A Day With Debbie

that is before Sophies arrival---

got a call during church, Lindsay water had broke---we went to Providence to pick up the girls, took them to eat, now we are getting ready to leave to go back to the hospital to maybe meet our new Grnad-daughter this afternoon...
Will update soon....

SOPHIE HAS ARRIVED...
and she is beautiful!
7 lbs 5 ounces

Well, just a few more days and you will give birth to our 4th beautiful grand-daughter, Sophie...
You will do great, even tho you may be a little afraid of what happens on Wednesday. After all the hard work,look at what your reward shall be, a beautiful baby girl! Those rewards will continue thru your life, lots of smiles, laughs, hugs, boo-boos, tears, going to Kindegarten,dates,graduations, baptisms, and marriage one day.
One day you will realize what I have gone thru not wanting to "let go" when your girls are your age. Wanting to be there for all the important and fun things in your girls lifes, to watch them grow every day. Thank you for letting me and your dad be there for all those things!
You were my baby, I will always have that bond with you. I see things in Madalyn that remind me of you when you were that age, her love of school, reading, making sure everything is perfect, and going to McDs, and I see other things in Loraly that remind me of you of being her age, her smile, her eyes light up like yours did, sometimes her temper ....And I am sure little Sophie will remind me of you too!
I am so excited to love that baby, to be the best grandmother or "Ma" to her that I can be, I can't wait to hold her, to love her, smell her, see what her big sisters do as they meet her for the very first time! We will wait patiently outside with Madalyn and Loraly and give them all the love they need that day so you will not have to worry about them.
I have enjoyed shopping with you for Sophie, I know she will love all the fun and pretty things we have bought. And believe me, there will be lots more to come!
You know just how much your dad and I love you and your family, we will always be there for you! We are so proud of you!

To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven;

A time to be born,
And a time to die;

A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted:

A time to kill,
And a time to heal;

A time to break down,
And a time to build up;

A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;

A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones;

A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to gain,
And a time to lose;

A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;

A time to tear,
And a time to sew;

A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;

A time to love,
And a time to hate;

A time of war,
And a time of peace.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work God does from beginning to end.

Ecclesiastes3

Our hearts are with you during this time of your life.

Happy "23" Anniversary to our sweet friends, Dale & Doug

What I am Thankful for this year

Memories of my daddy...

My husband and his love for me...

My sweet and growing family...

My memories of my children growing up, their love for going to church and Bible class every Sunday and Wednesday...for all who taught them and installed their love of Christ in their heart...

Our church now, although we don't attend as much as we need to, I find myself as I grow older needing and trusting the Lord more everyday!

Smiles and hugs and kisses from Kaitlyn, Madalyn, & Loraly...

A first lost tooth today!

My husbands job, he provides more than I have ever needed. And doesn't complain when I spend way too much!

Time off to spend together, he doesn't get to take a lot of his vacation time so when he does it is so precious...

Our new house, we have never owned but one other home and we are so blessed to have this house with more than enough room for our friends and family to be here any time they want...

Our family having a big delicious feast today! And the kitchen all clean tonight.
Left-overs for the next day.

Phone calls from Amber, Cam, & Lindsay--usually every night.

MDO on Tues/Thurs and all those little 3yr olds that keep me so busy!

Starbucks with Loraly on Tues/Thurs on the way to MDO...

Getting to pick up Madalyn from school on the way home from MDO on Tues/Thurs. I love to see her pretty smile when she gets in the car.

Weekends when Kaitlyn gets to come and spend time with us!

Disney with Kaitlyn this year.

Memories of past cruises with my husband and good friends, Dale & Doug...and looking forward to another cruise this next year.

Paul--what an impact his short but wonderful life had on me and my family!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO LORALY.....our big 4yr old

Happy Birthday today to our Son in Law, Mark!
Also, to our sweet friend, Jack, Happy Birthday!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Leticia is a friend from my childhood, we went to church together and also school...She was in my wedding party. On Fri, she turned the BIG 50---her little sister, Melissa gave her a big party at the church annex on Sat--we could not attend because we were having Loralys party here so, we went to church in Irving with papa and Letitcias family on Sunday and all went to eat afterwards together!

