A Week of Thanksgiving...

Wow. What a rush. This past week has been such a whirlwind ride that I'm not sure if my feet are even on the ground YET. There is so much to tell, and I'm not sure in my present state if I can even do it justice, but I will try.

I picked up Shanna and Kyle at the airport Friday night. I immediately liked him, he has honest eyes, an infectious laugh, and genuine love for my daughter radiating from every pore of his being. What's not to like? So, we loaded up and headed south.

Saturday morning dawned bright and clear, and full of promise. Shanna and I headed to see her dad, for the first time in 14 years. I could tell she was nervous, but excitement outweighed it by far. We had a few anxious moments at the beginning, because of a paperwork snafu, and then we were in. When he came through the door, she was scared to turn around and look at him, but I took her shoulders, and turned her, and she looked. And when he held out his arms to her, she fell into them, and they just stood there sobbing their hearts out for all those years that have been deprived of them. It was just so easy. There was never any strain or difficulty, and they fell into a pattern of laughter and cameraderie that continued over the next week. Suddenly, all those questions seemed unimportant. They would keep, and if not, it just didn't seem to matter anymore. There were a lot of tears all around, but they were good tears...healing tears. And there was love. She shared with him that she was expecting, that she was engaged, that they wanted to wait to have a full-blown wedding until he could walk her down the aisle. And that if the baby was a boy, they wanted to name him after his Grandpa. One blessing after another kept heaping into Tex's lap. And when they told him they wanted to move to GA so they could be closer to him, he just fell apart. And I don't have to tell you I was right there with him.

By Sunday afternoon, the tears were coming a little faster, but we knew we still had 4 days to look forward to, this time with Kyle, too. So it wasn't so bad. Sunday afternoon, we headed back to Conyers, and stopped first at Andy and Sherry's house for a long-awaited 18th birthday talk, in which much was revealed...both ways.

Monday was spent be-bopping around town with various family members and resting up from the weekend, and Monday night my family held a birthday party for Shanna at my mom's house, where she broke the news to them.

Tuesday, they went with my mom to trim a christmas tree, and get a marriage license, and Tuesday night we went to my Aunt Judy's house for dinner, and she broke the news to them, along with the fact that they were getting married the next day by Andy's best friend Mike, who also married me and Alan. Thus began the great shopping rush to get everyone ready for the festivities. I've never seen a wedding thrown together so well in such little time!

Wednesday, while Shanna went shopping with Judy and my mom, Kyle went to work with me, so we could keep them apart, and also so we could go shopping for rings. We did good. That night, at Dickerson's Automotive, they said their vows in front of their family. And Grandbear made the trip from TN and surprised us all. We didn't think either of them would be able to make it on such short notice. It meant so much that he could be there. Afterward, we had a small reception at Andy and Sherry's house, complete with a beautiful coconut wedding cake, and then Grandbear drove the newlyweds to their hotel room...but not without stopping first at the waffle house for a 'talk'.

Thursday morning, we left bright and early for S. Ga again, and spent the next 4 days laughing, joking, bonding, and planning for our future. Alan has now redesigned our house plans to include a nursery for the baby, since they have decided to live with us for a while to make up for so much lost time. And even though it was so hard to say goodbye Sunday night, and take them back to the airport, we have made tentative plans to move them up this coming weekend. I just need to get the official go-ahead from them as to exactly when they'll be ready...I'm ready NOW.

All things considered, it went so well...far beyond our wildest dreams. We have not only added our youngest daughter back into our family, but gained a new son and future grandbaby as well. And we are all profoundly thankful for all the blessings God has chosen to bestow on us thoughout this year, and the coming year, too.

Thank you, Lord, for these and all of your blessings, we are most humbly grateful.

Happy Birthday, Shanna Malii!

Today is my youngest daughter's 18th birthday. I am so excited for her. This is the beginning of a whole new phase of her life, a whole new horizon of possibility is opening up to her. And she will finally find out the truth...about her life, and her father. And she will know the answers to questions she's been asking in her heart since she was very little.

