PLEASE PRAY

You will not waste a prayer on our family this week.  Austin, (Dana and Greg’s oldest little) is having heart surgery in Little Rock on Thursday morning. 
It’s a surgery that they have known was in their future since Austin was small, but they had hoped it was still a a few years off.

Because of some blood pressure problems this last year and some other blood work numbers, the pediatric cardiologist decided the time is now. The doctors at Children's Hospital in Little Rock agreed. 

I am sure it is a routine surgery that they do everyday in this hospital (they do not even do it here) but when it’s your boy having it, it becomes anything but routine.  It becomes anxiety and sleepless nights.
 
First thing this morning I saw Greg’s middle of the night FB post and knew he was worried and sleep was not happening.  He and Dana along with Austin, Gray and Parker left today.  Parker was in tow to keep Austin preoccupied and they are all spending a couple of days in Hot Springs at an amusement/water park.  Jack, Jack aka Woody, Amanda and I will meet up with them in Little Rock on Wednesday and spend the rest of the week.  The surgery is Thursday morning.
 
It’s a scary thing to hand your child off to a doctor that you have never even met ( all the consulting is between his doctors here and the ones there).

    



Austin and his new dog MAX





My beautiful daughter-in-love Dana….I am a fan of two pair of glasses….for me it is reading and sunglasses. Dana just does not have her contacts in.

 





My Boy that loves his family with a love that is rare.  He speaks it daily.  He lives it daily.



      
         

Austin and his Nanny.  Dana’s Mom, Janet is a beautiful lady inside and out.





Austin, very intent at Chucky Cheese!




AUSTIN and his BEST BUDDY, PARKER! We are counting on Parker to keep Austin's mind off the surgery the next few days.

 

                          

            THE FAMILY

Thanks in advance for your prayers. After Jacks stroke last October, the blog community blew me away.

I went back and read all those comments and emails today.

Bloggers by the 100’s that checked in everyday..and I have only blogged for a two and half years.  I know people prayed.
 
At that time I had no idea that the stat counter existed but now that I can go back and read it, many of those first 7 or 8 days, I had over 500 hits each day.  And they could not have been because they were reading a fun
Disney post.  Forever I will be grateful to you.
 
Now I am asking you to pray for
My Boys’ Boy.

Please pray that the surgery has no complications, fixes the problem, that Austin does not experience any fear this week and that Dana and Greg have a peace…that same peace we experienced that hard week in October.


The winner of the cookbook is Nancy at Bacardi Mama!

SOME DAYS YOU JUST NEED TO BRAG

This weekend was SPECIAL.  I am going to do a little bragging.  I spent the day with Amanda yesterday.  We went to the Junior League's Spring  Boutique  and shopped.  Then we had a long lunch and we talked.  We talked about life.
And it was good.  My girl is now a BEAUTIFUL woman, a wonderful wife, an amazing Mom and a daughter I am so proud of.  I grew up never knowing if my parents even liked me.  I never want my kids to wonder. 


(Have you noticed she has great hair and can wear it any way)?


Today I spent the day with Greg and his family.  I wish I had a picture of this…I missed Greg and Grayson for a few minutes and when
I found them, they had unmade my bed and were asleep.  Church clothes and all.    Later he helped me do all kinds of things around the house that I don’t really want Jack to do yet. …you know…those little things like change the flag outside to Easter, get the summer clothes out of the attic and put the winter clothes up, even went to storage with me and helped me move a van load of stuff home (he did not enjoy this and did not pretend he did).  He loves his family so much.  He is a wonderful Dad, a great husband, UNCLE is his other name, and a SON I am so proud of.
 



I have no idea how I would have survived the last five months without all their support and love.

(Micah and Dana…My Boy and My Girl could not have picked better partners in life.)
 
