tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48297827513802165302024-02-19T17:50:13.875-08:00The Burch Family TreeUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829782751380216530.post-73207094203324363702017-06-13T07:32:00.000-07:002017-06-13T07:40:35.607-07:00A picture is worth a thousand wordsI recently started taking a photography class at a local college. Last week Monday June 5th was the very first class. We were asked to bring a photo the following week that is important to us. Immediately I knew which photo I wanted to use. I've debated with myself this past week whether or not I should actually use the photo that first came to mind. I thought about taking an easier route, but then I thought sometimes the most meaningful things are said and done when we take the harder path. When it came down to it I decided to go with my first instincts, little did I know the impact it would have. <br />
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I sat there last night waiting my turn to show my photo and explain its meaning. Suddenly I became nervous, shaky even. I could feel my heart beating away as if it were trying to escape my body. I prayed for strength. <br />
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Finally it was my turn. <br />
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The professor walked up to me and took the photo from my trembling hands. I managed to say ''I'm going to try really hard not to cry'' because in that moment when I had to actually explain the photo in front of 20+ strangers I felt all of the emotions that I see and remember when I look at this particular photograph hit me like a ton of bricks. <br />
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He told me it was okay, I didn't have to say anything if I didn't want to. That's too easy, I've never taken the easy path for anything. He walked around with my photo in his hand, showing it to each face in the room one by one. <br />
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He looked at me and then he looked at everyone else. He said ''This is the power of a photograph''<br />
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Finally I managed to speak, it wasn't what I had wanted to say but it got the point across. <br />
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I talked about how my brother wanted to visit Montana his entire life, but never got to make it there. I told them of the promise I made the day he died, and how I went there for him. And that this is one of many photos I took like this. Photography is powerful, it captures moments, small fractions of our lives, and each photo tells a story. Not every story is filled with laughter, but that doesn't mean they can't have a powerful impact on someone. <br />
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He then thanked me, and I could tell he himself was a little emotional. Then he thanked me for sharing my photo again. He said he understands the special meaning of it because he recently lost someone important to him. <br />
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For me this photo reminds me of so many things. They always say a picture is worth a thousand words, and that quote rings so true for me especially in this particular photo. It reminds me of the hundreds of memories I have of my brother. It reminds me of all the hours I worked to save and plan on this trip to Montana. It reminds me of a promise kept, and a promise fulfilled. It reminds me of all the emotions that rushed over me when I finally made it to Montana. It also reminds me of all the heartache I experienced and still experience following his death. <br />
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Photography is important to me, and always has been. The older I get the less it's about just having photos and more about preserving memories, even the heartbreaking ones. Take photos of the good days, but also take photos of the powerful, emotional and spiritual experience's in life because they too are important because they're part of what shapes us. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829782751380216530.post-31682141033099544152017-05-21T23:39:00.000-07:002017-05-22T05:50:30.242-07:00We aren't truly living until we know HIMLittle did I know that when we moved here to Semmes I would become such great friends with our neighbor until the day we first met and had a conversation, realizing then we had similar interests. We have shared so many good times together, we have made such amazing memories. We have cried together, we've been there for each other during hard times, we have laughed together. <br />
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I've always believed God places people in our lives for a reason. Sometimes the reason is obvious. Sometimes we don't truly grasp the reason until years down the road when we don't even have contact with that person anymore, or even remember their name and have an ''aha'' moment. Sometimes people are sent to hurt us, to make us cherish and appreciate those who love us maybe just a little more. Some come into our lives and make such a positive impact that they couldn't possibly be forgotten. God placed her in my life to lead me to the path he wanted me to take.<br />
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One day she invited us to her church. I didn't realize until today what an impact she would make in my life. I was more than happy to attend church with her. I was excited! I cried throughout the service. It felt so good to worship HIM. <br />
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This weekend was all planned out, or so I thought. I was going camping with my children, and my sons Cub Scout pack. It was rained out. I had already said to myself earlier in the week that I really wanted to go to church Sunday morning, but knew that would be unlikely due to the camping trip. I had even thought about leaving camp early Sunday morning in order to go home and get ready for church. Then came the rain, and my sons Cub master cancelled the campout. I had no idea in what a powerful way God was working in my life for this day to fall into place. He was calling upon me, and my heart was listening.<br />
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Today I went to church, as I have so many times before. I took my children upstairs and signed them in. Walking away to go downstairs I could hear my child carrying out a conversation most adults have never even had. There he is 9 years old, wanting to commit his life to the Lord, telling one of the youth directors he wants to be Baptized about a week after his tenth birthday. His tenth birthday is only days away. <br />
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I sat there in my row, next to my friend, and her in-laws and her parents sitting on the other side of the room. All people I am blessed to know. I listened to the lyrics of the songs, I took notes during the service, like I have done for a long time. Something felt different. God was calling on me today!<br />
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How can I be the mother God wants me to be? How can I become the woman God wants me to be? How can I become the woman I desired to be for so many years? I've always believed and had faith but still I'm not perfect, we all sin and I'm no exception to that. The older I get the closer to God I want to become. I've been to church and been rejected by people who don't know my heart. <br />
When the service was coming to an end they asked if there was anyone who wanted to accept Jesus into their heart to come forward. I have heard those words so many times before and wanted to go up and accept Jesus into my heart, and never did. Why? I'm not really sure. <br />
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Today was different.<br />
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God knows my heart, he knows all of the things I praise him for. He knows my every flaw and my every mistake, and my sins. Still he was calling on me. HIS love for each one of us is unconditional. With my friend by my side I walked to the front of the sanctuary I was so overwhelmed in the best way possible and tears of joy flowed down my face. I was overwhelmed with God's love. I sobbed tears of joy. Words can't describe the love I felt today. So many people wrapped their arms around me and told me they loved me and were happy for me. Some of them I didn't even know. The amount of love and support I received was overwhelming. That type of love is how we were intended to live, rejoice in each others triumphs, support each other when we are down. Just love each other. This is the beginning of a new chapter in my life, and I can't wait to see where it leads me. <br />
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Today May 21st, 2017 is a day I'll always remember.<br />
We aren't truly living until we know HIM. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1Semmes, AL, USA30.7787042 -88.25962950000001730.6695782 -88.420991000000015 30.8878302 -88.098268000000019tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829782751380216530.post-46359451572547027382016-07-16T20:47:00.000-07:002016-07-16T20:51:55.837-07:00My ''Montana Moment'' <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My brother spoke of Montana all of his life, Whitefish in particular. The day he died I made the promise to go for him. There's probably not a lot of people who know me that don't already know that. I had no idea how much that promise would weigh on me. When you love someone, your love doesn't end when that person takes their last breath. If anything I think that when a person dies, that's when we finally wake up and realize exactly how much that person meant to us. It makes us appreciate life and not take a single day for granted. There's a constant pain that won't go away no matter how hard we try. Does it get easier? No. I think as humans we just learn to cope with it. Even in death we can still show how much we love someone. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Over the past year I have worked and worked and worked. I picked up shifts, had yard sales. I wasn't doing this for myself, I was doing it for him. I deprived myself of going to the beach or doing anything fun in the sake of saving money. So much to the point I finally just broke down crying one night when my husband was at work and reached out to my best friend KA. I felt guilty, because if I did something that required me to spend money, I would always feel horrible afterwards because its money I could have saved for Montana. She quickly reminded me that it was okay, she made me realize I needed to get out and do something other than work, and I did. It felt so good! It gave me the strength to keep going, and working towards this goal. Sometimes we just need a little reminder. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jason has been on my mind every SINGLE day since his death. The pain I feel when I think of him is real, and its deep. This promise was by no means a burden, but it weighed me down at times. I felt like no matter how hard I worked and saved it would never be enough. I wanted this trip to be special, one that Jason would have enjoyed. I wanted it to be a trip my children could remember for years to come. I even researched local photographer until I found the most amazing and talented, kind hearted photographer in the whole state of Montana! Photography has always been very important to me. I knew I would want photos to remember this special trip for all the years to come. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I can remember counting down the year, the months, the weeks, and then days, and then down to the very hour we departed for Montana. My husband, kids and I were all packed on Sunday morning, July 3rd and we were on the road and it still just didn't seem real. I was about to keep a promise to my brother. I felt so many emotions. This trip was way bigger than I had imagined, and definitely more rewarding than I could have dreamed of. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My kiddos got to experience seeing parts of their great country in person, which is why we made the decision to drive.</span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I was so excited about the fact that they were EXCITED! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Texas sunset 7/3</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Rainy day in Oklahoma 7/4</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We stopped to stretch and grab a Colorado geocache! 