Fairpark

How does one little girl deserve so many special treats?  Not sure how others do but we have the most precious little girl around so she gets lots of treats.  Sunday after church her Mamma and I decided to take her for an afternoon of fun.  We were going to Veterans Park to the Splash Pad but it was so crowded we could not even get close.  I like going to Fairpark much better anyway and there are never as many there.

Makenna napped until we got to Fairpark then she was out of the car to see where we were.

She was the  only one there for a little while and she took a few minutes to check out what was going on.  Two other little girls came up and they all played in the water, squealing when the water would spray high.

Childhood laughter is the best kind of laughter.  Oh to experience that through the eyes of a child is a blessing directly from Jesus.

As we got ready to leave, Makenna was hungry nothing new to us these days.  This child is always hungry.  We were going to take her out on East Main to get ice cream but she had different ideas and wanted Sonic.  She got a vanilla milkshake and I got a hot fudge sundae.  Guess mine looked better that hers because she wanted mine first then she would eat hers.  That is usually the way this story goes.  Why does my food always taste better than hers?

All kinds of emotions

This Father's Day has been a time of mixed emotions for me.  I am beyond blessed to still have my sweet Daddy with me.  For that I am so very thankful.  The last 9 months have brought to my mind the reality that life can be taken at any moment in time.  Thank you Lord for the gift you have given me of a loving Daddy who, first and foremost loves you with all his heart and secondly loves his family unconditionally.  I pray the things I learned from him I can pass on to my children.  Happy Father's Day, Daddy. I love  you.

At the same time I am so thankful I still have my Daddy here with me, I am reminded of the agony that comes from losing a parent.  Nowhere is that more evident than in the life of my children.  As each day passes losing a pappa should get easier but I am not sure it never does.  All of my children have  said numerous times, "I wish I could just talk to him one more time, ask him one more question, but that was not to be." I have done the same thing. So many times, I have turned to ask him a question or tell him something and he is not there.  I am so thankful for the time we had together and the many memories we made as family.  We all still laugh at some of the crazy things  he would get all of us into.  Today as Annacarmie and I were eating lunch something came up in conversation and she looked at me and I looked at her and tears just started streaming down both of our faces.  Not only did I lose the love of my life but my children lost their daddy, aka "Pappa."  Anticipating this Father's Day seems to have been especially hard for me.  I have thought alot about John and the legacy he left for his family to follow.  I do not know why he was taken so young but I do know God always has a plan in all that happens.  I am just not understanding His plan right now. I wanted John and I to enjoy life together for many more years than we were afforded.  Life is tough any time, but over the last six years I have learned how tough it can be without the love of my life to share it with.  However, I would rather have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

Little did we know that this would be the last Father's Day we would get to spend with Pappa.  We love you and miss you greatly.  Your absenece has left a great void in all of our lives.

I hurt for the grandchildren who never got to meet their Pappa.  He would have loved them and they would have loved them.  Oh he loved those babies but at that time he had only grand daughters.  He so wanted a grandson also.  He never got to meet Mason, Drew, Miles or Brent.

There are so many things that we will never again get to experience with him.  Never take one minute for granted because you never know when that might be your last minute.

I hurt for my Precious Baby because growing up without a Daddy present is never easy.  Why her Daddy's life was taken so quickly the past year in a horrible accident I cannot explain to her.  I can tell her, her Daddy loved her and one day when her life here on this earth is over she will see him again in Heaven.  To a three year old, these  things are so difficult to explain when other children have their Daddies still.  However, the foundation of Jesus was being built from the day she came into this world and she knows her Daddy is in Heaven, which is a wonderful place.  Now she wants to know when her Daddy will come back here to see her.  No child should have to experience the difficulties of life as this.  Once again God has a plan and this did not take Him by surprise.  I know this will go into making my Precious Baby the person she will become, a mighty warrior for our Lord. 

Today as her Nanna and Pappaw took her to her Daddy's grave site, Makenna hugged the tombstone and said I love you Daddy.  Precious Baby, all I can tell you is life is difficult at best.  There will be many trials along the way but remain firm in your faith and never take your eyes off of God. He will comfort you in those difficult days and direct your path.

All the memories through the years

 Portland, Maine

 Doing what he did best no matter where he was, talking on the phone!

 Carriage ride in New York City

Of all places to have his picture made in New York, outside the New York Stock Exchange by the bull.  Legend has it you rub the bull to bring financial security.  John was all about that. I am so glad after the kids were grown, John took time off, which he had never done before and we enjoyed spending that time traveling.  Those are sweet memories I will never forget.  Even today the kids laugh at all the funny things he told upon returning from one of our trips.  God gave John a gift to see humor in all things.  Not every one has that gift but he certainly did.

 We could never go anywhere that we did not end up in the middle of car row or imagine this, following car haulers.  Who would have ever thought we would be behind car haulers in of all places Canada?

Ferry to Statue of Liberty

We took a cruise up the New England coast to Canada with a stop in Boston.  That was probably John's favorite port of call.  We did a tour on the amphibious or land boats and our driver, DuckTape was so funny. He reminded me a lot of John.  Some how John talked his way into driving the boat.

 John enjoyed life and most of all he loved his family.

As I looked through all these pictures I am reminded of the blessing of love and many sweet memories I have shared over the years with a wonderful family that God chose to bless me with.