On Sat, we had a big "Minnie Mouse" themed Birthday party for Loraly.
We rented a big jump house and had a pinata full of candy along with lots of cake and presents for the birthday girl.
Lindsay had decided to have her party a little early, actual birthday is Nov17, because of baby Sophie coming...

on Sunday, Oct we had a small baby shower for Lindsay...several of her good firends came, she got a few really nice gifts for Sophie...now, we just need Sophie to be here!
I can't wait for your Birthday, to get to hold you, love you and see your sisters reaction to their new baby sisiter who have they have been waiting patiently for...

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
you can go to Lindsays page(GirlyGirlsLovePink.Blogspot.com) for a blast from the past pic of me and my sweety, who by the way, sent me a dozen red roses to MDO on Thurs and it made all the girls there so jealous!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY DEAR FRIEND, DALE

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SWEET HUSBAND, 53 YRS YOUNG TODAY

5 yrs old today...

more of my favorite part of my birthday

this is the most favorite part of my birthday

9-11-01
Kaitlyn had started Kindegarten in Kopperl and Mike and I were getting ready for our very 1st Grandparents Day Lunch with our little first grand-daughter.
I remember having the "Today Show" on--then there was a news flash..
I remember seeing the Tower falling..
I remember seeing all the smoke and then the plane hit the other Tower..
I remember seeing the second Tower fall..
I remember seeing people running and crying...

I remember holding and hugging Madalyn, she was just a baby, I was watching her while Lindsay worked..
I remember picking Mike up and the drive to Kopperl...
I remember the radio playing and there were no songs...
I remember getting to Katys school, we were late cause the cafeteria lady I had called to see what time Katys lunch was gave me the wrong time...we checked in, were told to not mention the happenings of the morning to the children, no one wanted them to be scared the rest of the day till their parents picked them up and could talk to them about the day..
I remember walking into Katys computer class, she had had some tears, her little face was red, she thought we had forgot about Grandparents Day..
Mrs West let her go and have lunch with us and get our first Grandparents Day pic made together...
I remember her smile when she saw us walk into her class room...

I remember calling my children, my friends, my parents, my father in law..
I remember tv that night and all the people who had lost love ones, the signs made and placed everywheres...
I remember my prayer that night, to please keep my family, my children, my grand-daughters, my friends safe..to take care of people that had lost loved ones..for our nation to be whole again...
I remember flags..
I remember sports events that cancelled for the following weeks..
I remember no airplanes flying by for days..
I remember Pres.Bush face when told of the tradegy as he sat with a class of students...

I remember her face when she saw us walk into her class room..
Now, she is in 6th grade, half of her school life is now almost over, next will be JrHigh then HighSchool..
Ironic that Grandparents Day lunch was 9-11 again.. 6 yrs later.
I remember her face today when I walked into her lunch room..

Today, we got to go to Madalyns school and have lunch with her to celebrate "Grandparents Day"! We had so much getting to eat Bushes Chicken with her! Then, we got to go to her room and she made us a beautiful card with her picture on it wearing her pretty cheetah girl shirt.
Thank you for a very special lunch Madalyn, we love you so much.
You are the sweetest 1st grader I know!
I am so happy to get to be your "Ma"!

I am teaching for our churches MDO program this year--I have such a fun class of almost 3 yr. olds---they are all so sweet and funny!

one day....like Madalyn says, "we have to save all our money for Longhorn school!"

Loraly started dance class on Wed night..she is following her big sister Madalyns footsteps---ballet then tap... Miss Meredith is Loralys teacher as she was Madalyns also...

On Tuesday, you will start MDO again this year---you will love playing with all your friends and getting to go to school, it will be so much fun! You are our "Little Princess"...You are so cute, your little looks, always cracking us up, even when we are "Buddas"---our fish, how I love to watch you swim!
I love my LulaBelle!!!!

for my favorite first grader....I hope this year that you meet a lot of new friends, learn more about spelling and math and just enjoy each and every day! I love your sweet smile and the way you talk to me on the phone! You are such a special little girl and I only hope you know just how much I love you!

for my sweet sixth grader---what a truly sweet girl you are, I hope you learn more and more every day. I love your giggles and frowns so much! Enjoy this year, have a great time with all your friends..and stop growing up so fast!!!! I love you Miss Kaityln.

