TAG!!!! You're it!

My friend Marisa tagged me in this game! here are the rules:
1. Open your first photo folder on your computer.

2. Scroll to the 10th picture.

3. Post that picture and the story behind it.

4. Tag 5 or more people.

i tag: zipper, kat, laura, jackie, and corrine

looking at this pic you would think they look happy !!! 

and when you first start to read the story behind the pic you may be a bit confused, but just read on...

This picture was taken on the way to my grandma's funeral in june 08

My grandmother moved in with us, when I was in third grade. Over the years she was more than just Grandma Ouida, she became a mentor, a counselor, a confidant, a comedian, and a best friend.

When there was no one to talk to she was always there for me and gave me great/humorous advice.

my grandma had actually been hospitalized for the past year and a half. infact there were many times where we thought she wouldnt make it.  On Jan 1, 2007 i got engaged.  At this point my grandma was still very sick, but promised me that she would make it to our wedding day.   Although doctors and nurses said this was impossible, i knew my grandma had the strength of a timex watch. "TAKES A LICKIN AND KEEPS ON TICKIN".  As the year went on there were many up and down, touch and go night. We all had our fair share of long nights in a hospital chair, but low and behold, dec 31, 2007 rolled around and there she was!!!

giving her Miss America wave as my brother rollers her in.

later she told me how everyone was watching and so happy to see her so she had to waive and let them know "the queen was here"  lol!!!

telling her how happy i was that she made it.  we weren't sure if the dr would let her leave. but she convinced them to let her.  she told me later that she had her wish to "see my girl get married" and that she was ready to go.  She held on for 6 more months after that.  we were able to have many talks until she finally went to hospice, and when she passed although i was sad that she was gone i was so happy that she was out of pain and in heaven where she belonged.  

so on the way to the funeral we decided that the day should be a celebration not a day of sadness.  We had all agreed to wear white, and her grandchildren were to do the eulogy.

now my brother and sisters all gave sad speeches, but i knew my grandma would have wanted everyone to laugh so i decided to share some of her wisdom. now while i dont remember the entire list or the exact order, i will hare a few. we shall call them "ouidisims" (note: my grandma is from panama central america so some dont really translate well but i will try to explain)

1. horse dont business in cow fights (stay out of others fights)

2. What you looking for? your father's head? (anytime you looked in her pot while she was cooking)

3. two pon one is murder (dont gang p on people in an argument)

4. I dont worry about the touchdowns. I worry about what he touching up... (lol when i dated a football player in college)

5. i'll cut your leg off and call you shorty (when ever she thought you were acting "grown")

6. dont make me kick you with my good leg ( she only had one as a result of her diabetes so this was always funny)

7. dont tell your right hand what your left hand do

8. you cant be wrong and strong

.... and so on

as i continued to read my list i noticed that people in the audience we smiling, laughing and nodding. after the service it seemed like everyone there had a "ouidisim" to share. it was nice to know that she had such a great impact on sooooo many people. i hope that one day i can have a fraction of that impact on others.

so if you were blessed to know her feel free to share your "ouidisms."

2 months and growing!!!

our little girl was officially 2 months old yesterday!
updates:
she goes tomorrow for her 2 mo shots... all 5 of them :(
she likes to watch nick junior and laughs and coos at the screen.
she sleeps from 1-6 most nights!
she is eating 3-4 ounces each feeding
coos and babbles alot more
she weigh 9lbs 3 oz and is 19.5 inches

God Stands With You!!!!

As you may have gathered from my recent postings, times have been a bit hard around here. And while i know we all have our crosses to bear, they can be heavy when you feel like you are carrying them on your own. some how when ever you feel like thing can get any lower, it seems the Pastor is speaking directly to you that day. Now i've been brought to tears many times but i don't think i've ever cried through the entire service. A few months back i posted how god finds a way to let you know he is listening. Well he let me know loud and clear today, not just from the sermon but from a sweet lady named Jackie who prayed for me. (mind you she didn't know me, or why i was crying but just prayed for me to have the strength that it would take to get through my struggle.) It felt so good just to have someone hug you and let you know that things were going to be ok.

Now the sermon was titled "Despite my troubles God stood with me." The minute the Pastor said the title I knew God was talking to me, and i just gave a little "OK IM LISTENING" nod. The sermon came from 2 Timothy 4: 9-18, and was directed specifically (spelling? spell check says its correct :S) towards marriage and relationships. He talked about how one could be lonely in a marriage and it could lead to arguing, fighting, drinking, abuse, etc. and while that doesn't describe my situation exactly i never really though of how you could be lonely in marriage. I mean there are two people there everyday in and out right? He went on to explain how when you are in a relationship for a while, you sometimes forget to support or romance or treat you partner like you did when you were dating and that causes loneliness. (ok now i'm relating again) He then said that when we feel we've had enough or cant do it anymore to remember that God's plan is divine and he put you together for a reason. And that if you believe in your spouse and support them, they can overcome anything.(ok God i'm listening!!!) he also said that its important that we remember that when we are at our lowest and feel that everyone has hurt, betrayed, and deserted us that "God stands with us"! that we should call on our friends to support us. We must take care of ourselves when we are sad; mentally, physically, and spiritually.  We must not retaliate against those who hurt us; that's God's job.  And most of all we must remember that he will stand with us, strengthen us, rescue us, and escort us, on our journey! wow what an awesome message!

Normally I'm not one to preach, but i figured if this message touched me and reached me the way it did then maybe it may be just as powerful for someone else.

I've attached the passage in case you want to read it.

9Do your best to come to me quickly, 10for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. 12I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.

14Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. 15You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.

16At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 17But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth. 18The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

8 weeks!

8 weeks ago today i was the most nervous woman in the world. ok so maybe not the whole world, but probably garland texas, ok maybe just on lancer lane but you get my point.

i couldn't eat and felt like my heart was racing because i knew my life would change forever in the next 24 hours. now here i am 8 weeks later and nervous again. Nervous that im going back to work and having to leave my little girl in some strangers arms for the rest of the day

needless to say i've been nervous as hell all day! imagining what i may miss. the first time she rolls over. the first time she sits up. the first time she puts her paci in her mouth herself. ive decided that im going to tell them not to inform me of any 1sts so that when ever sean or i see it happen we can feel it really is the first time.

so here is a 2 month update:
~ Lani is staying awake alot longer, but with that said she also sleeps for longer stretches too. She sleeps for about 3 hours at a time

~ We switched to similac, not because enfamil made her sick, but we seriously had like 10 cases of similac, and lets face it formula is expensive.

~ She laughs all the time and smiles in her sleep.

~ she will sit in my lap and watch tv for a long time. and yes i know she doesnt understand, but i think she likes the changing shapes and colors

~ i plan to post new pics and videos asap. most likely next week when Sean's fam comes down for spring break

What to do???? What to do????

sometimes we come to a point in life where we just dont know what to do. you sit and pray and hope that the decisions you make are following God's leave. i personally am going through a hard time in life. i am praying for guidance and just ask that you all keep me and my family in your prayers as well.

im so sad : (

I cant believe my time at home with Langston is almost over. i have exactly one week left today, and i swear this has been the fastest 8 weeks of my life. everyday she grows an changes some and i'm so sad of what i might miss. each week or we send sean's mom a video. i thought i would attach one so you can see how big she has gotten!




she is such a happy and funny baby and has so much personality already!every day we sing and dance (usually to kc & the sunshine band... 'shake shake shake.. shake

thanks mrs katrina

so langston has every contraption in the world! seriously!!! but her fave is a chair from mrs katrina and miss addy g!