One month

Really, one month? Since my last post? Really?

I have been busy you guys. On the road busy. Thousands of miles busy.

All for the love of my babies.

'Cause we know there isn't much I wouldn't do for my babies.

I would even go out in public looking like this...

And this is at the in-between stage, before it got really gross! Seeing my doc on Thursday to find out if it is Lupus gone wild or what. It started as two little bumps, normal lupus rash for me and then just exploded. But, it didn't keep me from my sweet Eli, nope, just slapped a bandaid on and headed northeast. As they say, ain't no mountain high enough...

This is the calm before the storm you guys. I have about four weeks (hopefully) before I head back to Cincy and a precious new grandbaby. Kari is 36 weeks today! How crazy is that? This pregnancy has just flown by and we are all so excited to find out what this little one is. Mommy and Daddy opted to be surprised, which is really fun. Sure, it is easier if you know as far as shopping and decorating goes, but you just can't beat that element of surprise!

I also have to get this house decluttered and ready to put on the market. Which means I really shouldn't be sitting here right now and typing. Really, I shouldn't....But, I am and I just can't get motivated to do all I need to do. Time is not my friend these days and if I don't learn to manage it better, we will still be sitting here in this partially decluttered house six months from now.

Must get to work!

Now!

A good man

A good man left this world Wednesday night.

He was my Uncle Clayton.

He was a father to me for the first five months of my life, until my own father came home from overseas. My Dad was in the Navy, so Mom and I lived with Aunt Mary and Uncle Clayton until Daddy came home. Aunt Mary sat out in the waiting room with all the Dads, waiting for me to be born, since my own father was on a ship in the middle of the ocean, thousands of miles away.

Uncle Clayton loved to tell the story of how he would get me to eat liver when I was very anemic by offering me a sip of tea and then putting a spoon full of the nasty stuff in my mouth. Truth be told, it probably kept me out of the hospital. But I still hate liver.

Uncle Clayton was 92 years old and until he had a stroke a few months ago, he still drove, fished and gardened. I think when he couldn't do those things anymore, life just wasn't going to be much fun. And while I am sure he didn't want to leave my Aunt Mary or his children and grandchildren, it was time for him to leave this world and go on to a place where the fish are always biting and the gardens grow year round.

I know my Mom and many others were there to welcome him when he went to his Heavenly home. I am sure it was a joyous reunion, one I hope we will all experience some day.

Goodbye Uncle Clayton, we will see you again one day.

I love you.

Endings and Beginnings

Another year has come and gone. So many milestones in this past year. Eli had his first birthday, Oliver turned two,  Ed's parents celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary, we had our 35th, Alissa and Brek's 10th, the ten year anniversary of my Mother's death, what would have been my parents 55th wedding anniversary and so many more.

We made trips to Boston, Cincinnati, Aruba, California, Oklahoma City and Branson. I finally saw the Grand Canyon after all these years of driving past and flying over it. Saw the beautiful aspens in Colorado and so many of Ed's favorite places on our drive to Cali.

We had our first Lightner-Poynor-VanHoose family vacation and it was a huge success. Our next trip is already booked and being highly anticipated.

We found out we will be adding to our family this year. Baby V will arrive late March-early April. Looking forward to another sweet baby to cuddle!

We have had some challenges as well. Ed's dad is struggling physically and mentally. We had to close his business and are in the process of selling everything. It was very difficult to see all of his hard work come to an end.

We have some big changes coming in our life as well. It seems we will be moving back to Glenpool in order to help Ed's parents. We don't know where we want to buy or build, so we may move in with my Mother-in-law for the time being, until we sell our house and find somewhere to live. She needs our help and it just seems like the right thing to do for now.

I have had a few more Lupus flares this year. Sometimes I actually forget I have it and then it reminds me with a vengeance. Hoping and praying for a healthy 2013.

I am looking forward to what 2013 holds for our family. We have been so blessed and I am very thankful.

Yesterday

Yesterday I was sad because I wanted to celebrate my parents 55th wedding anniversary with them.

I was feeling sorry for myself because my Mother died 10 years ago, 3 months before my parents 45th anniversary.

I was being self centered and self-pitying...

