Proverbs 31 Woman.....

Let me kinda apologize for the long post. By kinda, I mean, I am kinda sorry, but then again, it is what it is, so, I'm really not sorry. 

As some of you may know, my Mother-in-Law has lived with us for all 27 years of our married life. 

She is, without a doubt, the true definition of a Proverbs 31 Woman.

She is an amazing, Godly woman, who has a servant's heart and loves others like Jesus. 

Well, loves others, except Alabama Football and its fans. If you fall into either of those categories, you may be out of luck. 

Just kidding, kinda. 

She is a die hard Auburn fan, who thinks the replays are still live play and celebrates the good and gets mad at the bad ones over and over, for as long as the network keeps replaying them. 

There's nothing bad that can be said about her and, in all these years, we've only had one cross word. 

One. 

And, I remember it like it was yesterday. 

That was 24 years ago. 

I was a brand new Mom who didn't know crap, but thought I knew it all, because I'd read all the books and been to all the different classes. I wanted, and really expected everything to be done by the books. 

Anyway, Haley was about 2 months old and had what seemed to be her 100th ear infection. 

Mawmaw, having raised 4 kids plus having numerous other grandchildren at the time, wanted to put some warm sweet oil in Haley's ear to ease her incessant pain and crying. I almost had a coronary at the mere suggestion. 

You Moms know how it is with the firstborn. By the time the 2nd, 3rd or 4th come along, you're just like, just do whatever you wanna do, I don't care what it is, I'm good with it. 

She didn't put the oil in Haley's ear that night, nor, did she ever suggest it or anything else ever again . 

She didn't fuss, fight, carry on or even judge me over it. She simply let me be the Mother and went on about her way and minded her own business, though, I'm sure she was thinking to herself, what an idiot! 

When Kylee was born, 5 years later, she quit working and stayed at home to help me. She and Kylee became close, very close and now, at 19, Kylee is very quick to tell you, she and her MawMaw are best friends. 

Mawmaw is now 88. Her health is failing and, to be honest, she's tired. She still gets around pretty good, with the use of a cane, but has started to have some bouts of confusion. 

After much prayer and consideration, it was decided the best and safest thing would be for her to move into an assisted living facility. 

I'll just tell you, it's been hard. 

Move in day was just awful. 

It felt just like when we drove away from Auburn after leaving Haley. 

Your head knows it's the right thing to do, but your heart aches. 

We have had some that don't agree with our decision, even though it's none of their business. 

If they would quit being selfish and think about her and her safety, they would support it 100%. 

It has not been easy on any of her children, their spouses, or her grandchildren, especially my girls, who have grown up with their Mawmaw in the house every single day of their lives. 

Being a grown-up is hard sometimes and having to parent your parent is hard, too. 

Somehow, life doesn't prepare you for that role but I'm thankful that His Grace is sufficient, His Mercies are new every morning, and He will not waste the brokenness. 

Love you MUCH!

=],

Gracie 

Happy Sunday, Y'all.....

So, I was sitting on the couch earlier on this beautiful Sunday afternoon, watching a documentary on the investigation of the Boston Marathon bombing. It was a great documentary, by the way. 

The Hubby was outside, on the back patio, cooking an enormous amount of bacon for our bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwiches. They were also great, by the way. 

Haley is in North Carolina for the weekend, but Hayden and Kylee were both in the house, waiting on lunch to be finished. 

Something outside caught my eye. 

I look up and see a stranger in our front yard, heading toward our house.

Stranger. Danger. 

I say, "Who is that in our yard?," as I'm moving, quickly, upstairs to get my beloved Smith & Wesson. 

I must throw in here that I don't care what your political views on gun control are. 

The only view I have, right this minute, is there's a stranger in my front yard, moving toward our house. 

I have a Bodyguard. I know how to use it and I'm not afraid to use it. 

The guy, as I'm coming downstairs, has hopped on Hayden's bicycle and is riding away. 

Hayden, 9, starts yelling, "He's on my bike. That dude has my bike!"

Kylee and Hayden and I go outside and Kylee yells at the guy to stop. 

He immediately stops and comes back toward the house, walking the bike, saying, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

I ask him what is he doing, to which he replies, his girlfriend/wife is at the hospital having a baby and he's trying to get there. 

So, you steal a 9 year-olds bike?

He says, "I'm sorry, I'm really sorry, I'm just trying to get there."

At this point, the Hubby comes around the corner of the house, and says, "You know that's stealing, right?" 

The guy, which you can tell is really young, says, "Yes Sir, I know, I'm so sorry."

Long story short, he's a 19 year-old kid, who was working on a house in the next neighborhood. 

He gets word somehow that his wife/girlfriend is about to have a baby, his first baby, and he has no way to get there. 

He, initially, starts out on foot heading to the hospital, which is about a 15 minute drive by car, passes our house, sees the bike, and knows it will get him to his firstborn sooner than walking will. 

So, in a moment of desperation, he takes the bike. 

He's standing in front of us with that deer in the headlight look. 

I'm no thief, but, if I'm in the same type situation, and say, my kids are at the hospital and I have no car or anybody that can get me there, I might do the same thing.  

Well, I may as well take the "might" out of it. 

I would do the same thing. 

I'm standing there, gun in hand, debating what's gonna happen next. 

Hubby hands the bacon off to me and loads the kid up and drives him to the hospital. 

