I had completely forgotten about this site.  It's been 7.5 years since anybody posted.

With empty hands.

My Dad has a nickname for me; it's busy-bee. You see, I'm good at staying busy. Busy-ness is not the same thing as being productive, and when it comes down to it, it simply isn't healthy. It creates this unbalance in my life and it's taking its toll on me. For the last several weeks I have been running from one thing to the next and when I do have a free moment at home I'm spending my time looking at time-wasting things online (facebook or blogs, anyone?). Instead of feeling truly connected with people I'm left feeling overwhelmed.

I wonder how much of this is attributed to our non-stop American culture that says to get ahead or fit it all in you can only sleep 5.5 hours per night because you simply have too much going on in your life for anything more. When I was working two jobs working very hard to make a goal happen it was a luxury to sleep more than 6 hours a night. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. Thankfully, that part of my life is behind me (hopefully forever). When I was in Africa last year it struck me that I liked being so disconnected from constant technology and was able to live more simply.

I'm being gently nudged that the time to rest has come. And, as much as I have been kicking and screaming to avoid this from happening it has come to the point where nothing sounds better than a vacation from the busy-ness of my every day life. Who wants to live with that thought?

I've been contemplating giving up facebook during Lent as a way to free up some time and let go of the hold that it has over me. Just in writing these words I've decided that my actions need to go a step further to address the actual problem instead of a symptom. I'm not entirely sure what that will look like, but I think it is time for me to release some things I've been holding onto. After all, someone once said that you can't receive anything new from God until you're holding out empty hands for God to fill them.

Here, God, are my empty hands for only you to fill.

Well, I wonder if anybody is out there. No one has posted or made a peep on this site since last winter. I reckon we've all been too busy to take the time to keep in touch..but, it's winter now & things follow the natural flow of the season & slow down. At least, that's how I feel & what I want, but life hasn't allowed me that luxury so far. It's 19 days until Christmas! No Christmas tree up, no lights on the house, no Christmas cards sent out, very few presents bought for the multitude that will be on my list!! I want to crawl under a blanket & hide until it's over, but my luck, someone would find me & pull me out. How do people do it? Some make Christmas look so easy! They have their shopping done, presents wrapped, for Heaven's sake. Their tree is up, cards sent out or at least they are ready to go out, and for some, they even have the ingredients to the Christmas dinner bought!!
Ahh, to be young & fast again!! I suppose the most important thing about Christmas is to make sure those that you love know that you love them & that being together is the most important thing, even if it is over Chili & grilled cheese sandwiches!
It's time again for our annual Butt sister & brother sleep over. To me this is the best part of Christmas. Just us original 7 & mama. No in-laws, outlaws or children. We'll tell big tales that no one else enjoys or believes & we'll laugh our crazy heads off. My brother-in-law, Spencer, says you could put us on a rock in the middle of the ocean & we'd find something to laugh about. He's right!! Life is so much more bearable when you can laugh at it. None of us are going to get out alive, so we'd just as well laugh!! We'll gorge ourselves on junk, stay up late, solve the world's problems & remember those who are no longer with us. My daddy always enjoyed these sleepovers. For one night of the year , he'd have all his children home together & it would be like old times when he would holler & boss us around. The sweet & hilarious memories he left for us!! Yup, i figure that 's what Christmas is all about! If you have your family, you've got the best present of all. Forget the trappings... give me time with them I love!! My prayer this Christmas season is that we would all take the time to appreciate the blessings around us that don't cost an arm & a leg, the ones that only God could give...family, laughter, memories, joy, peace & most of all, His son Jesus!! May all of these be real to you this season & may your Christmas be Merry & Bright!! Until the next time, May God Bless us everyone!! Mary Beth

Pierce family reunion - July 4

I hope there are Pierce family members reading this!!! I have booked the Shopville Park Shelter for July 4th for our family reunion. We will plan to meet after church around 1:00 pm. We will grill, so everybody bring something to go with it, and drinks to put in a tub of ice. My phone number is 606-274-4222 if you have questions.

