My Sisters ~

For the last 27 years I have taken for granted how truly blessed I am to have two sisters. I've realized over the past several days that I'm not as "strong" as I thought I was. There were several times when LONI was telling ME "it's OK!"....rather than the other way around! We all have very different personalities (which can sometimes lead to conflict). However, I now know that God has been preparing us for this situation our whole lives. I was there with Loni, in her hospital room, making jokes and getting an attitude with the staff (very typical), and Lori flew in from Texas and cleaned their house, bought groceries, etc. before they arrived home (also very typical). Each job being of equal importance, God knew who would be best at doing what, to comfort Loni and Justin! And Loni.....SHE was the strong one! Her faith (along with Justin's) was inspiring. So to my sisters, I'm sorry for not saying it more throughout the years, but I love you both with all of my heart and it's because of you that I am who I am.

Having said that......this is to my sweet niece, Maddox, who will always hold a very special place in my heart ~

Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord your soul He’ll keep.
I praise Him for His grace and Peace. I thank Him for my precious niece.
My tears of grief and sorrow slowly fade with each new day.
I now shed tears of joy for the lives you’ll touch along the way.
I will not continue to ask “Why”; it is not for me to understand.
Yet I can still find rest and peace, for I know you’re in His hands.
I will not mourn our time together because I know that one day soon
We’ll be holding hands and dancing while angels sing a joyous tune!
Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord your soul He’ll keep.

He promises we’ll meet again; My precious Maddox, until then....

Daddy/Daughter Dance '09 ~

Emma's favorite day of the year, by far, is the day of the Daddy/Daughter dance! She's starts planning months in advance! This year it just happen to be on Valentines Day! As always, we had a busy afternoon of getting ready. She and I did some last minute shopping before her hair appt. She always has great ideas of how her hair should be fixed. Last year she wanted corn rows (no, I'm not joking!), and this year she was thinking of crimping it and putting it in a bun! So when we got to the salon I immediately found the "hair book" to see if we could come up with something a little more.......Emma! Luckily, she found an "up-do" that was "just perfect". And just like the past 2 years, she looked beautiful! This was Jeb and Emma's third year going to the dance! But this one was extra special since it was also their last! Since we won't be here for Ella to go, this is something that will always be Jeb and Emma's! Emma loves her daddy more than anything and I know the Daddy/Daughter dance will always have it's special place in her heart (and in Jeb's too)!

Sweet Valentines ~

The girls got lots of Valentines this year! They got a package from Mimi and Pop on Thursday that had a stuffed lion for El, named "Purcey", and diamond earrings for Em! They also received a bucket full of pink cookies shaped like pigs from Mimi and Pop! Of course it doesn't stop there! Nana and Poppy gave El a new Elmo dvd (Elmo Loves You!) and sent Emma some money in a card (which happens to be one her most favorite things to get in the mail!). From me and Jeb they each got a big stuffed dog and Emma got another pair of earrings....Pearls! Since the Daddy/Daughter dance was on Valentines Day this year, Jeb and I didn't get to go out. Instead, he kept the girls Friday night and I spent the night at the lake with some sweet friends! That was the best gift he could've given me......I'm lucky to have him!!!

The Big 2-8!

Jeb turned 28 on Saturday! He's never one for "celebrating" anything! He never wants a gift and thinks cards are the most ridiculous thing a person can buy (because they just get thrown in the trash after you read them)! So....Friday, we took the girls to Mikata for dinner (the entire time he was praying that Emma wouldn't tell them it was his birthday)! Saturday, we went to dinner and then bowling with some friends! He beat all of us at bowling, hints the smile in the picture! I think he had pretty good birthday weekend! Happy Birthday, Jeb!!

Scrap ~

I was tagged by Julie to "honestly scrap" about myself.

Who knew there were rules for "scrapping"? They are:
A. First list 10 honest things about yourself - and make it interesting, even if you have to dig deep!
B. Pass the award on to 7 bloggers that you feel embody the spirit of the Honest Scrap.

My Scrap ~

1. I have a hard time saying "no" to people. Because of this, I'm always having a party, cooking/baking for someone or something, being a room mom, etc.

2. I've never been a very emotional person (regardless of what Jeb would say). However, that doesn't mean I don't care!

3. I hate that I'm terrible at Math. When I was in 3rd grade I learned my multiplication tables by singing just the answers (ie...3,6,9,12,15,18,...) instead of "3x3=9". I haven't been right since!

4. I find myself saying, thinking, doing the same things my mother used to say, think, or do more than I EVER thought I would. For instance, tonight Emma couldn't go to skate night because she didn't do too hot on her math test and I actually said (in a nutshell) "this hurts me more than it hurts you"! I felt like rolling my eyes at myself! GROSS!

5. I'm a writer. People are usually surprised by that. I write a lot poetry, and it's actually pretty good. (Just being honest)

6. I miss seeing my family more than I let on.

7. I do not feel like I've been married to Jeb for 8 years. Our relationship is a lot like it was when we were dating (minus the keg parties)

8. I get embarrassed when I notice people looking at my fingernails! My dad always told me to stop biting them......i should've listened.

9. I'm scared of the payback I'm going to get when El is a teenager.

10. I am hurting for my sister and Justin and Maddox more than I've ever hurt for anyone, but this situation has brought us closer than we've ever been...ever...and I'm thankful for that.

Let's see......how about:
stephanie p
loni
lori
maggie
ashleigh thompson
katie w
katie m