A little update

First of alll.... I hope you had a Merry Christmas. I know we sure did. It seems like the hype is finally slowing down just in time to go back to work and kick off the new year. Speaking of new year we will experiencing many changes as Scott starts shift work mid-January. We are excited but at the same time anxious about the changes and the schedule. I will be on the home stretch of finishing my degree. So we have many new things in store for us. We have put off many of the projects around the house because of both of our schooling. In the new year we hope to finish some projects and just settle in.
Raegan had a great Christmas. We are still looking for places to put all of her toys. She has really enjoyed herself this season. We have enjoyed our time off together and it has been nice to have some special mother-daughter time. She has developed such a spunky personality. She is truly a mix of the both of us. Seeing her grow before my eyes is amazing. It seems like only yesterday she was so tiny. Where does the time go? Now she's like a mini-grown-up. Before we blink she'll be going off to college.

Missing Him this Christmas

This is our first Christmas without Grandaddy. Although it was joyous it was hard to forget that someone "special" was missing. Raegan said a few days ago, " Momma I want to go see Grandaddy Thomas. He's special." Then before I could utter a word she said, "Oh yeah he's in Heaven with Jesus." She said, "one day I'll get to see Grandaddy again....when I go to Heaven." This moment was bittersweet. Grandaddy was always a glass half full kinda guy. It was in this moment I found joy in knowing that even at 2 years old my baby recognizes the significance of being in Heaven with Jesus. The seed has been planted and she knows that she wants to go to Heaven. What greater gift could a mother desire than to know that her child wants to be with Jesus? For this gift I am thankful. I have been blessed.

I let Raegan help me pick out the background since its really her blog. She saw this background and said, "Oh momma so pretty." So here it is pink, pink and more PINK! This girl loves everything pink.

Back to work tomorrow................

and I am so going to miss being with my girl everyday. I love you, sweet girl.

So thankful!

Thankful for so many things.....Grandaddy used to say if you've got your health then you've got it all. This year I am reminded of so many suffering people who are unhealthy but just thankful to be alive. I am cherishing the memories of those who have gone on and counting my blessings for the times we've shared. Life is too short to sweat the small stuff and yet the small stuff is what adds up and tears families apart. May God bless you this Thanksgiving with laughter, joy in your heart and memories to last a lifetime.

Congratulations Scott!!!!

Today my husband made quite an accomplishment, he graduated from rookie school for the Huntsville Fire and Rescue Department. We are so very proud of him. We are thankful that God has given us this opportunity and I just pray that He will keep Scott safe so that he may do His will. Here's where FAITH comes in. This is bittersweet... I am overjoyed, ecstatic, happy in every way but then selfish because he's the love of my life and Raegan's daddy and I want him to be safe and protected and I know that there are risks associated with this job. I know that this is God's plan and I can see his hands all over our lives and the turn of events that led us to this point and that is where I place my FAITH. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Thank you Lord for this wonderful blessing you have bestowed upon us. Thank you for loving us when we didn't deserve it.

Scott I hope you know how very proud we are to be your family. You and Raegan are my world!!!! You are the best father and husband and I am honored to be your wife. I love you, always.

Just going through the motions

It seems that we have been much busier than usual with day-to-day living. Scott is closer to finishing Rookie school which will end Nov. 20th and then he will have EMT school until mid Jan. I am mid-semester in grad school and this has been a tough one to say the least with more assignments than normal. Raegan is growing up fast. She is so active. Her favorite activity of the week is her Puggles class at church which she begs to go to. She is becoming more independent by the day which only reminds me of how precious time with her is. Work has so many challenges with the new curriculum and new staff members, insufficient materials and a rapid pace. Some days it just seems like I'm going through the motions. I have had writer's block and virtually too many responsibilities to tend to that I haven't been able to slow down and post. Grandaddy used to refer to this as burning the candle at both ends. He always reminded me to slow down and take things in...something I have definitely been neglecting to do. I am looking forward to the holidays even though they will be tough. I have done early Christmas shopping so that when the time comes I'll be able to just sit back and relax and take it all in. YEAH right but hey a girl can dream can't she. I do find it less stressful to have the shopping out of the way though! Hope its not Christmas before I get another chance to post but by then maybe things will be a little less hectic around here.

Bagpipes playing in the distance

Raegan keeps telling us how much she loved the bagpipes, except she calls them the bigpipes. Too cute! Today we attended the memorial service for my Uncle George who lost his battle to brain cancer. The service was beautiful with eloquent eulogies and of course bagpipes. Afterwards we congregated at the Pitts Family Farm for the spreading of his ashes. He never was a dull man and his memorial service depicted that well. His ashes were spread over the farm by way of an airplane and bagpipes played in the distance. Raegan was awakened by the many sounds and she hasn't stopped talking about them all day. Death is never easy but it doesn't have to be eternal. I look forward to the day that I will see my loved ones who have passed on before me. I think about the wonders of Heaven and being in the presence of the one and only Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior. One day we will rejoice as perfect, sinless beings. Thank you, Lord.

Update on Us!

Well we have a new puppy! Took him to the vet Friday and he weighs 1.10 lbs at 7 1/2 weeks. He's a long-haired applehead chihuahua. Raegan has named him Smokey! He's so UGLY he's cute. I've taken a few pics but haven't uploaded them yet.

We took Raegan to pick out a halloween costume and she picked out a pink butterfly outfit even though she was originally set on being a bumblebee. PINK won her over! I had already bought a bee costume at Party City for $30 but it turned out to be cheap made so we took it back today and went to Old Navy instead and found the butterfly. It turned out to be $16 on sale.....Yeah!

I had class this weekend and it is going to kick my Bootay! I have to read 5 books in about a month and a half and write papers on 4 of them and give a presentation in 3 weeks on the other one. As luck would have it none of the bookstores had a copy so I had to order them online and wait on shipping. I was hoping to atleast get started on one of them. I like to read but I'm not a super fast reader and especially not when it comes to "educational" books. This is supposed to be the easy class. I have another one next weekend. YIKES! I'm nervous already.

Tomorrow we are having a memorial service for my uncle who lost his battle with brain cancer. All of our family has come in from Georgia . This time spent with family will be bittersweet. Losing loved ones is nevery easy.

Next week Scott starts the drill field portion of his training. He is excited to be taking a break from the classroon rigor but I know this part of the training will be physically exhausting for him. I am so proud of him for making it this far and doing so well. He will graduate Rookie school in November and then will start EMT class after that. He is expected to complete the training in January and start shift work soon thereafter.

Kid talk......

Today as I was sorting laundry Raegan emptied my basket only to put her two little chairs in it. She said to me, "Mommy I in my boat wanna ride." I politely declined and she said with the sweetest smile, "I in now, take my picture." She gave me the best laugh. I love her imagination and her spunky spirit. Thank you God for this precious gift.

