See you later....

As I write this post.. my heart is heavy. Heavier than it has been in a long, long time. A dear friend of mine went to be with the Lord...at a time that was untimely. A young man in the prime of his life with a beautiful wife and three precious children. A man I called my friend.

The details that surround his death are truly sad. When anyone dies, we are sad. But this grief is overwhelming for it didn't have to happen.

Honestly, we all wonder "Why, God? Why?" I have asked that question numerous times in the passing of my own family and I find myself asking it again.

I find comfort in God's word and peace as I kneel before my Maker and gratitude swelling in my heart as I know that if we know the Lord we never, ever have to say "goodbye but just SEE YOU LATER."

On my knees in prayer and counting it a blessing to have known and served with a faithul man of God.

I'll see you later, Steve

Atypical...

Growing up, I had dreams.. dreams of what my family would look like and how it would all play out .. for you see I am not only a dreamer, but a planner.

God's plan is always perfect and always best...but it has taken me 15 years to understand that and of course..if I am totally honest with you.. I am still learning that lesson.

So, when I was in Kauai (more about that on another post) God showed me again a beautiful picture. I was on board a rickety old van riding to the North Shore to take a tour of the Na Pali coastline. I was sitting next to an older couple ( I say they were in there late 50's) and behind us was three teenage/young adult kids. The two boys were very handsome and the girl was stunningly beautiful. As we got out of the van, I was walking alongside this Mom and I asked her if those were her children behind us in the van. She told me that it was her daughter, son in law and son. She then went on to tell me that her daughter and son were 9 years apart. Her daughter was 26 and her son was 17. Really? I asked.... I need to talk to you then.. for that is my story... My daughter is 9 years older than my son. She then confided in me that she also dealt with infertility before her son came along a miracle boy. I told her my story as well... We had great conversations on the boat.. she gave me vacation tips, words of wisdom from one Mom to another..

It was just so nice to see another family that looks like mine.

I told Wade that we also would have to tag along the son in law.. but hopefully not for at least 18 more years if not more..

The Napali Coast Tour is a must if you go to the island of Kauai.

Sing A New Song

From Greg Laurie's blog:
Elvis Presley, the King of Rock, is dead.
James Brown, the King of Soul, is dead.
Kurt Cobain, the King of Grunge, is dead.
And now Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, is dead.
But Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, is alive forevermore. Let's tell people that, so they too can live forever.
Jesus said, "I am he who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death" (Revelation 1:18 NKJV).

(I got this from my friend, Bryan's blog ... it was way too good to pass up)http://www.bryanmcanally.com/blog/archives/003965.php

Whew! Three birthdays in seven days!

We had three birthdays in the course of 7 days...

The first birthday was my own. It was a big one.... Wade invited some friends over and we enjoyed Pappasitos (my favorite meal) and then played Bunco (one of my favorite games)... but we didn't have prizes.. but the laughter was the best part of all!

The next birthday was Caleb's. He was born 7 days after my birthday and 2 days before Wade's. Talk about a gift. After yearning for 9 long years for a 2nd child, he truly is the best birthday gift we've ever have. We had a magical time celebrating with Mickey.

The last birthday was Wade's. Cara had received tickets at school for the Ranger's game on her Daddies birthday so we headed off to the Ball park to celebrate. A good time was had by all!

a


Here's to another year full of blessings!!!

My phone has more memory...

than it took to put a man on the moon!

Think about that for a moment. In 1969, as Americans we put the first man on the moon with less memory than is on our cell phones that we carry around in our pocket daily.


Last weekend, I was a chaperone for the 5th grade End of School Trip to NASA in Houston. This has been a long awaited trip. After countless fundraisers, it was time to load the bus at 7 a.m. on Thursday, May 28th. We had three Dan Dipert buses- Bus A, Bus B and Bus C. I was fortunate to be placed on Bus B... which of course was the best bus. Our two school sponsors on our bus were Mr. Strang, our crazy music teacher and Mrs. Grose, the science teacher. Mr. Strang made the bus ride fun and broke up the time by having trivia time.... adults vs. kids/ left side of the bus vs. right side of the bus... We had a great time.

