Hay Kelly,
Your firewall blocked me from responding to your email.

So, thanks for the good wish buddy!

I was wondering the same thing.... Kelly here's hoping you're just having tooooo much fun being a Mommy!!

kelly has a fun time with life....being a mommy is icing on the cake for her.

boom, are you coming back to ohio this year?

Hi Pat! I doubt we can swing it this year... if we can get a vacation this year I'm standing fast that it will be Bon!!
But one just never really knows!! I have quite a few departments in Oh who buy from us.... maybe a business trip

Okay, I don't think she'll mind if I answer for her...she's got a lot going on and could use a hug!

Big hugs to Kelly!!!!! I'll put you on my prayer list!

Kelly ... you are in our thoughts and prayers. Denise and Teddy

Adding my hugs to the list!

always in my thoughts!!!

Kelly,

from us all!

Kelly, I hope whatever's going on is not too bad, hon. We're here for you! (Just like you've been there for so many of us). ((((hugs))))

Kelly - a BIG hug your way girlie girl. I was wondering too because I was missin' you.

Huge Hugs from here girlfriend --- positive thoughts and good juju all headed to you!

Sending you lots of hugs Kelly.

And Great Big Bear Hugs from Karen and I, Kelly!!



Bill

Me, too, girl!

Kelly, hang in there girl. Now you have us worried, it's been since the middle of December since you last posted. Prayers and hugs.

Kelly,
My thoughts and prayers are with you. I miss you and if you need anything please let me know.

Hope everything is alright with you Kelly...we are all here if you need us...

Hi Kelly our good wishes from Sunny Bonaire.

Hey Kelly, Sending Big Moose Hugs your way! ((((HUGS))))

Here's some hugs from Wisconsin, Kelly... I hope we see your smiling face back online soon

Hugs and

Hugs from a chilly Calgary kiddo

Thanks for the info Kelly.

What info????????

About her Dad.
Cecil, any ice in Raymond?

I use to rock climb in Pawtuckaway. Louise put a end to that when I got stuck in a overhang for about two hours, got dark, we lost our way out and I got home at 3:00 am. Louise was on fire!

Not much just a couple of inches on everything and about as much electricity as Baghdad.

Hello, friends ! Thank you for all the hugs and emails. My dad is very very sick and I've been back and forth at the hospital quite a bit lately. He's been in and out of ICU twice in the past 2 weeks. Right now he's in a regular room, and may be released in a few days; but he won't get better, it's emphysema AND a perforated colon (I think that's what it's called). They discovered the secondary problem the day he was going to be released and did emergency surgery that morning. I watched my beloved grandfather die this way and it is very upsetting to me. Please keep him in your prayers, I'm a big believer in the power of BT.

Tara... yes I am still having a blast being a mommy! lol. Just wish there were more hours in the day to a good mommy, good wife, AND a good daughter. Riley has already learned how to climb out of his crib. He scales the furniture. ha.

Lots of hugs back to all of you.

Keep the faith sistah - you'll get to that peaceful place again.
You know I think I'm going through Riley withdrawal - LOL!!! Give him a squeeze for me!

Kelly YGM.....Hugs to you!

I have to thank Barbara, Freddie, and my BT friends for the unbelieveable display of flowers just now delivered to my door. I was so choked up that I couldn't even read the card out loud to Steve. I was not expecting that at all and it came at a perfect time. I've just talked to mother (which is a whole OTHER story there) and she said they may release my dad tomorrow, but she doesn't know if she wants him home yet. She's a hypochondriac who has to always be the center of attention and said she thinks she's coming down with something and doesn't want him to catch it !!! Can you believe that??? He's been in the hospital for 12 days and she's just not ready for him to come home. How sad. She's been at the hospital maybe a total of 2-3 hours this whole time. I'm glad I have Steve as my strength. Of course I said, well he can come here to live with us! (keeping in mind we have only two bedrooms.. lol)

I'm so sorry for giving too much information, but I just wanted you to know the incredibly perfect timing of the flowers. It's almost like my BT friends "know". God bless you all.

Rosanne, I can't get my work email from home, so I'll get it in the morning and get back to you!

Hugs and more hugs to all of you, and I cannot thank you enough.

Kelly - never too much info --- okay well maybe when Cynde & Jerry were going on about their bodily functions
Good Job Babs, Freddie, et al!!!

Kelly, your in my prayers. It's tough to see your dad that way. I agree with boom, not too much info. Helps to know how to pray, and how to help out here.
My support has rarely come from those I would expect it to come from. But it comes! Thinking of you.

Marilyn, what a nice thing to say. And you are so right, I have found support where I least expect it.

Here are the spectacular flowers.

And, as I have been remiss in my Riley postings, here are a few new ones.

And one more picture and then I'm heading to bed. I made a little trip to Alabama in the few days prior to Christmas for a surprise visit with some very VERY special people. Does anyone recognize these people? I'll answer tomorrow if no one gets it. ;)

Good night and THANK YOU.

I feel terrible that I don't know who the Mystery Friends are but THANK YOU for helping with my Riley Fix....
he is just the epitome of CUTE
Sleep well friend!

Riley is so handsome and he seems to be growing up so quickly! I haven't a clue either about the photo but they look like a very happy group. I can't wait to find out who they are! You are in my thoughts. hugs, RosAnne

Kelly, you and your loved ones are all in our thoughts and prayers. Families are a strange entity without a doubt....your concern is your Dad at the moment and your support of him is crucial. We do understand. We all have families who are not "Father Knows Best" or a more modern day version of same.

Riley is precious with those huge button eyes!!

