Am I coming or going....who knows.

Sorry I haven’t posted in awhile. Life has been CRAZY to say the least. I cannot believe that we are less than two weeks to the wedding. I have gone to Corpus twice so far this month and will be leaving again next week. I am exhausted, but feel like we are getting things accomplished.

Mika’s bridal shower and bachelorette party were a success. We had a blast. Mika had a great turn out of people that love her and support her and Kevin. She ended up with lots of goodies too. I would say that with everything that has been thrown at us in the last 3 months, it was nice to have a weekend that was on a positive side. We all held up really well.

Decorations

Such a sweet gift. Kevin's mom gave her a box of baby/childhood pics of Kevin

Sisters

Mother and Daughter

Mom and all her girls

I pray that Mika is able to maintain the same attitude and will be able to have some sense of peace on her wedding day. It will be a happy/sad day. We are going to honor my dad and all of the men are going to wear fish hooks on their tuxedo jackets. We will also have a candle that burns the entire night in memory of him.

Last weekend we met with the funeral home regarding a headstone for my dad. We all found one we love and are going to get that process started soon. My sweet grandfather made a cross for my dad and had a little plaque made for it. We went Friday and placed it at my dad’s grave. It was so sad to see my grandfather dig a hole to place that cross. We are so happy that there is now something out there to mark his spot though.

Well that is pretty much the update here. We officially have a roof going up on my dad’s house right now and I just received the approval from my insurance for a new roof, fence and a window! J

One more thing, thank goodness for awesome grandparents. Last week while I was in Corpus taking care of some of the Estate process, John's parents, aka Granny and PawPaw, watched Madelyn for me so I could run errands.  So THANK YOU so much Granny and PawPaw. We love you!

Releasing balloons

Our tradition on Emma's birthday/anniversary is to send up balloons and eat cake. So last night we did and Madelyn did much better this year. Last year she did not want to let go of the balloon. This year, no problem. Afterwards, we went in for cupcakes. So we passed them out and are getting ready to eat and Madelyn says "Momma, Emma's not here". Oh... talk about breaking your heart. I told her that she was up in heaven with Papa Mike. We have been talking allot about Papa lately and when asked she will say that  he is "up in the sky with Jesus", those are her words. So she accepted that and went on to eat. Needless to say, Kim and I sat there with tear filled eyes and ate our cupcakes. :(

Here is our picture from yesterday. We had a hard time getting one, between batteries going out in the camera to a two year old not wanting cooperate.

Five years

Five years ago today John and I held an angel in our arms. Five years ago today changed our lives forever and not a day has gone by in five years that I have not thought about our angel. Five years ago today we did the hardest thing we ever had to do and that is saying our goodbyes to our angel. Emma Lucille you are remembered today and always and Mommy and Daddy love you so much. I know that she is up in heaven with our family and the day she was born my father never left her side and I know in my heart he is with her again today.

Every year John and I release balloons and also buy a cake or cupcakes or something for her.



1st Birthday/Anniversary



2nd Birthday/Anniversary

3rd Birthday/Anniversary



I have the fourth picture, but it is on my home computer.

Until we meet again my angel. Love you to the moon and back!

Wow...Beautiful

The Broken Chain

We knew little that morning that God was going to call your name.

In life we loved you dearly; in death we do the same.

It broke our hearts to lose you; you did not go alone;

for part of us went with you the day God called you home.

You left us peaceful memories; your love is still our guide;

and though we cannot see you, you are always at our side.

Our family chain is broken, and nothing seems the same;

but as God calls us one by one, the chain will link again.

~Ron Tranmer~

Just a quick update

Kim’s surgery went well and the doctor didn’t think he saw any cancer!!! Praise God. She is doing pretty good, sore, but that is to be expected. My mom and Casey came up on Thursday night to help out. Kimberly was released from the hospital on Saturday. She is staying in our guest room and my mom and Casey slept in the living room. Well around 1am Saturday night they heard a loud pop and then a bunch of crunching noise. To our surprise our dining room window busted out of nowhere. It is double paned and the outside pane cracked. The screen is still intact, so it was not a rock or anything like that. We have a contractor coming out to look at our roof and we mentioned that to them and he said it sounded structural. So please pray that it is not. We really don’t need any more problems at this time.

Wordless Wednesday

When it rains, it pours

Right now my family is experiencing a downpour of grief and sadness. Not only are we all dealing with the loss of my dad, we are now dealing with Kimberly’s diagnosis of cancer. YES, you read that right, Kim has been diagnosed with Stage 2 Uterine Cancer (will know more next week). We are meeting with the oncologist Monday at 4:30. I say we, I am going with her for support or at least to  hold her hand. I am flooded with a range of emotions after her diagnosis, I cannot imagine what she is going through. I can only serve as an encourager and a support system.

With that being said…this comes to mind.

The Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;

courage to change the things I can;

and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;

Enjoying one moment at a time;

Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; (EXTREMELY HARD TO DO, BUT TRYING)

Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;

Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will;

That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him forever in the next. Amen.

Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and He will direct your paths. Proverbs 3: 5-6