Tis the Season!

Wow! Cannot believe this year is drawing to an end!  Christmas time already???  Ready or not, it's here!  This year shopping has been rather difficult for me.  Bray is at the "I'm to old for that" stage and stores don't seem to cater to that market!  Not only is he thinking he's to old for toys, but now he thinks he's to old for the typical clothes (cute ones I might add) that I would normally buy him....SO, he has decided on the more expensive things, new Xbox, iPhone, shotgun, waders, money, Abercrombie, etc... Geez, really?  Talk about break the bank and I only have one child! Lol! 
Needless to say, Bryan and I have been shopping not once, but TWICE!  Yes, Bryan has been to Jonesboro AND Memphis shopping with me and we had so much fun buying or our little man!  I honestly think he will have his best Christmas yet and we can't wait! 
But most importantly, we are gonna be spending our FIRST Christmas together AGAIN!  We are all three so excited and Bryan is actually off duty on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, so he won't miss a minute! 
As far as Bryan and I are concerned, we don't need anything...We already have it all!  There is no feeling better in this world and no words to describe what we have been through in the last few years that can even begin to describe what we now have!
I hope you and your families all have a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 

I hear you!!!

Ok, I have to admit I may be going overboard just a little bit...or Bryan thinks so anyway!  But let me tell you....having newborn puppies has changed my life!  Raising a child is one thing, as women it is just part of who we are and it is second nature.  However, they are OUR children, therefore what we do as mothers and how we take care of them are "our control".  BUT, being the human mother to newborn puppies...well that is definately another story!
When Bray was a newborn and didn't sleep well, I started the bad habit of putting him in bed with me and Bryan.  I never worried about rolling over on him or not hearing his cries.  Yet when I found out Jada was prego with my babies one thing I was told that happened most often with newborn pups was that the mother would step on or roll over on them and suffocate them without realizing it.  This scared me to death after bringing Jada and her babies home with me.  Needless to say there have been several sleepless nights of up and down to check their breathing and making sure all was well.
Now I have had to create a new bed for them as they are growing and beginning to move around more.  In the last few days they have not only discovered a world outside of their bed, but they have completely opened their eyes and their ears are opening up as well. 
I have never hand raised a litter of puppies from birth, as a matter of fact I have only had a puppy at 6 weeks or more.  I had no idea what newborns were all about...that was always left up to mother nature or someone who had experience!  I can say this now though, I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world!!!  This has been the best experience ever!
Yes, it has been rewarding, but at times a little nerve racking and scary too!  BUT, today has made it all worth while!!!  Now my babies are 2 1/2 weeks old and beginning to get a little more social and aware of their surroundings.  Today I was talking to Axel and for the first time ever he acknowledged my voice and his name and he came to me!  I was so excited!  How is something so small and so young growing and changing so quickly???  It seems they are changing and growing right before my eyes!  I even got excited about their first "on their own" poop! Lol!
I know, I know, seems a little rediculous to most, but honestly this has been a very rewarding and miraculous experience!  I am amazed everyday by God's work!  And even though it is "only puppies" as some may think, if you ever got this experience yourself it may make you think about how awesome life really is!
The dreaded part is approaching much more quickly than I thought it would...Jada (the mama) and Camo(the brindle pup) will have to return home with Becky and Axel will stay here with us.  It honestly makes me sad to think about it because I have gotten so attached to Jada in the past few weeks!  She is adorable, sweet, and well mannered!  But I can't see myself sending Camo back to his new home either!  I would never make a good breeder because I could never easily part with the babies!  If it were up to me the three of them would just stay here with us!
Anyway, the day is nearing and I must make myself face reality like it or not...until then I'm gonna keep loving these sweet babies and there mama like there's no tomorrow! 

Oh Whatta Day!

Whatta birthday!!!  From start to finish, it has been fantastic!  First thing this morning I had messages rolling in wishing me a HBD!  The sweetest was from my mama, she's so thoughtful!  She sent me a picture message, my baby picture, and it read "Happy Happy Birthday Mel Mel Kay Massey"!  That's what I told everyone my name was when I was little.  The picture just made it! 
I then talked to my best friend Wanda, who very ironically has the same birthday, and we got to tell one another to have a great day... Once I got to work, all the girls greeted me with wishes and a new Tyler candle (my fave)!  Shortly after lunch a sweet friend, who is also a home health nurse who taught me so much when we worked together brought me hot pink and blue frosted cupcakes!  Mmmmmm! Great mid-afternoon snack...and I even shared! 
But tonight topped the cake so to speak!  As tradition, we had my family birthday dinner.  I cherish these moments!  This year was extra special because I had MY family together again!  Me, Bray, AND Bryan! 

