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Remembering

The last few months I have met some beautiful women who are dealing with the loss of a baby.  God has placed them in my path and I am so thankful to share my own story of loss with them.  They have helped me in ways I can't explain.  There are days when on the outside I look fine but on the inside I still hurt.  My heart still aches for my two precious angels in heaven.  I am thankful that I did get to meet one of my angels.  I am blessed that I was able to hold him and kiss him.  There are so many women and men out there that have their own little angels in heaven.  They are in my prayers today and always. 

My babies

Lily's in Preschool while Colin misses school

Last Tuesday Lily started Preschool at the daycare she attends.  She was so excited to go to her new classroom.  She had to tell me about all the centers in the room and how she hoped they would let her go to the book center first.  A girl after my own heart!

Isn't she the cutest thing!

She is going to keep me busy.

 Lily with her teacher Ms. Chelsey

Lily with her other teacher Ms. Destiny.

While I was taking Lily to school, Tracy offered to take Colin so I could get pics.  Little did I know that there was a situation at Colin’s school.  As I was leaving Lily, one of my friends called me and asked if I had dropped off Colin yet.  I told her that Tracy had and she said that I might want to go get Colin.  She explained one of the teachers on staff had been threatened by a family member and police were inside the school for precautionary measures.  Let me just say: as a parent that is one of the last things you ever want to hear.  You see tragedies like this on the news, but you never think it will never happen in your small town.  As I was on my way to pick him up, another sweet friend called to make sure I knew.  She had already picked up her son and offered to let Colin come over and play while I went to work.  Colin was so excited to go hang out with his friend all day.  I am so thankful that nothing bad happened and by 9:30 that morning the person was arrested.  Most of the children didn’t even know anything was going on, thank goodness.  While at work, I thought about the “what if’s” of what could have happened and then I looked at my hand.  Colin, Lily, and I had read The Kissing Hand the night before and they had wanted to draw a heart on my hand.  As I saw the heart, I could feel the little kisses they each placed on my hand.  I love them both so much!

Their Kissing Hands.  One for Daddy and one for me.

A constant reminder that day of how much they love me.

Beautiful!!!

Broken

When I woke this morning I didn't intend to relive my experience with Logan.  There was no plan to bring up all those hurtful emotions.  I received a phone call from someone hurting.  She found out yesterday that her baby's heart stopped beating.  She was only six months pregnant.  She wanted to talk about what to expect when she goes to the hospital.  There are no words to describe what she is about to face.  My heart is breaking for someone I have only talked to once.  I know God will get her through this as he did me.  My precious friend Caitlin sent me this beautiful prayer for Lisa.  I know God will give you comfort Lisa.  I want to hold you and protect you from the hurt you are facing.  Please pray for this broken mother and father.

 

O Christ Jesus
When all is darkness
And we feel our weakness and helplessness,
Give us the sense of Your Presence,
Your Love and Your Strength.
Help us to have perfect trust
In Your protecting love
And strengthening power,
So that nothing may frighten or worry us,
For, living close to You,
We shall see Your Hand,
Your Purpose, Your Will through all things.

 

- St. Ignatius of Loyola

 

Labor Day Weekend

My kiddo’s wanted to spend the night with their grandmother this past weekend so Tracy and I were all by ourselves.  Normally when the kids go away for the weekend we have plans but not this weekend.  Tracy loves to get up early and hit the local garage sales on Saturday and I choose to stay home and catch up on my housework.  Well this Saturday when he got up to go I asked if I could tag along.  We hopped in his new “Junk Truck” and headed to a few sales.  We didn’t find much so we headed to Burger King for some breakfast, my favorite part of shopping that early.  When we came back home I went to get a pedi.  I haven’t done that in over a year!  We took it easy by doing some light house work and enjoying Game Day.  It’s hard to narrow down just one football team we like.  Tracy received his Masters Degree from the University of Arkansas and another Degree at LA Tech.  I’ve never been much of a Hogs fan but my Colin is turning into one.  He is all about the Hogs after he found out his Daddy graduated from there.  He is proud of his Dad and I am too.  Being from Louisiana though I am a big LSU fan!  So to keep a happy home we were cheering GO DAWGS, GO HOGS, and GEAUX TIGERS!!!  2 out of 3 won this past Saturday so I say that is a good Game Day! 

This is my Hubby's "Junk Truck".  

 My Sweetie and Me

 Date Night on Saturday to eat and watch LSU!

On Sunday we headed to get our kiddo’s and get ready to take them on a little surprise Monday morning.  We have been planning on taking them to the lake all summer but things always seem to come up.  So bright and early Monday we headed to a local lake for some family fun.  Colin and Lily had the best time.  The swimming area wasn’t crowded at all.  It was like we had the lake all to ourselves.  After a few hours of swimming we headed to our Aunt’s house for some food and fellowship.  It was a great way to spend our last holiday of the summer.  Hope yours was memorable too.

