20120730 Update from Reatha, health, lessons,hymn Sing

Dear Ownbey Family,
1.  Yest'y's interference in our sound system was probably caused by a cop using HIS communications system.  After class, some of us saw Robert (maintenance), and he said that a cop car had been in the alley -- not sure if our side or MPPC's.  And i'm guessing that we had more police presence due to the protesters we'd had the previous Sunday.
2.  The upcoming lessons list

Subject: Ownbey Class - President's MESSAGE Date: Thursday , 29 Apr 2010 10:18:24 EDT From: Willard To: Ownbey Class Hi folks Thanks to Reatha for the lesson last week and for reminding us of the need for looking after God's Creation by our own actions. It was a timely message and the point well made. We were glad to have Isabel Shankle visit us for the second week. Please make her feel welcome when you see her. The lesson this week is God and Golf, led by your President. It is based on a sermon by Dr. John Redhead, a long retired Presbyterian minister of First Presbyterian Church, Greensboro. I think you will enjoy some of his thoughts. Upcoming lessons : May 9 -- Book: EINSTEIN'S GOLD, by Krista Tippett, led by Don Hammer May 16 -- Book: THE FUTURE OF FAITH (pt.2), by Harvey Cox, led by Lou Bledsoe Also, be thinking if you have poems or readings for our July 4 class. Tell Don Hammer.

On class this week, we will talk about our social world and discuss some ideas for fun as a Social Event. We might even take a vote if there are enough ideas. Having done that I hope we can select a Social Chair or at least a leader for the event. Please bring your ideas. There have been several meetings on the Sanctuary Renovation. One of the points being made is that we normally would have paid for much of the the renovation with money from earnings on the Wesley Fund, but the earnings are not there now and we hope to get the money from members with payments by year end. If you can help, please write your check or commit to help. Remember to keep Reatha informed of any Health and Happiness news. Let Tom Stinson know of Helping Hands needs. Also, keep the family of Reatha's cousin, Rick Adams, in your prayers. Lastly, notice on our blog a poll to "vote" on the ease of use of the Blog. Viewership is increasing, and we want to be sure it meets your needs. If you do not like the Blog, please let us know your preference or suggestions for good communications. Thanks. Willard 4/29/2010

Subject: Ownbey Class - President's MESSAGE Date: Thursday , 22 Apr 2010 10:18:24 EDT From: Willard To: Ownbey Class Hi folks Thanks to Ace Walker for the lesson last week. Obviously he did a lot of preparation and covered several complicated issues (Paul, justification, faith, grace, works,etc) well in a short amount of time. Then again all of our teachers do thorough jobs. The new Lesson Schedule is out and copies may be found in our classroom or on the web site and blog. The lesson this week is CARING FOR GOD'S CREATION, led by Reatha Andrew. Earth Day is today, Thursday April 22. Next week Yours Truly will lead us in GOD AND GOLF. There are several meetings scheduled to discuss the more than half a million dollar renovation of our wonderful Sanctuary. One was 6:30 p.m. Wednesday 4/21/ (after Hot Wednesday meal). Others will be around 12 noon on Sunday 4/25 and 7:00 p.m. Tuesday 4/27 - all in the Sanctuary. Please keep Reatha informed of any Health and Happiness news. Let Tom Stinson know of Helping Hands needs. Thanks to Harriette Thompson, Lou Bledsoe, and Bob Lumadue for their help over the years leading our music and singing. Let them know if you have favorites you would like for us to use. Lastly, please let us know if you have comments or suggestions for what should be included in my MESSAGES, the Web Site, or the BLOG; we will try to accommodate you as we work to communicate effectively to the class. Willard 4/22/2010