This summer, I had took Kaitlyn several times to shop for school clothes, backpack adn lunchbox, so Mike & I decided to take Madalyn today to shop for some special 1st grade clothes---she decided she really likes "Limited 2", in her words, "it was cool"---She got several mix/match outfits and then one special sweat outfit with DANCE on her bottom---
So that Loraly would not feel left out, we also got her a pretty outfit too...
What fun to shop for our little special girlies!

Amber,Kaitlyn, & I went to SanAntonio last week for a few days just for fun and spend some time together.
We decided to go by Luckenbach on our way, we all needed to go to the restroom and Amber commented to Kaitlyn to tell her if any of the chickens outside came in...so, we were all washing our hands, Amber threw her napkin in the trash and then a SQUAK...there was a chicken in the garbage!!!!
We got to SanAntonio around 7, checked in our hotel---then we went to the marketplace to eat and shop...we had some really good mexican food there...
Wednesday, we got up, caught the trolley, went to the Riverwalk, to the mall, Amber got Kaitlyn several outfits to start school in, we went to Spaghetti Whse for lunch, the to the IMAX to see Haunted Castle, which we DO NOT recommend! Afterwards, we went to Fiesta to ride a few rides and had a great time, we wished we had of gotten to spend more time there.
Thursday, Hurricane Erin had arrived, we drove home in pouring rain, flooding in SA.
But, it was nice to spend some good time with 2 of my girls!

Apparently on Thurs night, Loraly wanted to come to Mas house, so Lindsay dialed our number and let Loraly ask--we were not home at the time, so she left a message, something aong the likes of---"Uhhhhh, Mama, Mas not talking...." so, she called me on my cell and asked to come over----OF COURSE. Her first conversation on the phone with her Ma....

She did it--our Amber finally accomplished her dream and graduated Nursing School last night---we were so proud of her, she also recieved 2 scholarships along the way!

I know she will make a compassionate nurse and always do her best in her new career!

WAY TO GO....

We went out and picked out a new car yesterday and bought it today--last time we picked out our own car was our '97 Honda----
A 2006 Volvo, silver-----

This week, for some reason, they have wanted to see Ma & G-daddy almost every day and night---yesterday, Lindsay and I ran a few errands then the girls wanted to stay at our house and play...so, after playing for over an hour with the toys they decided they wanted to watch "The Wizard of Oz"...we were all laying across my bed, Madalyn was rubbing my hair and neck--she looked at me and said "Ma, this is the movie me and Paul always watched." Sweet Memories!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO MARK & LINDSAY....
#8--we are proud of both of you and love you very much!!!!

Since I have posted anything---
Last Tuesday was the last of the summer MDO....Kaitlyn went with Lindsay and I to help out. For the most part the day was fun! Littel Jenna got Lindsay and I both a pretty butterfly plate, Thank you Jenna!

Cam brought his friend Amy to Waco for the week-end, we all went to Lindsay and Marks to swim and cook burgers, was really fun..Amy has 2 little puppies Heisman and Mia, we all fell in love with Mia, the girls have decided Ma needs one at her house.

Last week, kaitlyn gave us a guite a scare, started out, Amber and Kaitlyn were not feeling good, so they went to a family Dr, he diagnosed both with allergies....Amber is trying to finish up Nursing School, so Kaitlyn came to my house to rest up some---overnight, she became sicker and sicker,running very high fever---so Thur morn I decided she needed to be seen again---turns out it was not allergies, after x-rays, urinalysis, and a trip to Hillcrest for a CT scan, she was diagnosed with Mesentaric Lymphadenitis--condition known as a very bad infection in her abdomin..finally after 4 days of feeling horrible, she is now lots better!

Today, Lindsay and the girls and Kaitlyn all went to see "Hairspray"---was great!

