Thursday, February 3, 2011

PARKER’S DAD

(I posted this is on  A Baby Changes Everything yesterday and decided I would repost on my main blog)  There might just be someone that needs it today.)

I could not decide which blog I should post this on.  This is a post I have thought about writing many times.  A post that I will have run by Amanda before I post it.  There are things that are just family business, but I am hopeful this post will encourage someone.  I have received emails and comments about PARKER, THE BABY THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING.  If you have read my blog for anytime you know Parker is our oldest “little” who is eleven and not so little anymore.  It literally seems like yesterday that my then 18 year old Amanda, sitting in our pastor and good friends office, both of them crying and looked at me and said “Mom, I’m pregnant”!  I can tell you a thousand things that would have rocked my boat more than that.  She will confirm to you that my reaction was not much more than, “We need to get a nursery decorated”!  And we did.  I had just finished tree season and so from that very ordinary day in January until May all we did was plan, decorate, dream and eat.  We laugh at how many times she and I ate out.  Within a week we knew it was a boy.  And this was a boy that I could not wait to get my hands on.  From that moment in the delivery room when I got to cut the cord, I have been crazy in love with this boy, a love I never knew existed.  Thank you Amanda for handing me that precious gift. Parker was our only grandchild for seven years.  When Greg married Dana, we were blessed with Austin.  Then eight years after Parker, Jack came on the scene…and then the next year we were blessed with Grayson.  BUT PARKER had a LONG TIME where he was the one and only.  He and Amanda lived with us the first five years of his life.  He is the meaning behind the title of my other blog.  He DID CHANGE EVERYTHING. 
In  other posts I  have told you all about him. He is brilliant, he is well traveled, he knows the Mouse well, he is kind, he is well mannered,  he is handsome, he is a little adult that takes being a big brother to Jack very serious. Parker and Jack
He said tonight, “Grammy doesn't Jack have the cutest laugh” and he does.   Parker bears the name of both my grandfathers, his great-grandfathers. He is called by my Moms maiden name, his Moms middle name.  There is no doubt in my mind he will be a world changer.  Yep, he is pretty near perfect, at least this Grammy thinks so.  I have told you all that before.  I have also told you how protective we were when Amanda married.  How scared we were.  In some cases, how we needed to back off.  Amanda knew who she loved.  I just needed to be sure that person knew how to love and parent Parker.  I don’t have to tell you I had some pretty hard qualifications.  Amanda married Micah when Parker had just turned 8.  (I think) You can read the Micah post here.  I got this one wrong…and everyday I am thankful that I did.  Never in my wildest dreams did I think Parker would ever be such great friends with the man that married his Mom.Micah and Parker
What I have never talked about is Parker’s Dad.  Actually Parker gets really lucky here.  He has two.  He has never wanted for male role models in his life.  He has an Unc (Greg) that has loved him as much as his own from the day he was born.  He has two grandfathers that think he is “the best thing that ever happened to them”!  He also had the privilege of having his great grandfather in his life for his first eight years.  This boy is blessed.  And he should be spoiled and I guess he is, but most days I see nothing that would give that away. 
BUT he does have a Dad that he loves very much and that loves him very much. This next part will just be from my perspective.  (just a disclaimer since its my blog)  Have we always had a great relationship? NO
Have I always wanted Parker to have a relationship with his Dad? Yes 
Amanda had to grow up overnight.  Brad had a choice and for a some years he chose a different path.  A path I hated and I think he would tell you one he hated.  Never was he totally out of Parker’s life, but at times on a very limited basis.  I think there was a period of time I gave up hope. There was a period of time I did not really care.  It was easier that way. Did we have problems?  Absolutely! 
Brad moved away from our town for a few years and in that time I saw a huge change.  I am sure he would tell you I watched him closely, always afraid that it was just temporary.  It took a couple of years for me to really think it was a REAL CHANGE.  Now that it has been more than a couple of years it makes me so happy when I see how much he loves Parker and how Parker is so proud of him. I think in many ways Parker saved his life.  This is the bonus.  Brad and Micah have become friends and do things with Parker together.  They have been on a weekend camping trip, watched ballgames, shared meals…that means everything to Parker.  Amanda and Brad have a good relationship…So what was once a not so great situation, to put it mildly, has totally changed.  And in my book, that’s a good thing.  Meet Brad, Parker’s Dad. 
brad and parker
So be encouraged if you are in a situation that is not the best.
THINGS CHANGE!!

