There is a problem when I start thinking. I have so many things that I would love to learn and do. I am doing exactly what I wanted to do all my life right now - taking care of my family and being a MOM. That is all I have ever wanted to do. I also get the privilege to watch my nephews and niece- just knowing that they know who I am is a wonderful thing. I have seen all of them grow in different ways and I have gotten to watch Ellyn grow from the start, something that I was not able to do when Virginia and Rebekah were born.
I have some friends that have moved to Texas just in the last week, David and Cynthia. While saying our goodbyes or see ya soons (they will be back in May for ND Graduation), Cynthia said some thing that got me to thinking. She told me that she really appreciated the hospitality that I have offered to my friends and always having people over to our home. If you do not know me well, I love to have parties and people in my home, I love to be surrounded by people that want to be around me and just enjoy company. I think that is the reason I love selling Tastefully Simple - I can get a group of people together just to spend time with one another, I am not in this business to make money really - although it is nice when that happens. I have had a wonderful holiday season this year with my sales and it seems to be picking up a little for the New Year...I already have 5 parties coming up for the first quarter! I am very excited! I hope it continues but what if it doesn't?
I have two degrees that I can put to work, or at least one. The one that doesn't do me too much good is the psychology degree, but I am glad that I have it. The other is an Accounting Management degree, which I have used and I am hoping to use again in the future to take some of the pressure off my Mom as the accounting officer of the family business. I hope that this is not a surprise to her or any one else. I do not want to take over the business but I do want to have a part in it. Both my sister and her husband know the ins and outs of the production and processes that go on in the back, so that is one thing that I know I don't need to have a total grasp on., although I know that I could do it if I needed too! I am a fast learner!
I have started thinking about the future that lies ahead. Nicklus will be starting pre-school next fall and Ellyn will be following the next year I am sure. I have thought about when they all get to kindergarten I will start substitute teaching, that way I know that I am home when the kids get home. While I was sitting and thinking about this I realized that Virginia will be in Middle School by the time Ellyn starts school...oh my!
In the past I have always tried to come up with a plan of action for what is to come. What I have learned is that GOD always has a different plan. So, I am going to have to wait and see where GOD decides to put me. There are so many talents that I can build off of, so I am going to just wait and see where He puts me and stop trying to think of where He wants to put me and sit back, listen and wait.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
FIRE!!!!
Okay, so we have been gone most of the evening for Birthday parties. We pull up to the corner of Jefferson and Ironwood and we cannot get through. Panic starts. We go around the back way and see smoke and fire....not our house! Thank God. But it is a house that is 8 houses to the North of ours, one that I wanted to look at when we were looking for houses.
Tate and I walked down to make sure that everyone was alright...the couple that lived in the house was alright...thank God. But, I was checking WSBT.com to see if they had anything on about the fire and found out that a firefighter was injured. I have met quite a few firefighters in the last few years and I am hoping that he will be okay. And I hope that it was not one of my friends or family (we have a couple family that serve too).
I am asking that you all pray for these families. This is going to be rough for this family, as I think that the house will be a total loss.
Tate and I walked down to make sure that everyone was alright...the couple that lived in the house was alright...thank God. But, I was checking WSBT.com to see if they had anything on about the fire and found out that a firefighter was injured. I have met quite a few firefighters in the last few years and I am hoping that he will be okay. And I hope that it was not one of my friends or family (we have a couple family that serve too).
I am asking that you all pray for these families. This is going to be rough for this family, as I think that the house will be a total loss.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Today is my birthday. I am now 34 years old.
I have spent my day with Ellyn and Nicklus. Soon Virginia and Rebekah will be home from school and we will spend our time doing what homework needs to be done. I will then be cooking dinner for 4 girls, one happens to be the babysitter, Haley. I hope that spaghetti is good for them tonight, cause that is what they are going to get!
Tate and I are going to have dinner with Kat and Wally at Logan's...because we have a gift card and I am being cheap. Normally we would be going to Red Lobster, but we ate there last month. I like Logan's, so it is no big deal.
I have been blessed over the last year with friends that are just wonderful. I have been blessed with the opportunities to help out friends, and been blessed by their help too. I have reunited with friends that I hadn't seen in a long while and I have made new friends.
God has truly blessed me this past year, and I am looking forward to seeing what he has in store for the next year.
I have spent my day with Ellyn and Nicklus. Soon Virginia and Rebekah will be home from school and we will spend our time doing what homework needs to be done. I will then be cooking dinner for 4 girls, one happens to be the babysitter, Haley. I hope that spaghetti is good for them tonight, cause that is what they are going to get!
Tate and I are going to have dinner with Kat and Wally at Logan's...because we have a gift card and I am being cheap. Normally we would be going to Red Lobster, but we ate there last month. I like Logan's, so it is no big deal.
I have been blessed over the last year with friends that are just wonderful. I have been blessed with the opportunities to help out friends, and been blessed by their help too. I have reunited with friends that I hadn't seen in a long while and I have made new friends.