After dinner, cake, and gifts, it was super fantastic to come home as a family and to not only hear how much I am loved today and everyday, but to feel it!  If I have heard it once today, I have heard a thousand times from Bryan, "but it's your birthday baby!"  What a feeling!!!
I guess of all the awesome gifts, sweet birthday wishes, and delicious cake, the best gift ever is the blessing of family...Bryan, Brayden, and the rest of my spectacular crew!

Thanks again for the wishes and being a part of giving me a wonderful day!

My New Life

Last night Bryan and I sat on our couch side by side and I asked him, "a month ago would you have ever thought this would be what our Friday night would be like?"  He just laughed and replied "no, but I love it!"

We are a whole 10 days into this being new parents again and everyday holds something new!  I had no idea that newborn puppies require as much attention as newborn children, but OH THEY DO!  Or at least for us they do...Not only do we take care of and make sure to give Jada (mama) plenty of love and affection, but we both feel like it is so important for us to give our puppies the same.
The first night home I slept with Jada and the babies.  Every time they moved I woke up and checked on them.  Not only have I cared for the babies, but Jada just didn't act like she felt up to par so I also took her to the vet where I learned she had a low grade temp.  We started on antibiotics for that, but she also didn't have an appetite and wasn't eating until she felt better...Even then she is a little on the spoiled side, dry food with warm water makes a great gravy and is very appetizing!!! (she also gets a special treat of boiled chicken breast for supper). 
Anyway, I have had stray dogs in the past bring up pups around my house but I have never been there with dogs from breeding to delivery to the whole newborn stage.  When I look at Jada and her babies and all the ways of nature, I am awe struck!  The only way I can describe the life process of dogs is AMAZING!  and rewarding, touching, heartwarming, and miraculous! 
We as women have intuition, but we also grow up seeing pregnancy and childbirth as well as raising children of our own or taking part in the lives of other children.  However, dogs don't have those opportunities that we do, yet they instantly know what to do and take control.  It is remarkable how wonderful a new mom Jada is! She is not only a great mom but a great teacher.  She has shown me so much about what "good canine mothers" are suppose to be like.
I have read all there is to know about newborn pups and mama, but there is no better reference than mama herself!  From nursing to nudging her babies, and pinning them down with her paws to bathe them, she knows it all and has had nobody to show her.  How cool is that???
It is so much fun to wake up everyday and look to see what has changed with my babies.  And yes, when you inspect them and spend as much one on one time with them daily as I do, you notice everything!  I have read different articles about newborn puppies, and they gave me ideas of what to look for.  When I got up this morning I couldn't have been more thrilled!  The babies eyes (right on schedule) were really opening up!  Woohoo!!!  What a milestone!
Now is when everything starts changing and they start growing rapidly...as precious as they are in the palms of my hands, I cannot wait on that sassy little puppy wanting to play and barking his little language at me.  I hope this newborn hands on time has created a unique bond with us.  I know it has for me!  Though I have been a nervous wteck, I can't say I'd change a bit of this experience!  It has made me so determined, so connected, and so needed as well as loved by Jada.  The most spectaular part is just getting to witness just how phenomenal God's creations are, man and animal alike! 

Here He Is!

Meet the newest member of our family!  Diesel's little boy, AXEL!

We made our decision, even though it's hard to chose between two that are both so similar to their daddy.  We met Becky at the vet's office with them this morning to have their tails docked and got to love on them both without Jada being there and being so concerned...She is an amazing mom!  That story will come later!
At the vet we were so nervous about what was about to happen to our babies, but we weren't allowed to go back with them which was probably a good thing!  But it only took a few minutes and the puppies acted perfectly fine.  BUT, just in case, I snuggled each one up close and kissed all over those adorable little faces!  Are they not just perfect???
I have had many "new" puppies over the years, but I have never had the opportunity to deal with them when they are born and in their first few days!  This has been such a huge ordeal for me! I don't want to miss a thing!  Fortunately for me Becky has kept me posted on everything the past few days!
Soooo...Getting back to how great a mama Jada is; since the babies were born, she hasn't wanted them out of their sight or anybody too close for that matter.  So, in order to move her babies to where she wanted them she has been moving them by their tails!  Lol! If she moves,  she moves them with her!  We wondered after today what she would do since they don't have their tails anymore and now we know!  She just picks them up by whatever works best! 
Becky text me tonight and said she was not cut out for this! lol!  She had Jada a bed made for her and the puppies but she kept bringing them right into the middle of the living room floor and she jumped on the couch and layed down.  Getting frustrated, Becky finally made her a bed on the couch and Jada put her babies on the couch with her and nursed them!  We knew she was spoiled, but now we are convinced! Haha! 
It's amazing to me how much boxers are like people!  If they could talk I could only imagine what they would say.  They are so smart!  And boy do they think they are human! 
And our babies, well they are less than a week old but they are crawling around like they are 2 weeks old!  Their eyes aren't even open but they don't let that stop them!  They are all over the place until Jada rounds them up again!  I can't wait to have my little one home with me!  He will be spoiled and I don't care to admit it!!!  He will definately rule the roost around here!  Bryan even said so himself!