7/4</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Beautiful sunset over the Colorado Rockies! 7/4</span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">A quick lesson on Wyoming's Wildlife 7/5</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">My son in particular was especially excited about all the new states we would see. He kept telling me to make sure I told him each time we were about to enter a new state. So I tried to always keep a close eye on the Garmin. There are certain songs that remind me of Jason, and one I particular that I absolutely haven't been able to listen to without crying since his passing, yet on this trip we heard it on the radio numerous times and I managed not to cry.</span> </span><br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RM5aW83L_DE&feature=player_embedded"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You can watch a video of Luke Bryan singing the song here. </span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">When I knew we were approaching the Montana state line, I felt myself becoming more emotional and the very second I laid eyes onto that Montana sign, I began crying.</span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Montana will forever hold a special place in my heart. 7/5</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">We made it big bro! Thanks for being my guardian angel and watching over us! 7/5</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">This moment hit me harder than I had ever imagined. I cried more than I thought I would. My husband held me in his arms and reminded me that everything was going to be okay. I knew this was a big deal, I just never fathomed exactly how big of a deal it was. This was one of those moments that almost didn't seem real, it was almost like I was living inside a dream and I didn't want to wake up. I wanted to soak it all up. I wanted to enjoy it and make memories to last the rest of my life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I felt different. It's hard to explain but I felt like I could finally breathe again, like a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders. This was my ''Montana Moment'' I felt like I was slowly beginning to heal, but that's still a long road to walk. I felt like he was there with us, and he was, I know without a doubt he was. So many times on the way there we would see a Camaro, and we would just smile and think about him. So many memories of him, and reflecting back onto so many amazing memories he left with us. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We had dinner at an adorable little establishment called Piggy Back BBQ. I tried buffalo for the first time, and it was the best meat I had tried in my entire life! My husband understands me more than I understand myself at times. So he stayed at the hotel at the end of the day, with the kiddos in the pool so that I could venture out on my own. He more than anyone understood that I needed that time alone in Whitefish to reflect and be alone in my thoughts. While I was out I just kinda drove around for a little while, I managed to grab two geocaches. While I was signing the log at the second geocache I looked up and saw a double rainbow. I couldn't help but smile through all the tears, because I knew he was there with me for every single step of the way. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Double rainbow in Whitefish, MT 7/5</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">This was the view from our hotel window at 10:00 pm! We were so thrown off by it still being daylight!</span> 7/5</div>
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On Thursday 7/6 we spent most of the day at Glacier National Park. It's by far one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. Well worth the $30 we had to pay to enter the park! </div>
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I never knew the mountains could be so beautiful. </div>
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The clearest, most beautiful water I've ever seen.</div>
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During our drive the closer we got to Whitefish the more and more yellow fields we would see. We had no idea what it was. It was during our photoshoot that our photographer told us they were canola fields. They were absolutely stunning! </div>
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He was with me every step of the way. </div>
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After a long day at GNP and having our family photos made for the first time in over seven years we took the kiddos back to the hotel. Again my husband stayed with them while I spent some time alone. I saw a female deer as I approached Whitefish Beach, several of the locals referred to them as being like cockroaches because they are everywhere. I cant imagine being so use to such beautiful creatures that we would begin to think of them that way. </div>
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We had met a local police officer earlier in the day. He was extremely nice as he chatted with my husband about police work. They exchanged patches and business cards. I asked him if he knew where a pier was that I could easily access. He recommended the one at the public beach. </div>
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''Can't believe you're really gone don't feel like going home so I'm gonna sit right here on the edge of this pier watch the sunset disappear and drink a beer'' </div>
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I walked out onto the edge of the pier, I sat there talking to his photo and telling him how much I wish he could be there with me. Even though I know he was there with me as much as he could be. I turned my iTunes on and listened to the song I couldn't stand to hear for more than a year. I sobbed. I sipped on a beer despite the fact the nearby no alcohol sign and my disliking beer. I never bend the rules like that, and this was the one time in my life that I didn't care about it. Anyone who knew Jason knew that Budweiser was his beer, what I didn't drink I poured into the lake. {which was almost the whole can} Almost as if I was pouring a beer for him. </div>
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I took a drive around Whitefish Lake and visited downtown. I listened to songs that made me think of him, I laughed and I cried and a very small part of me healed that day. </div>
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#Montana4Jason 7/7</div>
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Our time in Montana may have been short lived, but one thing is for sure is the fact that I'll be back again someday. </div>
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On the way home we visited the Crazy Horse Monument in South Dakota. I hope that they are able to complete it someday. </div>
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Our 9 year old son is the reason we visited Mount Rushmore. We went home a different route just so he could see it. He's a special kid, not many 9 year olds would ask to go see it in person. </div>
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World's only Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota </div>
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7/10 Missouri God blessed us with another beautiful sunset. </div>
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In the end we traveled 5,375 miles and then we were home. It seemed as though this trip went by far too fast. </div>
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When I went home for my brothers funeral, I stayed with our older brother John and his family. I knew I had to write something to read at Jason's funeral. I knew exactly where I wanted to go to do that. I went to Wal-Mart with my husband to purchase a notebook. I ended up picking out one that had a bright yellow Camaro on the cover, Jason would have approved of that. </div>
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We went back to John's house, but it didn't feel right. I wanted to be alone with my thoughts. I got into my Tahoe and drove out into the woods. The same woods where my two brothers and I grew up hunting in, cutting fire wood, and playing army. I sat there in my truck with the heat turned on, and the music turned off. It was just me and my thoughts on that cold night, and a sky filled with millions of beautiful stars. They seemed to shine so much brighter with tears in my eyes. Looking back now, there are things I wish I had said, or things I would have worded differently, but in retrospect I believe I did the best I could at the time. </div>
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Saturday February 14th; the day of his funeral, was also our nieces birthday. It still breaks my heart that we had to bury him on her birthday. </div>
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I was a total train wreck. I walked up to his casket, and I held his hand. </div>
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I didn't want to let go.</div>
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I didn't want to say goodbye. </div>
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I don't even remember how long I stood there talking to him, holding his hand but I know it wasn't near long enough. I could have stood there holding onto his hand for a hundred years and I still wouldn't have wanted to let go. I never wanted to let go, but I knew I had to. Watching my brother being lowered into the ground was by far the hardest day of my life. </div>
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So many times I had been to that church, so many important lessons learned there. So many joyous occasions that have left me with great memories. </div>
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I've tried to go back inside that church since his funeral, but I just can't. </div>
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During his service, they got to the part where I was supposed to stand up and read the letter I had written to my brother. In that moment there was no possible way I could find enough composure to stand in that church, with everyone and even be able to read one sentence. So my brave husband offered to go up and read it for me. </div>
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He stood up there in his uniform, and when he spoke it made it so much harder for me. His strong, brave, confident voice was so shaky, he had tears. My husband and my brother thought the world of each other, and that was always so important to me. Words cannot describe how extermly proud I am of my husband. He was strong when I was weak. He started by saying ''You may want to get your tissues ready'' </div>
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The following was written by me on Friday February 13th 2015</div>
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''I'm not sure where to begin or what to say. How does a little sister compress three decades into a few words?<br />
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When I was born I instantly had two brothers who would forever be my best friends. <br />