An eventful weekend

Well what's a busy week without an even busier weekend. Friday night I cut my brother's hair and Scott helped a friend work on his farm then we were off to the ballgame only to witness another slaughter for the record books. Then Saturday we were up bright and early for the Bell Buckle BBQ Cook off....YUM YUM! When we got home I did a little shopping with my mother and we had the best time together. Saturday was also a good day for the SEC with Tennessee and Auburn chalking up wins and unfortunately Alabama as well. Sunday we went to church, then lunch, then to the cemetary with my dad and Grammy. I had gotten a gift card from friends at school and decided to use it to purchase a concrete bench for Grandaddy since it was given in his honor. Somehow the rain managed to hold off long enough for us to spend a little time taking care of things. Thank you God. The bench looks nice and I think Grandaddy would be pleased with it.This afternoon I colored and hilighted mom's hair and then cleaned up the house some. Scott cooked us dinner and also cleaned some to help out. Thanks Babe. If all goes well we plan to take Miss Raegan to the zoo tomorrow. We are really excited!!! Hope you enjoy your Labor Day Weekend.

Another Busy Week

This week has been busy at work. I am doing a 3-day lab with my students. My copier is broken and we're still waiting on our teaching materials. The other teachers are beginning to get the hang of things which makes my job easier. We have 4 new ones to the dept. this year and that makes me the veteran mentor. I love working with new teachers but this year has been filled with many unusual challenges. Progress reports go out this week and then finally a school holiday on Monday. Yipppee!!!!

Scott has a tough week of studying ahead with a state test on Friday. He has been working very hard and I am so proud of him. He is counting down the weeks until graduation. We have adjusted to the changes in the schedule which was such a fear for us in the beginning. Today, we laughed at the fact that we feel "old" going to bed before the news comes on and still being tired in the morning.

Raegan has enjoyed some extra time with my dad (Papa) and Grammy because Grandaddy has had to be with his family this week. Unfortunately on Saturday Scott's aunt passed away unexpectedly and her funeral was today. Raegan has enjoyed her time on the farm visiting the he he's ( horses), moo cows, and goats. Every afternoon she screams bye-byes and night-night sentiments to the barnyard brood. It's the cutest thing in the world.

Today is our nephew Tyler's 9th birthday. Every year that he is another year older marks another year of Scott and I being together. He was only a month old when we officially started dating. I remember when he was little and he would ask me all the details of his babyhood. He loved for me to tell stories about the silly things he did and how he was practically joined at my hip. I couldn't even get out of his sight. Man how time flies. We think back to how we miss those days. Scott and I dressed up as clowns for his first birthday party and we blew up about 100 balloons with a helium tank......then he was scared of us. Imagine that!!!!

We are looking forward to the long weekend....LC Football, the Bell Buckle Cook-off, and then to the zoo or the aquarium. We haven't decided. I am trying to talk Scott into an overnight trip for just the 3 of us but I'm not sure he is going to go for it. I know that my school will be right around the corner and it will soon be too cool to do some of the things that we missed out on this summer. So, I hope it all works out and we can just enjoy each other.

Counting the blessings

These last few weeks back at work have been a struggle for me. I struggle with the fact that I must leave my sweet little girl everyday and go to work, especially when she cries for me. I know I will never get these days back and I must treasure each moment with her. I have been struggling with the changing routines and uphevel at my job due to new staff and lack of materials. I have been working longer hours and have found myself some days feeling inadequate at my job and at home. I have been stretched too thin and stressed to the max, all the while attempting to keep my composure! We have started back to Wed. night classes at church and my college classes will soon be starting back up. We are adjusting to the exhausting hours and routines that our life entails.

All the while I am thankful that I have this hectic job which helps me to meet my family's needs. I know that others are desperately looking for jobs in this time of economic hardships. Some mothers are single-parents due to the loss of or death of a spouse. Some may be childless and yearning for a child to call their own. Some people may not have a church to call their own. Others may not even know GOD. Some would be thankful to have a messy house to call their own while I complain about keeping mine clean.

Even though this life of mine is often hectic and crazy..... I am proud of it and it's MY life. I am so lucky and blessed to be surrounded by such great friends and family. GOD is good all the time and he knows best. As a wise one once said, "and these times too shall pass."

Changes and Adjustments

Well this week has brought with it many changes and adjustments. First of all, Scott has started rookie school to train to be a firefighter. We have had to really adjust our schedules by going to bed much earlier and getting up earlier as well. This week has been physically and metally demanding for Scott and myself. I have also started back to work. This year I will be mentoring several other teachers so I have to be on my "A" game. This would be no problem if I had materials to work with but we don't even have books for this year. My classes are small but already I know that I have some course repeaters and some challenging students. I am looking forward to the challenge but at the same time a little overwhelmed by everything. It has been a rough summer and I expected this year to be rough getting started but I do see a light at the end of the tunnel and I have more faith than ever.

I have missed my sweet girl this week but she has enjoyed spending time with all of her grandparents and great-grandmother. I am amazed at how much she is talking now. Wow, I don't give her enough credit. I often say to myself, " she's only 2". I think that there's no way she knows what she's talking about and then she does something else that floors me. I am going to miss her terribly. My former students have been coming by to see me this week and they all ask about her. She's like a little sister to them.

My school doesn't start back until September. I am looking forward to getting another semester out of the way and getting one step closer to graduation. It really seems like this college adventure has moved pretty fast. I am fortunate to have found such a covenient schedule to work with and I am thankful for this opportunity. My principal has referred to our "challenges" as "opportunities" and I believe that is a great outlook. Opportunity seems so much more positive and really your "challenges" are what you make of them.

Just wanted to let you all know that just because I haven't posted in awhile doesn't mean I'm not still reading your blogs. I always enjoy them. Things have just been very busy and I haven't had much time to post. Hope all is well.

Cleaning, Cleaning, and more cleaning

Well, I've been cleaning house all day and reorganizing my closet and dressers. I have gotten rid of some old clothes and almost finished all the laundry. Hopefully by tonight or in the morning I will be able to say that "every stitch" is clean. I do this every year before school starts back. It makes it much easier for me to get everything in order. Then I do in again at the end of the winter season. I know that our lives are soon going to be very hectic with me starting back to school, finishing my grad work, and Scott starting training to be a firefighter. I am preparing myself as early as possible so that I won't be so overwhelmed. We are really going to have to rearrange our schedules. Scott will be going to work much earlier than he did at the previous job. But the good thing is he'll be home earlier (hopefully). The training has 2 sides: the physical side which I'm sure will be very exhausting and then the mental/academic side which will also be exhausting and challenging. It will be like having two full-time student/workers in the house. The good news is that this will all be temporary. He will finish all of his training by the end of the year and I will finish grad school by June 2010. Pray for us as we embark on a new journey. We know this is all part of God's plan.

How we're doing....