A dream come true for a three year old Princess

At 6 am, Makenna was up and ready to see Mickey and Minnie even though we were still in Huntsville.  After encouraging her to eat breakfast which was useless,she was to excited to eat, we made our way to the airport.  Makenna had never been on a plane before and i was not sure how that was going to work.  As we were unloading the luggage, Makenna wanted to push the stroller instead of riding in the stroller.  That was fun for a short time then she decided to give the stroller a push down a hill which lead to the loading and unloading zone.  Stephanie was on the phone so I dropped both suitcases and ran to catch the stroller before it hit a car or was smashed by a car.  I am sure that was a sight to see but I did get the stroller and Makenna did not get to push it any longer she had her behind in the stroller from then on.  We checked in and went through security which scared her a little so they let me carry her through the scanner with me and she was fine.  We boarded the plane with IPad in hand and movies on it to occupy her.  It worked like a charm, she was wonderful on the flight.  I could not have ask for  child who was flying for the first time to be any better.
Upon arrival at Orlando airport we found our Magical Express and rode that to our resort.  Neil and Miles met us there and we headed to Magic Kingdom to let Precious Baby see Mickey and Minnie.  She was so excited she hardly knew what to do.  We got her a lanyard and a few pins so she could trade them then found rides for them to enjoy and enjoy they did.  Dinner was at the Crystal Palace.  She got to see Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, and Eeyore and have her picture made with them. Pictures will follow as soon as I get the files from Neil.  Miles does not like the characters so much he cried himself to sleep in Stephanie's lap where he stayed during the entire meal.  The meal was good for park food but Makenna indulged herself mostly in sweets and fruit.  How could we expect any less of her, she comes by that honestly. 
A structured schedule was thrown out the window for the week.  We were in the park late every night allowing the children to take advantage of everything they wanted to do or see.  Makenna told everyone repeatedly she wanted to see "Ari" aka Ariel.  We did that plus a whole lot more. We rode every ride my Precious Baby wanted to ride including a roller coaster, the teacups that Lexi and Makenna spun so much Mamma Kim was about sick, carousel, flying carpet, Dumbo, It's a small world, Peter Pan, and the race cars.  Yes, I have a little daredevil on my hands who at times is not afraid of anything.  The first day at Disney as I saw the excitement and thrill of all the sites in Makenna's eyes it was worth every penny I spent on the trip and I will do it again.  I love to see life lived and experienced through the eyes of a child and that is what I had the opportunity to do on this vacation.  Blessings never cease to amaze me and they were showered on me during this trip. 

Dreams come true for three year olds at Disney World

Mamma Kim promised Makenna long ago when she was 4 they would go to Disney World.  The last year has been a very difficult year for Makenna with her world being turned upside down with many difficulties and trials.  For that reason, Mamma Kim decided it was time for a vacation to Disney eventhough she was not quite 4 yet.  This trip was planned for a long time before Makenna knew it.  Mamma Kim did not want to try to explain every day how many more sleeps until we go.  Thursday around noon Makenna was told we were  going to Disney. We planned to leave around 4 driving to Huntsville to spend the night in a "rotel" so we did not have to get up so early for the flight the next morning.  About half way to Huntsville Stephanie knew why I had chosen not to tell Makenna until the day.  Makenna had already ask about one thousand times when we were going to arrive at Disney.  Those questions continued through dinner and in the bed until she finally passed out from sheer exhaustion. 

Disney World

Makenna and Mamma Kim had been on a journey this afternoon.  For Mother's Day Annacarmie gave me a gift card for Disney World.  Although Makenna does not know it yet, the two of us are going to Disney on May 25.  I cannot wait and if Makenna knew no one would have any peace at our house.  Makenna dose know I have promised to take her to see Mickey, Minnie and Goofy some time she just does not know it is so soon.  She said, Mamma Kim we have money to spend now so we can go.  I told her we could not go right now therefore, when we got home from our journey, as she called it, she jumped on her John Deer tractor and announced she was going to Disney World on her tractor.  I love my Precious Baby girl.  Sweet girl, we are going much sooner than you think and I cannot wait to take you and experience it with you.

Mother's Day- A day I did not know if I would be blessed in celebrating again

 Mimi, this picture brings so much joy and happiness to me because God has given the another Mother's Day with you.  I pray your day has been filled with the love of your children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. You are truly loved.

As Mamma Kim wrapped Mimi's gifts this morning, Makenna said she needed something to chew on so she got Mimi's card and started chewing on it.  Before anyone could get it away from her she had taken a bite out of the card.  We still do not know why she needed something to chew on. 

Mimi promised Makenna she could open the presents.  Even though they were not taped super well, Makenna decide she need the thing to open the gifts.  No one but Mamma Kim knew what the "thing" was, the letter opener.  I cannot say I have ever seen anyone open a gift with a letter opener until now.  Baby girl, you  definitely have a creative spirit in you.  I pray you never lose that.

 On September 14, 2011, I did not know if Mimi would live through the day much less to see her next Mother's Day.  God chose to allow us to have her for a while longer.  Thank you Lord for that blessing.  May I never take your blessings for granted.  No Mimi is not where she was  before the aneurysm and two brain surgeries but it is ok because we still have her with us in whatever level of recovery she attains. Yes, there are difficult and trying days  when she cannot remember anything or during the times it takes her hours to do a task, however, I am diligently trying to see the blessings in all of this.  After all, nothing takes my Lord by surprise.  There are many lessons to be learned in the valleys of life.  This past year has certainly been one of many valleys and trials but my God has seen me through each one.

 Four Generations