just checking in

Catch up time! Ya know I would post more often if I remembered the password and user name...lol Since the last post I have been fortunate enough to do some traveling. My cousins and I drove to Tulsa over the weekend of the 20th of March. That Saturday was the first day of spring...yeah right. We got seriously snowed on and it cut into our shopping fun. We still enjoyed visiting with our cousins, Steve and Rosa. In April I flew to Houston to visit with my son, Jason and his wife, Mandy. We always have such a great time! We went to a concert at a local bar, ate out a lot and shopped for baby stuff. Did I mention that they are expecting their first child???? We are SO excited that they are expecting a little girl in October.

A week after I got home I left again. This time for Louisiana. My first stop was in Baton Rouge to see Keri and the boys. Austin and Nick are growing up so fast and it is always fun spending time with them. Their whole family is going through some very challenging times right now and could use your prayers. Keri and Chad have decided to divorce and move on with their lives. The house is up for sale and with the depressed market we really don't know how long it will take to sell. Hopefully it will happen soon.

From Keri's house I drove to Angie and Ryan's and got to see them for a couple of days. Jacob has grown alot since I saw him last visit. He is laughing and smiling more now.

I then flew from the Big Easy (New Orleans)to the Big Apple (New York City) for an exciting girl's trip week with my two bestest friends, Karla and Linda. We kept up a hectic fun packed pace for the majority of the week, seeing many things in Long Island and in New York City. Fortunately we didn't take the train into the city until Sunday morning (the day AFTER the attempted bombing in Time Square). We stayed in the Marriot right there in Time Square and had a fabulous time!

I flew back to New Orleans on May 5th and got to see Ricky, Beth, Bradley and Ella that night at Angies. We watched Delaney play a great softball game. Then on Friday, after a Mother's Day tea at Madelyn's school ;-) , I went to Hammond and helped Mandy with the preparation of Monique's baby shower. I got to spend Saturday night with grandson, Fe'de (who just turned 16), Jason, Mandy, Monique and Clay, in a great condo overlooking Jackson Square in New Orleans. It was beautiful weather and we met up with Mandy's mom, Alicia, Saturday evening for dinner celebrating Mother's day. Sunday Morning we walked to Cafe du Monde for my favorite breakfast food....and left covered in powdered sugar.....aaahhhh SWEET! Then back to Angie's where we celebrated Delaney's 10th birthday which just happened to fall on Mother's day this year.

I drove back to Arkansas on Monday after a wonderful two weeks. I was so blessed that I got to see All of my children, and All of my Grandchildren...even the new baby bump! Life is good.

Isn't it funny that when I started this post I was going to lead with the fact that my beloved Rick will be gone from me and this earth 3 years tomorrow (May 18th). It was going to be a sad post. I still miss him so much.....but as you can see from the above...Life Does Go On !

Spring has Sprung

I was actually shocked to see that I had not taken time to blog yet this entire year. That is exactly 86 days that I haven't shared a darn thing with you. You might ask, "What's new with you?" I am afraid I would have to answer...Not a damn thing....still treading water....marching in place. Well I guess that is not exactly true. There are some wonderful things going on within the family and some tragic things going on. Some of these I can talk about and some I can't.....some are secret, for now. Now that I have peaked your interest, I promise that I will blog about it all at a later date.

I am still in Arkansas and waiting for the opportunity to move to Louisiana to be closer to the kids. Still waiting for the house to sell in Baton Rouge so that I can make that move. I am SO ready to be closer to my girls and some of the grandkids. I'm pretty sure they are ready for me to be closer too!

I don't know about you but I am sick of cold weather. I can't wait for warmer temperatures (eventhough it will be harder to hide this fat body under layers..lol)
I have decided that I am on the road to becoming a fluffy, soft grandma. What's up with the weight gain?? Driving me crazy...makes me want chocolate ;-). It has got to stop and IF THIS CARDIO/PILATES class KICKS BUTT for several weeks I just may be able to stop the beast.

Peace Out

Merry Christmas

Here I sit addressing Christmas Cards and wondering if they will get to their destination before Santa gets there. I know I meant to do this last week! I think I am done with the shopping (okay...can you ever be DONE shopping??) I have most of my gifts wrapped and have shipped most of the gifts that have to be shipped.

Christmas is officially almost here. My music is over and that makes me sad. We (the Community Festival Choir) preformed the Messiah on Saturday and the church choir had our Candlelight and Carols service on Sunday night so now there are no more rehearsals. That makes me sad. Of course a lot of things make me sad this time of year. I still miss Rick, every day every minute and the loss is magnified during the holidays. You have to look for the magic of Christmas and I do.

