Happy Tired
It’s our last night with Mandy, Josh, and Olivia. I’m already sad. Griff’s already sad. I’m worried he’ll freak out in the morning like he did last year. And I’m worried about my first day in my new position at work tomorrow.
We are all exhausted. My kids are both playing Wii with Mandy and Olivia at 8:41 on a school night. Tomorrow may be a taxing day for all of us.
But I wouldn’t change a moment of it. Not even me and Mandy getting lost with Eliza and Olivia by ourselves after midnight at Disney. That’ll just turn into a story Eliza tells every year when she insists on going with the boys and not the mamas.
Happy tired is the very best tired of all.
Filed under Most Everything | Permalink | Comments (3)Tagged with: Disney • Josh • Mandy • Olivia • visit
Thankful Thursday - vacation
What a perfect day for a Thankful Thursday!
** I’m more than a little excited. I got all of my stuff done at work today, and I’m already off work.
** We’re heading to Orlando in not too long to pick up Mandy, Josh, and Olivia at the airport. I’ll get to shop the LUSH store in the airport (woohoo), and then we’ll all go to dinner in Orlando somewhere.
** I can hardly wait to see them, and they’ll be with us through Tuesday!
** God was very good to all of us in His plan to orchestrate our friendship. I am thankful for each one of them individually and for them as a family.
Filed under Faith, Thankful Thursday | Permalink | Comments (4)Tagged with: Josh • Mandy • Olivia • thankful • Thankful Thursday
Happy Tuesday News… all around
I’ve got lots of big happies tomorrow! (And one belated happy… oops.) I was going to post this in the morning, but I’ve been off for four days now, and there’s no way I’ll gt up in time to post before work. So a little early, a lot late… here I am.
My friend, Courtney, is celebrating a birthday today. It’s her first as a mother. Isn’t that fabulous? I’m sure little Ally Grace is going to give her mama a wonderful present.
Like so many of the friends I have today, I met Courtney at the college where Mike and I both previously worked. Courtney was one of my student workers, and I am deeply grateful that Linda and I had the opportunity to know and love her… then and now. Happy Birthday, Court!!
(Courtney and little Ally Grace)
And today is also the 13th anniversary of our friends, Aleece and Warren. You know Aleece’s name because she’s my personal webmaster/all-around computer guru. I met Aleece - again, at work… she was a student… yeah, everyone’s younger than me - when she and Warren had just gotten married. Mike and I had just celebrated our first anniversary, so Aleece and I have gone through new marriage and old marriage and babies and jobs and big kids together. And I can’t imagine this journey without her.
(Linda and Aleece at dinner with me during my May Louisiana trip with Griff.)
And, with much shame and embarassment, I must admit that I missed my brother and sister-in-law’s anniversary. Six years they’ve been married, the sweet things. Their son is 11, and they’re expecting a baby in the spring. I can hardly wait!!
I’ve already decided the baby’s a girl. I’m working on a gonna-be-a-big-brother gift for Zachary, and I keep thinking of things to make for my new little niece. I mean, I’ll wait till they’re sure she’s a girl because I’d hate for a little boy to be surrounded by the pink things I’m envisioning.
Regardless, John did himself well when he married Nicole all those years ago. And he did our family well by bringing Nicole and Zachary into our lives. We’re blessed to have them.
(Nicole…looking lovely, as always)
And for general happy news, our dear Mandy got a promotion that she SOOOO deserved. She is now the news editor at the paper she’s reported for since college. She’s an amazing reporter - she’s Mike’s best former student - and she’s going to be an amazing editor. The paper, and the reporters lucky enough to answer to her, are truly fortunate to have her.
Go, Mandy!!
(Josh, Mandy, Olivia, and Griff during our May trip.)
… And yes, for anyone keeping track, I met Courtney, Linda, Aleece, Mandy and Josh at that same school. Mike, too, for that matter. That place and that place in time brought many, many dear people into my life. And I am grateful.
Filed under Most Everything | Permalink | Comment (1)Tagged with: Aleece • anniversary • birthday • Courtney • editor • John • Mandy • Nicole
Leaving on a Jet Plane
Tomorrow morning, Griff and I will fly out of Tampa and into New Orelans, rent a car and drive to the little town we moved from almost two years ago. Eliza & Mike will stay here. Eliza’s sad. Griff’s excited.
Last summer, Mike took Griff back for a whole week so Griff and his best friend, Will, could hang out. We’re afraid Griff won’t be able to do that this year after his surgery, so he and I are going for a quick weekend. He’ll stay with Will’s family, and I’ll stay with Mandy, Josh, and Olivia.
I’ll get to see them, Linda, and Aleece. I’ll deliver a graduation present to the son of some friends of ours, and I’m going to visit my favorite bead store. I think that between me and Griff, we’re looking to eat our way through the weekend. We’ll bring a dozen of the yummiest donuts home for Mike on Monday.
We’re packed and ready. Griff’s sitting between us watching the Astros and being too excited to sleep. We’ve got cell phones and iPods and books. To be honest, aside from the mama worries, I’m pretty excited myself.
Filed under Most Everything | Permalink | Comments (2)Tagged with: donuts • Friends • Louisiana • Mandy • New Orleans • Will
Mawmaw’s Sunshine
I’m thinking that I’m going to shut down my Etsy site - again - since I’ve never sold anything there. All of the jewelry I’ve ever sold has been through word of mouth. I’m thinking I should stick with that.
Mandy’s grandmother wanted to have a necklace that I made despite the fact that I don’t think I’ve ever seen her wear any jewelry. All we know is that she likes yellow. So this is what Mawmaw’s getting from me and Mandy. I hope Mawmaw likes it.
As with so many of the pieces I make, I ended up loving it. So if Mawmaw doesn’t like it, she can send it back to me. Now, the photos aren’t great, but they’re what I have tonight. Maybe tomorrow I’ll get a shot of Eliza wearing it on her upper arm, which is where it fits her. 
Tagged with: Mandy