God has truly blessed me this past year, and I am looking forward to seeing what he has in store for the next year.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Notre Dame
I have been around Notre Dame all of my life in one form or another.
My numerous Uncles, Grandpa and Dad have had what I would call a Legacy there, starting with Ushering for ND Football. My Grandpa started ushering at the age of 16, and I am not sure at what age my Dad started.
Now my Dad is what I call the Official Notre Dame Sports Photographer. We grew up meeting coaches and my parents have made numerous friendships with the coaches. So, I have seen coaches come and go.
One thing that concerns me now is that there seems to be a revolving door for our football coaches. Yes, they have a high standard to live up too, but what kind of message is being sent? Coaches are not worth keeping. Okay, so they have a "losing" season (by the way we do have more wins than losses). Does anyone think that maybe a change needs to be made at the assistant level? I am by no means an expert on coaching, but sometimes it is better to make a change in the behind the scenes line up.
Coach Weis has been a great member of the South Bend Community. He has started Hannah's Farm for those children and adults that may otherwise have no where else to go because of their disabilities. I support keeping Coach Weis here as the Head Coach of Notre Dame Football.
Stop the revolving door, I am getting dizzy.
GO ND!
My numerous Uncles, Grandpa and Dad have had what I would call a Legacy there, starting with Ushering for ND Football. My Grandpa started ushering at the age of 16, and I am not sure at what age my Dad started.
Now my Dad is what I call the Official Notre Dame Sports Photographer. We grew up meeting coaches and my parents have made numerous friendships with the coaches. So, I have seen coaches come and go.
One thing that concerns me now is that there seems to be a revolving door for our football coaches. Yes, they have a high standard to live up too, but what kind of message is being sent? Coaches are not worth keeping. Okay, so they have a "losing" season (by the way we do have more wins than losses). Does anyone think that maybe a change needs to be made at the assistant level? I am by no means an expert on coaching, but sometimes it is better to make a change in the behind the scenes line up.
Coach Weis has been a great member of the South Bend Community. He has started Hannah's Farm for those children and adults that may otherwise have no where else to go because of their disabilities. I support keeping Coach Weis here as the Head Coach of Notre Dame Football.
Stop the revolving door, I am getting dizzy.
GO ND!
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Classics
I love Classic movies. I have a few that I always end up watching when they are on TV no matter what else is on. Those few are The Wizard of Oz, It's a Wonderful Life and White Christmas.
I am sure that there are many others but tonight "The Wizard of Oz" is on TBS. Ellyn and I are sitting out in the living room watching it together, she looks like she is so amazed by it. I wonder if I watched it like this when I was a little one too. Dorothy just landed in Oz. She is so glued to it! We do have it on DVD, but I don't think we have watched it in a long while. I hope that my girls will continue to learn to like these movies and will remember watching them too.
I am sure that there are many others but tonight "The Wizard of Oz" is on TBS. Ellyn and I are sitting out in the living room watching it together, she looks like she is so amazed by it. I wonder if I watched it like this when I was a little one too. Dorothy just landed in Oz. She is so glued to it! We do have it on DVD, but I don't think we have watched it in a long while. I hope that my girls will continue to learn to like these movies and will remember watching them too.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
November
November....well this month marks one year since I lost 3 important people in my life. Two of those people I had known all my life, my Aunt Mary Bennett and my Grandpa Jack, and the third person was someone I did not know for very long, but she was much like a sister that it just felt like I had known her forever.
My Aunt Mary was one spunky lady. She and Uncle Jack lived in LaPorte out in the country. I liked going there, the yard was enclosed by trees and it was a big yard. I remember going out there for Easter and sometimes in the summer. At Easter she would have a Lamb Cake with the marshmallow frosting, not my favorite, but I never complained and it made the holiday memorable for me. We would play in the basement on the slot machine! That was fun. My sisters and I are the youngest of the cousins. I remember watching the big cousins playing ATARI and watching MTV. When we moved into the house that my parents currently are living in, she would chase our dog, Bogart around the circle that was made through the kitchen, living room, dining room and the front hallway. It was fun to watch her having so much fun. She passed away after a long battle with Ovarian Cancer. STUPID CANCER!
Then about a week and a half later I lost my dear friend Miranda Mayes to Leukemia, again STUPID CANCER! Miranda and I met at Church. She was such a great person. She loved my kids like they were her own! And they loved her just as much. Miranda had an infectious smile that you were just attracted too. She fought her illness like a champion, Jason her husband was by her side the whole time, and was a rock. He is still a rock! Miranda was from Texas, she and Jason moved up here for Jason to attend ND for Engineering. She was taken home to Texas, where her family is. We had done a fundraiser for her when she was here to help with the medical bills, we bought t-shirts, it has taken me a long time to wear it, today I put it on for the first time. I miss my dear friend very much.