You have all of BT's love and support behind you, kiddo. Hugs to all of you. Carole and Joe

Kelly, I'm so glad you popped in. I agree with Marilyn, it helps to know how to direct the prayers! You can only do what you can, and you're not the one who works miracles! So don't take too much onto yourself. You have a husband and 2 children to spend time and energy on, and work too.... and of course your BT friends need you too! (Just kidding about the needy BT friends! We're here for you!)

Love your Dad, and do what you can for him. And I'll keep you both on my prayer list. I'm so glad you have Steve and Riley to keep you going from day to day. And thanks for posting more pics of Riley. He is a beautiful boy!

Don't have a clue about the mystery folks!

And I guess I'd better get to bed. I often don't get home until 10 on Bunko night, and then had to watch the DVR American Idol..... Six am will come early! Over and out!

Hi Kelly...hang in there. So sorry to hear about your dad, but it seems like Riley is your little ray of sunshine in all of the darkness. What a little cutie.

As for the mystery people, I recognize them. I know I have seen their pictures before, but I don't believe I have met them. This is going to drive me nuts, so please come back soon and post their names.

Ugh...this is driving me nuts. I need a computer with better resolution. Ok Riley its time to rise and shine and help us wakey wakey mommy so she can come back to the computer.

Kelly, the flowers are beautiful and I am sure they came at a time when you needed them most. I am so glad poppy may get to go home today! I really hope he goes home to a good situation cause he is going to need a lot of love to heal. I have been sending him lots of healing prayers and love and will continue to do so. I think my mom sent him a card but I am sure it went to the old address. I need to get his new one from you sometime.

Anyway, you are doing a wonderful job at trying to be all things to all people. Just remember you can't do it all, you need help so don't be afraid to ask for it. I am so glad you have Steve standing by your side to be a soft place to land when it gets overwhelming. I know a couple a people that think the world of Riley if you would need a grown up dinner out. I am sure this New Year hasn't been what you thought it would be but it will get better. Stay strong and know you have lots of positive thoughts coming your way.

I know who those people are cause Stephanie told me about that little trip!

Okay... the people are (l-r) Patty (formerly of the Maria Hoppner House), Luigi from the Hoppner House, and Renee Langford, the incredible lady that runs the sponsorship program for the Hoppner House.

Renee managed to get Luigi clearance to travel to the U.S. FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER !!! He had to have a chaperone, though, enter Patty. Patty is such a wonderful, caring person. She had planned to bring her son Noah also, but they would not let him board the plane in Bonaire due to "incorrect paperwork". So she had to make a decision. If she didn't go, Luigi couldn't go. So she let her husband keep Noah, and accompanied Luigi on the trip of a lifetime.

I flew into Nashville on a Wed., drove to Huntsville, Alabama, and then on Thursday Renee and I drove to Atlanta to pick them up at the airport. They didn't know I was coming and you should have seen their faces !! It was worth all the scrambling to get there.

We spent the night in Atlanta, then drove back to Hunstville the next day. Then the NEXT day, we drove back to Nashville for me to fly home, but not before a stop at the incredibly beautiful Opryland Hotel. What an amazing place! I would love to go back an take Steve and Riley.

Then it was back to the airport in the midst of lots of tears (mostly mine).

I cannot thank Renee enough for allowing me to be part of that. It was something I will treasure forever. Spending time with her, her family, Patty and Luigi was just priceless. Lots of good memories.

The picture was taken at a Cracker Barrell where we'd stopped to eat. Luigi was funny, he couldn't understand the free refills of Sprite. lol.

Kelly,
I can't believe how much you had to go through to make the trip happen! I am glad it was all worth it.

The Opryland Hotel is one of a kind and it is amazing! The kids just asked if we could go back there for spring break this year. We took the boat ride inside the hotel which was just unreal. It's one of those places you have to see to believe. I wish we could have stayed there but we stayed at a little hotel down the street and just visited the Opryland Hotel a couple times.

Kelly, I'm tired just keeping up with your post!! How great it was of you to make all that effort to be with your friends....
you've got your priorities right

Big Hugs

Tara, if you could have seen their faces when they got off the plane in Atlanta, it was soooo worth it. And I got to spend a lot of time with Renee too, and we are pretty sure we were separated at birth. It was uncanny.

Kelly, glad for the update, both good and bad. It's a little uncanny how I worry about my BT buddies. Hope you dad gets a happy homecoming...please keep us posted!

I like you even more now Kelly.

awww shucks, Jerry... you're embarrassing me. lol

Kelly - we love you lots and lots and lots. Just know that we are always here for you and we care so much about you. You are such a wonderful person, so caring and such a great individual - mother, wife, daughter and friend.

Kelly, thanks for posting the pics! Woohoo, glad the flowers didn't freeze on your front porch!
And, darn, Riley is as cute as ever..maybe cuter than ever!

I will read and re-read this thread every day. Thank you all so much for all the wonderful things you've written, and for all the private emails of encouragement.

I am very happy to report that my dad is home tonite. He is very tired but happy to be home.

And Babs... yes Riley is cuter than ever. I just got him to sleep, and I love our bedtime routine. It calms me as much as him...

Hugs again to my BT friends. You all are the best.

That's great Kelly ! Now both of you get some rest!

kelly, i'll post pics of caitlin and callie soon...riley is very cute but i'm going to be discriminating about who dates either of my granddaughters...i'll need to confirm his intentions first. i'll post another pic of connor too...he and riley can hang out together.

glad to hear your dad's doing better....hang in there...see you in a month.

Well they say that insanity is hereditary, you get it from your kids. If this is true than the opposite should also be true, so maybe your bedtime routine is really a zen sort of thing.

Maybe you could have your mom put Riley to bed and it could even her out ????