APRIL SURPRISES

Beautiful flowers and budding trees are here! Benny's chest cold and allergies have invaded his schedule and disposition, ha! However, life continues on the ranch with delightful birds at the feeder, horses wanting attention, carrots, and petting. Then those frisky squirrels who question those odd people as they look in the kitchen window from the deck. Between rain, snow, sun, and sleet...spring is here.
Benjie, Kathy, and kids were out last Friday...fun for all...especially Mikey and the Mud Pie. Jessie is back in gymnastics after an injury and Julie's cheer-leading group went to New Orleans during spring break. Steve and Catherine enjoyed a couple of relaxing days in Branson while Abe went to a Pet Resort. Paul, Emily, David, and the boys have moved into the parsonage. They are excited with their new adventure. Scott is home from the "far country...Jordan and Egypt" and the family is at the beach enjoying Deb's favorite place.
We are still working in YTB (Your Travel Biz). Have met a new group of friends. If you plan a trip check us out. Our site is: ytbtravel.com/bolingtravelcompany
Don't forget our birthday family in April: Danny, Kathy, Shanda, James, and Paul and Emily's anniversary. Busy month...Congratulations family on a good year...we are all still here to give thanks. SMILE (Nana would have been 110 on the 12th)

NEWS FROM THE RANCH

It is March 24th already...where has the month gone? Stormy weather today.
The weekend went well. Benny preached a great sermon with lots of audience response which is always fun. We went to a 80th birthday surprise dinner in a country setting. The food was out of this world...these farmer ladies can cook. Then we visited friends in Fordland which was delightful. They own a bed and breakfast that was originally the family dairy barn...what a transformation!
Yesterday we finished up a section outside...lots of work to be done. Could put a dozen people to work...today our bodies are screaming as a result of our play-day.
Must get on with the day...hope you have a super one. Happy Paul and Emily had such a great welcome Sunday at the church, concerned about the active volcano that is "showing its oats" as Nana would say. Abe Lincoln, Steve's dog, is resisting discipline...not easy for Steve, Dave continues to park cars and Sammy doesn't understand why he can't help, Benjie's family is enjoying Spring Break, and Debbie is eager for Scott's return from the far land. Oh yes, Paul and Steve are each dealing with a broken left foot. What a gang!

SPRING IS TOMORROW, YEAH!

Yellow daffodils are telling me spring is really here. The past two days 80 degree weather confirmed it. Have talked to all 5 kids today...that's a good day. Paul and Steve both are nursing their broken left foot, David is directing parking lot traffic in a sports arena, Benjie is selling houses, and Deb continues to find 23 homes for her Japanese foreign students coming in July. Wow...what energy. We have moved all the office to the main office...and now are busy trying to dispose of boxed items not needed (difficult for us).
YTB keeps us busy. Went to Wood River, IL, Tuesday to a big meeing...1,500 were there from all over. We celebrated St. Patrick's day with the food, dress, and jokes. It was fun but tiring so Wednesday didn't hold much productivity, ha!
Benny preaches Sunday at Seymour Christian. It will be fun hearing him again...I'm partial. I'll be playing the organ haven't done that for awhile. Would love to see the Springfield gang. Living 45 minutes away and busy schedules makes it difficult.
Hope you have a wonderful week...

New Week...What Will Happen Next?

March 8th what a day! Saturday night I called all 5 kids reminding them to "Spring Forward." Benny said, "I'll change the clocks." Good for him...he changed the Grandfather one and fiddled with the others but...they were not changed. Sun. he didn't feel well so stayed home, I went to church and witnessed the exodus. Church was over...I came home! The laugh was on me.
We walked the property, chatted with the new horse, Moose, and then decided to visit the Baptist Church. They were friendly. We enjoyed the singing, And then... the sermon...one hour and on HELL! We were glad Scott was not there, ha! Benny about died since he had to use the restroom and was afraid to exit for fear of being nailed. We created another memory.
Now we have a new week...wonder what will happen? Hope you all have a fabulous one.
Congratulations Paul on Sr. Minister of First Christian, Anchorage...we look forward to hearing you one of these days...no hour sermons, though, ok?

MARCH IS HERE...LION OR LAMB

What a surprise to wake up to 3 inches of snow March lst. Now snow and ice are on their way out and we are having sun and 50-60 degree days. Yesterday, we worked outside trimming trees, weeding, etc. Is spring really here? Daylight saving's time returns to regular time this Sunday, the 8th.
Last Sunday we enjoyed celebrating Steve's birthday at their house. Benjie's family, Catherine's mom and Spencer all enjoyed a great meal, Nana's cheesecake with cherry topping, and lots of chatter...no surprise there, huh? Oh yes, we played Liverpool Rummy too.
Time to get with the day...hope you all have a great one. Blessings!

Last Week of February, Wow!

Church Sunday at Seymour Christian went well, Dinner with Steve, Catherine, and Abe was fun...old fashioned stew, cornbread, and pineapple upside down cake tasted good, followed by a game of Liverpool Rummy. At 7:00 we went to Springfield to a YTB meeting. Afterwards three couples celebrated at McDonald's...a real splurge, ha! Today Dad had a C-Pap check, got his allergy shot, and had a counseling meeting. He was in town until middle of the afternoon and I was overjoyed working on bills...fun!
We have a new horse. The other two right now are being trained by the Amish. This one is cute, two years old. Hope the grandkids will enjoy riding him. The owners of Moose (what a name) came for dinner tonight...Stephanie, Mark, and Hailey who will be two in August. She kept things alive and we all had fun with a toddler running about exploring everything. Dad has a wedding conference tomorrow with a neat couple from Marshfield. We'll just have dessert. Steve's birthday is the 26th. We don't know what is happening yet. He received, from Catherine, a beautiful gold watch with diamonds for the numbers for Valentine's Day and birthday. Know Scott is busy with his people on the trip to Mexico. He's in our prayers for safety, etc. March is almost here...will it come in like a lamb or lion? We'll soon see. Have a good week!

MID FEBRUARY NEWS

alentine's Day for us was quiet with lunch at Seymour's new, much needed restaurant, "Uncle Rooster." It was crowded with lots of people, and unusual decorations of chicks and roosters. Sunday church was followed by a pot-luck ham dinner. I took my hopped up sweet potatoes that went over big...none left! In the evening we decided to go about 3 miles down the road to church, Seymour Holiness. We hadn't been to a holiness church before even though Grandma Vaughn belonged to one. All the women wore long dresses, had their hair pulled back in a bun and wore no make-up. They knew immediately that we were visitors, hah! I wore slacks, hair down and bushy, and make-up. We chuckled to ourselves. The church was full, lots of very well disciplined little children and very friendly. Music and sermon were upbeat and it was a great evening. We found out that the man who built our house (for a church) was their first preacher. (small world) Today we finish our taxes, yea! That will be news for celebrating, right? Hope your week goes well...winter is still with us here in the mid-west but spring is coming...so they say. Enjoy!