Family Humor...

It's funny, many people will complain about family and never really find the humor in family or life. One thing is for sure, my family has lots of humor. Some might call it Redneck humor, but it's humor just the same. My sister, Paige, cracks me up anyway, but today was especially funny. She got up early and was packing her car to go to her BFF "Rose"s house for the weekend and while loading her car her flip flop broke. Being the genius she is she thought she would super glue it and apparently didn't wait for it to dry and she glued her big toe to her flip flop. LOL! What makes that story even funnier is earlier this week she called to tell me she had some spray tan in a bottle that she used at home and has determined that the lighting in her house is very forgiving, because when she got to work under the florecent lights she realized not only was she orange, but apparently had some dripage and you could see on her feet where the puddles were! Oh what a week she has had. She needed to go see her BFF "Rose" for some much needed R&R and hopefully some alcohol! Yes, to wash off the orange. Ha!

The funnies don't stop there, our baby sister, Stacy, backed into a line of buggies in the WalMart parking lot (you know the ones the kids are taking back into the store?). Thank goodness the kid pushing the buggies didn't get hit. The funniest part is she has a BACK UP CAMERA! LOL.... It just doesn't stop. So to be fair, I must tell on myself a little too (I have way too many to list), but I was trying to tell Tebo that I was listening to the Black Eyed Peas and called them the Black Eyed Beans! Anyone who knows me at all knows that isn't at all surprising that I could say that since I'm constantly mixing up my words, but one day recently I asked him how long to cook a potato in the microwave. He said 10 minutes. I thought good, I can cook that while I finish doing something in the other room when I hear all this laughter erupt in the kitchen. He called me in there and said open the microwave. Well, it looked like my potato was a little potato bomb. It literally caught fire on the inside and got very hard, but when you busted it open it was ashes! He said how long did you cook it. I said exactly what you told me, 10 minutes. He said I didn't know your potato was the size of a quarter. Well, he didn't ask me how big it was he just said 10 minutes. Ugh!

I know we all have funny moments, but there are certainly times in our family that we really don't know when to stop with the funny moments so thank you my family for all the funnies you give us each and every day. I love that we can laught at ourselves, but I love it even more when I can laugh at ya'll! LOL.... Love you all.

My Son!

Today is my son's 22nd birthday! OMG, what an amazing son he is. Since I can (this is my blog you know), I will take a little walk down memory lane. I was not your typical "pregnant" woman. I really never did let myself get real excited over being pregnant or becoming a mom. It wasn't for any other reason other than I was told since about 15 or so that I would most likely not be able to get pregnant due to some female medical problems and then at first the pregnancy was less than perfect so I really didn't want to get too excited for fear things wouldn't turn out so well. Fortunately for me (and in my opinion the world), things did turn out just perfectly. He was born via C-section and was perfect. I know every parent says that about their child, but honestly, he was!

What a joy he was from day 1. I was in love. It was the kind of love only a parent can know. He was just the cutest thing I'd ever seen. I have to admit though, the first year wasn't my favorite. It wasn't for any other reason than he just basically laid there. Once he developed his little personality and became mobile I loved it! He was so dang cute and sooooo busy! I actually loved that part of it. We just meshed. He didn't sleep much. In fact, it wasn't until the end of kindergarten that he actually slept all night for the first time. Yes moms, he was almost 6 years old before he slept through the night. Of course, I don't know if you could call it sleeping through the night when I realized he hadn't gotten up I ran in and pulled him out of bed to make sure he was still breathing. As everyone in the house and my neighbors discovered very quickly, he was very much still breathing. (sorry Chadman)

From probably 2 yrs old to around 6 yrs old were so much fun. I would imagine it was more fun for Chad and I than anyone else, because that little man was one busy little fellow. I know I wasn't the ideal mom especially when it came to meal time, but neither Chad or myself were all that crazy about eating. I would put his plate down and he would take a bite then run play and it would sometimes take him all afternoon to finish his little plate of food. I did the same thing so again, it worked for us.

