Life in General:

Life... Well, each day is amazing in itself. Whether we have a good day or bad, each day is a precious gift from God. When you stop to think about the miracle of life from beginning to end it almost takes your breath away. "God is Good, God is Great" is an amazing truth. When life is good, we thank God, when life is not going so good, we blame God. Why, God? Why? Why do we not say, Why, Devil? Why? Not everything good or bad comes from God, but how we handle the trying times says alot about us.

I'm having a "mini trial" right now with my health. Nothing serious, I'm sure, but still a time of worry. My liver enzymes have been elevated for several years, not alarmingly high levels, but high none-the-less. I had a liver biopsy done on Tuesday, the 2nd. I had thought they would sedate me for the biopsy, but that was not the case. You have to be awake to take a deep breath at the time of the biopsy. When the doctor explained how he would give lido cane to the site and it would numb the area, I thought, great - pain, pain, pain! But I was pleasantly surprised that it did not hurt that much. I did not even feel pain as the seven inch biopsy needle was inserted. There was increased pressure and an amazing stabbing type pain across my whole abdomen at the time of the biopsy, but that was it. The only thing I was worried about was if we would get out in time for me to get a Hardees breakfast biscuit. I love their bacon, egg, and cheese biscuits. Luckily, we got out at 10:40 a.m. and the Hardees by the mall serves breakfast until 11 a.m.
Dwayne was a good "nurse" for the day. I anticipated having an ache at the biopsy site but not for having what I can only describe as a spasm that started at the top of my right hip, up through my side and down my arm. It hurt so bad! I couldn't even turn over in bed or get up. Dwayne, bless his heart, would have to literally pick me up off the bed so I could get up. This muscle spasm or whatever lasted on into the night. I thought I would get relief and sleep with the pain pills but for some strange reason, pain pills keep me awake and this particular pain pill caused me to break out in hives and very, very itchy. I didn't get much sleep during the night or yesterday but I slept very sound last night and feel much better today.
I am back to work today and it feels good to have a routine to get back into.

Weekend:

Friday:
I talked Dwayne into going shopping with me. The last few years April and I have been grocery shopping together and we kind of have a method going. If there was something down one aisle we need one of us would just go and get it and catch up with each other at the end of an aisle. Dwayne doesn't get this method, he thinks I'm just dashing off and then he loses me. But I am still glad he went with me. For some reason buying groceries wears me out anymore.
We stopped at the Road Kill Grill on the way home and had their pulled pork sandwiches. They have very good food and service. Their advertisement is below with directions if anyone is interested.

Saturday:

Bradley James Feeler
My nephew, R.J. Feeler, brought his little boy Bradley down for a visit. Bradley is such a sweet little boy. He never got into anything and just sat and played with the toys. I enjoyed their visit.
The rest of the day I cleaned house and that evening, Dwayne and I watched TV and went to bed early.
Sunday:
Desmon
I went to church Sunday and then came home to what I thought was going to be a relaxing afternoon. I didn't count on watching Desmon for a few hours while Chad went horseback riding. We played with the cows and each time Desmon comes for a visit he remembers from the first time we played and how we set up the hay, the pond, etc. We play it the same way each time. When it was time to start supper, Desmon wanted to help. He followed directions and "helped" me fix the dessert and macaroni and cheese. Both recipes I borrowed from Pioneer Woman.


Todd grilled hamburgers when he got there. Finally, I had all three of my kids for a meal at the same time. Desmon kept us entertained throughout the meal and afterward. I think he really needs to be around other kids as he is only with adults and tends to talk and play rough. He does have a sweet side when it's just one on one with him. He will sit on my lap to watch TV or read a book. Then he'll look up and say, I love you Miss Connie. Then he'll turn around and be a little wild man!! Guess you gotta take the good with the bad.
I had a great weekend visiting with family.

Babies:

Tyler Jay Rowden:
I'm a sucker for babies! I love children and enjoy being around babies. April and I went to see this little guy last night. What a cute and sweet baby. We enjoyed visiting with his Mom, Sarah and Grandma Gail.
I also got to see a classmate of Gail's, Patsy Henderson, whom I probably haven't seen since she graduated in 1974. I knew who she was as soon as I walked in. Her smile had not changed through the years, still a happy bubbly person.
It was a nice evening and we enjoyed seeing the new little miracle.

Mom & Dad:

My Mom and Dad came down last night for a visit. We always enjoy hearing Dad's stories and visiting with them. I am so grateful I still have my parents around and in relatively good health.

Round Springs:

In October, Dwayne, April, Mike and I went on a drive through the Ozarks and stopped at Round Springs on Highway 19. I was looking through pictures last night and came across this one of April standing by Round Spring. I had told Mike how pretty and blue the spring was and then what a disappointment it was to see it looked like a huge mud hole with all of the water run-off from the rains we had last Fall.