Five days later I lost my Grandpa. He was not sick, God had called him home in his sleep. He felt no pain, and was at peace. I knew that losing him would be one of the hardest times in my life, but did not expect so much loss in just a few weeks. Grandpa was an amazing and wonderful man. He loved the outdoors. He had a garden on the bank of the river by his condo every year, and tomatoes were always planted. When he lived on Leer St, he had a garden there too. I remember the Cactus that he had planted next to the garage, it had a face drawn on it. Grandpa was also a boatman. When we were little he had a boat up at Lake Michigan. That was always fun. The trip that I remember most was when we beached the boat and my mom got her foot stuck in the sand. When he moved from the house on Leer St he had a boat on the St Joe River. We would take rides on the river, I got to drive the boat then, of course I did get it stuck on a sand bar. The most memorable rides were the ones in the fall when the trees were changing colors. After I had Virginia and Rebekah in pre-school I took that time while they were at school to have lunch with Grandpa once a week. Those are days that I feel very lucky to have. We didn't always talk much, but I know that he enjoyed the lunch time just as much as I did, if not more so.
Grandpa was also a huge ND fan. He was an Usher for Notre Dame Football since the age of 16. He was a faithful fan. When he retired from ushering he still attended every home game that he could. I got to go the the infamous Miami vs ND game with him, we were in the student section, it was great fun.
Grandpa was a great son of God. He was a practicing Catholic. I however never completed the whole thing that goes with all that, he never looked down on me for that. I attended church just not the same kind he did. I think that he was just happy that I was going to church and taking my girls. When Tate and I joined our first church, Grandpa was there in full support, even though it was not a Catholic church. When we changed churches he was still proud of me, I took him to our new church one Sunday and I got to share communion with him- for me that was a great moment. I had never gotten to share in that with him before, and if I had at the other church we were attending it didn't mean as much then as it did when I shared it with him at our new church home.
When Grandpa passed it was a very rough time, I knew that he was in a better place watching over us, he was now in Heaven with Grandma dancing as angels do.
All three of these people were wonderful gifts from God, and they touched so many with their kindness and love that now lives in not only my heart, but also in everyone that they touched through out their lives no matter how short or long it was.
I love and miss all three of you!
My Aunt Mary was one spunky lady. She and Uncle Jack lived in LaPorte out in the country. I liked going there, the yard was enclosed by trees and it was a big yard. I remember going out there for Easter and sometimes in the summer. At Easter she would have a Lamb Cake with the marshmallow frosting, not my favorite, but I never complained and it made the holiday memorable for me. We would play in the basement on the slot machine! That was fun. My sisters and I are the youngest of the cousins. I remember watching the big cousins playing ATARI and watching MTV. When we moved into the house that my parents currently are living in, she would chase our dog, Bogart around the circle that was made through the kitchen, living room, dining room and the front hallway. It was fun to watch her having so much fun. She passed away after a long battle with Ovarian Cancer. STUPID CANCER!
Then about a week and a half later I lost my dear friend Miranda Mayes to Leukemia, again STUPID CANCER! Miranda and I met at Church. She was such a great person. She loved my kids like they were her own! And they loved her just as much. Miranda had an infectious smile that you were just attracted too. She fought her illness like a champion, Jason her husband was by her side the whole time, and was a rock. He is still a rock! Miranda was from Texas, she and Jason moved up here for Jason to attend ND for Engineering. She was taken home to Texas, where her family is. We had done a fundraiser for her when she was here to help with the medical bills, we bought t-shirts, it has taken me a long time to wear it, today I put it on for the first time. I miss my dear friend very much.
Five days later I lost my Grandpa. He was not sick, God had called him home in his sleep. He felt no pain, and was at peace. I knew that losing him would be one of the hardest times in my life, but did not expect so much loss in just a few weeks. Grandpa was an amazing and wonderful man. He loved the outdoors. He had a garden on the bank of the river by his condo every year, and tomatoes were always planted. When he lived on Leer St, he had a garden there too. I remember the Cactus that he had planted next to the garage, it had a face drawn on it. Grandpa was also a boatman. When we were little he had a boat up at Lake Michigan. That was always fun. The trip that I remember most was when we beached the boat and my mom got her foot stuck in the sand. When he moved from the house on Leer St he had a boat on the St Joe River. We would take rides on the river, I got to drive the boat then, of course I did get it stuck on a sand bar. The most memorable rides were the ones in the fall when the trees were changing colors. After I had Virginia and Rebekah in pre-school I took that time while they were at school to have lunch with Grandpa once a week. Those are days that I feel very lucky to have. We didn't always talk much, but I know that he enjoyed the lunch time just as much as I did, if not more so.
Grandpa was also a huge ND fan. He was an Usher for Notre Dame Football since the age of 16. He was a faithful fan. When he retired from ushering he still attended every home game that he could. I got to go the the infamous Miami vs ND game with him, we were in the student section, it was great fun.
