Our new Christmas Wreath

I am in love with my new Christmas wreath. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Happy 25th Birthday, Matthew!

 The Singing makes him bashful...and the trick candles never get old.

He's Still The One

29 years, and he is the love of my life.

They Make Me Smile

My sweet baby boy, Caleb... and his sweetheart Breanna.

Fly away....

Our baby has flown from the nest. I knew this day would come...I just can't believe how fast the time flew by. Stephen graduated from college in May...and was hired by Hewlett-Packard in June. He has a place of his own....and I am certain he is going to do very well. I fought the tears as he loaded his things into the truck, I reminded him to come home once and awhile, and then I hugged him goodbye. I sure wish my mom was here to hug me.

Shelby's Graduation Day

Dear Mom,
I lost count how many times you told me to make sure our girl graduated. Well...SHE DID IT! I know you are as proud of Shelby Rose as I am.

Stephens College Graduation

Our man child graduated from college yesterday. We could not be prouder or love him more. A lot of happy tears this weekend
.Bachelor Of Business Administration in Management Information Systems.

 

Missing you

A mother holds her children's hands for just a short time...but she holds their hearts forever. Happy Mothers Day, Mom. 

A Few Of Our 2010 Winter Festivities

This photograph was taken just before the boys left for their Lamar University Winter Concert performance. Could they possibly look any more thrilled? Me: You two could smile just a little! Caleb: We are smiling just a little Mom! Me: Okey Dokey...Click! I have tried staring at the photo, but I still can't make out a smile. As a matter of fact, Caleb looks a little like my brother in this photo, and for some reason I have this overwhelming urge to walk right up to him and thump his nose.

Shelby's winter concert. It is simply amazing how beautifully these kids play. They sound so professional. The photograph is not great. For some reason I just cannot seem take a good photo in that auditorium. It is because of the lighting I'm sure, and my lack of understanding of how to use it properly.
.
Matthew enjoying a beautiful day at Claiborne West Park. I got some pretty good shots of Matthew for Christmas. Getting him to sit down on the ground took a little time, but once he felt secure...he relaxed and smiled. I also got some pretty funny shots. He is such a clown.
And finally a couple of shots of Shelby and her date before the 2010 Jingle Bell Ball. We had such a great time shopping and getting ready for this event. This was actually Shelby's first "real" date. I mean she has had dates where we dropped her off and picked her up, but this young man picked her up, took her out and brought her home. She had a blast!

The Mad Chatter

2010-2011 High School (costume) Band Party. The theme was Disney...and she chose the Mad Hatter....but I think she looks more like the Mad Chatter! My beautiful baby girl...she lights up our world!

"A daughter is the happy memories of the past, the joyful moments of the present, and the hope and promise of the future." ~Author Unknown

45BDE087-0D7E-826E-9496-44D9FE8C2085

1.02.28

Happy Anniversary My Love

Hurricane Rita may have destroyed our wedding photo's...but our love is still just as beautiful as that night you held my face and gave me my first kiss as your wife. 26 years ago I said "I do"...and I still do. I love you, Randy.

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person. ~Mignon McLaughlin

Gianna Rose

Happy 2nd Birthday precious baby.You have brought so much fun and laughter to my life and I have truly enjoyed spending time with you. You are an angel and I love you very much! ---Keeka

A little girl can be sweeter (and badder) oftener than anyone else in the world. she can jitter around, and stomp, and make funny noises that frazzle your nerves yet just when you open your mouth she stands there demure with that special look in her eyes. A girl is Innocence playing in the mud, Beauty standing on its head, and Motherhood dragging a doll by the foot.
-- Alan Beck

Happy 18th Birthday Caleb

Now it really gets fun! You are not going to believe how fast your life is about to start moving! At times life can be really hard, and it is true that there IS a lot of ugliness in this world. I'm pretty sure there always will be. Never allow the ugliness to become all that you see. Keep your eyes wide open and notice the beauty all around you. Listen to and trust that little voice inside of you, always be yourself, Remember that your family loves you, keep God in your life...never forget to pray!

Oh, if by chance you should win the lottery in the future...you really should share it with your parents. :)

P.S. To answer the question you asked...No, using trick candles never gets old! haha

Congratulations

To my baby boy! Where in the world has the time gone? When you were a baby...everyone told us: "You better enjoy him, it goes by really fast." We sure didn't realize just how fast until we watched you receive your diploma on Saturday. When you looked over at me...I could see your precious baby face (and of something blue) as clear as a bell. You have been an absolute joy Caleb. Your dad and I could not be more proud of you. We look forward to watching you continue to grow and spread your wings.

