The Passing of Time....

One day a child is born, the next, she's almost 3 weeks old! Where does the time go?

Well, it has just come to my attention...yet again...that I'm way past due with my blogging, so I thought I would try to play catch-up before too much more time slipped by me, and my granddaughter is ready to graduate.

The house erupted in chaos the week after the baby was born, so we had to call a family meeting to get things ironed out, and to keep things from getting out of hand again, we've decided to hold weekly meetings for a while.

Then, last weekend, I threw my back out, which hasn't happened in about a year and a half....fun, fun! So here I am with a new grandbaby that I can't even enjoy cause I can't get out of bed!

Last weekend was also the first weekend in all these years that I've been going to see Tex that I told him I was going and didn't go. I cried all day Sunday, more from that than the pain.

I also found out today that my grandson, Dakota, fell down a set of stairs and sustained a minor concussion, so I'm a little worried about that. We're watching him.

On the flip side, I've gained an incredible new friend this week that I'm terribly excited about. And I get to babysit tonight...overnight, no less...for the first time! I'm more excited than anything about that! So I'm looking forward to an incredible weekend, and I hope you all have one, too!

More later...

Passages...

I can not begin to describe the mixture of emotions that I have experienced in the last 24 hours as I have seen the circle of life complete itself in the birth of my beautiful new granddaughter, Harmony Grace Higginbotham. She tried to jump into the world feet-first...literally. So mom underwent a C-section to help her get here just a bit faster. She arrived at 12:37pm yesterday afternoon, weighing 8lbs., 2.3oz and measuring 19 1/2 inches long...just a few tenths of an oz. off her daddy's stats. She has so many features of both her parents, but is unmistakeably her own little person, and I can't wait to watch the changes she will undergo as the little girl in her unfolds into the woman she will become one day.

This Grandparent thing is going to take a lot of getting used to, I can see right off. It makes me wonder how our parents managed to bite their tongues without doing major damage when I had mine. Already I have had to resist the urge to charge in and take over, because I've "been there and done that" and have the experience now that mine are grown to do so much better than I did with them, knowing absolutely nothing! Such a shame that we have to go into the parent thing without that experience, and, well....

I guess Harmony is not the only one who has gone through a passage.

Welcome to the world, my beautiful little princess. I'll try not to spoil you too much, or get in the way of your parents earning their own stripes like I did. But I sure do have a greater appreciation of my parents today than I did yesterday.

Aak! I've got an arrow in my butt...

...and I've had one for quite some time!

I guess I should be really bummed that I have to spend Valentine's Day away from my hubby. Strangely, though, I'm not. I guess it's because I feel like we've been together all day, regardless of the miles. I know we've been thinking about each other like crazy, but I look at the bright side...This is the last holiday that we only have 3 more of...from this day forward, we will only have to spend two more apart from each other...2 more Memorial days, 2 more 4th of Julys, 2 more Labor days, 2 more Thanksgivings, Christmasses, and New Years. Only two more birthdays to spend apart, and two more anniversaries. That's something to celebrate! Valentine's Day is a milestone for us, and an important one...for that reason.

I don't need a special day to know that man loves me more than life. He lets me know every single chance he gets. I don't need a special day to tell him that he's my world. He knows it already, because I let him know every single day. The days that we're not together in person, we're together in spirit. We live that way, and in that respect, we are never, ever separated. Regardless of what happens in the future, we rest assured that we will never, ever, EVER spend another day apart...ever.

I am in love with the most wonderful man in the world, and I know that I am well and truly cherished.

Happy Valentine's Day, my beloved husband...today, and every day!

A Quiet Night at Home...For a Change...

Sitting at home, surfing the web, it just occurred to me that I haven't blogged in a while, so I guess now's as good a time as any to update.

Last Saturday, we held a family baby shower for Krystal, and it went very well. Jes and Malii were in charge of the games...need I say more? Didn't think so...

The new job is also still...going. Not sure what else to say about that. It's a strange little job in a strange little store working for a very strange little Dr. Perfect for me.

I am gearing up to spend another Valentine's Day alone, since it falls in the middle of the week. That sucks, but since I've already received my card, I guess I can't complain too much. After all, he is thinking about me, Valentine's Day or not. I know it, just like I know I'm sitting in this chair. I don't need a card to prove I am not just loved, but cherished.

And I'm finally, officially, really getting excited about the baby, which is due in less than 3 weeks now. I can't wait to finally be able to hold that precious little bundle!