Grandpa was a great son of God. He was a practicing Catholic. I however never completed the whole thing that goes with all that, he never looked down on me for that. I attended church just not the same kind he did. I think that he was just happy that I was going to church and taking my girls. When Tate and I joined our first church, Grandpa was there in full support, even though it was not a Catholic church. When we changed churches he was still proud of me, I took him to our new church one Sunday and I got to share communion with him- for me that was a great moment. I had never gotten to share in that with him before, and if I had at the other church we were attending it didn't mean as much then as it did when I shared it with him at our new church home.
When Grandpa passed it was a very rough time, I knew that he was in a better place watching over us, he was now in Heaven with Grandma dancing as angels do.
All three of these people were wonderful gifts from God, and they touched so many with their kindness and love that now lives in not only my heart, but also in everyone that they touched through out their lives no matter how short or long it was.
I love and miss all three of you!
Monday, October 19, 2009
How I Met Your Dad
Tate and I are High School Sweethearts. We met my Sophmore year at Penn, he was a Junior. Both of us had been a part of the Speech and Debate team, he was a debator and I did prose. The Speech and Debate team was ushering the school musical "My Fair Lady". At intermission our mutual friend, Missy, introduced us. Tate was very polite and shook my hand, not something that I was used to a High School boy doing.
The following Monday Tate came and sat with my group of friends in the library before classes started. So we had begun to get to know each other. The following weekend we went out on a group date. After lunch we went back to a friend's house to watch a movie. I sat and fed him popcorn. After the movie we all left, before Tate left I gave him a kiss on the cheek and a hug.
That week we began dating and have been together ever since!
The following Monday Tate came and sat with my group of friends in the library before classes started. So we had begun to get to know each other. The following weekend we went out on a group date. After lunch we went back to a friend's house to watch a movie. I sat and fed him popcorn. After the movie we all left, before Tate left I gave him a kiss on the cheek and a hug.
That week we began dating and have been together ever since!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
The Worst Day of Being a Mom
I am sure that you are a little perplexed about what the worst day of being a mom could be. Well, so far the worst day had to be March 29, 2007. This day will always be on my mind. This is the day I thought I was going to lose my Virginia.
March 29th had started out like a regular day for us, watching television and getting ready for school. On this day Virginia would be getting on the bus for afternoon Kindergarten, Bekah would be going to the babysitters and I would be going into work. At 11:20 a.m. that all changed. I found myself looking at Virginia laying on the side of the street, after being hit by a car. I sat over her yelling "call 911". At this time I was also 7 months pregnant with Ellyn, I was screaming so hard and loud that I thought that I broke my water. At that time I wasn't thinking about my self I was just hoping that I wasn't going to lose my child. To make things even worse Bekah had seen all this happen, I can still remember hearing her saying that she thought her Big Sister was "dead". I was lucky to have neighbors that took her in and loved on her that day.
While Virginia was laying there in the street I remember her starting to come around, all she wanted to do was get up and go inside. She was so scared. I still can remember her not wanting to lay for the EMT's to get her in the ambulance. I made sure that she knew that I was there the whole time. I was not able to ride in the back of the ambulance with her, I had to ride in the front buckled up. At this time I had realized that my pants were wet. Luckily, I had only peed my pants. By the time we had gotten to the Emergency Room Virginia had calmed down a little bit. She still wanted to go home, and so did I. They nurses cleaned up Virginia so that we could see what her injuries were. She was very lucky. She had a cut on her cheek that needed stitches and scrapes on her forehead. They took her for some scans to make sure that there were no broken bones or anything serious. She did have a concussion.
When we had returned from the tests the Chaplin had come back and told me that the young man that hit Viriginia was in the waiting room and wanted to see Virginia. At this point Tate was still on his way to the hospital from Goshen, and my mom was with Virginia and me. I did go out and meet him. The first thing that I did was hug him...God had given me the strength to give this young man a hug. How much more suffering could I put him through? He was already going through his own struggle with what he had done. He had gone through the stop sign on a bus with red flashing lights and hit a little girl. He wanted to see for himself that Virginia was alright. I told him that I was not ready for him to do that just yet, Tate had still not arrived. When Tate did arrive we talked about what we should do. We decided to let him come back and see that she was going to be alright.
Virginia was admitted to the hospital for observation as she had a concussion and they wanted to make sure that nothing else was going to show up. When we arrived on the children's floor she was greeted by the nurses and given a Minnie Mouse stuffed toy. They did do a good job making her feel comfortable.
I am sure that you are wondering about Bekah at this point. She was still unsure what was happening with her sister. Tate went to the neighbors and picked her up and brought her up to the hospital to see that her sister was going to be fine. I still remember the look on her face when she came into the room, she did not want to get near Virginia. We did a lot of reassuring her that she could get close to her and give her a hug.
Later that evening the young man and his family came up to see Virginia. Their family has a story and I feel that I need to share it. This family is from Bosnia. Before they came here the older son was hit by a hit and run driver...now this explained a lot about why he need to see for himself that Virginia was going to be okay. The son had been in a coma and the driver was never caught. Now, I was in a room with a mother that understood what I was going through, I know that Virginia was not in a coma, but she knew what I was feeling.
