Welcome
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My nickname is Monette and my hometown is Shreveport, Louisiana. My parents names were Fred and Bonnie. I have a brother, Bill, and 2 sisters, Carol and Dianne, all younger. I graduated from Byrd High School in 1953 and attended Southwestern at Memphis (now known as Rhodes College) in Memphis, TN. I met Eddie in Shreveport in June 1954 when he was stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base near Shreveport. He was from Massachusetts but he just couldn't resist my "sweet Southern charm". *grin* We had a large, beautiful Christmas wedding on Dec. 18, 1955. (I sent out 500 invitations!) Our first home was in Cheyenne, Wyoming then he was transferred to Mountain Home, Idaho. In October 1957 we returned to Shreveport where we raised our family. We moved to Monroe, Louisiana in January 1971 then we moved to East Texas in October 1973. Unfortunately, we divorced in June 1996 after more than 40 years of marriage! Neither of us remarried.
Our twin sons, Roger and Russ, were born premature on Sept.2, 1956. Russ died at age 4 on Feb. 9, 1961 when pneumonia collapsed his lung. Roger died at age 20 on Nov. 9, 1976 from a seizure and our 13-year-old twin-grandson, Andrew, passed away on May 17, 1994. Roger, Russ, and Andrew were all born with a genetic defect called Fragile X Syndrome. They reached a 3 month stage and seemed fine but then they didn't hold their heads up, roll over, or develop muscle control and coordination. They grew big and could make sounds but they never talked or walked. They remained like overgrown babies all their lives.
I also lost a brother, Richard, at age 17 in November 1957 who was born the same way but back then they called it "spastic". My youngest sister Dianne still has her only child, Jason, age 28, lying in bed in a state institution, unable to speak, and on a feeding tube. I hope you will remember him in your prayers. This makes 5 boys in our family born this way. It has been a long hard road but they have taught me so much about love and compassion.
My beloved Mom passed away 3 weeks before her 59th birthday on Nov. 2, 1974 from heart problems. We were so very close and I still miss her and always will. She was a wonderful Christian woman. I lost Dad to cancer on April 15, 2003. He was loved and respected by everyone who knew him. He was a very special man and I am so proud to be his daughter. I'm so glad I was there holding his hand when he died. I miss him terribly but I'm very thankful to know he is in the presence of our Lord.
Eddie also died of cancer just 2 months after Dad on Father's Day, June 15, 2003. We had remained close and I was there with him and our family as he made his journey to heaven. It was hard losing both Dad and Eddie to cancer within 2 months time but one day we will all be reunited. Glory to God! Life has been very hard at times but I've been so blessed.
I have two daughters, Cindy (married to Kevin) and Bonnie (married to Sam), and two sons, Ed (who was married to Cindi Kay) and Fred (married to Patty). I also have 13 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren!
Cindy and Kevin now live in Missouri. They have 3 daughters, Miranda 28, Bridgette 27, and Natalie 23, plus Bridgette's twin brother Andrew in heaven. Miranda was married to Eric and they had a beautiful little boy named Kevin Allen on Feb. 19, 2004. They divorced in April 2005 and she and little Kevin lived in Missouri with her parents while she worked as a florist. She met Randall in February 2006 and they were married on June 22, 2006 in a beautiful church ceremony. They now live in northern Arkansas. Randall has custody of his 7 yr. old daughter Meghan and she and little Kevin get along well so they have a nice little family. Miranda received her Associates Degree in Entrepreneurship in May, 2007. Currently, she is working as a bank teller. One day she hopes to have her own business as a wedding consultant and provide everything for weddings, including flowers. She is also quite talented and experienced as a designer and interior decorator.
Bridgette graduated from college with a Batchelor of Science degree in May 2003. She married Anthony, her high school and college sweetheart, on July 10, 2004. They had a huge fabulous wedding then moved to Kentucky where he was stationed with the Army. Bridgette worked in a hospital and as a doctor's assistant for awhile then attended nursing school. She graduated and received her nurse's cap and pin on May 9, 2006, passed her State Board Exam, and is now a Registered Nurse with a B.S. degree. Bridgette worked at a hospital in Kentucky as Charge Nurse in Labor and Delivery. In the future she hopes to attend medical school majoring in Forensic Nursing. She is quite a gal!