All four little's were here today.
I have some great pictures for tomorrow.  I am too tired to download them tonight.   Jack spent the night with us last night and I have a funny “Jack story” to share too.  Let’s just say I am a snail mail sender and  Jack FOUND my stamps.  There was not a happy ending to this story.  
Amanda and Micah played in a couple’s charity golf tournament today.  Amanda’s first tournament and she did good..and she looked SO CUTE.  And we all know that is as important as playing well.

I have a super busy week coming up, but as the weekend comes to a close, I am thankful for family. Thankful that family was in God’s plan. Thankful that I have the one I do. Thankful that for today we are OK. 
We have been through some rough waters recently, some scary days.  It was so nice to have a very ordinary weekend. I never want to take those for granted. 

DEAR GREG

(I needed to post Happy Birthday to Greg today so all comments on this post will also qualify you for Ree Drummonds book…I may even have THREE….you will need to read the above post to get all the details) 
THIS BOOK IS THE BEST  LOVE STORY EVER   TOTALLY a GREAT VALENTINE WIN

now for my annual love letter to my boy(he writes me one too)

happy Birthday Greg,
It seems like yesterday that you were born.  funny how I cannot remember yesterday, but I can remember my nurse that February night, what she looked like and what she had on.  I guess Those important Days and all their details Never leave you.  I remember the over the top Excitement of having a BOY.  I had always prayed I would have one of each.  God answered that prayer.   I also ask for the boy to be First, so he could take care of his sister.   How true that would be many years later at such an important time in her life.  There was a January day in 1999 that I saw you become the essence of Son, Brother and Uncle ALL in one day.   Never had I been so PROUD of you.
I know this has been one of the hardest years of your Life.    I think I already knew that, but you confirmed it to me in an email you wrote me  recently by saying those exact words. Almost losing Dad, seeing him have to suffer to regain so much, seeing him helpless in some situations was enough to say it was the Hardest YEAR.  Add to that some other problems, some I know and some I may not know…the best part is that I know you…(remember I have known you the longest) and you will get through this. This has been a Year when we have all learned who our real friends are. Its been a year you were able to reconnect with lots of old friends from dad’s earlier coaching days.  we have been through Hard years before.  And when at the time it seemed there was no way out, God made a way.  I am trusting him to do that again for YOU.  I know you are carrying a load.  I know you are still worried about Dad.  I know our record time trip to DALLAS on OCT 2, as we raced to Baylor, praying to find Dad alive, still Haunts you. I saw it in your face then and I still see it.  Losing your Dad means different things to different people, but I know what it means to you.  So along with  your birthday, we have Dads recovery to CELEBRATE.  You notice I am not mentioning your age as it would give a good hint at mine…so lets just stick to the story that I had you when I was 10. Since you are a Dad, you will understand it when I say I want to hurt people that hurt my BOY.  I have had a running list all year and the same name appears on it over and over…
I am so proud of the husband you are.  Dana IS BY FAR the best thing that EVER happened to you and please do not EVER FORGET IT. She is super LOW maintenance as opposed to me being HIGH MAINTENANCE.  Low is easier.  Never forget  that.  On the hard days, start your day counting your blessings….You have a GORGEOUS wife that loves you for just who you are….no changes required.  That rarely happens….You have TWO wonderful healthy sons that adore you…..two nephews that think UNC is SO COOL, a sister that likes you on most days…..but will never forget THE relationship you had with Parker in his early years.   I pray this will be the best year of your life…
I love you,
Mom

A BEAUTIFUL LADY CHANGED EVERYTHING

This post did not stay up long, so you might want to go back and read it if you have followed Will's story.

I have no clue where the color stuff below came from. Blogger has given me so much trouble tonight...UGH IT has taken me forever to get this post POSTED...so I will just tell you about a day six years ago....with the caveat that ALL IS WELL THAT ENDS WELL!

