6 Mar 2026, Friday

6 Mar 2026, Friday

Prioritized Daily Task

Brett Hobbs' 44th Birthday

10:00 am Carol Searle's funeral

1:00 pm - Sears repairman, service the top double oven in the kitchen

Maid service coming today

Grandpa's Notes and Quotes 2025, which I mailed to Autumn, Gavin, Blake, and Gracie on Tuesday, March 3, was delivered to their mailbox at 11:04am today.

I slept in until 8 am, had prayer, then prayer with Debbie.  We went to Carol Cleark Searle's funeral in Midvale. Born December 24, 1929 ~ died  February 22, 2026, her sweetheart and husband, Leon 100th birthday.  Carol was the niece of President Marion G. Romney, Counselor to President Ezra Taft Benson.  President Romney married and sealed her and Leon in the temple.    I enjoyed the talks and music.  Two of her sons sing in the Tabernacle Choir. I was motivated by what the children and grandchildren said about Carol's diligence in offering a prayer or gratitude immediately after Heavenly Father answered a prayer.  

Note: Things that happened this morning, Matthew had been trying for 4 days to reach Karen Forrister by phone and email.  She had told him 4 days ago she would call him the next morning.  Since then, there had not been any communications from her.   I made a phone call this morning to Karen, CEO, of Select Health Care, which is over Reliable that leases our nursing homes.  She answered my phone call and merged  David Lemcke, CFO, on the phone call that I had merged Matthew on.  Karen said she had been talking with Jan Morris, Andy's widow, and Jan is not going to talk to us, me, Matthew, or Michael, unless she has her attorney on the phone with us.  I told Karen that will be fine, but *what is it that Jan wants?  Karen replied that Jan wants the partnership arrangement with the Nursing home at Rockmart corrected or worked out, the management agreement signed, and a HUD loan completed on the Rockmart facility.  These three things need to be done before she will allow Reliable to help us get a HUD loan on Gateway.  She had said Gateway has sentimental value to her because it was where Andy worked and got his nursing home's licenses, and she wants the Gateway Nursing Home.  Matthew reviewed with her the last 5 years of my trying to purchase all 3 nursing homes, Floyd, Gateway, and Friendship.  I could not come up with the funds they wanted to purchase the 3 nursing homes.  I told Karen that a few months ago, I received from Janie Morris and the Abercrombies an offer to sell to me their 2/3 interest in A&M, which holds ownership in Floyd and Gateway.  It is necessary for them to make the offer to me before they can sell A&M to anyone else.  I asked them why not just sell me Floyd.  The answer came back, it is all or nothing, and the $100,000 ernest money you paid is non-refundable, and the clock is ticking on the date and time you have to close.  Jan Morris, the owner of Reliable, which manages and leases the nursing homes, knew I was working on a loan to purchase them because she had to approve me receiving the financials to give to the bank.  What I learned later was that Jan Morris was the other party offering to purchase Gateway and Floyd.  I told Karen I do not like being held hostage; unless Matthew and Michael do whatever she asks them to do at Rockmart on a percentage of her ownership, and the lease payments are reduced, she will not help me with a HUD loan on Gateway.  Karen did not like what I said, but basically, finally said that it's just the way it is.

I do know how this will all turn out with the nursing homes, but the thought came to me today on the way back from Debbie's aunt, Carol Searle's, funeral.  This may all come to a head now that Rockmart is being drawn into the mix.  Jan wants to build a nursing home in Cleveland similar to the one in Rockmart, but instead of 116 beds, this new one in Cleveland would be 138 beds.  I  have ownership of 60 of the 138 beds, and a nursing home that size cannot be built with my 60-bed Certificate of Need.  Just maybe everything will come back to the same starting point with us (McAlpins) owning Floyd and Cedartown/Rockmart nursing homes, and the Morris and Abercrombies owning everything in White County, including the 40 acres of land across from Walmart in Cleveland, GA.  The only money put into the Floyd N.H.  was by Wayne Abercrombie and me.  James just brought us together and put no money into the Valley View/ Floyd County/Chulio Hills Nursing Home.                                                                                                             I sold the Cedartown N.H. on Cason Road to Michael and Matthew with the 116-bed Certificate of Need to build the new nursing home in Rockmart.                                                                                               Andy Morris did actually put money into the Rockmart N.H., but he sold the land in Cedartown where the new nursing home was supposed to be built.  The money from the sale of the land was put back into purchasing the land in Rockmart to build the new nursing home.  Then the cost of the land in Cedartown was added to Andy's equity in the new nursing home. (I need to tell Jan in a nice way that she cannot have her cake and eat it too.)

