The New Baby!

   The new baby is here! The book that took 20 years to write is finally finished! At this rate, I won't live long enough to write another one, so I really need to figure out how to market this one! It would help if I had a kid with a marketing degree - wait! I DO have a kid with a marketing degree! I might post the link of where to purchase the book if I just had a kid who knew about computers... maybe A-1 certified... Wait! I DO have a kid who is A-1 certified! Man! Maybe I could bait him to the house with some hot Chai tea! That's it...Oh, no, that won't work...he already drank it all...

So, since I am computer inept, just go to Amazon and look it up!

This might be the link - click here and try it!

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

It's Finally Here!

Allison Times

February, 2016

Editors: Herb and Kim Allison

Reporters: Caleb (27), Bethany (25), Timothy (23), Joseph (20), Hannah Grace (19), Jubilee (10)

Unexpected Blessings

   Joseph presented us with our first grandchild, Brantley Drew Allison, on August 23, 2015. Brantley and his mom, Shaelee, were welcomed into the family, and the crib is back in its same old place in our bedroom, cradling a new generation. The only problem is, the new generation doesn’t like cribs. He’s not spoiled, he just prefers to be sort of held while he sort of sleeps. J

Raising the Bar

   Hannah Grace has one goal in life: to beat Timothy. Although she couldn’t graduate from high school earlier than he did, she determined to have more people at her graduation party. Having accomplished this, she headed overseas to countries Timothy had never seen.  Hannah Grace spent 3 weeks waltzing around Italy (Rome, Milan, Venice), Greece (Athens, Leros and Patmos Islands), and Egypt with her friend, Tisha.  They rode camels, sailed canals, and explored cathedrals till the cows came home.   Eat your heart out, Timothy! 

Cruisin’

     Bethany, having barely enough money to buy food, took off on a Caribbean cruise with 2 of her friends. They docked in Mexico, Jamaica, and the Cayman Islands.  They petted sting rays, climbed volcanos, and saw Bob Marley on every corner. Bethany reports no mishaps, other than getting separated from her friends in Mexico – and what could possibly go wrong there? J No wonder her mother’s hair is turning grey! 

Flip or Flop?

   After watching too many reality shows, Timothy decided to flip a house. A 1950 bank repo in need of major remodeling was his first optimistic attempt. “I’ll have it done in 2-3 weeks, max, and make $50,000.00 on it.” That was last August. After a few issues with plumbing, sheetrock, windows, floors, roof, and siding, it’s on the home stretch, now. He has actually spent a few cold nights on a cot in his new humble abode, only to discover the house didn’t come with food and a chef. Still anxious to move in, he treats every visitor to a paintbrush and a bucket of paint. Approach with caution. 

Bub’s History Tours

    Jubilee and Mom experienced a whole text-book full of history in a one week road-trip led by Caleb’s Trivia and Tours. First stop: Vicksburg, Mississippi for the battle site of The Siege of Vicksburg. Jubilee walked the trenches while Caleb described the battles in living color. No need for PBS.

   We also discovered the first Coca-Cola bottling plant (actually the back room of a soda shop) and the Riverfront Murals on the levee depicting the history of the town. Mom could have stayed there a week prowling through the historical homes.

   Next stop:   Mobile, Alabama to tour the USS Alabama. 5 hours later, Caleb was satisfied that we had explored every square inch of the giant WWII battleship. The King Tut traveling museum was on display in Mobile, as well, and Jubilee breathlessly described the artifacts she recognized from a book she had read (The Mummy’s Tomb). She could finally appreciate Caleb’s enthusiasm over the gun turrets.

   Mom’s favorite attraction was a hilarious “accidental” tour of downtown Mobile by some very colorful locals. Or was her favorite part the clean white hotel sheets at the end of every day? Or the meals she didn’t have to cook? Or the drama she escaped for a week? No matter, it was all good, and she is hooked. All she needs is a job that makes enough money to travel but doesn’t demand that she show up to work. Is Uncle Curt hiring?

Happy Hunting Ground

   Maybe there was something in the water. Or something in the air.  For whatever reason, Timothy and Joseph handed their rifles over to their female hunting companions and braced themselves. The first day Shaelee had ever seen a gun, she dropped a big doe. Timothy’s friend, “Red”, with slightly more firearm experience, shot a slightly smaller doe (Sorry, Red, but newspaper reporters have to be brutally honest, especially in regard to venison.).

   Herb dragged home a-------nothing? This is the first year in recorded history that the deer slayer has come up empty handed, and he is not happy. Maybe he should have handed his rifle over to his wife. J

   Joseph killed two with a bow and barely qualified for his first wall mount with an eight-point. Timothy was too busy to hunt, but accidently hit an eight-point with his truck. Too bad it’s illegal to hang those antlers on the wall. Yes, it’s entirely too bad.

On the Road Again

   Joseph is still climbing towers and gone all the time, but he has penciled in a vacation for May 14 – his upcoming wedding to Shaelee! Stay tuned!

The Wrecking Crew

   It was a bad year for vehicles in the Allison Family. Timothy backed into a car in a parking lot and walked away with the ticket. Joseph rolled and totaled his truck-to-beat-all, and walked away with only a few brain cells missing. Bethany rear-ended a vehicle in Tulsa traffic while driving Hannah Grace’s car. Thereafter, Hannah Grace became the very unhappy driver of a 4-toned heap while it evolved into repair. But not for long! Han ran a red light in front of a delivery truck and destroyed it. No more embarrassing ride, and ‘the Hanster’ wobbled away with all of her hair pins still in place and all of her gym clothes scattered on the road.