Directions to my house is, driving south on I-75, take exit 62, Mt. Vernon exit. When you come off the exit continue to the right, which is 461. Go about 16 miles and 461 will dead end at hwy 80. Turn left, and go about 1/4 mile, and you will see the Shopville Elementry school on the left. Turn left in front of the school, and then turn immediately right. Go past the school, the new library, the church, over a little bridge, our house is the 3rd house on the right.

To get to the park, instead of turning left in front of the school, turn right. The park is immediately on the left.

The Big Little Brother and My Little Girl...

When you look at your life, the greatest happinesses are family happinesses.
~~~~~Joyce Brothers


Early this morning, the Big little brother; Jamie, left on his annual mission trip to Guatemala. Over the last several years, he and other members of his church (Plum Creek Christian) as well as members of sister churches, have traveled to other countries to help those who don't have resources like we do. Last year they built a school, or part of one. This year their goal is to build a parsonage. They'll return next year to complete the remainder of the school.

He is currently in transit from Atlanta. Or was earlier when I received a text from Jennifer.

I know with everything that's going on in everyone's life, if we could remember to keep Jaime and the church building team in our prayers, it would be greatly appreciated. As soon as I find the webpage like they had last year, I'll post it here. Hmmm, maybe Jenn can do that.

Oh, and if you will...include Momma in those prayers. Yesterday, as she was returning to her car after stopping to grab a few cheese coney's for her baby, she took a fall. Landed on her face with scrapes and bruises on her elbows and knees. After dropping off the coney's to Jamie, she dropped in at my house. With her being so unsteady and nauseous, I wouldn't let her leave. She did spend the night here, and I'll follow her home here in a bit. Momma is very lucky to not to have broken any bones.


Also as most of you know, Sissy Lynn is another one of the family who will be traveling with her church for a mission trip. Next month, she will be leaving Cincinnati on her trek to Mamelodi, South Africa. She has done an amazing job of raising the money for this trip. It certainly wasn't cheap. For those of you who have donated to her fund...Thank you!! I wish that I had the bottomless purse to pay for her, but 'tis not to be. Just the other day, she posted on her facebook page that she only had another 250$ to complete the final tally. She has started a new blog as a diary for this journey. You can find it here. Again, those prayers for her and Crossroads Go Mamelodi 10 would be greatly appreciated.


Speaking of prayers, y'all please keep Kathi and Kristopher in your thoughts as Kris works on returning to the person we know him to be and love. 'Nuff said.


With much love, hugs and kisses from my house to yours...

The Joy of Wintertime

As I sit here in me warm little house, I drift into a mood of contemplation & winter doldrums. It's been snowing off & on for 3 days now, colder than a welldigger's butt in the middle of January & there's more work to do than I can say grace over, but I don't feel like doing any of it. I just want to curl up in a big blanket & sleep...just like them thar bares in a cave.
But as I contemplate, I am reminded of the scripture that says "to everything there is a season" & this is the season for quietness & rest. The scripture also says "in everything give thanks", not "for" everything. There is something to be said for a grateful heart & rest. When things begin to warm up, it seems our lives begin to speed up & then we long for days of quietness & rest. What unsatisfiable creatures we are!
The way I look at it, the Good Lord knew what He was doing when he made the seasons & who am I to argue with success. As I see the seasons change, I guess I would be wise to take a cue from nature & learn to go with the flow. The only thing is, the older I get, the slower the flow. I want to slow down, but there are still the everyday demands on me that seem harder to get done because my flow is slow. Mama always said "it will be there tomorrow or when you feel like doing it." My commodes don't quit being dirty just because they'll be there in the morning. When your husband begins to comment that they look like "courthouse toilets", I realizeI must find a way to overcome my slow flow & make an effort to correct the "situtation". Nevertheless, I digress from my original intent & that was to say that I made a choice to give thanks about the things I am blessed with.
