the 24^th. We went to hear the Joe Harvey Band. He and his brother are Gracie’s first cousins. They are very talented musicians. The genre wasn’t what Joe and I particularly like, but we did like some of their numbers. The next Friday night we went to hear Timeline. They played music from the 60’s & 70’s. We really enjoyed their show. The Goodens sat with us as we enjoyed visiting with them, too. The crowds for these performances have really grown. The numbers have started approaching 2000!

Darlene hosted Pioneer Day at her place on the 25^th. We had lots to get done that day and didn’t make it out there until later, but we were glad we went. We enjoyed visiting with friends and watching all the kids have lots of fun.