My sweet little girl is growing up fast. She is 33 in. tall and weighs 25 1/2 pounds. I took her for the 2 yr checkup on July 10th. She was sooooo good at the doctor's office. I can't believe she is 2! She is an absolute blessing to all of us. Her vocabulary continues to blossom. She can really talk BIG now. She counts and sings her ABC's with a little help. We are working on potty training to finally rid ourselves of pull-ups. She is doing well considering all the inconsistencies that the summer has entailed with my Grandaddy's care. We are hoping to establish a sound routine before she goes back to Grandmomma and Grandaddy's house. Sadly, school starts back in a couple of weeks. I wish I could stay home with her a little longer. Just so I could hear her say. "Momma, lets snuggle," at naptime. She is always HAPPY with a smile on her face and a twinkle in her eye. She's a charmer and has a personality that is out of this world. Scott says she's just like me. I am flattered and humbled. Especially that after almost 9 years together he still feels this way. We are truly best friends. Time has strengthened us and our marriage. Simply put, we just enjoy each other. We have fun, no matter what we're doing. He has put in his 2 week notice and will finish this job next Friday. Tomorrow, we go for orientation and he begins firefighter training on August 3rd. We are excited about the changes but we know that they will take some getting used to. The schedule will be the toughest for us and Raegan to get used to but it will be worth it. I am so proud of him and I love him with all of my heart.

A tribute to Grandaddy

Listening to the humming of the tractor

as the disc hits the ground,

he opens the earth to a new day

where life can be found.

With every hour he plows the dirt

and takes hold of the wind,

leading him back to his childhood

to remind him of where in life he has been.

As he plants the seed...

it reminds him of how he has grown from a child.

The words from the Lord told him

the pasture that he should sow.

The love and care from his family,

was the water that helped him grow.

As he sprouted up to a man,

the crops began to grow.

With each field he gave to the Lord,

the more blessings God would show.

As the fields turned into acres,

the Lord sent people his way,

to help him with the blessings

and prepare for the harvest day.

Little did he know that every soul that was sent his way,

a tiny seed was planted in their hearts and that's why we're here today.

The Lord has called him up for the harvest,

and it's time for him to take his rest.

The memories of fields, overalls, and diesel tractors

are the ways I will remember Mr. Thomas the best.

----Mary Joy Simmons (friend and neighbor)

Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl!

Our sweet baby girl turned 2 today! Raegan, we are so glad that you enjoyed your special day with family and friends. You all had so much fun in the kiddie pool, slip n' slide, and the swingset. Raegan we are so proud of you. We love you more than you'll ever know.

Love,

Momma and Daddy

5:15 am

Grandaddy went to be with Jesus this morning. Please pray for healing for our family during this time of grief. We have peace knowing that he is safely in our creator's arms.

Good News Update

Today we finally received some positive news about my Grandaddy's situation. After weeks, I mean weeks of begging and pleading he is finally going to be moved to a facility in Nashville where his condition can be evaluated by specialists. Today Tad from Kindred Hospital came down to assess him and determine if he was a candidate for their facility. I prayed, Dear Lord please give us favor today, and he did. Tad explained the process to us and he will be leaving in the morning. My dad, my grandmother, and I will be following the ambulance tomorrow. They are sending a "special" ambulance with people specialized in caring for patients with heart conditions and breathing apparatuses. We have been told by the hospital doctor that he has not been stable enough to move. This is frustrating to us b/c now that time has run out on medicare he is suddenly able to be moved when his condition is actually worse. I don't understand it. Well I do but I just don't understand how money could drive people to make decisions that would jeopardize someone's life. I am realistic and I know that my Grandaddy will probably not be at himself like he was when he went in to the hospital but he still deserves the best care possible. I know that God is using this experience to strengthen us and bring us closer to him. Today I watched my daddy cry and pray himself for God to have favor on us, something I haven't witnessed many times. Please continue praying for our family and especially for my Grandaddy.

Beach pics 2009

An unexpected suprise...

Today my grandmother received a letter in the mail. It was from the niece of my Grandaddy's high school English teacher. Enclosed was a book report that Ms. Jennings had saved from his English 3 class in high school (presumably the beginning of his junior year). It was dated September 12, 1950. Wow after all these years. That must have been some book report! Ms. Jennings, a 100 year young, old-maid school teacher passed away earlier this year. My grandparents and my great-aunt visited her for lunch frequently and they said she still quoted from Macbeth and Hamlet, never missing a beat. I can remember the stories my Grandaddy told of his experiences in Ms. Jennings class. His infamous stories have inspired me to someday be my students' Ms. Jennings. What a treasure she has passed on to us by sharing his assignment from some 59 years ago. What a blessing.

We are on our way to the hospital soon to take dinner and visit. I will probably stay the night so that my dad can go home and get some rest. I just talked to him and he told me about the book report. I can't wait to read it. He says there is really no change but that they are giving him small doses of morphine to keep him comfortable. He said at this point they are suggesting it is just a matter of time. I know that it will only come to pass in God's perfect timing. He knows best and he will give us all that we need to endure the heartache that we may face.

A whirlwind of emotions....

Today marks day #25 that my Grandaddy has been in the hospital. At one point he had improved and was expected to go home. Now it doesn't look as if that will ever happen. We are praying even though we have been told that there is nothing more that the doctors can do. He is responsive from time to time by squeezing our hands and blinking to answer us but not talking. He is on oxygen ( but not a ventilator) and a feeding tube. His heart is very weak and at one point was only functioning at 5% but has slightly improved to about 20%. His sodium levels are too high and cannot be maintained. He has a little pneumonia in his right lung and spikes a fever atleast twice a day. They have run out of veins for IV's at this point and they search for new places to give his injections and fluids. However, we have been with him around the clock and even celebrated my grandmother's birthday yesterday. At best, he is stable and holding his own. His defibrillator has been brutal at times but has spared him for the time being. This is the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. I am thankful for summer vacation and wonderful in-laws so that I can take time to be with my family. We are trying to stay positive but also being realistic. One minute I am perfectly okay with the possibility of his passing and another I am selfishly struggling. I just can't explain it. I know that it is completely GOD right now and I am surrendered to his will. Please pray for us all.

Scott was offered the firefighter job which is a dream come true for our family. He is excited beyond belief and so are the rest of us. He understands my dedication to my family but I feel torn because I haven't been able to really celebrate his accomplishment with him due to the circumstances. I had wanted to have a dinner get together and get this really cute firefighter cake for him but it just hasn't worked out. We will be going to the final job offer in a few weeks and I plan to take him out and celebrate just the two of us then but I know its not the same for him. Also, at this time it would be hard for our whole family to be together due to so many circumstances. I am so proud of him and I know this is just the beginning. I love you baby. You mean the world to me and I love you from the bottom of my heart. You're my rock and my best friend. You're the best daddy and husband in the world and I know you will make a great firefighter.

I have some beautiful beach pics to share with you soon. I just haven't had any time to sit at the computer to work on them. This is really only the second night I've had home and I just want to love on my girl and my hubby. They are desperate for their "momma" time.

Update on our BIG day!!

Scott went to his interview this morning. He feels really good about it. We should hear something back in a few weeks if he gets an offer. There are only 34 positions open and over 100 applicants. (1400 originally) Whew!!!!! I know it is out of our hands but its hard not to think about it.