I have a world of friends & family that I love better than anything to talk to & I have a phone to do that with. I have a warm house to stay in, a good bed to curl up in, a TV to lay back & veg out on. I have a car to get out of this cozy cocoon with & traverse my way to those places that hold demands or necessities for me. I have a good ( even though a little weird) man to spend my time with in this little cocoon, one who tolerates me & makes me laugh. I have wonderful children who love their mama & are always doing things to take care of me, when I can't do for myself. I HAVE A GOOD JOB!!!! one that I enjoy going to, no matter how hectic it gets!! I have a good church to go to, where there are people who help me try to become the peron I want to be & love me in spite of myself. And lastly, but not leastly, I have a Heavenly Father who loves me just the way I am, even though He knows I could be so much more. He never gives up on me & I know that I have a heavenly home to go to when time is no more for me. WHAT DO I HAVE TO BE SAD ABOUT??!! I've known life in a much harder state, & I am thankful that it has reached the state it has. Does that mean it's perfect??? No way, Jose! I could make a list just as long or longer with all the things that are hard or need to be changed, but I choose to keep a grateful attitude, at least for today. Tomorrow will take care of itself, with new choices & opportunities.
So, whatever state you may find yourself in today, make a choice to count your blessings & have a grateful heart, even "in" the troubles & trials. These even work to make us stronger & how we play this game determines how we start in the next one. I don't know about you, but I'm thankful for the slow time, so I'll be ready to run with the BIG DOGS when it heats up.
Hope your winter is going well, & you are all well & safe. Can't wait until the next time we are all together. Much love to all, Beezer

I am Thankful

Well, it is the eve of our holiday season. That being the fine day of Thanksgiving. How appropriate that it would be the 1st in a trio of holidays in little more than a month.
As it has approached, I have found myself pondering my life & the things I am thankful for. It causes me to realize what I really have to be thankful for in the next of the series of holidays, Christmas. Thanksgiving is a living out of the "reason for the season". Had it not been for the Christ child, I would have nothing to be thankful for, because all that we have & are is a result of His birth & ultimate sacrifice.
I have lived such a blessed life! I have enjoyed a bounty of provision. Even in times of lack, it has been more than most of the world has ever seen. I was raised in the best of times.... times when you could leave your home for a week & never lock the door....times when neighbors watched out for you, people visited one another without having an invitation & people were willing to share what they had when you didn't have....times when families still considered each other their best friends & worth spending time with, when it wasn't a major feat just to be able to spend 2 hours together....times when every child knew every extended member in their family, what their relationship was, where they lived & what they did for a living...times when the young took care of the elderly @ home because they could no longer manage by themselves... A time when it wasn't considered a sacrifice, it was the norm....times when going to the drive- in movie in the summertime with a bag full of popcorn & jar of koolaid was considered a big treat to be anticipated...times when wintertime meant hot chocolate & mama's oatmeal cookies, curled up in a chair reading a book, then sharing what you read with your brothers & sisters... a time when supper meant everybody at the table, present & accounted for, sharing the days events & thoughts with everyone there...time with no TV, no DS's, Ipods, cell phones, play stations or any other gadget greater than a transistor radio. Yep, it was the best of times & I'm thankful for that... but time marches on.
In the march of time, we have accomplished great things in this country, the land of the Free. We now communicate on these little black boxes called computers. 1 person can do the work of 2 - 3 people with machines. We can travel across the world in less time than it used to take to get to another state . Running water & indoor plumbing are the standard now. We have a restaurant on every corner for even the pickiest of eaters... We have kitchen gadgets that make preparing a meal seem like child's play...We have a TV in almost every room of the house...we no longer have discrimination among the races...almost any child can get a college education if he tries hard enough...we have government programs for almost any need, so there's no call for poverty...Gardens are no longer necessary for survival, they are "chic" & a novelty. Canning??What's that?? cooking?? what's that??? We have made great strides in so many ways but as my daddy always said, " everything that shines ain't a diamond, & everything that glitters ain't gold."
I am so thankful to have lived in those times.... the joys, the sorrows, the struggles, the successes & accomplishments along the way... even the failures because they made me appreciate the successes even more...those times helped me understand what was so important that Christ would live & die for.....people, you & me. It gave me a foundation of caring, loving & helping that would last a lifetime. Not that I have always been a perfect example of them but , that foundation is there & I try.
