WE'RE OFF - TO THE ANIMAL KINGDOM

OK - it is now Sunday and the WHOLE family is going to Disney's Animal Kingdom!!! There are 12 of us going!!! We started out the morning getting our pictures taken. First there were the "Three Mickeys" - Aunt Dixie, ME, and Pat. We had all bought the same t-shirt at Disney and wore them Sunday. And we instantly became the "Three Mickeys". We had fun with that all day. Of course then there were the "non-conformists!!!" - the one of a kind, non-matching threesome!!! - Carole, Betty, and Ann. Oh well, some people just have to be unique!!

When we arrived at the Animal Kingdom, we each had to have a "buddy" and each twosome was responsible for each other. That didn't always work. But we basically did pretty well. We started out heading for the Safari as we had "fast passes" and had to be there at a certain time to get right on the ride. So we were "booking it" to that. But I did get to stop and take a picture of one of the "main points" of the park - this tree!! Very unique and a lovely picture. (I also got to stop for a moment and catch my breath! Ha!) We arrived at the safari and went right on - no waiting!!!

Next up - WILD ANIMALS!!!

SHE DID IT!!!

Finally!!! After nudging and pushing and trying to gently persuade her (has taken a year or two) - Terri finally got her hair colored today!!! And it looks great!!! The lady who did it did a terrific job. It is not a blaringly jolting change - just a subtle change. Terri really likes it also. So - tell me what you all think!!! The first picture by the lake was taken in March of this year and the other one was taken today.

"THE BABY"

A little break from the "birthday celebration" blogging. Today was a little stressful for both myself and "the baby" - Fancy. Fancy is our youngest Italian Greyhound and even though she is almost 12, she will always be "the baby". Of course now we have Fannie Mae and she is the youngest dog but Fancy is and always will be "the baby". Today Fancy had to have a liver biopsy. I always get a little stressed when one of the greyhounds has to be put under anesthesia. But she is a little trooper, and she came through the procedure just fine. Last week we did some routine yearly bloodwork on Fancy (who has just about every problem a dog could have!!!) and now her liver values were GREATLY elevated. So we did a test called a "bile acid test" which tests the function of the liver. It also was GREATLY elevated which means her liver is not functioning properly. In order to know what is going on - a liver biopsy has to be performed. So today she had one done. Dr. Baird did an ultrasound-guided biopsy and got a good sample. He did say her liver was pretty small (which is not a good thing) and the sample was kind of pale (also not a good thing). We sent it off to a lab for the biopsy and should get the results next week. It could be anything from cancer to hepatitis to cirrhosis to just liver failure. She has so many problems - this is just one more organ to develop something wrong. She has days where she eats like a trooper and feels good, then she will have days where she won't eat at all and then days when she eats but throws it all back up. I tell myself not to worry or borrow trouble but it is difficult when you look into the eyes of one of your little "babies" and you know they don't feel well. But I will keep putting her in God's hands and pray that He will keep her with us for a long while. He has kept her with us through so many problems (which are still continuing but are being managed). I pray He will do the same thing again and help us to know how to manage this problem. And as always we will continue to love on her and spoil her rotten (as we do all three of our "little girls"!!).

MORE SURPRISES!

THE NEXT SURPRISE!! The surprise birthday party with all their friends held at the clubhouse on Saturday. And yes - she was definitely surprised again!! She was told we were going to have family pictures taken. Had no idea a party was in process. And again - Vince and Michele did a fantastic job. There was a catered meal of barbeque ribs, chicken, beans, salad, and much much more. It was delicious. Plus they had a drink bar and then the birthday cake!! There was another surprise for Marilyn that happened on Friday - Mike and Bev showed up at the house!! Mike had talked to Marilyn earlier in the day and told her he would talk to her later that evening. He just neglected to tell her it would be IN PERSON!!

The party was great and I know Marilyn felt very loved by all the people who showed up to wish her a Happy Birthday. Vince introduced us all to her friends before we ate and his introduction and his heartfelt thanks and love for us all touched my heart (as I am sure it touched the other siblings).

I was so happy to be a part of this wonderful birthday celebration. The love I FELT from Vince and Marilyn meant so much to me and I know they felt the LOVE we all have for them.

This party was the last of the surprises and Vince was very relieved. It was very hard on him to keep all those surprises a secret!!!! But he did a great job!

Next up - The Animal Kingdom

RELATIONSHIPS

When I saw this statue at Disney World, I thought - that is how ALL THIS (Disney World, Epcot, Disneyland, Animal Kingdom, movies, etc.) was started. A man named Walt Disney created a little mouse named Mickey Mouse. And they became "Partners"! And that was some relationship. Many many years later - one cannot think of Mickey without thinking Disney.

When I was thinking of that relationship - I began thinking of other relationships that in my life mean alot to me (and even more to the people involved). They are my sisters and brother - Marilyn AND Vince; Larry AND Betty; Pat AND Sully; Carole AND Dave; Ann AND Al. Those relationships say a lot to me. I thank God for each and every one. And I love each and every one. Each of those have a very wonderful relationship - marriage, partners, friends. Then there is the relationship we all have to each other - family - siblings - friends. And then our relationship to the rest of the family - Aunt Dixie, my nieces and nephews - my siblings' children and grandchildren. All those relationships all meld together in a loving, wonderful way - called FAMILY. And I thank God for my family and for blessing our family in so many ways.

But the most important relationship of all for ME and I hope for the rest of my family - is the loving, most personal relationship I have with God the Father and Jesus, His Son. There is not a day goes by that I do not give thanks to God for His Son Jesus who died for me so I can forever be with HIM. What love - love we cannot even begin to imagine. Divine Love - Amazing Love. I love Jesus and I love God the Father and I know when I get to Heaven I will know even greater love than I have now!!

"Thank You Father for loving ME - for loving me with a love I cannot even begin to fathom. I love you Father and I pray I will always show my love for You in everything I do!!"