Allison Times Year-End Newsletter

Allison Times

 

January, 2017

Editors: Herb and Kim Allison

 Reporters: Caleb (28), Bethany (26), Timothy (24), Joseph (21), Hannah Grace (20), Jubilee (11)

Congratulations!

   After 6 months of pre-marital counseling, Joseph and Shaelee Miller decided to tie the knot anyway, with a beautiful turquoise and tan wedding. They took a 4-day honeymoon trip to Florida, and it’s been nothing but marital bliss ever since! :o But with baby #2 on the way, their one-bedroom apartment is getting a little cramped.  If anyone knows of a nice little rent house, please let them know.  We like to keep everyone happy, happy, happy!

School Bells

   Jubilee had a reality check this year when she had to leave her comfy little nest and enroll in a small Christian school in Ft. Gibson. She found out most kids her age have to get up at a particular time and don’t do school in their PJ’s! Mom had these same jolts of reality as she volunteered at the school to work off Jubilee’s tuition and books. The verdict: A great school, but it wasn’t their cup of tea. They left their cup of tea, in fact, by the front porch rockers, where they last enjoyed life – watching the buffalo roam and the antelope play. Jubilee, of course, excelled in formal education (chip off the old block), but enough is enough. By Christmas break, they were ready to utilize their newfound skills of time management, concentration, and goal setting to homeschool at Nan and Pa’s house. That way, they are available if anyone needs a helping hand, and they can still have their cup of tea!

Wonder Woman

  Hannah Grace has taken on so many responsibilities this year, she requires her own pit crew to keep her on the road to work or school. After graduating (with honors!) from ICTC as an LPN in June, she launched into 19 hours of classes at Connors State College in August to prepare for her RN-BSN. This wasn’t enough, so she started working nights at East Gate Nursing Home (all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA). Timothy and Herb keep at least 2 cars ready for her to drive at all times. When one goes down, she just calls dad, and someone meets her with a new ride. Sleeping at Tim’s house in town gives her a little more shut-eye, and a little better attitude, which we all appreciate.

Just Sharing

    Timothy didn’t realize that by leaving his keys in his truck overnight, he was agreeing to the terms and conditions of the community Share-

A-Ride program. Participants may drive such vehicles until they are out of state, or out of gas, whichever comes first. Since Timothy never has much gas in his truck, it was easy to find - a few blocks away. The truck was unharmed, and 

other than the $200.00 towing bill, no harm done. However, by storing all his tools and appliance parts in said truck, he also unintentionally enrolled in the Share-A-Tool program. The major problem here was that many of the tools were Herb’s, and Herb doesn’t share well with others.

Tumbling Towers

   When Joseph fell 35 feet from a cell tower last August, he was pleased and surprised to open his eyes to planet earth. A compression fracture to a lumbar vertebra kept him home with Shaelee and Brantley through the end of 2016 – doctor’s orders.

   To supplement his slashed income, Joseph is accepting bids to name the new baby (due in June!). Bidding starts at 5 grand, and every name will be considered. Joseph will be in charge of bid collecting, and any questions should be directed to him. We repeat: Do not bother Shaelee with these details. Joseph does not want to stress the little mama with any major decisions at this time.

Deer to my Hart

   Timothy and Herb each killed an 8-point on the same day in Texas, so the score was tied from the get-go. Timothy went home, but Herb stayed to secure a victory with a 7 point.  Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Joseph checked trail camera cards every day and memorized the feeding patterns of every buck in the county. This allowed him to shoot an 8 point with his bow, and a 7 point with a muzzleloader. Then, out of the kindness of his heart, he told Herb where to sit on opening day of rifle season, and Big Daddy shamelessly bagged another 7-point at 250 yards. To wrap it up, he shot an 8 point with a bow and couldn’t find it. The boys threatened to take his bow away if the deer wasn’t found, and Herb was sweating. Finally, with 4 people tracking an hour and a half in the dark, someone stumbled across it, and Herb’s “Deer Slayer” title was reinstated. 

    

Up, up, and away!

   If you signed up for the baby naming auction, you can go ahead and sign up for prepaid airplane rides. Timothy needed access to a faster airplane (airplanes should be fast, right?). He is now the proud owner of a Mooney M20, but spends so much time working to pay for the maintenance and the fuel, he gets very little time in the air.  But he smiles on Facebook, smug in the knowledge that, in theory, he could be anywhere within 500 nautical miles in 3 hours or less;  assuming he had the money, and the weather was perfect, and the plane wasn’t being  inspected or repaired … you get the picture. He has also confirmed that he still plans to be a commercial pilot; however, the target date on that has been moved back to 2050, due to budget cuts.

Change of Plans

   Kim’s Dad (“Pa”) suffered a stroke last November, which, coupled with his previous diagnosis of dementia, has altered the life of everyone in the immediate and extended family. His 24/7 supervision and intense care-taking has drawn in every able-bodied relative for miles, and thankfully, there are many who are willing to pitch in!

   Cousin Cary helps with physical therapy. Kristen and her girls supply meals. Other relatives take shifts throughout the day. The night shift (headed by Curt and Caleb, with occasional help from the other kids and in-laws) deserves special recognition, because nights are anything but restful! Pa rarely sleeps and tends to run his watchmen ragged!