Greg and Dana had booked a place to get married in Las Vegas. Just a small wedding for family and close friends. This sounded like a perfect time for us to take a family vacation. Amanda was not married at the time and she was on a trip to Pittsburg with a friend. Parker was with us...Sounds simple. We went to Dallas for a few days and planned to fly out of DFW. Amanda was going to fly in from another state a few hours later. We had decided to stay at the New York, New York where the roller coaster runs through the hotel...Always thinking of a new adventure for PARKER.

I remember running in Dillards in Dallas the Sat night before we flew out to purchase some shoes for the wedding...This was AUGUST and HOT IN VEGAS, so it was flip flops and one pair of shoes for the wedding...Check! Greg, Dana, her parents and a few others were flying out of Shreveport and we would all meet up...As soon as we landed, Greg called and everyone had made the flight but he and Dana..They were shutting the doors as they ran down the hall. I am pretty sure he said some words that I did not teach him. They eventually got a flight later in the day...Once they arrived they decided to go and check out the little wedding chapel..The address had a sign out front that said CLOSED. No longer in business. Of course they had paid for it on the internet..and so now they had to find a place quick. After calling many places they found one..Another problem solved. We had decided to just do the cab bit this week and did not rent a car, so we had told Amanda once she landed to get a cab to the hotel. She landed and grabbed a cab and on the way he cab driver, driving very fast, told her he was thinking about suicide, just tired of living...Excuse me, could you let me out first...I met her downstairs and she was more than happy to DE-CAB....if that's a word.

The wedding was the next day....so as we were getting dressed about an hour before the wedding...and we felt like we had to be on time as they did the weddings on a in and out basis...I went to put on my shoes and 2 RIGHT SHOES. So it was flips flops for the Mother of the groom and not even cute or matching ones...I have NEVER been so glad to have a long dress. Amanda was standing up for Dana and I was on the front row....At about the same time, we both realized the the man officiating the ceremony, not sure what he was, was using a cassette player with a remote control to play wedding music...Amanda and I started laughing and we could not stop...all the time Greg giving us this look of cut the laughing. We couldn't! So that's how it all began...Then we all spent a week in Vegas and had so much fun....so much fun that as we flew home late one night, Parker leaned over to me and said "Grammy, I think I like Las Vegas better than Disney World"! Surely he did not say that!

Now six years later we still laugh at all the mishaps on the trip, but the IMPORTANT THING HAPPENED. My boy married the girl of his dreams and they are living happily ever after. I think they both think they won the lottery. They were made for each other and now have two little boys to make their family complete.

It does not get better than that! Dana you are a perfect fit for our family and we love you more than you will ever know. YOU MADE OUR BOY HAPPY and that MAKES US ALL VERY HAPPY!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

AND NOW A WORD FROM MY BOY

I don't think I have ever had a guest blogger since I started blogging a little over a year ago. Tonight that CHANGES. I still want you to read this post, but I ask Greg to put on paper his feelings about MY MAN, HIS DAD! He has done it many times in cards. My friends have always wanted to read any card Greg gave me or his Dad. He ALWAYS WRITES HIS HEART.
With no editing this is the email I just received.


Dear DAD,
Where to start about the man I attribute everything I have been, everything I am, and everything I will be in the future? He is known by many names...Jack, Coach Powell, Coach, CP, Pop, and my favorite, DAD. He does each of them with perfection like only he can. From my earliest memories, all I can remember is wanting to be like my DAD. He taught me the lessons which would shape my life. Hard work, persistence, honesty, selflessness, generosity, and trustworthiness are just a few of the characteristics I would like to hope my DAD has passed on to me. I can't ever remember a time when my DAD was not there for me, even when I might not have wanted him there, but I needed him more than I knew. I am sure he remembers the time in the drainage ditch behind The Haystack Apartments. (No further details needed). From as far back as I can remember, I wanted to be with my DAD. Even if most kids didn't think hanging out on Sunday afternoons after church at the football stadium field house was their idea of fun, I was with my DAD, and that was all I needed. From all the games I spent as the ball boy for my DAD's football teams until I was able to actually play for my DAD, the only thing I wanted to do was spend time with my DAD in his environment. Of all the lessons my DAD has taught me, the one on how to be a dad is the one I treasure most. From the time Parker was born, then Dana and Austin came into my life, and now Grayson, my number one goal was to be as much like my DAD as humanly possible. I can only hope I am able to do half the job my DAD has done with my boys. I can now understand why my DAD was so great at his job as a parent. It is because he is a natural at it. I can surly say I know with all my heart, MY DAD IS THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME. Thanks for everything DAD. I hope you have the best Father's Day!
I Love and Cherish you!
Greg