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Over the years we have had our highs, and we have had our lows. We made incredible memories, and we had epic fights. Still we grew stronger and closer. <span class="text_exposed_hide">...</span><span class="text_exposed_show"><br /><br /> Jason taught me how to fight, and how to forgive. I'm going to miss his blonde jokes. I'll miss him calling me Sasquatch. I'll miss him towering over me, looking down with that smile as he made fun of my height. I will miss his voice, his laughter and his amazing hugs. <br /><br /> I will never wonder if he loved me because he told me all the time. <br /><br /> You brought joy and laughter to everyone who had the privilege of knowing you. You were the best friend anyone could ask for. You were everything a father should be. You worked so hard to provide for your little family. You were an amazing husband to Joanna. <br /><br /> Joanna, please always remember the good times, and never forget that he was madly in love with you. <br /><br /> Cameron, please know your Daddy worshiped you. You were his little buddy. Aunt Jen loves you more than you can ever imagine. I'll always be there for you, no matter what. <br /><br /> Right now my heart is shattered into a billion pieces. I know that someday in the unforeseeable future God will give me peace with this. <br /><br /> From this day forward I will thrive to be a better person because of you. <br /><br /> One day I'll be able to look at a sunset and see you there. <br /><br /> I'll walk on the beach. I'll feel the sand and the waves. I'll think of our beach days together. <br /><br /> I'll take a breath of fresh air and feel you there. <br /><br /> I will laugh for you, and I'll cry for you. <br /><br /> I will live each day as if I'm living it for you. <br /><br /> I'll see a Camaro drive down the road, and I'll smile and think of you. <br /><br /> I'll hear a song and I'll think of you. I will sing along and dance so you can laugh at me in Heaven. <br /><br /> There's so much more I could say, but I'll leave you with two last promises. <br /><br /> The first being that I'll always be there for Cameron. <br /><br /> Second; I know your life long dream was to visit Montana. Someday I'll go there for you. I'll breathe in the fresh air, and stand on that Montana mountainside and just for you I'll yell out one heck of a ROLL TIDE! <br /><br /> Rest in peace my angel, my hero. You have your sisters heart forever.''</span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show">Little did I know at that time, but he really is with me still. I think of him when I'm at the beach. I still want to pick up the phone and call him just to hear his voice. I hear certain songs and I have to immediately change the radio otherwise I will uncontrollably cry. I see Camaro's as I drive and I think of him. I see him in my dreams, and for that I am so very thankful. </span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show">As much as my heart was broken and still is very much broken because of his death I still have such a deep love for him, I am so very grateful for the 30 years that God allowed him to be in my life. </span></div>
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</span></span><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829782751380216530.post-69820468426421148302016-03-27T19:41:00.000-07:002018-04-17T19:59:52.277-07:00The day my brother died....The day my brother <em>died</em> was by far one of the darkest days I've ever experienced. Words simply cannot describe the gut wrenching emotional pain I felt. It's the kind of pain that hits not only your heart but your soul, your entire being.<br />
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I remember the exact moment and the exact location when I got the call, and to this day I still can't drive past it without getting a lump in my throat. </div>
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It's the kind of phone call no one on earth should ever get. I was driving on Moffett Road, and I can remember screaming and I swerved in front of a semi truck into a parking lot. Somehow by a miracle I made it to that parking lot without being in an accident. Your brain simply cannot process things or properly function at that moment. It's like your whole entire body is consumed by the pain. I never knew what a broken heart was until this day. </div>
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I remember flinging off my seat belt, and swinging the door open. I immediately felt my knees hit the asphalt of that parking lot. I cried out to God. I begged him to not take my brother, I begged him to let him stay with us here on Earth. I remember reaching across the edge of the asphalt and just grabbing my fingers into the grass as I screamed. I was shaking uncontrollably, I began to throw up. I could literally feel my heart breaking, and I don’t know that it will ever be the same again. </div>
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Tears, filled my eyes as I type this, because I'm reliving that moment.........</div>
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I don't know how long I was there crying, screaming, praying..... </div>
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I remember hearing a soft voice saying "ma'am are you okay?" </div>
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I couldn't speak, I couldn't breath, and I couldn't move. It was like I was paralyzed. </div>
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All I could do was hand the woman my phone, and when she looked in my phone somehow she knew exactly who she needed to call.</div>
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Not long after that she got into my Tahoe,and moved it.<br />
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I was so glad to hear my husbands voice when he got there to pick me up. </div>
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It felt like I was there for a hundred years, living that moment in slow motion.<br />
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Suicide isn't a selfish act. It's an act carried out by someone who has been consumed by an illness. An illness that often goes unnoticed until its too late. Suicide is no different than any other death. Nobody wakes up and says they want to die in a car accident, nobody wakes up and says they want to die of cancer. I know my brother did not wake up that day and think he would die that day. I think it started off like any other normal work day. He got up, got ready and drove to work and started his normal work routine just like any other day. Not once did I ever think something was off with him, not for a single second. He was always joking, he was always making everyone around him laugh. <br />
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In the car, on the way to my little hometown it seemed like the longest trip I had ever been on, but it wasn't. It dragged on and on and on. It was the longest four hours of my life. In the car on the way there, I told my husband I was going to fulfill Jason's lifelong dream and go to Whitefish, Montana for him. He said ''whatever you want, we will do''. He has held me at my weakest, loved me at my darkest and supported me every single step of the way. <br />
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As a little sister I always imagined growing old with my two older brothers, I never imagined one of us would be gone at such a young age. I never imagined I would be the one to choose his casket, I never dreamed I would be the one to decided the clothes he wore for his burial. NEVER. <br />
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I cried so much that my eyelids were swollen, I didn't even know that was possible. <br />
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These past several weeks and months have been purely exhausting for me. I've worked double shifts without a break. I've worked overtime. I've picked up extra shifts. I've worked on my off days. I've sacrifieced time with my husband, and our children. All so that I can keep my promise to him, and now we are less than 100 days away from beginning our trip and keeping my promise. This trip is mostly about keeping that promise, but I also feel that it will provide me with a small amout of closure. I know he will be with us every step of the way. <br />
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I'll see you in Montana Jason. . . . </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829782751380216530.post-36236782592573092132016-03-22T06:05:00.000-07:002017-05-22T06:06:58.791-07:00Guilt <br />
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Yesterday I met up with one of my best friends in Mobile to see a movie. After that I had to pick up some stuff to prepare dinner. I walked into Target and the amazing aroma lingering from Starbucks was so overwhelming that I thought '' I deserve it''. So I grabbed my favorite, and enjoyed it as I made my way through each aisle of Target. I paid for my items, and went to my truck. I made it to the first red light before I started crying. I had an overwhelming feeling of guilt. <br />
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Why? I had a great time with Katieanne, and I totally enjoyed every sip of my coffee. I didn't deserve to spend any money, I didn't deserve that coffee or that movie. That's money that I could have saved for our trip in July. A trip we are making so that I can keep my promise to my brother Jason. A promise I made to him just two hours after his death, and again at his funeral. <br />
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I snapchatted Katieanne and she told me I did deserve it, I work hard and I of all people deserve a little something for myself. She is by far one of the greatest friends I have ever had. She's been there for me through so much over the past year, and I am beyond grateful to call her my friend. <br />
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I came home and my husband was getting ready for his shift at work. I walked into our bedroom and told him and started crying again. He held me and told me how silly I was being. Truth is nobody will ever realize how much keeping this promise means to me. Yes, he's gone, but he will be with me every step, every mile of this trip. I absolutely cannot wait to stand on that Montana mountain side and take in the view that my brother had always wanted to see. <br />
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I've thought about blogging about his death for a while. I've typed it all out, read it and then hit the delete button. Truth is I've finally realized it may actually help me and get some of it off of my mind. People may read it, they may not. Either way I don't care because I'm doing this for me. <br />
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I have worked every shift possible, I have picked up extra shifts. I have gone almost two weeks without an off day. <br />
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Today I felt the love and support of my Husband and one of my best friends. This is going to be an amazing journey. A journey of love and hopefully healing.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829782751380216530.post-46606191035385813412013-12-08T12:34:00.000-08:002013-12-08T12:46:22.981-08:00My chosen familyThis blog post is for people who don't necessarily understand us car enthusiasts. When I was a teenager I quickly learned the distinct sound of the mustang, and hearing that sound never gets old. I dreamed of having my own mustang someday. Little did I know that dream would become a reality not once but twice. I've owned a coupe and a convertible, it's the best of both worlds. <br />
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A short time later I learned about the Rocket City Mustang Club. I went for my very first car show at Sears on May 12, 2007 when I was 8.5 months pregnant with my son. I baked in the hot sun all day, and at the end of it all I was rewarded with a sunburn and a first place trophy. There were a few giggles as I waddled up to get my award. That was all it took I was hooked. I met so many good hearted people that day, people who remain to be some of the best friends I could ever ask for. People who have been there for me through thick and thin, just as I have done for them. The following year, my husband dropped my car off at the show, and returned to the hospital to be with me and our newborn daughter Shelby. She was named after Carroll Shelby, and I will own a Shelby mustang someday! <br />
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Sure the cars are nice to look at, and always fun to drive, and occasionally turn a few heads. Yes, we can get a bit unruly on the roads from time to time but it's an adrenaline rush most people just can't comprehend. I've driven my car in numerous parades, been to countless shows, and cruise-ins. I participated in the Mustang's 45th anniversary celebration at Barber Motorsports park. I've driven my car at 135mph on the turns of the Talladega Super Speedway. Nothing can compare to that. <br />
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BUT it's so much more than all of that! Being a part of RCMC, MCA, AND MBMC has brought so many new people into my life. Many of which will remain lifelong friends, people who will always be there for me no matter what. People that I've laughed with, cried with, disagreed with, and always make fun of Camaro's with. {it's all in good fun though} Some of these friends I talk to daily, others just occasionally. Yet I still know that no matter how many miles to road puts between us they will never be more than a phone call away. These people have become more than my friends, they are my family and I am so blessed to have met each of them.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4o-Ej4gM3etRmPP_pHCgWo-knpjB6mbNGTQK4cbr1BIbcrxvRPKVDbNACQjFf00i4uAMTu1BxbEDhyphenhyphenBpL6d65-fhilBoitLJwjqjfG0R4wy2D57TO37pS2-BtNc9Pp_PnTzGhfFCibb0/s1600/969355_10151701758754796_89984240_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4o-Ej4gM3etRmPP_pHCgWo-knpjB6mbNGTQK4cbr1BIbcrxvRPKVDbNACQjFf00i4uAMTu1BxbEDhyphenhyphenBpL6d65-fhilBoitLJwjqjfG0R4wy2D57TO37pS2-BtNc9Pp_PnTzGhfFCibb0/s1600/969355_10151701758754796_89984240_n.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lisa and I at her wedding. She's just as beautiful on the inside as she is out.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My friend Alex at Dauphin Island during his visit with us a few weeks ago. <br />
