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 LITTLE RANDOM and SOME CUTE SHOTS OF THE LITTLE’S

If you missed this post on Parker’s Dad, be sure and  read it.  So much response and so many that have BEEN THERE. 
I began this post on Monday and am finishing it lateTuesday night, no early WEDNESDAY morning. 
My least favorite Sunday of the YEAR is SUPER  BOWL SUNDAY…it means the end of another year of the game I love.
I am glad it was a close game….that the Steelers got back in the game…I am happy that Donald Driver and  Aaron Rogers got a Super Bowl Ring.   This was not a game I had strong feelings about…I loved seeing Emmitt sitting in the box next to Laura Bush and down a few seats was Condi.  I loved the tear that rolled out of the eye of the Steeler player as the National Anthem was being sung (poorly sung in my opinion) Normally I could write a long post about the Super Bowl…and though I watched all eight hours plus of coverage, not much stood out.  The flip side is for all of you that are not football lovers, its over for another year.
I just realized that next Monday, VALENTINE’S DAY is my TWO YEAR BLOG ANNIVERSARY.  I NEVER WOULD HAVE BELIEVED IT.  351 posts later, it still blows my mind. I have met the most incredible bloggers who I now call friend.  We will celebrate next week
We had the coldest week in Shreveport this past week, filled with snow, ice and rain.  I literally did not leave the house, not even to walk to the mailbox (Jack did) from Monday afternoon until Saturday afternoon. WE caught up on lots of movies, cleaned out some closets, wrote some thank you notes, drank far too much coffee (had to try every flavor I had) just generally did whatever we wanted to.  Add to that I stayed in Pajamas all week….clean ones everyday, nonetheless pajamas.  Now school is already called off for tomorrow as we prepare for another storm.
All four of the little's were here this afternoon. Nothing makes me happier.
 Parker and Austin were excited because Parker got to go home with Austin and have a COUSINS CAMP IN!  those two cousins love to spend time together.  I snapped some priceless pictures this afternoon (We will NOT mention that Amanda synced my Iphone and lost all my contacts, apps and pictures this afternoon.  She felt so bad and worked so hard to get back some of it) 

Its hard to believe that my  littlest little is getting so big. 

Austin and Grayson




Are those two pictures of Jack and Grayson too sweet?
Last night and tonight Jack has spent the night with us. His Mom has some studying to do and I think his Dad has had a couple of hard days at work, so we are more than HAPPY to hang out with their little boy. He is a PARTY. Truth is we will keep him here until they make him come home.  Who wouldn’t want Woody over for a visit….he even brought Bulls Eye.


Last night we stopped for a bite to eat and as we are leaving Parker says “Slow down Jack” to which Jack replied, “Paker
(no R) Do not call me Jack, you know my name is WOODY!
This boy loves to role play.  He was wide awake at 1AM this morning, showing me some dance moves.  Tonight he fell asleep at midnight watching a movie. 
Many of you have emailed me to check on Jack .. thank you for asking.  He is doing good.  It has been four months since his stroke and we are  blessed that he walks, talks , drives, and there are very few things he cannot do…He is still in out patient therapy 2days a week and his shoulder and hand are getting much better….he has lost 50 pounds! That’s a good thing. There is one thing our entire family knows. Life is not the same after a stroke.  You look at everything different.  We are so thankful we got the Jack we knew back.  Many people do not.
I am reading the best book….cannot put it down…

Ree Drummonds new book and it is a LOVE STORY…I think it was just released last week….and the good news… I am giving two copies away….The drawing will be from comments on this post only.
Very rarely do I give any other ways to get extra chances…you don’t have to jump through hoops here. But a  very dear friend of mine has began blogging.  I want her to get off to a good start….Her name is Diana(pronounced Dinah)! I remember how exciting it was to get comments when I
first start blogging
Her blog is
SO, What's the BIG DEAL?
Go there and leave her a comment, welcome her to the world of blog, then come back and let me know and you will get your name in the pot five extra times…I will draw for these two copies on Monday plus announce a SPECIAL BLOG ANIVERSARY PRIZE….I have something in mind…just need to put it together.
If you made it to the end of this post you deserve a medal….Just call it RANDOM

do not miss this post
http://www.nogreaterjoymom.com/

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.
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.
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. 

So be encouraged if you are in a situation that is not the best.
THINGS CHANGE!!