With that foundation, I am thankful to be here @ this time. I have grandbabies to help get that same foundation... there are more people today with a lack of knowledge of the Christ who died for them...there are more hurting people today...people who have lost their way & just need someone to light the way...there are more lonely people today... who just long for the touch or smile of a friendly soul....there are more hungry people today... who just need someone to notice & help. I am so thankful for the foundation that causes me to want to help. Maybe that's why we are here today... to be the answer to someone else's prayer.
As you sit down today, in your warm homes, with your good meals, your loved ones & friends around you, stop for longer than a second to give thanks to the Creator for that which He created...a time such as this for someone such as you who can help someone else find the way to Him.
Wherever you may be, know that I love you all & will be missing you bunches. Have a great Thanksgiving Day & God's blessings be to you all.
Signing off..... O'Wise one

I Am Thankful

Around the World and Back

Hello family! For those of you who are probably more familiar with my older brother, George III, this is Michael Pierce. I am George's other son. I broke from the tradition of mechanics in our branch of the family tree and am a manufacturing engineer for Lexmark International. I have to make two or three visits each year to the factories that I support. Unfortunately, those factories are all in southeast Asia. On October 24, I went back to Dongguan, a city in south China and just a two hour or so drive from Hong Kong. Lynnis asked me to post some information and pictures from my latest adventure.

First, it's a long trip. After a short flight from Cincinnati to Detroit, it's almost 13 hours to Tokyo. Unfortunately, I've never had an opportunity to go into Tokyo. Then it's another four hours to Hong Kong. From the time I leave the house until I reach Hong Kong, it's a full 24 hours. It was 11:00 PM when I got to Hong Kong, so I just took the train into the city and then a taxi to my hotel.

I didn't sleep much the first night, so I got up and watched the Bengals - Bears game on my Slingbox. I walked around the Kowloon part of Hong Kong for a little while and then checked out of my hotel. I was braver than usual and decided to just take the subway up to the Hong Kong - China border (about 35 minutes on the subway) and walk across. That was very smooth, leaving me in Shenzhen, China. Then I took a train from Shenzhen to Dongguan. That's a short 31 minute train ride. It's also cheap at just 55RMB (just over $8). This is where the trip gets interesting. I don't speak Cantonese (Hong Kong) and my Mandarin (spoken in mainland China) vocabulary consists of the words for hello, beer, and , check, receipt and thank you. Much of the younger population can speak some English, but not the taxi drivers. Luckily, I kept a card from my previous stay at the hotel. The driver studied it a minute, and thought he knew where it was. He got me close, but tried to drop me off at the hospital that is a block from the hotel. I just sucked it up and walked the last block, dragging my luggage. I forgot to mention that after 10 trips to Asia and five to Europe, the handle on my trusty Samsonite broken when I was getting off the train in Dongguan. Handling it was not fun, and it's over 85 degrees in south China, with humidity to match. All I wanted at this point was something to drink, and a shower.

After getting cleaned up, I walked to the nearest Bank of China ATM. It's the only ATM where I can use my corporate AmEx card. Then lunch at Subway. Yes, I eat at Subway when I go to China. Real Chinese food is not like the stuff we see on our favorite buffets at home. No General Tso's chicken, and no fortune cookies. Fortune cookies aren't even Chinese. Next, is a trip to Wal-mart. I don't normally buy much at Wal-mart, except some snacks for the hotel room. Later in the trip I found a small western style market where I could get real Mt. Dew (Chinese formula is awful). Above Wal-mart and in the same building are two floors of other shops. My favorite DVD shops are there. I needed some entertainment for my trip. Later in the day, was dinner at the British pub near the hotel and relaxing for work the next day.

Most days, the car picks me up from the hotel at 9:00 and it's about a 20 minute ride to the factory. Most of my day is consumed with meetings and spending time watching the assembly line. Not too exciting. Luckily, most of the engineers speak English. We had lunch the first day at KFC. KFC is probably the largest US fast food chain in China. It's a little different. You can get a chicken sandwich with vegetables inside it. It's not good. And the Chinese don't like white breast meat in their chicken patties. They think it's too dry. Still, my chicken sandwich wasn't bad. Work usually ends around 5:30 and it's back to the hotel.

