A Night of Little Miracles

I arrived at home at 10:00pm. Angii and Alana were still up. (Hmmphf!)
I spozed it was because Angii just didn't want to deal with the nightly "going to bed tantrum". Alana is growing into the most beautiful personality, but two sticking points continue to be bedtime and hair brushing! You HAVE seen that head full of delightful curls. As soon as she sees the hairbrush and detangler, she exclaims, "yoo hur me dramma".

Angii's explanation for the delayed bedtime, "we're having so much fun". A quick game of "where's lana" whilst I prepare for the battle. "Time to go to bed, Miss Alana Lynn", then the most amazing sight as I watched her get up and walk down the hall into her (formerly my) bedroom. I'm not quite sure what to make of this. Is it a joke? Is she playing? I give her a minute and creep in to find her in gramma's "big bed" pulling the fluffy down comforter up so that she can snuggle inside. Angii joins her with a bedtime story. A smile and prayers and Alana goes to sleep.

There WILL be ice cream today!!!!
(grandma's prerogative)

Then at 3:00am as I'm tossing in my living room chair again, I realize that there is an empty bed in our house - that is, an empty bed other than the ELMO adorned toddler bed. As Jhinel is en-route to West Virginia -brrrrrrrrr, a real bed lies vacant!!! What a treat!!! And yes, I slept through the alarm going off......but it was such a wonderful rest!

Praising God in the little things!!!

Happy Birthday!

A Day in The Life.............

November 24, 2008.

In the past two days, Alana has asked and effectively used the potty chair twice "WHO-RAAAAAAAYYY!!!"
Today myNel announced that she has been nominated by her school for the Pathfinder Scholarship/Award.

My life is so cute.

Thank you, Father.

A Confession

Yes, I am stressed. Somehow, it feels a bit "unChristian" to admit that. And I've come to the conclusion that it's easier to be ill myself than to go through the same with my children.

Please lift in Prayer today:
Jennifer (she had a colposcopy last friday)
Jhinel - who is in severe back pain (we are waiting on the appointment for an MRI, she recently finished a course of physical therapy)
Holly and Walker and family for a healthy pregnancy
Alana Lynn (she's two and living with her grandmother!! - nuf said)
Baby Luke that his lungs will heal - and his family who are waiting for him to come home.

UPDATE 11/25: Jhinel's MRI showed a herniated disk. She is being referred to a pain management program. Our doctor said this is certainly better than what could have come back. So far her ski trip and softball season can stay on the calendar, but no conditioning until after we meet with the specialist. Please keep her in prayer.

Who Said It?

"We'd better stop before she asks us to sing this at her funeral"

(in a very distorted Bri-ish accent): "there'll be no tissues for your issues"

(They're crazy I tell ya!!)

Chickens and Pirates and Lions..... oh my!!

(The mime is not mine, but we often pick em up as we go!)
I LOVE CHICKEN!!!!

Treasures

Younguns who aren't mine call me "mom"
What an awesome blessing this is.

Funny............the things that we think of as treasure as we get older!

Date Night

A football game and ice cream date with a the most beautiful band nerd, her kid sister, neice and Jeni!! The perfect Friday night. K-girls rule!

and who WAS that "cross-dressing (?)" fool that Katherine brought over on Wednesday??? (yes, he IS wearing a tiara!!!) hehe

(Thank you, Father)

September 2008

Almost Two

She sang to me all the way home. Her enunciation is limited, but the tune and the gestures are unmistakable. It' funny how quickly those pre-school songs come back to me.

I'll be glad when she can go home to her mommy, and I can be a real grandma again.

And I'll miss her.

September 11

Just a bit ago, I realized that I'm having an attitude problem this afternoon.

It's curriculum night at my daughter's school. And I'm mad.
I'm of the opinion that September 11th should be a national holiday.
As it's not, I want the "officials" to at least let us spend the evening at home with our families; or at a church with friends; or on the beach.

But a "good mommy" goes to curriculum night and meets the teachers, rushing around campus with a thousand other parents. So that was my plan. leave work at 3:30 to pick up Angie from School; drop her off at home. Go back to work. Have her meet me at my office at 5:30. Pick up Alana at daycare. Pick up Jhinel from high school. And to the scheduled event.

When I picked Angie up, I said "do your homework and meet me at my office at 5:30" at which point she said she couldnt go to school tonight. The administration had made it clear that students were to stay home to accomodate all of the parents. I'm guessing that if they don't want Angie there, then my granddaughter and myNel aren't welcome either. By the time I pick them up and get them home and get to school, they should pretty much be wrapping up the event.
oh well, so much for being a "good mom"
I guess I'll just go home and spend the evening with my family. which is really what I wanted to do afterall.

Seven years ago this day, we pined to see our kids and our spouses and to take them home. We stood in line to give blood. We went to church together as family and friends and prayed. On that day thousands of Americans went off to work or off to school or on a plane and didn't have the opportunity to come home to their families. Because of hate.

Today, I almost thought that we'd forgotten.
I cried. I'm going home with my kids!

Update on Jennifer

She is scheduled to be at residential treatment until mid-September. She had an intake at a halfway house today and was accepted - this means that when she leaves the residential program she will have an opportunity to be in a safe place while she continues outpatient treatment, gets a job and finds an apartment.

She sounded so great last night, happy, excited about life.......I asked her when was the last time she felt this way. Her response, "I don't remember........maybe five years ago".

Praise God!!! Praise God!!! Praise God!!!
Praying that Jennifer continues to heal and that Alana can live with her mommy soon!

Tuesday: Quick Update

August 23, 2008
Nel drove on I-95!!! :-)

August 25, 2008
After breakfast an Alana initiated trip to the potty chair - and success!!!!

August 26, 2008
This morning I commented that I feel as though my home has been invaded by aliens - partly due to the fact that I'm sorting and cleaning and organizing a car full of personal effects, loaded by Jennifer in a frenetic escape.

MyNel's response was...................uhhhhhhhh, mom you have!!!
Having had my feelings validated, I actually felt better!!!!! (lol)

Yes, Alana Lynn is living with us while her mommy is seeking help with addiction to opiate pain medication.

August 18, 2008

• First day of school
• First hurricane of the season

http://www.noaa.gov/

August 17, 2008

Beautiful Alana Lynn - playing at church

July 28, 2008

Today "myNel" is seventeen
She (finally) (insert rolling momma eyes here) got her driving permit
Today she "officially" became an organ donor
and she pre-registered to vote

What a special day today is.

Jeni's Mom's Wish List

• Sleep
• diapers/pull-ups
• Jeni's healing/recovery
• more hugs from Alana
• PRAYERS

Jeni's Wish List

• Blanket
• Cigarettes
• Laundry soap
• Nail polish remover
• tweezers
• quarters
• shampoo and conditioner
• T-shirts Xsmall
• Pajamas Xsmall
• Granola bars
• Lollipops
• Werthurs original
• Chocolate
• Cash for snack machines and weekly take out meal
  
  
  
  

This Moment

Things that I am grateful for at this very moment:

• Butterflys
• "runts" - tropical flavored
• TEENAGERS!!!!

Fun Things to Do When the Kids are Away

• take Alana to dinner at papa's
• go wedding dress shopping with Holly
• go to "Build-A-Bear" with no kids!! (hehe)
• hang out at the mall