He's like a brother to me, and I would do anything for him. <br />
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My goofy friend William and I at Hooters in Huntsville,AL </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLYfn8YawuphdLuxku0mFnpq1PDSeF9CEOuidYKXgtRM5ZJWn1T00kDbQfh_zhR004aa5iUUhBmCbYKlhdkcDN60f1O_ZjXq04PjwBcFMash7KK1A7SM5TxhCci-SJLzLKDIvOCrLjuXSv/s1600/998800_10152057193119796_1765158740_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLYfn8YawuphdLuxku0mFnpq1PDSeF9CEOuidYKXgtRM5ZJWn1T00kDbQfh_zhR004aa5iUUhBmCbYKlhdkcDN60f1O_ZjXq04PjwBcFMash7KK1A7SM5TxhCci-SJLzLKDIvOCrLjuXSv/s320/998800_10152057193119796_1765158740_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sweet friend Sharon and I at Wintzell's during her visit last month. </td></tr>
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So now you know, it's more than just a car: it's a piece of who I am. I've made so many memories with my RCMC family, and I'm looking forward to the new ones I will make with my new MBMC family.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829782751380216530.post-82118217022347435752013-04-02T20:35:00.001-07:002013-04-02T20:35:25.953-07:00ContemplationSometimes I wish life had a pause button. I would just pause until I figured out what I'm supposed to be doing, and who I am. <br />
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Seems like I have lost myself lately. I don't feel like I know who I am anymore. I'm 28 years old, and until recently I've always thought I knew who I was.<br />
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My relationship with God has grown so much over the past few months. My family and I regularly attend church. So why do I feel like I don't know what my purpose is? I'm listening and waiting for his guidance. I know he will guide me into the right direction in his time, but I can't help but wonder about things. What was I created for? Where do I belong? <br />
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The people who I thought cared about me don't seem to care about me at all. I love my husband, and children. I know they love me yet I feel as if I'm not worthy enough to deserve their love. Where is all this coming from? I went from a happy person to a confused person within a matter of a few days. <br />
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Is it stress? Am I overwhelmed? Is it because I'm trying to balance work, being a wife/mother, finding a house, and somewhere in between trying to do laundry clean and cook dinner. (Not to mention school, dance & gymnastics.) I've even had two panic attacks in the last week, that's not normal for me at all. <br />
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I've asked myself a thousand questions the past few days..... Am I a good wife? a good mother? A good friend? A good sister? <br />
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It seems as if I've put so much of myself into trying my hardest to be a good wife, and mother that I seemed to have lost myself. So where did I go? And how do I get the old me back? <br />
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I've picked up the phone a dozen times to call my grandmother, only to burst out into tears because for a split second I let myself forget just long enough to call.......only to remember that she's in heaven. I miss her, and I miss her wisdom & guidance.<br />
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Would she be proud of me? What advice would she give me right now? <br />
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People probably don't understand why I'm being so distant to everyone now. I deleted my Facebook, I rarely get on twitter. I'm just trying to figure me out, and I don't even know where to begin. I know one thing for certain I can't do it with all these distractions in my life. <br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829782751380216530.post-79820232799654081252013-03-11T20:55:00.000-07:002013-03-11T20:55:28.754-07:00Happy, & excited, but stressed! <ul>
<li>My husband has been a police officer for 26 years, and will be retiring in June. {Just 12 weeks away!}</li>
<li> The past few weeks we have spent hours at night sorthing through real estate listings online. </li>
<li>Seems like everytime we find one we LOVE, someone buys it before we can even go look at it. </li>
<li>I know God has a plan for us, and I guess those other homes just weren't meant to be ours.</li>
<li>Today I was so stressed out over it I felt excited, worried, stressed, freaked out, hyper, scared, worried, and about to vomit all at one time! Worst feeling ever!</li>
<li>I've already started packing the non-essential items. I just can't believe we are about to move. </li>
<li>We talked about it for so long and it always seemed so far away, and now its so close to happening that it's like I feel like a child waiting on Christmas to arrive! </li>
<li>Any tips/suggestions do's/donts on the subject are greatly appreciated! Please feel free to post them! </li>
</ul>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829782751380216530.post-83065539407111388422013-03-11T20:32:00.000-07:002013-03-11T20:32:25.009-07:00Unexpected Blessings <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I haven't been able to post anything in a while, or even read my friends blogs. I just felt like I needed to take a moment to remember all of the blessings God has given me. Seems like I've lost track of all reality since my beautiful grandmother passed away, and in that I have forgotten to be thankful for my blessings. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I had been working at an awful job where I would go into work at 4 in the afternoon, and if I was lucky I would get off at 1am. Most nights it was closer to 2:30 or three before I would get off work. Then I would have to get up the next morning and get my son ready pack his lunch and take him to school. I just felt awful all the time, drained, no energy what so ever!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I finally decided to just quit. I went two months without a job. I applied anywhere and everywhere I could. Then one day I was on Facebook scrolling through my news feed I saw a post from 24/7 Health & Fitness saying they were looking for Kidz Zone attendants, and to email to schedule an interview. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I went for two different interviews, hoping to just get a job as an attendant. They shocked me when the gave me the coordinator position! God is so good! I had prayed and asked him to help me find a job and its like it literally fell into my lap! (literally on my computer screen)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I started on November 5th, and I enjoy it so much. I work with babies three months old to children twelve years old. I have great hours for a mom who still has to tend to kids, keep up with a house, make dinners etc. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"> I am just so thankful for all the blessings I have been given. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829782751380216530.post-91841320243118468092012-12-26T12:42:00.000-08:002012-12-26T13:07:24.960-08:00A Time for EverythingI'll start this post with my favorite bible verse, which was read at her funeral on Sunday. <br />
Ecclesiastes 3<br />
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<span class="text Eccl-3-1" id="en-NIV-17361">A Time for Everything</span><br />
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<div class="poetry"><div class="line"><span class="chapter-1"><span class="text Eccl-3-1"><span class="chapternum">3 </span>There is a time<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-17361A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup> for everything,</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Eccl-3-1">and a season for every activity under the heavens:</span></span></div></div><br />
<div class="poetry top-05"><div class="line"><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Eccl-3-2" id="en-NIV-17362"><sup class="versenum">2 </sup><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span>a time to be born and a time to die,</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Eccl-3-2">a time to plant and a time to uproot,<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-17362B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup></span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Eccl-3-3" id="en-NIV-17363"><sup class="versenum">3 </sup><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span>a time to kill<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-17363C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup> and a time to heal,</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Eccl-3-3">a time to tear down and a time to build,</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Eccl-3-4" id="en-NIV-17364"><sup class="versenum">4 </sup><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span>a time to weep and a time to laugh,</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Eccl-3-4">a time to mourn and a time to dance,</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Eccl-3-5" id="en-NIV-17365"><sup class="versenum">5 </sup><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span>a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Eccl-3-5">a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Eccl-3-6" id="en-NIV-17366"><sup class="versenum">6 </sup><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span>a time to search and a time to give up,</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Eccl-3-6">a time to keep and a time to throw away,</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Eccl-3-7" id="en-NIV-17367"><sup class="versenum">7 </sup><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span>a time to tear and a time to mend,</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Eccl-3-7">a time to be silent<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-17367D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></sup> and a time to speak,</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Eccl-3-8" id="en-NIV-17368"><sup class="versenum">8 </sup><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span>a time to love and a time to hate,</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Eccl-3-8">a time for war and a time for peace.</span></span></div></div><br />
I take great comfort in these words. Because I know our separation is only temporary. <br />
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If I close my eyes I can still feel the warmth of the fireplace, I can hear her favorite PBS programs on the TV, Nancy's Notions, Julia Child, Nature, This Old House, etc. <br />
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I can still remember the feel of the crisp clean sheets on the bed in the spare bedroom. I can remember her peeking through the door to check if I was awake. Then I would jump out of bed and a chill would run up my spine as my feet hit the hardwood floors. <br />
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I remember the crackling of the fire as she worked to get it going. I remember the sizzle of the cast iron skillet as she prepared breakfast for the two of us. If I close my eyes I can still hear the dogs toenails as she paced the hardwoods. Nights spent in that house with her were the best. <br />
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I can remember Saturdays spent in Ashville paying bills running errands and making a quick pit stop to any yard sale we would pass by. I remember Sunday mornings spent at Mountain Top Flea Market.<br />
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I can remember my favorite thing to do with her, she had dozens and dozens of rings. I would walk into her bedroom, pull out the little drawer of the jewelry box and carry it in the den. I would take each ring out one by one and admire it. I would ask her where she got it or who gave them to her, and she without missing a beat could tell you who gave it to her, and on what occasion, or where she purchased it. <br />