Being by myself, I don't like to venture too far from the hotel at night. Wal-mart is the furthest I will walk, and it's about 25 or 30 minutes from the hotel. I eat dinner at either One for the Road (British pub), Subway, or Papa John's. I just found Papa John's on the previous trip to Dongguan. It's much better than Pizza Hut. Pizza Hut doesn't use much sauce. There is also McDonald's here, but we go there for lunch some days. There are also a few Starbucks locations. I don't like regular coffee. I do like the occasional Frappuccino. This time I found an Italian restaurant that I had read about on the previous trip. It was very good!

I am used to working weekends when in China. This trip was an exception. On the first Saturday I took the train back to Shenzhen and walked across the border into Hong Kong. A couple years ago I had bought some pearl earrings for Julie and for my mother, and Julie asked me to get some for her mother. She doesn't read blogs, so I don't have to worry about ruining one of her Christmas presents. My favorite store for these earrings is in Stanley Market. After taking the subway into Hong Kong, I only had to cross the street and hop on the express bus to Stanley. I like to sit on the top level of the double-decker bus. It's a relaxing bus ride, but always take the express. The other buses stop at every stop and it takes an hour to get there. Stanley Market is a lot like a flea market. I only buy these pearls, and some new golf shirts when I go there. A shop there is an outlet for Greg Norman golf shirts. I bought a couple of those and two pair of earrings. I was wearing my Bengals hat and ran into two other Americans. One was a Browns fan, the other a Lions fan. I know that kind of pain. Because of the hot, humid, sticky weather, I decided that I had seen enough of Hong Kong and went back to Dongguan.

Not much noteworthy happened the rest of the trip. The funniest thing was a Chinese prostitute who followed me on to the hotel elevator and propositioned me when the other people had gotten off the elevator. It was all I could do to not laugh, as she fumbled with the English words. I made sure that she did not follow me off the elevator, and I walked the wrong way just in case.

I had to stay a few days extra and finally headed back to Hong Kong on November 10. I checked into the hotel and took the subway to Hong Kong Island. I had dinner at Fat Angelo's (good lasagna) in Soho. Soho is a Hong Kong neighborhood that you can get to using the mid-level escalators. You can google it. After dinner, I went to Lan Kwai Fong. Lan Kwai Fong is an area of bars and restaurants where you can just walk from bar to bar and socialize. On the weekends I think they close the street and it's just a big block party. I went to find one of my old bosses who lives in Hong Kong but works in our Shenzhen office. I know his favorite bar and found him there. It was nice to catch up and drink a couple beers. Nice way to end a trip. I took the subway back to the hotel and got a few hours of sleep.

I hope that you enjoy the photos from Dongguan and Hong Kong. If you have any questions about my adventures, feel free to e-mail me at michael.pierce@fuse.net, or find me on Facebook.

Papa John's
My favorite hangout!

Wal-mart is everywhere.

Tastes just like home!

Public suqare area in Dongguan.

Dongcheng International Hotel, my home away from home.

Star Ferry, the best way to cross Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong skyline on a hazy morning

Lan Kwai Fong neighborhood in Hong Kong

Night in Hong Kong

Mid-level escalators to Soho neighborhood in Hong Kong.

Get out your calendars

I'm a planner for those of you that done already know. And, I'm a busy person with lots of things in my life to juggle (as I'm sure most of you are as well). I'm trying to get my schedule together for Christmastime. Yes, I know we haven't even made it to Thanksgiving yet, but December days are filling up fast.

I know that we are planning to have our Christmas get together at Aunt B's, but how about we toss out some ideas for the date and maybe even the time. Are we planning to do a gift exchange like last year? I thought it was a lot of fun and I actually already have my gift, so I'm hoping other people are up for it as well. :)

I was thinking about an idea to celebrate being thankful on Thanksgiving. And, thinking of how to make it fun. Does anyone have any ideas? My idea is to have everyone write at least one unique thing specific to them and not a general thing that they are thankful for on a piece of paper without their name and then have them read and everyone try to guess who wrote it.

So, get out those calendars and lets start talking about when we get to see each other!

much love from my house to yours,
dana

How I love our SEEEESTER!!!