Let me just share a few little adventures and little things you might not know or remember about Chad as a young man. He loved country music (especially Alan Jackson (Wanted) and Garth Brooks). He had his guitar and microphone and cowboy hat on constantly. He also loved sports. Anything that included a ball he would watch. I never had to worry much about him watching anything else on TV, but those two things. One day it was nice outside and I told him he should come outside with me and he said I can't I'm watching TV. I asked what he could be watching since there were no ballgames on and he said (honestly) bowling. I'm like, are you kidding me? Who the heck watches bowling (especially at 4 years old). Another thing you might not know about Chad is he went through a stage where he kept saying things were on fire. One day he said my room is on fire as an example. I would tell him over and over that isn't something you joke about. Well, one day we were trying to get ready to go somewhere and he comes in to say the microwave was on fire. I fussed at him and told him he wasn't suppose to joke about that. He just kept on. Finally I told his father to see what he was talking about and give him a spanking if he was joking. Well, unfortunately, he wasn't joking! He put his microphone in the microwave and it caught fire. Lucky for us, it was under a cabinet so we had to call the fire department to check things out to make sure the house didn't burn to the ground. One day he hid from his father while I was at work and when he called to tell me he lost him I freaked out. Come to find out he hid in the dryer. I explained how dangerous that was and that he should not do that again, but he tried my patience one more time and hid in the dryer so this time i help the button and turned it on for 1/2 a turn and he screamed "MOMMA!" I said, this is why you don't hide in the dryer.

One day we were at Nana and BoBo's and he had gone on one of his many adventures and we couldn't find him. We looked everywhere. Suddenly grandmother called us at the hosue and said did you know Chad was over here? We said NO! He had walked from our house to grandmother's house through the fields and pastures passing several ponds and a lake to get there all by himself and she lived at least 2 miles from us by road. Ugh! I would have just beat him, but he was so dang cute I couldn't. One day we were celebrating something for BoBo and/or Nana and he ran his finger across the bottom of the cake (yes before we were ready to cut into it) and I said don't do that again or you will get a spanking and his said (and I quote), "Not in this lifetime". What? Yes, it was difficult to be upset with all the laughter. Then he and my nephew Timothy wanted to go camping. Ok, so anyone who knows me at all knows I do not camp. Well, daddy and I agreed to let them camp so we went to the back pasture and camped (in a freaking tent). We all went to sleep in our wonderful 5 star sleeping bags and I woke up at some point and said "daddy, everything is wet". Apparently dew is a normal occurance when you camp. I wanted to go back to the house, but wanted to be a trooper for the kids. Well, let me tell you, about 3:00 AM I got up and looked and the only people in the tent were me and daddy! Are you kidding me. We jump up and find that they too got cold and wet and decided to sleep in the truck. What! He also spent the better part of 2 summers as AKA, Jeffery. Basically what that meant was he filled the role of our butler (thanks to BoBo starting that one). He even received a tackle box with his new name "Jeffery" on it. That was so much fun (well, for us).

Then he became a teenager (bless my heart). At 14 he decided (despite being grounded from his roller blades) that he would borrow his buddy's and jump 15 steps (on icy sidewalks) with no helmet. Yep! I think you can imagine how this ended. He falls from approximately 10 feet in the hair and face plants on the sidewalk. Needless to say, he broke a tooth and busted his lip like nobody's business and had road rash all over his right side. He gets stitches in his lip (as you know they rarely even do that) and had a CT scan and a horrible concusion. I was a mess. The list is way too long to continue, but as you can see he was quite the busy little man. Then, when he was 19 years old he came to us and said he wanted to join the Marine Corps. I asked him to wait at least 3 months and truly think about it before making that final decision (which he did) and if at that moment he still wanted to enlist we would support him 100%. After 3 months he said he still wanted to be a Marine so Tebo and I along with the rest of my family supported this decision. This would turn out to be one of the hardest things I would face with him. Boot camp was difficult for the both of us, but he came through it with flying colors. SOI would prove to be just as difficult, but again, we both made it through. What was to come next would prove to me that we both were much stronger than I ever gave either of us credit for being. He would deploy to Iraq. It was scary the entire time he was gone, but I still had so much pride that the pride would far out weigh the fear I had (most of the time). He returned from Iraq to marry the love of his life and they bagan their married life together in San Diego, CA at Camp Pendleton. His wedding was amazing and again proved to be a difficult time. It can be amazing and difficult at the same time. For the first time in our lives I had to share my son with another female. That had never happened before and I wasn't sure where my place with him was now. It turns out I still have a place with him (although it is #2 place now), but I now have a daughter that until my bonus daughters I never had. I really love being her bonus mom. I was scared he wouldn't have time or room for me in his life and I was ridiculously wrong (thank goodness). She and I have become very close and I am so grateful for that. I probably drive them crazy, but they never let me know it if I do.

