Pray for Aunt Gail

Dave just talked with Marla to get an update on Aunt Gail. She will be scheduled for bypass surgery on Friday. She has one 100% blocked artery, one 90% blocked, one 70% blocked and a fourth artery with some percentage that Marla could not remember.

She is having a lot of fluid around her heart and the doctors are trying to get control of this and get her stable by Friday. If she has more chest pains, they may go in before Friday.

Remember we all just went to Vandergrift to celebrate her 80th birthday! I notice on FB that Caryn and probably Cara as well are posting updates too!

Pray for this little lady - our matriarch!!

Today is a sad anniversary.

Twenty years ago today my mom passed away. She was only 54 - that is how old I am right now. Lung cancer - please don't smoke. I miss her so much. Right now some of the things I want to talk to her about - how do I deal with this empty nest? I want to ask her about her growing up years. I want to hear those stories about her grandmother who was was born in Italy. I want her to teach me to jitter bug - why didn't I let her when she wanted to? Oh I wish she could see Rachel and the young woman she has grown into, and Rose who she never met.

There is no other woman on earth who can touch you, love you like your mother.

I love you momma, I miss you.

Okay, I'm a believer.....

I'm ready, take me away again, I'm sold, I believe you now. Oh my. I have experienced my first cruise! I must say that I went with my lovely daughter and had a wonderful time, now I'm looking forward to going again with my husband and having an even more wonderful time.

We left Baltimore on the 7th and came back on the 14th. First stop was Grand Turk, then Half Moon Cay, then Nassau - Bahamas. It was on the Carnival Pride.

The immediate lessons that come to mind for me: two swim suits are better than one, water shoes make for comfort. I only took one excursion - a glass bottom boat ride - but still had a great time. That beautiful white sand and clear water, I would have stayed in it all day, had I not stayed in the same sun on the two days at sea - forgetting to put sunscreen on my face - everywhere else - not the face!

While bobbing around Grand Turk I was talking with another woman from the ship who said she was there with 52! That's 52!!!! members of her family. They plan a cruise every year and then whoever can make it has a year to pay it off and that's their reunion. They've been doing it for 15 hears now and had close to 100 family members in the past. What a great idea! Maybe next summer (2010) at our next reunion in Texas we could talk about it.

We must all be busy - or else we are all on Facebook!!!! I've chatted more with the Tresters on Facebook then here. Maybe we should just all get on FB?????

I did email Nick and Becky - Nick replied that they are all well, just busy with new baby - I'm hoping they post new photos soon. I think they are on FB, just need to figure out how to reach them to become Friends.

Anyway - here are a couple photos from my summer adventure!

Computer Skills ???

Hey Cindy,

Nice job with the cut & paste. I don't know how you made it look like Dave and I were dancing, and I wish that I had your computer skills. Dave and I have a solemn vow..........that we will deny, deny, deny that we ever danced together.

Seriously, we had a wonderful time with Dave, Cindy, Rachel, and Mom. we only have two regrets.......first that we didn't have more time to spend with you all. And second........that Cindy brought had her camera at that moment!

We love you all,
Tim & Merideth

Dads 50th Surprise Party

So I know these pictures are a little after the fact! But as most of you know, we had a surprise 50th birthday party for my dad back in March. The Party had a golf theme and I thought I would share a few pictures with all of you!!

Dad & Mom in their golf attire!

Brittany & Dad! For those of you that don't know Brittany, she is Jeremy's cute wife!!

Awesome cupcakes! They were so cool looking!

Bryan (Tessa's boyfriend) & Shane (my Hubby) out cookin on the grill. Jeremy did the preparing of the food and then Bryan cooked it all up!!

Jeremy cheesin it with his best friend, Josh, and his little girl, Kennedy!!

If any of you want to see more pictures, feel free to check out my blog at www.swaraslife.blogspot.com

Wedding Bliss

Here is a couple of the wedding pics that I have so far!!

All of the Bridesmaid shoes & bouquets!!

My daddy & I - daddy/daughter dance!!
We danced to "I loved her first" by Heartland!
I love my daddy, he is the best!!

Our rings! I absolutely love this pic!!

Shane & I after we were married in the

Las Vegas LDS Temple!!

Awww...I love this picture! I am the luckiest girl in the

world to have such an amazing guy!!

Thanks for all the support from all of you!!

I love you all so much and cannot wait for you to all be able to meet him!!!

Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Shane Luke!!!!!

Whew - it was a whirlwind weekend for us Maryland Hartmans. We flew out of BWI on Thursday evening at 6:30 pm. It had been raining and raining and raining here, in the 60s. Chilly, wet, almost not quite miserable. When we landed at Las Vegas at 8:55 Pacific Time (11:55 Maryland time), the pilot announced "welcome to Las Vegas where it is currently a balmy 96 degrees!" Wow! Rachel was on a different flight, but landed just minutes before we did, so we caught up with her quickly. Then we found our chauffeur (smile Uncle Tim!).