Raegan got a great report at the dentist. She only cried a little bit at first but she loved brushing her teeth for them and showing off her smile. It also helped that she got a new toothbrush and got her picture made with the "tooth fairy". Then they let her pick out a prize. We went to lunch to celebrate and took her to feed the duck ducks.

We topped off the day with a trip to the hospital to see Grandaddy. He has made tremendous improvements over the last several days. Even though a feeding tube was a hard thing to handle we know it is best for him. The surgery took less time than expected and he was back in his room in only 45 minutes. I was unable to be there b/c of Raegan's dentist appt. and the fact that the surgery wasn't really scheduled for a certain time so it couldn't be planned around.

This busy day kept us going but it gave me little time to think about .....what if. Sometimes staying busy is an unexpected blessing. Thanks my dear friends for checking in on me and for praying for my family. You all mean so much.

BIG day Tomorrow!!!

Scott has his firefighter interview in the morning. He is really excited to have gotten this far in the process. This is the last hurdle to getting the job. He has taken a written test, a rigorous physical test, background check, and finally......the interview. No matter what the outcome is I want him to know that I am so very proud of him. Lets hope that the interview board is as impressed with him as I am.

Raegan has her first pediatric dentist appointment tomorrow. This kiddo loves to brush her teeth. I hope she likes going to the dentist and has a good experience. I am nervous for her. Maybe because its not so much fun for me as an adult and I remember always being nervous as a kid when I went, even though there was never really anything to ever worry about. If she does well and if it doesn't rain then we have told her that we will take her to feed the duck-ducks.

Grandaddy was in great spirits today. I went to see them at lunch and took my grandmother something to eat. Grandaddy and I had a lot of fun cutting up as usual. We always have had fun together. If you can't tell we've always been really close. He reminded me today that I was his daughter and that my dad was really just a surrogate. Too funny. I love them both. Since my dad is an only child and my grandfather didn't have any daughters I had them both give me away at my wedding. The preacher thought it was crazy but we all thought it was crazy not to. Well I mentioned all if this to say that the ICU specialist stopped by today and they have suggested once again that he have a feeding tube. He is losing weight and is not getting sufficient nutrition due to the complications from eating. It seems that every time he eats or drinks a certain portion of food and liquid goes into his right lung, therefore resulting in aspiration. He seems to be handling the news well. They have told him that it could be temporary but 90% of his food will come from the tube while he can still eat nibbles of comfort food. I am reminded daily by witnessing his struggles that I am truly blessed. I am praying for his healing and progress tomorrow. I also pray that the doctors' work will be guided by the hand of God.

Grandaddy needs your prayers.

Grandaddy took a turn for the worst last night and we almost lost him. He as improved dramatically and is currently stable but he needs your prayers. The doctor said that he would like to take credit for his turnaround but he could not........ that someone else was responsible. God is completely in control and he has given us one more day with Grandaddy. We feel blessed to say the least. The doctor jokingly said that he must have 9 lives and he used 2 of them last night. I know that God is not finished with him and that gives me joy for the moment. He is very special to me and I am only hoping and praying for more of God's miracles. Raegan got to see him tonight and he was delighted as was she. I cannot begin to describe the unique bond that they share as do we but I can say it is nothing short of beautiful. Please remember him in your prayers as well as our family during this difficult time.

This little girl loves her Great-Grandaddy.

Sweet birthday kisses.

And squeeze hugs.

Just pics.....

Grandaddy is back in the hospital.

* Update: I guess no news is good news. They are doing a lot of tests but we still don't know anything more. He is still very weak and is heart is weaker than before. He is breathing better due to the removal of excess fluids but eating is a challenge for him and he aspirates often due to the trouble swallowing liquids. Please pray for him.

Today we were on our way to the park when we received a phone call that Grandaddy had been taken to the E.R. He was admitted and is staying overnight so that they can watch him. He was given medication to remove excess fluids and seems to be breathing much better and resting well. Please say a little prayer for him.

Finally!!!! Summer Vacation

It seems that life has been a whirlwind lately with so many things to do. Finally school is out and summer vacation can begin. I have so many BIG plans. Scott is hoping that he gets the job he has been working so hard for. I need to finish OPERATION: De-clutter in the upstairs and the attic. I also have some painting projects around the house to do. We can't wait to go to the beach this year!!!! Raegan is talking about it non-stop. She wants to she the duck ducks and the dolphins. I think she will LOVE it this year! I have 2 more weekend classes until I can take a break from school but then luckily I will have some time off until September. I can't believe I'm actually half way through. I can't tell you what a dream come true this has been for me. Even though times are rough and hectic..... I still feel like I have it all. I am blessed with a beautiful family, health, a home, a job, great friends. I serve a loving and forgiving God and I live in a country where I can worship freely. Really......what do we have to complain about when there are so many out there with so very little. I ran across a quote several months ago and I believe it says it all. "We may not have it all together, but together we have it all."

Happy Mother's Day

When I was a little girl my Grandaddy often told me,"A man may work from sun to sun but a woman's work is never done." Wow.... how true this seems for me some days as I'm sure it does for others. Take the day off and enjoy it. Celebrate with those who mean the most to you and have a Happy Mother's Day.

Meet Cocoa

Meet the newest member of our family, Cocoa.

Raegan is much better

My baby girl is feeling much better today. She has her spunky spirit back. I just love her personality. This girl never meets a stranger. I couldn't ask for a sweeter child and I am so thankful that she is feeling better. Now maybe Momma and Daddy can catch up on some much needed rest. We have a busy rest of the week and then a busy weekend. I have been rigorously preparing my students for the state Gateway which is next week. I have been going in early and staying late to remediate the weakest students. I have been doing this for the past 5 weeks so I hope it pays off for them. Who knows....we'll see next week. I'll be doing a lot of praying. This weekend I have class which will not end until the first week in June. I am counting down the days until summer vacation......we are soooooo close.

Raegan has been sick....

Raegan has been very sick this weekend, running a fever, so I took her to the doctor today. They ruled out strep, flu, and ear infections which leaves the possibility of teething and/or fever virus. She is feeling better this afternoon and her appetite has picked up a little. She has been very clingy the past few weeks and this weekend was more than usual. I couldn't get out of her sight or she would freak out and have a meltdown........ I feel the terrific....oops I meant terrible two's already. Just kidding!!!! I am flattered that she only wants her momma but at the same time I am exhausted.

A few recent pics

Who could ever resist these sweet kisses? I know I can't. She's the light of my life.

Saying "cheese" for momma...something she does now every time we grab the camera.

Miss Bed Head herself on Easter morning.

Checking out the birdbath.......Hmmmm.

Riding around in her Cozy Coupe that Mamaw gave her.

Raegan and her stickers....

Raegan loves stickers and well she finds them everywhere. The other day I walked in the room to this....so I did what most of you did.... I laughed....Laughed a little more and then grabbed my camera. By the way KOTEX seems to be her current favorite sticker maker Ha Ha Ha!!!!!