We are now gearing up for his 2nd deployment (this time to Afghanistan) and it will be his last deployment before his contract with the U.S. Marine Corps is completed. While we dread that day to come we will be glad to see it come and go so they can move on with the next chapter of their lives together and I can start my new chapter.

Being a mom is hard enough and rewarding, but being a mom to a Marine is a whole different ballgame. It is just as hard (if not harder) and oddly enough, just as rewarding (if not more rewarding). So thank you for allowing me to put my heart into words the best I know how. If you hung in there and read the entire "babble", thank you. If not, I totally understand, because most of this silliness only really matters to me. I love you Chad and happy 22nd birthday, son. Love, Mom

A Sister's Love...

So I have a BFF Sister. She is a strong and loyal person. She has had more than her share of heartache. No one should have to experience what she has experienced in her lifetime, but she continues to push forward and make the best of her life in a way that I hope I can come close to measuring up to one day.

To give you an brief understanding of what I mean by this I have to step back in time to October 1996.

She had two beautiful girls. Jessica, 8 and Jorden, 4 at the time. Jessica had the most beautiful red hair that just glowed in the sunlight with greens eyes and Jorden had the prettiest blond curly locks with the prettiest little plump lips. They were both such good girls. Jessica loved to sing (especially Celine Deon, "Because You Loved Me") and Jorden loved her Barney (oh, we so don't need to revisit that purple dinosaur). Anyway, Labor Day weekend of 1996 Jessica was diagnosed with brain cancer. It was a form that was rarely found in children so there was very little they knew about treatment for children and the only treatment at the time known was only approved for adults. She went through surgery and chemotherapy and trust me when I say this, that baby was the best trooper of anyone I've ever known especially for an 8 year old child. She has and always will be a huge inspiration for me to not only be a better and happier person, but to be grateful enough that through the worse circumstances I can always keep a smile on my face and say it's going to be okay.

So, during this 5 weeks of the most horrific time any mother and/or family can go through, my sister stayed strong. Fortunately for me she allowed me to be her rock and the Lord was so amazing during this time, because it just so happened that every time she would get bad news or any set back I was at least 2 hours away. Every time! The reason that is a good thing is because it allowed me to have at least 2 hours to cry and fall apart so I could be strong for her and help her through the next steps.

It wasn't bad enough that we were all going through this with her, but we had only been a couple of weeks out from our mom having a mastectomy and she was trying to recover from that. So as it turns out the Lord needed a red headed angel and Jessica was gracious enough to offer to fill that position for him. I have no doubt that she has been our children's guardian angel all these years and will be for years to come.

Jorden, only being 4 years old at the time, was a real trooper too and has turned into one of the most beautiful, smart, loving, caring, and loyal young lady. She is now 17 years old and graduating high school on June 12th and will turn 18 years old June 13th. She will attend college at UNC Charlotte. She has been the best student and has such a good head on her shoulders and we are all so very proud of her, but none as much as her mom. Paige has literally poured her entire life into this beautiful child and has basically lived her life for Jorden and the rest of her family, but I think more for Jorden.

I tell you all this because I know my sister is really struggling right now with her daughter graduating and leaving the nest and the one thing she has given most her focus to all these years is leaving home to start a new chapter in her life (as she should).