We did stay in contact for a while with the young man. He would stop by see Virginia and talk to her. I thought that this was very nice of him to do, it showed that he really did care that he had hurt someone and had taken responsibility for his actions.
What can make people in such a hurry to go through a Bus Stop? For him is was that he claims that he did not see it in time, and he did not see Virginia on the curb, he was on his way to IUSB for an exam. HOW CAN YOU MISS A GREAT BIG YELLOW BUS WITH FLASHING LIGHTS?
For all of you that read this all I ask you to take away from this is that no matter what time of day it is be aware that a school bus can put the lights on at any moment.
I have been on the news a couple of time talking about bus safety and sometimes I do wonder if people are paying attention. I do have to say that we have not had any cars (that I have noticed) go though the lights at our bus stop.
What did I learn from this whole experience? That God is always in control. He could have taken Virginia Home to be with Him that day. He kept me in control when I really wanted to just let this young man a piece of my mind and fist. He gave me the peace and direction to just give this man a hug after hitting my daughter with his car, and tell him that it would be okay.
God is in control and I do not have any control over the people that are out driving when my children are getting on the bus, but when He gives me the chance to tell our story, I will.
I do have to tell you that the school bus after that day changed the route so that Virginia no longer had to cross the street to get on the bus, and this continues today.
March 29th had started out like a regular day for us, watching television and getting ready for school. On this day Virginia would be getting on the bus for afternoon Kindergarten, Bekah would be going to the babysitters and I would be going into work. At 11:20 a.m. that all changed. I found myself looking at Virginia laying on the side of the street, after being hit by a car. I sat over her yelling "call 911". At this time I was also 7 months pregnant with Ellyn, I was screaming so hard and loud that I thought that I broke my water. At that time I wasn't thinking about my self I was just hoping that I wasn't going to lose my child. To make things even worse Bekah had seen all this happen, I can still remember hearing her saying that she thought her Big Sister was "dead". I was lucky to have neighbors that took her in and loved on her that day.
While Virginia was laying there in the street I remember her starting to come around, all she wanted to do was get up and go inside. She was so scared. I still can remember her not wanting to lay for the EMT's to get her in the ambulance. I made sure that she knew that I was there the whole time. I was not able to ride in the back of the ambulance with her, I had to ride in the front buckled up. At this time I had realized that my pants were wet. Luckily, I had only peed my pants. By the time we had gotten to the Emergency Room Virginia had calmed down a little bit. She still wanted to go home, and so did I. They nurses cleaned up Virginia so that we could see what her injuries were. She was very lucky. She had a cut on her cheek that needed stitches and scrapes on her forehead. They took her for some scans to make sure that there were no broken bones or anything serious. She did have a concussion.
When we had returned from the tests the Chaplin had come back and told me that the young man that hit Viriginia was in the waiting room and wanted to see Virginia. At this point Tate was still on his way to the hospital from Goshen, and my mom was with Virginia and me. I did go out and meet him. The first thing that I did was hug him...God had given me the strength to give this young man a hug. How much more suffering could I put him through? He was already going through his own struggle with what he had done. He had gone through the stop sign on a bus with red flashing lights and hit a little girl. He wanted to see for himself that Virginia was alright. I told him that I was not ready for him to do that just yet, Tate had still not arrived. When Tate did arrive we talked about what we should do. We decided to let him come back and see that she was going to be alright.
Virginia was admitted to the hospital for observation as she had a concussion and they wanted to make sure that nothing else was going to show up. When we arrived on the children's floor she was greeted by the nurses and given a Minnie Mouse stuffed toy. They did do a good job making her feel comfortable.
I am sure that you are wondering about Bekah at this point. She was still unsure what was happening with her sister. Tate went to the neighbors and picked her up and brought her up to the hospital to see that her sister was going to be fine. I still remember the look on her face when she came into the room, she did not want to get near Virginia. We did a lot of reassuring her that she could get close to her and give her a hug.
Later that evening the young man and his family came up to see Virginia. Their family has a story and I feel that I need to share it. This family is from Bosnia. Before they came here the older son was hit by a hit and run driver...now this explained a lot about why he need to see for himself that Virginia was going to be okay. The son had been in a coma and the driver was never caught. Now, I was in a room with a mother that understood what I was going through, I know that Virginia was not in a coma, but she knew what I was feeling.
We did stay in contact for a while with the young man. He would stop by see Virginia and talk to her. I thought that this was very nice of him to do, it showed that he really did care that he had hurt someone and had taken responsibility for his actions.
What can make people in such a hurry to go through a Bus Stop? For him is was that he claims that he did not see it in time, and he did not see Virginia on the curb, he was on his way to IUSB for an exam. HOW CAN YOU MISS A GREAT BIG YELLOW BUS WITH FLASHING LIGHTS?
For all of you that read this all I ask you to take away from this is that no matter what time of day it is be aware that a school bus can put the lights on at any moment.
