Couple from the recent snow.
Elise making Snow Angelshttp://youtu.be/cXfAlC_OsBA
Snowmen:
http://youtu.be/FYeBEfDitnI
Saturday, January 5
Friday, January 4
Danial Eugene Kelley's Obit
My Story
And
he will raise you up on eagle's wings, bear you on the breath of dawn,
make you to shine like the sun, and hold you in the palm of his hand.
He was born on October 26, 1954 in Spencer, Iowa to Bernard and Marlene (Brooker) Kelley. Danial grew up on a farm near Terril and graduated from Terril High School in 1972. He went on to attend Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa where he studied agriculture. After completion of the agriculture program in 1973, Danial returned to Terril where he continued his farming career with his father for over 40 years. Over the years, he raised corn, soybeans, cattle and hogs. Even during his illness, his fighting spirit enabled him to continue doing what he loved on the farm. On June 28, 1975, Danial married Sara Smith in Estherville, Iowa, with whom he shared 37 wonderful years. Together, they had four children, Melissa, Elizabeth, Adam, and John.
Throughout his life, Danial was a steward of the land, a hard-working farmer, and avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and golfing. He was a talented athlete and many years after high school, he still loved playing and watching sports. He also enjoyed playing card games. Danial was devoted to his family and treasured spending time with them. He especially enjoyed the annual family fishing trips to Nest Lake in Minnesota. He also loved his two dogs dearly. He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Terril. He cherished every moment and through his cancer journey, his strength and determination touched and inspired many people. He was a loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and friend to all and will be missed by many. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Sara of Terril, Iowa; two daughters, Melissa and her husband, Josh Nelson and their son Jay of Spencer, Iowa; Elizabeth and her husband, Daniel Johansen and their son Brandon of Milford, Iowa; two sons, Adam and his wife, Justine Kelley and their son Brady of Terril, Iowa; John and his wife, Marie Kelley and their children, Peyton and Nolan of Spencer, Iowa; and parents, Bernard and Marlene Kelley of Terril, Iowa. He is also survived by one brother, Dwight and his wife, Carolyn Kelley of Milroy, Minnesota; by one sister, Diane and her husband, Blaze Rosene of Solon, Iowa; mother-in-law, Alyce Smith of Estherville, Iowa and his loving aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and many friends.
Danial was preceded in death by his infant brother, Thomas Kelley; his maternal grandfather, Russell Brooker; maternal grandmother, Marion Brooker; his paternal grandfather, Henry Kelley; paternal grandmother, Grace Kelley; and father-in-law, Russell Smith.
My favorite Cartoon
About Cul de Sac
Richard Thompson's Cul de Sac, is a comic strip about the life of a pre-school girl named Alice Otterloop. It is a light-hearted comic strip centered around a four-year old girl and her suburban life experiences on a cul-de-sac with her friends Beni and Dill, older brother Petey and her classmates at Blisshaven Academy pre-school. Alice describes her father's car as a "Honda-Tonka Cuisinart" and talks to the class guinea pig, Mr. Danders. She has the typical older brother who plays jokes on her, and she contemplates ways to keep the scary clown from jumping out of the jack-in-the-box with friends.
Richard Thompson's Cul de Sac, is a comic strip about the life of a pre-school girl named Alice Otterloop. It is a light-hearted comic strip centered around a four-year old girl and her suburban life experiences on a cul-de-sac with her friends Beni and Dill, older brother Petey and her classmates at Blisshaven Academy pre-school. Alice describes her father's car as a "Honda-Tonka Cuisinart" and talks to the class guinea pig, Mr. Danders. She has the typical older brother who plays jokes on her, and she contemplates ways to keep the scary clown from jumping out of the jack-in-the-box with friends.
Thursday, January 3
Back in the Rio Grande Valley
We had seven straight days in the car. The day we went to northern Iowa with Bill and Jo was the least amount of time spent in the car and it was two hours up and two hours back. A light travel day as they say. It was good that we saw Dan and was able to visit with him because today we learned that he passed early this morning. His suffering is over and he fought this terrible disease harder than anyone I know.
A change in routine always puts me behind so I hope you will bear with me as I regain my footing on my daily chores.
I really did not mind the car trip as much as I thought I might. Seriously one of my biggest concerns was not having access to a bathroom as we travel. I have become very used to that convenience but as it turned out it was a needless worry.
Before we left Gary and Susan's and headed for Iowa I received an email from Bill Brooker saying they were heading to Iowa as well. They live in Arkansas. I told Butch that we might see them on the road. We stopped at a rest stop in Northern Missouri. As I headed back to the car Butch said, "Look who is here." It was Bill and Jo.We were very surprised to see each other. We went into the rest area building as it was far to chilly to stand and visit outside and made plans to ride together to see Dan and family the next day.
Here are pictures I took throughout the trip:
A change in routine always puts me behind so I hope you will bear with me as I regain my footing on my daily chores.