And then, I turned on the news...

Dear Lord, I am so ashamed.

I pray this is a wakeup call for us all. That these precious babies and heroic adults lives will not have been lost in vain. We don't know what drove this young man to this awful act, but Lord, please help us to recognize the next person with these evil thoughts before he gets this far.

I don't know what it will take. I do know, we have to keep guns out of the hands of people who are going to go out and do these evil things. We have to find a way to appease those people who feel they MUST have their guns to be real Americans and still keep mentally unstable people from killing our children.

Lord, we need  your guidance now. Please be with the families in Newtown, Connecticut. Comfort them as only you can.

Amen

12-12-12

Thinking of what might have been....

2 weeks

2 weeks, that is all that is left until Christmas. Really? 2 weeks? Of course it doesn't help that I lost over a week to Lupus...Guess I have to learn that when I go and play, I will have to pay.

 

But I really enjoyed my trip to Cincy and Waxahachie, so I guess being down for 10 days is just the price I will have to pay. It was worth it to see my sweet Eli, so many of my Waxahachie kids and their parents

And now I have 2 weeks to get ready for Christmas. Decorations are still in the attic, don't have a tree, still need to buy presents....how will it ever all get done? And what if it doesn't? The world won't end...

Unless you believe the Mayan calendar of course, in which case, it won't matter at all, will it?

So, today I am going to remember some past holidays.

Because sometimes, the past is so much more pleasant, than the present...

 

Alissa 1980

 

 I made these dresses, they wore them and still love me!

 

We had some really big trees!! Wish they were all here to help me decorate this year!

 



 

Thankful

What a week we had!

It started on Tuesday with a trip to Tulsa to see Ed's parents. Donald is doing pretty well physically, but unfortunately the memory and confusion issues are getting worse. But he seems happy and is adjusting to his new surroundings pretty well. Lovella is doing better as well, seems more rested and not quite so stressed.

Kaci met us in Glenpool and then we all headed to OKC where the cooking and baking commenced. At least that is what I did. Ed and Kaci painted her dining room while I cooked...and cooked... and cooked! It turned out to just be the three of us for dinner, my Dad decided not to come, but it was a very good meal and everyone left the table stuffed! We had dessert with Doug and his family later that evening. So good to spend some time with them all.

Friday was a shopping/travel day. Ed and Kaci were up at 0 dark thirty, I chose to sleep. They had Kaci's Christmas tree purchased and home before 7am! We were supposed to leave that morning to drive to Texas, but Ed decided to put Kaci's Christmas lights up for her, so I did some cleaning while he was on the roof.

And then it was off to Texas to see our sweet Oliver!! And of course I was so busy playing, I failed to take any pictures of him!! Bad Nonnie!

Saturday was a busy day, mani/pedi's with Alissa, Cindy and Mandy, lunch and then time to get ready for the wedding of two very special people. It was like a family reunion of sorts, with so many of my "kids" being there. I haven't had so many hugs, kisses and "where are the rice krispie treats" in years!! I did manage to get a couple of pics, but of course not as many as I would have liked. Here are a few...

 The Groom, one of my sweet boys

 A sweet kiss from my sweet boy!

 

 

The Bride and Groom's first dance

 



The wedding was just beautiful and I hated to leave. Who knows when I will get to see all these kids and their parents again?

Sunday was our last day with Alissa, Brek and sweet Oliver. We also were able to spend some time with Dr. and Mrs. Cope as well as Somer, Ryan and little Miles. And then it was time to make that long drive home...I think I cried all the way to Dallas...Thankfully I have my next trip planned to Boston already and that is what keeps me going.

This is my shopping/recuperating week, since next week I have to report for Federal Jury Duty in Ft. Smith. I have to be available for 60 days, but should only have to spend a week of actual duty. Bad news is I have to be there and ready to go by 8 am every day....Guess they didn't get the memo that I am not a morning person! I will have to leave the house by 7am to get there and find parking and still be on time...Did I mention I am NOT a morning person? I schedule all of my appointments for after 1pm. I don't do mornings people! And yes, as I type this at 11:44 am, I am still in my pj's.

 Don't judge me please...