You might wonder why I chose this avenue to share my thoughts and my heart and that's easy. Sometimes no matter what sisters say to each other and how much we offer to do anything we can to help sometimes there is just nothing we can do to help another sister, but we sure want to. I do believe sometimes we tend to think, well, just pull yourself up, or it's just part of life so just enjoy it and things like that. Those may be true statements, but if you are the sister going through something like this it makes it hard to hear and thing it is helpful. I totally get that. I'm sure I've been guilty of telling her that she needs to enjoy this time and this is the next step in Jorden's life and you have planned for it for many years, but I also know as I am saying those words that it is truly easier to say than to live.

There are 5 of us sisters (Me, Dawn, Paige, Amanda, & Stacy) and we all love each other so much that at times (at least for me) it hurts. It's a good hurt, but hurts just the same. Trust me, this makes it sound like we are always warm and fuzzy with each other and anyone who has a sister knows this it totally not reality, but I can honestly say this for sure. We love each other and if any of us were in trouble or needed something we would be right there to do whatever we could to help.

It was just that way when Jessica got sick. Our youngest sister, Stacy (AKA Bratola) moved to NC to live with Paige so that she could help with Jessica and Paige could keep her job. There are numerous examples of that kind of "sister love" that I could give you examples of, but this is about Paige today. I know she will get through graduation, Jorden turning 18, and leaving for college and she will find a way to make this another great step in her life, but until she gets through this time and finds her "new normal" again she will feel a little loss and we sisters will rise to the occasion to make sure she gets through this and as she finds her "new normal" with Jorden moving on to the next wonderful stage in her life.

Paige always manages to fight her way through whatever situation is handed to her and she usually comes out on the other side even stronger (if that were even possible) and I have no doubt she will do the same now, but right now she isn't seeing that.

If you are a prayer warrior and reading this I would request that you put Paige on your prayer list to help her get through this next major part in her life with grace and peace. I keep telling her that this could be what she has been waiting for. She and her hubbers might just go "Crazy". LOL! This will be a wonderful next stage in her life. There is something to be said for "Empty Nesters". Tebo experienced that for almost 2 years and will experience it again in about 3 weeks and it's not so bad. It did take me some time to adjust to it as well and it will Paige, but once you adjust and enjoy it you realize you wish you could have done this first. Ha!

Anyway, I think I'm done. I just had this weighing heavy on my heart and wanted to share. I feel I need to find a way to honor Paige for all she has been through and right now this is the only way I know how to accomplish that. If you have any other ideas feel free to share. No, Paige, I can't send you to a tropical island so you can sip on Mia Ties all day.... :) I wish I could!

Love you BFF Sis! (We all do!) and we will be right there with you every step of the way (well, until you lock the front door with a do not disturb sign on it)... Now that was funny and you know it! LOL

Ahhhh...

Chad returns to Camp Pendleton tomorrow! I know Katie is ready and so am I. He has been in Bridgeport, CA in snow and below freezing temperatures for 45 days. He fought through hypothermia, beginning of frost bite, a stomach bug, and significant weight loss and dehydration. It is so hard as a mom to not get on a plane, fly up there, start kicking butts and taking names later, but I also know that he is a fine Marine and this is only making him that much stronger and able to withstand anything life might throw his direction. I couldn't be more proud of him or Katie. I know how hard it has been for me as mom and how hard it is when my sweetie is gone so I can't imagine how hard this has all been on her. They will certainly have one of the strongest marriages around once they have gotten through this journey together. They will both look back on this time spent and realize that it has made them stronger together and individually and there will be nothing they can't face together. Chad is creating a much better life for them in the future and one that not only he and Katie can be proud of, but me and Tebo as well and his grandparents. We've had to struggle for much of our lives to make ends meet and just get through stuff and while I they have and will have tough times, this foundation they are building will help them have less of those times and that makes me feel better.

They just have to get through more training and one more deployment and then they can start the rest of their lives and relax a little. I can't wait for that time for them both and for me to have the chance to see them more.

A New Gray Hair Was Named Today

Well, for those of you who do not know, I decided years ago when I got my first gray hair that I would name them (most in honor of Chad and his antics) so to say the very least, today is no different. In usual fashion this new gray hair is named in honor of Chad and of course the USMC "Bridgeport Freeze".

