Happy 18th Birthday Jacob!

It's so hard to believe that my middle son is already 18 years old! The time flies so quickly. In another week he will be a senior.  I can't wait to see all of the wonderful plans God has for his future.

This is an Animoto slideshow of his 18 years. The song is "Follow Your Dreams" by Niels Brinck.

Jacob's 18th Birthday

Jacob wanted an Oklahoma City Thunder birthday.  His aunt Jill made his incredible birthday cakes.  Her website is http://jillreitzel.wix.com/one-of-a-kind-cakes.  Check these out!

2012 Began with Good-bye

2012 began with the loss of my grandmother, Mary Sparger, aka MeMa.  This will be a very different year for my entire family. The thought of each birthday and holiday this year without her always brings tears to my eyes.  I especially hurt for my mom as I know this will be an especially difficult year for her.

My MeMa, Mom & Dad, my sons, & me - Thanksgivng 2009 (I think)

She also gave me so many precious memories that bring smiles to my face and heart (yes, my heart can smile).

For my high school graduation

Long story, funny to Mom, MeMa & Me!

 
I think that this post left on the online guestbook says it all.

My MeMa grew up during the depression, she lost her parents, 11 siblings, was widowed at age 42, was alone when she found her only son dead from a gunshot wound, and lost her first great-grandson. Yet, through this and so much more she was sweet, kind, loving, and an example of a living bible to me.  She would often say, "Well, it could always be worse."

I will always carry her in my heart!

Good-bye to another dear old friend...

Noah has been such a wonderful member of our family for many years. He came to live with us when he was two, but I've known him his whole life.

He was almost 13 and was really starting to be in bad shape. The last week he just laid perfectly still and would rarely get up, even to eat or drink.

The last two days he would lay there and start to shiver and then whine. It was so hard to see.

I took him to the doctor today and he was running a temperature a little over 103. The doctor wanted to do lots of tests to see what was wrong. She was leaning toward the possibility of cancer. Unfortunately, we could not afford to have so many tests only to tell us what was wrong. The ultimate decision was made that he was suffering and he was old.

Jacob had gone with me. He was brave and pretends like he's not that upset but his face was red and his eyes watery. I stayed with Noah and held his head, kissed him, and he lifted his head and licked my chin. He then laid his head back down and I held onto him. The doctor finally said he was gone. He never shivered, twitched, or breathed out, nothing, just sleep. The doctor said it was obvious he was ready to go.

Unlike when we lost Annie, we decided to bring him home. Jacob and I had just pulled in the driveway when Caleb, my oldest pulled in behind us. He had been out all day and was returning to get ready to go to work. Unfortunately, he had no idea we had even taken Noah to the vet.

He checked with his work and got an okay to come in later and to work later. Caleb and Jacob carried the box to the backyard while I chose where Noah would rest. I chose the spot where he would often lay. The three of us then dug the grave and buried him.

This is so very different from when we lost Annie. I now find myself looking out the back door staring at his spot.

Lily, our other dog, seems confused. She has run around the house looking and has gone to all the places in the backyard where he would lay. She's now curled up looking a little lonely; she's never been without him for the year that she's been with us.

We will miss you sweet Noah.

It's the little things that mean so much...

While my oldest son and I were trying to cover the plants and wrap the outside pipes due to the freezing weather that is very rare here, my middle son came out to see how it was going. When he realized how cold my hands were and how much they hurt he said, "Do you want my gloves?" He proceeded to take them off and to actually help put them on my hands because I couldn't get my fingers to move. Though it may seem like such a small thing, that one act of kindness blessed my heart beyond belief. It was a moment that helped me to know that he does love me and cares about me.

This importance comes because my precious son has said, "I love you," and has hugged me probably less than five times in his fifteen years. In my heart I know he loves me, but as a mom it is a struggle to keep my chin up and to keep reminding myself of that on a daily basis. This act of kindness spoke more to my heart than words ever could have.

Thank you so much Jacob; I love you with all my heart!

Happy Anniversary!

Yesterday, Dustin and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary! We have been through many highs and lows through the years. I am so thankful that we never gave up even when it was tough.

I am so thankful and blessed to have such a wonderful husband and best friend.

I love you Dustin!

All Praises to God!

We are so thankful and praising God! My mother-in-law, Kay, has been fighting uteran cancer. She went through chemo and then had a mammogram that showed a lump in her breast. She had the biopsy done last week. The biopsy showed that there were no cancerous or precancerous cells, only calcifications. The greatest news of all is that the blood work came back and showed that she is cancer free! We are all celebrating!

So Much Going On...

Instead of just doing summer projects the previous project list I posted became a mega project marathon. This was not just to get these things accomplished but to prepare our home to place on the sales market. The house was officially listed online Thursday, July 10th.

On Thursday my parents came to visit and I had the priviledge of spending the day with them. We had fun looking at houses and taking pictures in a new smart car (NOT ours).

Friday was my nephew's birthday (Happy Birthday Toby!) and Jacob got a haircut by his Aunt Jill.

From Friday-Sunday we had six showings on the house.

Caleb had a basketball tournament (3 games on Saturday and 2 on Sunday).

The weekend was also spent preparing for Vacation Bible School which started today. We had over 1,000 children that came today. I am serving as a crew leader with Isaiah's group.

Happy Birthday MOM

Today is my mom's birthday. I just want her to know how special she is and how much she is loved and appreciated.

Thank you Mom for all that you have done and continue to do for me and for my family. You are such a blessing. I am so thankful that God chose you for my mom; He knew exactly the perfect person to raise me.

I LOVE YOU!

Good-bye Mr. Hamster

Last night as I went in to rub my little boy's back so he could get to sleep I made my nightly check on Mr. Hamster (my little boy's pride and joy). In his normal sleeping spot, Mr. Hamster made no move as I checked his food and water. I hesitantly checked his breathing, there seemed to be nothing. I opened the little plastic box he was curled up in - but there was nothing. Mr. Hamster was there but nobody was home any longer. My husband and I crawled up the ladder to my son's bed to break the news. He came down to say good-bye and then with teary eyes, went to bed sleeping with the picture of the two of them together.

Actually, I think I'm taking it the hardest. Every time I pass the cage that we took out to the garage I keep thinking I will see him. It makes me sad to see the empty cage. I fed and watered him, cleaned his cage, and held him more than anyone.

A Wonderful Weekend

My wonderful husband decided it was time for us to spend some time together. He asked for the weekend off and arranged for our boys to stay with his parents. He researched places for us to go. In the end, we decided together to stay home and use the money towards some things we wanted to do in the yard.

When I arrived home from work Friday evening, the boys had already left, the house had been cleaned, candles were lit, and a jazz music only station was on the T.V. It was nice to wind down a hectic day so nicely - later we went out for dinner and then came home and watched the Rockets lose their basketball game.

On Saturday we left early to drive to Brenham to have lunch, antique shop, and hang out. When we got there, there was a festival. It was the Country Flavors Festival. There were lots of vendors, food, live music, a classic car show, and best of all all the Blue Bell Ice Cream you could eat for $6. After paying $6 they put a bracelet on your arm and you could go to the ice cream boothes and keep going back all day. It was great! Later we drove home and then went shopping for plants. We spent the evening working in the yard together. When we finished we just sat on the back porch together enjoying the rest of the evening talking and listening to the birds.

Sunday morning we got up and when for a bike ride, ate lunch at Sonic, put together a new park bench and then headed to watch Caleb's basketball game. After the game we went to our Small Group Bible study.

We had such a wonderful weekend together and we are both so thankful for this special time.