Whew!

Well.... I finished one of my classes today. This one was really hard and felt like it sucked the life out of me. I'm glad its over. Now on to the next one. We have a project due May 1st. At this rate we'll be finished in no time. They don't waste any time getting you through the program. WHew

Picture Dilemma

First of all I'd love to post new pics but there is a dilemma with that. My computer still needs repairs. The battery won't charge and it has been repaired once but thanks to a little helper who dropped it is in need of some TLC. So, I decided to upload the new Easter pics onto Scott's laptop so that I could share them. Unfortunately we have misplaced the charger for the camera and his computer doesn't have a port for media cards. So for those of you who have called or emailed my about pictures.... I am truly sorry.....Hopefully you'll get to see them soon.

Raegan had a wonderful Easter. My brother brought Ty over and they spent the night so that they could go to church with us.We stopped by to see Grammy and Grandaddy since they can't get out and we knew it would make their day to have a visit. We came home, ate lunch and hid and hunted eggs. Mom came by to drop off a little something for Raegan so we drew on the sidewalk with chalk and rode in the Cozy Coupe while she was here. Wow! Raegan sure does love being outside. We enjoyed a wonderful afternoon and I was sad to see the daylight go. I cannot tell you enough how ready I am for summer and warm weather. We have several things planned this summer and I am looking forward to just spending time with my girl.

Happy Easter and God Bless!

Congratulations Scott !!!!!

Congrats to my sweet hubby on passing the Firefighter Physical Test today. I am so proud of you Baby and I love you so much. Now....... on to the interview process...the third and final hurdle. I'm praying for you for this desire of your heart if it be God's will. XOXOXOXO

Still sick.......

We're still sick with the crud. Poor Raegan has an awful cough and is cutting teeth. We took the rail off of her crib and converted it into a big girl bed. She is so excited!!!!!! She has to show everyone who comes over. It is precious!

Busy week ahead.

Wow this week ought to be interesting! My dad is out of town so my brother and I are helping take care of my grandparents. He called tonight requesting haircuts for my Grandaddy and himself. When your almost 75 yr old Grandaddy has a request..... well you do whatever it takes. Raegan and I cooked them dinner and then I cut their hair. You would have thought Grandaddy was getting ready for a date..... it was the cutest thing and we teased him about not staying out too late. He got a big kick out of it, even though he really doesn't go anywhere. I told him that if he stayed out too late we'd pull the string in. Now I know most of you don't know what that means but to us its a classic Grandaddy joke that he used to tell us when we were teenagers wanting to stay out late. Back in the old days (when he was a teen) they didn't have door locks. Instead, they had a hole in the door with a string. When he got home he knew he was locked out if they had already pulled the string in.......which sometimes meant sleeping outside on the porch. I wonder if we practiced that today would it encourage kids to be home by curfew.

This week I start before/after school remediation which will be ongoing for the next 5 weeks to prepare our kids for the state Biology test. I will add 2 hours a day to my teaching/ work day as well as do the ACT administering on Saturday. Scott is still training to pass the physical part of the Firefighter test. He has passed the written portion and now is eligible for the physical test which requires the completion of a rigorous obstacle course in 10 minutes. Did I mention while wearing 75 lbs. for part of it and 50 lbs. for the other half. He has been working with his dad daily and they are planning to set up a mach course this weekend. The test is next Tuesday. He's only had 2 weeks to prepare. YIKES!!! I'm nervous for him.

Raegan is talking more and more every day and I continue to be amazed by all that she can say and do. She is very quiet and laid back most of the time but when she warms up to you then she is wide-open. She really takes after us so much. We are trying hard to teach her some manners. She is saying please, thank you, and ma'am but its a work in progress. We are trying to teach her as we go....don't know if its the best but you live and learn.

We have so much going on this week that I think I will need to schedule a nap. Who knows....maybe 2 naps. Even though I have more responsibilities to take care of than I could've ever imagined, I am thankful that God has provided me the means to care for my family and their needs. One day the tables will be turned. I will be a little slower, a little older, my hair a little more gray, my spirit a little more broken and I hope that when that time comes that someone will love and care for me unconditionally. Time is a precious gift.

Back to work, staying busy

Well its been a little tough to be back at work while my sweet Raegan is having fun at home. I miss her sweetness when I'm gone. Work has been keeping me busy. My kiddos make me laugh everyday but being with them never compares to my baby girl. Sometimes I think of them like little souls trapped in teenage bodies. They require the same love, attention, and affection as the little ones. Its funny how that works out, huh? They just want you to love them! Well apparently since my principals know I'm a homebody and that I will probably not be leaving my hometown High School anytime soon they've been training me to do all sorts of things. I NEVER miss work unless I am really bad sick but this semester I have had to get subs for these training meetings. These sessions are harder than my real job and adults aren't nearly as fun as teenagers to work with. Today we had another all day meeting and the week before Spring Break we had one (plus 2 others before that). Then they said that we'll have atleast one more before school is out. Most people have no idea what teaching is really about. I never realized the time dedication that it takes before I started teaching. However, the rewards are unimaginable. I have been teaching just long enough to really start seeing some of the rewards firsthand. Teachers in a small town are almost like local celebrities. Today I was in a store with my mom and after about 15 people waived and spoke she finally said ....."Do you know everybody in this store?" The other day a girl came up to me and Raegan and introduced me to her mom and proceeded to tell me about college and what she was doing now. She told her mom that after she had me in 10th grade she was inspired to be a biology teacher. Her mom thanked me for the influence I had on her. Of course this was an act of God b/c it just happened to be one of those days that I was thinking..... why in the world do I do this job? Most people think people teach to have summers off but that's only partly true. Raegan is the real reason I desire my summers, not the job.

Well I didn't really mean to ramble about work. I was going to tell you about Raegan (since this is really her site). She loves horses!!!! She plays non-stop with horses and babydolls. She has the heart of a farm girl and I hope one day that she can experience life on the farm. She has compassion for animals and like her mommy would take them all in like Elly Mae Clampett. My husband really didn't know what he was getting into when he married me. I told him that FAMILY was my priority and that if he wasn't a family guy then I wasn't the girl for him. Well, I forgot to tell him about my BIG HEART for animals. He found out the hard way with 3 dogs and a cat. We had a sugar glider that died and I have a turtle at my dad's still. I've had my dog since I was 17 and my turtle since I was 13. Yes, the turtle is almost 15!!!!!!! I have had everything from wild animals to farm animals and even a snake. I said all of this to say that my little Raegan has this same love for animals. (Everything but bugs!) This weekend she did pick up worms so I see a fishing buddy in daddy's future.

Well I guess I'll sign off for the night. I would like to post new pics but they're all on my laptop which is still sick so I am having to use Scott's for now. Have a good week.