I really did not mind the car trip as much as I thought I might. Seriously one of my biggest concerns was not having access to a bathroom as we travel. I have become very used to that convenience but as it turned out it was a needless worry.
Before we left Gary and Susan's and headed for Iowa I received an email from Bill Brooker saying they were heading to Iowa as well. They live in Arkansas. I told Butch that we might see them on the road. We stopped at a rest stop in Northern Missouri. As I headed back to the car Butch said, "Look who is here." It was Bill and Jo.We were very surprised to see each other. We went into the rest area building as it was far to chilly to stand and visit outside and made plans to ride together to see Dan and family the next day.
Here are pictures I took throughout the trip:
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| Old Snow in Southern Oklahoma |
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| Elise bowls with Nana |
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| A strike! |
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| Story time- Note the fingers. Gary kept removing her fingers from her mouth. She would put them back. This happened several times and finally she told her grandpa. "You need to keep your hands to yourself!" |
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| Funny story! |
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| Five little monkeys jumping on the bed... |
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| Ring around the rosie |
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| More bed jumping |
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| South of Des Moines |
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| In Madrid Iowa |
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| Our house...Insulation is doing a great job. |
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| New Years Eve party. Sue Lucht and John Hamilton |
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| Denise, our hostess, cuts the lasagna. |
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| Jack Lewis and Mary Figenshaw visit in the kitchen |
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| Bill Figenshaw, Kay N. and Pat Rusnak |
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| Alice Hamilton, Elizabeth Hanson, Jim Hanson, Jeanne Myers and part of Butch in the foreground |
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| Jack Harmer, Bill, Kay and Pat...while Denise cuts that lasagna |
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| All these snow pictures were taken through the window at speed limit speed. |
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| This one was taken south on I 37 near the rest area. | The occupants were lifeflighted. This was the 3rd wreck we saw on the trip |
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| Temperatures while we were in Iowa stayed in the single digits...like 4 degrees. |
Wednesday, January 2
In San Antonio
We are spending the night in San Antonio. Heading to the RGV tomorrow. Staying at another motel 6. none have lived up to the first one but we would not
have slept well for $100 so a few minor irritations were okay.
I will have much catching up to do. Pictures, blog,park news, groceries etcetera.
have slept well for $100 so a few minor irritations were okay.
I will have much catching up to do. Pictures, blog,park news, groceries etcetera.
Tuesday, January 1
on the road again
We are south of Wichita tonight. Will head further south tomorrow.so plan to be back either late tomorrow or early Thursday. too dogone cold up here. We know it is chilly there too but nothing like up here.
Monday, December 31
The New Year is Here or just about.
Four steady travel days. Some long, some shorter. Today we went to a small town in northern Iowa to visit Dan Kelley, son of Butch's sister Marlene and her husband Bernard. Dan is in his final round of battle with a very ugly cancer, sarcoma. They have made great strides with what they used to refer to as the big C. Almost like you could not say the whole word out loud. Well, sarcoma is still like that, an ugly word you never want to hear and a kind they have had only a modicum of success in curing. That is the kind of cancer Dan has been battling for over a year. Everything has been done that could be done and he is losing the war. He is surrounded by friends and family who love him and tell him so. He has a beautiful wife, Sara and four grown children, Melissa, Elizabeth, Adam and John who along with their spouses have given him 5 beautiful grandbabies. We were fortunate enough to get here and see him this last time before his passing. He will leave a big hole in many lives.
Bill and Jo and Butch and I went to Terril, Ia and back today. On the way back I called my friend Denise and said, "Where is the party tonight?" She said it is at our house at 6:30 and it is too bad you are going to miss it. I said we will be there because we are only a few miles out of town. So tonight we were able to go to a gathering of our Jefferson friends for new years eve. And I fell off my diet wagon for the first time. I will get right back on that diet wagon in the morning. It was great to see everyone.
We are toying with the idea of heading back south in the morning as we have done everything we came back to do. I would not say it is set in cement just yet. I haven't got the final word.
I have been taking pictures right along and will post them when I return. Not easy working with the Kindle Fire and other peoples computers for some chores. Like photos and blogging.
Bill and Jo and Butch and I went to Terril, Ia and back today. On the way back I called my friend Denise and said, "Where is the party tonight?" She said it is at our house at 6:30 and it is too bad you are going to miss it. I said we will be there because we are only a few miles out of town. So tonight we were able to go to a gathering of our Jefferson friends for new years eve. And I fell off my diet wagon for the first time. I will get right back on that diet wagon in the morning. It was great to see everyone.
We are toying with the idea of heading back south in the morning as we have done everything we came back to do. I would not say it is set in cement just yet. I haven't got the final word.
I have been taking pictures right along and will post them when I return. Not easy working with the Kindle Fire and other peoples computers for some chores. Like photos and blogging.
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