 Debbie went to the graveside service in American Fork.  I sent Brett a Happy Birthday wish on a thread with all the family.  I called and talked to Alex and Carter and told them I was giving their book, Grandpa's Notes and Quotes, to her Dad, Michael, when we take him to lunch for his 50th birthday.  He will have it when you two come out for Carter's graduation from college in April.  The house cleaners came today and cleaned the house.  The Sears repairman came today to install the part ordered last month by the repairman who came out and looked at the oven in the kitchen.  It was broken and also the wrong part.  The repairman today ordered a new part.  I have included a lot of extras in today's notes, but these are things I want my family and loved ones to know.  I spent the day working proofreading and editing my 1988 journal.  Debbie fixed a light dinner and we watched some TV, had prayer, and to bed at about 11:30 pm.

Note: Newsletter from Debbie:  This is our third family letter.  So much happened in February!  

We are so excited to have the twins, Colette and Wells , twins(born Feb 18th) and Baby Myles Del Travell (born 22nd Feb.) Margo Q Traveller was born Mar. 10th) leave their Heavenly home and join our family.  Sam and Kenna are doing well.  Special thank you to Grandma Gigi and Grandma JoJo for helping at this busy time!  All mothers are lacking sleep, but love having the job of holding these babies and loving big sister, Josie and big brother, Grayson.  Thanks, Dads-Cooper, Tyler, George and Tony-for being there and helping with the children and feeding times.

Claire is ready to have a little girl bless their home.  She is due March 15th and feels she can go any day!  Looking forward to this little angel to join our family.  Good Luck, Claire and Cache!

We had a great basketball season!  Allison, Braddock, Max, Jack and Porter played well.  Andrew and Mckay have a few games left this month.  Good luck, boys!  Tate had Lacrosse tryouts and he made the JV team and also plays when asked on the Varsity team.  He starts his games next week.  Come watch this physical game and cheer Tate on.  Clara starts her school softball games next week, also.  She has improved her pitching skills and throws a mean fast ball!  Come join us as we cheer her on!  Allison leaves next Wednesday for Orlando, Florida, for the National Cheerleader Competition!  Good luck, Alley!  Smile and have fun!!

Our two missionaries, Zuster Hobbs and Elder Hobbs, are doing well.  Tylee is in Gent, Belgium and is training the sister missionaries.  She loves sharing the gospel.  Camden was transferred to Palestine, Texas, and is loving the people and translating into Spanish or English for the members in his area.   Keep going forward with faith and prepare your lessons so the Holy Spirit can testify to those you teach !  Be safe!  We love you so much!

Kylie’s boyfriend, Elder Casey Nielson, has a bad infection and has lost much weight-down to 130 pounds, has stomach cramps, bruises easily and has no energy.  His mission president, his parents, and Salt Lake missionary office decided to have him come home and be released.  Elder Nielson feels bad about not finishing his mission, but he has worked harder than all the missionaries in his mission being the branch president for 9 months of 2 branches and helping the members remain strong and go to the temple.  He arrives into Salt Lake International airport at 2:15 Sunday.  Come welcome him home.  He will be getting further tests to pinpoint his infection and get the medication needed for full recovery.  Please keep him in your prayers.

We have a special shower for Marissa Mallory on March 21st, 11:00-1:00 at Pat and Anndalyn’s lovely home.  Ladies come help us welcome Marissa into the Hobbs/Gourley family as we shower her with love.  Anndalyn and Ellie are throwing her the shower and could use help with food and decorating.  Give them a call.

I have been thinking about the questions, “Is hard good?”  “Can we trust the Lord in all things?”  The hard things in our lives should come as no surprise once we have entered the strait and narrow path.  It is part of God’s plan.  Jesus Christ learned “obedience by the things which he suffered.”.  As we follow Him, especially in our difficult times, we grow to become more like Him.  Doing hard things helps us grow and learn, makes us stronger, tries our patience and faith.  Watch little chicks hatch-if we help them they become weak and die.  Watch a butterfly come out of its cocoon.  If we help it out, it will die, too.

Watch and/or listen to Isaac K. Morrison’s talk, October 2022 General Conference, “We Can Do Hard Things through Him.”  We grow in our discipleship when we exercise faith in the Lord during difficult times.  As we do so, Jesus Christ will mercifully strengthen us and help us carry our burdens.  Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are so aware of each and every one of us.  They give us strength to do the hard things.  They are cheering us on and helping us find joy no matter what.

One of the covenants we make with the Lord in the temple is to live the law of sacrifice. Sacrifice has always been part of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  It is a reminder of the great atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ for all who have lived or will live on earth.

John 16:33 reads, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.  In the world ye shall have tribulation:  but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”  We can be of good cheer and be filled with peace in our tough times.  The love we feel because of the Savior and His Atonement becomes a powerful resource to us in our trying moments. Our reaction to trials or hard things affects our ability to do them.  We must fast and pray often, have faith and trust in the Lord’s timing. Keep His promises and receive His gifts in the soft tablets of our hearts.

We hope you all have a great March-enjoy St. Patrick’s Day.  Happy Birthday to Abbey and Max!  Be sure to turn your clock’s ahead on Sunday-spring ahead!!!  We love you all so much and pray for you daily!

Mom/Debbie/Gma and Len/Gpa

Deborah Kae McAlpin