Georgia Retires

Georgia was the first person I met when I moved to Berry. She was finishing up her last year of college and then she started teaching. Georgia taught Special Ed for about 37 (?) years. She is one of those people that was just made to do this. She retired from Berry Elementary this year and she will be missed.
Congratulations, dear friend!! You have put many jewels in your crown in heaven doing your work!!!

Georgia invited John and I to come to her retirement party at school. They asked if anybody wanted to say anything and of course I had to share a few stories......but not all of them.....some will remain our secret!!!

Georgia's family

What Georgia did not know, when she invited us to her retirement party at school, was that Mike had already invited us to her surprise Retirement Party at their house!

She was surprised!

The lake side of Georgia's beautiful home

Last Weekend

I had spent weeks planning John a really great birthday surprise....and then it happened. I began to have trouble walking. My right leg ached . I thought it was the same trouble that I had two years ago and just tried to ignore it. It wasn't. I had a pinched nerve and got to the point where I couldn't walk without a pain pill. I went to the doctor and got a shot in my sciatic nerve...ouch!!! I came home and cancelled all my surprise plans for John's birthday. But, I got a little better....still got a long way to go....so I packed our bags and John and I took off for Maggie Valley, North Carolina to spend some time together and celebrate his birthday.
As I looked through some of my pictures on my phone and started putting captions on them....it dawned on me.....this sounds like a country song...so...here it is!
(a real blog post to come in a few days)

The Birthday Country Song

We headed down the road

to where the trees shade our way

we put our feet up by the creek
and thought about two young kids and their dreams

We spent some time talking about our life

and its many twists and turns

So happy at this point in our life

We've been high and we've been low

Even stuck in the middle (of a tunnel) with you

So here we are
you and me
me and you
HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Happy "60th" Birthday, John Brady

Here you are....Big John....the love of my life....60 years old

but... when I look at you this is the John Brady that I see!

My high school sweetheart

 

So thankful for this wonderful life that we have together

For a husband that has always been my "HERO"

 

I love you....John Brady Lawson

In the Summer Time

When the weather is high

you can stretch right up

an' touch the sky.......

Eight Is Enough

April's Book

I just remembered that I forgot to put in my book club's April book. It was my pick and I loved the book.

WWII novel with a refreshingly different point of view

poignant authentic story

an "unputdownable" love story

impeccably researched and beautifully written

a beautiful timeless love story

a novel to savor and then share with a friend

These are just a few of the reviews about this book. It was so hard to put down. A  historical fiction novel that will make you think about it when you aren't reading it!

I suggest you buy it and read it!!!!



A Blessed Night

                                                                                                                   

My daughter in law, Kim Lawson, worked with the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind this year. Children with disabilities is something that hits close to home in our family and Kim definitely has a heart for this work! We truly became more aware of disabilities, years ago, when Curt had his accident. You think you know...you think you understand....but until you live it you just think you understand.
Something that I will never forget....when I was at Shepherd Spinal Center in Atlanta....learning how to help take care of Curt.....we were in a group discussion with older wheelchair patients....one of the men said......Look at us, we understand that, but then bring your eyes to our face and acknowledge us! I try to do this to anybody I see with any disability!

When Kim invited me to their Graduation I was honored.

waiting for the program to begin

This poem was included inside the program. I love it!

THE PROGRAM

all the children were in the end of the year program

THE GRADUATION

They are all precious but.....this little sweetheart captured my heart. He debuted pushing his chair all by himself down the aisle.... to get his diploma. Not a dry eye in the house. Oh....what we take for granted!!!

THE HIGH FIVES

This little man caught our attention quick. Kim introduced him to me and Brady. He did not graduate but Kim was holding a hat in her hand and he wanted to try it on. I made a picture of him in the hat and he wanted to look at the pic. I pulled up the pic and handed him the camera. He looked at it and then turned the camera around and wanted to make my picture. Kim fixed the camera for him and then I posed. He stopped, took the camera down and motioned for Brady to hug me and then.....made this picture.

Brady and I got a good laugh out of it and told him thank you.......that was when Kim reminded us that he was deaf. Don't forget to count your blessings. Brady and I quickly learned the sign for thank you!

Also, please visit these two pages. Grey was one of Kim's students.

on facebook ---  Sounds 4 Grey

and

www.sounds4grey.com