Harold turned 75

This year Harold turned 75 years old. OMG!! Hard to believe it!

We got the brothers Byrd together to have a little party for Harold

Harold had a good time. Oh heck we all did. I sat and

talked with the girls and Linda. While the men sat and

talked about all kinds of things. I think they could have

visited for hours. Well they did for 2 that night.

Tim brought Rachel. We missed Cathy who was away

on business in Russelville that night. She came home the

next day.

Her is Brandee and Rachel with one of Brandee's

friends who was staying the night with her. They're

such pretty girls and they are growing up so fast.

This is Linda and Terry's new dog. He reminds me

of the Tramp from the Disney movie. He was fiesty.

He loved climbing into Terry's arm to be held. The

next day we went to the nursing home for Daisy's

(the guys grandma) birthday.

Denise's Birthday

Denise's 32nd birthday. We had a little cake and ice cream for her at our house.

It was a nice day and we sat outside and visited then back inside for cake.

The girls Tony and I. Robbie and Tracy couldn't make it we met them

later on in the week.

I got a little gag gift for Denise. It's a 3 hole punch.
Something she was needing at work. It backfired though

she had already purchased one. She said she'd keep

this one for the house.

We went to Art's and had the cheeseburger basket.
Art's is known for one of the best burgers in town.

Last shot before heading to the bowling alley for

a couple of games.

Thursday night we got together at Power House for a

birthday get together with more friends and family.

Here's a shot of Michael, Bobby and Denise.

Lyndsey and Jessie.

Hey pretty girls! Smile for the camera!

Hey who's this cute couple, why it's my son Robbie

and his sweet girlfriend Tracy.

Uh oh its daddy Tony and Denise, these two are

a mess!

We had a great time both day and night.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DENISE!

Northwest Arkansas Ice Storm 2009

This is a picture of one of the first warm days after the ice storm in Fayetteville and most of Northwest Arkansas. The warnings came in but no one could have anticipated what happened.
These are pictures of our street and the tree limb piles in front of our homes have actually doubled and at some homes tripled in size. These photos are just a few days after. At our house we still had not cleaned up the tree mess from the back yard. Neighbors lost fences. Some had to reconnect lines. Our house was only out of power for 12 to 13 hours. We were lucky.

Many of the people in Northwest Arkansas were without power for up to 13 days. Many could not leave their homes. They were trapped in their own homes by trees and tree limbs. One customer who came in after 12 days with no power said she had lost her husband. He used a machine to keep his lungs functioning. It took 4 days for anyone to reach them. When they could get out he was hospitalized with pnuemonia. He could not recover and died. Some of us did not have lights or heat. Some of us did not have function of life sustaining equipment. Those peoples lives were changed forever.

Another lady I talked to told me of being trapped inside her home. Scared, cold, and alone. Many of us use cell phones. This woman had no need previous to own one until this happened. She had no communication with anyone for days and was terrified.

Even though my neighbors and I had tree and limb damage we had each other. This fence belongs to one of our elder neighbors and our friends across the street went down to see about her.

Ashleys Baby

Well after much abscence I am finally back at the computer with much to tell.

First to tell is my cousin Ashley. The pics you've seen are of the baby shower. Held by her cousin Monica. A fun event with friends and family, Ashley had a great time. The next day my daughter Denise dropped by and had just received a text message announcing the arrival of Layla, Ashley had her baby the very next day after the shower. Whew! Just in the knick of time. Everyone is excited to have a new little baby girl in the family.

Busy

With a 40 hour work week my days are pretty full. Top it off Tony and I usher for the UofA.

We worked the Gymbacks on Friday from 5-9. The girls were great they beat the #1 Florida Gators team by just .075 pts. Three of the Florida girls had falls on the balance beam routines. They had graceful and difficult routines up to the time of their fall. One girl hit her head while doing her dismount (scary). This Razorbacks gymnastics team is so talented this year. If you get a chance to see them you should.

On Saturday the mens Uof A basketball Razorbacks had a game against Auburn University. Tony and I had to be there at 9am. I was assigned the job of selling tickets. It isn't difficult but is very cold in the ticket office. The wind comes right in the window and my fingers are frozen. But I enjoyed it. Then I was given the job of going down on the floor behind the press box where Mike Nail and Rick Schaffer broadcast the game. Tony and I then had the responsibility of staying the fans from coach Pelphrey while he did his interview with Mike Nail after the game.
Unfortunately our team lost again. An 0 and 4 start to the conference. So sad.

