Bedtime Prayers

According to Violet:

Dear Jesus,

Fank you for dis day.

Fank you for good day.

Fank you dat Nina and Madi didnt pester me.

Fank you in Jesus name.

Amen.

30 Day Picture Challenge: Day 19

Day 19:

A picture and a letter

Dear Mom and Dad,

First of all, Mom, please do not hate me forever for posting a photo of your behind.  Its just really hard to find a great photo of you - you are always busy (and avoiding the camera).  Hmm...I wonder where I got that from?  But I treasure these photos because they are you - loving your grandbabies and cherishing moments with your treasures.

Happy Anniversary.  You two are the best example to me of love and commitment through everything.  Through good times.  Through bad times.  Through times where it sure looked easier to walk out, but commitment and love said otherwise. 

You have shown me what it means to be a family.  That family isn't always always blood, but heart.  That family is always there. 

You have loved us kids when we didn't deserve it, when we didn't want it, when we tried to avoid it.  You let us be ourselves, but always reminded us where we came from. 

And now that you are grandparents, I get to watch a completely different side of you.  Thank you for spoiling my children ( Am I really saying this?).  They know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that they are loved and adored.  Thank you for taking a step back when we have to be tough with them.  I know its hard, but it shows us that you respect us as parents.


When I was little, I could not imagine EVER being friends with my parents.  You were parents, not friends.  Now I understand.  And I love that we can be friends and family together.

I love you both.  Thanks for always being there, for being such great parents.


But please, please stop grabbing each others butts in front of me.  It is still gross.

Monday Mugs: Escape

I love the theme for Monday Mugs this week.  Escape.  Just what our family needed last weekend.

So, we hopped in the car and headed 3 1/2 hours south to the Land of Enchantment.

We ate at my favorite Mexican restaurant EVER!

I have been coming here since I was her age.

We took turns riding in the super dino stroller at the Museum of Natural History.

Compared our handprints to those of the mighty TRex.

Did you know the TRex used to stomp all over New Mexico?

Neither did I.

We learned just how enormous some of those dinos were.

Even as babies.

We took Dad to his first Triple A game for Fathers Day, complete with the obligatory parking lot/stadium photo

And the cool statue in front of the stadium shot.

Can I tell you how funny I find it that the pest control ad was flashing behind my little pests?

And of course the obligatory scoreboard shot.

Madi and Daddy got to go on the field before the game to play catch. 

And all of us ladies enjoyed the sun.

We had spent most of the day at the water park inside the hotel, and could use the sunshine.

No shots from the park - I like my camera.

And, when it was time to go home, someone figured out how to milk her daddy one last time.

 

30 Day Picture Challenge: Day 18

Day 18:

A picture of your biggest insecurity

Maybe it was subconsious.  I had every intention, at least a week ago, of sitting down and finishing all these 30 Picture Challenge posts ahead of time.  And then I got to this one.  Ouch.  Insecurity.  Was I really ready to open myself up like that?


And then, I forgot.  And life got in the way.  And Beth caught me.  :) 


So, I have to get this done.  My biggest insecurity. 


Is me.


It seems like I am in a constant battle.  Who I am.  How others see me.  How God sees me.  How I see myself.  I am 31 years old, and for some reason I feel like I am supposed to have all this figured out.  But I dont.  And rather than cut myself some slack and show myself the grace I give others, I beat myself up.


Slowly, I am learning to be comfortable in my own skin.  But it has taken a while.

30 Day Picture Challenge: Day 17

Day 17:

A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently

No, this isnt the greatest quality photo.  Yes, we are eating popcorn on the couch and drinking dark soda.  But we are together. 

I never thought, when my children were born, that I would have to daily entrust their care to another person.  But I did.  For 3 years.  Being back home for the past month has taught me so much about myself, my daughters, my purpose, my Lord. 

Saying Goodbye

Sunday afternoon and evening was spent at my parents ranch.

My sister and niece are in town from Georgia.