All our love...ALWAYS,

Dad and Mom

Happy Mothers Day "Typhoid Mary"

As I said in my last post...."I am not sick often" but like everyone else, I am occasionally hit with a nasty little bug. In this case I should say a BIG BUG. Of course the bug eventually made its way over to the other side of the bed and bit my precious hubby. Shortly after Randy and I were married I caught the flu... and like any loving new bride...I shared it with my groom. From that point on...anytime I got sick and passed it on to him...he would call me "Typhoid Mary". Had we gone to the doctor immediately recovery might have been a little quicker...then again, maybe not as it was probably just a nasty viral infection. Well, thank goodness...we are both feeling much better.

I had a lovely Mother's Day.We celebrated on Saturday rather than Sunday. Randy came home from work last Friday evening and said "Your Mothers Day will be tomorrow, we need to be there by 9:30 am...and Oh yeah, bring your camera." The only information I could pull out of him was:
1. Dress...extremely casual
2. No walking involved
3. It would take about 2 hours
So we got up at 7:30 and had breakfast at the IHOP...and then we drove off to the unknown...well the unknown to me. I didn't care where we were going...I was just thrilled to to be spending time with my love and that he had planned something special for me.

I was really curious when we pulled up at Riverfront Park...A concert maybe? No, I didn't recall hearing about any concerts and besides...the place it not really big enough for a concert. But still I thought it must be a show of some sort. Until, the boat arrived...

We sailed away aboard The Cardinal and enjoyed a relaxing two hour tour of the Neches River... "The Last Wild River" in east Texas. The day was a beautiful cloudy day...which means we were not dying from the heat. It was educational. Both Randy and I have lived in this area pretty much all of our lives...yet neither of us had ever been on the Neches River. It was peaceful and quiet. The guide and a few others spoke a little...but for the most part all we could hear was the boat rippling through the water, and the birds singing.











Once the tour was over we went straight home. I felt so sleepy that I took a two hour nap. Nature just does that to me.

On Sunday I spent the day with my children and visited my own mother. I hope everyone enjoyed "Mothers Day" weekend as much as I did.

Caleb And Shaylynne-Prom Night

Being very Silly!

Isn't she pretty.

She is a very sweet girl and every bit as silly as he is...

It seems like just yesterday, I was holding this precious little guy in my arms, dancing slowly until he fell asleep....and now he is at his Senior Prom. Time goes by so quickly.

Caleb is sweet, funny, and charming. We could not be more proud.

My Christmas Wish

This year my Christmas wish is not about asking for more processions ...but more about ridding my heart of burdens. I wish to let go of the hurts of the past...and focus only on what and those who bring joy. I ask for Forgiveness from greed, selfishness, self-pity...a soul filled with Peace, Love and Compassion and... a heart filled with Faith, Charity and Understanding.
May the spirit of Christmas bring you Peace

The gladness of Christmas give you Hope

The warmth of Christmas grant you Love.

From my family to yours...we wish you
a Glorious Christmas
and a Prosperous New Year!!!!

Jingle Bell Ball

Last Saturday our youngest child, our baby girl, Shelby went on her first date. She and her very sweet beau Randall attended the Jingle Bell Ball. The JBB as we call it is hosted every December by our local high school. Much to her relief...her father was not sitting on the front porch cleaning a shot gun when her date arrived as he has always claimed he would. Since it is a fairly formal event and she only gave me 4 days notice...well, let me just say that it was a pretty busy week! Randall had no time to order a tuxedo, and Shelby had no time for hair and makeup appointments...but it all came together and they had a very nice time.

To All The Baby Daddy's

God took the strength of a mountain, The majesty of a tree, The warmth of the summer sun, The calm of a quiet sea,The generous soul of nature, The comforting arm of night, The wisdom of the ages, The power of the eagles flight, The joy of a morning in spring, The faith of a mustard seed,The patience of eternity, The depth of a family need, The God combined these qualities, When there was nothing more to add, He knew this masterpiece was complete, And so ...he named it Dad.

