February Catch Up

February was a blur for us.  We have been so busy in 2013 its crazy.  I am ready to slow down but I do not see that happening until July.  Our weekends have been packed and life is flying by.  At least we are having a fun time with it!

Here is a first half of February catch up (and a little of January too)....

We went to my mawmaw's end of January and in early March too and did a clean up around her house.  Since my pawpaw died things aren't kept up as easy as they used to be - so we went down there and had a family clean up day and got the house ready for spring and summer.  We were so thankful to be able to serve mawmaw - and get a fantastic lunch out of it too ;)!

Most everyone from our family was there - even Brandon & Ella got in on the cleanup

 Happy Birthday to...

Uncle Murl!

Our family gathered together for a party for my Uncle Murl.  He is in the fight of his life right now with lung/liver cancer so it was a special time for us to get together as a family and celebrate him!

Chase

   

 Ella and Nicole

Our family is so large now we have birthdays almost every month in the year.  So, we do monthly parties.  February was for Chase, Nicole and Ella. 

Ella's birthday present from Michael and I - she loves to help in the kitchen

  

Ella is a kindergartner this year - so she was able to participate in her first daddy/daughter dance at school.  My sister (one of the bravest people I know) adopted Brandon and Ella as a single mom.  So she relies on my dad and all the men in our family to step in as father figures for them.  My dad was out of town and could not go to the dance so Michael stepped in and took her to the uncle/niece dance!

Like any gentleman would, he brought his date flowers

 

They had a fun time and it made her year to show off her uncle to her friends.  I have the sweetest husband in the world!

Not Long Enough...

Its been one month today since my pawpaw passed away.  Its hard to believe it has only been a month - it seems like yesterday I got the call that he had stepped into eternity after cancer had ravaged his body very quickly.  Although we know he is not suffering anymore and we rejoice in that - the earthly pain we feel will continue until we see him again.  71 years was not long enough for us...

Pawpaw died on September 18 - that date has been a sad date for our family for 20 years.  20 years ago my cousin, Nick, was killed in a plane crash while serving our country.  Nick was such a class act guy, an all-American man!  Never met a stranger, loved everyone and was loved by everyone.  That day week is a time I will never forget.  I am thankful to live in a country who honors the ones who serve and give their all for us. 28 years was not long enough for us...

But, is anyone ever ready for their loved one to pass? No, of course not - there will always be that whole in your heart, that empty space at the dinner table, that birthday card that you can't send.  But, we have hope - as believers we have overcome!  Just as Ecclesiastes 3:2 tells us, there is a time to be born and a time to die.  We should always remember as Psalm 90:12 tells us to, "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."  And we have hope if we are in Christ because Revelation 21:4, tells us what our future holds - ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”  

Thank you Lord for the years we have with our loved ones and thank you for the promise of seeing them again!