Life and Death

The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away.



On Friday, a new life came into our family. My sister and her husband are in the process of adopting a little 2 yr old girl and they picked her up on Friday. They are so excited, we are planning a shower for them at the end of May when they come down. We are all so happy for them. Hopefully in 6 months, the adoption will be finalized and she will be with her forever family. Roxi is her name and she is blessed to have my sister and Ryan as parents and we are blessed for her becoming a part of our family.



On Sunday, my great aunt (grandmothers sister) passed away. There used to be 5 sisters, now there are 3. I was able to go to the funeral in Silsbee yesterday and be with my grandmother. I debated on wether or not to go due to the weather being really bad but the weather cooperated and I am so glad that I went. Some of my cousins and my mom had went up for the viewing, but I was not able to make it to that. When I got there yesterday, my grandmother just started crying. I am so glad that I was able to be there for her. She has always been there for any of us anytime that we need her or my grandpa. I drove them to the cemetery and then we went to lunch. It was so nice to get to spend some time with them.



A death is such an "in your face" reminder of how short life really is. One day you have it, the next day you don't. Just like, you are either a child of God, or you are not. There is no gray area in regards to that. Black or white...you are or you aren't. I am so thankful that I am a child of God and will enjoy a life in eternity. To me, death is not a bad thing, too me, death is the prize at the end of the race. I know where I am going, so I have nothing to fear. Am I a perfect example of a Christian? No, nor do I claim to be. I fail on a daily basis. Of course I know that I am going to have to answer for the things that I have done, as well as for answering for the times that I had the opportunity to tell someone about Christ and what he has done for me and my family, but failed to do so. That is not something I am proud of. I can only try to do better. I am constantly trying to do better in my spiritual walk. I do not believe that any of us will have the "perfect" spiritual relationship with the Lord. We can always do better, get closer, read The Word more. To me, nothing will ever be enough. Another way I fail on a daily basis is reading my Bible. Again, it is not something that I am proud of and it something that I am going to work on. I guess I am going to sign off on that note....

Stay Blessable!!

Summer Fun....

My friend Lianna wants her blogger friends to write about their favorite summer times. I would have to say that mine involve water, a boat, family and friends. Last year we bought a boat and would go out to the lake with friends and spend the day. My girls are like fish and absolutely love the water. Kristyn loves to kneeboard and ride on the tube. Ryleigh just loves to swim around. We also would go up to my inlaws and spend the day out on the lake with them and Doodle's brother, wife and boys. It is so relaxing just to stay out their all day!! I can't wait for the summer to get here this year. Doodle is home and working 4-10's which means we can take the trailer and boat and spend a 3 day weekend camping. There is a nice campground on Lake Livingston about 30 minutes from the house. We are also planning a trip to the Bahamas with some friends and their kids. This is going to be a great summer!!!!

PS. Great idea for a post Lianna!!!

Talk to you later!

Congratulations Lindsey & Tiki

Yesterday I went and met Ry's class up at Dairy Day. All week long kids from the kids from the surrounding areas have been showing their animals. The sale is this Friday. Anyway, our good friends (Tammey & Bubba) daughter, Lindsey (her and Kristyn are best friends) showed her lamb. She has never shown an animal before and she won first place in her class, Grand Champion and first in Showmanship. She received one blue ribbon, two belt buckles, grand champion banner and was also interviewed for the radio. Our other friends (Winston & Rae) daughter Montana, showed her pig. It was the cutest thing. She is in the third grade and is about the size of Ry (who is in the first grade). Tiki's pig was bigger than she was. Anyway, she also did really well. She took first place in her class and I think 3rd overall (behind grandchampion and reserve grand champion). Kristyn is now wanting to show an animal. She wanted to do it when Lindsey, Patiencen & Tiki, but at that time Doodle was working out of state and those that know me will know that I have absolutely no idea about raising an animal. Doodle told her that when he gets home, she can show an animal. Well, he is home and she is wanting to show an animal in Liberty in October. So, it looks like we will start going to the 4H meetings now. This is going to be interesting to say the least. I try to let my kids be involved in the things that interest them (basketball, softball, tumbling, girl scouts and who knows what else). I think it is good for kids to have activities outside of school and coming home. Ry on the other hand is a totally different story. She didn't want to play basketball because it involved too much running (I would have to agree with her) and she didn't want to play softball because it is too hot and there is no shade on the field (she does have a point). Needless to say, I told her she was playing one sport or the other, she was not going to come home and sit in front of the tv everyday. So, she ends up playing softball and loves it.