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I remember a childhood trip to the Smokey Mountains in which she sat next to me in the car, singing along to the familiar country songs as they drifted out of the car speakers.<br />
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I remember the taste of her homemade vegetable soup, there's none like it in the world. The taste of her Dilly Dally Onion Rings, her ''Nanny Tea'' and her famous fudge. All of these things have had their time, and now only remain in my memories. My heart aches, it aches because I want to feel the warmth of her hugs, or the softness of her voice on the other end of the phone. I've played the voicemail's shes left me at least a dozen times. I know she wouldn't want me to cry for her, I know more than anything she wouldn't want that. <br />
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She was the one I would run to as a child when I would fall down and get hurt or be heartbroken over a boy as a teenager. She was my rock, she was the one person I could talk to about anything. Where do I stand now that my rock is gone? We all need someone in life, a very special someone who we have a relationship with like no other. Few of us ever find that person, and even less realize they have someone so special. But what do we do when they are gone? <br />
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I can imagine her walking barefoot on a beach with her blue jeans rolled past her ankles, with Papaw by her side. Just like in the photo I have of the two of them together. I can imagine how happy they both are to finally be together again. I can imagine them both looking down on all of us, their hearts filled with love and a huge smile on their faces. I can hear her voice say ''don't cry sweetheart, it's okay'' <br />
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I look around and there are reminders of her everywhere, whether it be a photo of her or a pair of earrings, a book on the shelf, a afghan she made sitting on a shelf in the closet, a scarf, a shawl, a dress in Shelby's closet, a watch in Colt's room, a ring on my finger, a framed photo in the hallway. Everywhere I look there are reminders of her love for us. Although I cry, I am grateful for all these things. I am grateful for my 27 plus years that I was blessed to share my life with her. I hope that someday I can be as good of a Nanny as she was. <br />
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Rest in Peace Nanny, I'll never forget you.<br />
Ruth Emily Smith Bevel <br />
August 29,1937 - December 19,2012 <br />
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A few photos I found on my computer...........<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_hyphenhyphengeIXbqFNtVZuuIDyQMHGBzijh8idF0M51yl7VaYyvpNHdajlU-5Uvdjym5br8HEE8wIb6IIcEvC7ZTXQMqifqVsXKuzEoi9vAs4f-eu1bqHV4gGnwUVDRq6_QVEWDAN2jRuiY1PJd7/s1600/DSCF5470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_hyphenhyphengeIXbqFNtVZuuIDyQMHGBzijh8idF0M51yl7VaYyvpNHdajlU-5Uvdjym5br8HEE8wIb6IIcEvC7ZTXQMqifqVsXKuzEoi9vAs4f-eu1bqHV4gGnwUVDRq6_QVEWDAN2jRuiY1PJd7/s320/DSCF5470.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nanny and Colt at Noccalula Falls 2011</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiupnJ81eeGMJoDIE-dfvvaTKiyf2g1AUudjDCR4qi81-0Pfm4mMvuzRbAOosEDVVl8EJEweOGhlCOaQVCgH13okTL38IYVT03IyYyZNdPhWRI3eoYYlVeU3ANtQdo6l98MJSxwXHpxVj7s/s1600/DSCF5664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiupnJ81eeGMJoDIE-dfvvaTKiyf2g1AUudjDCR4qi81-0Pfm4mMvuzRbAOosEDVVl8EJEweOGhlCOaQVCgH13okTL38IYVT03IyYyZNdPhWRI3eoYYlVeU3ANtQdo6l98MJSxwXHpxVj7s/s320/DSCF5664.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nanny at Shelby's 3rd Birthday party 2011</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOub_CPJCOebEGQC7vQUUlySwt-lUUdEHSQIdGGe8-rgDCvZUH_KA-ESI9g7zNEHQISzIdNHh-eVCuIedLitHCDAnZdSBngOMEczQ5FrYqs3sgo_15TFkvEAvSZSr4-5H2NQih7b9PhBGL/s1600/DSCF1526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOub_CPJCOebEGQC7vQUUlySwt-lUUdEHSQIdGGe8-rgDCvZUH_KA-ESI9g7zNEHQISzIdNHh-eVCuIedLitHCDAnZdSBngOMEczQ5FrYqs3sgo_15TFkvEAvSZSr4-5H2NQih7b9PhBGL/s320/DSCF1526.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas 2009</td></tr></tbody></table><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzpYlujtgqkBrH7VNP1OiClLUwNUkaa8MrETcATBkJ3RXqATAsk7tEnGZ_jefAD8NmB_4T2H2FBqcly0rxlqpOGgnrMgjEDFqy5TwvrfVEG15mOw8CHFE79hOgdUcopN_bdZDJTL8Jfvj/s1600/DSCF1028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzpYlujtgqkBrH7VNP1OiClLUwNUkaa8MrETcATBkJ3RXqATAsk7tEnGZ_jefAD8NmB_4T2H2FBqcly0rxlqpOGgnrMgjEDFqy5TwvrfVEG15mOw8CHFE79hOgdUcopN_bdZDJTL8Jfvj/s320/DSCF1028.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nanny and Shelby Easter 2010</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0x1VwxIFb_fC5VhvyJHDXLI990RUUQW7tK6KaycEsnrbbErXgFBsEyV2GMunbRQno6BeGowDjPdGyl5wX2J6WIOthSwv7Y0-42389AtHef86XNeArakOKBfxwmy7VlviJg66SU-IX3RU/s1600/DSCF1444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0x1VwxIFb_fC5VhvyJHDXLI990RUUQW7tK6KaycEsnrbbErXgFBsEyV2GMunbRQno6BeGowDjPdGyl5wX2J6WIOthSwv7Y0-42389AtHef86XNeArakOKBfxwmy7VlviJg66SU-IX3RU/s320/DSCF1444.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Colt & Shelby's birthday party in 2010</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0ZCip30qqhmwMCGYbWot3gGCn1te4HwYD_sfLbKr7Xqu9m-SaxAY0VClfiWphcBNn69FUBtytaV9VRXl4r8OXYpJHtAiBRNngWaIHK0WiMly6eP8X2D3isATx-NGcY6XCvBbmvyvRRUy/s1600/DSCF1509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0ZCip30qqhmwMCGYbWot3gGCn1te4HwYD_sfLbKr7Xqu9m-SaxAY0VClfiWphcBNn69FUBtytaV9VRXl4r8OXYpJHtAiBRNngWaIHK0WiMly6eP8X2D3isATx-NGcY6XCvBbmvyvRRUy/s320/DSCF1509.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my favorite pictues of them May 2010</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-LD_kDmOey5JCtF8PbuqYMODX1rW1Pl9uDNi643ZPhN1iMtPh7NuR8c98G6c1P4kAqdgBX3bBJ5bHrTHTndzxVGBP_nuhqTTebETz-XEq7RoHpbhMdLA3yG0vgpEWZEUc35y3ev6pAnB/s1600/DSCF1510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-LD_kDmOey5JCtF8PbuqYMODX1rW1Pl9uDNi643ZPhN1iMtPh7NuR8c98G6c1P4kAqdgBX3bBJ5bHrTHTndzxVGBP_nuhqTTebETz-XEq7RoHpbhMdLA3yG0vgpEWZEUc35y3ev6pAnB/s320/DSCF1510.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">May 2010</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0bdRB7VmJ-1ZtC7PJhyphenhyphenc5vBBJFTCg8K3ZG_EjlktxFR4Kzzn9qUNGqCZLl1ASVcuhulWyd6a65BMmQvc0KJ3tdcjsVv1M14ST8JMnkJXPsEm5KSjsW1cj2lvuLLPxAKPe3hbIZqX7-VOP/s1600/IMG_0271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0bdRB7VmJ-1ZtC7PJhyphenhyphenc5vBBJFTCg8K3ZG_EjlktxFR4Kzzn9qUNGqCZLl1ASVcuhulWyd6a65BMmQvc0KJ3tdcjsVv1M14ST8JMnkJXPsEm5KSjsW1cj2lvuLLPxAKPe3hbIZqX7-VOP/s320/IMG_0271.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">September 2012</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGClKIp_9YG-0JjmxJqNW_BvW6RYinxh2a_mWPjOjjf6JcPQW38ZmRx4XhhI_0NFosSF-xiPd5pacGIcfqr7WDImfwItG6EBmtjmo16pmWdspDy7uRgGrAqcAlQ7LNuKJT9MfzTEQkKTyX/s1600/IMG_9544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGClKIp_9YG-0JjmxJqNW_BvW6RYinxh2a_mWPjOjjf6JcPQW38ZmRx4XhhI_0NFosSF-xiPd5pacGIcfqr7WDImfwItG6EBmtjmo16pmWdspDy7uRgGrAqcAlQ7LNuKJT9MfzTEQkKTyX/s320/IMG_9544.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nanny Thanksgiving 2012 </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYqsmb3xAUoo3ZS9YjwVGE7TBEmSDaPJIDoX5KP2sqlkYJGwcIamBkzdgJbQ1JmPpkCZUwqLRprKb1pzgkiZHt0-vDfYV60c28VhHZEtOQkRe9NstkH7VVcx6PiMn2FGcqJGR0ZWYiurV/s1600/DSCF5896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYqsmb3xAUoo3ZS9YjwVGE7TBEmSDaPJIDoX5KP2sqlkYJGwcIamBkzdgJbQ1JmPpkCZUwqLRprKb1pzgkiZHt0-vDfYV60c28VhHZEtOQkRe9NstkH7VVcx6PiMn2FGcqJGR0ZWYiurV/s320/DSCF5896.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nanny at Colt's birthday party 2011 Huntsville Depot<br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829782751380216530.post-61212640421794419462012-11-01T21:35:00.000-07:002012-11-01T21:35:29.081-07:00Thankful for my blessings Today I am thankful for God, my husband and my children. Without them I wouldn't be where I am today. <br />
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My husband has been by my side for over seven years, through thick and thin. I can't put into words how wonderful he is to me and our children. I'm thankful for his good work ethic, and determination to always provide for his family. <br />
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I'm thankful for my son, and my daughter. They are my little miracle babies, the ones I thought I would never have. God is so good, he always knows what we need and exactly when to give it to us. His timing was perfect. These two little bundles of joy bring me so much happiness and love. They fill my life with laughter and good memories. I would do anything for them. Some days they can be more than a handful, but still I wouldn't trade a single second of our time with them for anything in this world. Each day goes by and I feel like there is no possible way I could love them anymore than I do, yet they always find away to make sure my heart is overflowing with love for them and from them. There is nothing comparable to the love of a child. <br />
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I am forever thankful, because I know at any moment any of these things could be gone. I cherish every second of every day that God lets me share with my family. <br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829782751380216530.post-17063299963237824192012-10-29T21:06:00.000-07:002012-12-28T08:09:37.715-08:00Subtle reminders Something so sad happened when I was checking out at the grocery store. The man in front of me had an injury of some kind and his left side/arm/hand constantly shakes. (I assume it was an injury due to the scars.)<br />
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He had trouble picking up his bags and placing them in his cart, as well as trouble with counting out his cash. The cashier offered no help with putting his bags in his cart, and stood there watching as he struggled. <br />
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There were about five or six people in line behind me and several had rude comments on how slow he was. People take things for granted all too often. You never know tomorrow you could be facing the same struggles he is facing today. <br />
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He was a sweet and handsome man, and deserves just as much respect as anyone else in this world. There's no reason to treat people the way people do now. It literally makes me want to cry. I hope whatever his situation, whatever has happened to him that he has someone at home or in his life to let him know that he is loved in this world. <br />
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I wish I had done something to help him, but I didnt' want to offend him. I just couldn't find any words. I think in a way that this was a subtle reminder from God, a reminder to be thankful for everything I have. I'm always thankful for my family and friends, but its the simple things I forget to be thankful for like my good health. <br />
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God bless this stranger! I pray for the ignorant ones who laugh at him. <br />
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''kindness is free''Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829782751380216530.post-83592366297676927532012-09-19T11:13:00.001-07:002012-09-19T11:32:59.194-07:00Scarecrow Trail at Huntsville Botanical GardensEach year for fall Huntsville Botanical Gardens puts together ''Scarecrow Trail'' various businesses, schools, groups etc. get together and make a scarecrow for the trail. It's always fun to go to the Botanical Gardens, we go multiple times a year.<br />
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Fall is always extra fun though, we get to see all the creativity and hard work that is put into each scarecrow. This years theme was ''traditonal''<br />
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So one day Making Connections got together to set up the Autism Awareness Scarecrow. I don't get to be as involved with the group as I would like to be, and I was off the day they were setting up so I decided to go. Debbie did a fantastic job with the design. It's hair was spray painted and it had cute little iron on puzzle pieces all over it's overalls. <br />