Subject: update on Sadri son-in-law Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:53:18 EDT From: Reatha Andrew < Dear Ownbey Family, MARTHA SADRI called me yest'y to update me on their son-in-law's health. ROBERT did have the pancreas surgery; however, its condition had progressed too much to do the "whipple" procedure, so they will begin chemo in the next few weeks. Their daughter SUSAN was in better spirits yest'y after the initial shock of "chemo" Monday. Nine-year-old granddaughter TRUDY will be coming to stay w/MARTHA and FRED this Thursday for a long weekend, offering a bit of a break. Remember: THIS Fri-Sat is our time to host ROOM IN THE INN Any other news? Peace,Reatha - Wed - 7:45am

Tue update on DOTTIE from Billy :-) Date: Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:34:50 EDT From: Reatha Andrew Dear Ownbey Family, Got this update from BILLY this aft'n: -------------------------------------------------------------- Hi Reatha! Mom was discharged from Presbyterian Main Hospital yesterday (Monday) afternoon to Sardis Oaks where she will undergo a couple of weeks of intense physical therapy to enable her to return back to her home. She seems to be doing well and only needs to build up her strength and stamina in order for her to come back to Colony Road. Her room number at Sardis is as follows: Room 112 #2. We don't expect her stay there to be very long and she was evaluated this morning from a PT's perspective. Some additional occupational therapy may be necessary, but all in all, I think a quick in and out will find her back at her home before too very long. I thank you for getting this information out to your SS classmates and hope and pray that all is well with you and your loved ones. Take care and God's Peace to you, Billy Tobias

Subject: another (MAJOR) boo-boo... Date: Tue, 02 Mar 2010 14:22:37 EDT From: Reatha Andrew Dear Ownbey Family, I just got my mail for the day, and in it was a returned card which I had sent to DOTTIE. It was stamped "NOT DELIVERABLE AS ADDRESSED - UNABLE TO FORWARD." Turns out I had MISnumbered her address -- and when I checked, it was the one I sent out to our class... Oops! [so if you used that address, you, too, will be getting your card back -- sorry] (See email for ) her CORRECT address . . . . I saw Susan Mobley at church yest'y, and she said that Dottie will be moving (or has already moved) to a rehab facility -- perhaps Mercy Rehab. Susan will keep me posted. MARTHA and FRED SADRI were in class Sunday and asked for our prayers for their son-in-law, ROBERT SUNDBERG. He's SUSAN's husband (in his mid-40s) and has developed jaundice. He's having a procedure this week that will hopefully help. They live in the Atlanta area. Anything else, anyone? Peace,Reatha - Tue - 2:15pm

Sad news about Dottie. We all need to continue to pray for her. Again, piggybacking, Reatha's e-mail, here is teacher update. Lou is teaching this week and Durward the following week. Need commitments for transportation for Betty. I am gradually learning the job description for the class President. Also, overlooked recruiting replacement for Social Chair. Help!! Need all the reminders I can get. Anyone think of another chore undone? Willard

Dear Ownbey Family, After sending you that update yest'y from Billy, I got THIS news from Susan Mobley this aft'n... -------------------------------------------------------------- Last night Dottiie fell down some stairs at home! She has been admitted to Presby main, room 576-C. Doctors are wondering if the fall might be related to low heart rates she's had recently. They are evaluating this now. Billy is with her. Susan Mobley, RN *** Don't know of anything we can do at the moment (besides cards and prayers). DOTTIE TOBIAS Susan will keep me posted, and I will then contact you. Peace and Prayers, Reatha - Tue - 5:30pm