Finally...

So...almost 60 days after losing Diesel our day finally came!  Wednesday afternoon Diesel's "girlfriend" brought 2 sweet babies into the World!!! 
One fawn baby with daddy's color and little face, and one brindle baby with daddy's size and structure.  How fortunate we are!  I've been counting down the days which have seemed like an eternity since Diesel has been gone!  And we were so sceptical as to whether or not Jada was even prego or not.  Finally after a trip to the vet it was confirmed but we were told upfront that though pregnant, she wouldn't have many pups.  This was ok with us as long as there were 2!  And 2 we got!!! 
So, with that being said and the situation surrounding all of this, we get our pick first.  How in the world do you pick between just 2???  Both of which are Diesel's blood...  deicision, decision!!!  So, between my relentless text messages and phone calls checking on what I call "my babies", I am still not sure which baby I want...So this morning I receive two picture messages, one of the brindle and one of the fawn.  What a great way to start my day!  They are doing great, Jada is such a good mama, and I realize how hard a decision I have to make!
I have thought about them all day long and I decided to ask Bray's opinion.  He sees things exactly the same way I do!  WOW! However, when it comes down to it we think we really need, not just want, the baby that reminds us the most of our sweet big boy!  So, tomorrow we will have another look at them both just to make sure.
As bad as I dread it, our babies have their first appointment at the vet bright and early in the morning to have their tails docked.  Against my better judgement, I am going because I want to not only be a part of their first trip, but I want to be able to make that first real connection.  I want to be there to comfort and love on my baby while he is away from his mama and after having this horrible thing that is suppose to be very quick and easy done to them.

The next several weeks are going to pass by quickly, so I have convinced myelf!  I am such an animal lover and Diesel was such a huge part of us that I long for this new little life to become the presence that fills our void!  I am looking ever so forward to stinky puppy breath kisses, someone who is so excited to see us everyday, and a sweet little snuggle buddy snoring in our ears! 
His name is already chosen, and after our vet trip in the morning I will introduce you to the newest member of our family!  Stay tuned! The first of many posts to come!!!

How Time Flies

On February 25, 1994, right in the middle of Oprah, little Courtney Elizabeth Massey was welcomed into the world by her whole family!!!  I was 15 yrs old and couldn't have been more thrilled!  I remember getting my car at 16 and babysitting while mama worked and taking Courtney on the country loop in Palestine to get her to sleep or cruising Sonic in the afternoon with a carseat in the back!  I was one proud big sister!
As time passed and we grew older, Courtney had her kindergarten graduation on a Thursday night and Michelle graduated high school the next night and I was in my second year of college!  How crazy is that???
Before I knew it, precious little Courtney was my flowergirl in my wedding!  ~tear~  And shortly after she was an aunt in the first grade!  WOW!  Over the years I have been older than Courtney enough to notice all the ways she has changed and grown as a person and what a precious person she is!  A grade A student, a great friend, a cheerleader, a great aunt, a sweet daughter, and a special little sister! 
Now Courtney is a girlfriend too!  She and the love of her life, Luke, are so perfect for one another and so much fun to be around!  We can't wait for that chapter to unfold, but First things FIRST! lol!
Courtney has been accepted to the University of Arkansas!!!  She is officially a RAZORBACK!  It makes my heart smile, skip a beat!!!  She couldn't be more thrilled, and neither could I!  The only draw back is the 4 and a half hours that will be between us!  What in the world will we do???  And do they make mediccation strong enough to help BOTH my parents survive this???  Daddy has always said that Courtney wasn't leaving home til her 30's at the earliest, and mama won't know how to function without having something to do with her everyday and shopping on the weekends!  And me and Michelle...well who in the world will we tease and give great advice to on a daily basis?  Lol!  WHO WILL PROTECT HER???
Now I'm really choking back the tears!  Just writing this has gotten me to thinking about what I haven't yet thought about until now!  And though it's almost a year away I'm suddenly scared to death at the very thought of it while I close my eyes at the same time and have hundreds of images of the best years of her life stream through my head!  What in the world will I ever do when Bray goes off one day? Go with him? 
Deep breath Melanie...Deep breath! 

