Today we gathered with family we rarely see - Justin's paternal father's side. His )Justin's) grandmother's sister had passed away and we knew that this visit would mean possibly seeing family we hadn't seen in years.
Without digging too much into Justin's history here's the short story. Justin's parents divorced when he was 2 (ish) and his dad remarried almost instantly, having 2 more boys. Their relationship became estranged over the years, however at one point in his teen years he did live with his dad, but after that the communication ceased. In fact he hadn't talked to, no letter or cards, or seen for years until his brothers graduated from college and high school in the same year. I believe it was around 1999. I got to meet the infamous Step-mom, "Prodigal Father" and brothers. It wasn't a warm gathering but it was civil.... much like today's.
Despite this strained relationship I chose to never give up; to be the bigger person; to know I tried to connect (cuz I knew Justin's hurt and pride wouldn't let him). Each year they got a Christmas card; a birth announcement of the grandchild; and still an annual Christmas card of their grandson. Today they meet for the first time (well Trevor met his uncles and grandpa). Again it wasn't the warmest of gatherings since it was funeral. But this was the first time he saw his grandson in person!!! You'd think a bond might have been attempted, a talk about how and what he was up to; maybe even a picture taken of the two?!!? But no.... perhaps he felt guilty looking at Trevor -- seeing his own son he abandoned years ago (for whatever his reasoning was.) I don't know what was going on in his head or heart.
I just ached for my son and my husband. He will never get to meet the cousins we see in photos (his grandmother sends us - cuz they sure don't!); he'll never know his "other" grandpa. Perhaps it'll never really affect Trevor cuz he'll never know any different. perhaps he is better off not knowing a man like this - someone who could walk away and refuse to utter more than Hi to his grandson. You would think at a time of mourning a life lost it would make you grab hold of your family. It does for me.
I only hope that "he" is sitting at home kicking himself for not knowing my precious, smart, loving and joyful son! Cause by God, he is the one missing out -- my son is so lucky to have the people in his life that love him and care about him. Maybe one day we can add the "other family" to that list....but I'm not holding my breathe!
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Monday, February 28, 2011
Kitchen Re-model
So I have been talking about doing this remodel for over 3 years now!!! I think we are slowly getting it done. Not at all like I would like it to be done. My dream - we gather all materials together and bust it out in a weekend! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
So it all started 4 years ago when my mom's neighbor was remodeling their kitchen and had cabinets and a dishwasher they needed to get rid of. We jumped on it! Well there they sat in our storage shed - as a baby was on the way and many other household tasks came! Finally 4 years later - we have begun the process.
We moved the fridge to begin with over to the other side so that we could create an L-shaped counter top system. After much debate and measuring I was afraid I was going to have to spend almost $600 on cabinets so that we could have all the cabinets and pantry space we needed. Instead we will create a corner pantry system and NOT have to buy cabinets!!! YAY!!! That means no trying to match cabinet doors, or painting cabinets to match or spending $$ we didn't really have!
However, with each task comes a slight sna-fu!!! The fridge meant redoing the water line on that side. Moving the gas stove over one wall - requires trying to figure out how to cut the countertop to accomodate an awfully placed gas pipe! I can only imagine waht the electrical work will bring when we remove the wall this weekend! Thank goodness we have friends with knowledge or work experience in almost every facet this remodel will cover!
So here's to a speedy remodel, minimal costs and a beautiful finish! I'll keep you posted --- but feel free to stop by and help out!!! Especially come painting time! ;)
So it all started 4 years ago when my mom's neighbor was remodeling their kitchen and had cabinets and a dishwasher they needed to get rid of. We jumped on it! Well there they sat in our storage shed - as a baby was on the way and many other household tasks came! Finally 4 years later - we have begun the process.
We moved the fridge to begin with over to the other side so that we could create an L-shaped counter top system. After much debate and measuring I was afraid I was going to have to spend almost $600 on cabinets so that we could have all the cabinets and pantry space we needed. Instead we will create a corner pantry system and NOT have to buy cabinets!!! YAY!!! That means no trying to match cabinet doors, or painting cabinets to match or spending $$ we didn't really have!
However, with each task comes a slight sna-fu!!! The fridge meant redoing the water line on that side. Moving the gas stove over one wall - requires trying to figure out how to cut the countertop to accomodate an awfully placed gas pipe! I can only imagine waht the electrical work will bring when we remove the wall this weekend! Thank goodness we have friends with knowledge or work experience in almost every facet this remodel will cover!
