Four Years Later

It amazes me how fast time seems to fly these days. You see four years ago this past Thursday I lost a very important person to me....my dad. The people who say that it gets easier over time must truly be out of their minds.

I will never forget getting the call on the Saturday of Martin Luther King weekend when my (so called) step mother had my Dad call me and tell me that he had been put in the hospital for some "lung" problems and he would probably be there for just a couple of days. I told him I would be up there within the next day or so to see him. I visited him on Monday and he looked REALLY good but was coughing some. He wound up staying in the hospital and was in the process of going home the next Saturday when he called and told me that he was in the process of going home when he all of sudden felt REALLY bad so they were doing more tests on him. Before I could even get to the hospital they had moved him to ICU. Now, let me feel you here that it was about 4:30PM that afternoon. Noone knew that I had slid past the nurses station to find my Dad in excurating pain and telling the doctors it just hurt really bad. When I was spotted I was escorted to the waiting room. Jason and the girls were at church at the time so I called Jason and I told him that Dad was in ALOT of pain and that they were trying to figure out what had happened. Within a 3 hour span things went crazy. They had determined that the blood thinners they had given him over the week for his other problem had made his arteries so thin that he had developed a small leak and he was bleeding internally and they didn't know what they were going to be able to do for him. By 10:45PM my dad had died, within 6 hours I had gone from seeing my dad and telling him that I loved him to stepping into his ICU room to watch his heart monitor beep that he had died. I never dreamed that my dad would die at 58 yrs old.

The funeral and visitation would take another whole post and it is so horrible that I don't want to even really go into detail, I can sum it up for you this way. The cops were called and escorted my dad's other three children from his first marriage from the funeral home and told them they were to stay away from the funeral itself. Then, my step mother and her children played the most ridiculous song at the funeral and to this day I can't listen to it on the radio....."Picture" by Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow. You all figure out where that fits in a funeral and if you can let me know.

To this day, I have nothing to do with my dad's other children and I am so glad that I don't have to see his wife and her children any more. I am so sad that Miss M and Miss L will never know who my dad/their PawPaw was and Miss K can't remember him at all. I am greatful for the memories I have and look forward to seeing him again one day.

Where did the week go?

I have attempted and thought about posting all week and before I knew it here it is Friday. Crazy how the week passes by so quickly. Let me fill you in a little on what has happened to us over the past week. I started a new job last Thursday at Locust Grove Baptist Church as the Parents Morning Out Director. It is only 2 days a week and I am able to still take the girls to school and be home to pick them up off the bus.

This week our country (as you are well aware of) got a new President and even though he was not my choice and I agree with any of his beliefs we continue to pray for him on a daily basis and respect him because he is OUR President.

I have over the last week found alot of other blogs that I have become addicted too and love reading about people and their lives (it's the "noseyness" in me I guess) but anyways, I found the blog called Harrington House and it is written by a woman in the local area the OK FAB FIVE live, anyways I am digressing, she is a MAJOR collector of antiques and decorates her house beautifully with these items and because I have spent so much time in her post I am now itching to start collecting antiques. Lordy Lordy never thought I would say that....anyways, I look forward to one day being able to go in some Antique stores and some thrift stores to see what I can stumble upon.

Well, I guess I will quit boring you guys with a nothing of a post. I hope to have some pictures to post soon and a more interesting post soon but for now this is all I have got and homework and work work are calling my name so you all have a great weekend.

Wordy Wednesday---and it will come back to you

Today is the Mama's Losin Wordy Wednesday post however, I didn't like any of the topics so in its place, I give you something even more fun! Ha. A meme! Now don't everyone jump up and cheer at once.

I found this on the blog of my friend Ann and decided I was going to do it.

So here's what you do, copy it to your own post, bold or change the color of the things you have done, and then tag 4 other people to do it. Sounds like fun, right??

Mine are all in BOLD what about you?

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept in an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse (solar)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chicken pox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

OK, so there's my list, and I tag Jessica, Audrey, Pam, and Marcy. Enjoy!

9 years ago

9 years ago today, I married the love of my life and my best friend. We have literally grown up together and looking back I wouldn't have had it any other way. We have had our ups and downs but I am so thankful for a wonderful husband and a great father to our daughters.


Happy Anniversary Babe.....Here's to 99 more

My "bloggie" friend

It is that time of the week where I take my writing assignment from Mama's Losin It and blog. This week's assignment was to talk about your first blogger friend and how I knew them and anything associated with our friendship, so here goes.

