Appreciation when the wait is long

A new car... we've had new cars before, but never one of such importance. For those who don't know.. my husband is a Hot Wheel collector. He has all of his Hot Wheels from his childhood. In fact in the two houses we have lived in.. we have had air conditioned attic space added to help store the collection.

So for as long as I've known Wade, he has loved cars especially Hot Wheels. However, his dream car has been a 1967 Camaro. 1967 was the year he was born. About 3 years ago, we learned that Chevrolet would be releasing a new updated Camaro. Wade knew that he wanted one! So he drove his Chevrolet truck faithfully and waited patiently. Then, in April of this year his truck was stolen. Wade had ordered his Camaro in April and thus was not in a shopping mode for a car, but we did find a great Camry.

On Saturday afternoon, we were watching football and Wade received the phone call he had been waiting for 5 months! His Camaro had arrived in Grapevine. We went to look at it, but had to wait to possess it until the banks opened on Monday. While Wade had driven his truck faithfully for the last 8 years, he also had been saving.

Wade grew up on a farm without much luxuries of life. I on the other hand would have to say that although my life wasn't always easy.. I did have it a lot more easier than Wade. I am grateful to my parents who afforded me a lot of luxuries in life such as paying for my first car and paying for my college. Wade has worked hard for everything including his college education, but with all the hard work has come an appreciation that goes above and beyond.

So today as we drove Highway 114 together test driving the new camaro, Wade reached out and grabbed my hand like we were kids on a date.. tears filled my eyes because I knew that this was a dream that began when Wade was just a kid himself on a farm in Nash, Oklahoma.. a dream for a car of his own..a sports car.. a CAMARO!

So proud of my Man and that he now has his own Camaro!

First days of school

***This post was written but never published... **** so here it is now.. :-)

A lot of firsts the last two weeks..

Cara,my oldest started Middle School last Monday. The previous Thursday, she had school orientation. As she left that day, she had a lot of nerves but by the time she arrived back home she had her locker number and combination memorized, and her schedule memorized as well. On Friday, we went up to GMS and walked her schedule and dropped off all of her supplies and decorated her locker!

She completed her first week of classes with quite excitement. I am confident that she is going to have a great year.

This week, I sent my boy off to his first day of preschool. I purchased a Buzz and Woody backpack and lunch box for Caleb. He is so in love with Toy Story. Once he saw, his backpack and lunchbox he could not keep his hands off of them. He walked around the house all morning carrying both of them. When it was time to go, he carried them to car and was insistent that he hold them in his lap. He knows the word "backpack" and said it over and over until they were safe and secure in his little hands.

When he arrived, he walked in a little hesitantly and then grabbed my finger to go with him to play. Caleb then got engaged in a toy and I sneaked out the door to go to the "parent meeting". As I sat down at the "Mourning and Muffins Meeting", the lady next to me was clearly upset as tears fell down her cheeks. I had those same feelings with Cara, but must admit I was excited..five hours of "ME" time.

Caleb had a great first day and Cara has had two great weeks! Here's hoping that the weeks continue on the same path.

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!