I have been on the news a couple of time talking about bus safety and sometimes I do wonder if people are paying attention. I do have to say that we have not had any cars (that I have noticed) go though the lights at our bus stop.
What did I learn from this whole experience? That God is always in control. He could have taken Virginia Home to be with Him that day. He kept me in control when I really wanted to just let this young man a piece of my mind and fist. He gave me the peace and direction to just give this man a hug after hitting my daughter with his car, and tell him that it would be okay.
God is in control and I do not have any control over the people that are out driving when my children are getting on the bus, but when He gives me the chance to tell our story, I will.
I do have to tell you that the school bus after that day changed the route so that Virginia no longer had to cross the street to get on the bus, and this continues today.
Virginia Renae
So, it is about time I give you the story of Virginia Renae.
Virginia Renae was born on August 12, 2002 at 8:30 a.m. She weighed in at 7 pounds 6 ounces. She looked just like Tate, so he was not going to be able to deny that she was his. We joke about the kids being the mail man's but unfortunately that story would never stick! Virginia is named after her Great-Grandma Virginia Bennett. This was very special to me because she was the first Great Granddaughter for my Grandpa Jack, and I would not have had it any other way. She was a very special lady and I know that Virginia will be one too when she grows up.
Virginia is a very independent young lady. She does things the way she wants and when she wants too do it. Sometimes I wonder who she is most like, Tate or me?
She is also very creative and loves to be outside. If you are ever here on an absolutely beautiful day you will find her in the backyard playing in the mud or dirt looking for new bugs or anything that is alive to build a habitat for. I never thought that I would have to let her take a bath every night, and I still have to wonder where they find water to make mud when there is none around and the hose hasn't been turned on. I love this about her, but it frustrates me too.
I love Virginia very much and she will always be my "baby". She is 9 now and is growing into a beautiful young lady. Before I know it she will be all grown up and all I will have are memories.
Virginia Renae was born on August 12, 2002 at 8:30 a.m. She weighed in at 7 pounds 6 ounces. She looked just like Tate, so he was not going to be able to deny that she was his. We joke about the kids being the mail man's but unfortunately that story would never stick! Virginia is named after her Great-Grandma Virginia Bennett. This was very special to me because she was the first Great Granddaughter for my Grandpa Jack, and I would not have had it any other way. She was a very special lady and I know that Virginia will be one too when she grows up.
Virginia is a very independent young lady. She does things the way she wants and when she wants too do it. Sometimes I wonder who she is most like, Tate or me?
She is also very creative and loves to be outside. If you are ever here on an absolutely beautiful day you will find her in the backyard playing in the mud or dirt looking for new bugs or anything that is alive to build a habitat for. I never thought that I would have to let her take a bath every night, and I still have to wonder where they find water to make mud when there is none around and the hose hasn't been turned on. I love this about her, but it frustrates me too.
I love Virginia very much and she will always be my "baby". She is 9 now and is growing into a beautiful young lady. Before I know it she will be all grown up and all I will have are memories.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Rebekah Noele
Today it is Rebekah Noele, she is not named after any one in particular. We chose her name from the Bible and it fits her!
Rebekah was born on May 8, 2002. She is the second little girl that was added to our little family. She was by far the biggest of the three weighing in at 9 pound 6 ounces! The labor with her was much different than Virginia's. I woke up at 3 a.m. with a stomach ache, so I had a can of Coke. At that time Tate was working in Michigan and had to be up early to get ready. He came down and asked me if he should get ready for work and of course I had said "yes." By the time he was done, I was having severe back "pain", I was not thinking labor at that time, it was not until I couldn't sit or stand that I said "call your mom and get her here, I think we need to get to the hospital." I am very surprised we made it...we had her within 30 minutes of getting to the hospital! What a start and she arrived looking just like a Bennett- she looked a lot like my dad.
Well that day is still a vivid day in my mind, all was going well until that evening. I was nursing her and she stopped breathing! I was scared out of my mind, God gave us this beautiful little girl and what was He doing now? We knew that God was going to do one of two things- we going to get to keep her or he needed her in His Army of Angels. Of course the later would have been ver difficult to deal with. He let us keep her! She had come through the birth canal so fast that she did not get all of the fluid out of her lungs...they "sucked" out 2 ounces of fluid out of those little lungs! She was admitted into the NICU for 3 days after she was born. I never thought that I would see one of my babies in there not to mention she was the biggest one in there! If you know her today you know that she is "perfect!"
Today she is a very happy 7 year old little lady. She enjoys all the things that she should at her age. She is very smart and has a love of God that is a wonderful thing to see.
I do not know what the future holds for her but I do know that God has a plan for her life and she will follow Him, and I know this because He let us keep her.