Things seem to be going a bit better at the house. After a bit of a rocky start, it all seems to be stabilizing out, everyone getting into their respective routines. Malii and Kyle are back in school, and holding court there. Seems that being a married student is a bit of a novelty, especially when your spouse is in most of your classes with you! They seem to be doing very well, despite it all, and are on track to graduate at the end of the summer, believe it or not.

Jes seems to be holding her own at the moment, still staying with Keeli. Fortunately, they get along really well. She's thinking of going back to school...finally. I hope she goes through with it.

And I am incredibly, madly, and deeply in love with the most incredible man in the world! Happy Valentine's Day, sweetheart!

Turning Point...

Last week, an angel named J.J. walked into my life and handed me the part-time job I've been looking for to fill the exact time slots I needed to fill to be effective. I have to confess, I'm still in shock over this, but that doesn't mean I'm not profoundly thankful at the same time. And if that wasn't enough, my sister Sheryl got a job with the same woman...a full-time job (not part time like mine) that will get her out of the hell-hole more formally known as Hobby Lobby, and also out of the retail industry, period. That, my friends, has been a long time coming, and also a true answer to prayer, even though initially it seems as though she will be taking a pay cut to take this job. In the long run, though, I truly believe that she will actually wind up making more. I know the quality of life she will experience will more than make up for the difference!

We are both extremely excited about this new venture, which we will both start tomorrow. For me, it means that the financial noose that's been chafing my neck for so long will finally be loosened a bit, and I'll have more ability to help my kids and to help with the little one when she finally does get here. That will be such a blessing, just to know that I can, if I need to, whether I ever actually have to, or not!

Speaking of which...

We now only have 5 more weeks to wait until little Harmony (we think) makes her appearance! We are all so excited, we just can't wait. Personally, with Krystal's blond hair and Ian's dark hair, I'm rooting that she'll be a blazing red-head like her great-granddaddy Birl, and of course, her Nana (cough).

Wouldn't that be something???

Heartbreak...

Often as we grow older, and watch our children grow into adulthood and start families of their own, and assume adult responsibilities, it's all too easy to assume along with it that as long as they act fine, they can totally handle whatever life throws at them. But sometimes they just can't...nobody could...and it's so hard to know what to do to help, when there is nothing...absolutely nothing...that can be done TO help, except to feel...helpless.

That is where I am right now. My youngest daughter has suffered a miscarriage. A loss so devastating it defies description. I cannot imagine the depth of their pain, and I feel totally helpless against it, knowing there is nothing I can do to ease their loss. But I do know that it is during the darkest times in our lives that God's love shines the brightest, and I know that there is a reason why this happened, even though we don't understand it. The pain will dull in time, leaving a lingering sadness for what might have been. And we just have to trust in God's wisdom, that it was for the best. But the love we still feel for that precious little being will live on, and not be forgotten. That much I do know.

...And....we're OFF!

For all intents and purposes, today is the beginning of a brand new year. A year full of hope and promise. And it marks the end of a year full of accomplishments, of milestones reached and passed, as time rolls ever onward.

The year ahead holds much to look forward to, as I anticipate the birth of my son's daughter (we think) and my daughter's son (we think). There could not be much that could happen that would be sweeter than that. Matter of fact, I can only think of one thing, and that, too is a possibility this year. So who knows? The sky is the limit this year! And like one of my best friends keeps telling me, no matter what I am faced with, the answer is...I CAN!

I CAN forge stronger bonds with my family. I CAN get out of debt. I CAN watch healthy grandchildren come into this world. I CAN get healthy, really healthy, and I CAN stay that way. I CAN save enough money to go on the trip of a lifetime. I CAN keep 4 households afloat. I CAN find a second job that meets my needs. I CAN go forward with planning our move to TN. I CAN find a job when I get there.

I CAN be ready for good news in June. I CAN keep on keeping on, even when I am faced with bitter disappointment, because I CAN keep my eye on the finish line, no matter what. And the finish line is getting closer all the time.

I CAN balance all my eggs on one platter. I CAN multi-task. I CAN take time out for ME without the world coming to an end. I CAN say no!

And always, always, I CAN show my family, especially my husband, my children, and my grandchildren, how very, very much I love them, because I CAN do all things through Christ, who strengthens me!

Here's to a wonderful, awsome adventure called 2008! Bring it ON!