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It turned out to be such a cute scarecrow too! After that my friend Whitney, my daughter and I all enjoyed a lunch at Clementine's at the Gardens. Then we took a short tour around the gardens, skipping most of the different sections of the gardens. It was so hot that day, and I had to pick up my little man from school so we were rushed for time. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whitney working on the hair. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Miss Sassy working on his ''stuffing''</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1b5pYBU3UYjXvooYQpkjizU5evl3DMPbRYubIxaES3ea_udFaRMyEkqHoUGTwGMoM5lB9djbR70hxgQxdXGE57BTuVldkNrnf9-WP_Rv4NxXrOXNW1YUJJ7vHUWCHpljkj-bklthg_Mb2/s1600/IMG_0102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1b5pYBU3UYjXvooYQpkjizU5evl3DMPbRYubIxaES3ea_udFaRMyEkqHoUGTwGMoM5lB9djbR70hxgQxdXGE57BTuVldkNrnf9-WP_Rv4NxXrOXNW1YUJJ7vHUWCHpljkj-bklthg_Mb2/s320/IMG_0102.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After it was all finished </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpIqfzcE9mJI54709CoCzzU1_BnIkypGhj6GF20oRQ4M81TdF3PbRA-XIZ5vUCtgGHCJVuWZIBCQOv9asleaRaDNUe2fCOqXSE1MuKIoJX3IOPnNWcsHQ9T5m5o5grqGmt6Z6oaQ2leON/s1600/IMG_0109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpIqfzcE9mJI54709CoCzzU1_BnIkypGhj6GF20oRQ4M81TdF3PbRA-XIZ5vUCtgGHCJVuWZIBCQOv9asleaRaDNUe2fCOqXSE1MuKIoJX3IOPnNWcsHQ9T5m5o5grqGmt6Z6oaQ2leON/s320/IMG_0109.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How cool is this? I love the sunflowers, they add a nice touch! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzGk_kNVkO1h6Ja4syz57ACOYBU8rXeE1g8y9EsFUZ2So2MSsGS9I2tQfSCHO5vH-rlta-YCeRrCyc4Y2x1-WfNGgJkYOBtyLrg1Dj6GRf2J38vk6fzoeFB7K6-FfP_1h6n6TPTKMehyphenhyphengF/s1600/IMG_0119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzGk_kNVkO1h6Ja4syz57ACOYBU8rXeE1g8y9EsFUZ2So2MSsGS9I2tQfSCHO5vH-rlta-YCeRrCyc4Y2x1-WfNGgJkYOBtyLrg1Dj6GRf2J38vk6fzoeFB7K6-FfP_1h6n6TPTKMehyphenhyphengF/s320/IMG_0119.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giant Lilly pads in the water garden. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you've never been you really should make plans to go. Fall is the perfect time, the weather is cooler, the leaves are changing and who doesn't love scarecrows? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829782751380216530.post-28277527829268777192012-09-19T10:45:00.001-07:002012-09-19T10:47:22.679-07:00Little GymnastOur little princess fell in love with all the jumps, flips and pageantry of the Olympics. She is obsessed with Gabby Douglas! She begged and begged to take gymnastics so I finally went and got her registered. She absolutely loves it! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">doing a roll</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jumping on the AIRTRACK</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very first time on the bar</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVXeWWnfW4Ldg20dR_5yxzNatv8jqZP9NlDcf0MRAXPOxflIv9GZggAa-RWKhsiVnWPnb_H3D3D68UIpbmLlaY3T1Ro7Z7rdGSwqnnzVoHJ5SkhzXwpAs5ywoD5Xy2_jjBjV-KsCh6XFpl/s1600/IMG_0013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVXeWWnfW4Ldg20dR_5yxzNatv8jqZP9NlDcf0MRAXPOxflIv9GZggAa-RWKhsiVnWPnb_H3D3D68UIpbmLlaY3T1Ro7Z7rdGSwqnnzVoHJ5SkhzXwpAs5ywoD5Xy2_jjBjV-KsCh6XFpl/s320/IMG_0013.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So proud of getting her hand stamped after completing her first class</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLagrWe9QVBny6nndZ_PMQWAq2ajbGoXm66hwLZR23lZuxplghSB77zHWQpkhKYz94RWSvdoSibMLrnb-C94I1nwqn0xpglxIlJ_b33XNicWeLwznj9miRXGoproBWMMo_3kHw7P5DBlB-/s1600/IMG_0191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLagrWe9QVBny6nndZ_PMQWAq2ajbGoXm66hwLZR23lZuxplghSB77zHWQpkhKYz94RWSvdoSibMLrnb-C94I1nwqn0xpglxIlJ_b33XNicWeLwznj9miRXGoproBWMMo_3kHw7P5DBlB-/s320/IMG_0191.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Balance Beam</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Boz_fPNAhDqSFgSdHxb1Jz9zZtW60L36ga7jb5l6Rv0T9vqieTPkjZ9Jf4tWfzR_0vmxIEcJdJqLrgxpYmDS5zbaQ76QzUZWCTxyEhzH6-zpIoTADcNbUKBo6mZmsdzsKwizdtRo0dnz/s1600/IMG_0182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Boz_fPNAhDqSFgSdHxb1Jz9zZtW60L36ga7jb5l6Rv0T9vqieTPkjZ9Jf4tWfzR_0vmxIEcJdJqLrgxpYmDS5zbaQ76QzUZWCTxyEhzH6-zpIoTADcNbUKBo6mZmsdzsKwizdtRo0dnz/s320/IMG_0182.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This Saturday is ''Open Gym Day'' for members and they get to bring a sibling or a friend. She is going to take her older sister Lindsey! Super excited!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829782751380216530.post-49129567420414570932012-09-03T07:50:00.000-07:002012-09-03T07:50:40.296-07:00Twice the fun!!!!Everyone who knows me knows that I am a die hard fan of Ford. Especially the mustang. Back in 2006 I got a 2000 Ford Mustang coupe, V6 that is sunburst gold. We have done so much work on it that it doesn't even look like the same car. We've added decals,new headlights, rims, rear window louvers, a new Cobra R hood, dual exhaust, a GT bumper, custom leather seats and the list goes on and on. My husband and I both enjoy going to car shows and showing our cars. I've won several trophies ranging from Huntsville, Birmingham, even Savannah,Georgia. My car has been in numerous parades throughout the Tennessee Valley. I'm proud of all the hard work, time and money that my husband and I have poured into that car.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YnRwAciP0_oWaaSaTsSiMIFur7Nt8mt_oxeI5pbDKIJ5rVdYuFNvFRPKEzkZ_6SMdJvLFJgKLumHuzoQxu2GBAEveKn6xJtYyaw7xvqZHqp_6NDdYE1udzwCiHhZVDsuKdLXDoSE6k05/s1600/2652_66371059795_6547541_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YnRwAciP0_oWaaSaTsSiMIFur7Nt8mt_oxeI5pbDKIJ5rVdYuFNvFRPKEzkZ_6SMdJvLFJgKLumHuzoQxu2GBAEveKn6xJtYyaw7xvqZHqp_6NDdYE1udzwCiHhZVDsuKdLXDoSE6k05/s320/2652_66371059795_6547541_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Olivia Photography</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVBVwnUa1FC37ScVqbk83GJvNpVbpQgfm6UOvPipwx4d3dLfuhtS-Kv79Cf6scazwU-3nOQEeSUo2JNIYoJlyABde8iwBLNmdFGgwoDHC8rwIIzs93rWnj84vCigoqEtdAcTY1wDOxjkU/s1600/35669_410502524795_2420335_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVBVwnUa1FC37ScVqbk83GJvNpVbpQgfm6UOvPipwx4d3dLfuhtS-Kv79Cf6scazwU-3nOQEeSUo2JNIYoJlyABde8iwBLNmdFGgwoDHC8rwIIzs93rWnj84vCigoqEtdAcTY1wDOxjkU/s320/35669_410502524795_2420335_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seats by Norm's Upholstery</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpS8Q6iUZv-6_hj3_tll1V88ds_3dceaa2drsDbdcUsbtLcbZYf1BjQz23Rao-LM75UORK9pfidGo3ortvImJK87sJDHERwvPFi_in0BFtoZBlEUNl5c_gSzUFGAWOQnzVeWmkuFpvobAo/s1600/40289_428444174795_2820813_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpS8Q6iUZv-6_hj3_tll1V88ds_3dceaa2drsDbdcUsbtLcbZYf1BjQz23Rao-LM75UORK9pfidGo3ortvImJK87sJDHERwvPFi_in0BFtoZBlEUNl5c_gSzUFGAWOQnzVeWmkuFpvobAo/s320/40289_428444174795_2820813_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by me</td></tr>
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My husband decided to get rid of his F350 duley. We wanted something fun to drive around, we rarely even drove the truck. It was just sitting there wasting away. He found a 2000 Ford Mustang GT convertible on Auto Trader online. We called the dealership and told them we would be coming up on Thursday to take a look at it. We dropped our son off at school and headed to Murfreesboro, TN. Two hours later we were in the parking lot and knew we wanted the car. You can pretty much say it was ours from the moment the salesman placed the keys in our hands and said take it for a drive. We drove it, stopped and lowered the top then went back to the dealership and told them we wanted it. I'm looking forward to this being our new project. Can't wait to see the end results! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijfmZaY5O1_IDe1ii9iAIHYOIS4oaCsT6Cr3tBSDeSngeTKsQ_oNi1CzB0q1kR3QTUbV-Dn3cjDTLoOQWOTX-Vek32Lply_IDJ60phdPV_8t1tA3m1BLZQNL_PNep_58v9IleHeeZx1oO7/s1600/553739_10151206088169796_875052390_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijfmZaY5O1_IDe1ii9iAIHYOIS4oaCsT6Cr3tBSDeSngeTKsQ_oNi1CzB0q1kR3QTUbV-Dn3cjDTLoOQWOTX-Vek32Lply_IDJ60phdPV_8t1tA3m1BLZQNL_PNep_58v9IleHeeZx1oO7/s320/553739_10151206088169796_875052390_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">because sometimes a girl wants to go fast :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFglrk-PKMTy2zpBrdAyczOka91gwTBog_9-GKnkQIvt9Hck-Hx6TTVnDtr7DRWXij0oikJo1uztt_7mQtHLjEUeH0KwkQYKYMV8Bug_Hzkfrtc4Lvi75o7XoICkZ_UKTP9yfXuwgV3s8/s1600/545922_10151206399419796_567919838_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFglrk-PKMTy2zpBrdAyczOka91gwTBog_9-GKnkQIvt9Hck-Hx6TTVnDtr7DRWXij0oikJo1uztt_7mQtHLjEUeH0KwkQYKYMV8Bug_Hzkfrtc4Lvi75o7XoICkZ_UKTP9yfXuwgV3s8/s320/545922_10151206399419796_567919838_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy-_NItbPWN61MrVVWHWk4SY6RCV1bFyInWRnDiqWmnPqi0sQ_hEXFlnd-S8hr0EZx-F9ayV27qglbZEMsEz1Crsm9_RPSXKeT1JRMhZYLpZyQIN4I2RN67AdW_Hqx4jd1UqdLAZSnkz3v/s1600/304939_10151208856179796_347625773_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy-_NItbPWN61MrVVWHWk4SY6RCV1bFyInWRnDiqWmnPqi0sQ_hEXFlnd-S8hr0EZx-F9ayV27qglbZEMsEz1Crsm9_RPSXKeT1JRMhZYLpZyQIN4I2RN67AdW_Hqx4jd1UqdLAZSnkz3v/s320/304939_10151208856179796_347625773_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Sitting in the driveway at our friends hows, chatting about mustangs! <br />
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Last week my lovely package that I ordered for myself arrived, aka the INSANITY workout program. <br />
I couldn't wait until Monday to get started! So finally Monday arrives, and I wake up ready to defeat day one of the program, which was the fit test. I didn't do as bad as I thought I would. I absolutely loved it! <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So today I woke up a little sore from yesterday's workout. I was still determined to start and finish day two, which happened to be plyometric cardio circuit! Turns out I was more sore than I realized. Still I put the disk in the dvd player and started. I got to the point where my legs felt like they were a thousand pounds. I pushed myself through it, and now I'm so sore I don't even want to attempt tomorrow's session. I know I will still attempt to do day three anyways. We only have sixteen days until our trip, so that's sixteen days I can be doing an ass kicking program! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've already quit drinking sodas and junk food. It's amazing how I went from craving such bad things to such good fresh healthy things. All week I've been eating salads, and grilled meats, and drinking water. YAY me! So excited to see my results from doing this program!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829782751380216530.post-37807815609945926222012-06-15T19:10:00.000-07:002012-06-15T19:10:22.102-07:00''A Red Carpet Event''<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A Red Carpet Event, what an awesome name for my princesses first dance recital! It was a busy day but an amazing day! I got up and got my princess dressed in one of her big brother's button up shirts. We went to see our good friend Beverly at her salon, and of course she did an amazing job on her hair!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Next up we headed over to the civic center for her Mary-Kay make-up by Miss Carly, who also did an amazing job on her stage make-up! She looked like a little porcelain doll!</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Then she was ready to go onstage for her rehearsal. She was super excited! She went backstage then I took a seat out in the audience and waited to see her rehearsal. I'll even admit that I cried, as she was the first one to walk onto the stage with her beautiful little golden curls! Such a bittersweet moment, seeing her onstage for the first time! I can remember the day she wanted to take dance classes and she was still too young. Now here we are, her first year has just been completed</span>! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rehearsal<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">They all looked so stinkin' cute dancing around in their little costumes, with their bouncing curls! As soon as her rehearsal was over I left the concert hall and met her as she came off stage. I hugged her and told her that she did an amazing job and I was super proud of her! The first words out of her mouth were....''where are my flowers?'' hahaha!!!! I had to explain that she was only at rehearsal and that she would get her flowers later that night after her performance! So after all that we went home and relaxed until it was time to touch up her hair. Then we went back to the civic center for make-up. I left her backstage with her group and took a seat with my family! I couldn't wait until it was her turn!!!! </span><br />