ENOUGH SAID! Happy Father's Day to the BEST Dad to Greg and Dana and Amanda and Micah and the BEST POP anywhere. If you think yours is better, you would have a HARD TIME convincing Parker, Jack, Austin and Grayson.

TWO GOOD DADS

TONIGHT I am so thankful that my little guys have SUCH GREAT DADS. Greg was born to be a DAD and then I inherited Micah when he and Amanda married and now I have two sons.

There is nowhere the BOYS would rather be than spending a day with GREG. (could be because he OVERINDULGES THEM) (CANNOT BE TRUSTED IN WALMART OR TARGET or GAME STOP) He LOVES NOTHING BETTER IN LIFE THAN MAKING THEM HAPPY. He has a very demanding job, BUT he spends every free minute make life fun for the little ones. He is a MR. MOM. Below is a picture I snapped this week. It was his day off and he was taking the boys for an all day swim at the WATER PARK.

Grayson changed his life. He will be ONE this week.
A baby HE and DANA had wanted for several years and at times wondered if it would ever happen. It did and this little man rocked their WORLD. He MADE their FAMILY COMPLETE.
WATCHIN a LITTLE NOGGIN

Micah has embraced fatherhood and gets an A plus, plus. I knew Greg would be an awesome Dad, but I had to see Micah become one. This Grammy watched closely as he and Parker's relationship began, grew and now has become a normal father/son relationship. They love each other so much and do so much together. You would never know he was not his biological father. That's what I had always prayed for. Micah thinks Parker is the best kid EVER and he constantly rewards him for grades and encourages him at every turn. I am not sure MICAH knows how PROUD of HIM, I REALLY AM.

Micah and Jack at the DUCK POND I think this picture says it ALL!
So this week, as we celebrate Father's Day, I Celebrate Greg and Micah. I could not have asked for more dedicated, loving, and fun DADS for my little ones. Tomorrow will be a special post......Hope you will stop by.....

THANKS FOR THE HONOR OF BEING YOUR MOM AND A MOTHER'S DAY GIVEAWAY

I hope these letters are not too personal. If they are, just skip to the bottom to the Mother's Day giveaway. Absolutely ALL you have to do is comment. You don't need to follow, blog about it, or anything else. Just accept it as a gift for stopping by. And if you know me, you know I will give away more than one gift. That's just how I love to do it.

