My Amazing Family

Have I mentioned what a truly Amazing Family I have?? Sometimes I have to pinch myself just to make sure I'm not dreaming. My life has been so blessed with my children and grandchildren. I could not love any of you any more than I do, whether you are children of my womb or children of my heart and I want you to know that. I would walk through fire for any of you and that will never change. I am also so thankful for my extended family in Illinois that welcomed me with unconditional love when they didn't have to. You are all so precious to me. (okay, are you getting a bit nauseous??? I can change the subject now)
Did I mention how jealous all of my friends are of my family?? I LOVE IT!

I just got back from a trip to Rick and Beth's house in Henderson, NV last week. I flew out on Wednesday the 16th and then back last Tuesday the 22nd. I don't know what kind of a time tunnel I got into but I swear it seemed like I was only there a couple of days. The time just flew by. We had a ball! We pulled the camper down to Chula Vista, near San Diego on Friday and stayed until Monday. We played games (Texas Holdem - yeah Bradley kicked our butts) and enjoyed some great Greek food, Seafood, Mexican Food and some kickass Margaritas! It was just so much fun, I can't wait to do it again. We also went to SeaWorld and spent the day on Saturday. On Sunday we had a party with a Dora the Explorer Cake for Ella's 3rd birthday. You can see some of the pictures on Beth's blog. I could put some on here if I knew how but that ain't happening yet. I just hate that we are all so far apart. I guess I will spend my time just traveling to see all the kids from here since I have not re-listed my house yet. I thought I would wait a couple of months since the market is tanked anyway. That way I can leave it messy sometimes....ha ha
My next big trip will probably be to Jason and Mandy's in Houston....although I do have another granddaughter's birthday coming up in February so if they don't come here I will probably go there to Louisiana. That is the good thing about traveling South in the winter. The weather usually cooperates and I can drive there. It is a little to "iffy" to drive to Arkansas this time of year unless it is absolutely necessary cause when you see the sign that says "Bridge May Ice" you better believe it WILL ice and your ars will end up in the ditch! and don't even THINK about driving to Illinois ;-)

I guess I am done with blogging for tonight....can ya feel the love??
over and out

You Just Gotta Smile

The voice in my head is talking again. "You just gotta smile", "You can do this", "Drip the faucets so the pipes won't freeze" and other internal infomercials. and so I smile and go on.
Life is a journey and it is best to enjoy the ride if you can. (I hate riding alone but I am learning)

Sometimes when I am discouraged I am reminded of a verse of the song by Third Day titled

"Mountain of God".

Even though the journey's long
And I know the road is hard
Well, the One who's gone before me
He will help me carry on
After all that I've been through
Now I realize the truth
That I must go through the valley
To stand upon the mountain of God

GEAUX TIGERS !!

LSU Tigers Rock......... I just finished watching the BIG bowl game with some friends from Louisiana. It was great watching the Tigers kick some serious Ohio Buckeye butt.
Proud to be an LSU Alumni. Enough Said ;-)

Happy New Year!

There is not much to report today on this first day of 2008 other than I am still here. I watched the ball drop in Times Square on TV from my bed surrounded by wadded up tissues and toasted the cats with a flute of orange juice. I made it through Christmas in Arkansas and it was good to see my mom and family. I felt like I was coming down with a cold or something last Saturday so I hightailed my butt back to Alabama on Sunday. Sure enough I picked up some kind of lovely bug and will spend New Years Day in bed (most of the time anyway). I am coughing and snotty and all over ugh! It just makes you appreciate the days you feel good. (How long does a cold last anyway?) This sucks AND it is really cold outside.

Rick's brother Bill called to say Happy New Year this morning and reminded me that I could watch college bowl games all day starting at 10:30 am. That actually sounds pretty good since I don't plan on getting dressed. Bill will be celebrating at his casino of choice.
Jason called at midnight from New Orleans and wished me a Happy New Year and surprisingly I was still awake. (of course I had napped during the day) It was good to hear the words "I Love You" at the beginning of a new year when you didn't expect it.

Last year Rick and I toasted the New Year in with Ricky, Keri, Angie, and Sophie complete with the silly hats and all. It was a treasured memory since we never really thought we would make it to New Years when I bought the hats the previous February...ha ha

So, to all of you out there reading my blogg........Happy New Year! I hope that this proves to be a healthy and wonderful year for all of us.