So here's to a speedy remodel, minimal costs and a beautiful finish! I'll keep you posted --- but feel free to stop by and help out!!! Especially come painting time! ;)
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
New Job = New Opportunity
So..... some of you may have already known but I am going to be starting a new job soon! I had been with the same place for over 5 years and had gone from being a TA to teacher to Site manager (of 2 locations) to site specialist at one location. Out of our 5 locations - I worked at all 5!!! I worked with phenomenal, headstrong, empowering women and teachers and some great families and kids! But with years of longevity behind me, some expereiences I'd rather forget, I thought it was time to do something else.
I activley searched for a new job. I wanted to teach but nothing seemed to open up for me that felt right. Then this came along and I jumped! I even interviewed to be a licensing rep and was bummed I did not get that opportunity, but I think this is what God intended.
I will be a Child Development Specialist for Workforce - Child Care SErvices (a nonprofit agency). In other words, I will train others, visit schools (daycare/preschool/childcare), help them become certified with our accreditation and assist schools in becoming providers of CCS (subsidized child care). I will be working with another phenonmenal group of ladies (many of whom I already know very personally). I am excited and nervous as this was a major decision that affects more than just me, my current job, and family.
It isn't more money or better hours. I don't get my summer off any more and holidays will be those govt ones the rest of the normal people get. So yes - I will miss all those things. But I was thinking about me and my personal and professional needs. It is a big jump but I am so thankful for the support of my family and friends and especially my awesome boss!!! I cannot explain how much this gal means to me. She is inspirational and empowering! She is head strong and so stubborn! She is compassionate and an advocate!!! I can only hope that I can be that for someone else one day!
I will miss by babies terribly and all of my staff and families. So thank goodness for social networking - right!?!?! My way to keep in touch! I truly hope that people understand that this decision was not made in haste... it was mulled over, cried over and debated for weeks!
So here's to it! I can finally talk about it and celebrate it! Much love to all of you for your thoughts, well wishes and support!!!
I activley searched for a new job. I wanted to teach but nothing seemed to open up for me that felt right. Then this came along and I jumped! I even interviewed to be a licensing rep and was bummed I did not get that opportunity, but I think this is what God intended.
I will be a Child Development Specialist for Workforce - Child Care SErvices (a nonprofit agency). In other words, I will train others, visit schools (daycare/preschool/childcare), help them become certified with our accreditation and assist schools in becoming providers of CCS (subsidized child care). I will be working with another phenonmenal group of ladies (many of whom I already know very personally). I am excited and nervous as this was a major decision that affects more than just me, my current job, and family.
It isn't more money or better hours. I don't get my summer off any more and holidays will be those govt ones the rest of the normal people get. So yes - I will miss all those things. But I was thinking about me and my personal and professional needs. It is a big jump but I am so thankful for the support of my family and friends and especially my awesome boss!!! I cannot explain how much this gal means to me. She is inspirational and empowering! She is head strong and so stubborn! She is compassionate and an advocate!!! I can only hope that I can be that for someone else one day!
I will miss by babies terribly and all of my staff and families. So thank goodness for social networking - right!?!?! My way to keep in touch! I truly hope that people understand that this decision was not made in haste... it was mulled over, cried over and debated for weeks!
So here's to it! I can finally talk about it and celebrate it! Much love to all of you for your thoughts, well wishes and support!!!
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Let it Snow!
Can't believe it! For the 2nd year in a row Austin received snow. And enough snow that you could play in it! I got the call at 5 am that school was closed for a rare Texas Snow Day!
Needless to say that Trevor was super excited! He even remembers last year's snow and tells us all about how we played in it and had a snowball fight at his school! What a brain this lil man has!
So we bundled ourselves up - 3 layers of warmth - and headed outside. Our whole driveway was solid snow and so was the back driveway - so Trevor got to be the first to walk in it! It's like Footprints in the sand, but SNOW!!! Since we rarely experience this type of weather - Trevor trucked out in his rain boots!
After some initial walking around - snow angels and such; we all jumped on the 3 wheeler to see the rest of the neighborhood. It was so nice to see snow covered lawns all around.
After warming up for a bit - we headed back out to play some baseball and ended up having snow ball fights and throwing snow on each other! Some snowballs made us sad when they hit our face and others made us laugh. But mostly it was priceless fun with family! Trevor loved it all - especially making snow angels and throwing snowballs at us. "Momma please make me a snowball so I can throw it at you!" Daddy even got him to taste snow. At first he thought it was too cold; next thing we know he's scooped up a huge chunk and eating it!!!
