I am such a negligent blogger but thought I would try an update.
All is well in our world.  David and I have slipped away to the mountains for a short vacation and the leaves are still pretty in some areas.
We found out yesterday our new grandbaby is going to be a boy!  That makes 5 girls and 2 boys.  This boy will be a "Courington" so perhaps with Daniel and Alex still in the running for adding additional children to the flock, the name will not die out.  There is nothing more special about the grandkids who are Couringtons, but it is nice to think the Courington side of the family tree will continue to sprout roots.
I am, once again, trying to lose some weight.  I have lost 42 pounds and David has lost almost 30.  Seems like same song, different verse!  Anyway, at least we are going down some instead of up!
The last time I tried to upload photos I couldn't- looks like this time Blogger let me.  Enjoy.

I wonder if this is like riding a bicycle?

 Somehow I can't get pics to upload...going to have to get a refresher course.  I am thinking about doing a little blogging...not sure.

Hallie Kate Courington

I do not Blog as much, obviously, but I must record the birth of our precious Hallie Kate. What a sweet, beautiful baby. Her mommy did a great job and her daddy did, too. She weighed 6 pounds and 12 ounces and she seems so tiny. May God bless her and allow her many years to enjoy life and happiness on this wonderful planet. Welcome to the family, Miss Hallie Kate.....Granna and Gramps love you so much! By the way, this is grandchild #6 and granddaughter #5

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Remembering Mother on her Birthday

It is so hard to believe that my dear mother has been gone almost 13 years. Tomorrow would be her 99th birthday! I have been blessed in many ways, but I was truly blessed with a caring mother. I think of Mother often...every day. I don't guess that will ever change. I want to tell her things..and sometimes I do. I like to think she can "hear" me and at least it is a nice thought. Mother was an avid reader...do you think they have blogs in Heaven? Thank you God for blessing the Melton children with the gift of our Mother- Velma Grubbs Melton- February 16, 1912-June 15, 1998
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The Power of Smell

I have had a bad crick in my neck for over a week. Thankfully the past two days have seen improvement, but it is still not totally gone. I have taken over the counter stuff, and it hasn't seemed to help. I have thought about the Chiro, but I keep thinking since it is improving it will eventually work out by itself. A couple of nights ago David asked me if I had thought about using the heating pad (yes, some people say heat, some say ice...most of my research says heat) and it came to my mind that in a drawer in the extra bathroom there was a long, narrow heating pad that would be perfect for my neck. I remembered that it was one of the few things I kept of my mother's belongings (now I wish I had kept more, but once she went into the nursing home we had to clear her home fairly fast and I did not have anywhere to store a lot of things so most items were given away and dispersed her and there- nothing was of real value and there were no antiques or collectibles of any nature- the things she did treasure found homes among family members) and I was not even certain it would still work as it had been unused for the past twelve years. I came to my spot on the couch and plugged the pad in, wrapped securely around my cricked neck. In a matter of about five minutes I began to feel the heat and soon thereafter I felt tears in my eyes. Tears that came from some place deep in my mind---tears brought on by the powerful sense of smell. Yes, even after twelve years I could "smell" Mother. I could smell the familiar scent of Avon and Absorbine! How could something hold a smell for twelve years? But as certain as anything, that is what I was smelling. Once several years after Mother died I was in Walmart happily shopping without any thought of her in my mind, when all of a sudden I felt tears rolling down my cheeks. I felt embarrassed as I wondered what in the world would make me cry in the middle of the health and beauty department. I began to look around, thankful there was no one else in sight, and out of the corner of my eye I caught the familiar gold, black and cream colored box that was my mother's face powder. Smell is powerful. I will admit stopping in Walmart on occasion and picking up a box of that powder and taking a sniff- crazy huh?