Monday, January 31, 2011

RANDOM, BIRTHDAY, WINNER and A NEW BLOG

how's that for a TITLe? Wait until you see how many colors I type in?  Be sure and read this post if you missed it.
For the Random………for the life of me I do not get why anyone reads my blog.  I skip from  subject to subject, I never give you a recipe, I never show you how to paint a room or grow beautiful flowers. I could not sew anything if it depended on my life, I am not a public speaker nor do I constantly give you a Bible lesson. I am not a fitness  guru (though I sure would love to lose 20 pounds) and I am NOT a great hostess.  I am not anything that most blogs are known for.   I use run on sentences, I write exactly as I think (which is not always a good thing) BUT when I Was looking at my dashboard for something else tonight I realized between my two blogs I have over 1350 followers…and I have written 358 posts. Unbelievable!!!!!
My head ELf, Terri helped me clean out my shops, as in we spent 40 hours.  It was a job that had not been done in 11 years.
I have had a relapse from whatever I was sick with early last week…FLU I think, as in I have been in bed most of the day.
but it was very DUMB of me to take on a huge project like my shop so soon after being sick.  So because of running fever, I had to miss Jack’s party today.  SAD.
BUT The SHOP LOOKS AMAZING.
thanks so much Terri, now you need to blog
when you look at the birthday pictures below, you will see that Jack is doing  GREAT….He looks healthier every week. He is working so hard, has lost 50 pounds and all HIS blood work looks great.  17 weeks ago yesterday he was in Baylor Hospital fighting for his Life. 
The Winner of the Book UNSHAKEN is PATTY at My MOUNTAIN BLESSINGS! Hope you will stop by and visit her. 
One of my dearest and oldest Friends has started a BLOG….It would make me
so Happy if you stopped by and said HI.  Her name is Diana (Dinah) and grandmother is her passion too.  Our husbands coached together for many years.  She lives in Magnolia, Arkansas and you will love her stories.
So, What’s The Big Deal? is her BLOG. 
so many bloggers are going  through hard times right now.  Pick one special one and encourage that blogger this week….with some snail mail.
That’s my goal this week to send several little gifts to some dear friends that I have met in blog land.
Jack and I watched Secretariat this afternoon.  A great movie, but brought so many memories of my DAD.  He owned race horses all his adult life…so the track was a place I have spent some time. 
NOW
The cutest birthday pictures ever….(you can see them better on the holiday blog)well maybe I am a tad partial. I had to get someone to make them for me as I was sick…running fever and decided the best thing for me and the little's  was to stay home. Sad, but know it was the best thing.   
I LOVE PRESENTS
LOVE THIS CAKE
Grayson
JACK WANTING HIS TICKETS
Sweet Grayson  and Pop
POP AND  GRAYSON
COUSINS
JACK SHOWING JADA SOME OF HIS LOOT
JACK LOVING HIS NEW BUZZ AND WOODY PILLOWS
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THIS IS SERIOUS
SO JACK AKA WOODY
KING JACK
LOVE  THIS
WOW

UNCLE AND WOODY
Look WHAT I GOT
JACK LOVING HIS NEW TOY
KING JACKGRAYSON GUARDING THE TICKETS
What a CUTIE
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACK
GRAYSON
BIRTHDAY BOY
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I don’t think you need any script on the pictures. As you can see in the pictures Jack (Pop) is doing good. You can also see that my adult kids are just big kids.
You can read the picture titles in their faces.  TOY STORY MANIA and Jack LOVED EVERY MINUTE of IT. 
Just came in the mail from Amanda
Jack and pillow pets
Wow do I love this BOY…..
I would really love to ask all my readers to send JoAnne and her family a card every week.  They have a long hard road. 
You can send them to her sister Kristen (who is a fab writer) at Joanne Heim c/o Kristen Haufschild, 11004 Grayledge Circle, Highlands Ranch, CO 80130.