He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it. ~Clarence Budington Kelland

A truly rich man is one whose children run into his arms when his hands are empty. ~Author Unknown

Blessed indeed is the man who hears many gentle voices call him father! ~Lydia M. Child, Philothea: A Romance, 1836

A father is always making his baby into a little woman. And when she is a woman he turns her back again. ~Enid Bagnold

Sometimes the poorest man leaves his children the richest inheritance. ~Ruth E. Renkel

A father carries pictures where his money used to be. ~Author Unknown

Any man can be a father. It takes someone special to be a dad. ~Author Unknown

The greatest gift I ever had

Came from God; I call him Dad!
~Author Unknown

I love my father as the stars - he's a bright shining example and a happy twinkling in my heart. ~Adabella Radici

Dad, your guiding hand on my shoulder will remain with me forever.

Fathers then & now

Today is one of the first Father's Days of our new millennium. Fathers of 1900 didn't have it nearly as good as fathers of today; but they did have a few advantages:

In 1900, fathers prayed their children would learn English.

Today, fathers pray their children will speak English.

---

In 1900, a father's horsepower meant his horses.Today, it's the size of his minivan.

---

In 1900, if a father put a roof over his family's head, he was a success.Today, it takes a roof, deck, pool, and 4-car garage. And that's just the vacation home.

---

In 1900, a father waited for the doctor to tell him when the baby arrived.Today, a father must wear a smock, know how to breathe, and make sure film is in the video camera.

---

In 1900, fathers passed on clothing to their sons.Today, kids wouldn't touch Dad's clothes if they were sliding naked down an icicle.

---

In 1900, fathers could count on children to join the family business.Today, fathers pray their kids will soon come home from college long enough to teach them how to work the computer and set the VCR.

---

In 1900, fathers pined for old country Romania, Italy, or Russia.Today, fathers pine for old country Hank Williams.

---

In 1900, a father smoked a pipe.If he tries that today, he gets sent outside after a lecture on lip cancer.

---

In 1900, fathers shook their children gently and whispered, "Wake up, it's time for school."Today, kids shake their fathers violently at 4 a.m., shouting: "Wake up, it's time for hockey practice."

---

In 1900, a father came home from work to find his wife and children at the supper table.Today, a father comes home to a note: "Jimmy's at baseball, Cindy's at gymnastics, I'm at adult-Ed, Pizza in fridge."

---

In 1900, fathers and sons would have heart-to-heart conversations while fishing in a stream.Today, fathers pluck the headphones off their sons' ears and shout, "WHEN YOU HAVE A MINUTE.."

---

In 1900, a father gave a pencil box for Christmas, and the kid was all smiles.Today, a father spends $800 at Toys 'R' Us, and the kid screams: "I wanted Sega!"

---

In 1900, if a father had breakfast in bed, it was eggs and bacon and ham and potatoes.Today, it's Special K, soy milk, dry toast and a lecture on cholesterol.

---

In 1900, a Father's Day gift would be a hand tool.Today, he'll get a digital organizer.

---

In 1900, fathers said, "A man's home is his castle."Today, they say, "Welcome to the money pit."

---

In 1900, "a good day at the market" meant Father brought home feed for the horses.Today, "a good day at the market" means Dad got in early on an IPO.

---

In 1900, a happy meal was when Father shared funny stories around the table.Today, a happy meal is what Dad buys at McDonald's.

---

In 1900, a father was involved if he spanked the kid now and then.Today, a father's involved only if he coaches Little League and organizes Boy Scouts and car pools.

---

In 1900, when fathers entered the room, children often rose to attention.Today, kids glance up and grunt, "Dad, you're invading my space."

---

In 1900, fathers threatened their daughters suiters with shotguns if the girl came home late.Today, fathers break the ice by saying, "So...how long have you had that earring?"

---

In 1900, fathers pined for the old school, which meant a one-room, red-brick building.Today, fathers pine for the old school, which means Dr J and Mickey Mantle.

---

In 1900, fathers were never truly appreciated.In 2009, fathers are never truly appreciated.

To all the fathers out there…Thank you so much for all that you do!

I was going to post a video here but the Embedding was disabled...so just click the Daddy's hands link below.

Daddy's Hands

The 8th Grade Banquet

Well despite the problems finding a dress and the hurtful words of the boutique employee...Shelby's 8th grade banquet was a huge success. She had fun..and she felt beautiful. Here are a few photo's taken while getting ready and before the event.

Getting her hair done at Sember's Salon

Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart. ~Kahlil Gibran