Let it Snow, Let It Snow, Let it Snow!!!!
Needless to say that Trevor was super excited! He even remembers last year's snow and tells us all about how we played in it and had a snowball fight at his school! What a brain this lil man has!
So we bundled ourselves up - 3 layers of warmth - and headed outside. Our whole driveway was solid snow and so was the back driveway - so Trevor got to be the first to walk in it! It's like Footprints in the sand, but SNOW!!! Since we rarely experience this type of weather - Trevor trucked out in his rain boots!
After some initial walking around - snow angels and such; we all jumped on the 3 wheeler to see the rest of the neighborhood. It was so nice to see snow covered lawns all around.
After warming up for a bit - we headed back out to play some baseball and ended up having snow ball fights and throwing snow on each other! Some snowballs made us sad when they hit our face and others made us laugh. But mostly it was priceless fun with family! Trevor loved it all - especially making snow angels and throwing snowballs at us. "Momma please make me a snowball so I can throw it at you!" Daddy even got him to taste snow. At first he thought it was too cold; next thing we know he's scooped up a huge chunk and eating it!!!
Let it Snow, Let It Snow, Let it Snow!!!!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
renew or not?
So I have been thinking a lot about a talk I had with my hubby about 7 years ago. I am torn as to whether we should follow through with it or not - so let me know what you think.....
over 14 years ago I met Justin. He was everything a parent disliked in a boyfriend for their daughter; long hair, no formal education or diploma, a construction job and party lifestyle. He drove a red trans-am and is 4 years older. But get this - he loves me unconditionally and is an honest, hardworking, compassionate soul. So 4 years later he asked me to marry him on the very day I graduated from College. He knew that my education meant a lot to me and that finishing college was a huge goal for me and my family. So I said Yes! (well I guess so eh?!) 1 and a half years later we married - June 8, 2002. We had done a "timeshare" trip in 2000 and had purchased a timeshare in Florida - we used that to trade in on a honeymoon trip to Cabo San Lucas!!! We fell in love with it! (hence our purchase of a second timeshare at Playa Grande!) We've been back almost every year since, but on that second year we talked about renewing our vows at year 10 of marraige. We promised to "lose weight" and have a simple wedding on the beach year 2012.
Well that's a short year and half away! And if we want family and friends to join us I think we should decide this soon! So that's where you come in.....
What do you think? Are destination weddings worth it? Does anyone actually come to them? What will I need to be aware of?
If you're willing to come help us celebrate - start planning now.... June 3 - 9, 2012
over 14 years ago I met Justin. He was everything a parent disliked in a boyfriend for their daughter; long hair, no formal education or diploma, a construction job and party lifestyle. He drove a red trans-am and is 4 years older. But get this - he loves me unconditionally and is an honest, hardworking, compassionate soul. So 4 years later he asked me to marry him on the very day I graduated from College. He knew that my education meant a lot to me and that finishing college was a huge goal for me and my family. So I said Yes! (well I guess so eh?!) 1 and a half years later we married - June 8, 2002. We had done a "timeshare" trip in 2000 and had purchased a timeshare in Florida - we used that to trade in on a honeymoon trip to Cabo San Lucas!!! We fell in love with it! (hence our purchase of a second timeshare at Playa Grande!) We've been back almost every year since, but on that second year we talked about renewing our vows at year 10 of marraige. We promised to "lose weight" and have a simple wedding on the beach year 2012.
Well that's a short year and half away! And if we want family and friends to join us I think we should decide this soon! So that's where you come in.....
What do you think? Are destination weddings worth it? Does anyone actually come to them? What will I need to be aware of?
If you're willing to come help us celebrate - start planning now.... June 3 - 9, 2012
Monday, December 27, 2010
Christmas Card blues
So I have a gripe! Each year there are two times to really look forward to opening up your mailbox (cause any other time you just get bills!) --- that's your birthday and Christmas!
I look forward to getting those photo cards, year-end letters, and even the few hand written ones people still do! It helps me connect to those I only hear from maybe once a year; to see how big their kids have gotten; and what they've been up to all year!
To those of you who sent one! I loved it! THANK YOU!!!!! I hope you received mine! I take it very seriously and pine over which photos I include, how it looks and be sure that it's a bit different than last year's.
YES, yes ... I know that some people never send cards, but come on now! Have our lives seriously gotten that busy that we have lost the touch of physical communication. I guess I should consider the FB posts to my wall or the mass texts sent as my Holiday wishes from some of you. But I refuse!!!!!!