A glorious day to say goodbye to our sweet Paul---Leigh and Terrill did an awesome job memoralizing thier precious son!
I will miss you my sweet buddy but I know you are not hurting anymore and you are in heaven now!
You will be forever in my heart!

Some of my memories of Paul...

The first time I met Paul, we had gone to Leigh/Terrills to eat dinner with them..Paul had already been diagnosed and gone thru about a year of treatments by then. He was going thru a lot of stranger anxiety, so he was mostly to himself not wanting to meet anymore strangers ...I decided to get up from the table, go into the living room and see if he would let me hold him and watch his train video with him...he won me over at that moment, we snuggled the whole movie as his mommy and daddy and Mike got to watch us!


Then a few weeks later, I asked him to go along to the zoo with my grand-daughter, Madalyn and myself...I can remember passing by Baylor, Paul saying to us, "That is where my dad works, Hey Dad"...then at the zoo, we were watching the giraffes and a strange smell came from around the corner as we were walking...Paul says, "that smells like Whitts diaper"


From that moment on, Paul was smitten with his Madalyn...they drew each other pictures, visited and had some fun play dates together. I watched Paul and Whit every Tuesday so Leigh could do her errands and just have a little alone time...Paul would come into the living room, see his reflection on the glass of the fireplace doors--"Miss Debbie, Miss Debbie, I can see Paul in your fireplace!" The I would reply, "Paul, you better get out of my fireplace, your mommy would be very upset if she knew you were in our fireplace!" Then his precious giggle....


Mike and I watched the boys one afternoon for Leigh and Terrill so they could have some much needed time alone to eat and do some shopping...Paul had just finished a round of chemo and felt so bad---I remember him just laying his head down on the picnic table as Jack jumped on the trampoline...finally after a little while, Paul got himself up and played just as hard as his brother...


Paul went into Cooks for some surgery, Mike and I came to help out with Whit, since he had just had some heart surgery, I can remember late that night after they had finally got him back to his room, his mommy laying on the bed with him comforting him, that sweet moment will always be with me.


Then the headaches came back, I tried to comfort him when he would stay with me till Leigh or Terrill could get there to pick him up... but there is no comfort like the touch of mommy and daddys hand....


When Madalyns little sister Loraly came along, one of Pauls very favorite things to do when he was there with Loraly was rub her head, it was soft and bald....now, that is one of my favorite things to do when I go visit with Paul, rub that soft/bald head.


Paul came to play one day and told me that he really wanted Bushes Chicken for lunch--so off we went, after all Miss Debbie can't say no....while driving thru, he had one of his terrible nose-bleeds..I pulled over, tried to stop it, called Leigh, thank goodness she was up the street eating with Whit---I drove like a maniac on Hewitt Dr to get him there--traded off with Leigh and took Whit home... I never realized the amount of blood you could loose and how calm and collected Paul was with it till Leigh got it stopped...another time, he stumped his toe, was crying and I was trying to comfort him, all I could see was what looked like the end of his toe--I thought he had apparently stumped part of it off...it finally stopped bleeding, Leigh got there to take a look at it and she started laughing----he had a wart on the end of his toe and they had been working on getting it off and that is what he stumped...they just forgot to tell Miss Debbie about it!


Putt-Putt, on a day when he felt so bad but would not let us carry him....he was determined to play and play hard....I think mostly he wanted to impress Madalyn.


The bike rides in front of my house and always stopping for water and a "Hey Miss Debbie".


We all had such fun at Pauls big birthday parties at Chuck E.Cheese and Peter Piper and bowling...lots of smiles, friends, pizza and presents for all! I especially enjoyed making him a "Jeff Gordon" and a "Tony Stewart"cakes, although I don't think Terrill had any of the "Tony Stewart" cake . Now, how many kids get 2 birthday cakes in one year?


And all our drives to Lake Belton to see the Christmas Lights---the joy in the kiddos eyes as we drove thru.... and the laughter after the year Madalyn had announced "the reindeer just pooped presents out"

A few years ago Mike and I took Paul and Madalyn, actually it was Madalyns idea for Pauls birthday to see the Monster Trucks...we ate dinner at a littel steakhouse nearby and they were both so excited! At the coliseum, we let both of them got mini Monster Trucks, and banners and all the drivers signed the banners....then the highlight of the night was when Paul, Madalyn and Miss Debbie got to ride in the back of a Monster Truck!

