A prayer…
My friend, Mandy, isn’t feeling well. Mandy is the strongest woman I know, outside of a litle lady named Dannie, who happens to be Mandy’s mama. Mandy used to tease me about being sick all the time. I told her it was because she didn’t have kids that she was well all the time. I never got sick before having babies. 
And then Mandy had a really difficult delivery and time after her sweet Olivia was born, and not only did Mandy get sick more, but she worried more about being sick. It’s been a struggle for her to overcome the fear.
Last week, she had a headache and some fatigue that didn’t go away like it should have for a working mama (come on, we’ve all got a headache and some fatigue). She called the doctor, got some meds, and then still didn’t feel better.
Because she’s got a amazing physician (yep, I recommended him), she’s getting good care. But as a GP, he can’t do it all himself. So she’s waiting for the needed tests and diagnosis.
Until then, she’s sick, barely able to care for herself. She and Josh have been blessed because Dannie has taken both Mandy and Olivia home with her so she can watch over both of her girls. A mother’s love is unending, isn’t it? Thankfully, Mandy and Dannie have a friendship as well as a love.
The waiting is difficult. The doctors have mentioned the possibility of MS as a diagnosis, and we have some knowledge of that. Mike’s mom had MS back so long ago that they didn’t offer her any treatment at all. My sweet friend, Mika, has MS and is on a treatment plan that allows her to do things that, frankly, amaze me. (She’s one of my heroes.)
I’m too far away to take Josh dinner while he’s home alone and missing his girls. I’m too far away to take a turn staying with Mandy to make sure she’s ok. So I’m asking people to say a quick prayer… for knowledge and healing and peace.
Filed under Faith | Permalink | Comment (1)Tagged with: Josh • Mandy • Mika • MS • prayer
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