Ho Ho Ho Humbug

I made it through another first. The first Jackson family Christmas shindig since Rick died was last Saturday at Angie and Ryan's house. The house was beautifully decorated and the tree was standing tall in the corner complete with ornaments and lights and a ton of presents under its branches for the children. The presents were ripped open with glee and paper and bows were flying through the air......that was all normal. What was not normal was being without our Santa. He was the man in the Bah Humbug Santa hat that handed out the presents in years past and watched with delight as his grandchildren destroyed the house as they opened all their gifts. I think that I was possibly in denial during the evening get together. Denial was much easier with Ricky and Beth and Bradley and Ella not there and Chad not being there either. It was easy enough for me to picture Ricky and his dad sitting at the restaurant throwing back a few beers before plunging into their Christmas Shopping! They were simply late and had forgotten the time and had asked Chad to join them. Yes, that made it easier somehow.
De NILE is not just the name of a river. Sometimes it is how we get through the day or week or season.

Mine was a short trip to Louisiana but I was fortunate enough to get to see my two granddaughters, Delaney and Madelyn, perform in a production of "Babes in Toyland" at the Young Actors Theatre in Slidell. They were so precious. On Sunday I got to enjoy the "Saints" football win with Jason, Mandy, Fe'de and Glen at Clay and Monique's house. The brats were great! Sunday night I spent with Keri and Chad and the boys and Jake. It is always fun for me to get to spend the night in the camper. Monday I went with Keri and Chad to check out their new property purchase in Central. Very Cool.

I got back home on Tuesday night and have unpacked, done laundry and tomorrow I will repack for the second phase of Christmas with family. I will drive to Arkansas on Saturday for our annual gift exchange and dinner with my mom and my cousins and aunt and uncle on Christmas Eve. I am not sure how long I will stay I can't really say I am excited about these holidays because they are painful but I am excited about seeing mom and my family. How long I stay depends on the weather since my expert driver is gone.

Someday I will learn how to insert pictures and music into my blogs and maybe then they won't seem so depressing. I am planning to learn a lot of new stuff in 2008. I now have a new laptop so that will inspire me ;-)

Love to all of you and your families during this Christmas Season!

Happy Birthday Sweetheart

Today is December 11, 2007. It is yet another first that the kids and I have to get through. This is the first December 11th that I have to look to the heavens to say "Happy Birthday Sweetheart". I have no doubt that on this day for the rest of my life I will repeat this gesture.
Today was a beautiful day that started out with me calling my son, Jason, and wishing him a happy birthday. He turned 34 today and I am so proud of the man he has become. I wish I could have hugged him today and made him a cake or something but he is in Houston and I'm not.
My friend, Glenda, asked me to go with her and a group of friends on a road trip today. It was unseasonably warm and gorgeous outside (75 degrees.) Our destination was "The Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament of Our Lady of the Angels Monastery" in Hanceville, Alabama. I felt such a quiet peacefulness come over me as we walked over the grounds. Maybe it was the stillness of the countryside and the absence of cell phones ringing, radios blaring, and the hustle and bustle of everyday life lost in the sound of wind blowing and birds singing. I lit a candle for Rick and said a prayer for strength to go on without him. I miss him so much. Cancer just Sucks.

As I am getting ready for the trip to Louisiana for Christmas with the kids I can just hear Rick say, "How much more crap do you think will fit under that tree?" "I think Kohl's is having a sale...SURELY you need something else for those grandchildren" and then he would grin. I am almost positive I heard him whisper in my ear while I was doing my retail therapy, "Honey, I think you NEED to buy that robe for yourself to keep you warm". (I never could argue with that man!)
I bought the robe.

No more offers on the house yet. It has been shown a few times in the past few days and apparently there are people still out there looking for a house like this one. I will keep you posted if anything develops. I am awaiting results on another Radon test to compare it to the first one to see if I need to take any action or if there even is a problem. Meanwhile I am enjoying my Christmas tree and outside lights. It was a struggle but I got them up and working. The whole neighborhood is lit up for the holidays. It all looks so nice for the holidays. Just one thing missing........

LIFE'S A BEACH

I'm officially back from the beach now for two days and miss the sound of the waves. I love the beach! Rick loved the beach! It is such a peaceful tranquil place full of sunrises and sunsets, seafood and sea shells. The beach reminds me of so many wonderful walks on that sand with my soul mate. This time, I'll admit, I looked for his footprints next to mine cause I know he was there. I strained to see him through the mist and fog, or was it a vail of tears? There is no doubt that he had that PoPs smile while he watched his grandkids run amuck as pirates digging for treasure. We rarely spoke of him outloud during our week together because it was too painful I think. We did however, wear his favorite shirts, pants, drink his favorite beverages (cold), root for his favorite team (LSU)and he was on our mind. I'm sure he especially enjoyed the Thanksgiving prayers given by Nicholas and also Madelyn. We are so blessed to have such a great family and it was so much fun to be able to be all together again. I miss them all now that I am back home. It is so quiet and no one needs to eat, drink, poop, pee, nap, wake up, shower, play guitar hero/xbox/playstation, go swim, and then start the cycle over. It IS quiet here.

I have no more updates on the house. I am running another Radon test as we speak to get a second reading. I will keep you posted.