I'm sure if you are reading this you are already aware that this week Katie and I have been on pins and needles waiting to hear that Chad will be okay. He developed hypothermia and the beginnings of frost bite, but with the quick action of not only the doctors, but his band of brothers he was treated and today doing much better. He still has some recovery to do, but he is expecting to be released from the doctor's care and light duty as soon as tomorrow.

I believe because all my special gray hairs are so fondly named after things that my precious beautiful son has done or had happen to him that's why they are not really gray as much as a shiny silver.

The big ones are named in honor of: His skating accident, a few times that he didn't come home and I had no idea where he was, getting on a bus in KC to leave for boot camp, the time during boot camp I believe gave me a few extra, then SOI, of course deployment to Iraq, and now Bridgeport.

It's been a source of laughter for us over the years and at times I do think he takes a little too much pride in being responsible for these beauties (I will let him keep doing that), but he does share these honors with his bonus siblings, his aunts, uncles, and certainly his grandparents. He doesn't get all the credit, but he does truly take the majority.

I do love that boy and I will gladly continue to accept these little treasures because that only means he is continuing to grow and live a full and happy life and I will gladly take that and anything else mother nature would like to throw my way as long as my baby boy always finishes on top! Of course, I wouldn't fight if they could be fewer and further between. Got that Chadman?

A Parent's Love

I don't think there will be a time in a parent's life that they won't worry and fret over their children no matter how old, or married, or Marine Corps they get. My baby boy (yes, I know he is almost 22, married, and a Marine), but forever he will be my baby boy. Ok, so anyway, at some point yesterday (May 11th) he developed symptoms of Hypothermia and the beginnings of frost bite. My precious "bonus son", Seth, cuddled up with him to keep him warm until they could get him medical attention. I can never repay him for that act of kindness and loyalty.

Katie has been so strong. Probably better than me. Like a big baby I cried all day today and even now at 8:30 PM I'm still freaking crying. Ugh! I don't think that will ever change as long as I live and breathe.

I pray and I know there are many others praying that Chad will make a full recovery and be back to 100% in no time. Right now he has bronchitis and apparently having blood pressure issues (but not sure what that is yet), dehydrated, and not keeping food down right now. He is tired and weak and more than anything I'm sure he is wanting to be in his bed and with his wife. He will be there in less than 10 days and it can't get here fast enough.

I know this training is necessary and I am sure the Marine Corps knows what they are doing (let's face it, they've done this for many many years), but as a mom (and I am sure a wife), it is really hard to understand the reasoning behind some of the stuff they put these (face it, they are our babies) through. I know they will be stronger and able to handle any situation, but part of me has to believe they could do that anyway or would they even be a Marine anyway?

Well, I just had to get some of that off my chest so I could take a break from crying. I love my baby boy and I just want to know he is ok and will be 100% by this time tomorrow. I love you LCPL Wade, Chad Stafford! You are not only my son, my heart, but also my hero!

Yeah!

Finally, Candi's patience paid off. She got the job at Tyson! She is so excited and so are we for her. She and Nathan were patient and stuck in there managing their money very well while they waited for something to come through and it finally did. She was offered the job today and will start work on Monday. I know she is so excited and now they can breath a sigh of relief knowing they will have an easier time with their finances now that she has replaced her income.

Go Candi.... Good job girl. We love you.

So Blessed...

I am truly blessed. I had one of the best Mother's Day I've ever had even with 3 of my 6 kids not here. They all called (even Chad) and we had Trevor, Candi, and Nathan here with us for dinner last night.

My day started bright and early with my wonderful husband and he and Trevor served me breakfast in bed (yes, I did have to return to bed for that to happen) and the plate was beautiful. They also delivered 3 beautiful new tops (my hubby is an amazing shopper of clothes). If that wasn't enough he cleaned the kitchen up for me. I did laundry and dusted, but for the most part I just relaxed. Then, Candi and Nathan came over and my husband (once again) out did himself with dinner. I requested steak so he made a fabulous steak dinner. Then, he, Candi, and Nathan cleaned the entire kitchen. Trevor managed to make it in there at the very last minute (well orchestrated as usual)... lol

All in all it was a wonderfully blessed Mother's Day and one that I won't soon forget. I truly am blessed and love my family so much.