 

 Making a dirt castle

 

He is right at home in the dirt and water

 

"Show me your muscle"

First Day of Third Grade!!!



Colin started 3rd Grade last Monday but I am sadly just now getting around to sharing his first day.  Here goes...

I can't believe my little man is a 3rd Grader all ready!

He told me at the end of 2nd Grade last year that he wanted to be a Missionary.  I was so proud when he said it again.  In the car, Lily told him she wanted to go with him when he starts "missioning".

       One of the few times they love each other

I was able to pick them up early so I treated them to Wendy's Frosties

One of our traditions is to go out to eat on the first day of school.  He decided to be a little silly.

I decided to join the silliness

Precious

Silliness all around!!!

Happy 'Book Lovers Day'!

When I saw on the calendar that it was "Book Lovers Day", I was kind of excited. I absolutely love books, which makes working at the parish library so much fun.  I've made so many friends just from sharing books and being in book clubs.

My love of books started with my Granny Hattie buying me books with records and tapes. I would go down to her house and listen to them for hours.  When I started school I was so excited when it was library day.  We would go and listen to Mrs. Eason read a story before we could check out books. Some of my favorites were Charlotte's Web and The Giving Tree.  When I was in junior high I read the series by Lurlene McDaniels about a 13-year-old girl who is diagnosed with leukemia.  I know it's depressing reading but I always enjoy a good cry.  In high school I started reading Judith McNaught.  I remember hiding her books in my text book just so I could keep reading.

I eventually moved to Nicholas Sparks.  I have this thing that once I like an author I read everything they have written.  My boss always jokes with me about reading him. She says he is so depressing. She's right, but I still enjoy reading his work.  Since working at the library I have started reading young adult books. Harry Potter was my first series to read.  That is one of the most engulfing stories I have ever read.  I listened to them on CD and let me just say that Jim Dale is an amazing reader. I felt like I was in the story. Colin was almost two when I started listening to them and now he doesn't really like the movies because he says they are boring compared to the books. He is right about that, but I still like the movies.

I've read the Twilight books and love them (of course) along with Hunger Games. Right now I am sucked into the life of Divergent.  I'm almost finished and can't wait to start on the second, Incergent.  I hope I am able to pass on my affinity for books to my little ones.  Colin isn't into reading as much as I had hoped he would, but sometimes it just takes the right book to get you hooked.  He does like reading non-fiction and I am glad of that.  Lily, on the other hand, is starting to show some serious interest.  She can't go to sleep at night without having a story (or two....or five) read to her and that's OK with me.  My husband, Tracy...he says he never has time to read anything but the mail. But he's got a collection of books that are on his "to-do" list.

 

Here is just a few of my favorite reads 

 Colin loves sharks!

Lily reading "Dark Beorge", as she calls it...haha.

My Little Stingray

This was Colin's third year to swim with our local swim team.  I'm so amazed at how much he has improved over the years.  This year his coach had him swimming the butterfly and man can he fly!  He looks like a mini Michael Phelps (well to me anyway). 

The club chose to have a swim party instead of a dinner this year.  I think it was a great idea.  Here's Colin with his swim trophy.

At the city meet his relay medley team and his freestyle team medaled silver and bronze!

At the club we have a record board for each event.  This summer his relay team broke the record in their medley relay and freestyle relay!  They are a great group of boys that support each other and swim well together.  That's what team work is all about.  Way to go Maddox, Jake, Alex, and Colin!

Having a little fun at the swim party!

We love Coach Emily!!!

This is all of Colin's ribbons and medals.  This has been his best year yet!  I even had him do an action shot for his pictures this year.  Look at that little man fly!  I wish this was something he could do all year long.  Oh, well until next year.

Not far behind him is Little Sister.  She started swim lessons this summer.  She is going to be a good swimmer just like her brother.  She already thinks she can do everything he can.

Swim lessons are best when your friends are swimming with you.  Future little Stingrays!

When I say she is just like her brother, I'm not joking.  She has no fear!  This is her diving off the diving board to her swim teacher.  She loves him and trusts him and that makes for a great time in the water. Thanks Cherokee!!!

Crazy Summer!

I feel as though I haven't been on here in forever.  I use to think summer was a time for relaxing but I was wrong.  I think we do more in the summer than any other time of the year.  I thought I would share a few pics of what my crazy family has been up to while out of school....

 I love the month of June.  Every Wednesday Colin has a swim meet.  He started swimming the butterfly this year and I think he's got it!  Maybe a future Michael Phelps.  I'm so proud of my little man.