On another note, I am having a real hard time getting motivated today. It does not help that I have a headache. I need to fold two loads of clothes, sweep & mop and clean my bathroom, but I just cannot get with it today. I came home from tanning and took a nap hoping that my head would quit hurting, but it didn't. I had layed out a cut up chicken to cook and then remembered that Ry has practice tonight so I found a recipe in my crockpot cookbook and am going to try it. It involved chicken and scalloped potatoes (which I absolutely love). Hope it turns out good. I get tired of cooking the same stuff over & over. Well, I guess that is going to be it for today, I need to get the clothes folded and stuff picked up from last night since we got home so late.

Talk at ya later!!

The Weekend.....

OK, the ball games for tomorrow have been moved back 2 hours, but I am pretty sure that they will be cancelled since there is a 70% chance of rain, not to mention the fact that it flooded here earlier today. So.....I do not have to wake up early and be at the ball field first think in the morning...woo hoo!!! I do have to take Ry to find a bathing suit for a birthday party on Sunday. Just in case you are wondering, it is a heated swimming pool....I also want to get some scrapbooking done. It has been so long since I have done any. I have a couple of layouts in mind. I took some pics at my parents house over Easter and I went to the scrapbook store the other day and bought some more things that I cannot wait to use. After I get the layouts done, I will post pics on here. I do plan on doing more scrapbooking since I don't work anymore and the girls are in school all day. Sunday we will go to church and I am so excited. Some really good friends of ours (Bubba & Tammey) are suppose to come visit the church as well. We will probably go out to eat afterwards and then come home and get ready for Monday. I try not to do alot on Sundays, just spend time with the kiddos and Doodle doing things around here. I love days like that. Well, I think that is going to be it for tonight. I am getting a headache and gonna go take a hot bath and some motrin and then climb in my bed, eat a fudgesicle and watch some Law & Order. Good night.

Thankful

I am sitting here thinking about how thankful I am.

I am thankful for this man:

He is the absolute love of my life. He is a good man, a great dad and a wonderful husband. There is nobody else that I would want to spend my life with. He is a great provider which has made it possible for me to be a stay at home mom. I love this man with all of my heart!! We have had some ups and downs in our marriage, but we have learned and grown from them. I can honestly say without a doubt that I have never been happier.

I am thankful for these two wonderful girls:
I could not have asked for two better kids. They have brought so much joy to our lives as well as to the lives of the rest of our family. I cannot remember what my life was like before them, nor do I want to.

I am thankful for these two people:
If I was able, I could not have picked two better parents. They are great parents and wonderful grandparents. They have ALWAYS been there for me and I can go to them for anything. They have taught me so much and I could never repay them for the wonderful life that they provided for me and my sister. They taught us the importance of working hard, being honest and respecting others. Thank you mom and dad....I love you!!

I am thankful for my grandparents:

Aren't they just the cutest couple? :) I was so blessed to be given these two people (as well as my grandparents who have passed away) as grandparents. I cannot remember a time in my life where they have not been there. My birth, birthday parties, graduation, wedding day, birth of my kids (as well as all of their great-grandkids), birthday parties for my kids, hospitalizations (my mawmaw came down and took care of me when I had my tonsils taken out, I still remember her fixing me homemade chicken pot pie,..yummy). I have learned so much from these two. They love each other more than anything, they love their family, but most of all, they love the Lord and put Him first in their lives. They have been married over 60 years and I am sure that not all 60 years have been easy, but they have stuck it out and we, as their family, are all the more fortunate that they did. They have set a great example for their family to strive for.

There are more people that I am thankful for, but do not have pictures of: my sister and her husband, and all of my in laws. I could not ask for a better family and am so thankful for mine.

Finally.....

I was finally able to get my blog up and running....with the help of an old friend that grew up in the same neighborhood as me (thanks Holley :) ).....Well, the reason for starting this blog is so that family and friends can keep up with our life. My kids are growing up so fast and I really wanted some way to document our life and activities without having to keep an actual diary. I am not disciplined enough to actually do that. Now that I have a new laptop and wireless internet, I am on the computer probably every night now, and since I am a stay at home mom, I am on it during the day too. Yes, I actually do get stuff done during the day :) This is going to be a short post because I have to get up and get ready to go to K's ball game tonight, plus the kids are do to get off of the bus in about 15 minutes. I will try to get back on later tonight and post some pics....