Last year, Mike and I decided to take Paul birthday shopping and let him pick out anything he wanted...lots of shirts,Imaginexes, and Nascar items, I think Mike had more fun than anyone! Our next door neighbor Dan, is a Professional Magician and he came to Pauls party and did some neat magic tricks....I think everyone had a good day at Pauls special birthday party.

I bought Madalyn and Paul lunch one day at school and ate lunch with them, as usual, they wanted Bushes chicken---when Paul came walking down the hall, he had his lunch bag, I said Paul did you forget that I was gonna bring lunch today--he said no, his mommy had packed him some broccoli..he opened up his bag and ate of his broccoli before he ate any of his Bushes chicken...


Then the big Kindegarten Graduation---Paul was so sick, but he managed to make it to his big graduation and even walk across the stage to accept his diploma....I don't think there was a dry eye in the whole school...

The last few months have gone by so fast and I have not spent a lot of time with Paul although Mike and I did go to Cooks one Saturday and make a visit--we took Paul a "Star War" leggo set, he was determined to finish it before we left.... took some time after we left but it got finished, ok, maybe Terrill helped a little....


About 3 weeks ago, we had dinner with Leigh/Terrill and Leighs parents, Terrill always sits on the middle of the couch next to where Paul lays---Terrill got up so I made my move to sit by Paul, he had just gotten home from getting his G-button and was still sore. Paul says, "Hey, that is where my dad sits" So, I asked him if I could rent that space and would give him my $3 I had in my car, so, he let me sit there by him, and I rubbed his little feet for about 30 minutes.I had asked him earlier if I could see his G button, he did not want to show me...so after I had sat there for a few minutes, he asked me if I wanted to see it---first time Paul had looked at it, he was not very happy with it but was a good sport about it.

So, now Paul is very sick, there are no more treatments left to help him live a good guality life, he has been in a lot of pain but thankfully that is being managed now, and we are all getting ready to say our goodbyes to this precious little boyfriend of mine. Sorry, Madalyn just this one time you have to share Paul with me.

I pray for no pain, lots of special moments to be remembered by a lot of friends and for your parents and brothers to know how much they are loved by lots of friends and to know just how special Paul is to his family, grandparents, cousins and all those friends...

I have a picture Leigh gave me for my birthday a few years ago, Paul was running thru a field, just being a happy, carefree child, that is so precious to me... Leigh could of never given me a better gift! I will treasure it forever just as all the sweet memories I have of my Paulie.

I wrote this about Paul on Friday night, it was storming here and he was on my heart heavily.

I had actually drove by several times this week just to go in and see Paul and rub his sweet head and maybe just maybe get a grin out of him, but I know that his mommy and daddy needed all the time with him that he had left...but this morning we got the call from Lynn, Paul had passed in the wee hours of the morning with his mommy and daddy at his side...

No more chemo, or pain,or getting poked, just sweet Paul in heaven now---

I love you my little buddy...

P.S. I will never tell anyone our "little secret" about when you and Madalyn were here at Miss Debbies house, we had just bought the house and Paul was over playing with Madalyn--anyways, the 2 little "stinkers" that they could be together some times, went into the play room, were coloring pictures and they got very quiet---so, I went to check them and they had drawn all over my carpet in that room.....so, I quickly called the carpet cleaning man and he came out and got it all out of my carpet----boy, those two really thought they were gonna be in some hot water but I let them off with stern warnings and never let them color on the carpet again.... I think the secret is out now Paul, but I forgave you long ago, so don't worry, you are not in trouble. Madalyn either...

Its another beautiful little grand-daughter....she will make her grand appearance around Nov30....thank heaven for our happy healthy little princesses!

Today Lindsay finds out of it is a BOY or a GIRL...sure wish I could be there to see the looks on Madalyn and Loralys face, I know it will be priceless! Hurry up and call me Lindsay, I am anxiously waiting here at home!