Mom

When did it become ok for our parents to not tell us the truth when all growing up we were told to always tell the truth? Ugh! Mom apparently started throwing up last night after being released from the hospital and basically did not stop. Aunt Frances called the doctor to get something for the nausea and he told her to get her back to the hospital. Really? Mom, what were you thinking not telling Paige the truth when she talked to you 3 times today. You are so grounded!
They have put the tube back in her from her nose to her stomach to drain all that mess off her stomach and from there who knows what will have to be done. In my personal opinion I think they should have kept her through Friday as first planned, but that certainly wasn't my call to make. All we can do now is pray that she feels better very soon and hope she gets home before Mother's Day, but if not I would rather her stay right there so she can be taken care of. Parents!

Missing my boy, but so thankful for my girl...

I, like Katie, have been very emotional the last 24 hours. I think I thought as long as we didn't have an actually date for Chad's next deployment that maybe there was a chance it wouldn't happen. Well, Katie found out this week that he will deploy in October. We've both been quite the mess. Bless her heart, she is so sunburned and on top of that had to find out about deployment and missing him due to him being in the field at Bridgeport so there is no communication with him until tomorrow just makes it that much harder. My only real connection with him these days while he is in Bridgeport for 45 days is through Katie and she has been amazing at letting me know how he is and when she talks to him. I can never show how much I appreciate that, because even though he is married now and a Marine, I'm still momma and I miss my baby boy all the time. I'm just so grateful he has her there by his side to care for him and love him when I can't be there for sure. Thank you Katie girl. I know she and I will both get through this second and final deployment just fine and together. We experienced his first deployment together and that's when we actually got to really know each other. We spent the holidays together that he was gone and we kept each other comforted when we had our really bad days missing him. I truly believe with this entire experience we will continue to build a bond together that will last forever. That is my prayer anyway. She is a piece of my baby boy now and therefore a piece of me. Together she and I will get through deployment again and help him get through it. As hard as this is for us it is even harder for him. He is the one that will be without the comforts of home and be in harms way with very little to no sleep at times in horible conditions and the last thing Katie or I want is for him to worry about us while he is in Afghanistan so our job as wife and mother is a little harder because we have to make sure we are encouraging and lifting him up so we have developed a wonderful relationship and understanding between the two of us to lift each other up and fall apart together so Chad doesn't have to know. Katie has done an amazing job with that and I know she will only get better. I feel I've tried to do as good a job, but I fail miserably at times, but I truly do try to do that when I'm not on the phone with him, but some days I just can't be strong. I will work to do much better this time. I promise Chadman. :)

If all this experience has taught me anything, it is to love my kids every chance I get and try so hard to not let the little things that bother me hang on because honestly, until you can't put your arms around you children whenever you want to or even pick up the phone and hear their voice you don't really understand the meaning of this. If you've been in that situation you know all too well how that feels. Thank you Katie for being my daugther and loving me and being my link and connection with my Chadman. Thank you for loving him and being his rock. He needs that now more than ever and the two of you will be so much closer and stronger for having gone through all this and I know that he is working so hard to set up your lives for after the military to be better than you could have ever imagined. As hard as today is tomorrow will be amazing. You just remember that and always know that you have your mom right here any time you need me. Chad, I love you and I miss you so much, but I could not be more proud of you! I know I tell you that all the time, but it won't be until you are a father one day that you will truly know exactly what those words actually mean. I'm so thankful to have Katie in our lives to be that connection to you when I can't hear your voice or put my arms around you. I want only the best and all the happiness for you both and I know you will have a stronger marriage and relationship for having gone through all this together. I love you both and miss you both terribly! Love, mom.

As our children grow...

