Thanksgiving and Loss

My hearts so heavy this week as we begin the holiday season with my first thanksgiving celebration without my Dad. I have so much to be grateful for but an emptiness like I have never felt before in my heart. I am trying to hide the tears from my sweet family and remember only the good times of years past. My prayer for this week is..... Help me Lord... Be grateful and love all that I have and not focus on what I have lost. I know my mom and dad are are my angels and will always be with me in my thoughts and memories and those cannot ever be taken away, Amen.

Cross Country and Mud

The big wingfoot classic that Parkers cross country team hosted a few weeks back was a complete mud pit. It had rained off and on for days. So much preparation had gone into the event there was no way to cancel or reschedule. I was miserable as I stood to cheer on Parker and the Hurricanes, but Parker and the other runners didn't seem to be concerned in the least. It was a meet they probably won't forget to soon. 

Now that's dedication!

She's a Teenager finally.....

She's finally 13 and she had been planning a trip to New York for the last year. We had been talking about the things we wanted to see and planning our time in the big city. We thought we would fly, just me and her but somewhere along the way we decided her biggest brother Tyler would probably like to go as well. These two of my children have the most in common even though they are the farthest apart in age. We decided to make this trip the ultimate road trip since Tyler is now 20, he could help me share in the drive. After we decided to drive, we decided to add another city and with both of them being my history buffs... What better place to add than Washington DC. This trip was amazing. It was fast and we walked at least 15 miles a day, but I wouldn't have traded a second of it. 

Rainy Saturday

It was the last Saturday in September three years ago today that I got the call that changed my life. It was rainy much like it is today. Even though the date was the 29th of September and she passed in the early morning hours of the 30th it was this weekend that was the last day I would ever get to hold my moms hand or touch her face. It was her last day here on earth. This year my grief seems almost unbearable even though it's been three years. I guess it's because almost 3 months ago I had to say goodbye again to my dad. The two people on this earth who loved me unconditionally. Even as a grown woman, I still need to hear my parents voices sometimes. Just knowing they are there provides comfort that you are never alone in this world, a comfort that can only come from those two people who taught you how to walk and who heard your first words as a baby, Who held your hand when you were scared or were there to celebrate some of those firsts like learning to drive for the first time. My heart hurts today and it's not anything anyone can understand. Lord, I pray for strength today and this week and the next few months as I celebrate new firsts and traditions without them as the holidays approach. I know they are with you and that someday I will see them again. Until that day, help me to make them proud and help me to continue to move forward. 

More fun....Celebrating our Parker

As the fun continued on our family cruise to Cozumel and the Grand Caymen Island, Parker turned the big 14! He is such a blessing to our family. He makes me laugh and his heart has to be made of gold. I pray he continues to grow stronger in his faith and trusts in Jesus always. Words can't describe how much we love you Parker...

Part 2 of vacation....

A tribute to my Father....

Full of life, opiniated and funny are just a few words that come to my mind when I think of daddy. I was a daddy's girl through and through... I instantly became 12 when I was around him and always wanted to please him. He was proud of me, Don and the kids. I can see him now sitting around the table at Parkers Restaurant in Dalton telling stories and laughing and picking at the waitresses. He knew everyone and never met a stranger. As people stood in line out the door to pay their respects to my daddy at his viewing, that spoke volumes to my heart. He may not have always done the right thing in some situations, but he was my hero. He played hard and he loved me more than anything and I always knew that. I have tried to learn from him through some of the mistakes he made, but I am proud he was my daddy. Rest in peace daddy. I'm sure everyone in heaven is laughing right now at your jokes.

I'm back....

The last few months have been a blur filled with so many emotions. Our lives have been consumed with some good memories created, some great memories and one of the worst times in my life. That's what makes life.... Ups and downs! We learn from the bad times and we rejoice through the good times. But... Most of all we must praise him in the storms. The good times and great times have been our family vacations, concerts, time at the lake, birthday celebrations, horseback riding, triathlons for Don, movie premiers and Grayson's 13th birthday trip. However the worst was the unimaginable that happened to our family  on July 6, 2015. It was one of the darkest moments for me as my sweet daddy passed away. I know he is in Heaven and  I am so unbelievably happy for him, but my human selfishness cannot help but be sad for us. I miss him more than words can describe. I can only hope my mother was there to greet him with open arms. I picture him catching her up on everything the kids and I have been doing since she went to be with Jesus nearly 3 years ago. I have really had to draw from my inner strength to get up each day and work and move forward. There's just something about being an only child and losing both your parents. I know that one day I will see them again and until then, it's my job to live my life in a way that is pleasing to our creator. I have a wonderful husband and amazing children and even though we miss mom and dad, our memories will sustain us. I have been blessed way more than I ever deserve. As I scroll through the pictures on my phone of the last few months, I can't help but smile and know in my heart they were so proud of us. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt, my parents loved me. I hope my children will always feel that amount of love from Don and me. I have so many pictures I can't possibly put them all in one post. Here is part one of probably about part 50.....