   No doubt, his body is declining; but his spirit stays strong. Pa doesn’t always recognize us, but he still knows all the words of the old hymns, and still prays of his own initiative. “We do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day” (2Cor 4:16).  “My flesh and my heart faileth; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Ps 73:26).

Lace Up!

   Timothy, Hannah Grace, and Red ran a half marathon in March, and the Hanster beat the other two like step-children. Red-headed ones. Story submitted by Hannah Grace.

A New Vision

  Shaelee and Brantley joined Herb, Kim and Jubilee for our annual homeschool conference in Big Sandy, Texas. When Shaelee saw all the big homeschool families walking around campus like so many ducklings in a row, she was sold. “Twelve Kids or Bust!” Joseph? Not so much. He thinks “2” is a nice, round, even number that’s easy to leave with a babysitter. Only time will tell.

Run Like a Girl!

   Hannah Grace and Mom tackled two 5K runs last year while Jubilee slept. Both of our Lady Runners finished 1^st in their age brackets in the Hero Run through Honor Heights. Fortunately, Mom has finally aged into the run bracket with bathroom breaks figured in. After one such mid-race delay, mom rejoined the race and finished neck and neck with her peers. At least that’s how she remembers it.

That Grandbaby!

   Brantley’s first year has been full of the usual firsts, only better and faster than any other kid’s first year! We could brag a lot right here, but we’ll just say: he stayed with his Mimi and Grandpappy enough to learn to love deer, books, 4-wheelers, cats, and veggies. He cut his teeth on bell pepper and celery sticks, and now devours most anything put before him: broccoli and cauliflower being his Mimi’s crowning achievements! He so enjoyed picking tomatoes at the neighbor’s garden that he had to eat them before we got home!

Have Cats, Will Travel

   Bethany is still working nights and keeping her boys, Jethro and LeRoy, (the cats) company, but she is missing her human family terribly.  Since she passed her CLEET and Field Training, her career options look good if she decides to move back from T- Town. However, her housing options are a little more limited. She and the cats are a package deal, and she refuses to let them set even a paw outside, for fear they would revert back to the wild. In her mother’s opinion, it wouldn’t be a big leap.

I Can’t Believe It Has Come to This…

   Something was eating the cat food at Nan’s Café. Since it only came at night, there were no positive identifications. Shaelee (one of the few eye-witnesses) believed it was a giant rat (like The Rat that ate Minnesota). Others thought it was a wild boar. Desperate measures had to be taken. An armed posse was deputized, and an ambush planned. Deputy Fife (Uncle Curt) was the first to take a shot and riddled the back porch with holes, with no hide taken. Next up: the Great Hunter himself! Herbert was handed a “loaded” gun, but it only clicked as the lucky thief once again scurried away into the darkness. It was 0 and 2 when Quick Draw McGraw (Caleb) moseyed into the Café for his usual midnight meal. One shot from Quick Draw ended the career of the World’s Largest Opossum, and we are kicking ourselves for not taking a picture! It was as big as Caleb, and just to be sure he received the proper recognition, he left the carcass, feet up, by the back porch for 3 days. With the temperatures below freezing, its size was preserved for all visitors to admire. Sorry, folks, but it’s been a tough year for news.

A Really Good Bargain

   Hannah Grace found some cheap season tickets to Six Flags. Yes, but what season? These tickets can only be used in the dead of winter, with special discounts for Christmas and New Year’s Eve! So Han and Santa Clause were the only ones shivering on the roller coaster; the screams frozen in her throat. But she saved so much money! That’s my girl.

Foot Notes

   With a little one on the way, Joseph decided to trade in his Big Dog Truck with the Big Dog Payment for a responsible family car. Shaelee had no idea that a Camaro qualified as a family car! Joseph claimed the salesman convinced him it would hold plenty of kids. J

     Jubilee cut off 10 inches of her beautiful curly hair to donate for cancer patients’ wigs. We all suffered cutter’s remorse with that first snip! But it will grow back, right?

   Some strange excruciating pain in the Mom’s foot had her in urgent care last fall and on crutches for a week. Tests ruled out gout, so it was probably an infection of some sort. Maybe she just needed to sit down for a while. J

   Jubilee performed in two piano recitals last year, but had to convince her long-suffering teacher, Ms. Honey, to let her create her own arrangements, composed and played by ear. Those notes on the pages really stifle her creativity.

   Herbert ran in a 5K with Mom and Jubilee! He planned to make this a new habit but, well,  um… duty calls! That’s it! Too busy!

  Hannah Grace ran off to Chicago and Kansas City during the holidays. Just for fun.

   Last summer, Jubilee took 2 weeks of swimming lessons, walked for cystic fibrosis, explored a cave in Arkansas, and rocked the church mission trip with her dad. But by far the best part of her summer was spent playing with her favorite nephew, Brantley Drew! People always guess him to be older than he is, due to his height, verbal skills, and superior intelligence (no doubt inherited from his Mimi). J

“These are the children God has given me….

God has been good to me.” Genesis 33:5