Baby girl, you've brought me great joy, how much more so to your dad? We both love you so so much, there are no words. We're incredibly proud of you...of your decisions, your accomplishments, your honesty and integrity, and most of all, of your courage in the face of incredible adversity. All that adds up to ensure that whatever you do, wherever your life takes you now, you will be a success.

We all love you, sweetheart, your grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, your sister and brother and their families, and of course, your dad and I, more than you could ever know. We have watched you grow from a small, bubbly tow-headed angel, to the beautiful, strong woman you are today. And we are all glowing with pride and love at all you have accomplished.

Here's to the glorious future, filled with hope, healing, and happiness. Happy Birthday, my beautiful, accomplished, darling girl, and may all the questions harbored so long in your heart be answered this coming week!

OMG....Only 2 Days Left??

Yes, that's right! Only 2 days until the big event. I can't believe it! This year has gone by so fast in some ways and really, really dragged in others, but it's one more year we don't have to wait, thank God.

I am so profoundly blessed. More blessed this year than ever before, and I guess all things considered, I have lived a pretty blessed life! Just since January, I have celebrated a 50th wedding anniversary, traveled on 2 different cruises to Mexico and the Caribbean, gained a new, incredible friend, who is invaluable to me, among many other reasons, for making it possible to visit my husband so much. I have grown more in love with my husband, and drawn closer and closer to him, and felt him draw closer and closer to me. I have gained a daughter, a future daughter-in-law (I hope), and a future grandchild. I have seen my oldest daughter grow in wisdom, seen my son grow in maturity, and seen my youngest daughter graduate from basic training, and grow in understanding...of the future, and the past. And although I lost my father this year, I was also blessed beyond words to have been holding his hand as he passed on after a long and full life.

And now, I will see my youngest daughter reach her 18th birthday, and we will celebrate the newfound freedom this milestone this will create for her, much more than for others her age. For this is the beginning of a whole new phase of her life in so many ways. And we...her father and I, once again, will be profoundly blessed, because she has been the biggest blessing of all.

Thank you, Lord, for your grace and mercy. And thank you most of all, for all your blessings. Amen.

8 Days Left...

OMG, only 8 days???? I remember it was over 200 when I started counting. And now just a little over a week from now....

Wow!

I'm getting really excited now. And next week, man, I don't know how I'm gonna be able to stand it! I need to get some camera film so I can take lots of pics next week! I talked to my youngest Monday night, and all is still on track. She's doing well, and is also very excited about her visit!

Had dinner with Ian and Krystal last night. We had a good time plotting and planning for the future. They're also excited about next week, for two reasons. First, my youngest's birthday and visit, but second, because Krystal's next dr. visit will be on the same day. Wouldn't it be nice if we found out the baby's sex on my youngest's birthday?

Here's wishing!

Day 13....

OMG, only two more weeks to go! I'm SO trying not to think about it, but it's getting so hard, because I'm so excited! I can tell Tex is doing anything he can to keep his mind occupied, just in case everything falls through at the last minute. I feel really sure that's not going to happen at this stage of the game, unless it happens on his end...GA red tape being what it is, and all. If it happens, we'll deal with it. That's all I know. Regardless of what happens, I'll be there with a broom and dustpan to pick up whatever pieces I have to, on both ends. There will be massive disappointment all around, I'm sure. But I really don't think that will happen. I feel very, very optimistic at this point.

Pretty big weekend, this weekend. We're having a traveling party heading south, it seems! On Sunday, my mom, my in-laws, Tex's brother and his wife and (hopefully) daughter are all going down with me to see Tex. I am so looking forward to that, it's been a while since so many have been down, and he always looks so forward to it...like having a piece of home. We always seem to have such a great time..the only thing is, the time flies by so fast. Right now, I'm just glad that we have this distraction to help us get through the next two weeks.

In other news, Krystal seems to still be holding her own, and the baby seems to be fine, according to Ian. I haven't talked to her this week, because she hasn't really been online. I've also talked briefly with my oldest daughter, and apparently they're all doing well, too. My little man is doing good in school, other than playing in his food at lunch, and hitting other kids. So, for the moment, at least, there seem to be no fires to put out in the immediate future for a change.

....I just hope that's not a glow I see on the horizon!