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Opening Act <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Choo Choo Cha Boogie</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My beautiful Princess Dancer<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With her teacher Miss Stacey <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She was so very proud of her beautiful roses!!!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daddy's girl!!!!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">We had a fantastic time watching her performance! I can't wait until the DVD of the show arrives next month! I'm so thankful that Ann's Studio of Dance made her first year of dance a year to remember!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829782751380216530.post-61110849003018418622012-04-16T20:10:00.000-07:002012-04-16T20:10:48.603-07:00blah! blah! blah! blah!I haven't been able to blog in a while, and so much has been going on. Life seems to be out of control lately. <br />
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Between taking little man to school, and our princess to dance classes, going to the gym, being sick for to weeks, being the president of the mustang club, organizing meetings, planning a car show, trying to be a good wife,mother and step-mother I've lost myself lately. I feel like I'm overlooked, overloaded and definitely overwhelmed. It's like I just woke up one day and life had gone from being normal to crazy.<br />
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Tomorrow I start a new job, I'm nervous about finding the right balance between being a good wife & mother, while keeping up with my responsibilities with the mustang club and working part time. I'm excited about going back to work, meeting new people, and getting out of the house. <br />
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Friday night I'm going out with my friends Kathleen,Rachael,Rose, & Beatrice! AGH, a girls night out! It's well overdue and is going to be awesome! I'm so excited! It's only for a few hours and then I will be thrown back into reality. lol I will let you know how that turns out! <br />
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My daughter Vanessa has Epilepsy & her seizures are becoming more frequent. Her neurologist is sending her to Children's Hospital next Tuesday-Thursday. My husband can't take off work since we just came back from a vacation. So I plan on going to visit her while she is there. I can't not go see her knowing she is going to be there. She will be hooked up to machines with all sorts of wires. I plan on leaving the munchkins at my parents house mainly because I don't want them to freak out over seeing their big sister in that environment. Hopefully they will be able to catch it and figure out what is triggering her more frequent seizures. She gets out on Thursday. Then on Friday she goes to another specialist. She's had a sinus infection for three months & they did a scan. They found some sort of mass in her sinuses so that's why she has to go to see a specialist. Hopefully it's something that can be fixed with medication. <br />
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I finally finished my book one night last week and then watched the movie the next night. Its sad I don't even have time to hardly even read anymore. Anyways Courageous is a must read and a must see!!!! I think everyone could learn something good from it. It's reminded me that when I'm feeling like I have been lately that instead of stressing out I need to just take a moment to PRAY! I just have to remind myself sometimes that God is in control and everything will work out just as he has planned.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829782751380216530.post-89227469213397055332012-03-12T14:43:00.000-07:002012-03-12T14:43:40.600-07:00Mardi Gras Parade<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBikzYza0XB7exFZsGCHLd5nqoql_dR22w3ICxiQw0Cme-DGvNz5Mk-1XBl26LxdwY_eHL7EfLSUz1JyHivdmEmUZePcLWt5i0nd-wnkj92Z0Guv6p52DKw5EVoAam486jSXu-16Gx-RQ4/s1600/IMG_0241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBikzYza0XB7exFZsGCHLd5nqoql_dR22w3ICxiQw0Cme-DGvNz5Mk-1XBl26LxdwY_eHL7EfLSUz1JyHivdmEmUZePcLWt5i0nd-wnkj92Z0Guv6p52DKw5EVoAam486jSXu-16Gx-RQ4/s320/IMG_0241.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>As president of RCMC I received an email a few months ago asking our club to participate in a Mardi Gras Parade at a retirement community. I was all for the idea! It was on a Friday so most RCMC members had to be at work. <br />
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Four of us participated, and my husband tagged along with his B4C Camaro. {I even put an RCMC flag on his antenna when he wasn't looking}<br />
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I was so very happy that I was able to participate in the parade. Not everyone at the retirement community is capable of driving themselves or even taking the bus. So for them to be able to go to a special event/parade is nearly impossible. <br />
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We bought Mardi Gras beads to toss out, then we were given more of them twice after we arrived as well as whole boxes of mini moon pies to toss to the crowds. We lined up and then, I moved my daughters car-seat from the back to the front just for the parade. {it was on private grounds and we were doing about 5mph} My husband did the same with our son in his car. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvohRAVWTG_J-Bk8FoMCQfY92rRFE8OqgXdfuXeU8vMjYwOJ3jENsTE6U0Lj9Lny2qxpJCgWmRxU75K5cshzSp-ZXQSQ7Dx7tmUsCpyTYcNFkOLIs7bl0rbz1HlEWZTaTUmVkF5XLVTSj/s1600/IMG_0272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvohRAVWTG_J-Bk8FoMCQfY92rRFE8OqgXdfuXeU8vMjYwOJ3jENsTE6U0Lj9Lny2qxpJCgWmRxU75K5cshzSp-ZXQSQ7Dx7tmUsCpyTYcNFkOLIs7bl0rbz1HlEWZTaTUmVkF5XLVTSj/s320/IMG_0272.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
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Baby girl absolutely loved tossing the beads, and moon pies to the crowd. She was upset once we reached the end of the parade route, because she ran out of people to throw beads/moon pies to well before she ran out of the beads/moon pies! I was moved to tears over the fact that there were several elderly ladies lined up along the road, sitting in their wheel chairs draped in white sheets because it was a bit chilly out. One little old lady had even fallen asleep in her wheel chair. Bless her heart! It meant so much to me to be a part of something like this, it clearly brought joy to the residents at the community. People who normally don't have the opportunity to participate in such festivities. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCVMj4Zk-vBBgTRm-33oPna-VeLs_YMgcc5NRH7ys7Ba0fiHrbfNWWf9XgRCYmHCJHzil7VwrP_6PAg1Rm0GDyHasJZVMe5ImVEvzMUySOBPZRQg779JHcGV43iUd-Qug9CH96oeVApHV/s1600/IMG_0285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCVMj4Zk-vBBgTRm-33oPna-VeLs_YMgcc5NRH7ys7Ba0fiHrbfNWWf9XgRCYmHCJHzil7VwrP_6PAg1Rm0GDyHasJZVMe5ImVEvzMUySOBPZRQg779JHcGV43iUd-Qug9CH96oeVApHV/s320/IMG_0285.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The reflection on the bottom left corner is from my windshield.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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We had a lovely day, it was beautiful and sunny, and we spent it together as a family making other people happy. I hope that they make this an annual event & invite us back again!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD-8Llrk-d2xeP7rBjUB7Vgt7jXsXAulJ2Y5Hujd_6QBP1EVpSTWX5jf9Q4cDspH28PBmvBAbxR7RgLB_Z9w55Sb00B_RRD_JndDh6HxDKztatT-Ig778NJge4xb4CKa6Bq6Vmkr9j1kTU/s1600/IMG_0292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD-8Llrk-d2xeP7rBjUB7Vgt7jXsXAulJ2Y5Hujd_6QBP1EVpSTWX5jf9Q4cDspH28PBmvBAbxR7RgLB_Z9w55Sb00B_RRD_JndDh6HxDKztatT-Ig778NJge4xb4CKa6Bq6Vmkr9j1kTU/s320/IMG_0292.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I took a close up of the beads hanging from my rear-view window. I think it looks pretty neat. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829782751380216530.post-80014282259511426482012-02-29T21:41:00.001-08:002012-02-29T21:56:11.853-08:00Oxygen deprived ~Today I had to take lil man to yet another Autism evaluation. We got up at 7am got ready, had a small breakfast and watched Sprout for a little while. Soon enough it was time to leave. He said he wanted to bring his new book with him to read to everyone, so I shoved it in the bag with our other belongings. <br />
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A short drive across town & we arrived at the elementary school. We went inside, found the office and signed in. We sat in a small waiting area until they were ready for him. A short time later a lady came to get us, and we followed her down the long {very artistically decorated} hallway. We were taken into a large room for his testing. I signed a few papers and they started working with him, while I worked on filling out a stack of papers. <br />
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Two hours later they were finished with his testing. Once they finished adding up his scores they starting going over all of it with me. He did very very well. I'm so very proud of him! After all was said and done they told me they want him to start school on March 19th! I was super shocked! The last thing I was expecting was for him to start school in less than three weeks! They are placing him in a magnet school. It's called Calvary Hill School Academy for Academics and Arts, or as the locals call it AAA! Wow! Way to go little man!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFe_KZmQsL9rVk76iOirO7JrHwtXTZZn5rQy_aa9cNG-dRKrOzEZBHAnABDfyfY74lUxMt9rBvPPgCNVYoKkGwslXk85OxYUchOGLNEzlJFxRC2ZhjfCdirGr_qQRO-jamdhTEzVj_454s/s1600/Huntsville-Buffalo-Soldiers-Memorial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFe_KZmQsL9rVk76iOirO7JrHwtXTZZn5rQy_aa9cNG-dRKrOzEZBHAnABDfyfY74lUxMt9rBvPPgCNVYoKkGwslXk85OxYUchOGLNEzlJFxRC2ZhjfCdirGr_qQRO-jamdhTEzVj_454s/s320/Huntsville-Buffalo-Soldiers-Memorial.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>This is a picture of a statue that is out front of his school. I hope to learn more about the story behind it soon. <br />
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I tried calling my husband as soon as we got to the car & he didn't answer. So I did the next best thing and called my bestie! She understands me so very well and always knows what to say. <br />
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Almost three hours after his testing began we arrived at home. I was in tears, which of course made my husband think something terrible had happened. I finally managed to spit it out and he gave me one of his big warm hugs. {I could just melt into his arms} He told me not to cry and everything would be alright. <br />
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So the remainder of this week I will work on filling out more paperwork. Then next week we go to his school to register him and meet his teacher. {I've heard nothing but good things about her} I'm excited to meet her & to see his school and classroom. I'm excited about getting his supply list and going shopping. Going to pick out new clothes is going to be fun too!<br />
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All of these new feelings are starting to emerge. I have been a stay at home mom since he was born, I've spent the past 4 1/2 years with him & his sister everyday! I love our random outings, playing hide-and-seek, pillow fights, day trips and so many other wonderful things we do together. I keep reminding myself to take deep breaths. I thought I had several months to prepare myself {and him} for this. Now I find myself with only days to prepare for this big step in his life. It's bittersweet because I know I'm letting him grow up a little bit more as him makes this transition into this crazy world.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829782751380216530.post-6615956756364586472012-01-26T21:16:00.000-08:002012-01-26T21:16:48.539-08:00January aka not so FUNuary ....Sunday January 15th I woke up dizzy as can be. I couldn't even open my eyes. I would drag myself out of bed to go to the bathroom and getting up would make me vomit like crazy. I had never felt so horrible. I stayed in bed until around 1pm. I got up and tried eating something, only to throw up again. My husband made me go to the hospital. Thankfully Nessa was over and could stay home with the babies. <br />