Rebekah was born on May 8, 2002. She is the second little girl that was added to our little family. She was by far the biggest of the three weighing in at 9 pound 6 ounces! The labor with her was much different than Virginia's. I woke up at 3 a.m. with a stomach ache, so I had a can of Coke. At that time Tate was working in Michigan and had to be up early to get ready. He came down and asked me if he should get ready for work and of course I had said "yes." By the time he was done, I was having severe back "pain", I was not thinking labor at that time, it was not until I couldn't sit or stand that I said "call your mom and get her here, I think we need to get to the hospital." I am very surprised we made it...we had her within 30 minutes of getting to the hospital! What a start and she arrived looking just like a Bennett- she looked a lot like my dad.
Well that day is still a vivid day in my mind, all was going well until that evening. I was nursing her and she stopped breathing! I was scared out of my mind, God gave us this beautiful little girl and what was He doing now? We knew that God was going to do one of two things- we going to get to keep her or he needed her in His Army of Angels. Of course the later would have been ver difficult to deal with. He let us keep her! She had come through the birth canal so fast that she did not get all of the fluid out of her lungs...they "sucked" out 2 ounces of fluid out of those little lungs! She was admitted into the NICU for 3 days after she was born. I never thought that I would see one of my babies in there not to mention she was the biggest one in there! If you know her today you know that she is "perfect!"
Today she is a very happy 7 year old little lady. She enjoys all the things that she should at her age. She is very smart and has a love of God that is a wonderful thing to see.
I do not know what the future holds for her but I do know that God has a plan for her life and she will follow Him, and I know this because He let us keep her.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Ellyn Rosalie
I have decided that I would tell you a little about my girls, one at a time. I am doing them all separately because they are all three unique and deserve their own time.
First I am going to tell you about our little Ellyn Rosalie. She was born June 25, 2007, two days before Tate and I celebrated out 9th anniversary. We, or at least I, was hoping that she would wait until the 3rd of July so that she could celebrate with her Great Grandpa Jack, but it is okay that she came early because then we didn't miss his birthday party! She arrived about 5:30 a.m. and weighed in at 8 pounds 13 ounces!
Ellyn is named after her two Great-great Grandmothers on my Dad's side, Grandma Rosalie Bennett and Grandma Ellen Hardy. I never really knew either of them but I know that they would be honored to have our little Ellyn named after them, I do know that Grandpa was very proud.
Ellyn is now 2 years old, and becoming the handful that she should be. She loves to play with her sisters outside and tries to keep up with both of them in the most dirty contests that I know they are having in the back yard!
She likes to play by herself most of the time. And has found that pretend is fun. She likes to have tea parties with her new tea set.
I think that she is a good combination of both Virginia and Rebekah- she has Virginia's independent nature and Rebekah's mostly laid back attitude. But, she also has a temper, that we are going to have to work on if she doesn't out grow it as she gets older.
I am still learning a lot about her everyday. She is the first of my children that I have gotten to be with since she was born. She has never been to a day care and I am glad that she hasn't had to go. I have enjoyed not missing the most important things in watching her grow!
First I am going to tell you about our little Ellyn Rosalie. She was born June 25, 2007, two days before Tate and I celebrated out 9th anniversary. We, or at least I, was hoping that she would wait until the 3rd of July so that she could celebrate with her Great Grandpa Jack, but it is okay that she came early because then we didn't miss his birthday party! She arrived about 5:30 a.m. and weighed in at 8 pounds 13 ounces!
Ellyn is named after her two Great-great Grandmothers on my Dad's side, Grandma Rosalie Bennett and Grandma Ellen Hardy. I never really knew either of them but I know that they would be honored to have our little Ellyn named after them, I do know that Grandpa was very proud.
Ellyn is now 2 years old, and becoming the handful that she should be. She loves to play with her sisters outside and tries to keep up with both of them in the most dirty contests that I know they are having in the back yard!
She likes to play by herself most of the time. And has found that pretend is fun. She likes to have tea parties with her new tea set.
I think that she is a good combination of both Virginia and Rebekah- she has Virginia's independent nature and Rebekah's mostly laid back attitude. But, she also has a temper, that we are going to have to work on if she doesn't out grow it as she gets older.
I am still learning a lot about her everyday. She is the first of my children that I have gotten to be with since she was born. She has never been to a day care and I am glad that she hasn't had to go. I have enjoyed not missing the most important things in watching her grow!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Indian Beef Patties with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce
Indian Beef Patties with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce
Shared via AddThis
FYI- I did not add the salt that this called for and it was great with out it!
Shared via AddThis
FYI- I did not add the salt that this called for and it was great with out it!
Dreams
I thought that today I would share some of my dreams.
I have had this dream of having my own restaurant for the longest time. It started out in High School as just drawing a sign for my dream, I don't remember what the name of it was but it had to do with dining in the moonlight on the water- of course it was to be on a beach over looking the ocean, now I would be happy with it over looking a river or a small lake. I also remember the sign being similar to the sign that Tom Cruise's character drew in the movie Cocktail. Now the dream has changed to just a small cafe that serves home style cooking...of course that means that there will be nothing healthy- except maybe a salad or two. This may never happen but I am close, I am am Independent Consultant for Tastefully Simple- and I love it! The products are wonderful and easy to make, making anyone into a cook!