Anthony was sent to Germany on Nov. 7, 2005. Bridgette spent a week in Germany with him in late May 2006. Anthony came home for a week in August 2006 before he was deployed to Iraq for 12 months in early September. He came home on leave for 2 weeks in March 2007. His deployment to Iraq was extended until October 2007. He came home for a month for Christmas then returned to Germany until he returned home February, 2008. Please pray for him and for Bridgette. Since they were married, they have been apart more than they have been together.
Natalie was selected as one of the top students in the United States in 2005! She graduated from college on May 20, 2006 with a major in Psychology and a minor in Technical Writing. She was also working part-time at a hospital in the baby nursery. Shortly before graduation, she received an engagement ring from her "special man", Brad. He also graduated, along with Natalie, with a degree in computer information systems and now has an excellent job in South Louisiana. Last summer Natalie moved there to be near him and will soon start her second year of graduate school at a nearby university working towards a Master's degree in Psychology, majoring in family and child counseling. This past school year she also worked part-time as a psychiatric counselor.
Natalie and Brad were married on Saturday night, July 7, 2007 in Monroe, Louisiana. The wedding was extravagant and Natalie was absolutely gorgeous. Her wedding dress was exquisite with a long Cathedral train. Once again I enjoyed walking down the aisle as "Grandmother of the Bride". A wonderful reception followed the beautiful ceremony and we all enjoyed dancing, even me! For their honeymoon, Natalie and Brad went on a cruise to Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico. They are now living in the New Orleans area where Brad has an excellent job with General Dynamics. He has received a promotion, including a company car with company gas card. Natalie is about to complete her 2nd year of graduate school. She has a 3.7 grade point average so far. On May 2, 2008, Natalie will be initiated into the International Honor Society of Chi Sigma Iota for Counselors. She is also running for President of the Sigma Lambda Upsilon Chapter of Chi Sigma Iota. If she is elected, it will be announced at the initiation.
My daughter Bonnie is my "right arm" and stays quite busy! She is a full-time sub-teacher and a Lead Buyer for a book buy-back company. She is also very active as Lay Leader in her church. Bonnie and Sam have 2 daughters, Ginny and Holly, and a son, Jacob.
Ginny is 20, and has a 9 months old little boy, Ethan Ray, who was born July 9, 2007. He weighed 7 lbs. 4 oz. and was 21 inches long. He is the happiest baby I think I have ever seen. He smiles all the time and is such a good baby. She is working as a store clerk.
Holly had her 16th birthday on June 6, 2006 and on September 25, 2006 she gave birth to a beautiful 9 pound baby girl named Isabel Alexa. We call her "Lexie". Holly graduated high school one year early in May 2007 and is now working in business advertising. UPDATE: Holly and A.J. (Lexie's dad) are getting married in church on May 10, 2008! She will celebrate her 18th birthday on June 6, 2008.
Jacob is active in 4-H club, enjoys hunting and fishing, and hanging out with his friends. He is a fine Christian young man.
My son Ed retired from the Air Force on his birthday July 6, 2004 as a Master Sergeant with 24 years in service. I was there for his retirement ceremony and I am so proud of him. He is a college graduate but he is now going back to college for a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Unfortunately, he and Cindi are now divorced but they have 2 precious daughters, Courtney 11 and Ashley 9. On May 19, Ashley will be 10. They were Acolytes (candle lighters) at Natalie and Brad's wedding. They live near Indianapolis, Indiana.
On April 22, 2007, I flew to Delaware and spent 2 weeks with my son Fred and his family. I had a wonderful time! Fred is a Tech Sgt. in the Air Force stationed in Delaware with 21 years in service. He graduated from the Non-Commissioned Officers Academy in Sept. 2004. For awhile, he was a Flying Crew Chief on a C-5 airplane and flew all over the world. Now he has been assigned to a new C-17 airplane and is Flight Crew Chief Supervisor. I'm very proud of him too. Fred and Patty have a son, Jonathan Michael, who was born April 25, 2003. I'm so thankful that Eddie got to see and hold Jonathan shortly before he passed away. Jonathan will be 5 years old on April, 25, 2008 and he is quite a "live wire". He is so much like Fred...always "on the go". They will be coming for Holly's wedding so I am anxious to see them.
