Hi Boys and Girls,

Sorry I haven't written sooner, but I flew from California all the way to Maryland!

I arrived safely on 31 Jan in Bowie, MD. I have met Theresa and Jim (Mom and Dad) and the girls Sophia (4yrs old) and MaryCLare (3yrs old). Sasha is their dog.

Bowie, MD is about 10 miles east of Washington, DC and 6 miles west of Annapolis, MD.

I have learned ALOT about politics by visiting here. I arrived in time to see Judge Alito become a Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Have you studied about the Supreme Court yet?

I toured all over D.C. I saw the Washington Monument and the White House. Unfortuately my photos didn't turn out. The camera malfunctioned. BooHoo.

I almost met President Bush. Jim and Theresa's neighbor is part of the Secret Service. He tried to bring me into the White House, but it never panned out.

I even went to the International Spy Museum! Boy, I would love to be a spy. It is very cool!

I did not get to go to work with Jim. He works some place very secret that doesn't allow cameras. It's a special agency that you are currently hearing about in the news.

I got to attend Sophia's ballet class. I visited a hospital for sick children and an Italian Kitchen in a busy resturant. I even went down hill skiing in Western Maryland! I love snow.

Well, I do miss you all. The Cooney's have been great people. I think the little girls are going to cry when I leave, but I am going somewhere amazing....

The Cooney's sister-in-law (Lesley) lives in Bogota, Columbia in South America. Lesley and her husband are Foreign Service Officers and are assigned there for 3 years. Lesley promised to show me everything.

Once I am done there, I will be heading to England to visit Sophia's best friend, Hannah. I am sooo excited. I have no idea where I will be going after England, it is up to Hannah to decide.

Please feel free to email the Cooney Family with any questions about Washington DC or Maryland at {Removed For Privacy}.

I leave for Bogota tommorrow!
Love, Gilbert
Posted on: Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Today is Jchon's birthday!!
Happy Birthday, Jchon!!

Today is Frank's (Dad's) Birthday!!!
Happy Birthday, Dad!!

Posted on: Saturday, November 26, 2005

Today is Celeste's birthday!!
Happy Birthday, Celeste!!

"The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry."

I thought I would take a moment and share some of what's been going on behind-the-scenes down here in Texas recently.

Many of you may not know this, but over the last 6 months or so, Dawn and I have been researching and gathering information into the possibility of starting our own business back home in Edmond, OK. We had (and still have) hopes of moving "back home" to raise our family. And though we couldn't see doing so just for a "job change" for me, we certainly could see it happening were we to follow our dream of working for ourselves.

To that end, we've spent countless hours putting together a rather impressive (*we think) complete business plan for a contemporary paint-your-own-pottery studio, Touch of Paradise and even shopped it around to local Edmond banks. Though everyone who reviewed our plans were impressed and agreed it would be successful once open, we were unsuccessful in obtaining the funding for our start-up (as would be realistically expected when not able to present much in the means of collateral). But we knew we had to at least try, or we'd always wonder "what if".

As I mentioned, Touch of Paradise was going to be a contemporary paint-your-own-pottery and craft studio where customers could enjoy an upscale, relaxed and fun atmosphere for creative entertainment the whole family could enjoy, located at the corner of 15th & Bryant in Edmond, OK in the new Spring Creek Village center.

Though Dawn and I are certainly disappointed in the outcome of our efforts over the last several months, at least we've done the initial work and will simply put things "on hold" for a few years as we work toward saving and obtaining more collateral to get our dream started.

In the meantime, feel free to visit the "website that would have been" to get a feel of what our studio will be all about.

http://www.touchofparadise.net

 I AM NOT EVEN GOING TO SAY shhhh (31)

I WILL NOT ACCEPT THAT MY YOUNGEST SON IS 31 . . . THIS IS JUST A REALLY BAD DREAM . . .

BUT, EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE REALLY OLD!!!

 Happy Birthday

William!  have fun and enjoy.  We love you!  Hope school and everything else are going well.