TO MY BOY

Dear Greg,
What a ride.....36 years ago you made me a MOM. HOW can that be as I think I am still 36! The numbers don't add up. Some days I think my memory is not as good as it once was, but I remember every little detail of the day you were born. It was LOVE at first sight. I am talking about madly in love. I was so proud to have a boy. And from that day until today you have been MY BOY. I won't write your life story here, though I could and maybe one day will. This letter is just to tell you what a difference you have made in my life. There is not a more generous human on earth. You had your teenage years, we survived, college years, we survived, a few hard years in your late 20's, we survived. Not only did you survive, you just got better. You are so much like your DAD and that's a good thing.. I see him in you more times than you know. For 11 years you have been the ULTIMATE UNCLE. No kid has been more blessed than Parker. For so many years you filled so many spaces in his life...and I can promise you that little guy loves his UNC. You are a great brother. During Amanda's years of being a single MOM, you were ALWAYS AVAILABLE to DO ANYTHING she needed. That never went unnoticed. FAMILY is so important to you. You wear your love for Dana on your face. She is truly the one for you. You immediately excelled at being a step dad or as Austin says "Daddygreg" I love that its all one word. In the past 12 months, nothing has brought me more joy than watching you with your boy. You were born to be a DAD and though the road seemed long and sometimes questionable, God smiled and gave you and Dana the sweetest gift. When Grayson was only a few hours old and he had to be quickly moved to the NICU across town, I saw my boy in a man's body, scared to death. Those first hours, as we met with the doctors, I saw fear in your face,a trembling lip and again this Mom wanted to make everything OK. I couldn't, but God COULD and he DID and I will be forever thankful. I have seen you weather many storms and each time have been so PROUD of you. We laugh a lot about you not being able to be trusted in Target or Walmart, with the boys! Deep down I love that generous kid in you. I pray you never lose that. Two of my proudest moments were when you spoke at both MEME and GRAMPS funerals,just three months a part. The tribute you gave to each of them far exceeded what any preacher could do. So on this Mother's Day week, I say once again to God, thanks for MY BOY. Thanks for giving me THE BEST!

Love, Mom



TO MY GIRL

Dear Amanda,

I always wanted a boy and a girl. I always wanted my daughter to have a big brother. When I found out I was pregnant with a girl I felt like that dream came true. After a rather scary pregnancy, a ruptured appendix and major surgery when I was five months pregnant, it was an anxious day when you were born. When you were born totally healthy we were so excited. I can still remember the doctor saying, "She's Perfect"! Those are words every parent longs to hear. Not only had I given Meme and Gramps their first grandchild in Greg, but now their first and only granddaughter.

I think the mother/daughter relationship is harder than the mother/son. I can't explain that, apart from raging hormones that don't always happen on the same day. But we made it! We made it through so many fun times and we made it through the harder days. My life plans had not included a teenage daughter that was going to be a Mom at 18. As I write this tonight I am so glad that my plans were changed. When I think back to those days, those are the days I was most proud of you. Proud of your decisions, proud of you being responsible, and forever grateful to you for giving us the gift of PARKER. Talk about a life changing MOMENT. You were a MOM from day one, just a NATURAL. You totally amazed me as a teenage MOM. If I failed to tell you often, please forgive me. You were the BEST! Not only did you fall in love with a little boy, he fell madly in love with his Mom. A love affair that would last a lifetime. You have literally grown up together. Never once did I see you lacking in the job. Anyone that knows Parker, knows YOU excelled at the job of MOM.

Now eleven years later, I am still so proud of you. You waited until Parker was 8 to marry and you married just the right man. You knew he was RIGHT, long before I did. I am so glad that I was the one that was wrong. Just tonight Micah told me how YOU are the reason he is the man he is today. In case you did not know, he is more than madly in love with you, even when you wear pajamas that don't match. Nothing makes a Mom smile more than to know your child is loved. There is not one doubt in my mind that you are his PRIZE IN LIFE. Then you gave us another gift in Jack, a little guy that has a personality that makes me laugh more than I have laughed in years. I cannot imagine life without him. I saw your strength when he was four days old and critically ill from some form of meningitis. Your cool, calm and collected manner is something I have always envied. When all we could do was trust God to heal him, you did. A faith builder I never wanted to repeat and then in less than two years we were back in that same NICU with Grayson. The old song "Great is They Faithfulness" took on a much greater meaning in our family. When I look at you today, I see a strong beautiful woman, with hair that everyone wants, that is far surpassing me in the Mom role and nothing makes me happier. In case you did not know, people covet your hair. I am so glad that God chose YOU to be MY GIRL.