~For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.~Jeremiah 29:11

Just Thinkin'

Just when I thought I was really gonna get into this whole "Blogging" thing, I realized, maybe there is an easier way for an artistic sorta person to relay their feelings, thoughts, actions, words, etc... I've always loved phototgraphy!  It started in Jimmy Lewis' geography class in middle school where I was made to write a paper based on an article out of National Geographic (and he only had thousands to choose from on his self) when I talked too much in class!  What kinda punishment was that???  I loved National Geographic, all it's articles, and MOST of all it's awe inspiring photos!  What I would've given to be a photographer for that publication then, and even now! 
As I am no longer "punished" into flipping through these books, I still pick them up and browse from cover to cover, caption to caption.  Every photo has a story to tell without reading the first line of it's accompanying article.  That's what I wish for in my photos!  Though I'm not professional, I catch myself daydreaming and seeing the world around me as if I were looking through a viewfinder. 
I capture images that have no meaning or purpose at all, but at the same time, I can think of hundreds of things that these photos may say to others or the thoughts that may fill their heads from what they take from what they've seen. 
Someday I would love to have a collection of all of my pictures from my firsts to those as I have grown in my hobby for not only others to see and critique, but for me to look back on and see how I myself have grown. 
Needless to say, from here on out, don't be surprised if my blog doesn't have a typical "blog" entry, but simply a picture for you to create a story, word, or description of your own.  Share your thoughts on any of them at any time.  I'd love the feedback! 

What to say, what to say...

Haha!  I have gotten so into this whole blogging thing and haven't the least clue why!  When I was growing up and was told to write a paper for a grade I would always wait to the last minute and HATED it (but always made an A)! Now I think about it all day and what I will write about in my quite time at night!
Well...I've thought about it all day and I have tried to think of something serious or with a point, but guess what???  I don't have one or anything in particular to put out there! 
All I can say is that I've had a good day!  From start to finish, it has been a good one!  Only had to work a half a day and it was busy, but good!  Got a nap after work and it was good!  Me and Bryan got to pick Bray up after school, and that was good!  Cooked sausage jambalaya for dinner, and guess what...It was good too!  But wait!  There's more!  We went backroadin' and shootin' and yes, it was good! 
Finally we landed back at home and watched my fave, Love in the Wild, and it was good!  Now, Bray's in bed, me and Bryan are on the couch, and all is GOOD! 
I'm loving my life, and it is....GREAT!  (thought I'd say good, didn't ya?!?) Lol!

