Tim's blog

We are in Birthday Season for many of our grandkids, today is Lillie Ava's 3rd time around - It was an all yellow duck theme.  Duck Cake.  Duck Balloon.  Duck. Duck. Duck.  We had a mini party for her at our house on Saturday but couldn't make the BIG party the next day at her house in Louisville.  It was all good according to Mom & Dad, Matt & Christie!

I know, I know, there are no ducks in this picture, but trust me, they were there!  

Last Saturday, 25th February, was granddaughter Riece's 1st birthday!  We were able to celebrate at our KY home, which is a great 3 bdrm apartment built right into the Calvary Baptist Church building.  Riece had two sets of grandparents at her first celebration and we were thrilled to host the event.  We are treasuring the moments we have together with our kids and precious grandkids.  Here's a picture of Riece with Mommy & Daddy, Matt & Christie, over a huge cake.  Below is an image of our apartment - we are on the upper floor!

Did you know that you can reboot the computer in you car?  I didn't either!  All you have to do is remove both battery cables from the battery and hold the positive and negitive cables together for 15 seconds, reconnect the cables and start your car!  I'm told that clears up lots of pesky problems just like restarting your PC or Mac.

Unfortunately, that wasn't the problem in our Honda Accord!  The dreaded 'check engine' light was coming on every time the car was started in the morning if the temperature was around freezing, or colder. Warm nights were no problem (sounds kinda like my 'engine')!  I took the car to a Honda dealer who told me the codes indicated a computer problem and that a new one would cost $1,000.  THEN, they said, it might be a transmission problem as well but they wouldn't know until the computer was changed!

Enter good friend Preston Watkins!  He calls a Honda salvage yard about a mile from where we are staying, locates a used compter for $55 (€41)!  I drive down the street 3 blocks have it installed for $135 (€102) and it's working perfect!  PTL and thank you Preston.  What does a car computer look like you ask?  Take a look below, I put the old one on the bonnet (hood) and took a couple pictures!

There are lots of birthdays for our family in the month of February!  Tim's is on the 9th, along with grand daughter's Abby & Caitlin (in S. Asia), Jeremy's 30th is on the 15th - Jeremy is my brother's oldest son. Grand daughter Riece turns 1 on the 25th and is in the image below.  Today we had a kind of 'General Birthday' celebration with everyone who lives in Kentucky. . . 15 people in all.

L to R:  Tim holding Tessa, Jeremy holding niece Lizzy, Carol & Ted (brother) standing behind Melanie (holding  3 mo old Matea) and Chris (holding 3 yr old Becky), Matt holding son Isaiah (4 yrs), Christie holding 11 mo. old Riece, Lillie being held by 'Grama KD'.

We have no idea when our entire family, with all 8 grandkids, my be able to get together at one time, but we are very thankful for every opportunity, like this one to share special times together.