Graduation is here!

Wow....Kanon has graduated! Time is flying with our sweet family. It wasn't that long ago when Kanon was about 4 years old stealing airheads from the concession stand when his daddy coached baseball and selling them to his friends for 100%profit. Nobody could ever be mad at that sweet little face. He was mischevious, but so darn cute. 

He is ready for the next step in his life...college bound! 

The good things in life....

New car finally!  I am so blessed to be able to get the car of my dreams. After all, I already have the man of my dreams so I might as well get the car too. ( I know you love that one Don)

It's lake time again...

This year I plan to take advantage of the relaxing get away from it all feel of the lake.   I especially want to embrace those moments when I have my family all there to share those sunny, warm days on the lake. 

I only have one I picture from Easter this year. My day started with unrealistic expectations that didn't hold up and I ended up spending most of the day saddened instead of just going with the flow and letting God take the day where he knew it needed to be. By the way, those expectations were set by me...

Grayson and my entire family looked beautiful and we did spend an amazing morning in Church worshiping our sweet savior, which is all that truly matters. 

Kanon is getting ready to go to his senior prom in a few weeks.  I can't believe that little mischevious, smiling little boy has turned into a sweet kind hearted serious young adult now. Proms are different from when I was young. They now go all out to ask someone. Even though Kanon has a girlfriend, he still needed and wanted to ask her in a special, rememberable way....

Notice all the Hershey kisses all over the floor... Cute!

She is first again

Grayson placed first at district project achievement in 4-H. We are always so pleased in the way she handles herself. She also ran for junior board with an incredibly cute theme, but fell short in that one. None the less she was so fortunate to be invited to run for the board. 

In between this and celebrating my wonderful husbands birthday, I have had to have another back surgery. Praying this time I will be pain free. This has definitely been awake up call to me physically. I am planning to take better care of myself from now on, but I won't share this disclaimer with the family just yet. They would only laugh as I have said this a hundred times, but for some reason this time seems different. I will just show them rather than tell my sweet family. And.... Back to the husbands birthday. He is so special and I hope he enjoys the football hall of fame tickets we got him for the big day. 

The kids were in charge of the candles and thought he would get a chuckle out of the 87. 

Snow 2015

So much fun in the snow with my sweet family. We all need these days sometimes to just recharge and a bonus is the snow is so beautiful!!

New car....new surgery!

So Don finally got a new car... We were so excited to find something that gives him great gas mileage, great functionality and looks great! He got a 2015 Honda Accord, yep brand spanking new. We haven't bought a new car in so long I had forgotten what that new car smell was. I love it. 

And of course just when life seems to be running to smooth, we have a roadblock. This time the roadblock is not bad just a little more nerve racking than anything. I am having another surgery and for once it's not my foot. I am having back surgery to fix a herniated disc with nerve impingement. Just praying for God's protection for me on that operating table and pray for a speedy recovery for more my family than anything.

 I must say my sweet family is a bunch of troopers. They know just how to roll with unexpected things and continue to make me proud. Our children continue to make good choices even when I may be distracted with my own health things. I realize my husband is an angel who I know was sent to me to provide unconditional love, acceptance and protection for me. Losing my mom was one of hardest things I have ever had to face and dealing with my dad being so sick lately is no doubt very scary for us. I pray for my dad and the rest of my wonderful family and I know how blessed I truly am.

And we keep on keepin on.....

Spending wonderful times with friends, manicures and pedicures, fun at the lake, messy games at Church, ice cream after dinner, senior pictures and my 25th high school reunion are just a few of the things we have been up to. Each day, week and month always brings special moments I love capturing. Moments make special memories and give us experiences that mold us and make us into the people we are each day. Love my sweet family more than words can express.