Today I boo hooed for an hour after Jason told me that his old cat "Pepe" had cancer that had spread throughout and that he would have to put him down this next week. Granted it has to be done. The final act of love from an owner that refuses to let him suffer. That doesnt really make it any easier. It will be one of the harder tasks that Jason has undertaken if he is as softhearted as his mom.

HOWEVER......I also have much joy this week too. I am the proud grandmother of another grandson. Jacob Ryan Dick was born into this world on Dec 13 and is now being spoiled rotten by his parents and 3 big sisters. I cant wait to spoil him too!
This was such a sudden surprise and blessing that Angie and Ryan were allowed to adopt this sweet baby. It is an incredible story and such a great Christmas present.

So...Merry Christmas to you and yours. Have a GREAT HOLIDAY!

November.....WHAT???

I have to agree with some of my fellow bloggers. Facebook has taken alot of us out of the habit of saying more than 5 words in a row. Since I last blogged the summer has slipped through my fingers. I didn't realize it was going so fast but it did. I guess I saw the tail end of it over Labor Day. The official end of summer to me is the annual Big Bash Family Reunion...."Casey-Teter" Reunion to be exact at Aunt Lucy's farm. I was so glad that the girls and their families got to be there. We missed Ricky and Beth and they missed us. It is so difficult to be so far away from family. Uncle Bill and his friend Shirley were there too! It was a great time.

Late September I was lucky enough to go on a girlfriend's cruise out of Ft. Lauderdale with Karla and Linda. Awesome ;-) Royal Caribbean take me away!

October found me mainly in Arkansas doing volunteer work at the church and rehearsing with the community festival choir. The choir is going to do the "Messiah" at Christmas and I am so excited. The performance is Dec 12th.
I also went to Alabama to get my winter clothes out of storage and then on to Louisiana. I walked in the "Race for the Cure" in New Orleans with Angie, Beth, Delaney, Austin and Nick. We were team "Boobielicious". It was fantastic and such a worthy cause. Thanks again to all of you who donated.

While in Louisiana, Angie shared the great news that she and Ryan were starting the process to adopt an infant from Nepal. The process will probaby take a year or so. I am so excited to have another Grandson to love on.

So now it is November and I am still in Arkansas. I really thought I would be moved by now to Alabama but it just hasn't happened. I am now thinking that it will be Spring before I attempt to relocate. I am waiting on a few things to happen first to make the transition easier. warm weather would be one thing....lol

I'm glad I took a few minutes to check in. I am doing fine here..although still missing Rick most every day. Can't believe it is over 2 yrs, 4 months.

As the title says.......Life Goes On ;-) when we are lucky.

 

Trip to England and Scotland 2009

Wow! That about sums it up...just wow! The trip to England was amazing. I think my favorite part was singing with so many beautiful voices together in the old churches in England and Scotland. I think of how many many voices have lifted up praise to the Lord in song over the years. The architecture was so ornate and different from the "brutalist" styles of the 60s (as our guide would say). We saw Big Ben, the Tower of London, the London Eye, Stonehedge, Buckingham Palace, the Crown Jewels. We did not see the Queen although I waved as we drove by where she was staying at the time.
London was very saddened by the death of Michael Jackson. His death was announced by the pilot on our transatlantic flight. The mood was somber. So many in London were anxiously awaiting his coming concerts. No matter what your feelings were for Michael, he was an amazing artist and I loved his music and dancing.

Oh yeah, one thing to remember if you go to England, it doesn't always rain and it isn't always cool....and (note to self) they don't necessarily have air conditioning even in the nice hotels!! The official "hottest days on record" happened while we were there. Let me just add, spoiled Americans don't like to sweat if they don't have too. Some days we had to really be on guard not to be too cranky! Yikes!

I had a great time and am looking forward to another trip soon. I will be flying to Jason and Mandy's house next week for a few days. The cats have already accepted the fact that they live in this duplex and that I only visit them most of the time.

Okay....Where did May go?

Hey out there! How is everyone? I know...you are too busy checking facebook to see what is going on now. The blog is becoming a vehicle of the past. Sad sad because I enjoyed all the pictures and detailed news in more than one sentence.
I, on the other hand, have just been lazy. I am now getting ready for my big trip this summer. I am going with the church choir from Madison AL to England and Scotland later this month. I am SO excited. We leave on June 25th and return on July 3rd after giving 5 concerts while we are there. When I get back to Arkansas I will begin the process of getting ready to make the move back to Alabama. I have no set timetable but would like to be relocated before fall. Oh....that should be fun...not!