Week 5 of 2012

Awards Day at Neelys Bend Elementary School January 27, 2012

       

Joesea drew and picture of her and Miss Potts

Brag was so proud of Joesea, she won 1st place in all of the Kindergarten for her artwork, she received a certificate for Honor Roll and one for Perfect attendence.

DaDa and Mimi came for the awards too!

Josea and her sweet teacher Ms. Potts

Mommie and John Patrick congratulating our girl!

 

Orange is certainly not my favorite color but I have to say that for this reason, I love it!  We     have implemented a new idea at church for all the youth.  Orange connects parents and leaders with the same strategy toward the same goal.  2 is greater than 1 or 1. Meaning, we have to make sure that we are teaching in the home and not just sending our children to church to learn lots of Bible stories.  We have to equip our children with the principles that will keep them grounded in life to carry them from the cradle to college and then some. From preschool to college, it draws on the elements of wonder, discovery and passion, infusing them into children, students and young adults. Why? To see God for who He is, to help young people see themselves the way God sees them, so that they can love others the way God does.  Starting with wonder, Orange helps preschoolers embrace a God who is bigger than their imagination, then adds discovery so children can understand how to grow in their relationship with God. Finally, Orange fuels passion by giving students opportunities to be the church and to make a difference influencing their generation.

Week 4 of 2012

 Tuesday after our James Bible Study, Mom, Starr, Jacque, Nita and I went to lunch for a pre-birthday lunch.  We had a great time being together and Starr gave me this cute zebra scentsy candle that looks so cute in the kitchen.  I have been thinking all along that I was going to be 52 and I realized that I will be 53! I think I lost a year somewhere, oh yeah the year I had cancer!

When I woke up the morning of my birthday, the 18th, my sweet husband had my gift and cards sitting out on the bar waiting for me.  Our tradition is to always give one sweet card and one funny card.  He puts lots of thought in selecting his cards so that is always my favorite part.  He gave me a gift bag with my favorite perfume and lotion in it and I was one happy girl.  My birthday fell on Wednesday this year and Wednesday is always Shoneys and church with Jacque and Joesea.  Joesea loved the girls at Shoneys singing to me and sharing in the hot fudge cake!

 On Saturday, Mom planned a birthday lunch with the sisters and Sara Chauvin at the Chocolate Strawberry in Gallatin.  Mikka was sick so Joesea came with me.  We all had the chicken salad croissants and it was so delicious.  I received a beautiful pendant with my initials that I have had my eye on for a long time.  I came home to rest up for a sleepover with the grandchildren!

Mikka and Patrick brought the children over and we decided to venture out for some entertainment.  We headed to Incredible Daves at Rivergate for Joesea to play.  John Patrick was mesmerized watching all the people and the children playing.  He sat up so big on the couch just looking around for over an hour!  Brad followed Joesea all over and let her play all the games she wanted and they ended it with bowling.  They cashed in all of her tickets and we headed to CiCi's pizza for dinner.  As soon as we got home, Joesea headed straight to the office to get out some craft supplies.  We had to make a few things before bed. Joesea had pulled another tooth today so she was very worried that the tooth fairy would not know to come to our house.  We assured her that the fairy would find her and sure enough she did!

 Brad and I love every second we have with these grand babies!  

Week 3 of 2012

We got the proofs back from John Patrick's 3 month shoot and they were adorable! This one was put on Facebook by Tucker Photography for a contest of Cutie Pie of the week. No surprise to me, he won!!! Thanks to all the friends and family that voted for him. 

I am loving the James Bible Study. Pat Cassidy is leading the study at Hendersonville First Baptist Church.  I don't think I have ever read the whole book of James straight through until now and it is filled with guidance.  I also really enjoy being with Mom, Nita and Jacque on Tuesdays. 