My first blogger friend was Jessica from fosterhome5.blogspot.com and I am so glad we are friends. Jessica and I have known each other since about 1999. We went to Smyrna First Baptist Church together and we have been friends ever since. Jessica and her husband got married about 6 weeks before and we attended the young marrieds class together. Brian and Jessica welcomed their first child SDF about 16 months before we welcomed KAO. We have since proceeded to have 2 more kids each and those kids have all been born the same years with mine being just a tad older than hers. We still attend church together however, we now all attend West Cobb Church in Marietta and we make up the Directing team of the 9:30 Preschool hour. I have been blessed to have Jessica in my life as a friend and I cherish her friendship more everyday.

So I wouldn't just call Jessica my bloggie friend but I also call her a friend and consider her a sister.

Now It's My Turn.....

So I took this idea from Mama's Losin It and decided to blog about Things I Do That Drives My Mom Crazy. So here goes and I know that I can write because my mom doesn't have a computer and she can't critique me.

Lately, it seems that everything I do drives my mother crazy let me list them for you. I figure I have at least 5 so here they are. I can't really put them in order because you see I think in her mind they all rank number 1.

My list:

I am not the kind of mother she would have wanted me to be. I could do better in her world, however, it works for me and my family and I am pleased with how I have turned out. Even though I am learning something new everyday.

I don't keep my house the way she thinks it should be kept but it works for my family and when we get around to getting the extra stuff hauled away we do. There is no need to drop one liners to my kids about how you feel about my house.

I don't do laundry the way she thinks it should be done. Let me give you an example here. My mother's side of the family got together for Christmas 2 days before the actual date and my brother and his wife proceed to give my three munchkin's each an Ed Hardy shirt. (Now if you have never heard of these shirts let me just say that they are every NICE shirts that also come with a nice pricetag.) Anyways back to my story, she proceeds to look at my sister and say those things will be ruined quickly the way she washes her clothes. Happy to report....I have since washed those shirts and they still look AMAZING.

I am more like my father than she would care to admit and I believe that kills her. You see my dad passed away 4 yrs ago this month and I never knew until after he passed how much he meant to me. I lost some great years with this dear man and if it wasn't for my JLO then I don't know if I would have gotten to have the last 5 yrs with him like I did.

Finally, I didn't marry the person she would have picked out for me to marry. I have been blessed with an amazing husband and an amazing extended family (my inlaws). JLO and I got married rather young by today's standards and we have pretty much grown up together but I had have grown up with my best friend then with anyone else and I am TRULY, MADLY, and DEEPLY in love with him and this thing that we call our life.

So, while my list might be humorous to you it is a way for me to vent a little. I am not good at standing up to adults (especially those older than I) and these things have bugged me for awhile so I figured I could air them with "friends".


Finally, Mama's Losin It.....asked readers to list the top 10 things of 2008 that meant something to you so here goes.

Top 10 of 2008....

10. I attempted a blog under a different heading failed at it and have since restarted with this one. I feel I might do really well with this.

9. I only took off one semester from school this year and I am looking forward to going back next week

8. I changed my major at school and feel that my new path will be really good for me

7. I learned what was causing my migraines and thanks to Dr Weiss, Dr Weiner, and a spinal tap I have been heatlthy since August.

6. I learned why my MEO had been a totally different child than my other two and we have since learned and are still learning alot about Type 1 Diabetes. But thankful we have a pediatrician that cares the way she does about babies and kids and has an extra special spot for those that fight this disease.

5. My family went on a wonderful vacation with JLO's family and we had the best time.

4. I read about 5 books in 2008....not including school material. Which I feel isn't half bad considering all the school I did have to read. We will see how 2009 turns out.

3. My children still love me! I managed to go another year without destroying my bond with my children. 365 days. 8 765.81277 hours. 525 948.766 minutes. 31 556 926 seconds spent living with my children...and they still love me!!

2. I turned 30 this year and I am totally excited.....you see I know alot of people in their 20's that I just don't care to be associated with or that age group so I was extremely excited to leave that time period in my life. Someone told me that more respect comes in the 30's.

1. I have an amazing family....mother included. I have been blessed with a brother and sister in law who can't be replaced by any means, I have a sister and her family that even though I don't see them as much as I would like is still dear to me, I have an awesome aunt and uncle and love them immensely, I have friends that are just as dear as family, I have an amazing extended family, I have 3 AWESOME kids, and finally, I have a husband that loves me and all of my quirks.

Now It's Your Turn.