Friday, July 20, 2012

SHE WAS ALL THAT AND MORE

Last week was our beach vacation.  This week is another story (but will post about that later)

I finally MET HER....My first blog friend and the blogger that inspired me to start blogging.... I read her blog a year before
I ever even considered blogging myself. 

Most of you know her as Kat from Just a Beachkat!
If you don't read her blog......you should...She is as real and authentic as her blog reads.  She is a JEWEL!!!




She was everything I expected and more....GORGEOUS, FUN, and Full of Life. 
I felt like I had known her forever.  Just wish we had an entire day to visit.  It was the most fun part of my trip.  We met in Pensacola at a cute little restaurant and then we shopped for a little while.  She was  beautiful inside and out!  And do NOT ever believe her when she says she needs to lose weight.  
She is the perfect size....If you read her blog I hope you get a chance to meet her some day. 

On to this week.....This is the week we had to say goodbye to Parker and Jack as they left the beach for their new home in Katy.  This is the week we have dreaded for three months.

We drove back to Baton Rouge with the boys and Amanda and Micah and had a great dinner at TJ Ribs. We all spent the night (and Jack stayed with us in our room where I snuggled his as close as possible and cried and prayed and got as many kisses as possible.  He owns my heart....  I dont think I slept a wink.   Early Sunday morning Parker came to our room to get him as they were leaving.   The rest of the day is a blur.  All I could do was cry... 

I don't have to tell you what kind of week this  has been.  Jack and I are still not home.  He has a summer cold and is miserable.  We found a 5 star hotel for a  an unbelievable price...you really would not believe me (less than 50 a night)...and have camped out all week.  All the sand filled toys are still in our car.   

We have cried and talked...I have decided if one more person tells me to just "get over it" they may get hurt.  They have no idea what the last 13 years of our lives have been.  The bonding with little boys that was as close as our own children. 
 It feels like we have lost our jobs in life.   I wake up with that deep pit in my stomach and  wonder if I will ever feel happy again.  I know all the  facts.  I know it will only be a four and half hour drive.  I know we have the freedom to visit often...
But I also know we will not be a big part of their lives, I will not have them spending the night several nights a week and they will not be a few minutes away.    I will miss Amanda...She has never lived away from us.  I covet your prayers these next weeks as I try and find a new normal. 

I wanted to post daily at the beach but our internet left a lot to be desired.  We had a fabulous house right on the beach....

We had two bartenders (Ha) some good cooks, late nights on the beach, lots of swimming, ate at some fun places....slept late (me), watched a lot of kid movies for the 100th time, had lots of snuggles with little boys.  Had wet towels by the hundreds it seemed, few naps, just a lot of happy little men....

I read a great book....the story of Bernie Madoffs daughter-in-law,  Amanda and Dana read a popular book...that I won't talk about.   Jack read his normal 4 books...He loved reading on the porch overlooking the kids playing in the ocean.   Overall it was a great trip and we made a MEMORY.

We are family....the good, the bad and the ugly...We are just walking a painful road right now.  A year from now I hope I can smile at this post and not shed a tear. 

Some snapshots from the beach.....you know my family so I am not even going to label them.











 











 


Thursday, July 5, 2012

OFF TO THE BEACH

Our entire family is headed to Gulf Shores tomorrow for eight days.  

NEVER have I needed beach peace more.    

I am going to try and post from the beach and get back to a normal schedule.

               CAN YOU SAY HANDSOME?

                                      GRAY on the FOURTH



               CAN YOU SAY PRECIOUS?

   
And a little perk that I am so excited about...  I am going to have lunch and see FACE to FACE, KAT!!!!

Sunday, July 1, 2012

TODAY WAS MOVING DAY

Its midnight and I made it through the day.    I thought about blogging about the fires in Colorado, Obamacare, my trip to Christmas market, Gray turning 3 but tonight only one thing is on my heart


Today was the official day that Amanda and her family moved to Houston.  She will be back and forth for several months.
Plus we all leave on vacation on Thursday so I know I will see them again soon.  That softens the blow, but just the fact that they took more than a suitcase  made me hurt all over.




Jack has been with us the last three days and I have gotten hundreds of hugs and kisses.  He has gotten anything he wanted.

When I feel the tears about to spill I head for the other room so he won't ask me what is wrong.  How do you tell a four year old he is moving to another state and taking my heart with him. 


 (Parker is at the beach with his dad this week)
 
Amanda and Micah have had great friends give them going away parties. 
I could not bring myself to give Jack one. 

This is Amands best friend since preschool





Through thick and thin they have stayed BEST FRIENDS!!  I know that will never change.

I have talked to all those that have always lived away from their kids and grandkids, those that have much bigger problems, those that seeing their "little's "a couple of times a year is plenty.
(I am not one of those)   That's their reality.  Mine is quite different.

For 13 years Parker has been my life and for Jack's four years of life he has held my heart in his hands.  Jack was born soon after both my parents died.  He became synonymous with JOY.  I still cannot imagine my day to day life without him. 

I know there will be some that read this and think "If she only knew what problems were?"  I get that. 

I am also a person that is not crazy about change.  If life is anything, it is change.  I must do a better job of living with it.  I will miss Amanda so much.  We have lived close all her life. 

Enough about me....

Crew is in much need of prayer.  He has all kinds of things going on but mainly his kidneys.  He will be having a surgery this next week.  Marie is emotionally and physically exhausted. 

On a lighter note, my number one ELF, Terri....will launch her new website tomorrow..I hope you will get a chance to stop by.  http://www.milanddildesigns.com/

She has worked so hard on in it and has so many creative ideas. 

I have been stopping by and reading blogs, but have been very bad at leaving comments.  Please forgive me.  Thanks for all the sweet comments you have sent me.  I am going to do better at leaving comments....PROMISE.  

We leave for the beach the middle of this week and I will be gone for 10 days.  I will post pictures of all the "little's"! 

Happy Sunday!