A beautiful week

The weather has been beautiful most of the week and we have gotten so many things accomplished. Monday, I cleaned house and spent some much needed time with Raegan. We played babies all day. I've never seen a tot in love with babies more than her. It is precious. Tuesday, we made Raegan's favorite breakfast and thenScott and I along with our little helper took the trash to the dump and cut the grass. Then he went fishing while we took a nap. Ooops forgot to mention that we had lunch and went to the park so somebody could slide. She loves to slide, especially on the BIG ones. Then we went to Target where I got the deal of the week. They had 2G Kodak SD cards for $9 but they were out. It was our lucky day. The nice man in electronics substituted the better Lexar version for the same price. Wednesday, we had our taxes done and then cut my grandparents grass at the farm. It takes a couple of hours when we both cut w/ 2 mowers. Raegan fell asleep 3 times while riding. This girl loves mowing grass....just like her daddy. She keeps going to the shed saying...."Please".... with the cutest little expression, hoping that she can ride. Her Grandaddys have ruined her, with a little help from momma and daddy of course. We also visited my grandparents and then Mamaw stopped by to visit us. She played with Raegan so that I could cut daddy's hair. Today, we took care of errands but then snuck in a little fishing time for the afternoon. It was too windy for Raegan and me so we came back home while daddy indulged. It has been really nice to have him off from work for a few days. His girls have really enjoyed it. Even though we didn't do anything really spectacular we enjoyed our time together and we did get a lot of things accomplished. Now.... if I could just get motivated to do that paper for my class.

Spring Break Eve Countdown

We have had a busy week at work getting ready for Spring Break. Its the end of the grading period. Meetings have kept me busy at work all week. I've had projects due for my class and to top it off we've all had the stomach bug recently. Things have been a little crazy around here. Tomorrow is Spring Break Eve and I cannot tell you how glad I am to be spending a whole week off with my baby girl. Need I mention that she's not a baby anymore. She's a grown up trapped in a tiny body. She amazes me so much at how fast she's learning. Sometimes I truly underestimate her abilities. She's smart, funny, and so full of energy. I've often said that I'm her cheerleader for life and I totally believe that. Children are so impressionable. We spend so much time trying to mold them into what we want them to be instead of just teaching them and then accepting and loving them for who they turn out to be. Don't get me wrong... I have high expectations for her, maybe sometimes too high. I just want her to be proud of herself and confident in her own skin. Raegan, you will always be momma's baby girl. Know that I will always love you for who you are. I am proud every day just because I get the privilege of being your mommy. Someone said recently that to love a child is not something that is ever earned and since it isn't earned then it will never diminish because of any unfavorable circumstance.

Happy Birthday Little Brother. I love you more than you'll ever know.

Love,
Sister

Snow day but no snow...

Ahhhhhhh! Enjoying a day off from work with my sweetheart. It snowed yesterday and we got the day off today for "weather". I'm not complaining.

Raegan is talking up a storm. She is repeating everything we say. Even though some of the things she says is a little distorted we can still understand them. She keeps calling the dog Mae but her name is Macey. She can also say Memaw which made her very happy. Last night she got on the phone and said sing Momma. My heart just melted. I think my favorite is Please. Now if I could just get her to say Thank you with all those requests. She has cut her stomach teeth completely and is still cutting her eye teeth. Potty training is still a work in progress. She is exclusively in pull-ups now but I'm just not brave enough to let her go all day in real underwear. It seems like she is growing way too fast. I was holding her last night telling her about when she was a little baby and how tiny she was compared to now. She loves for me to tell her about being a baby which is a little sad because she doesn't see herself as one anymore. Instead, she plays momma wrapping her babies up in their blankies and caring for them. She begs to have her nails painted and play dress up. Where did that time go? People see how big she's getting and always inquire when there will be another one. I'm still in grad school right now so we're still waiting until that task is complete but it doesn't get far from our thoughts.

Count your blessings...

Today I received disheartening news that my friend and former co-worker had lost her 34 yr old husband. He left about 8:30 to go get medicine for their daughter. She put the kids to bed and was relaxing when she started to get concerned because he had not made it home yet and he had been gone for 2 hours. She called him but didn't get an answer so she called his parents. His mom stayed at the house in case the children woke up and she and her father-in-law went looking for her husband. They found his truck where it had gone down an embankment on the road that they live on. The truck was in the creek and he was pinned under it with his head underwater when they found him. I can't imagine the devastation that they must be feeling. She is beating herself up over it because after he left she found some medicine in the cabinet that would have worked so he hadn't really needed to go after all. Then she said... what if she had started looking sooner then maybe they could have found him in time. I just can't believe it. All day I have been thinking about how that could have been so many of us in the same situation. That could be our sons, daughters, husbands, wives, parents going through that very same thing. My heart is breaking for them and many prayers are going up on their behalf. I am counting my own blessings. I couldn't get through the day without letting Scott know just how very much he means to me. I thought about relationships in my own life. I thought about how sometimes things that happen are trivial and sometimes we don't realize it until its too late. This week in my devotion study on Esther one point has seemed very clear to me. Holding a grudge against someone who has hurt you may seem justified based on their actions but instead the grudge continues to hold you in bondage to them. Forgiveness is difficult but it humbles us and allows us the freedom to love again with a free heart. Today I am counting my blessings, especially those most precious in my life. I am so thankful for my family, immediate and extended. God has blessed me with them and I will honor Him by loving and cherishingthem.

Juggling...

Do you ever feel that sometimes life is a juggling act? It seems like we are juggling so many things. There are responsibilities, friends, family, relationships, commitments, finances, errands, appointments, jobs, co-workers, church, sports, helping others, needs, wants, time shortages, grad school, cooking, cleaning, laundry......etc. Some days it seems to never end. These things we juggle bring unnecessary stress and chaos to our lives if we let them. Sometimes we find ourselves losing sight of whats really most important all the while trying to appease others. I don't know about you but sometimes I wish I could minimize the stress and just slow down and truly enjoy life instead of juggling my way through it.

Sometimes you get a special card that touches your heart...... I am sharing part of my Valentine's card from Scott.

I asked the Lord

to bless me

with an angel

in my life.....

A woman

I could treasure

as a loving friend

and wife.

And so you came

from Heaven

as the answer

to my prayer.

And changed

my world forever

through the precious

love we share.

The longer we're married

the more I can see

What a wonderful blessing

your love's been to me.

The longer we're married,

the more I'm aware,

When I asked for an angel,

God answered my prayer.

I will love you Always and Forever because you are the greatest thing that has ever happened to me .

Love,

Scott

Happy 30th Valentine's Birthday!

Today is my sweetheart's 30th birthday. Wow it doesn't seem like its really been 9 yrs since we first met. He is my best friend....my soul mate....the other half of me. He's the one who knows my worries, hopes, dreams, and joys. He knows how to make me laugh when I feel like crying and he knows how to comfort me when I'm down. He pretends to like my cooking when sometimes its not the best. He keeps me grounded but lifts me up. He's my prince charming.... my one and only.

