New Beginnings

Joe and I have struggled for months with a gradually sloooower and slooooower pc. My son, my son-in-law, and my sister keep saying "get a MAC." Well today, I HAVE a new IMAC!!! So, after I finally figured out where the power line hooked in (who would have thought it was under the base and totally hidden from view?) I have been attempting to learn how to work this contraption. I did get the printer to work and have made (and printed) one document (saved in a separate folder I might add). I tried and tried to skype my son in Germany to show him that I am "up with the Joneses", but to no avail. My MAC has a camera and I was so looking forward to conversing via the internet with my family so far away. I have confidence I will get it soon. There are lots of new icons and symbols on the "pad" at the bottom of my screen, and I have already added a couple of things to the desktop (and for the life of me can't figure out how to get rid of the extra "skype" icon). For now, I will forge ahead and when I get the skpe thing straightened out, I will be conversing with Germany and New York. Until then, I feel a need for speed!!!

Military Brats

Today I went to Ft. Mc Pherson to get a new military ID card. While I was sitting in the waiting area I noticed a poster on the wall. It said, "Month of the Military Child: Everyday Heroes." It made me remember how our two oldest children grew up with the label of "military brat." In my view of the world "military brat" is definitely a misnomer. Although military children are forced to survive a variety of changes, moves, schools and friends, I personally believe that the pros of being a military brat greatly outweigh the cons. I'm sure it depends on the individual, and the environment in which he or she is raised. But, on the whole, most military offspring with whom I have had contact tend to be flexible, outgoing, and happy to be exposed to the multitude of challenges and opportunities with which they are faced. Anyone who has lived the military lifestyle knows that the term military "family" has a different connotation than it might in other situations. In the military, blood is not necessarily thicker than water. You learn quickly that when you arrive at a new base you must make friends quickly, because your time is limited. It was not easy having Daddy leave for a year to participate in a war that no one understood. We never knew if he would be coming home or not. It forced me as a wife to take on responsibilities that were new, including all the care of our two (at the time) children. Kim started first grade without her Daddy to kiss goodbye, and Joey learned to "jump off the deep end" without him. Over the years, we all had to adjust to a variety of new houses, doctors, churches, schools, and friends. Now I see our son and his wife raising five children that are typical "military brats." His oldest daughter was asked about spending grade 9 and 10 in Germany, grade 11 in Washington, D.C. and then graduating from high school in Moscow, Russia. I'll bet most kids this age would be aghast at so many changes, but Mary enthusiastically responded "Yes". So, if the shoe fits, celebrate the Month of the Military Child!! You are each special, and definitely "Everyday Heroes."

Family Reunion

Today we attended the annual Selph Reunion in Cordele, Georgia where Joe was born. We started this tradition almost thirty years ago as a celebration of Joe's mother's birthday (Feb 13) along with several other family members with birthdays around this time. His mother's maiden name was Annie Mae Selph before she became a Hickox. Over the years, as various attendees of his mother's generation became more involved, it became the Selph reunion as many of her extended family joined us. Now there are none of her generation that remain, and the children of her generation are now entering their 70's and 80's, so time is marching on. It was interesting to note that most everyone there today was over 50. Most years we do have some younger folks with children, but for some reason this year that was not the case. If we don't recruit some young'uns soon, it is going to die on the vine. For many years Joe has insisted that his ancestors were castoffs from England's debtors prison that came to the new world when Oglethorpe landed in Georgia. Well, we got some good news today, Joe's ancestors originated in Virginia in 1661 - that's not very long after the pilgrims came to this part of the world. However, I guess they could still have come from a debtors prison. Billy Selph has spent a lot of time researching the Selph ancestry and we thank him for all his hard work in making a diagram of the various lines that are very extensive and prolific. Thanks to a distant cousin of mine, David Rayburn, I have some knowledge of my Dad's lineage. I need to start researching my Mother's line as I understand her ancestors fought in the Revolutionary War, so I and my girls can join the DAR if we want. Seems as one gets older these things become increasingly important doesn't it? The photo is one of Joe (on the left), his Mother and siblings in the early 1940's. Missing from the family photo is his sister (Marion), his half brother and sister (Johnny and Dorothy), and his Dad, who died when Joe was six months old.

