TINA RECEIVES HER TAG "GATE"!!

Did y'all think I was ever going to get my trip to Wichita Falls posted? I declare, I always have the best intentions, but it seems like the days just fly by and before I know it, it's bedtime and another day has passed and I've left y'all in the dark about the delivery of the tag "gate" to Tina!
I simply could not let you continue to wonder how it went so I am writing this on the Tank's and my trip to the coast before my surgery this Wednesday. How about that - a working vacation. We're here for four days and will be leaving tomorrow after we visit an elderly couple that moved here to be closer to their daughter - they were members of our church and we just love Rena and Ray.
Then we'll take our "daughter", Skyler, out to lunch before we head home.

So, okay, let's get to the reason for this post!
I do tend to give entirely too much information! . . .
Below is a picture of my baby - my convertible, the trunk ready to be loaded with all I was taking to Wichita Falls to see Tina and her husband, Will.
The plan was for me to make the 6 1/2 hour drive last Monday, present the gate, get hugs, talk until we could talk no more, eat supper and then I would stay the night in a local hotel as they don't have a guest room (the second bedroom is her studio - I can't think of a better use for a second bedroom, can you??) And then Tina and I would meet for breakfast the next morning before I headed home. I had planned on the trip being a short one as I didn't want to wear her out and my plans worked out perfectly!

The trunk is packed with the tag "gate", my overnight bags and special little gifts from some of the precious tag makers. Oh, and cookies. Before I left the area, I stopped in Kerrville at the Cookie Chick's to pick up a special order I had placed for a half dozen HUGE oatmeal pecan raisin cookies and monster cookies as a special treat for Tina and Will. The Cookie Chick makes the most amazing cookies, they're honkin', AND she ships if you don't live in the area. They are the most delicious cookies and make such a special gift, don't you think? Check out the size of these cookies! They are 1/4# apiece! WOW!!
I made it to Wichita Falls about 3:30 p.m., stopped on the side of the road as I entered town and had a nice chat with a police officer about how fast my car can go *yeah* and after a delightful talk with Officer Piper I drove up at Tina's where she was waiting for me in the driveway!
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This is a picture of Rat Dog and Tina with the gate after she had studied every tag on it! She was in awe and completely overwhelmed by every one's generosity that made a tag for the "gate". You made her smile! REALLY big!!
She was blown away - no kidding. I want all of you to know that the time and effort you put into making a tag for her meant the world - and those of you that don't even know Tina, that might not even know me, those of you that made a tag because you do know me and those that made one because you know Tina - what a wonderful group of ladies.
The mixed media art community is an amazing group of women and you touched this woman (and Tina;) deeply by your kindness.

Our time together was delightful - she looked great, amazing!, felt pretty stinkin' good, too, considering she's undergoing chemo' and has Stage 4 colon cancer with a spot on her liver. . . .I give you these personal details so that you will know the severity of her cancer and if you are a believer, you will PRAY. That's what she's has asked for, what she longs for - that as many people as possible will be praying for her as she fights this battle. She would love to be added to your church's prayer list, your prayer list, your friend's prayer lists, ask prayer warriors that you know to pray for her. .. She is a strong believer and is counting on the prayer of believers to get her through this!

I thought you would enjoy seeing some pictures of us as we spent that special time together.
So, here we are. . .

Tina has changed her diet and is trying to eat healthy as much as she is able to so for dinner she prepared steamed veggies - broccoli, zucchini, squash, red peppers, onion, corn, fresh green beans, all steamed and absolutely delicious! And, feeling as good as she did, she insisted on doing all of the work while I entertained her by watching.

This picture below is a pic of Will, Tina's very silly husband! He is a hoot, entirely too much like me, and we adore each other. Well, I adore him. Surely he adores me? LOL

He is what Tina refers to as the Food Police as he watches closely what she consumes. He has researched her cancer, treatments, the chemo she is on, homeopathic medicine, everything he can get his hands on that he thinks will help his sweet wife beat this! He is an amazing husband and you can see how much he cares for Tina just by watching him with her.

Me??? Me, he teases. He's simply horrid.

He grilled pork chops for dinner and they were melt in your mouth delicious!

We had a delightful supper full of talk, teasing and a lot of laughter. It was wonderful fun and we all thoroughly enjoyed the meal and each other.

This pic below is of my dinner plate - see how yummy everything looks? And don't you just love the dinnerware?

I left Tuesday morning for home. I left a lot later than planned because Tina and I couldn't stop talking at breakfast! It was hard to leave her, but I know she's in good hands with Will and I keep up with her constantly through prayer, emails, fb and cards.

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Even though I got off late, I HAD to stop in Mineral Wells on the way home because I had spotted this antique/junk shop that needed my attention when I drove up to Tina's.

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Here are some overpriced dressers in front of the store.

Inside the junk shop it went on FOREVER. I was there for like an hour as it was and decided I will simply have to go back the next time I drive to Wichita Falls to see my new friend, Mr. Policeman.

I did manage to spend almost $40.00 on pearls, vintage Christmas, dominoes and some other things I can't remember now. *that cracks me up*

So, I leave and drive to the Dairy Queen to use the restroom before heading on and when I get back into my car *after being face to face with several of the DQ patrons* I notice that I have a vintage Christmas ornament from the junk store stuck to my hat!

It's too bad that I was alone because I laughed so hard I thought I'd pee. What a hoot! I SHOPLIFTED!! Oh, my gosh!! I'm 56 - I've never shoplifted in my life until last Tuesday!

Y'all have been so sweet to listen to me ramble on and on.

I just had to share the entire experience (okay, I forgot to take Mr. Policeman's picture, but I got most everything else:) with you so you'd feel like you were there. Most of you reading this were such a huge part of this post that I really wanted you to feel like you were by our side as we spent that time together.

And, to my other loyal, dear readers, thank you for always supporting my blog posts.

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This Wednesday I will be having surgery that will keep me off of my feet for 14 days so I'll have lots of time to post. I can catch up (I have posts that go back to July that need to be blogged! and I want to start *late* my "30 Days of Blessings" for November). So, know that I'll be on the computer filling everyone in............finally!

Have a fabulous week and know that someone loves you,

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XOXO, Jan