Cousins Gathering and Update on Lillian! Saturday in Fort Worth.....

Today has been all about family and a friend who is like family!

Last  night I fixed a potato salad and baked a Crack Cake in preparation for our quarterly Cousins Gathering.

Sister Deanie and Charlie hosted the party this afternoon.

Louis Dean and I were the last to arrive but we were only about 20 minutes late!

I'm getting better! See how GOOD Deanie looks!

This was the first entertaining she has done since they moved into this house nearly 5 years ago.

It was a great party!! How could it not be???

Here's Louis Dean, Cousin Joyce and Cousin Anthony.

Mother was Joyce and Anthony's aunt.

See Rayne in the foreground??

Her birthday was the 9th of June and I was late getting her birthday gift to her!

There were 21 people all gathered together to celebrate just being together!

Charlie made the call to prayer and we joined hands in a big circle.

And then we waited......and I took a few photos.....

Who were we waiting for? Nita and Pam were off in another part of the house visiting!

Everyone was glad to see Sabrina!!!

I don't get to see her often so I will treasure this selfie.

Louis Dean and our beloved Pam!

Have I mentioned how everyone loves Pam???

Brother Lonnie and his beloved bride, Michele.

We had such a spread of food! 

Everyone brought something and Deanie and Charlie had two pans full of ribs, sausage, chopped and sliced beef!

I was off my game tonight and did not take nearly enough pictures!

Deanie took this one of Rayne and Rickie.

Rickie is Pam's grandson. These are two amazing kids right here!

We had so much fun!

It was like musical chairs all afternoon.

We swarmed from one room to another as we all tried to spend some time visiting with each other.

I loved hearing the sounds of laughter and conversation coming from several rooms and mingling all together into a beautiful piece of music. 

Charlie has such a sense of humor!

When we all go out to eat together - Charlie is amazed at the amount of salt I use.

The first time I salted chips at a Mexican restaurant - he stared with wide eyes and open mouth.

Seriously, I have used a lot of salt all my life. Literally! My mother used to say, "Linda, you are going to dry up and blow away with all the salt you eat!"  So far I haven't! And just for the record - my sodium level at every physical I have ever had is and has always been normal!!

I have no idea why I crave salt the way I do - but I do!

I expressed concern about this note on their pantry at my last visit here at their home.....

So he added my name to it!!!

I do so love Charlie!!!

What a great sense of humor!

Our entire family loves Charlie!

And I was so excited to see Deanie - who has had some serious health issues over the last - what?? maybe 8-10 years? Tonight I saw proof that my sister is BACK!!

My first  clue?

When I went in to what was formerly Mother's bathroom!

It was decorated!!!!

Summer and I were both impressed and excited!

I may have hooped and hollered and caused other family members to come in and check to see what was going on!

Deanie has such class and worked in Neiman's for several years.

She collects with such creativity.

Hanging a basket and pinning vintage broaches on the flat side and using the front for display?

And such unique things - see the set of lips and the two little frogs?

****Note the two little frogs in their wedding announcement****

Deanie has long collected perfume bottles and party purses.....

See why I say she is BACK???

She is so full of personality and charm and a splash of eclecticism!

It shows in her flare for decorating!

THIS is my favorite!!!

Do you remember???

I do!

I love her home and all the cute things she has and they all have a story behind them!

It was a great time of fun, food and fellowship as we celebrated FAMILY!

We left there and stopped at Walmart to do a bit of shopping for Lillian for the coming week.

I picked up  milk, cereal, and such before we went over to Trail Lake Nursing Home to visit with her.

I admit to being upset about the audio recording of every word we say in the room going to the guardian of the sweet roommate, Ruth. I get the video recording of Ruth's side of the room. No problem with that. But audio of every word in that room is unacceptable.

Long story short - Lillian was moved immediately to a private room reserved for 'emergencies.'

It just so happened to be the room Mother was in when she died. It was a refuge for Lillian tonight.

She will only be there for a week or so before she is moved to a new room.

Sister Nita came over to help us get her moved and settled in.

Nita visits Lillian every Sunday bringing her a chocolate malt from Braum's.

She looks forward to this every week!!

Bottom line - Lillian will have a week of peace and quiet where she can watch movies and news and sleep with the light off during the night.

We came home before dark because we did not want to do a repeat of what happened Monday night!!

I was pretty riled up this evening and did not do anything to be ashamed of.

You can get upset without being mean and I did my best to do that.

Relationships are important and the staff knew my heart.....and supported me in my support of Lillian.

And tomorrow Louis Dean and I are going to Galveston to celebrate our 14th wedding anniversary!

I will check in from the island!!!