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After several hours and tests later they diagnosed me with vertigo. The doctor gave me a prescription and released me. I would much rather have 10 more cesareans than feel that sick again. The prescription made me soooo sleepy that for the next three days that's just about all I did. My friend Lisa covered the RCMC meeting for me since I was in no condition to go or even drive for that matter. Thankfully it went away, and hopefully it won't happen again.<br />
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Tuesday night my husband and I were in our bedroom folding the laundry that I had just taken out. (isn't he sweet for helping me?) All of a sudden I hear a gosh awful scream coming from my three year old daughter. I immediately knew something was wrong. I met her halfway down the hall. First thing I see is that her beautiful blond hair is soaked in blood! I picked her up and she had already stopped crying. She is such a tough little girl! I was still in full panic mode though! <br />
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I knew she probably needed stitches so I quickly got her & myself dressed as we had already gotten ready to go to bed. I just grabbed the first things I could see, threw them on and grabbed her favorite stuffed animal and ran out the door. <br />
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She however wanted to show our neighbors her bloody mess of hair before we went. I was thinking seriously how can this child be so calm and not crying after busting her head open? I didn't stop though, I quickly got her into her car seat and literally flew to the hospital. Once I got there I realized that she had passed out, which made me freak out. It took me a minute or two to get her to wake up. It was cold so that helped out I'm sure. <br />
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I got her inside and she was still bleeding. I filled out her form, they weighed her took all her vitals etc. and immediately took us back to a room. A few short minutes later a nurse came in to look at her head. Then the nurse put this clear numbing gel onto the gash. About 20 minutes later the doctor came in and looked it over and said it needed staples! WHAT???? A few staples later we were being discharged. On the way out we ran into an EMT we know. He said what are y'all doing here, and I just pointed at Miss Graceful! So then he had to look too. <br />
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So it turns out that my son and daughter had pushed the step stool against my son's dresser and they were both standing on the stool. And somehow made the dresser wiggle enough to where a painting I made for my son's room fell off the dresser and hit her in the head. Needless to say it's found a new home! <br />
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So tomorrow is Friday and will be 10 days since her accident & getting her staples. She has an appointment with her pediatrician to have them removed. She is a little worried because she thinks it will hurt, and sadly it will hurt a little. Poor baby. I just hope it goes smoothly tomorrow!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829782751380216530.post-84979444522882438052012-01-26T20:39:00.000-08:002012-01-26T20:40:12.485-08:00Happy New Year to me....This year is going to be about <strong>BIG </strong>changes! First of all I want to have a better relationship with the LORD. I want my children to know and love him and understand him. I want to give them that vital tool to life that I feel like I never had. <br />
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Second on the list is the fact that I have finally found the determination to loose the baby weight. It takes baby steps, and that's where I have started. Little changes like deciding to refuse chocolate,and sodas no matter how bad the craving was easier than I thought. I just had to find the right mindset. Now I don't even crave them at all. I haven't had a soda in over a month. I stuck to sweet tea for a while, and even now I am sick of it. I crave water now, and can't get enough of it. I have never liked to drink water before. <br />
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I want to become a healthier person, not only mentally but physically as well. This wasn't a new years resolution. I figured I have never suceeded at them in the past so there was no reason to set one this year. This time I am doing it for me, not because its the trendy thing to do in the month of January. We have started changing our normal go-to foods for healthier foods. Tonight we went out and bought a birthday cake for our neighbor. I didn't even have any at all, not even the desire to try it. I'm super proud of myself!<br />
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Another big change is coming in a few months. One that I am far from being ready for. Little man will start school! First of all, where did the time go? I know I'm going to have a hard time with it because I'm already stressing over it. The past four and a half years night and day my life has been dedicated to my sweet babies. Not only am I going to have to prep him to be ready to go to school, I will be preparing myself as well. I'm going to be a hot mess come August! Someone please tell me it is easier than I am imagining it to be?<br />
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January 13 2012Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829782751380216530.post-45946923161871071282012-01-26T20:36:00.000-08:002012-12-28T08:11:28.552-08:00Rest in PeaceChristmas just didn't feel the same due to the unexpected loss of my Uncle Paul. <br />
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December 23rd my Aunt Clara found him in the living room. While in his favorite chair watching tv he passed away due to a massive heart attack. <br />
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He was an 89 year old veteran. My Aunt and Uncle were married for over 65 years and together even longer. I cant even imagine how hard it is for her. <br />
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Christmas was on Sunday and I just didn't feel it this year. My husband had to work and came home for lunch to watch the kids open gifts. Overall we celebrated at 9 different places, which means the kids got way too much stuff.<br />
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On Monday my husband had to work. The kids and I traveled to my parents house. My mom kept them while my father and I went to Uncle Paul's funeral. <br />
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We arrived at the funeral home and our Cousin John was in the parking lot so we all went in together. <br />
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Uncle Paul's flowers were so beautiful! There were red roses, carnations, and mums all mixed together with evergreen branches. He looked so at peace. I cried a little. I was so happy to see my Aunt Clara despite the circumstances. <br />
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They both mean so much to me. As a child they would write me letters & send me gifts. I have a journal, letter opener, sterling silver and turquoise butterfly necklace, a ceramic jar from New Mexico. A framed drawing of a log cabin by Aunt Clara. (she paints, & draws extremely well and is a published author) All of these things are special to me because of who game them to me. I cherish the letters. <br />
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His burial was after the service. It wasn't far from the funeral home. He was buried at the cemetery of the church they attended. I took a photo of my Daddy and Aunt Clara afterwards. Then took a single red rose from his flowers. I dried it out to keep.<br />
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After that I took my Daddy to eat at Cracker Barrel in Gadsden. I very much enjoyed having lunch with him. It's not often that I get to do so. <br />
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January 4th 2012Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829782751380216530.post-66814126070346810222011-11-28T16:40:00.000-08:002011-11-28T16:40:52.448-08:00Day 25 {A first}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_WkCp3FovNMO5IMRicpzpk8vIgheJVGBoZWVK04hW3PLXIBkV9dsy_bzWNr6BLIXn52ZrdatSm95-ZXYBRazVklGqxiRmpoBv9F8Aj3jp91o-PngTsUq92f13QwWlN8-sIppmDmHGUS3G/s1600/168482_497605519795_800874795_5966393_485742_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_WkCp3FovNMO5IMRicpzpk8vIgheJVGBoZWVK04hW3PLXIBkV9dsy_bzWNr6BLIXn52ZrdatSm95-ZXYBRazVklGqxiRmpoBv9F8Aj3jp91o-PngTsUq92f13QwWlN8-sIppmDmHGUS3G/s320/168482_497605519795_800874795_5966393_485742_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
As a child I often dreamed of going to the beach. Our parents hated the beach so they would never take us there. I grew to hate going to the mountains, always the same old boring vacation. It was so predictable. I do enjoy the mountains, but not all the time. I like to see new places and new things, new adventures. <br />
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When my husband and I were dating he wanted to take me to Mobile to meet his family. It was Thanksgiving, and I had many reasons to be thankful that year. I was thankful to have him, and to be out of a bad relationship. I was thankful to be going on my first trip to the beach. <br />
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So we got into his car and left his parents house. I may have been 20 but I was just as excited as a child. It was only a twenty minute drive from his parents house but it seemed like a long trip. I will never forget stepping out of that car and hearing the waves and the seagulls for the first time. I still remember how it felt to have the fresh ocean breeze blowing in my hair. I remember how the sand felt between my toes and fingertips. It was chilly but I didn't let that stop my enjoyment. I wrote our names in the sand. I watched a cute little crab scurry across the beach into his hole in the sand. I enjoyed everything about that day. Dauphin Island will always be a special place to me, not only because it was my first beach experience but because of who I was with. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJDJHsH0EKUyrJzuj2uANxCsqmp7CKOfYPIRw6x-qd9R_Gy-GmEawvZlTF6wPxOYh3f0-gs78AxwEFJXxlZoXTGnvsoI8Wy6HbOQzbqEQdaoFL37QaB4983JpoolTqRmNoGzvwJ5039N_2/s1600/162690_497600619795_800874795_5966273_2573397_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJDJHsH0EKUyrJzuj2uANxCsqmp7CKOfYPIRw6x-qd9R_Gy-GmEawvZlTF6wPxOYh3f0-gs78AxwEFJXxlZoXTGnvsoI8Wy6HbOQzbqEQdaoFL37QaB4983JpoolTqRmNoGzvwJ5039N_2/s320/162690_497600619795_800874795_5966273_2573397_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Since then we have made many many trips to Dauphin Island. One of my most cherished photos is a picture of my husband and our six week old baby boy under the Dauphin Island Pier. I have pictures of both our children there, the two of us, and family pictures. They are more than just pictures they are moments in time that meant the world to me. We have made several beach trips to Savannah,GA Amelia Island,FL, Gulf Shores,AL and Dauphin Island and D.I. still remains my favorite place. My husband is amazing, and he has made so many of my dreams come true. I look forward to each and every day that I am blessed to share with him. <br />
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One of my favorite songs was written and preformed by a group born in Mobile, The Band Perry. The song is ''All your life'' and my favorite quote comes from the lyrics <br />
''Would you walk to the edge of the ocean Just to fill my jar with sand Just in case I get the notion To let it run through my hand ???? Let it run through my hand''<br />
My husband did just that. My little sand jar collection sits proudly on a shelf in our living room. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoLNN3rJTblIqfrEBA6KF1R1wrGaUl2Xv6qSk8RGkwKB-hl1DTsNMirA0qOxiJlckKEcAV-p0kcs6-RXsJTuVKFcXfxuGkdYAiKdfOBtC6RhPf8X_au0snJ8Iqe_fILPQQYlhentEhQMfO/s1600/168482_497605509795_800874795_5966392_2872599_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoLNN3rJTblIqfrEBA6KF1R1wrGaUl2Xv6qSk8RGkwKB-hl1DTsNMirA0qOxiJlckKEcAV-p0kcs6-RXsJTuVKFcXfxuGkdYAiKdfOBtC6RhPf8X_au0snJ8Iqe_fILPQQYlhentEhQMfO/s320/168482_497605509795_800874795_5966392_2872599_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1