Life with my sister

We are inching up to the first heaveniversary of daddy's death. I decided I didn't want to forget the details of that day from my perspective . He was such a loud light in all of our lives and that is missed more than any of us can truly express. I know heaven is a louder and lighter place because of his presence. I still picture him arriving in heaven and it makes me grin ear to ear with a tear.  “Abby, It’s your dad. He’s gone.”   Those words came from a tear stained face and through a broken voice shattered with shock. My husband delivered the news. He knew how those words would devastate me in a way like no other bad news ever had. I had lost jobs, friends, a goldfish, car radiators and engines even, but never had anyone had to tell me I had just lost something as precious as a daddy.  "He's gone." Never something you prepare to hear and the word "gone" still rings oddly in my ear, almost a year later. I sat in Randall's truck screaming ugly word...

Isn't she lovely?! Here she is at home in her recliner. God loves this woman, that is for sure...and so do we. Our mama is now back in her place recovering by herself, with visits each day from loving family and sweet friends who live near by. Praise Jesus for this smile on my mama's beautiful face. She did it!! She has had a rough month but the bad is over and only good is to come from here. Her strength is better with each passing day due to her determination to get well and do for herself. We never anticipated her to be at home without help at this point. What a praise this is. Mama told me she is doing so well because she is loved. She needed to be reminded how precious she is to so many, and that has been accomplished through this for sure. I spent the weekend getting her comfortable and secure at home. It was fun to spend quiet, quality time with my mama. I worked hard, rested well and loved watching her prove to herself she could do this on her own. I am the one who pu...

Mama has a long road ahead of her. She is still in ICU and will be for a few more days. She is expected to be in the hospital for 3 weeks once she gets out of ICU. Your prayers of strength for all of us, especially mama, are very much felt and appreciated. Thank you for loving us enough to lift our family up often to our healer and merciful savior. Great is thy faithfulness, O God my father There is no shadow of turning with Thee Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not As Thou hast been, Thou for ever will be Great is thy faithfulness Great is thy faithfulness Morning by morning new mercies I see All I have needed thy hand hath provided Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me Great is thy faithfulness Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest Join with all nature in manifold witness To thy great faithfulness, mercy and love Great is thy faithfulness Great is thy faithfulness Morning by morning new mercies I see All I have needed thy hand hath provided Great is thy faithfu...

Today our dear mama is having a portion of her colon removed. Julie and I have made the pilgrimage home to care for her. Before you read any further, please pray for our mama. Her name is Kathy and she is a jewel. Pray for her to have peace, the surgeon to have a steady hand and sharp mind, pray for her to have rest and a stress-free recovery. March is Colon Cancer Awareness month. I find it an ironic blessing that all this came about this month. Mama had never had a colonoscopy and her doctor had been on her about it for a while. She finally scheduled one. She hated every minute of the prep and the waiting on the procedure proved to be a bear also. She had to wait for hours. We got updates from our Aunt J, who had taken her, and it went from comical to maddening, real quick!( My favorite part was when Aunt J told her she would take her anywhere she wanted to eat afterwards and she told Aunt J she just wanted to go home and eat scrambled eggs. I still laugh about that.) After the proce...

"I mustache you a question?" "Will you be my Happy Birfday Time?" (How Henry says "Happy Valentine's Day...so cute!) His daddy said "yes" and got some love with his coffee. Cupid showed love to Henry with a Veggie Tales card, a big balloon, a red truck, Cars candy and a Mater teeth sucker. He was most smitten with the red truck. Red is Henry's best color. He loves it. His teacher said this was Henry's day because it would be ALL red, ALL day. So funny, but true. We gathered up our love soap for his teachers. Next, we gathered up our bucket of mustaches for his little friends. He had lots of mustache questions to ask and certainly scored many "birfday times" with his cute card and tasty, cute mustache cookies. (you must watch the video I posted last night in the previous post!) I got to his school for the party and the mustache was no longer on his shirt. He had peeled it off. Oh, Henry! He was still a cutie without his 'stac...