Dear Ownbey Family, I FINALLY remembered to contact BILLY TOBIAS, asking how his mom's been doing. Here's his response... -------------------------------------------------------------- Hi Reatha, Mom is incapable of handling the logistics involved with receiving and sending e-mails at this time. That may change with the passage of time but as of now, she simply cannot do it. We have been through a somewhat rocky time with her regarding her heart rate recently. It is now very low and her doctors are in the process of weaning her off of certain medications in the hopes that that will bring the HR back to where they would like it to be. She has been in the upper 30s, and over the course of the past two weeks, has gotten up to the mid to upper 50s. Normal is considered between 60 - 72 BPM. It drains her energy to be lower than the expected norm. She is attending outpatient therapy sessions for speech and cognition. We will be at CMC main this afternoon for speech. The main point of emphasis is to try to increase cognition, and she seems to have trouble with the initiation of sequences. These issues are to be expected and are considered another progression along the path to recovery. Thank you very much for asking about Mom. I pray for God's peace to you and that you may fare well, Billy ____________________________________________ It's been good having the following folks back in SS: Ellen Chason, Cristina Halpern, Nancy Pack, Twala Kruger, Eleanor and Cal Chesson... Have I left out anyone? I think most of the rest of us have been able to come most of the wintry weeks -- except that BIGGEE when only the 11:00 svc was offered! BTW: MEL HALPERN is at home these days w/in-house nursing, and CRIS is very pleased w/the care he is getting. I hope some of you got to go to the Woodcarvers' Show this past weekend. I was able to scoot by during its final hour on Sunday aft'n. I didn't see KEN or ANNE BUKER, so I don't know which items were his... It's alway a fun event :-) Anything else? Peace, Reatha - Mon - 8:50pm

Got this GOOD news today from BOB GROGAN.. Dear Ownbey Family, -------------------------------------------------------------- Feat accomplished. I have a new pacemaker. Should no longer use a cell phone. Should stay a 'comfortable' distance from electronic appliances. A menu followed that No. 1 statement. The surgery was performed on Wednesday morning at Martha Jefferson Hospital in Charlottesville, VA. It took one hour and thirty minutes to prep for the operating room-shots, tubes in my left arm, plus the connection to the computer just above the surgeon's head. They did no anesthesia -- only a 'local.' I was awake the whole time and felt nothing. After 20 minutes, Dr. Willms said, "I am all through." I asked him whether or not he put in the pacemaker. He said that he not only put in the pacemaker but he and a company representative had checked it very thoroughly and that it was working as it should be. For one thing it raised my heart beat from 30 and sometimes below that per minute to 60 per minute. I had to remain in the hospital until just before noon today. Everything continued to work perfectly. The surgeon said that my heart had worn out [his words] and that a mechanical device was now required. When I left the hospital today it seemed that my energy level had doubled at least. I can now get up from a chair or sofa without any assistance or without having to push off or hold something. Fantastic. Wanted to let you know that all is well and that I am thankful for all the prayers that were said in my behalf. Love, Bob

04/23/09

Dear Ownbey Family, It's been a busy week for some of our class members: >WILMA MILLER and JOYCE ALLEN not only share a birthday, but this past Wed. they shared a surgery date -- only one hour apart -- AND the same eye doctor performed BOTH cataract surgeries! When I called them this afternoon, both Wilma and Joyce said that they are doing well. >I began calling folks after hearing the message which ELLEN CHASON left on my machine today: this past Thurs, she took another fall -- this time at Southminster -- chipping a front tooth and splitting her lip. She now has an "implanted" front tooth and stitches... but NO broken bones this time :-) She will NOT be in SS tomorrow, nor next week. This Wed, she'll fly down to Florida to see one of her grandkids graduate from pharmacy school. She'll be flying back home on Sun. May 3. >I also called CAROL NEEDY who had sent me an e-mail about getting the stitches and pins out of her feet: surgery on her foot problems. went well UNTIL... the stitches and pins came out. Now her feet have swollen and have caused her lots of pain. Her doctor has told her to stay at home w/her feet up for several days. Her next appointment will be in a few weeks unless the swelling/pain continues. We hope to see her back in church soon. >And I even called Marilea GROGAN. Medication has rid her of atrial flutter, but GARY's meds are still a challenge -- the doctors are still trying to get the balance "just right." BOB will find out on May 6th if he will need surgery on his aorta from the left ventricle. Marilea quipped: "This coming week, we have SEVEN doctor appointments. If it weren't for those, we'd have very little social life!" >I have not heard any update on Harlan. >I've heard from only about 20 e-emails (or 30 total people) as far as a straw vote for our garden party. REMEMBER: press REPLY and let me know your preference. * Sat. May 23d * Sun. June 7 * either date * neither date Thanks! Reatha

