A Boat and a Pool

Years ago when The Hubs and I were dating, the kids bought him a boat for his birthday. His apartment was near a small lake and the kids thought it would be fun to come down to drive the boat in the lake with him. Needless to say, he moved shortly after we gave it to him so it's been sitting in the box for a while. Just recently, the kids discovered it and Red and Little Man wanted to use it.

The older two are at their Dad's this weekend, so Little Man begged and begged to take it to the "lake". So after dinner we took off to the pool to test drive the boat.

After Daddy showed them how to do it, it didn't take them long to figure it out.

The excitement on their faces was priceless. They loved driving the boat all around the pool. The hardest part for them was taking turns and staying away from the edge of the pool which made this Momma very nervous.

I am sure when Red gets home tomorrow, we will be making another trip to the pool for another test drive of this "fast" boat.

It's the small things in life that make the best memories.

Eight Years

I wrote this post on my phone around the time we sold our house and were moving. I finally got around to adding it and can do so without tears.

Eight years ago the kids and I moved into the house. It was a start of a new life for us. The three of us needed this new start and with it came blessings we would have never dreamed about. We were excited to have our own place and be in a great neighborhood. There are so many memories that will always be near to my heart.

There's the fence that my Daddy helped us build. (And by the way, I will miss the view of the field that I saw every morning through my kitchen window)

 

There is the place in the den in front of the Christmas tree that Friday before Christmas, where my sweet husband proposed to me along with the help of Red.

There is the dinner table that we left behind that was the place of many family dinners, long conversations and night of homework.

Eight years ago, we moved in as a family of 3 and eight years later, we move out as family of 6. I pray that the person that bought our house will have the same blessing and wonderful memories as I did when I first stepped through that door. The years in that house changed my life for the better and I am thankful to God everyday for those years and the friends we made there.

Now on to making more memories...

3 Years Ago

Today I was busy. Today Red had basketball practice and then the twins had a party at church. There were kids to be taken care of and no time to really think. Then it happened. That moment in the busy day when for a fleeting moment, things slow down and you think. I remembered. Today marked 3 years since my Diddy, my hero went home.

Today 3 years ago my world was changed forever. I could have been angry. I could have screamed out at God demanding answers but I didn't. I remembered. I remembered the things my Diddy taught me about God and His Plan. I remembered the time he had cancer and we were all worried yet my Diddy was at peace with things even when he was scared. I remembered the lessons I was taught growing up about God's peace and love because my Diddy and Momma made sure I was in church.

Yes I miss him daily.Yet today as I weep, I will remember the love my Diddy had for us and the legacy he left us. Today as I get a little down, I will remember the good times and laugh. Today as I look at my children, I will remember the things he taught me and pass those things on to them.

Today I miss my hero. Today I will remember that one day when God is ready to call me home, I will see him and my God. It's all about God and His plan and that brings a smile to my face amidst the tears. I can only see the here and now but God knows the entire plan. And who better to trust daily like my Diddy did then the One who has all the answers.

I love you Diddy.

Almost Time for Santa

Remembering 9/11

Today started out as a normal day for everyone. I was back at work after being on maternity leave after Red was born. I had stopped for gas on the way to work and as I was getting back in the car, the morning show was reporting that the plane had crashed into the first building. I was in shock. My first thought was that something had happen to the pilot because who would have ever imagined what was actually happening. By the time I got to work, my boss had been on the phone with his friend in New York when the planes hit. His friend's building was near the towers and my boss said there was a bang and they were disconnected. Of course the news sites were so busy we couldn't get on them so I called my Daddy to find out what was going on. My heart sank. I cried. I just wanted to go home and hold my children.

Today, 11 years later, my heart is heavy on this day. I think of all those who were lost that day and how they started out their day as they would any other day. They kissed loved ones goodbye not knowing that this would be the last time they would do that. The kids who lose moms and dads now would grow up with no parent to see you graduate from high school and college. To see the news footage even today it's still unreal that this actually happen. To see the firefighters heading into the building while people are running out leaves me speechless.

People are posting things all over the place saying "Remember". But my question is do we really remember? Churches were over flowing that night and weeks after this day 11 years ago. Now where are all those people?  Have we become too comfortable again and forgotten how evil this world is? Have we gone back to taking those that we love for granted again? I am speaking to myself too. It is so easy to remember on this day each year, but what about the other days of the year? Shouldn't we remember the lessons and sacrifices made on this day every day of the year? I believe we should. And it's time for us Christians to remember not only this day, but the One that we live for everyday.

I Heart Faces - Enjoying Life

Cooling off during the summer heat!

Eight Years Ago, I Met the One

Eight years ago yesterday was just like any other day in my life - work, kids - but that Friday night was the dress rehearsal for my best friend's wedding. No this wasn't like the movie My Best Friend's Wedding in case you were thinking that. This day held something in store for me that would forever change my life. It was at this rehearsal that I met the man would would become my best friend and husband. He was the best man and I was the matron of honor. His best friend was marrying my best friend. The kids had already met him and were crazy about him and he was crazy about them. He and Red already had a little thing between them - they would take their fists and hit them on their foreheads and say "Knucklehead". The only one he hadn't met yet was me. It was at that introduction that my life was forever changed.

At the rehearsal dinner, he ended up sitting with Red and me. We were already sitting down and as soon as Red saw him he yelled for "Knucklehead" to come sit with us. Again, what are the chances.

The wedding went on the next day. The two of us talking some and kidding around with each other. At the reception, he and I missed the wedding party dance since we were standing in line for the food with Lil' Mama just talking. He was so easy to talk to. After the reception we all went back to the church to help clean up. The groom's mom made sure that we were always working together to clean up in the same area. After getting home that night, I remember thinking "Wow, he was really nice." The next weekend, I had to run to Lowe's and decided to run to the one that he worked at. Two hours later I left and by the end of the month, we were going out on our first date. The rest is history.

God's timing is always perfect. In the last 8 years we have faced many trails together - the loss of my grandmother, the stress of becoming a blended family, the death of both of our dads and the birth of twins. But through it all, our love and commitment to each other have never wavered. It has only gotten stronger.
Life is busy with 4 kids, full time jobs and everything that life throws at us, but one thing that hasn't changed - he loves me and I love him.