From Beginning to End

Oh how I HATE the sound of my alarm going off in the mornings! Why must they make such "alarming" noises!?! Lol!  But I do like getting up before Bray's little feet hit the floor and being able to lean over him and kiss his cheeks to wake him up!  Our morning routine never misses a beat then we're out the door!  First stop is Loves for my 44 oz diet coke to pick me up!  Then off to school!  I was informed yesterday before we got out at school "mama, please don't embarrass me!".  I asked what he was talking about and he simply replied "the kisses thing.  You can kiss me when we get home this afternoon!" Grrrr!  So this morning I slipped a kiss in before we pulled in the parking lot!  He laughed!
After leaving Bray at school I was driving towards work and went to pick up my drink when all of the sudden the lid popped off the cup and it slid out of my hand and crashed back into the cupholder.  Needless to say, I was wearing about 22 oz of my 44 oz drink!  OMG, like really??? Oh well!  I'd just have to tough it out and air dry because I wasn't about to go all the way back home and be late to work!  At least the folks at work got a kick out of it!
Later on in the day I had a couple come in to the office (too cute I may add), well, let me take that back...The wife came in and the husband was in the front parking lot.  Both walk with canes.  I saw the wife turning to walk back out and figured she was going back to help her husband up the steps so I decided to go out and help them both.  After getting outside, I realized the wife was frazzled because she thought she had lost her pocketbook and she was really stressing!  And her husband asked me if I knew how to work the air conditioner in a truck! lol!  I addressed the wife first and told her to go back inside and sit down, I would try to find her pocketbook.  Second, I answered her husband and told him that I was pretty sure that I could figure out how to work his air.  He was asking because they had come from out in the country all the way to town with his long haired shaggy border collie in the backseat of the truck and the air wasn't cooling.  He wanted to leave the dog in the truck with it running while he came inside with his wife.  I went to his truck with him and first, found the wife's pocketbook, then realized that the air settings were all correct but his air was blowing hot!  And boy was it hot!.  He looked puzzled and asked what he should do with his dog while he was inside.  I told him that if he would pull around to the end of our building he could park in the shade where it was nice and sit there with the dog and I would hurry in and help get his wife seen a little more quickly than normal so they didn't have to wait to long.  He was ok with it and I returned the wallet to his wife who was thrilled!  Who knew that nursing encompassed so much?  Not only a nurse, but a detective, a mechanic, and caterer to our patients pets in their time of need as well! Haha! 
After a long and busy day at work I was so ready to get home to my little "don't embarrass me" baby!  He tinkered around with his pop for a while then we crashed on the couch for a little snack, some TV, and a well needed foot massage, and ending the the evening with chocolate chip cookies and milk!
Overall, I rate my day an "A" despite my first of the morning mishap!  It's the little things that make the overall picture great!  Now off to bed for me!  G'night!

Bittersweet Surprise

Normally I check my email early in the day, but today was an exception.  Busy morning, busy day at work, and busy afternoon at home. 
After picking Bray up from school and hearing how great his day was, we went back to my office and finished up a few things and headed home.  After we got home, I decided to let him have his time with his daddy (man to man talk, lol) while I mowed the yard.  I soon came in and showered as they sat on the couch doing their thing.  I then cooked supper and we sat down to eat and got our bellies full! lol!  Shortly after Bray headed off to sleepyland and I headed online.  This is when I pulled up my Yahoo account. What a bittersweet surprise I had awaiting me!
It only took a split second to see DIESEL in all caps in the subject line as well as a familiar name in the sender's address.  Before I bought my Diesel from Mr. Norman, a previous couple had bought him from Mr. Norman as a puppy.  As things changed, the couple (the Strousses) could no longer have Diesel and returned him to his breeder.  This happened to be the time that Bray and I were looking for a dog for ourselves.  Diesel was a little over a year old and we chose him over a puppy out of a new litter.  He just spoke to us and we just hit it off instantly!  Because he was registered, I had his previous owner's names and his name was so unique, it was hard to forget, hence the name on my email rang a bell quickly.
Knowing how reluctant Mr. Norman was to sell Diesel at the time I got him, I knew he would like to know how special he has been to not only me and Bray, but to all that have come to know him.  I sent Mr. Norman a letter last week filling him him in on the past few years and how we adored this big baby we called Diesel!  He then passed my letter along to Mr. Strouss.
As I opened my email tonight, I immediately began to cry as I read the first few lines...Diesel actually had his own Facebook page, Dee Strouss (Dee-Diesel Strouss), which was from the time the Strousses had him and it has his pic as a pup as the profile pic!  It's funny how things come around for you when you least expect it!  With that said, now I have pics on the way of Diesel as a puppy to compare Jada's puppies to should she be prego for sure!  ;-)

Bittersweet how the loss of Diesel may bring me a small piece of him should Jada have babies, but also that he was a major part of someone elses life that can share with me and sympathize...

Ya Never Know What the Day May Hold

Today has been on of the best days in quite sometime!  Woke up this morning to the sound of two little boys playing and decided a good breakfast was the way to get their day started!  And as always, lunch at mamaw and papaw's with the family! 
As we sat at the dining room table (the women's table, lol!) and the men sat in the den (at their table, lol!), we decided it was to beautiful a day to go home and take the usual Sunday afternoon nap!  Back in the day we use to go to Village Creek on Sunday afternoons and cookout and play.  This was always Johnny Poe's "thing"! Soooo, we made our plans to hit the road and go to the park for hot dogs and burgers and the playground!
In the meantime, Bryan and I knew we had Bray and Connor (Bray's buddy) to entertain and we decided we could use a little entertainment of our own, so we decided to take John Henry along for the ride with us!  We hit the backroads trying to find a little mud for JH and looking for snakes or anything that may make for good target practice.  All afternoon we rode and stopped so the boys could shoot, JH included!  "My shoot dat gun MelMel! My can do it!" He's such a special little boy and he really made the trip so worth my while!  After our outing we headed back home where we played with every toy in the house!  My, my, my how I forgot what it's like to have a 3 yr old around for long periods of time! Haha! 
Finally we headed towards the park and pulled up by the playground and before the truck doors were closed good, the boys were already swinging from the monkey bars and slinging gravel! The rest of the crew started joining us and by the time all was said and done we had 25+ burgers on the grill, a whole pack of hot dogs, and all 22 of us ( including a few "as close as family" friends) enjoying the late afternoon together! 
As I look back on my day, I had no idea what it would hold for me.  I never imagined so much fun and laughter, backroads and playgrounds, family and friends! 