Today we got out took a drive around Northwest Arkansas. We drove wherever the road took us. To Highfill then around Vaughn. We ended up in Rogers and then drove to the lake, our favorite place. We parked at the waters edge and rolled down the windows to hear the silence. The water and the air was so still and silent. It was quite meditational. Our lord has created such a beautiful world, and this is the place I see his work in all its splendor. Quiet nature, air and land, fish and fowl. As we left the we saw eight deer grazing two were small fawns, so lovely to see. We came home and that finished our busy weekend.

Hope all of you had a wonderful weekend to. Love to you all and your beautiful families. God bless!

Tim Byrd's 50th Birthday

Hi everyone! It's a lovely Sunday morning in the Ozarks. It's not quite the frozen weather we had a few days ago. Well that's what you get when you live in Arkansas. Up and down crazy temps and weather.

Last night my husband Tony and I went to the birthday of his brother Tim, who was turning the ripe old age of 50.
Finally another 50 year old.
As many of you know my 50th was back in September of "08.
We got him a silly hat and t-shirt the guests were given a sharpie so they could write something special on the shirt for Tim. To commemorate the night.
Lots of photos were taken by Karen (Tim's sister in law on his wife's side). Family including Tony and myself, Cathy, Tim's wife, Rachel his daughter, two of Rachel's school friends, Karen and her husband Les, lifelong friends Bobby and Debbie and Bobs brother Bo. Jessica and David and little Harbor were all there. We loved being there celebrating this big day with Tim.
Harbor was such a good baby. He was asleep when they got there and Jessica woke him so that we could hold him. He is a little bundle of joy. Just a cuddly little bundle. So sweet!
After dinner Tim, Cathy, Les, Karen, Tony and I all went to the theater and watched "Hotel for Dogs". This is a great show especially if your a dog person like we are.

Amazing Grace

Thank You, Jesus that Your Spirit brings such comfort to my heart. When I am sad or frightened, remind me that all I need to do is open myself to You--and Your love will wrap around me like a warm, comforting blanket. Amen

"For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard." PSALM22:24

While blog walking today I stopped at one of my favorite bloggers Jessica. She wrote of the need
for prayer for her friends baby daughter, Harper. Kelly Stamps is Jessica's friends name and she gave birth to a little girl they named Harper. Harper was ill and was thought to need heart and lung surgery, (very serious). There was no room at ACH in Little Rock so she was taken to St.Francis Hospital in Tulsa, OK. The nurses had already started prayer for little Harper and Jessica asks for prayer from us to heal this child and comfort for this family during this hard time. Many had responded already to the need of this family. I also started praying for gods grace and blessings for little Harper.

In going to Kellys's blog I read that indeed Harper has already started to heal from the pneumonia that was in her lungs and she will not need heart surgery at all. In fact the doctors see her improving so much they don't think any surgery is going to be needed. Many showed up at the hospital and gave Kellys husband food and comfort, the outpouring has touched their hearts deeply, she says on her posts she is thankful.

Continued prayers for this family is what I am asking from you. You may not know this young woman, nor do I, but in reading her posts and blog it is obvious she is a true child of God and his grace is going out to her and this child. Please pray for the next 24 hours say a prayer or two for this child and family that she will continue to be blessed by our holy father. His love and mercy abounds around us. If we only ask he will see it done. He is all merciful. Miracles happen every moment. Every breath, every beat of our hearts is a true miracle and we should praise God for it.
Praise God, Harper is getting better! Thank you Lord! Thank you Father! God bless all!
Debra

By Candle Light

The weather in the Ozarks is in the single digits, and so we lit some candles on the fire place to

set a warm romantic mood. We didn't want the big fire just the soft candle light. Maybe you want to light a candle or two yourself.

Thanks for stopping by, I pray God blesses each and every one of your lives, that your lives are long and happy. This is my wish for all of you this new year. God's sweet blessings on all.

Bye for now, Debra

2009

Our first weekend of the new year and it was a beautiful sunny Sunday. So we wanted to spend the day out in the sun. We went to Beaver Lake here in the Ozarks. To the north park at Lost Bridges. We had a great day, wrapped up by a beautiful sunset.