Our sweet boy turned 4 months old on 1-11-2012.  He went for his 4 month checkup on the 12th.  He weighed 14.4 pounds, 24 inches long and his head is 16 inches around. Dr. Hudson says he can start eating some vegetables along with the cereal. He had to get several shots and this made him very sad!  He has now really taken notice of his hands and will hold some of his small toys.  He smiles all the time and loves to be talked to.  He is holding his head up really well and trying to roll over from tummy to back.   It is just like looking at Patrick so many years ago! Friday the schools were closed for impending snow that we really never got.  I missed having John Patrick and Joesea but they were glad to have a day at home with their Mom.  

Week 2 of 2012

Week 2 of being back on my blog! Yeah for me! Last week Mikka had to go back to school on Tuesday and Joesea and John Patrick were still on break so we had a fun play day.  As soon as Joesea hits the door, she usually wants to craft which is always fine with me.  She decided she should have jewelry on for this and I thought that was a great idea.  We made lots of Valentines and also got out all of my Valentine decorations.  Everything looked so bare around the house without all the Christmas decorations that the Valentine decor cheered it up around here.  John Patrick slept through most of the day but when he would wake up we would stop and feed or play with him.  Joesea's front tooth was very loose and she kept wiggling it all day.  I kept telling her she better not pull it because I was not ready for her to look so old! Sure enough, she had only been gone an hour or so and she called me and told me she had pulled it.  She was so proud of herself and could not wait to go to bed and have the tooth fairy come. Wednesday morning when she came over before school she was so excited to tell us she got $2.00 for her tooth!

Friday Jacque and I took John Patrick to Tucker Photography to get his 3 month old picture made.  I know I am running a little bit behind but the holidays got us off track. He did so great in the pictures! I can't wait to get the proofs back but I know it will be hard to make a choice.  We did 3 different outfits and because it was so warm outside, we even had a few made outside.  I came home and rested up a bit to get ready for Scrapbook weekend. Starr and Samantha came over and we spread out all of our stuff and got busy. Samantha cooked lots of wonderful meals and we all got lots done.  I am working on a secret project for Brad's Valentine gift so I didn't get any actual scrapbook pages done. We finished up Sunday night and have already scheduled to do it again in February. 

John Patrick likes tasting his shoes more than wearing them!

Today was mine and John Patrick's day together.  After Joesea left for school, I made him a pallet in the den for tummy time.  Patrick told me he had turned over yesterday and I wanted to see for myself.  Sure enough, he proped up on his little elbows and made a loud grunting noise and over he went! I screamed and yelled and clapped and he looked at me like I was crazy! He did it several times before he decided he was tired of performing for me.  I can not believe how fast he is growing and changing.  He is such a happy baby.  He laughs and smiles constantly and makes the cutest sounds.  He loves looking at the TV (he gets that honest from his Daddy) and having music playing.  He reaches for things and puts it straight to his mouth. 

This is a 6 month outfit he has on and it fits him perfectly! I can't wait to hear what the doctor says about him Thursday.

Tomorrow is the first day of the new Beth Moore Bible Study on James and I can't wait to get started!

Hello 2012!

I have come to this blog over a hundred times in the past year to write a post and end up hitting the delete button after the first sentence was written. It seems that ever since the chemo and radiation, (and lots of medication) I knew what I wanted to say, but I could not get it from my brain to the computer screen. The words I wanted to write were nothing of great importance to anyone, just a mere documentation of what was going on from day to day.  On January 24, 2012, I will have made the two year mark of being cancer free.  I thank God everyday for this blessing.  I also ask forgiveness for ever doubting that I would not make it to the other side of the dreaded cancer.  I praise God for answering my prayer to let me live to see my baby boy Patrick happily married with children of his own.  I witnessed all of this in 2011.  I praise God for the strength He gave to my precious husband Brad to take care of me with such unconditional love.  My amazing Mother, my sweet son and sisters and close friends were not even to be believed for the care I have been given over the past few years. The cancer is gone but I still struggle daily with the CREST Syndrome and the awful attacks of fibromyalgia. I try so hard to refrain from complaining, I have so much to be thankful for.  So, I said all that to say, I am going to use this day of this new year and resolve to live 2012 to the fullest.  I am going to make lots of wonderful memories and use this blog to document them all.  Happy New Year!!!!