Tim whisked us away into the night - and found the bachelorette party where we promptly dropped off Rachel. Oh I wish I had had my camera at the ready! Words cannot due justice to the sight of the bride to be and her maid of honor as they hurried outside to greet their cousin, auntie and uncle! We will just say the "accessories" were appropriate for a bachelorette party. The father of the bride might have even blushed!

Friday we got to shop a little with Grandom (Peggy) and then that evening we enjoyed the rehearsal dinner prepared by Jeremy & Brittany Hartman, LLC - A Fine Catering Firm. We would highly recommend this couple to anyone - do you know that Brittany was even kind enough to teach me how to eat an artichoke!!!

Now come some photos. I apologize in advance for the many family members that I did not get in pictures. For some reason I seemed to focus on the bride and groom - duh.

This appeared to be a serious conversation between Mother and son. Cooper looks a little concerned.

Bride and groom appear relaxed after the rehearsal and dinner.

Father of the bride

Uncle of the bride

Grandmother of the bride

At Aunt Stephanies luncheon following the morning ceremony at the temple.

Look at Mr. & Mrs. Shane Luke enjoying luncheon.

Later in the evening at the ring ceremony - so beautiful and look at the lovely attendants and Tim & Meridith - it was a lovely ceremony - the toasts were moving and funny.

Their first dance!

There was wonderful dancing all evening, the final dance belonged to Jeremy and his grandmother.

Oh excuse me, the final dance was given to

David and his mother!

Oh yea, that's right it was the last dance given to Tim and his mother!!

OH FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE - THOSE TWO HAD THE LAST DANCE!!!

Hey, is that Rachel and Brittany in the background?????

Cindy...Thanks for always posting our link so everyone has updates!!! I'm so bad at just maintaining our blog, getting to post on this one also will take a while. There is always so much to keep up with on the internet. We appreciate your keeping everyone updated on our lives, hopefully I can get Nick to start posting here while I keep up our blog so we keep it up with both!

Becky

They've posted more photos!

Hey you guys!

Go to

www.thehartmanstory.blogspot.com/

They've put up more photos of the little ones - Noelle and Owen!

How are you all? This past weekend we had a little taste of spring - low 70s, did just a little yard work - it was so pleasant. Now we are adjusting to the "time change - springing forward." Anyone else missing that hour of sleep? YAWN.

A March Snowfall

These photos are really current, like a couple hours ago. We didn't get it too bad - about 5-6 inches of powdery stuff. This first pic shows Petey's venture out the slider onto the patio, see the circle - just far enough to make some yellow snow then a quick U-Turn!










Dave got the snow blower goin'. This has been a great opportunity for "us" to help our neighbors - we've been blessed with this little piece of equipment, so Dave does the "seniors" and anyone else he can help.











A shot of Harford County Snow plow! In some years past when we've had a really wet, significant snow, we've cleaned our driveway and around the mailbox only to have the snowplow come by and bury the mailbox and the end of the drive!!! Not a problem today!

These photos are from Saturday - day before yesterday. I'm still adjusting to the empty nest, but thank goodness she has to do laundry!!!!

Rachel came home to do laundry, and brought her
Terrorist, I mean four-month old yellow lab, Enzo to visit and play! Enzo really wants to be friends with 11 year old Petey - who has forgotten that he is a dog and wants nothing to do with Enzo. As you can see from the photos, Enzo laid on the couch next to Petey who endured this as long as Dave was sitting with his hand on Petey. Then Petey said "enough, this couch isn't big enough for the two of us!"

So while laundry is laundering, Enzo and Petey are bonding, Rachel and Mom are at Bed Bath & Beyond, I'm shopping the aisles and find Rachel in the chair with the back massager, just texting away. The look on her face - "what?".

More of what's happening!

Pam - I'm so glad you posted! You know I've been seeing pictures on line of all that bad ice storm in Kentucky. Glad you are coming out of that. I can imagine how tight quarters were for you all - but what a blessing that you could all take care of each other!

Louie! How long is recovery going to be?? You are in Dave and I's thoughts and prayers.

So, are you planning to come to the Pennsylvania reunion this summer (2009?) Oh I hope so, I think Gary and Debra are planning also - and Tim & Meredith! Oh please, oh please.

Now, wonderful news I found this morning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Go look at the announcement regarding

Owen Matthew Hartman

at www.thehartmanstory.blogspot.com

Sigh - I just love seeing those baby pictures.

Okay, again I'm gonna say I'll try to be better at posting!

What's been happening!

Hello everyone. I'm giving you an update on what's transpired in the past few weeks.
First of all, WOW! what a cold snap. I can't believe something so beautiful can cause such havic. The resent ice storm was so beautiful. Everything turned to glass. I have never seen anything like it. Louie's mom had no power for a week nor did James & Theda. Our little place was so crowded for a little bit, but we enjoyed it tremendously. Then came melt down, such beauty with every tree glistening. Very dangerous with all the ice falling from trees and power lines. It was like the sky was falling. I'll send pics one of these days.


