Another beautiful lady in Heaven

It's happened again.  DARN IT ALL! For selfish reasons, I desired for it to be different.  As always, God knows best.

We lost a dear friend last week.  A strong, funny, full of life, loving life, never take for granted, wonderful mom, wonderful wife, lady.  In her battle with cancer she showed so many the true importance of life.  It's not the "stuff" we gain from this world, it's the "people" and "relationships" we gain.  There was never a day that I doubted her dedication and love for Jesus.  He was her all in all, her whole reason for being.  She said more than once "I want what God wants". God wanted her to join Him and she did, happily.

While this is a sad time for many, this is also such a joyous time as well.  For me, death is hard to take if I don't know where someone stood with the Lord.  It makes me sad to think that someone is not spending eternity (which~mind you~is much much much longer than our time here on Earth) with Jesus.  I desire for EVERYONE to be with Jesus.  When someone dies that I know is in Heaven, it brings me JOY! Death is not the end for a Christ follower.  It is most definitely THE BEGINNING! 

I will spend some time over the next couple of days remembering Deb's life.  I will spend time praying for her family here.  I will, hopefully, spend time throughout the rest of my life remembering what Deb reminded me.  She reminded me that the little children matter.  She reminded me that her husband mattered.  She reminded me that her family mattered.  Most importantly, she reminded me that she wanted what God wanted.  She left an amazing legacy!

Love and miss you Deb!

~oh, this is just between me and Deb...  Deb, could you please put in a good word for the Steelers this season? I know you'll be up there rooting for them!

Rori is 2!

Rori is 2 and what a joy she is! Here are some of the highlights from the last year

• She looooves her daddy.  Anytime he walks in the house she will  RUN to him yelling DAAAAADEEEE! and gives him a knee high hug.  It's the sweetest thing ever!
• she has learned what most animals say, however she call most things a cow. 
• she  has made up for lost time with talking.  Her Dr. said she is advance in  her speaking.  That's for sure!
• Chocolate, by far, is her most favorite thing to eat
• She loves to pretend anything she is holding is a phone.  At bath time one night, she had a whale in one ear and a dolphin in the other talking back and forth like she was on a phone.

Can't believe how fast this year has gone.  She is so much fun and a true joy to our family.  A perfect ending to a wonderful family!

Can you smell it???

I love how a smell can bring back a memory.  Recently I was walking my dog outside.  It was a warm, rainy morning.  I could smell dirt.  I love the smell of dirt when it rains. LOVE IT! On the road was maybe a million worms.  (might be a slight stretch).  I remembered when my daughter, August, was young she was the worm whisperer.  She would save every worm she could.   She often would have a container filled with dirt as a home for her rescues.  I treasure that memory.  I treasure her.  I treasure she was given to me.   

Today is her birthday! (Let's pretend it's yesterday, eh?)

Today is the celebration of the birth of my daughter, Shelby.  I remember this day 14 years ago so well.  There has not been a day that I have not been extremely proud to be her mom.  I am blessed and humbled that she was given to me.  She is an amazing young lady.  She makes her decisions based on her faith.  She's there to lend a hand whenever needed.  She's trustworthy.  She's intelligent.  She's beautiful.  She has a great sense of humor.  You might think that I'm just saying this because she's my daughter, but you'd be wrong.  These are all characteristics of Shelby. Ask anyone.

I find myself thinking about the future a lot now for Shelby.  She will be starting high school next year.  She will have many big decisions to make in the coming years.  It won't always be easy and I won't always be by her side to help guide her.  It's true when people say that you have to trust in the way you've raised your children at some point in their lives.   I have a few precious years to continue to raise and lead and guide her, I know that all too soon she'll be away at college.  For the moment, I will cherish all of the time I have with her.

I know she's not the rosy, chubby, cherub of a baby she was 14 years ago, but she is most certainly still an angel.

Parents VS. kids

Recently Tim "volunteered" to play against Shelby's basketball team.  The truth is, Shelby asked me and I said Tim would do it.  Tim was on board and a great time was had by all.  As one of Shelby's friends said "the parents were acting like the Harlem Globe Trotters!

It's JUST a ring, right?

WRONG!

Recently my wedding ring broke.  I mean "can't even wear til I get fixed" broken.  I am so sad.  Let me tell you why.

I know that the wedding ring is a symbol.  Wearing it or not wearing it doesn't make my any more or less married.  I'm still married.  The ring holds tremendous sentimental value to me.  Tim picked this ring out for me all by himself, without my prompting.  This is what he gave me when he desired he wanted us to be "us" for the rest of his life.  I can't imagine not ever having this ring. 

Now there are those that will say, "this is the perfect opportunity for you to get a new one!" The old is broken, so get a new one.  Easy fix, right?  Again, WRONG!  While I enjoy getting new jewelry, my wedding ring is not something I want to replace or "upgrade".  It's not the same for me.  There's something about having this ring from the beginning.  It's been through everything with me.  It's comforting to me to think that I have a piece of Tim with me each and every day.  Every second and every hour.   I'm very happy with the "old" one...once I get if fixed, of course.

Reagan is 7

I can't believe how fast time goes.  There are some days and weeks that go so slow, but when you have a birthday, you realize how fast time goes. 

My third daughter, Reagan, is 7 today.  Unbelieveable!  She is an amazing blessing to our family.  Definately unique, definately smart, definately pretty, definately loves Jesus (c'mon!  I'm her mom!) 

I hope and pray that her dad and I are able to raise her well.  She deserves nothing less.  We love her with all of our heart.

Happy Birthday, Boo!