   Fast forward a few months to Herb’s insurance cancellation notice. Pretty amazing when you consider he works for the company. It was every man for himself as he threw kids off the policy and out the door in order to save his pristine driving record. Well, the majority were planning on moving out eventually, anyway.

The Curse of the Feral Cats

   Bethany demanded that we spend all our time and money trying to save a litter of wild kittens in Herb’s shop. Mom warned her not to do it, but Bethany adopted 2 of these kitties and her entire apartment building came under a curse. Legend has it you aren’t supposed to move feral cats from where you find them. Bad hoo-doo. Bethany showed up in Urgent Care twice and the ER once with strange unnamed jungle diseases. Unnamed, that is, until the CDC got involved. Now, all health care workers in Tulsa are briefed on Feral Cat Curses.

   Beyond that, Bethany took the cats to the vet no less than 6 times in the first 3 months of their lives. She could have bought 38 kitties at the pet shop for what these 2 wild ones have cost her in haz-mat suits, soaps, sprays, meds, exterminators, and missed work. She still has to bathe in horse shampoo once a week to keep her eyebrows from falling out (true story), but she loves her “boys” and would never put them outside. Bless her heart.

Missionary Mom

   With no real excuse to stay home, Mom went on the church mission trip for the first time ever. It was a bittersweet experience, since all the big kids who were so involved in years past had moved on. Homesickness set in when she rolled past the last familiar exit sign headed for Wisconsin. The church they stayed in served the poor, homeless, and ex-cons, who became active members, who, in turn, reached out to share with others in dire straits. A fascinating example of a living church in action.

  There was a lot of action in Mom’s room, too, when an ADHD mouse shot through the cook’s quarters at midnight. Chairs, beds, and ladies crashed into one another as the mouse sped ‘round and ‘round the perimeter of the room. Amid the screams (all of them mom’s), the mouse was captured in a trash can by some handy teenagers. This was the first and only time Mom was ever happy to see teenagers.

Flying High!

Timothy is finally a pilot and even took his mama up for a plane ride! To keep from flying around the globe, he had to convince Mom to let him bank the plane to return. No easy task with her fingernails embedded into his arm.

                                                                      Rise and Shine!

 

   On a last minute lark, Herb, Kim, and Jubilee decided to run off to Eureka Springs for the Easter Sunrise Service held at “Christ of the Ozarks” on the grounds of The Great Passion Play. “Awesome” doesn’t do it justice. “Freezing” gets a little closer. Weather aside, the “awe” started when we parked the car and started the long quiet walk up the hill in the dark. We imagined the heavy hearts of those pre-dawn mourners who silently carried spices to the tomb of Jesus a few thousand years ago. We found our seats among a small group of strangers at the base of the statue and silently waited for sunrise. With the first hint of daylight, someone started to sing:

   Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.

   Because He lives, all fear is gone.

   Because I know He holds the future,

   My life is worth the living just because He lives!

In the light of a new Easter morning, we could rejoice with those long-ago followers who found the tomb empty! After a riveting talk by a local pastor, we started back down the hill. Our steps and our hearts were lighter, knowing we can have hope in any situation because of Jesus’ resurrection. And nearly a year later, Jubilee still says it was the best weekend of her life! 

Team Jenna!

   A few years ago, Kim’s cousin Jenna started making weekly visits for crafts, fingernails, and “girl time.” She and Jubilee have painted and decorated anything that will stand still long enough and entertained a growing number of visitors to their “tea parties” (we counted 14 once).

   Last fall, Jenna joined us in the 5K Hero Run at Honor Heights Park. Herb muscled her wheelchair up and down the hills and across the finish line to claim a victory for ‘Team Jenna’. At that point, we needed two wheelchairs because Herb wasn’t moving. He eventually crawled to Charlie’s Chicken to recover his strength and be ready for the next race. Gotta build up those muscles!

Millionaire Musings

     Timothy branched out and started his own appliance repair business, RSG (Really Stinkin Good). His goal: millionaire within a year (do you see a pattern here?) So far, it has entailed 24 hour paperwork, but ever-hopeful Timothy keeps on repairing. When he makes that first million, he is planning to purchase an airplane, or better yet, a helicopter!   

This Won’t Hurt a Bit!

   Hannah Grace couldn’t understand why the entire panel stayed doubled over with laughter when she went for her interview for admission to LPN school. It was a mystery why they thought her answers were so funny. Hannah related later, “They asked how I would handle certain situations that might come up with staff members or patients, and I would just say, ‘Here’s how my mom handled that when it happened at home...’.” Her family must have made a good impression, because she made the cut as the youngest member of the class. She is now half way through school, can start an IV like a boss, and is planning a medical mission trip to Africa as soon as the license is in hand.  Looks like more grey hair for mom.

Footnotes

   Timothy couldn’t go a whole year stateside, so he made a quick 8-day trip to Mexico to explore the unexplored and climb some mountains. He discovered some interesting people and places but has yet to disclose any incriminating details.

   Jubilee set a family record for the shortest lived goat herd business. They came and went with lightening speed. Could be because 'farm manager' Herb had already fixed all the fences he had ever planned to fix in his lifetime and has glued his backside to the recliner. Sorry, Jubilee. Try again in a couple of  years when your Daddy has forgotten what a goat looks like. 

   Hannah Grace took a few road trips last year to visit friends in Illinois and Texas, and snowboard in Colorado. She is getting better at navigation and was pleasantly surprised to actually arrive at her chosen destinations without getting lost!

   Mom and Jubilee were the only travelers on the annual pilgrimage to Big Sandy, TX for the homeschool convention. We had to have help putting up our tent, had to borrow an air mattress, and had to bum a sandwich the first night, but otherwise, we were well prepared. Just like boy scouts. J