My sweet grandma (here holding Katrina on her first Christmas)

was not doing well.

In truth, they thought she was going to die before Easter last year.  And yet, here she was.

But this time, it felt different.

For weeks, she had been telling my dad, uncle, and aunt that she was ready to go.  That she saw Grandpa in her dreams.  That she was trying to get to him, but could not.

She was ready to go.  But, for some reason, held on.

Back to Sunday night.

We left my moms house and headed down the driveway towards home.  As we approached my grandmas house, I saw my uncle catching a breath of fresh air on the front porch.  Now, the unwritten family tradition states that, when driving past Grandmas house on the way home, if someone is outside, you honk, wave, and head home.  No need to stop.

Except that night.  I just could not drive past my uncle.  I got out and talked with my uncle for a bit.  And I knew it was a divine appointment.  He needed to talk, to work out his grief, to hug, to cry.  We both did.

After a few minutes, we went into the house so I could kiss Grandma goodnight.  I had not seen my grandma since Christmas.  She has been steadily declining each week, and every time we were at the ranch she was sleeping. 

There was still a glimpse of my grandma in those clouded, pain-filled eyes.  I told her about sharing her beadwork with the children at church, and the joy they found in her treasures.  I told her about Katrina getting her first hit in baseball, and dancing all the way to first.  She tried to laugh, tried to react.  But the combination of intense pain and morphine overrode her efforts.  But I still saw the glimmer in her eyes.

I kissed her goodnight and told her I loved her.  I helped my uncle place the washcloth back over her eyes, hugged him, and got back in the car.

At 4 AM, she passed peacefully from this world.  She was greeted by her husband of 72 years, her son who died of lung cancer when I was a child, her son who died as an infant, and her savior. 

I rejoice that she is finally home.  I mourn because she isnt here.  I rejoice because she lived 96 amazing years.  I mourn because they do not seem enough.

Today, I gathered with almost the entire family.  She and my grandpa had:

6 children

19 grandchildren

46 great grandchildren

16 great-great grandchildren

4 great-great-great grandchildren

That is quite the family tree.

So today, we took her favorite flowers, the poppy

and the Indian Paintbrush

and laid them to rest with her body and the love of her life.

We laughed, we cried, we sang.

We remembered all the funny stories.

We tried to remember everyones names (trust me, its hard with that many cousins).

And we said goodbye.

30 Day Picture Challenge: Day 16

Before I get started on today's Picture Challenge, I have to tell my handsome hubby Happy Anniversary!  I love you babe, and I cannot wait for 60 more amazing years!




Day 16:

A picture of someone who inspires you

This beautiful young lady is Ashley.  We met almost 5 years ago, when she and her family moved here from Oklahoma. She is many things:

• caring
• loving
• generous
• sweet
• silly
• funny
• joyous
• wise
• a survivor

She suffered a massive stroke at 6 months.  You can read the story from her moms words here.  The doctors were certain that if she lived, she would never be able to function on her own.  Then they were certain she would never have the mental capacity beyond a toddler.  Then they were certain...


And every time she has proved them wrong.  She is a fighter.  She is stronger than most adults I know.  She is an inspiration.


*If you would like to read Ashleys take on her life (and continue to be inspired), you can read her story here. I am certain she would not mind a word of encouragement, either.

Quality Time

My best birthday present came on a plane Tuesday morning. My sis and niece from Atlanta are here for two weeks, and we have been loving the quality time.

Our days have consisted of park dates, swimming pools, Sonic happy hour, and playing tourist downtown. And not really wanting to stop for photos.

Life is good.

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

30 Day Picture Challenge: Day 15

Day 15:

A picture of something you want to do before you die

Image Courtesy Google

Yes, I want to jump out of a perfectly good airplane into thin air with nothing but a thin piece of plastic strapped to my back.  Yes, I have promised my mother that I will wait until she is dead before I attempt said stupidity.  But I still want to do it.