My biggest dream has always been to just be a MOM. And I am blessed to be living that out now. For a long time I never thought that I would get to be a stay at home mom. After Virginia and Rebekah were born I had to go back to work full time, and I missed out on a lot of the doing new things. We went through a lot of childcare. No one could handle Virginia- I don't know why she is such a great kid! And I sit here an laugh to myself...I remember the day that one of the sitters called crying...Virginia had found her scissors (that she said she was careful to hide while Virginia wasn't watching) she used them to cut off Rebekah's pig tails and then went on to cut her own. I laughed as she was telling me this. If you know me at all you know how I feel about hair- IT GROWS BACK! And shortly after that was when we needed to find a new sitter. We had two more after that and then Ellyn arrived! Finally, God gave me the chance to be a stay at home mom of some sort.
I am truly blessed that he has God has given me a hardworking Husband and family that has trusted me with their children to watch. I have enjoyed being the "babysitter" I have gotten to watch Nicklus grow and change, and been able to help out when I am needed for my sisters. I know know that my Niece and Nephew's will know who I am, and that is a wonderful feeling!
I have had this dream of having my own restaurant for the longest time. It started out in High School as just drawing a sign for my dream, I don't remember what the name of it was but it had to do with dining in the moonlight on the water- of course it was to be on a beach over looking the ocean, now I would be happy with it over looking a river or a small lake. I also remember the sign being similar to the sign that Tom Cruise's character drew in the movie Cocktail. Now the dream has changed to just a small cafe that serves home style cooking...of course that means that there will be nothing healthy- except maybe a salad or two. This may never happen but I am close, I am am Independent Consultant for Tastefully Simple- and I love it! The products are wonderful and easy to make, making anyone into a cook!
My biggest dream has always been to just be a MOM. And I am blessed to be living that out now. For a long time I never thought that I would get to be a stay at home mom. After Virginia and Rebekah were born I had to go back to work full time, and I missed out on a lot of the doing new things. We went through a lot of childcare. No one could handle Virginia- I don't know why she is such a great kid! And I sit here an laugh to myself...I remember the day that one of the sitters called crying...Virginia had found her scissors (that she said she was careful to hide while Virginia wasn't watching) she used them to cut off Rebekah's pig tails and then went on to cut her own. I laughed as she was telling me this. If you know me at all you know how I feel about hair- IT GROWS BACK! And shortly after that was when we needed to find a new sitter. We had two more after that and then Ellyn arrived! Finally, God gave me the chance to be a stay at home mom of some sort.
I am truly blessed that he has God has given me a hardworking Husband and family that has trusted me with their children to watch. I have enjoyed being the "babysitter" I have gotten to watch Nicklus grow and change, and been able to help out when I am needed for my sisters. I know know that my Niece and Nephew's will know who I am, and that is a wonderful feeling!
Monday, September 21, 2009
Who am I?
Who am I? This is a question that I struggle with everyday. First and foremost I am a Mom to 3 beautiful girls, two of which are at school all day and one that I am with all of the time- as she is only 2. I am also a Wife to a man that has struggled with where he is in life. I say this because we have been through job losses and depression together while wondering where life was going to go. Now he is teaching in the BEST Program in the SBCS Corp. and is the Head Coach for the Football team, so I suppose that also makes me a "coach's wife" or is that just a "football widow"?
But the real question is: Who am I when I am not in these roles of daily life? I have to say that I don't really know. I sometimes feel like I am a different person all of the time. I have suffered with Depression for the last few years, and I think that I finally may have gotten through it, but only time will tell. I have many different kinds of friends- and I love them all- they allow me to be who I think I might be. I do look to God for guidance in my life, and I believe that he gave me the friends that I have now for a reason- to teach and show me who I am. He created me for a purpose and only he will lead me to the people who will continue to shape me. This may mean that I might have to let some friends go, but they will always still be in my heart, they are just not part of God's plan for me now.
I am going to stop here for now, as the family duties of the afternoon are now calling. Homework is getting finished and needs to be checked. And as a note, I hate homework time as it is very stressful for me, and not that the homework is difficult it is just that both of them seem to have an adversion to doing the math portion of the assignments!
But the real question is: Who am I when I am not in these roles of daily life? I have to say that I don't really know. I sometimes feel like I am a different person all of the time. I have suffered with Depression for the last few years, and I think that I finally may have gotten through it, but only time will tell. I have many different kinds of friends- and I love them all- they allow me to be who I think I might be. I do look to God for guidance in my life, and I believe that he gave me the friends that I have now for a reason- to teach and show me who I am. He created me for a purpose and only he will lead me to the people who will continue to shape me. This may mean that I might have to let some friends go, but they will always still be in my heart, they are just not part of God's plan for me now.
I am going to stop here for now, as the family duties of the afternoon are now calling. Homework is getting finished and needs to be checked. And as a note, I hate homework time as it is very stressful for me, and not that the homework is difficult it is just that both of them seem to have an adversion to doing the math portion of the assignments!
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