A "Grand" Surprise

The Wielands, tired after 3 hours in the GA Aquarium

Today we got some great news! Our youngest daughter, Karin, and her husband, Brandon are pregnant!! They have two boys and really would like to have a little girl, but since all the progeny in the Wieland line are boys, figured it wasn't going to happen. Now my theory (with absolutely no research on which to base it - but that it has something to do with the motility and lifespan of sperm) is if a pregnancy is planned it is more likely to be a boy, and the reverse being that an unplanned pregnancy has a better chance of being a girl. Guess what! this is definitely an unplanned pregnancy and surprise to all! Back when Karin was working in a Christmas store during college, I purchased 13 Christmas tree ornaments that had a picture of a baby angel on one side and lines to write in names and birthdates on the other. I only had about 6 grands at the time, but figured I'd need atleast 12 before it was all over, and got #13 just in case one got broken. I have had one break and so there are now only 12 left. This new baby (and I will refer to her as "her" until I know otherwise) will be grand #12 for us. Now is that good planning or what? Of course if another "surprise" should show up, or Karin and Brandon's foster daughter, My Ann, become eligible for adoption I will have to hit the internet to find some more grand "angels." Of note is the fact that after wearing a "Grammy" sweatshirt with only six names on it for many years, I finally ordered a new sweatshirt with the names of all 11 of my "blessings" - wouldn't you know it! Oh well, I can always get a new shirt. Anyone who knows me well, knows how I love to buy little girl things, and so until then, I will be planning on pink for the new little blessing. The other news that they shared is that they are thinking seriously about moving to North Carolina, which would put them 6 hours away from us rather than 16. With Brandon's parents having a beach house on Top Sail Island, and the moderate NC climate (rather than New York's cold and snow), it would seem to be more favorable all around. Needless to say this may not be a good time to move or change jobs, but who knows, God works in mysterious ways and if it is to be, it will be.

Похожий Отец , Похожий Сын (Like Father, Like Son)

This is what would be called a "late entry" in a hospital nursing note. I couldn't speak of it then, but I can now. On January 16 Joey called to inform us that he had gotten his next assignment. We knew he had been in Washington interviewing for an Air Attache position. Since he spent the first two years of his schooling (ages 6-8) in Moscow, while Joe was an assistant air attache there back in the early '70's, he has had an interest in Russia and Moscow. He took Russian while at the Air Force Academy, flew on flights escorting Russian air crews into the U.S., and has made friends from several countries of the former Soviet Union. When he got to D.C. for an interview for what he thought was another Air Attache slot, he learned that it had already been filled. When the interviewing officer said, "But there is a position open in Moscow if you might be interested," it was all he could do to remain calm and not jump up and down! His ultimate goal at this point in his Air Force career was to go to Moscow as the Air Attache, but he was prepared to take a more circuitous route. Looks like all things come to those who wait! We are so proud of him and proud of Nicki to be so willing to take on this new adventure. She is truly a great Air Force wife and has adapted to so many new things over the years they have been together. The motto "Home is where the Air Force sends us" is now her mantra. Joey is excited to be going back. We are excited he is going back, and are looking forward to visiting and seeing all the changes that have occurred there since we left in 1973. When we were there had we had any high school age kids, they would have been sent to a boarding school in Europe. Now there is a large international high school in Moscow where Mary will graduate and Seth will attend. The life experience the family will gain with this assignment will remain with them the rest of their lives as it has with ours. Жизнь быть хороший!!!

Growing Up

The three younger Turners are spending a few days with Grammy and Grandpa while Mom and Dad take Alison for college orientation at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida. This morning before Grandpa drove them to school, we got some pics to share. You will note that Joanna, who is 8, but a 23 year old wanna be, is very stylishly dressed. Also of note is the fact that Daniel, age 15, has obviously hit a "growth spurt" and seems to be very rapidly catching up with Grandpa in height. If you had seen him six months ago, you would have seen that he was just a hair taller than 12 year old Benjamin. Look at him now!! I wonder how many times he has needed new jeans in the last 6 months? And on the sidelines is Snoopy, the Turner's "snoodle"- for those of you who don't know, that is a cross between and schnauzer and poodle. You will note that Snoopy is more schnauzer than poodle, and his personality reinforces it! However, he's been a good boy today.

"The Villages" - an active adult living community

We spent the past weekend at the Villages in central Florida. It is made up of over 30 small "villages" that share common services and amenities. We stayed with a HS friend of Joe's, Al and his wife, Barbara. We really had a nice time experiencing the lifestyle. It has everything anyone could want in the form of activities, clubs, entertainment, exercise, restaurants, shops, healthcare facilities, etc, etc,etc. We toured houses on Saturday morning and they have some beautiful ones! We picked out the floorplan we like and whenever we sell this house and our two rental properties we could possibly afford it!! Ofcourse, all the 1956 mercuries have to be restored and distributed first also. Soooooo, it may be a while before we will be moving. Until then our mailing address remains the same.
Al and Barb