I just happened to click on the Pierce family blog, and was so thrilled that someone had actually posted something. It has been a long dry spell, I guess Facebook has had something to do with it. I believe a major part of us are on Facebook and can keep up with what is going on.

Pierce is truly a Pierce. He loves wheels under his butt, and wants the steering wheel at all possible times. I had taken him to the hospital when Will was born. He was not allowed to visit, due to the H1N1 virus, so we were waiting in my car for Mikie and Charlotte to come and get him so I could go see Kristi and the sweet new little baby Will. I put Pierce in my lap, in the driver's seat, and he grabbed the wheel, started trying to turn it and went "BRRRRRRRRRR", just like a true "Pierce". I said out loud to myself "Daddy, I wish you could meet this baby".
Mikie's Daddy- Mr. Mikell takes the grandsons out for a ride on his golf cart when they visit, and he has to ride Pierce around and around and around. He sits in Mr. Mikell's lap at all times, and if Mr. Mikell stops, Pierce grabs the steering wheel and tries to make it go again. He is truly "Just the sweetest thing ever"!!

Kristi had Will with very little sweat or effort it seems. In the picture of her holding Will after he was born, her makeup is still perfect. Will is a little fat boy, a beautiful boy with dark hair, blue eyes and fat cheeks, just like some of his aunts and his Mamaw.

I too am looking forward to seeing everyone and had called Martha today to see what the arrangements might be. How I wish she would ANSWER HER PHONE!!!!! I called the office, not the cell, cause that is the only phone she will ever answer. I also called Mary Beth, Momma and you know nobody wanted to talk, or I just couldn't find them.

I am going to Lexington to check on the boys tomorrow, and fix supper. They will be graduating within the next few years and then we will be remembering the days of these suppers. Life changes, I thank the good Lord above that it never gets dull though.

It does seem that the older you get the more you reflect, I don't know why, cause I am busier now than ever. I guess it is because that when you have a full life, you have alot of memories to think about. I can only guess what Momma thinks about, with all of her little lambs and grand lambs.

I love all of you and can't wait to see you soon, Susan

Where are you now?

Well, I decided to check out the family site & what to my surprise? There was no posting since July!!!! Sad shame & disgrace that even with technology we still can't keep in touch. Anyways, I thought I would get the engine to moving again. Maybe we'll make it a mile or two.
Today was Halloween. Since turning the age of 12, it hasn't meant too much for me except I could beg the other younger children to share their candy with me & now that I am able to buy my own candy whenever I want, it doesn't even hold that attraction for me. I had 12 spooks show up tonight. I can remember when they would come solid for 3 hrs., but I guess in today's world, most parents find it safer to take their children to a central place for shared activities & treats. Mr. Campbell seemed to appreciate the fact that there was candy left over & I had to finally gather it up & hide it. He has never gotten past his love for chocolate, as we all know.
It has been a beautiful fall. The leaves have been gorgeous & I still have petunias blooming. I fear that will be over shortly...but all good things must come to an end. It seems that the shorter days & longer nights bring out the sluggard in me & I have to fight to get anything accomplished. If it were not for Sarah, who cleans my house & does other honey-dos for me , Mr. Campbell & I would live in filth I'm afraid.
We are going to get plexiglass up around our screened porch to hopefully extract a longer period of use out of it. We love that porch so much & have dreaded the inabilty to use it this winter. We hope to be able to have Christmas out there for those of you who will be visiting us then. I am looking forward to everybody being here!
I am of the understanding that we will be gathering @ the Biddle mansion for Thanksgiving the Saturday after the official holiday. Hopefully, dear sister will be letting us know what we can bring for that fine affair. I would forego the food just to be with you all. I often thinks to meself how blessed I am to be part of such a wonderful family & even though everyone is so busy with their individual lives, just an afternoon shared with each of you keeps me going till the next time we gather. I guess being one of the eldest has it's drawbacks. I have come to the place in my life where things have settled down... kids are grown, no major demands on my time & I have time to visit but all the younger ones have the demands that I used to have. So maybe, I'll just have to wait for the holidays for my "family fix".