I also wanted to let you know that Louie was hospitalized for a week. He made a trip to the emergency room on Jan 29th with severe stomache pain. The doctor thought he had an infection in his lower intestine and prescribed an anitbiotic as nothing showed up on his CT Scan. After taking the meds an fighting for more than a week unable to keep any food or liquid in his system, vomiting bile nightly, his Doctor went ahead and admitted him on the 5th of Feb. He was so dehydrated and very weak. They did a contrast on him and the liquid did not pass through his lower intestines and indicated a blockage of some sort. He still is vomiting bile at this point and was scheduled for surgery. Turns out that scar tissue from a previous surgery in 2005, (a burst pancreatic scist that burned is entire belly region). He was able to break it and now he is in the process of healing and regaining his strength. He feels pretty good today and is out and about.

Love all of you. Can't wait to be a part of the next reunion this summer.

Wow what a fantastic trip!

Cara - I love the photos! Did you know the people at the Polish dinner? The Eiffel Tower was beautiful lit up for Christmas. Your girls are real world travelers and troopers posing for all those pictures. I must admit I'm a real lurker on Facebook and I had already looked at your pictures that are on there! Sigh. Hey I checked out your Caracreates.com site. Got any suggestions for this blog? It would be need to get more creative here. Do you offer a family discount???

Pictures From Our Trip

I just wanted to share them with ya'll. They are here:
http://s400.photobucket.com/albums/pp89/casonnier/
Just click on the album links on the left side.

We had a wonderful time visiting mom and dad! Emma was so enthralled with Paris that she came home and started French lessons! I think Hannah had a good time but she hasn't said what was her favorite part. They built there first snowman - EVER! When we lived in Maine and had snow the girls were too little to build one.



Talk to you all soon!

It's Not So Cold Now

Today was our first "real" snow. I tried to get a close-up of this woodpecker eating suet from the bird feeder in the front yard. He has a beautiful red color on the back of his head. So, here's Dave! At first he used a big push broom to sweep the driveway of snow, but by the time he got back to the garage, he decided a shovel would be necessary. Nice big snow flakes.

Right after I took the photo of Dave I turned around and took this one right in front of the house. It has stopped now.

Ciara thanks for your encouraging words! We are excited for you and your wedding plans! I like peeking over at your blog and reading about your life - keep updating!!!

Now let's get everyone else involved!

Hey Everyone

Hey so I figured I better get on here and post! I noticed that Aunt Cindy seems to be the one posting all the time!! Well I am heading home in 2 days to work on more wedding stuff!! I am really excited and wedding plans are going great! The countdown is officially on, 16 weeks as of tomorrow and I will be MRS LUKE!!! I can't wait for all of you to have an opportunity to meet him! He is seriously an amazing guy! Aunt Cindy, just so you know, I know its hard on you guys to have Rachel move out, but it is extremely difficult to move away from home and everything you know too! Trust me! Well I hope everyone is doing well! I love you all and miss you all tons!!

Baby It's Cold Outside!

Oh man, it's 4:34pm, the sun is shining, the sky is a beautiful blue and it's 18 degrees!!! And the wind is blowing, so the wind chill factor is like ZERO. I certainly shouldn't whine! I remember being stationed at Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota and I heard on the news yesterday it was MINUS 44 there! Gulp, gasp.

I found a recipe for crock pot pulled pork and it is delicious - we had it last night. I cut up chunks of pork tenderloin, made a rub with paprika, garlic, salt & pepper - coated the chunks, put them in the crockpot - then poured in 1/3 cup of liquid smoke. Cooked on high for 6 hours. Then pulled it apart with a fork. We added cider vinegar until we liked the taste. It was a little questionable at first - Dave really wanted to put on some barbeque sauce and I was trying to stay true to the North Carolina bbq it was supposed to be (according to the recipe), we are now believers, surprised by the taste change from adding the vinegar. Try it, lemme know whatchathink.

I've taken the music off - I realized that when I check to see IF ANYONE OUT THERE IS POSTING, that sometimes the music startles me and can be loud - so, it's gone.

Anybody out there?

New Year - Changes

Well Tim, Dave and I understand how you felt when you carried Ciara to her new home. Sigh. Rachel has moved out, she has her own place and even has a room mate - Enzo! Enzo is a yellow lab and I must admit he is incredibly lovable. Unfortunately our senior room mate, Petey, is not very social, whenever Enzo comes to visit Petey becomes very standoffish and wants to "mark his territory."

I have been reading "The Hartman Story" and getting excited for Gary's next grandchild. Has anyone seen their blog? www.thehartmanstory.blogspot.com

It's cold here. Next Sunday will be tense in this house. Ravens - Steelers. Oh my! We haven't been in touch with Hutch and Marla but I'm sure it will happen.

Okay, I'm going to try really hard to be better at posting! Will you all too? Please? Pretty please?

John Burruss Memorial

Heavy Heart....

My heart aches and my thoughts and prayers are with you all in Texas. I am so glad Dave can be with you as you have the memorial today for John. I cling to absent from the body present with the Lord.

Love to you all! Cindy