 

 We have been visiting the local farmers market and they offer a room for you to go paint.  My little ones jumped at the chance to do some art.  I even joined them.

 

We spent one Saturday helping at a local homeless shelter.  My fellas are getting ready to serve lunch.

 

 What's summer without a little shopping trip with Momma and some iced mocha for my little princess!

 

 I have some of the greatest friends ever!  We all decided to go to Dallas, TX for the weekend and see NKOTB,

Boyz to Men, and 98 Degrees in concert.  We had the best time!

 

 This is all of us right before the concert!!!

 

 At work we've been browsing Pinterest and did these shirts with the teens.  I think Caitlin and I had more fun!

 

There has been a lot of this going on too.  We are members of the local swim club and my kids want to go everyday after we get home from work and daycare.  My house is suffering but they are having a blast!

 

 We celebrated Father's Day and my sweet Hubby's Birthday in June!  The kiddos had to match Daddy.

 

This is Hubby's B-Day cake I made for him.

 

 

This was our 4th of July feast at my aunt and uncle's house.  I am still full from all the wonderful food!

 

My sweet little ones on the 4th!  Hope you had a wonderful day, we sure did! Now back to the craziness...

Book Clubs

Part of my job at the library where I work is hosting book clubs.  We have two book clubs going on this summer so I am reading a lot of books.  I just finished reading 11/22/63 by Stephen King.  I am not a Stephen King reader.  This is the first book of his I have read.  It took me a while to really get into the story but once I did, I really liked it.  I’m very surprised by this because I am what you call a classic “chic lit” kind of reader.  I love my books to have a happy little ending.  I am also a huge Nicholas Sparks fan and that’s kind of funny because he doesn’t always do that.  We are having two meeting to discuss 11/22/63 because it’s such a large book.  The first meeting went really well and that makes my job so much easier when they do.  I love when a book can really get you thinking and that opens the door to great discussions.   11/22/63 is about a man who travels back in time to stop the assassination of President Kennedy.  While in the past he starts to change things.  He sees it as helping people but in reality he’s making things worse.  The book opens the question if you could go back and change a part of history would you?  Do you think that changing what was a horrible time in our history, make a better future?  If you get the chance to read 11/22/63 please do.  You won’t be disappointed.

Life can turn on a dime—or stumble into the extraordinary, as it does for Jake Epping, a high school English teacher in a Maine town. While grading essays by his GED students, Jake reads a gruesome, enthralling piece penned by janitor Harry Dunning: fifty years ago, Harry somehow survived his father’s sledgehammer slaughter of his entire family. Jake is blown away . . . but an even more bizarre secret comes to light when Jake’s friend Al, owner of the local diner, enlists Jake to take over the mission that has become his obsession—to prevent the Kennedy assassination. How? By stepping through a portal in the diner’s storeroom, and into the era of Ike and Elvis, of big American cars, sock hops, and cigarette smoke. . . . Finding himself in warmhearted Jodie, Texas, Jake begins a new life. But all turns in the road lead to a troubled loner named Lee Harvey Oswald. The course of history is about to be rewritten . . . and become heart-stoppingly suspenseful.

Busy, busy

Warning!  Lots of random pics. 

The last few days have been super busy at our crazy little house.  My precious Lily had her first dance recital this past weekend.  She did great!  I was really worried that my little ballerina would get on that stage and freeze but she didn't.  She hasn't shown me much of what she was learning in dance and when I would stay she would just stand there.  I'm so glad that she got out there and did her best.  We had a lot of family and friends come to see her dance.  My camera was messing up so I didn't get to take pics of everyone that came but they showered her with flowers and gifts.  I thank them all for coming and supporting her.

This is Lily on her first day of dance

                                    

Isn't she just the cutest thing ever!

  Lily's wonderful teacher Mrs. Candace

Mason, her little "boyfriend", surprised her with a little bracelet.  Aren't they the cutest thing!

I am one proud Mama!

Daddy is too.

After trying to rest up from our busy weekend, Colin had his first swim meet yesterday.  I'm so glad our local swim club hosted it and Colin's grandmothers, uncle, and cousins came to see him swim.  He beat all of his times in all his heats!  Proud Mama again.

Getting ready to swim the 25 meter Butterfly.  His time was a little over 38 seconds!

Family fun between heats.

A little Mama time.

Yesterday was also our 14 year anniversary.  It doesn't seem like we've been married for that long.  The kiddos went to spend the night with my mother-in-law after the swim meet so Tracy and I headed out for dinner and a little shopping.  It was nice to have a quiet night out.  Happy 14 years Hubby!  I love you and our crazy life so much.

Happy Day

Date night!