We tried to make this b'day extra special by showering him with gifts and goodies. Raegan and I even sang to him! I got him a new tackle box that he said he NEEDED and of course some clothes that he said he didn't need (I disagree) and then gave him money for a new rifle scope. I made homemade (all the way from scratch) biscuits and gravy, bacon, and hashbrowns for breakfast. I am making a cake later!!!!

Although this is his special day we also wanted to LOVE on little Raegan and let her know how special she is to us. She has been wanting some Minnie Mouse sippy cups for a while so we got her the cups, plate, bowl, and silverware set. We also found some really cute Minnie pj's that were hard to resist. What's Valentine's without a little candy? We got her a small pac of M&M's (her fave). She was so excited. I'll have to post some pics later.

Happy Valentine's Day !!!!!!

Flor is coming home soon!

Update: We went to the airport to meet precious Flor and her mommy Amanda. She is adorable in every way. There were soooo many people there.... It was nice to meet some of the blogger community and see their little ones. Raegan was amazed by all the little girls.

My friend Amanda is bringing her sweet daughter Flor home Friday. Please be praying that everything goes smoothly with their travel and adoption finalization. Stop by their blog to congratulate them.

Positive Update

Grandaddy is doing much better. He is alert and beginning to communicate more. We visited him yesterday and he was completely aware that we were there. Raegan loved on him more than she ever has. We have been told that he will be dismissed on Feb. 20th. At this point, we are hoping that he gets to come home. We feel that he can get the best care at home. The facilities that he has been at before have not provided the best care for him. It will be hard work for everyone, especially my grandmother. Her dedication to him is an example of true love. She is willing to care for him as long as she can which is such a sacrifice on her part. She is one incredible woman and I love her very much.

Visiting Grandaddy

We visited Grandaddy yesterday and he slept through our entire 2 hr visit. He didn't even know that we were there. He was up for 12 hours before he went to bed and they worked him really hard with therapy. They are getting him into an early routine startig at 6 am every day. Raegan got to visit with Grammy which was good for the both of them. She really misses Grammy. She almost won't let her put her down and if she does then she runs right back to her to give her kisses. She has been spending some quality time with my dad and she is getting a little attached to him which I am glad to see. She is happy staying with him and doesn't cry for momma as much. He has kept her some since her other Grandaddy and Grandmomma have been sick. Raegan is talking up a storm....when she wants to. Tonight we called to check on them and she was talking on the phone telling them all the new words she is learning. Too funny because sometimes they come out a little different than you expect. I'll have to post a video clip soon. She is growig up way too fast! I just can't believe it sometimes. Her Daddy and I are just in awe of her. Parenting her is definitely a rewarding job. Speaking of new parenting...
My friend Amanda just found out that she will be bringing her daughter Flor home next weekend. She has waited a long time for this day. Jump over to her blog and congratulate her.

Update

My Grandaddy has been moved to Healthsouth Rehabilitation Center as of Friday. He stays very sleepy and sometimes sleeps through the whole visit. He is recognizing people more frequently now. My dad was walking away and he called out his name which is an improvement as he was not recognizing him before. He knows me and Raegan but the other day he told my grandmother that she was me. Then he saw me and corrected himself. We all got a big laugh out of it, including him.

This week has been a rough one. Raegan is getting over her sickness and we are all trying to stay well. Grandaddy (Scott's dad) didn't fair so well. He has been under the weather for a few days so Scott took off and stayed home with Raegan so that Grandaddy could get some rest. Grandaddy Steve (my dad) came over for about an hour so that Scott could go to the dentist. He is going to have his wisdom teeth taken out soon.

It was nice to have a break from class this weekend. I only have one weekend off in Feb. and that will be busy with Valentine's Day/Scott's Birthday. He's turing 30! Wow!!! He was only 21 when we started dating. Where did the time go?

I hope to visit some of your blogs and leave comments. I just haven't had the time lately.

Update on Grandaddy

Gradaddy seems to be in good spirits today. His response is still delayed as well as his memory. Last night he went for some tests but we do not know the results yet. He seems to be resting most of the time. In fact, yesterday they had a hard time waking him up for therapy. All we know right now is to be hopeful and pray that he recovers. We do know that he will have to stay at a care facility for a while after he gets out of the hospital to do some therapy and then he may home after that. It is so hard to accept that he may not get any better than this but I am thankful that the Lord has spared him and that every day with him s one more than the day before.

Thank you for the kind emails and comments that you have left me but mostly thank you for your prayers.

Please pray for my Grandaddy.

*UPDATE : We are doing much better. We got some much needed rest today and Raegan is better tonight than she has been in the past few days. As for Grandaddy, there really is no update. He is no better and no worse. The doctors will continue watching him, so it seems to be a waiting game for now. They said putting him back on blood thinner was too risky due to the bleeding but that not having it could be a risk for another stroke. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers these next few days.

Amy



Today I have had the first moment to update you on what a whirlwind our lives have been in. On Saturday night after class, Scott and I decided we needed to get out of the house, so we did. During our outing, my grandmother called with frantic requests to help get my Grandaddy to the hospital. So, we raced back home, dropped Raegan at his parents and went to their house. Once we got there we proceeded to gather the necessary meds and get him in the car to the hospital. I drove them and Scott went to find my dad who was not reachable by his cell phone. We go to the hospital about 8:30 pm. The ER was a nightmare, full of ailing people and their families. They ended up taking my grandaddy back and a man who had a heart attack back very quickly. They immediately did a CT and x-ray to find bleeding on the brain. Air-vac was called in and we decided to send him to Nashville where he had been seen for his heart condition and other major surgeries. THEY REFUSED HIM!!!!! So he had to be re-routed to Huntsville hospital which was actually closer. He is there now. They have decided not to do surgery and just evaluate his progress since the bleeding has now stopped on its own. They have diagnosed him as having a hemorrhagic stroke on the left frontal lobe and bleeding from trauma (falling) on the rear right side of the brain. As of now, they are waiting on the swelling to subside. He will have to do extensive therapy before he can go home "if" he can go home. They said that if he doesn't show more improvement then it will not be possible for him to be cared for at home alone. My grandmother is so worried, as we all are. But God reveals himself in a mighty way when things fall apart in our lives. Its a miracle that he is still alive at all with all that he has been through. Last Tuesday home health started coming out to check his blood due to the blood thinner that he takes daily for his heart. The nurse tried 3 times and couldn't get blood so they sent another nurse on Friday who also tried 3 times with no avail who called another nurse who tried 3 times and failed. All the while they had stopped the blood thinner and his last dose was Tues. night. He went from Tue. to Sat. with no blood thinner. Had he taken the med. he probably would've bled to death, and to think that in our stubbornness we were upset that he was being used as a pin cushion instead of recognizing the miracle of God's plan right before our very eyes.

Scott and I are trying not to get sick and Raegan has a cold so we are all trying to take care of ourselves as well as the family. Please pray for healing and strength for our family during this time. Thank you to everyone who has helped us so much the past few days.

Back to school....

