Saturday, May 2, 2009, from the cabin on the marsh...

Beautiful day here on Bolivar on the beaches and on the marsh.  Hazy white clouds, gentle breezes, water lapping playfully along the shore and birds flying in the air.  Fishing must be good, too, because the North Jetty has lots of fish feeders on it today.  Some seem to be catching some fish and all appear to be having fun.

Ted says we are going to be "catchermen" and not just "fishermen."  He just about has our boat repaired from the storm and after removing a big piece of metal that was lodged in the hull, I think it is about sea worthy again.

Lots going on with the end of school nearing so rapidly.  The kids finished their TAKS testing last week and one could hear a collective sigh of relief from both teachers and students.  We were all very pleased to learn that Steven is doing well.  He scored the highest grade in his class for English (makes MaMa proud).  He got a 99.49 out of a possible 100 points and he pulled in at 155 on his book reading theme project.  Yea for him!  He will graduate from eighth grade and be officially ready for high school next school term.  We hear Brendan is making good grades, too, at his new school near Nashville.  We hope to see him during the summer months for his regular vacation at the beach.

Brent preached his last sermon at Val Verde here in Texas last Sunday and will soon be on his way to Community Baptist Church in lovely St. Petersburg, Florida.  Valerie and the kids will join him around June 1 when school is out. Both he and Valerie and Quinn, their oldest, has been very ill this week with a strain of the flu, not diagnosed as swine flue. We're having an onset of the swine flu here in the area and many of our school systems are closed down because of it.  Folks are very sick when they get it despite news reports saying it is mild.  We are all trying to be very careful and DeAnna is being given medication at her job because of working with incoming passengers.  She is still very sad about Brent moving to Florida and taking his children with him.  She thinks they won't have any "fun" in their lives without her!

Speaking of fun, I'm having so much fun on FaceBook after DeAnna made me join.  I've heard from so many of my old and dear friends that it is amazing.  Ron and Brenda English and John and Betty Pace (and others) and I have been catching up this week on the years that have passed.  I love communicating with John and Lydia Carpenter and so many more that I've found through this means.  Betty Pennell, an old friend from Forrest Hills, found me, as well as so many more.  Heard from Betty Owens Mosley this week, too.

Take care and happy week before Mother's Day, and until the next page turns,

Brenda