Thanks So Much and

The Announcement

We have had an emotional but joyous week. Grandma Great In The Big Chair was transferred to Heaven on Saturday, December 6, 2008. She was 89 and one month.



The visitation was held in Glenville and in Parkersburg on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning respectively. The funeral was at 1:00 P.M. at Leavitt's Funeral Home in Parkersburg. The funeral was a celebration of love in her honor. Speaking about love, we have been so touched with all the cards, flowers, emails, food, and support from family and friends. Thanks so much. We are so blessed to have you all.



After the graveside service, we congregated across the street from the funeral home in a family facility provided by Leavitt's. We were able to share fine food with family and friends. John and Rachael came from Shepherdstown along with those two precious granddaughters.









Helen and Roy Hillyard were feasting on the snacks. They left their kid home. As you recall from the reunion in October they have adopted a puppy!





Here is David and Sharon Kraus. Sharon and I go back a long way to when we both started working at Glenville State College in 1972.





Marshall and I are trying to figure out what the grandkids are doing. How can a person be sad when we see the joy in the faces of Flora, Sam, and Lucy?







Flora, of course, is organizing the games.







What is Flora's butt doing under the table? Guess she is getting ready to prepare for the summer Olympics and doing gymnastics on the crossbar of a table.





Flora also decided that they should play Hide and Go Seek. Where is that Flora?

Sarah is talking with Uncle Bill and Aunt Judy. What is that envelope? Oh, I forgot to tell you about the announcement that happened at the end of our gathering.

Sarah and Jeff had an ultrasound completed a few days before this. The technician placed the ultrasound along with the sex determination in a sealed envelope. Jeff and Sarah decided to share it at a family gathering. This seemed the appropriate time.

As Jeff said when he looked at the ultrasound, "It's a turtle!"

That is dermatologist's speak for "There be a penis!" Yep, they will be having two boys traveling the Dodson household by May, 2009.

Thanks again to you all for your kindness and support.