We stopped off at Sam Houston State Park in Huntsville and enjoyed a picnic lunch by the lake and some hiking through the trails and a short talk about the wildlife. We had our own experience with the wildlife when a more than friendly squirrel decided that he wanted some of our lunch. He got on the picnic table beside us and I truly thought he was going to lunge/fly on to our table.. I shooed him away and he went to bother the boys.


After lunch, we were back on the road to Houston and we arrived right on time. We unloaded our things into our hotel room which was very nice. Then, headed to NASA. We had a full schedule while there. The best parts of the trip were being the only people there after NASA closed on Friday evening, eating great food and the TRAM tour on Saturday. It was amazing to see the old Mission Control, rockets, space ships and the current Lunar Rover.

If I understood correctly in July will be the last shuttle to go into space. NASA will no longer be using the shuttle to enter space. They are going to go back to the Capsule. In 2015, it is the plan to go back to the Moon. We saw the Lunar Rover which is an enclosed car unlike the last lunar rover.


It is unbelievable to see what we have done and know that there is so much more to be done not only in Space but with technology.


The only downer of the whole trip was that I dropped my Nikon d80 camera.. but after a new lense it is back to work now..just a little less in the pocketbook.. ;-(



Here are some pictures from the trip- not in any order...

This is the Lunar Rover that they are working on looks more like a car than a jeep

Mission Control that put the man on the moon.

The 5th graders!

drinking a drink like they would do in space

the crazy squirrel

the rope course

our room

Blessings!

10 things I remember about my Mama

The other night, I was helping Cara finish up the last chapter of her reading assignment, Because of Winn Dixie. We had read the book about three years earlier and we have both seen the movie. However, I did not recall the ending. If you have not read the book, I do not want to spoil it for you.. but as I sat there reading the book... I teared up and had to stop reading to gain my composure. Opal, the main character in the book, was remembering 10 things about her Mama.

My mama left this home for her eternal home in 2004. It is hard to believe that five years have passed this October. I miss her so much. I do not think that it will ever go away. It eases and definitely is not as intense.. but on special days and especially in May.. Mothers Day, her birthday and my birthday... it is difficult. As I see others with their Moms, it makes my heart miss my own Mom even more. I have great memories and that is what I can treasure until the day that she greets me in my eternal home... until then...

10 things I remember about my Mama...

1. She loved me unconditionally.

2. The notes she would leave for me on my mirror to tell me she loved me and was thinking of me.

3. Her infectious laugh

4. Her devotion and love for God

5. Her daily example of Christ...

6. How much she loved her ministry at FBC Arlington...

7. How she would take time to make her grandchildren feel so special.... and loved...

8. How she loved to eat fritos in her Broccoli Cheese Soup from Boo Boo's Sandwich Shop

9. How she cared and loved for her Mom, my sweet Ninny

10. How she never raised her voice at me...

Oh, Mom I long to see you and hold you again... I can't wait to do that.. you were a wonderful Mom.. the best Mom in the whole world. I miss you so!

Take time to love your Mom...

No Foolin...

it really is gone!! I decided on April 1st, April Fool's Day, that it was time to take away Caleb's beloved PACI! You know the saying "This is harder for me than it will be for you." Well, it was hard. Caleb loved his Paci.. it really gave him comfort, calmed him down... However, as his parent I know the big picture and that he truly does not need his pacifier. This is the time that he needs to be learning new words and learning how to gain comfort without his pacifier.

You know I have heard people say... he won't go to Kindergarten with it so let him just have it. Interesting enough, I had a Kindergartener who did have a pacifier. So I knew for certain, that it was just time for him to let it go.

Caleb has done quite well going to sleep without it and after a few nights, he has slept great through the night. However, it has been when he wakes up that he continues to look for it..even 2 weeks later. This breaks my heart. He does not want to get out of bed because he knows that it was in his bed that his Paci always stayed. If you get him out of the bed, he goes back to the bed crying and trying to crawl in the bed to look for his Paci. I keep hoping and praying that he will forget about it.. find something else for comfort.

This experience has helped me remember once more how God loves us and knows the "big picture" as the song says.. He gives and takes away. Just as I know that Caleb does not need his paci.. it still breaks my heart to see him long for it.. as I am certain that God hates to see his children sad and yearning as well. It is truly only God who can be our comforter... our true comforter.