Love, Mom

AS I was writing this tonight I realized that I really have 4 kids. I really think of Dana and Micah as my kids too and am so thankful that my kids hand picked my other two! Being a Mom has been the greatest privilege of my life and yet the one I have failed at many times. I was just reminded today of an area that I fail at over and over. With grandchildren we all get a second chance and I am so thankful for that. I think I have Grammy down. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE BEING A GRANDMOTHER. It really is my passion in life. Even if I don't do it PERFECT, you will not find any grandmother that is more in love with her little men.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all my BLOG FRIENDS. The GIVEAWAY is everything below and a couple of other surprises that I am adding to the GIFT. There are TWO GREAT cookbooks in the mix, along with my favorite Robin McGraw book, a Nicholas Sparks book, a beautiful picture and of course a diet and health book. Don't all Mothers need that? I will draw Mother's Day evening and announce the winner.

ALL I EVER WANTED TO BE

Dear Greg,

At just about this time, late on a Monday afternoon, 30 something years ago, you made me all I ever really wanted to be

A MOM

What can I say without embarrassing you.... You were the first EVERYTHING. You were the first grandchild, the first boy in a long time.

Meme and Gramps really loved you. I had NEVER seen Daddy show any physical affection EVER until you were born. You melted his heart and I think that continued through the rest of his life. You speaking at both their funerals was only fitting and made this MOM so proud.

THIS past year I got to see you be all that you have EVER really wanted to be...A DAD! So many emotions, as I saw you meet your BOY, which was a long awaited dream come true for you. It was a day of joy and then it quickly became a day of fear. I saw your lips quiver and your eyes fill with tears as you told me they were transferring Grayson to another hospital because they had a state of the art NICU. I met the ambulance, as you made your way across town, hating to leave Dana, but knowing you had to be with your new little man. I remember a scared Daddy asking the NICU doctor details about his little ones situation. And forever I will remember our walk out to the car after midnight that night and you putting your arm around me and telling me you had listed Denny and Johnny as your pastors, in case they needed to call one. That said it all to me...you feared you might loose your baby. Thank God that did not happen and today Grayson is perfect, after just a bump in the road. And I know that you know, God answers prayer. But this Mother's heart hurt like never before for you that night.

For 10 years I had watched you be the worlds greatest UNCLE, AKA UNC to Parker. I always laughed when Parker would call your work and ask for UNC! And even funnier, the receptionist knew who he was talking about. When Amanda was a young teenage Mom, you made your Mom more than proud. You made stepping up to the plate more than words. You filled in EVERY blank, every time. What great male role models Parker has and still has. I will always remember your unbelievable generosity to Amanda. If she had a need, you met it and did it with joy. The time you invested in Amanda and Parker, never went unnoticed.

Then you became a step dad to Austin, though no one would ever know that he was not your biological child. Again you filled in the blanks in his life and fell madly in love with him. You are every little boy's dream.

Making their lives fun is your top priority. If there is any gaming device or game that Austin and Parker don't have, its because it has not been released yet. If there is a movie that's out, they have seen it. To those boys YOU ARE THE BOMB.

And now this year in your life, Grayson arrives. He is a lucky boy to have you as his Dad...and equally lucky to have his sweet and beautiful Mom. You really won the lottery when Dana entered your life.

You are more like Dad everyday and that's a GOOD THING. You are less like me and that's a good thing, though our sense of humor is a lot alike.

Happy Birthday to one of the BEST GIFTS WE ever received. Dad and I are SO PROUD OF YOU.

I love you, Mom

SOME SNAPSHOTS THAT MAKE MY HEART SMILE

Stay tuned...this is baby day....

Looks like Baby Grayson is going to take his time. Dana is hopefully going to get an epidural SOON. This has been a long morning. Thanks for praying.....

Stop by later today and I hope to have some pictures of our new grandson....They just got to the hospital and Dana will be induced early in the morning.....This is an exciting day for us, as Dana and Greg have wanted a baby for so long. They have experienced miscarriages, etc and really did not know if this day would ever happen. Please pray for a healthy baby and an easy delivery.