Henry wishes you a "Happy Birfday Times!" (His way of saying Happy Valentine's Day)

Henry is having a big time today passing these cute cards out with little polka dot mustache cookies by The Cookie Lady, Amy C from the "Wild west town of Fort Smith, Arkansas" (Did anyone else see the Olympics ticket article circulating online...the description of my hometown made me laugh out loud). Henry better not get rejected today! I think with a mustache as cute as his and with these yummy cookies, he is sure to have a pocket full of Valentines before the day is over! Abby

I left this by Randall's coffee pot this morning. He cracked up at the serving size - "U Decide 'Cause U Da Man!" I covered a $1 box of SweetTarts with it instead of chocolate because he is my sweet and my tart! I found this wrapper online and printed it off. A $1 love gift. Can't beat it! Now, I have to come up with something for tomorrow.... hmmm ?! Abby

Henry had his first official babysitter over the weekend while Randall and I drove to Memphis to eat oysters, mussels and other seafood goodness. You just can't eat like that in J'Town so driving a little ways is worth it sometimes. Our cute little babysitter is one of Henry's afternoon teachers. He loves her and she asked me if she could babysit for us. I think I hugged her! She is the cutest thing. Shelby attends ASU and is good friends with the daughter of one of Julie's good friends. Henry loved playing with Shelby and we loved the little date night we had. She said he showed her everything in the house. I believe it. That is so my Henry! This morning we were matchy-matchy in celebration of love week so we attempted a family photo before church. Henry was most excited about being permitted to stand on the couch that he skipped out on the "cheese". So, we tried again. Taking a decent photo with a toddler is near impossible. I love how he is looking at me. T...

Wilma and her girls - our last picture with her. About 6 weeks before she died. 10 years ago this morning my Meemaw (Julie's "Grandmother") met Jesus face to face. What a rejoicing that must have been for she, my Peepaw (Julie's "Granddaddy") and our Healer. We called them different names, but they were the same people to us...loving, Godly grandparents who helped mold us into the women we are today. There are so many things I wish she was here to see. She never met Anna or Henry. She would adore Anna's love for all things girly and Henry's curly hair and knee socks. She loved Samuel, Claire, David and Daniel and bragged on them every week at the beauty shop and at church. Meemaw loved family and because of that we are still the same, strong family she left 10 years ago. As I get older I find myself appreciating my maternal and paternal families so much more. Julie and I were SO fournate to end up in this life together with all these people. This is...

9 years ago today I said "I do" to my Randall. I always loved this picture. It is in a little frame on my bedside table. It was taken in the brides room after the ceremony. I remember Mama and Mawmaw being afraid we might run off into a broom closet before the reception! We were so excited to finally be married, if you know what I mean! ha. I really like the Aqua Net can in the background the best. All good southern girls use Aqua Net for their 'dos. This is possibly the most priceless photo I have in my album. Because I share this blog with my favorite sister, I thought it was finally time to show this little snapshot of us. I was taking my photos before the ceremony and feared I forgot my deodorant so like any good sister, Jules applied for me. There are too many reasons why I love this girl, just sayin! Wasn't she beautiful in that dress. I loved my wedding. It was perfect. This was our first Christmas card photo. If you are familiar with our annual card, you kno...

This is my single co-worker and church friend, Shaun. He and I have so much fun bantering back and forth. He takes what I dish out and scoops it right back up and hands it back to me. He is a keeper for that and many other reasons, which I will share on this post. He was kind enough to allow me to highlight him on Kelly’s Korner http://www.kellyskornerblog.com/ for her singles link up. His last words to me about this were, “ This better not be an embarrassment! ” I trust I will do my best to make it not be, but I make no promises! The first thing you need to know about Shaun is that he loves Jesus and the Boston Red Sox . He asked Jesus into his heart at age 8 and is still seeking and serving him today at age 26. Shaun graduated from Arkansas State University with a degree in digital media and design. When he is not busy creating masterpieces for our customers he is hiking, watching the Red Sox , playing basketball, horsing around at the lake or beach, and watching movies. He is fu...

10 years ago tonight I looked into Randall's blue eyes for the first time at the back door of my cousin Hollye's home in Memphis. A blind date set up by Julie and my mother-in-love (click here for Julie's refelction on the arrangement). For that date I am forever grateful. I did not want to go, thought my sister had lost her mind and was crushing on another boy. Boy, boy, boy...did I ever change my course when I looked into those blue eyes standing at Hollye's backdoor! (The night of our engagement) Well I lost my heart on the day we met But I gained a lot that I don't regret (one of our favorite engagement photos) Then I hung around til you said 'I do' Knew I wouldn't have nothin if I didn't have youWell, it changed my thinking when you changed your name Neither one of us will ever be the same And I swear I'm never gonna be untrue Cuz I wouldn't have nothing if I didn't have you (5 year anniversary in Cancun) If I didn't have you I...