That's right I am stomping my feet, fists in the air, yelling I REFUSE!!!!! I am so bummed that out of the 45 cards I sent..... I recieved 10! (one doubled as a birth announcement for their child from June!) I was gone for 3 "mail days" and received none!!!!
So - where has our life taken us? As I have mentioned to Family and Friends; soon we will all be walking around - clueless of things and people around us - as we carry those i-pads and do all our communicating thru a computer. Hell I'm doing it right now and not that I am against this new age of communication - heck I talk to more relatives on FB than ever before -
but all I ask is once or twice a year (keep Hallmark/shutterfly/post office employed). Send a holiday card - especially to someone who takes time to send one to you!
I look forward to getting those photo cards, year-end letters, and even the few hand written ones people still do! It helps me connect to those I only hear from maybe once a year; to see how big their kids have gotten; and what they've been up to all year!
To those of you who sent one! I loved it! THANK YOU!!!!! I hope you received mine! I take it very seriously and pine over which photos I include, how it looks and be sure that it's a bit different than last year's.
YES, yes ... I know that some people never send cards, but come on now! Have our lives seriously gotten that busy that we have lost the touch of physical communication. I guess I should consider the FB posts to my wall or the mass texts sent as my Holiday wishes from some of you. But I refuse!!!!!!
That's right I am stomping my feet, fists in the air, yelling I REFUSE!!!!! I am so bummed that out of the 45 cards I sent..... I recieved 10! (one doubled as a birth announcement for their child from June!) I was gone for 3 "mail days" and received none!!!!
So - where has our life taken us? As I have mentioned to Family and Friends; soon we will all be walking around - clueless of things and people around us - as we carry those i-pads and do all our communicating thru a computer. Hell I'm doing it right now and not that I am against this new age of communication - heck I talk to more relatives on FB than ever before -
but all I ask is once or twice a year (keep Hallmark/shutterfly/post office employed). Send a holiday card - especially to someone who takes time to send one to you!
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Ho, Ho, Ho! Merry Tex'mas Y'all!
So here we are, just a few days before the blessed holiday of Christmas. As I scramble around to find just those perfect gifts for my last minute shopping, I read a post on facebook that reminds me of all the things I should be "worrying/focused" about and grateful for. This will be our 3rd Christmas without my Grandma, plus numerous other loved ones. This year we will have 2 celebrations of gifts as our family is split (Klay will be at his Dad's this year), but instead of focusing on all the time consuming events/tribulations of shopping, traveling back and forth, and frustrating traffic... I thank God that I am with my family, that I am helping create memories for my child that I hope he treasures forever as I have with my memories. So please take a moment in the hustle bustle of the holidays, shopping and traveling to hug on a loved one, stop and read a story with your child, be amazed by the lights and sounds around you, and cherish Christ.
Ok - enough with that..... what's Trevor been up to?
Well his love for Ninja turtles has stayed strong....enough to send us into a shopping frenzy trying to find something so that "Santa" will not disappoint. His visit to Santa was interesting as well. He was all excited until he sat on his knee; then he went limp noodle and needed coaxing by Klayton and me to even muster a look at the camera. AS you can see by the picture - I did NOT get a smile out of him! Then he panicked after we walked away that Santa did not hear what he wanted for Christmas. Luckily Klayton had passed his message along.
Trevor also got an Elf on the Shelf for the holiday season. He named his elf Thomas and has been really into it. It helps when he is having "one of those days." So I totally recommend it for any of you with youngsters! What a great tradition to start as well!
This year has been full of ups and downs....but thankfully we still have each other, good jobs, a roof over our heads and lots of family and friends love! So here's to you and yours! Happy Holidays!
Ok - enough with that..... what's Trevor been up to?
Well his love for Ninja turtles has stayed strong....enough to send us into a shopping frenzy trying to find something so that "Santa" will not disappoint. His visit to Santa was interesting as well. He was all excited until he sat on his knee; then he went limp noodle and needed coaxing by Klayton and me to even muster a look at the camera. AS you can see by the picture - I did NOT get a smile out of him! Then he panicked after we walked away that Santa did not hear what he wanted for Christmas. Luckily Klayton had passed his message along.
Trevor also got an Elf on the Shelf for the holiday season. He named his elf Thomas and has been really into it. It helps when he is having "one of those days." So I totally recommend it for any of you with youngsters! What a great tradition to start as well!
This year has been full of ups and downs....but thankfully we still have each other, good jobs, a roof over our heads and lots of family and friends love! So here's to you and yours! Happy Holidays!
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