 PAT . . . MAY TODAY BE ONLY A SHORT PAST WITH A LONG FUTURE AHEAD . . .

THIS IS WHY WE GOT MARRIED  . . . . I KNEW YOU WOULD FORGET HALF OF WHAT I SAID . . . .

Mom and I met 40 years ago Sunday. We married 35 years ago today. Mom has forgotten at least 10 anniversaries . . . probably more . . . It is supposed to be the husband who messes them up.

So, to the kids without whom our lives would be less fulfilled, . . .

To the grandkids we are doing our best to spoil . . . .

To a wife who, when grandma Crawford was alive called "the Bobbsey Twins"because we were almost always together, in spirit if not side by side, (Most of you will probably have to look on Google to see who they are.)

To a wife who has laughed with me as we finished each others thoughts and/or words . . . or for that matter, just laughs with me . . . (Okay, at me as well.) . . .

To a wife who has steadfastly stood at my side, not just when we were without challenge, but every time SHE KNEW I needed her most, whether I knew or not . . .

To a wife who struggled to make a home and happy life for six kids who she (we) said our sole purpose in raising them was to know if something ever happened to us, each would be able to face the world with confidence and an attitude of "THERE IS NOTHING OUT THERE I CAN'T DO!!!) . . . and each can . . .

And to not only my wife and partner, not just here and now, but forever and ever . . . the only woman in the world I could ever say is hands down, my VERY best friend. . . .

May everyone reading this post, family or not, find a soul mate who is so much a part of you that whether you are holding hands together or 25,000 miles apart, you remain one in the universe around you as we do, with nothing separating us in mind and spirit, only time and space  . . .

To my wife . . . I an SO happy you took a chance on me, blemishes and all . . . you stood by when needed and gave a little shove when needed, (Okay, sometimes a REALLY hard push.) and let us evolve into who we are . . . two as one . . .

Not recalling the number of year we have been together is nothing compared to knowing we will always be together, throughout time, two as one  . . .

Pat, you are, and without hesitation I say, will always be . . .

MLLB

 oh geeezzz..

You guys get so hung up on dates...59/60...30/35...it's not the years the count, but what you do in them...(whew....got out of that one!)

 Ummm...am I not counting right?

I thought this was 35 years?

 Happy Anniversary!

 30 years....wow

As I was standing there next to Dad 30 years ago, I knew I loved him, I knew I wanted to spend my life with him and raise a family with him. I knew it would be exciting, full of work, but with lots of good times and love. What I didn't fully understand was how much our love would grow and change over the course of the next 30 years.

Today, it is SO much bigger, the depth is so much deeper and the friendship is so much broader. He truly is my very best friend.

We have been through all the words of the vows, the richer and poorer, the sickness and health etc, but still it doesn't matter...as long as we are doing whatever it is together, then the world is right.

Thank you, my husband, for making my life the envy of many woman and for always being there for me. I love you more than you can know (but you do..:) )

 Just trying this to see if it works....

This should be posting a link to the Kohl's Cares site where you can vote for my school to get $500,000.  Please go vote!

 Some Corrections To Frankie's Post

I have just posted a revision of Frankie's original post. Most of the things changed were typographical and grammar. I did make some changes that more accurately describe what Frankie has himself said to me.

In my last post I think my views are clear.

 For Those Of You Who Have No Clue About My Last 8 Months

I am going to lay it all out for all to know why my attitude is not right towards other family member right now so here goes:

 I didn't know...

I knew most of what you described - but not the extent!  Goodness gracious!

I love reading this post though - it's awesome to "hear" the passion you have for your family.  Truly awesome. 

I have this image of you in my mind from back when we were in middle/highschool... and to juxtapose that image with the image you paint of yourself in recent years is... well, it's cool.

Certainly makes me wish we lived closer to you guys - I really believe my boys are missing out by not having a relationship with their Aunt, Uncle & cousin! (although JJ still talks about all 3 of you)

We certainly need to see what we can to plan a trip to Colorado!