Patty also has 2 daughters and another son. Her oldest daughter Heather, 24, and hubby Matt have a little girl named Hailea Gail who was born Sept.12, 2003. Matthew Russell joined their family on June 22, 2006. Patty's daughter Jackie is 19 and in the Army National Guard Reserves. Patty's son Christopher is 22 and lives with his dad in Oklahoma. Patty has a state job and is also a Longaberger (baskets, purses, and more) dealer.
Well, that's my family! How did I do? They are what my life is all about. They are all grown and gone now and I sit here wondering where all the years went. I am 72 now, Roger and Russ would have been 51, Cindy is 49, Bonnie is 47, and Ed and Fred turn 45 and 43 respectively in July. Hard to believe! I miss them so much and love them with all my heart.
Have you ever tried writing your life in a poem? Here is a poem I wrote about my life in August 1996. It was not intentional but truly inspired as I lay in bed late one night thinking back over my life. Words just started coming to me so I got up and started writing. I have updated it slightly as needed. I hope you enjoy it.
REMINISCING
Eddie and I met in ’54
Twins Roger and Russ were born in ’56
Eddie J. brightened our lives in ’63
In ’76 Roger was called home to rest
Cindy and Bonnie are now lovely mothers
Twelve grandchildren and 5 great-children now add to my joy
More than forty years later our marriage is over
My brother Bill likes California life
My life I owe to a wonderful Dad
I thank God for my blessings both day and night
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I have a private group on MSN called "Christians Caring and Sharing" which I opened on Sept.1, 2002. It is for Christian friendship and fellowship where we support each other and share our various interests such as inspirational stories, poems, devotionals, prayer requests, good humor, interesting web sites, books, music, recipes, name signatures, and many other topics on the message boards. Some members have lost children so I also offer grief support from many years of experience. Some are family and friends, but everyone has lost someone at sometime and we all need love, understanding, and compassion. We find joy and purpose in living through Christ Jesus. We have fun too!
If you are a Christian and would be interested in joining Christians Caring and Sharing, please email me from the link at the bottom of this page and tell me a little about yourself and why you would like to join. If you have an instant messenger program, I would appreciate knowing how to contact you on there. I like to get to know a little about prospective members before they join so I can introduce you properly to the group. Hope you understand.
I love the Lord .. He is my strength .. and Jesus Christ is my hope and salvation. God has been faithful to comfort and guide me and give me the wisdom and courage to look past my own pain and and reach out to comfort others who are grieving.
One of my favorite Bible verses is Isaiah 41:10:
Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to view my page. Be sure to visit My ThirdAge Web Page to see my family photo and learn more about my interests. I also have a "blog" site called "Monette's World" that you might find interesting. It includes pictures of my family.
PLEASE view and sign my guest book before you leave so I will know you were here. I really appreciate hearing from my visitors. I hope you will come again soon as I will be updating and making changes from time to time.
May God bless you with love in your heart, joy in your life, peace in your soul, and may He grant you strength, wisdom and courage each day of your life as you put your faith and trust in Him.
UPDATE: April 17, 2008:
Anthony is finally home and has been transferred to Louisiana where he will be a recruiter. He and Bridgette recently bought a lovely 4 bedroom, 2 bath home on 4 acres of land. Bridgette has already been hired at a nearby hospital.
And married in ’55
He brought me roses as I swept the floor
And tended our busy hive.
And Cindy came along in ’58
Bonnie joined our family in ’61
As Russ was welcomed at heaven’s gate.
Then two years later God heard my plea
And sent Fred to complete our family tree
I thanked the Lord on bended knee.
Once again tears fell like rain
Still I know I am richly blessed
And one day I’ll see them again.
Caring for kids and serving others
Sons Ed and Fred pay our freedoms dues
Flying high in their Air Force blues.
And grandson Andrew is an angel in God’s employ
My heart is filled with such love and pride
As I praise the Lord, my Saviour and Guide.
And I’m starting life anew
With friends as sweet as a field of clover
And a family so faithful and true.
Sister Carol has her very own style
Sis Dianne is a mailman’s wife
And I stay near the telephone dial.
Who was always there through good times and bad
My Mom was the best, with a smile so sweet
I know they now sit at Jesus’ feet.
And ask Him to keep those I love in His care
I pray He will guide me to always do right
To honor and serve Him is my prayer.
"Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand." (New Living Translation)
I Hope You Will Enjoy:
My Group
Christians Caring and SharingMy ThirdAge Web Page
(See My Family Photo)Monette's World - Read All About It