I suppose everyone is aware of the newest Pierce addition, little William Drake Johnson... Susan's newest grandbaby. Kristi Ann now has 2 under the age of 2. Ya'll pray for her... she's gonna need it. Susan has been in grandma heaven after spending 2 weeks down in Savannah hauling that baby Pierce around. He is the brightest, cutest, & sweetest child born according to his Mawmaw. Spoken like a true grandma!! We are all blessed to have such wonderful progeny. Each one adds a bright spot to the family tree!
One more tidbit of news... In case you didn't know, Dana Lynn will be making her maiden voyage to the big continent of Africa next year! She will be going on a mission with her church & is excited to no end. We must all get behind her, pray for her & support her in any way we can. After all, she is our representative to the rest of the world. When one of us'ns does good, we all look good!!! you know what i mean?
Well, all I can say is this.... if this much jabbering don't help nobody but me, it was worth it. I reckon I will be signing off as it is time to go to napper's house. Church in the morning & Lowes tomorrow afternoon. I am loving you all. Have a great week!!!

Sunday, July 12

I am home from Savannah, and getting ready for a whirlwind weekend. I hope all of my cousins are able to come and visit. I hope we can have a picnic at Bronston, so bring whatever you want to add to the table. I am not sure what I am going to fix, so just bring whatever you like. Meet at my house, and then we will proceed to Bronston. My home phone number is 606-274-4222, or cell is 606-219-3276. If you can call or email me at susanhansford@hotmail.com if you are coming or not, then I will know when everyone has arrived.

Reunion Pictures...

Family faces are magic mirrors. Looking at people who belong to us, we see the past, present, and future. ~Gail Lumet Buckley


On Little Drops, I always use a quote at the start of my post. There are many wise words to learn from. I just know I like them and there are bits of truth in most of the ones I've used. Especially the one above. If you look at some of our faces, you will see Grandmother and Grandpa Pierce, all of our Mothers and Fathers, as well as our other ancestors. Edna Mae looks so much like Grandmother as I remember her. Looking at Jamie, you see Daddy's image looking back at you. Little Pierce looks much like his daddy, Mike and a little bit like JD. Michael reminds me so much of George B. I knew as a little girl.

Funny, isn't it? But I'm glad that I'm part and parcel of such wonderful past, present and future...

Michael, thank you so much for sending me the pictures below. Pass it on to the rest of the family. Maybe there will be more who have others they want to share.



The clan waiting to launch our balloons with messages to the Angels above. I think everyone loved this part of the day. Gwen, thank you for bringing the balloons and helium so that we could do this.


One... Two... Three...OFF THEY GO!


Watch them go up into the wide blue sky on their flight towards heaven. Okay, so maybe a few pilots coming into Greater Cincinnati Airport will snag a few before they get that far.


Isn't that the coolest picture ever? There were a few that got tangled in the tree's. But I think the wishes and words we wrote on the cards attached to the balloons made it a lot farther than we know.


Edna Mae and Mary Beth talking up a storm. See what I mean when I said Edna looks like Grandmother? Daddy would have had a field day teasing her, I just know it.



What? Me use my hands to turn those hotdogs? Never!! I think we finally got the fire burning hot enough to cook the way I wanted. Uhh, Yeah, If you're going to do it, do it right. Right?


Susan had baked a cake for Momma's birthday that was the 25th of June. It was her 74th birthday. The cake was also for Kathi, whose birthday was this day, the 27th. Sorry that she wasn't there to enjoy the cake as well.

And there you have it. Maybe next time we should hire a photographer to do the picture taking. While we keep on talking and eating. Oh, I think if you click on each picture, it should come up much larger in a separate window. Just try it...


Much love and kisses from my house to yours.

Calling For Photo's From Reunion

Hey Everyone,

This past Saturday at Boone Woods was a wonderful time spent catching up with the dwindling number of Pierce's. Why we wait for a annual picnic to see each other is beyond me. Still was loads of fun, doncha think?

Sooo, I thought it would be nice to post some pictures of that gathering, just for posterity. Unfortunately for me, I never got the chance to take my camera out of it's case. I was busy!! Didn't you all enjoy the hamburgers, h'dogs, metts, brats and shrimp? Plus I had the 3 little piglets with me, which required keeping an eagle eye on them most of the time.

If there is anyone who was in attendance and was able to use their camera, would you care to send those pictures for me or someone to post here? Or...drop me a line via email or facebook so that we can get more of us Pierces' posting on here. I think Dana Lynn still has administrator powers here.

Here's my email addy>>lynnis dot honaker@gmail dot com

I'll be waiting to hear from y'all.


Much love and kisses from my house to yours.