New Year's Eve

Hi,

The snow has fallen throughout the day, adding to the previous accumulation from last Saturday. White and soft, it muffles the noise, and all seems so quiet. Christmas lights hugging the bushes up close to the house, have a soft glow shining through the cold frosting covering them. Dave has been shoveling the walk and drive off and on all day, trying to maintain a safe walkway and drive. We've had our three labs,as well as our neighbors' lab that we are sitting while they are on vacation, out running in the snow. They love to roll in it, and eat it too! We like to take them out to run and play hard, in hopes that they will soon settle down for a long winters nap!

Dave made his annual New Year's Eve pizza with extra helpings of pepperoni and cheese for our dinner. His parents, Erma and Pilate Fyffe, are visiting from Ohio. Football is on the tv, Gran is unloading the dishwasher, and Jess and I are both on our laptops. We may make it to midnight, maybe. Sometimes our friends, Jerry and Brenda Preston, also from Ohio, drive out for the New Year holiday. We go shopping, sing songs, eat lots of junk food, and laugh a lot. They are getting freezing rain tonight, and I am glad they are not on the road this year. But maybe next year....

Friends are so dear. Dave is preparing for another major surgery on Wednesday. Jerry and Brenda let us know that if we needed, or just wanted them to be here, they would be here. That would mean taking precious vacation time, personal time, a sacrifice of love, to be with us. What a gift! We thanked them for their offer, and (ouch) said they really didn't need to be here. We knew they would be with us in spirit. But how grateful we are that they would offer such a gift.

The gift of friends is one of the most precious gifts God has given to us, besides the gift of his son, Jesus. For the Preston family, and friends and family scattered in so many places, we give thanks.

I wish for you a year of having the gift of good friends, people that really care for you, and that you will care back for.

Hugs,

Aunt Betty

Winter Sorrows

Word has come that our cousin, Charlie Eldridge, (son of Grovie (Fannin) Eldridge - daughter of Oscar H. Fannin and Maude (Lewis) Fannin, has lost a precious grandson to cancer. Having been diagnosed with the disease at the age of four, the little one was barely six years old when he died. The extended family is so large, and I live so far away, that I do not know each one. I met a couple of Charlie's little grandchildren about 2 years ago, and what precious children with big beautiful eyes! But knowing them personally is not necessary for me to share in their grief. We are family, and I grieve with them for their great loss. The little Newcombe Valley Church in Isonville, Kentucky will hold the family and friends as they gather to mourn and comfort one another today. May God comfort the grieving parents, grandparents, and all the extended family as they mourn.

Snow in Iowa!

Dear Friends and Family,

The snow has been falling all day in Muscatine, Iowa. We have about 5 1/2 inches accumulation resting on top of last weeks snow. Yes, we had a beautiful white Christmas! Baby, it's cold outside!

Speaking of Christmas, we had a lovely Christmas day. Christmas Eve we enjoyed a traditional holiday dinner and attended the midnight candle light service at our church. Christmas day, we wore our sweats or pjs, read, watched tv, talked, and ate leftovers! What a great day! I hope your day was a good one too.

Hugs,

Aunt Betty

Lewis Sisters

The Lewis sisters, daughters of Enoch and Martha Lewis

Back Row, L to R: Nola, Minnie, Nancy
Front Row, L to R: Maude, Alice

This is one of my favorite photos of my grandmother, Maude Mary (Lewis) Fannin with her sisters. I remember how they always addressed each other as "Sister" and then the name.
No longer constrained by the bonds of earth's gravity, these fine women reside with the Lord. They left a legacy of faith, love, wisdom and strength.

Some of them I knew better than others. I only met Great-Aunt Alice (Lewis) Conley once or twice. I was privileged to know Great Aunt Nola (Lewis) Charles for about the last 15 years of her life. Grandmother, Maude Mary (Lewis) Fannin, lived near us in Fairborn, Ohio after my grandfather, Oscar H. Fannin passed away, but I was a teenager, and didn't spend much time with her. It was Minnie Ethel (Lewis) Ison that I was the closer to, her being a middle sister, like myself.

Aunt Minnie picked me as a 12 year old child to invite to spend a week at her little home in the hills of eastern Kentucky. My Mom and Dad said yes and I was thrilled! There were barn cats to chase, peony's blooming, land to play, and boxes of old Guideposts to leaf through and read out on the wooden porch. In the sweet morning air of the country, breathing in blossoms and fresh blooms, I would perch on one of the old wooden benches on the front porch, stretch out, and read to my heart’s content! Aunt Minnie would call me in to help her make the daily bread, and I would watch as she skillfully sifted the flour. I got to help knead the dough. Big, fluffy biscuits with eggs and bacon made for a large breakfast meal. My stomach full, I would help her wash up her dishes, and wonder at the strange colored glasses that she used and plates. (Depression glass) The dishes tucked away, I was released to run again and play, or curl up on the porch with all those Guideposts to read.

The years passed by quickly, and Aunt Minnie and I continued to stay in touch. She gave me my first subscription to the little magazine I had so enjoyed reading on her front porch. In high school, I sometimes would get a letter and $5.00 tucked in the envelope for some need I might have. It was a gift of sacrifice, and of love.

As an adult, a young mother, growing and learning, I could always turn to her for prayer and encouragement. My own daughter got to meet this strong and caring woman, and fell in love with her too.

I'll be sharing more about my dear Great -Aunt Minnie through this blog and pictures as well. Aunt Minnie honored me greatly by calling me "her daughter she never had." Indeed, she grieved the loss of a baby girl, Jean, all of her days. Her only son, Wayne, faithfully cared for her, and brought great joy into her life. I am glad that I was a part of it

David Keith, Jessica Corinne, and Betty (Fannin) Fyffe, Christmas 2007 (photo by Paul Figg of Mulford Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA), Muscatine, IA)

New Year's Resolution 2008

Greetings from Aunt Betty!


It has been a long time since I have written to you, but I have thought of you often. I'm not big on New Year's Resolutions, but one that is very important to me is to do a better job staying in touch with you. Family and friends mean so much, and I don't want to take you for granted.

Welcome 2008! I wish you and your families a very safe, healthy New Year!

much love,

Aunt Betty