I know for myself watching my kids grown into wonderful adults it's been both wonderful and a little sad at the same time. Most parents know exactly what I'm talking about. We see our babies and we wonder how we will ever do this right. Well, most of us (especially me), don't always do it right, but we do the best we can with what we have. I've been so fortunate to have such a wonderful son. He was a joy (although very busy) as a small child and then as a teenager, well, let's just say I was lucky we both survived that (at times), but all in all he was still a great kid. Then just as you think you might have this parent thing figured out, they graduate high school and you realize you just went through the fastest 18 years of your life. You are proud, scared, sad, and anxious all at the same time. Then just when you are wondering what they are going to do with their lives now that they are no longer in school and decide college just isn't for them and at times they are wondering around with what seems to you as though they have no direction, they come home and announce they want to join the Marine Corps. Oh yeah, did I meantion the United States is in the midst of a war in Iraq and Afghanastan? Well, then you feel things all over again like you did the day you brought them home from the hospital. You feel pride, joy, happiness, fear, concern, anxiety and so much more all rolled up into one huge mess of emotion. I have to say of all the hard things I experienced with Chad, watching him get on that bus in Kansas City leaving for the airport to CA for boot camp topped them all until they day in Jan. 2009 when I knew he was boarding a plane for Maine and then Germany on his way to Iraq to fight in this horrible war. Fortunately for us our Chadman made it home safely and then took the next big step in his life by marrying his true love. Now, Chad had never even really had a girlfriend. He didn't date more than once or twice and that was really just a dinner and now he is getting married. Being really the only woman in his life I wasn't sure how I would handle this change or where I would fit in. It was very strange at first and then I realized that now I have a daughter. I have been so lucky to have a daughter that not only loves my son like she does, but has allowed me to be a huge part of their life. It's been difficult with them living in CA, but we try to talk most every day and we have become so much closer since Chad has been away training. There are few things in life that prepare you for these changes with our children and maybe since Mother's Day is around the corner I am feeling a little more nestalgic than normal, but it really made me stop and realize how quickly the last (almost) 22 years have gone by. On May 25, 2010 my baby boy will turn 22 years old. He has been through boot camp, special training, deplyoment, marriage, and getting ready for his second deployment and throughout all this he has managed to consistently make his momma bear proud. Yes, as parents we wonder how in the world we will be able to raise our children and not make mistakes and still want more for them than what we felt we had and to my surprise, we do achieve that and in return we gain so much more! I am a very proud mother of a very fine United States Marine! He truly is one of the Few, the Proud, a Marine and I could not be more proud to call him son.

Just in time for Mother's Day

Mom is being released from the hospital today! She was suppose to be there until Friday after surgery, but she is doing so well and they didn't have to do near the extensive surgery they first thought they would so she is breaking out of the joint today. Yeah! She will still have to take it easy and recover a couple of weeks at home, but at least she will be in her own bed and rest better. That just means she will be even better come graduation time!

My hubby

I have been fortunate enough to finally find my soul mate and have the privilege to marry my best friend. I know a lot of people say they married their best friend, but I am fortunate enough to have done just that. We met through friends at work and dated for 4 1/2 years before getting married. We decided before dating seriously that we would work on being friends. After several years of working on our friendship we became so close and knew we couldn't or didn't want to live without one another. When he proposed we became even closer (if that was possible). There is nothing we wouldn't do for each other and we have so much fun together. We can just be home alone doing our own thing and walk by and give each other a little look or a nudge and know that we are loving each other. We laugh or sit quietly and we still know we love each other. I never really thought marriage could be this amazing and so easy. So many times we find ourselves in a relationship that is hard work or difficult more than easy and good. I am living proof that good relationships don't have to be like that. I am so thankful that I have finally found my true soul mate and my best friend. I don't ever want to experience one moment in the rest of my life without him by my side. I love you babe!

A mom's heartache...

I have the most amazing son. It is my hope that one day his biological father reads this post and it stirs something in him to make things right. I doubt that will ever happen, but a mom can hope.