Blogging, de-cluttering, and everything in between has taken a backseat to higher education. I started classes this weekend and I have another one next weekend. I am going to be really busy over the next couple of months. However, I got to spend some quality time with my girl today. We painted our toes and finger nails....did some coloring, singing, dancing, and drawing. She is the light of my life and I am so lucky to be her mommy. Sometimes feel guilty for going back to school and taking time away from her but I know that this is the right time. Any other schedule would have taken me away from her more. I have been waitng for this opportunity for years and I know that it was nothing short of God's doing.

Operation: De-clutter

After an unexpected day off on Friday, we officially started Operation: De-clutter. I went to school as usual to find firetrucks and police everywhere. Apparently, man called in a bomb threat so we got the day off. Raegan had her 18 month check-up in the afternoon. She is cutting her stomach teeth. YUCK!!!! She hasn't felt well but she's a trooper. She is still in the 25th percentile for height and weight. The doctor said that she seems to be above average in her skills and she was surprised about her potty training. She is learning new words but is still relying on signing for some communication. We are using it less so she is talking more. This week she has been saying Uh Oh , Uh huh, and Uh Uh alot more. Of course the usual dog, baby, momma, and daddy. She is learning "if you're happy and you know it," but for now her favorites are still the Itsy Bitsy Spider and Little Bunny Foo Foo. This girl loves to sing songs. Today, I heard her and Daddy saying A-B-C-D. That's as far as they got.

We have been busy with Operation: De-clutter. I did my closet earlier this week and then we tackled the bathroom closet and Raegan's bedroom and closet. I re-organized the toys, books, and clothes. We packed up so many things to put in the attic. I know that one day Raegan will probably have a baby brother or sister so I just can't throw away her old stuff yet. I am ridding myself of some of my pack-rat ways though. I have bagged up some of my clothes to take for donation and I've already given some away. As soon as we do every room downstairs then we're moving to the upstairs. One room has already been done but I have another bedroom to tackle and of course the catch-all attic. This week we plan to re-arrange the living room furniture and that will complete the downstairs. My muscles are so sore. I think my mind was much more ambitious than my body. Poor Scott... I have worked him to death. Besides the usual week-to-week household chores and our de-cluttering projects, he has helped me with the laundry. We have washed every stitch of dirty laundry in the house. Now for the usual household of 3 that wouldn't be much but we were way behind. My washer and dryer were on the brink of breaking down just before Christmas and well they finally gave in so I've had lots to catch up on. It's nice to have EVERYTHING clean but I didn't realize that I would have a hard time finding places for all of it. Go figure, can you tell it's been a while since I've had an empty hamper. Ha Ha!!

Hope you all have a great week! We will busy as usual and trying to get back into our work routines again. I am soooooo missing being home everyday with my baby girl!

A Great Day!

Today was a great day. I was greeted by friends and colleagues who gushed about their holidays and told stories about the joy their children had on Christmas. They acted as if it had been years since we had seen each other instead of weeks. All of this fellowship helped me keep my mind off the fact that I was at work while my sweetheart was catching up with her grandparents. Then after a short time a colleague and I traveled to another school for a special in-service training on how to use our new projectors and think pad smart boards. Can you say Merry Christmas all over again. I can't wait to use it in my classroom. I have so many ideas. This little detour also helped keep my mind focused on work and kept me from crying. I was missing her like crazy if you can't tell. Its amazing how your outlook on life changes. Before her, life was so different. I never expected to feel this way. I don't now what I was expecting but this is so much better than I ever imagined. She turned 18 months old today. Happy 18 months baby girl. You have made me the happiest Momma on Earth. You are such a blessing to us all.

We got a crash-course training from a teacher at another school on how to use our new equipment. He seems to be really technology savvy and I'm sure will help us with this new endeavor. He introduced himself and told a wonderful story about how he became a teacher. I'll give a shot at telling his story..... He and his wife traveled for a month long mission trip to Guatemala, leaving behind their infant daughter in the states. To make a long story short, they fell in love with the country and its people and decided to move there. They took their daughter with them to their new apartment in Guatemala. They served as dorm parents to a home for girls and he also became a teacher in the school close by. They were expecting another baby during this time but unfortunately suffered a miscarriage and were told that they would not likely be pregnant ever again. In the meantime, the girls were allowed to go home on weekend passes once a month to visit their families. The way he explained it to me was that most of the parents still wanted their children but they could not afford to feed and care for them so they were taken in by these homes. He and his wife noticed that on the weekend visitations that there were a few girls who were never visited. One little girl captured their attention and later their hearts. He said the took her to the zoo and spent time with her in the city. One particular weekend she became ill so they took care of her and let her stay with them. He said that the next time they had a weekend pass she showed up at their apartment and practically refused to be anywhere but with them. This went on for 6 mos. and then they returned for a month visit to the U.S. He said they couldn't stand being apart from her and knowing that they were not likely going to have more biological children they decided to adopt her. By this time, she was around 7 or 8 yrs. old. They talked to her about the meaning of adoption and explained that she would be there child forever and they started the process. Here's a twist. After a few months she was talking to them and said I know that you are going to keep me forever but what about my brother.... where will he go? Brother... they knew nothing about a brother. They contacted some people only to find out that she had a biological brother in a nearby orphanage. Guess what? You're right.... they adopted him to. So now their family had grown from one child to 3 in less than a year. That's not all..... they decided to return home to the U.S. to complete the adoption process and due to their relationship with the system were able to bring the children home before everything was official. In the meantime, they were blessed with another biological daughter to complete their family. Man, doesn't God have a sense of humor. According their dad, all the children are thriving and at grade level according to U.S. standards. I know I did not do justice in telling the story and I was ambiguous with some of the details because I do not want their names out there but I felt the need to share their story. I have many friends who have adopted children and have cousins and a niece who are adopted so I am intrigued when I hear a happy adoption story.

Happy New Year!

Well we have had a whirlwind of things going on over the last few weeks. We seem to be wrapping up our holiday excursions and are reluctantly trying establish a routine all over again. Next week is going to be so hard. I know I am going to struggle with going back to work and sending Raegan off to Grandaddy and Grandmomma's house. We have had so much fun. She's like a minature me....seriously she is so much like me that its scary. Although she is much more prissy than I was. I never liked dressing up or jewelry. Wow have I changed!! She will be 18 months old on Monday and I keep asking myself where the time went. I was paying my insurance the other day and the girl said she couldn't believe how she was growing up. She said, "it seems like you just had her." Some days I feel the same way.

I didn't make a new year's resolution. They seem to be made only to be broken. However, I would like to finish a few projects around the house and I would like to simplify things in my life. I would like to rid myself of my pack-rat-like ways and keep my house a little neater. I would like to eat a little healthier and maybe lose a few pounds in the meantime. Don't laugh....I still don't have a resolution just a few suggestions for myself.

I am a little late on my Happy New Year Wishes but I hope you all have a great year. I hope you cherish your family, enjoy your friends, and love yourself. May you be blessed in more ways than you could ever imagine.