A Christmas Celebration with Friends!

Yesterday, we had our Christmas celebration with some of our best friends. We plan a Christmas gathering with these friends each and every year. This year's celebration for the Christmas season was nice!






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A Visit from a Friend

One day, as my daughter gets older, I can only hope that she has at least one friend from the high school years that she has now that will be like the friend that I was blessed enough to receive a visit from today.  If my daughter is blessed enough to keep in contact with that one friend that is a part of her everyday life right now (through having the same high school classes, liking the same music, and the list goes on), but she may not be able to see her as often when they become all grown up (you know, the time in life when they will be shuffling between mommyhood, worklife, and/or whatever else life holds for them)...if they are still then able to keep in contact, she will be able to consider herself truly blessed with a true friend.  It's my hopes that both of my kids have at least one friend such as this!

I've known Sharonda since we were kids.  Believe it or not, we've been best friends since we were kids.  Instead of us talking about our high school years to each other, we have been a part of each other's high school years.  She was there when I first laid eyes on the man who is now my husband, and I don't have to tell her what Justin and I wore to our high school prom, because she was a part of that too.  When Sharonda and I look back at pictures of the other's school days, for the most part, we both can remember whatever story the picture is telling, because we were best friends and we were there.  Sharonda was even there when I was in the hospital from having Bre.

Life gets busy, and we don't see each other as often now as what we used to, but how blessed we really are to still even keep in contact after so many years since we graduated!  I was so happy when Sharonda and her daughter Abby came to visit today.  It is so hard to believe that we were able to now take a photo of our own teenage daughters now.  Life sure does speed by doesn't it?!? And years later (fourteen years to be exact), here are our teenage daughters in a picture together.  I'm so blessed to have a friend such as this!



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A Day on the Farm!

Justin, the kids, and I got to spend the day on the farm. We got to sit back and watch the cows and take care of the animals. While these are the kids' grandfather's cows, we hope to be getting our own farm animals real soon. I also got some pretty neat pictures on the farm today. :)



My hard working husband on the farm.
























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Breann's Cross Country, August 27th 2014

Breann's Cross Country event where they introduced the team.

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My First Quilt Making Project

As I started on this, my first quilt (made out of my Mom's fabric/clothing) one evening, earlier this week, I noticed a piece of red fabric was in my Mom's sewing machine. Justin and I was trying to think of what the red fabric was that my Mom was sewing, and we think we finally figured it out. Our family held a Christmas gift drive to help local kids in need, and Mom sewed the stockings for those kids! It's only a piece of fabric, but again, it's another part of Mom that will go in her (now my) sewing box.

My progress on the quilt so far...

A Part of Mom

Practicing quilting with scrap fabric. 
The other day I was really wanting to call my Mom and have a conversation with her...just to talk to her. After all it's pretty much became a daily routine for us to talk on the phone at least once daily. It occurred to me at that same instant that I couldn't call Mom though. She's gone from this Earth, no more phone conversations.

A few days or so later I became really motivated to start on a quilt. The quilt is going to have Mom's fabric/clothing as the squares/patchwork. It makes it even more special to be using Mom's sewing machine. I'm just now learning to quilt, but I'm determined and motivated to learn...with my Mom's machine and some motivation this quilt is going to be so very special. This quilt is going to contain at least a part of my Mom from some of the things she loved!

Two Weeks Later

Two weeks ago today is when my world began to change.  My Mom was placed on life support, I could talk to her, she could listen and nod her head, and even point at letters on a chart to spell words, but the machine was doing nearly all of the breathing for her.  The truth was, without that breathing machine my Mom would not have been alive the 10 days she was after that.

For the past month or so my Mom had not been feeling well, and local doctors thought she had pneumonia.  After being transported, the hospital where my Mom had her lung transplant 3 years before found out days after she was admitted that her lung was rejecting.  This began a series of treatments which did not stop the rejection of my Mom's lung.  Looking at the XRay, we could see my Mom's original lung, but the one that was transplanted (on the other side) was not even visible on the XRay.  While we prayed for and believed in a miracle, we knew that unless that happened then my Mom would no longer be with us on this Earth.  I'm a firm believer that if it is a person's time to be called from this Earth, then there is nothing anyone can do, God is God, He makes that decision!

Over the course of 10 days, my Mom had to be sedated quite a lot.  Me, my husband, our daughter, and my brother and his wife would sit by my Mom's bedside watching her sleep and silently praying.  Our son and one of my nephew's was waiting and hoping out in the waiting room.  Churches were praying, a prayer cloth was sent and pinned to my Mom's gown, Pastors/Chaplains came and prayed, but it was still my Mom's time to leave this Earth.

I knew the day that my Mom was going to have the machine removed would probably be the last day of her here on this Earth.  What I didn't expect, but will forever be grateful for is that on her last day, she would be awake and alert while still on the machine.  She had been sleeping several days, only waking up every now and then and she wasn't usually alert from all of the sedation/medications as she continued on the ventilator.  As I walked in my Mom's room that Friday morning, the day she left this Earth, she was still on the ventilator, but she looked straight at me.  As I moved around the room, her eyes followed me.  So I stood by her bed and she nodded and shook her head to what I said to her...she was responding to what I had to say.  I got to tell her once again she was a great Mom, and I got to tell her that I loved her.  While God's plan wasn't to keep her on this Earth, He at least allowed me the opportunity to have one last conversation with my Mom (and He allowed me to realize that this was my last conversation with her while on this Earth, so I made the most of it).  What I didn't know, is that my husband took a picture of my Mom and I during our last conversation together.  I don't know if I ever will really share this picture for a lot of people to see, as my Mom was still on the ventilator and she had so many things hooked to her and I don't think that's really how she would want to be remembered.  I, however, will treasure that picture, and I think she would want me to.  It was our last real conversation.  I had no clue the camera was on us, I was caught up in conversation with my Mother, and that picture means more than words could ever say.