I was married 2 1/2 years when I got pregnant with Chad. I wasn't even suppose to have a child so it was a miracle that I never expected. He has truly blessed my life since May 25, 1988 and it continues to this day. Before he was 4 years old his father and I divorced and it was a very sad and painful situation that I won't go into. What has caused much heartache is the fact that his father basically became a dead beat dad and I never thought for a moment that he would have turned out that way. To fast forward a bit, Chad graduated high school and out of the blue his father showed up. He was nose to nose with Chad and didn't recognize him. It tore Chad up. He never got to actually speak to his father that night nor did his father attempt to contact him or even give him a gift or card for graduation. After being out of school for a year Chad came to Tebo and I and said he wanted to join the Marine Corps. I asked him to think about his decision for at least 3 months and after 3 months he still wanted to join we would support him 100%. After 3 months he came to us and said he was sure this is what he wanted to do. We did what we said we would do and we support him 100% even though our country was in the midst of a war. It was the hardest and proudest moment of my life as his mom. I stood by his side from the moment he stepped on that bus in Kansas City in October 2008 when he left for boot camp and have taken every step with him to this current day. He went through boot camp and SOI and has already had his first deployment to Iraq in Jan. 2009. He returned from Iraq and a week later married the love of his life. His father was aware that his son deployed and when he would return, but he never once attempted to contact me to know how he was doing or if he was ok the entire time he was deployed. Once he got on MySpace and sent a message through a neighbor that Chad had never heard of before and just said your dad says to tell you hey. Really? Who does that? Ugh! Anyway, that actually bothered Chad more than if his dad never made an attempt to reach out to him. Then knowing his son had returned to the states he didn't attempt to contact him even though he knew Chad had his cell phone and could be reached. He also knew about Chad getting married and once again he never reached out to him at all! Chad struggled with whether to invite his dad to his wedding, but he didn't expect him to come anyway and didn't want any drama that it might bring so he chose to keep it very small and not invite him. Chad truly struggled with that decision, but after his father made no attempt to contact him after his deployment to war he felt his father didn't care anyway. How sad is that? Now Chad is married and living in CA and preparing for his 2nd and hopefully last deployment and his father has yet to contact him. It will soon be 2 years since Chad has heard from his father. How heartbreaking is that? I am so thankful that Chad has Katie in his life now. I can't always be by his side, but knowing he has a loving wife there when I can't be gives me much comfort. It's a shame that his father will never know the man Chad has become or the husband he is (no thanks to him at all) and I am sure the day he becomes a father himself he will be an amazing daddy. Terry Wade, if you ever do read this I hope it bothers you so much that you lose sleep every night until you make things right with your son. I love that boy with all my heart and now he has a wonderful wife to love him as well and he has a bonus dad that loves him too. Thank the Lord for Tebo who has stepped in and not only been a good bonus dad to him, but has also showed him how to be a good husband in the short amount of time he had to do so. Thank you Tebo for all you've done to help in the last few years that my baby boy lived at home. Chad, if you ever see this post I am sorry for airing your dad's dirty laundry, but I need you to know how very proud I am of not only you, but your wonderful wife too. You have become an amazing man despite the lack of a good father in your life up until you were 18 years old. You never cease to amaze me and I look forward to all the amazing things you will continue to accomplish in life with Katie by your side. I love you with all my heart. Love, mom

Moms/Parents.... Just venting time

You know, I learned some things this weekend that really broke my heart and made me really do some thinking about what it means to be a mom (or a dad for that matter). I have wonderful children. I have 1 biological son and I have 5 bonus children. I love them all with all my heart and honestly cannot imagine my life without any of them now.
What is it about some parents that can truly just basically wash their hands of their children? I will never be able to understand how you can know a child and love that child and raise that child for at least 18 years of their lives (some less) and then once they are married or moved out of your home act as though they don't really exist. I can't imagine doing that and it truly breaks my heart to know that any child goes through that especially children that I love with all my heart. This I do know and I hope all my kids know this... I will always have an open door at my house no matter how old my kids get and no matter what my kids may do that I don't like. I love them all and they are all always welcome in our home and will have a home with us always and forever. This subject is especially close to my heart after having watched my son's own biological father basically erase him from his life so when I see it with any of my other children and knowing the hurt they feel just tears my heart out. I want all my kids, Chad, Katie, Candi, Nathan, Tia, and Trevor to know that no matter what, we love them and they will always be welcome in our home and we will always be family. Ok, I guess my venting my feelings is over for now. I just had to get that off my chest. My heart has been heavy all weekend and I wanted my kids to know how I feel about them all. I know I drive them all crazy calling and checking in with them on a regular basis, but if that's what it takes to let them know I love them then you can bet I will never stop. I love ya'll with all my heart and I always will. Love, mom