Wilma Gardner here.  Fred and Wilma Gardner of Skiatook, Oklahoma.

Thought an update was in order.  It's been a very long time since you last heard from us.  Last time you did, we'd lost our home to a fire.  It was only by the grace of God that we escaped with our lives ... and the clothes on our backs.

We've since learned that a home acan be replaced, but a human life cannot.  We are very grateful to God for His allowing us to survive the fire.  It was very rough for a while, but we've since overcome that painful part of our lives.  We still live in Skiatook, but we have a brand new house that some compassionate and caring people built for us.

We have also added to our family.  We still have Pearl Xie, but she is no longer so little:  she is about to turn five years old and will be starting kindergarten in Setember.  She has grown so much; she is a beautiful little girl with waist-length jet-black hair and sparkling dark almond-shaped eyes.  In addition to Pearl Xie, we have two little boys:  Almonzo Pierce (three) and Damon Patrick (two).  They are our own.  We never realized just how hard having a baby was until the boys were born; I don't ever want to do that again!!  LOL

Pearl is a good big sister.  She absolutely adores her little brothers.  They are nearly always together.  I am so proud of her; I know it can't be easy to be the oldest child because the boys have to look up to her, and she has to set a good example to them.

We have moved on past the fire, but we miss our old homestead.  We still have nightmares from time to time; thankfully, they are becoming fewer and farther between.  God is allowing us to heal from that experience, and we are moving forward.  We can concentrate on raising our two boys in addition to Pearl and thank God for all the blessings that He continues to bestow on us and our lives.

Well, that is about all, so I will go now.  Damon is throwing a major hissy fit; his brother has taken his toy away from him.  I will write again soon; until later, this is Wilma Gardner signing off.  Take care and may God bless you as much as He's blessed us!

~Love, your friend in Oklahoma, Wilma.  :)