01/04/09 SS

*** *** *** *** *** Notes from Reatha about Sunday School Class of 01/04/2009. Reatha presided and taught and did a fine job in both roles. Mel returned home this afternoon from hospital. As we thought yesterday, the abdominal pain he experienced was due to gallstones (previously undiagnosed ). He now has to follow a low-fat diet and will need to consider future options to address gallstones (surgery or other). Mel is very tired since he didn't sleep well in the hospital, and Cristina still has difficulty speaking because of her cough (and, of course, she hasn't slept much in the last few days either), so best not to call them for a couple of days. Adrian will return to Chapel Hill on Monday and they are working on plans to make sure they have the support they need during the week. As for other H&H... 1. We were THRILLED to have CAROL DOUGLAS, LINDA MYERS, and HARLAN CREECH join us in SS this morning -- esp. w/the rather gloomy weather (and the fact that I was the lesson leader!) Harlan said that next time a doctor says "procedure" to him, he'll keep a lawyer handy on each side...! 2. WILLARD talked w/Bryan Crutcher about our helping w/ROOM IN THE INN, and Bryan assured him that there will be plenty of backup if we need it. Since it had been mentioned the other week that we should vote on this, Willard moved that we take part as we usually do. It was seconded, discussion followed -- including the fact that "our" weekend, Mar 13-14, is the Adults PLUS trip to LaGrange, GA -- question was called, the vote taken, and it passed unanimously. [well, at least there were no NAYS -- i just realized i forgot to ask for any abstentions...] And speaking of boo-boos on my part... while I was eating lunch and reflecting on today's lesson, I realized that when I mentioned my HS experience at Lamb's Chapel and some folks speaking in tongues, I said that I had considered quoting The Iliad from my Latin class -- oops. The Iliad was Greek; I should have said The Aeneid. 3. DON HAMMER reminded us that we have a curriculum meeting on THUR JAN 15, 7pm, in room 110 (our classroom.) And speaking of Don Hammer... After class I was chatting w/him and Carol and realized something ELSE in the lesson that I had meant to relate. In looking at why it's better for ministers to go to div school, or at least continue their reading/studying, the questions might be asked: would you like for a surgeon to operate on you if he/she had NOT been to med school? ...or have a lawyer represent you if he/she had NOT been to law school? Is your spiritual life any less important? Birthdays this week: Mon 5th - Martha Bledsoe Tue 6th - Dottie Tobias Fri 9th - Jane Pixley Sat 10th - Jairo Orozco (Oscar's stepson) This morning after Carol mentioned LIBBA HERBERT -- and Ches' limiting her to one "ugly" per day -- I said that she has a birthday later this month. I checked my file -- Sun 25th. She'll be 101 :-) Peace, Reatha - Sun - 10:15pm

01/03/09 Mel Info

Subject: Fwd: Mel Halpern Date: Sat, 03 Jan 2009 18:19:52 EDT From: Reatha Andrew To: Dear Ownbey Family, Got this from Lucia tonight. Will keep you posted as I hear from her. Peace, Reatha - Sat - 6pm -------------------------------------------------------------- Hi Reatha My father was admitted to CMC yesterday, following an attack of severe abdominal pain. He underwent tests yesterday and today. The current thought is that he might be suffering from complications from gallstones. We hope to have a more definitive diagnosis tomorrow as well as a better idea of what treatment might be required. He's resting comfortably and is now able to eat some soft/liquid foods. Adrian drove down from Chapel Hill yesterday and he and Marcelo have been with my parents at C MC. My mother continues to suffer from a bronchial problem and severe cough that has troubled her for the last 3-4 weeks. She would p refer not to have any visitors or phone calls for the moment because it is difficult for her to speak without coughing. I will send an update when I know more. Regards Lucia