I am so excited about this weekend! First, I get to take my time getting ready this morning because I don't have to be at CERC to work until 10am. I LOVE getting up early, drinking coffee, starting some laundry, reading blogs, relaxing with time to spare. To top off a perfect morning routine, Jeff is off today. He is rarely off on Saturday, so it's a real treat to have him home. Of course he's off running, then he'll pull weeds in the yard while I do my own thing, but I love just knowing he's here. It makes me happy. Did I mention I get to work (like make money, people!) BY MYSELF for FOUR HOURS??? I am extremely thrilled about it! I haven't been alone much for 5 months due to a family situation that I can't discuss on here. If you know me well enough to even know about my blog, you probably already know what I'm talking about. We are still healing...all of us. Back to my lovely weekend...
After working BY MYSELF today, we are heading to Southlake to shop at Williams Sonoma (thank you Darcy!!) so I can use my gift card, eat at Anamia's, and then go to my favorite church, Gateway! There are times that I long to go to this church. It's just so amazing. I can't even describe how much I feel at home while there. My heart aches to go back. Jeff and I wish we lived close enough to attend every week and really get involved, but we don't. sigh.
Tomorrow morning we are attending a church in Plano to hear an author of a book Jeff is reading speak. I am anticipating a great service there as well. Does it get any better?? Time alone, Jeff off work to hang out with the kids, shopping, mexican food, and lots of JESUS! Woo hoo! I am pumped about this weekend!!

Mikayla and Wavorly

Wavorly at 9 weeks old. She weighs 2.4 pounds.

Sweet Wavorly

Wavorly playing

Wavorly's first day at home- 8 1/2 weeks

Rough Time of Year

My sweet friend (kindred spirit), Melanie, has been on my mind constantly since Thanksgiving. Not a day goes by that I don't think of her and miss her, but this time of year is especially tough. I have thoughts like, "two years ago today we were talking about ____" or "at this time two years ago I was on the phone with her for hours and hours" and once in a while even the dreaded "maybe I should have said or done _______ ". Grief is an odd thing. Just when I feel like it's really been 2 years, a memory of her surfaces that takes me back to the sad place I lived in for so long after she died. Of course I believe she's better off in Heaven and I am glad she isn't suffering, but I still miss her and wish she were HERE. I want to call her and talk about cooking, the kids, what we are wearing to church, who's bringing what to dinner, deeply personal stuff, surface stuff that no one else wants to hear us gab about. I just miss everything. I wanted desperately for her to be whole and healthy, to finally get the help she needed. She did get all of that and so much more. Just not in the way I thought it would happen. She is sitting at Jesus' feet being loved, truly loved and is completely whole. What more could I want for her? I want nothing more for her...but I want more for me. It still hurts so badly and I have that void in my heart where her friendship once lived. It is better than in the days after she died, but the pain is still present. Sometimes I wonder if it's a permanant part of me. I used to write down conversations I wanted to have with her in a journal, but lately, I haven't had time. The thoughts come so fast and so often that I'd never be able to write it all down. Sounds crazy, I know, but it is what it is. Two years ago this Christmas, Melanie choose to end her life on Earth... And I am still angry... But mostly sad...and missing her every.single.day.

My baby turns 13 today!!

Poor Hatley woke up sick this morning. He did manage to eat some tomato/basil soup and a slice of cheesecake (both favorite's of his). Oh, I forgot about the sticky buns and coffee he had for breakfast. Clearly, he's not THAT sick. He took some cold medicine before going with Jeff to the Dallas Star's game tonight. Hopefully, he will make it through the game without feeling too poorly. I will post pictures "through the years" later this week. I carefully selected my favorite photos of him and planned to scan the older ones so that I could post them while he was gone tonight...my scanner had other plans. It won't scan. aargh! So frustrating. I'll have Jeff look at it and get those photos up soon.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SON!!!

Precious Joy

My sweet friend and neighbor, Precious Joy Bowman, died yesterday morning. I spent a lot of time with her, especially the last few weeks. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer's recently and couldn't be home alone for long periods of time. Her son asked me to take care of her while he was gone to Europe. I made sure she took her medicine, had something to eat, walked her to the bathroom, watched TV with her, etc. He also hired someone to spend the night with her in case she fell trying to get to the bathroom. She woke Mary up around 4:45 Sunday morning because she couldn't get a deep breath and her chest felt tight. Mary called me and then called 911. We were in the ER with her until they asked us to step out because she was "losing her heartbeat." Forty-five minutes later the doctor told me she passed away. I had not been in this kind of situation before...being the one to hear those words from the doctor...the one to tell her family...the one to take her bag of "things" back to the house and straighten up her house...the only one with details of how her last day went...and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I loved Ms. Precious very much. She was like a grandmother to us. Many, many times she would call to tell me to send one of the kids over to pick up a cake (with her homemade chocolate icing) or fresh yeast rolls (THE BEST) to go with our dinner. She made the best "peanut butter roll" at Christmas. I was supposed to help her this year so that she could show me how to make it. Precious was an amazing woman. She was 91 yrs old but until just recently, seemed not a day over 75. She still hung her laundry out on the line and took care of her flower beds. She was a gem for sure. I hope I have half her energy when I am old. I will miss her so much.

My Boy

Hatley shooting turtles and snakes

Hatley doesn't like the bigger horses, so he rides Fancy. He can't get Fancy to do a thing, but he tries. We call him "Festus" when he's on Fancy. Hatley is just as stubborn as the mule.