Wow... another year!

My, how fast time has flown in the last year.  Much has transpired since my last post.  

When Dad came to visit in December 2012, we had no idea that it would be his last Christmas with us.  We had a glorious four months with him, enjoying breakfast, lunch and supper together each day.  It was a remarkable time, filled with routine, daily matters, but I will cherish each moment we had together.  I have so many precious memories of this time with dad... including prayers of thanksgiving at each meal (that included prayers for each of his children and grandchildren).  We had just started the process of establishing new relationships with doctors in the Dallas area when we learned that dad had a heart valve problem.  Unfortunately, we discovered this when it was really too late for the doctors to fix.  On Easter Sunday, we went to the emergency room and he didn't come home.  He passed away on April 9th.  Frank was at the hospital with him when he passed away, but Steve, Jennifer, Molly, Jeri, Chris and I had just left after having a wonderful visit with him that evening.  There were so many special moments that occurred that day, it's hard to include them all here, but I had gotten a medallion from the college that day that I was able to share with him and a special friend had finished a painting for dad that he had been wanting for several years... a white chapel sitting in a wheat field.  I was able to show him a photo of the painting just a few minutes before he passed away.  I know he liked it... with tears in his eyes, he squeezed my hand that evening.    Little Molly lit up the room that afternoon and she was so precious with him.  Again, it was a wonderful day and one that I will remember always.

The rest of the year has been a blizzard of activity, moving things from dad's house and getting his estate in shape.  There have been lots of forms and documents between Frank, the attorney, the accountant and me.  (Fed Ex has been terrific and been right on time for everything!)  I'm learning lots about the business behind dad's farms and I'm sure we will continue to learn as we move forward over the next several years.  I'm SOOO grateful for Frank's knowledge and for the assistance of great professionals who understand the legalities of all the things we are taking care of these days.

We also sold our family home to a sweet young family and I'm so thrilled that they are loving the home as much as we all did.  I especially love that it's the grandson of one of my mom's special friends.  It really helps take the emotional sting out of selling our home.

On a fun note... Molly and Jaxon are growing like weeds, with both of them celebrating their second birthdays this year.  Molly LOVES Minnie, Mickey and Doc McStuffin, while Jaxon is really loving his train set and Jake the Pirate on Disney.  Both are adorable (I may be a little biased, but I don't think so!!)

Also, Jen and Jamie both got promotions this year-- Jen, at JCP and Jamie at Enterprise.  Julie had another great year with a winning season as Jr. High coach in the Southlake Carroll ISD.  Jonathan is working as an Industrial Designer at TREK and had an awesome first year, with a new design being debuted at TrekWorld.

Steve has had a bit of a tough year, with two knee surgeries.  He ended this year with a partial knee replacement a couple of weeks ago.  He is moving better each day-- gaining strength and flexibility.  The physical therapist is pleased with his progress (for which we are very grateful!!)

I'll try to do a better job of keeping this blog updated in 2014.  Many blessings to friends and family who check in on this blog from time to time.   Have a great new year!!!  :)

Two Years Tomorrow...

As I sit here this evening, reflecting on my life...  I just have to count my blessings.  So much has changed in the last year with joy upon joy.  Both Molly and Jaxon celebrated their first birthdays in 2012 and then, tomorrow, Steve and I celebrate our second anniversary.

We got off to a little bumpy start to 2013 with Dad having pneumonia, but he's much better now and he's made the move to live with us and share time in New Orleans with Frank and Carolyn.  We are having so much fun spending quality time together.  And... I'm getting to practice my cooking skills again after taking a bit of a break during my single years.  :)

I'm finding it harder to keep up with the blog, but I'm going to make a concerted effort to post occasional notes because it's so fun to look back and see all the special moments that have occurred over the years.

I was just looking back at the July 2012 post where Jonathan was getting ready to start his new job.  The year has brought him so many successes.  He is tackling his dream job head-on and it's a joy to watch from the sidelines.  Jen, too...  She is making her way with a wonderful job and she had an incredible promotion this year.

Steve's kiddos are doing great, too, and we have had many "proud parent moments" this last year.

Next on the horizon are all the beautiful spring and summer bulbs that Steve so diligently planted last year...  hundreds of them... and I cannot wait to see their pretty blooms (just like these that have already poked their little heads above ground!!)

A new quote I love from Albert Einstein: “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” Happy Monday, everyone!

Major Life Changes

Today marks yet another major life change for our family.  Jonathan starts his first job as a new graduate, working for Trek in Wisconsin.  He's spent the last week in relocating to his first solo apartment, buying furniture, cooking his first crock-pot meal and becoming acquainted with his new city.  (It looks beautiful, by the way!)  It's been fun watching him construct his new Ikea furniture and although the apartment is a small 500 sq ft studio, I think he's already feeling "at home" there.  I can't wait to hear how his first day at work went.  It reminds me of how I felt when I dropped him off for his first day of school about 18 years ago.  God has been so good to our family all these years and blessed us in so many ways.  I have a full heart this morning!!

Goals...

The puppies woke up so early to go outside this morning... Max at 3:30 a.m, then Ebony at 4... I just cannot go back to sleep, even though it's Saturday! Ugh!! However, I did just have an interesting revelation while I was laying here listening to the a/c blowing struggling to keep up cool. I have been trying to lose weight all of my life, struggling with will power issues (because, basically, I love comfort food!) My big revelation is, that every food decision I make is either a step toward or a step away from my ultimate goal. Maybe it's because it's now 4:30 in the morning, but I think that if I can keep this in mind, it will really help me... Thank you Lord for this particular early morning meditation with you!

Who would have thought... ?

Gosh... after years of blogging, who would have thought that getting married would make such a change in how I spend my time?  I really regret that I haven't been documenting my first year of married life and the experience of being a new grandmother more.  But, alas, I guess I have to accept the fact that life happens and things change.  It was a wonderful first year and I'm soooo blessed to have a wonderful husband and a fun expansion to our family.  Molly and Jaxon are adorable and growing so fast.  What little miracles they are!!  

Jamie and Jaxon

Miss Molly!

Staying Young

How to Stay Young

1. Throw out non-essential numbers such as your age, weight and height.

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down. If you really need a grouch, there are probably family members to fill that need.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Just never let the brain idle.

4. Enjoy the simple things. When the children are young, that is all you can afford. When they are in college that is all you can afford. When they are grown, and you are on retirement, that is all you can afford.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. Laugh so much that you can be tracked in the store by your distinctive laughter.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person that is with us our entire life is ourselves.

7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it is family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies or whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health. If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips. Go to the mall, the next county, a foreign country - but not guilt.

10. Tell the people you love how much you love them every chance you get. Never assume they know.

11. Don't worry about things you cannot change or do anything about. Accept them and move on.

12. Read more and dust less.

13. Spend more time with your family and friends and less time working.

14. Whenever possible, life should be a pattern of experiences to savor, not to endure. Recognize these moments now and cherish them.

15. Do not "save" anything. Use your good china and crystal for every special event such as losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, or the next blossom of flowers you see.

16. Wear your best outfit to the market.

17. Don't save your good perfume for only special occasions. Use it even if you are going shopping or just to the bank.

18. "Someday" and "one of these days" should vanish from your vocabulary. If it is worth seeing or hearing or doing, go and see or hear or do it now