Cyber hugs and kisses

Dear all: I have had my nose to the grindstone for the first month getting an office that had been let go for 2 years without anyone there, and now had to be brought up to standard for accreditation. I am happy to say that this will not always be the case. I have been able to work very hard with the help of some great staff and get some shape into the office so that it now has some processes in place, some productivity plans and some light at the end of the tunnel. We cannot be totally accredited until March of 2009 due to the restrictions placed on us for not being up to scratch, but by then we will be the shining light. I just wanted you to all know that I have not been totally lazing in the sun and letting you all freeze in Ohio, I really have been working very hard. I will be coming up for the Baptizm and b'day celebration of Elijah and plan to fly in December 4th and leave December 8th. We will have an early Christmas. However, lest you think I have been only working....last week end I did take the Saturday with some sisters from Church, some new friends, and we all went to Siesta Beach, white sands, clear water, and tons of little nick nack shops that I was getting ideas for Chrissy presents. I am so happy about the baby news from both Ariana and Rachel and so happy that Sariah was not hurt in her accident. I think it is a good idea for her to live in Piqua thru the Winter, as Highway 36 is just a menace with ice and drifting snow and she can have all her classes there and be five minutes from school. This will not be the last accident Sassy, but we all have to learn how easy it is to be involved in one. I am at the library once again and they book you in for a half hour's time so I wanted so bad to take this time to let you all know that I love you very much. I miss you terribly. I will probably have T/Giving with Uncle Steve and Auntie Donna and family and there have been lots of invitations for other stuff here so do not worry about me being too lonely. The people at church are not family, but they are the next best thing. We even have an Aussie brother and sister (newly married) who are from Melbourne and will go back to Aussie later with the World Tennis organization.....lucky people....I suggested they get me as a towel carrier or water girl...who knows. I love you all dearly. Thank you for your sweet phone calls, your concern and your love.....I will collect hugs and kisses first weekend in December....see you all then....will write again next week. Don't hold your breath, but I might have pictures too by then. Cyber hugs and kisses from afar for now........much love..........Mum/Dinah

WHAT I HAVE LEARNED FROM GECKOS

Be energetic.
Be friendly.
Always look like you are going somewhere important.
Be interested in people.
Look like you know what they are talking about.
Always wear a smile or look like you are smiling anyway.
Don’t say much, just look bright and intelligent.
Make the wardrobe casual and stay with the basic earth tones.
Watch for larger things coming your way and move out of the way fast.
If you lose your tail,

never mind,

life is just as happy without one.

This is serving me well in my new job. I move fast and with “purpose” and stay out of the “big guys” way. I look like I have it all together and have something secret to smile about and people are drawn to find out what it is that keeps me happy! Nothing special,
I am just following the Gecko’s lead and who doesn’t love a Gecko?
The hospital’s tropical landscape is full of Gecko’s and I love them.

Love and miss you all terribly, but I am cozy warm and making friends……mum…xoxoxo

Come Visit

I have arrived. Your father and I made it down by Saturday at about 10:00 and Uncle Stephen and Auntie Donna and their children came down to help. The Bishop came and another Tongan brother and they worked like slaves in the hot sun to unload everything. I have been having fun since unpacking boxes and finding places to nest it all. I have beds, rooms, and love for anyone who comes my way. I have begun work and will let you all have pictures in a few weeks when I get a little more settled. I give thanks for family every day, my own and the extrended family I have been blessed with. Get out your keyboards or writing material and e-mail me at dismylie@yahoo.com. so that I can give you all my address as I had all of your e-mails at UVMC and am not their anymore.....I love you all dearly and will see you all in December for Elijah's Baptism if not before......your mum...xoxoxoxoxox

The Saga Continues...

Did not leave on 11th as planned. Sharon Yingst my long-time friend who was planning to be travelling with me came down with a strange eye condition which had apparently been building up for several months, but only in hindsight did she realize what was happening. Anyway she lost the sight of her right eye and has peripheral vision only, so she could not drive with me. (I am totally bummed about all this....and not just because I lost the nonrefundable flight, but Sharon losing her sight is terrible). So I called on Kenneth to take me down as he has the ability to take those three days off. The irony is that we will come out of court on the morning of 18th having disolved our marriage of 32 odd years and then we will spend the next three days taking a trip together. (The Lord does have a sense of humor, I know!!!). I will email you all with my new address. The newer car ( a 2006 Chevy Malibu - silver with only 40,000 miles) came through too so we will be pulling that with us. I did break down and get a 26 foot truck since Ken was driving. I was too chicken to do that on my own. I have very mixed feelings about leaving everyone here, but I am excited about this new door that has opened and I hope it all works out to my advantage and to the family's too, since if mamma is happy then all will be happy! It may be some time before this is hooked up again but I will keep you all posted once I am settled. More later...love you all.....mum

Ken aged 5 Ken age 12
























Ken as a senior Grandparents Carl and Edna Ferguson



Your mother aged 4 and 7 months. (Your Granny Smylie probably knit the cardigan) Iam on holiday at the farm where Aunty Chris used to like to go for a walk and "smell the pigs".....love mum

Eleanor Ferguson and Kenneth Talmage Merrill

This is a picture of your Grandpa Kenneth Talmage Merrill when he married Edna Eleanor Ferguson at age 18 when they lived in Holyoke, Colorado. G'pa worked for G/G'pa Ferguson's farm on Wages Route, Holyoke, Colorado. G'ma went to the one room school house that is across the road from our property in Colorado where we lived until the house burnt to the ground in 1979, due to high winds and sparking electric lines. I can see Ariana's face and Danny's dark eyes in this photo.

Zella (Wakefield) Merrill

These pictures are of Zella Wakefield at 2 years of age, used in my header this month, at 11 years of age with the big bow in her hair, and at 16 with her first two boys, John and Douglas on the running board of an old Ford.

Zella Wakefield is the mother of your grandfather, Kenneth Talmage Merrill and the wife of Kenneth Amanuel Merrill. She married him at age 13 and had three children. One morning just short of her 17th birthday she was lighting the fire for breakfast and tried to encourage the fire with kerosene and it blew up on her, causing her night dress to catch fire. Unfortunately she ran and was overcome by fire and smoke and died from her wounds, leaving a 5 week old Kenneth T. and two brothers John and Douglas alone with their father, Kenneth A. Merrill. Kenneth A. later married Grandma Lavern who raised the boys and had Uncle Evert and Aunty Delores (Young) as well. I was given a scanner and am going to scan in a lot of old pictures from our family files for your enjoyment......