Weekend:

Friday:
January and February were very busy and stressful months at work. I took the day off just to rest and relax.
Saturday:
Dwayne, Todd, April and I went to my Uncle Merle's funeral. It was a beautiful service and tribute to my uncle. The preacher told of my Uncle Merle being in the hospital a couple weeks ago. They were taking him up to his room and there was a Chaplain in the elevator with him. He asked if he could pray for him and Uncle Merle said yes. Uncle Merle said when he opened his eyes after the prayer all he could see was the color blue. And then he saw a light with the blue Aura and at the end of the light he saw Jesus. It was a concern of my Grandma's that all of her children be saved by the Grace of God. This testimony of Uncle Merle is even more precious as he was not one to go to church or prone to exaggeration any situation.

After the funeral, Elizabeth rode with us to the cemetery and on to Vienna for the funeral dinner. There is never a dull moment with Elizabeth around! She is quite the entertainment.
Elizabeth then spent the night with us. We watched a space alien movie and played Skip Bo.
Sunday:
Dwayne went to church early as he is on the nutrition committee. The committee fixes a meal one Sunday per month. Elizabeth and I went to church and then stayed for dinner.
When we were leaving, Elizabeth noticed she left her jacket. I told her I would get it next Sunday but then decided to just go around to the back and let her go in and get it.



As we were going home on Highway 63 the traffic had come to a stop at the top of the hill from the Gasconade River. We assumed there was a bad accident as the road was blocked. We could not see very far as there was a diesel ahead of us blocking the view. As they directed everyone to turn around and detour through Hwy 42 East we then saw the road was blocked due to heavy rock that had fallen across all three lanes of the highway. We could not tell if any cars were involved and we prayed there wasn't as the cars would have been totally crushed due to the larger boulders. That is when Elizabeth decided she saved our life. And she may be correct as the three to five minutes it took to go back and retrieve her jacket may have kept us from traveling through at the time the rocks fell as it happened just a few minutes before we got there. I'm sure we will hear the story of Elizabeth saving our lives for years to come. LOL

My niece, MacKensie Ellyne turned twelve on the 12th of February. Mom had her birthday dinner yesterday. We went to Mom's after the church dinner to visit with everyone. MacKensie is the baby of all the grandchildren and brings great joy to Mom and Dad.


I fixed spaghetti for our Sunday evening meal. Chad didn't feel well as his arm is still hurting him quite a bit from his accident a couple weeks ago, so he didn't come up. Dwayne, Todd, April, Mike and I spent an enjoyable evening visiting.
Dwayne finally got called back to work this week. I think today will be rough for him as he has not had to get up at 4:30 in the morning for over six months.
Dwayne works very hard and the six month break was good for him.
The weekend was a time of reflecting the past, visiting with family we seldom see, rejoicing the life of my Uncle Merle, and overall being grateful for the life we lead.

Uncle Merle

Yesterday my Uncle Merle passed away due to heart failure. His health hasn't been the greatest the last few years with a blood disease that resembles luekemia. My last memories of Uncle Merle are of laughter and happiness spent celebrating my Uncle Robert's 79th birthday back in October. Everyone had such a wonderful time visiting and catching up.


Eldon ‘Merle’ Feeler
74, of Rolla
Eldon Merle Feeler, of Rolla, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010, at the age of 74.
Merle was born on April 3, 1935, in Maries County, Mo., to Arch Feeler and Eliza (Balance) Feeler. On Oct. 12, 1979, he married Becky (Hastings) Feeler who survives of the home.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Kerry Jordan; two sisters, Lucy Spencer and Opal Feeler; and three brothers, Gene, Gale and Lloyd Feeler.
Merle will be sadly missed by his surviving family which includes: his wife, Becky Feeler of Rolla, Mo.; two sons, Steven Feeler and wife, Kathleen of St. Charles, Mo., and David Weisinger and wife, Danyell of Cincinnati, Ohio; one daughter, Kathy Ard of Salem, Mo.; three brothers, Hubert Feeler and wife, Ruby, Arch Feeler and wife, Maxine, all of Rolla, Mo., and Robert Feeler and wife, Alice of Vienna, Mo.; and two sisters, Ethel Halbert and husband, Homer and Fern Jones, all of Rolla, Mo.; seven grandchildren, Francheska, Jessica, Steven, Amber, Adam, Todd and Robert; and two great grandchildren, Robert, Jr. and Gage.
A funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, 2010, at the Null & Son Funeral Home of Rolla.
Interment will follow at the Lower Davis Cemetery.
A visitation for family and friends will be held prior to the service beginning at 1 p.m.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Lower Davis Cemetery.
Online contributions may be offered at www.nullandsonfuneralhome.com.
All arrangements are under the direction of the Null & Son Funeral Home of Rolla.