On the way, the Hubby finds out his name, life story, and lectures him on how fortunate he is because he could have ended up in jail or even worse, dead. 

He also scheduled a job interview with him on Friday. 

Yep, you read it right. 

He's coming Friday. 

I joked and told Haley not to worry, he'll probably be at Thanksgiving Dinner and she can meet him then. 

However, since it all happened, I've wondered if he's met his son or daughter yet? 

Is the baby ok?

Is Mom ok?

How will they get home?

See, life can change in an instant, but you can also change a life in an instant. 

Hopefully, today, this kid's life has been changed for the better. 

Hopefully, he realizes the error of his way and won't make the same mistake again. 

My life has changed too, knowing it could have been me on the other end of the bicycle. 

On a much less serious note, it's made me realize even more that my family needs a reality show, because, as I say all the time, you CAN NOT make this stuff up. 

I will keep you posted on the interview and let you know how it all works out. 

Happy Sunday, y'all! 

I hope yours has been calmer than ours. 

Love you MUCH!

=],

Gracie. 

  

The Wasp Nest.....

My happy place..... 

My piece of heaven on earth.....

My get away from the world spot.....

My favorite place to be.....

The Wasp Nest

Happy Sunday!

Love you MUCH! 

=],

Gracie 

Happy Fall, Y'all.....

It's been a while. 

5 months, to be exact. 

In that time, we've said both Hello and Goodbye to Summer, and Hello to Fall.  

It's been a great Summer and, to be honest, I'm sad it's gone. 

Don't get me wrong, I love Fall and all that it brings. 

Sweatshirts, hot chocolate, football, especially, Auburn football, jeans, boots, crisp air, pumpkins, mums, beautiful leaves, and my most favorite holiday, Thanksgiving. 

Yep, I love it all.  

But, I will miss our river family, the boat rides, jet skiing, swimming, the dance parties, and the long Summer nights that turned into mornings.

It's funny how you can spend 6-7 months of the year with a group of people and actually, become closer to them than the people you are related to. 

If you think about it, some people don't have family period and we've been blessed with family all around us, related and unrelated. 

For that, I am thankful. 

I hope you have a wonderful fall Saturday and spend it doing what you love, with the people you love.

We are spending ours at The Wasp Nest watching LSU vs South Carolina, and later Arkansas vs Bama. 

War Eagle! 

It really doesn't get much better than this. 

Happy Saturday and Happy Fall, Y'all! 

Love you MUCH!

=],

Gracie 

Happy Mother's Day.....

I do realize, even though Mother's Day brings me joy, it is a painful reminder to some of what can't be, what was, or what is missing from their lives. 

I remember, all too well, all the Mother's Days I spent trying, without success, to get pregnant.

It hurt. 

Deeply. 

I am blessed to still have my Mom. 

She is the strongest woman I know. 

I can honestly say, there has 

never been a time she didn't put me first. 

If I couldn't go somewhere, she 

suddenly didn't want to go anymore. 

If there was only one piece of pie, 

magically, she wasn't hungry anymore.

Funny how that works, isn't it?

Through her example, I learned 

what being a Mom was all about. 

I now understand the sleepless nights, 

pacing the floors, and worrying over, 

what seemed to me at the time, nothing. 

I understand the relief hearing the car pull in the driveway brings. 

I understand loving another person 

more than you love yourself, and being 

willing to take on the devil himself for them. 

I understand how your heart can 

literally beat inside another's chest.

I understand unconditional love, and love beyond measure.

I understand love so deep you 

would be willing to lay down your own life. 

I understand praying to take pain and 

sickness away, and being willing to take it yourself. 

I love you, Mom. 

There aren't enough words in the 

English language to describe what you mean to me. 

I know now there were hard days 

and hard times, yet, you never let me know it. 

You taught me so many things 

about life and about being a woman. 

Not only did you teach me there were real life Princesses, you taught me it was ok to be one myself. 

You taught me I could do anything I put my mind to. 

You taught me I could be anything I wanted to be and what I always wanted to be was you. 

You taught me to love passionately and forgive freely, though, I'm still working on the forgiving freely part. 

You taught me the importance of Family. 

You taught me to hug, and not be afraid of human touch. 

You taught me to say, "I love you" 

and just how important those words really are.

You taught me the value of hard work, and a good name. 

You taught me to be a Leader and not a follower. 

You taught me plain talk is easily understood. 

You taught me to speak my mind and that my opinion is valuable. 

You taught me responsibility and accountability.

You taught me how important it is to keep your word. 

You taught me to laugh and enjoy life. 

You taught me it was ok to cry. 

You taught me to adapt to change. 

You taught me to take chances. 

You taught me it was ok to fail. 

You taught me it felt great to win.

You taught me how to lose with grace and dignity. 

You taught me beauty is on the inside. 

You taught me to be nice to others. 

You taught me to give of myself.

You taught me to stand up for what 

I believe in, even if it means standing alone. 

Above all, you taught me about Jesus and His Love. 

You taught me He has a plan for my life.

You taught me His timing is perfect. 

You taught me to pray and read my Bible. 

You taught me to carry my kids to church, never send them. 

You taught me to take notes in Church. 

You taught me to sing. 

You taught me to never be ashamed of 

Christ and the work He has done in my life. 

You have taught me all this and more. 

I'm proud to call you Mom. 

I hope I can be half the Mom to my girls, you have been to me. 

I love you MUCH, Always & Forever!

=],