Anyhow, my Mom died peacefully on the 20th.  She died in her sleep while my brother held and kissed her hand with her last breath.  My Mom was and will forever be remembered as a great woman.  There have been so many people contact me (some of who I don't even know), telling me how my Mother had touched their lives in some way.

We had a full house during the funeral services.  This further proves how many lives my Mom touched and how loved she truly was (and still is).  She left behind great memories for so many people!

This morning I got up expecting my Mom's phone call (as we always talk every morning), but the phone never rang.  That is something else I will have to get used to.  Her not being around during the holidays will be just another reminder of her not being here.  

I keep reminding myself that she is no longer suffering though.  In Heaven my Mom will be able to breathe the way that she should and the way she deserves to breathe.  Mom has struggled for years with her health, and a part of me wanted to be selfish and keep her on this Earth, but she has never been selfish when it has come to my care and well being, and it was my turn to not be selfish, it was my turn to let her rest.  This means I have to say good-bye for awhile, but one day, I will see my Mom in Heaven, and I'll never have to tell her good-bye again.

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Flowers to Make Me Smile

Justin gave me these flowers to try to make me smile before going to make Mom's funeral arrangements. I'm blessed to call him my husband! He's been so very supportive and strong for me during this hard time.

Dear Mom

I've had it on my mind to type/write something for the past few evenings. I've wrote and rewrote and deleted the words I've written. My hopes are you'll be able to read this in a few weeks, but if the Lord has other plans then I'm fine with everyone else knowing what's in my heart and in my head at this very moment, so I've decided to share this. One of the reasons I blog/journal is to remember life and it's special moments, and every moment that has included you has been special. We've had some tough times and some good times, but every single moment with you is special!

The photo above, of the bracelet, that's what Bubby and I have wore for the last week. We're considered your "Care Partners." Our spouses and the kids have also been supportive along this journey we've taken. Many people have called about you, visited us, and been so supportive.

My mind drifts back to last week when you were first admitted. You touched my face, and while I couldn't really understand you at first for the tube from the ventilator, I knew you were trying to tell me something. You told me I'm your baby. That's something you and Dad always have told me, no matter my age. It really made me think though! My mother, who was very sick, was still being a Mom. I'll always and forever remember that.

Over the days, the doctors are saying things are staying the same. They actually want to meet with us on Friday. I, of course, am wanting to be worried and scared, but I think of what Dad told me so many times, and what I've reminded you, it does no good to worry, instead we must pray. I'm used to talking on the phone with you every morning. Instead, I've been visiting you every morning. You are asleep most of the time, but today I layed my head on your shoulder, and you opened your eyes. Even though you wasn't able to talk back because of the ventilator, I still was able to talk to you. I was able to tell you what a treasure you are to me, how I love our morning conversations, and I was able to thank you for being my Mom. As I sit by your bed, I think of all of the times you've taken care of me when I was sick, making me soup, laying wet washcloths on my head when I had fevers, and doing whatever was necessary. It's just another thing I need to thank you for, this proves your worth!

Yes, Mom, I hope you pull through this just fine, I am going to trust in the Lord. He can see what we can not. God knows far better than I do what is best for you. You, my great mother, deserve the best!

Here are just some photos from this journey:



The kids standing in the parking garage at the hospital.

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Easter 2014

This Easter was so great! We spent last Sunday with family. We read about the Resurrection in The Bible. Eggs were colored and hid. We cooked out in the park. I also took a lot of photos! There were smiles, laughter, and memories was made.  Such a blessed day!

More Photos are in the Members Area. Photos:[Our Family Easter Photos] [Mine and Justin's Easter Photos] [Part One of Three] [Part Two of Three] [Part Three of Three]

Emily's Birthday Celebration

at Olive Garden!



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Justin and Benjie's Week of Hunting

Photos of bucks they got on the same day...



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Kelley's Birthday Dinner...

at the Mexican restaurant!
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A GREAT Fall Weekend!

This weekend has been a great Fall/Autumn weekend. Friday it snowed (just a little), there was a chill in the air, coffee was great, I got to bring out my sweaters (happiness in itself), my husband and I had Mexican food during the weekend, and our family had all kinds of Halloween festivities and celebrated one of our best friends daughter's birthday! So...Fall/Autumn Happiness (and a blessed weekend)...that's what this post is about...with random topics on our weekend (along with some photos)!

So...the Fall colors are all nice and crisp at the new property/old school house...beautiful time of the year, and I just had to get some pictures of it! :-)

I also got quite a few pictures of the Halloween party/one of our best friends daughter's birthday party that we went to as well! :)

Some of the photos are below...


























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Devin's 10th Birthday Party!

The kids and Devin at Devin's 10th Birthday Party!
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The Neighbor's Dog, Cash!

  More Photos are in the Members Area, including the kids playing with this huge, but adorable dog!

Carlee's Birthday Party!

One of our best friend's daughter's had her birthday party this weekend, it was an Under the Sea theme party. So fun!







































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