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for this beautiful and amazing day!  Thank you for Bryan and Brayden and all of our family and friends that help make our lives what they are today!  We are forever grateful and truly blessed!

AMEN!

How Fortunate We Are!

Wow! Whatta day!  When I woke up this morning I knew I had a full day ahead of me and kinda shrugged simply because I love lazy Saturdays after a long busy work week.  I actually took my time getting up and about and tried to put off  "what the day had to hold" a little longer.  In the mean time I got some disappointing news (that I worked myself up over only to later resolve itsself) and was in a slightly blah mood. But as usual, I tried to put it behind me for Brayden's sake!  We decided that since Bryan was at the fire department and it was the weekend before school starts back that we would go get Bray's long time bestie, Connor (Jennifer and Chad Lynch's son).  As we drove into Wynne I told Bray we were taking a detour first and stopping by Lisa's (one more of my best gf's) for a surprise visit.  I love seeing her because she always wraps me up in a hug and we go on and on about how good it is to see one another!  While we were chatting her phone rang and it was the Wynne Friends of Animals Shelter.  They wanted her to come and look at a rescue they thought may have belonged to her.  We jumped in her ride and went straight there...As we pulled up I felt a huge lump in my throat and tears welling up in my eyes.  After losing Diesel last weekend it was undescribable to see all the dogs just wanting to be loved and needing a home like what I have to give!  It took every ounce I had in me not to just close my eyes and point at one and say "I'll take that one!"  I lived in Wynne for over a year and had never been to the shelter and I stopped and wondered how many that have always lived in Wynne and had never been there!  It is a remarkable place!  I don't want to act impulsively and adopt until my wounds begin to heal, but I will adopt in the near future!
After leaving the shelter, Bray and I went to Jenn and Chad's to visit and pick up Connor.  We sat outside while the kids played and we laughed and caught up on time passed.  I realized then that no matter how much time passes, best friends always pick up where they left off! 
After leaving Wynne, Bray, Connor, and myself went to the movies and had a great time!  Now we are home and the boys are living it up!  Games, movies, snacks, and uncontrollable giggles!  Absolutely priceless!
As I sit here and write, I can't help but realize how fortunate that I am! Not only am I fortunate and blessed to be Bray's mama, but I am so fortunate to have Bryan back in my life, best friends that make my day, an unexpected trip to the shelter that made me realize how special our K9 friends are and how much they need us...the list goes on and on!  Right now I keep hearing a church hymnal that I remember most from growing up, "Count your blessings name them one by one... Count your blessings, see what God has done!"
Days like today make me so excited about tomorrow and what it has in store for me!  I so look forward to all the blessings I have and have coming my way!  It's even better to be able to sit back and start counting and the list just keeps going!

The Beginning of Something New

It's a little after midnight and I'm sitting here listening to the rain and trying to decide just how I should start a blog...I don't really see it as a way to stay connected or keep others informed on what is going on in my life necessarily, yet I would love to hear from those whom I have lost touch with over the years.  I guess I will simply use it as a tool to vent, express myself, and keep those who are interested up to date on what's going on in my everyday life.
The title "The Beginning of Something New" was an easy one to come up with.  I have had several new beginnings in my life but somehow or another there is always room for others.  Most of you who read this already know that the last several years have encompassed several moments of despair and times of pain and sorrow, as well as the happiest days of my life.  From the loss of my uncle Johnny, a painful divorce, then the loss of Michael, I have made it through by the grace of God! At the same time I have always had the most precious and steady thing in the world to live for...Brayden, my awesome little boy! 
I guess what I see in the future of my "blogging" is just an insight into my life and how it has transpired over the last few years to the present, kind of a book and the chapters it contains. 
Here's to my "Beginning of Something New!"