Where Has The Time Gone?

April 2006

May 2009

1st day at Momma Beth's

Last Friday....

He was SO little when he 1st went....

...and so BIG now!! The whole Gang!

It is hard to believe that yesterday was goodbye to a special chapter in Richard's life (going to Momma Beth's house every day. He went on his first day April 11, 2006 - today, May 26, 2009 was his last day there. The time has passed so quickly and he has grown so much. We saw several other friends come and go (Hayden, Lyndsay, BJ, Jim, Emma M) but the last couple of years it has pretty much been Wes, Emma B, Manze, Richard, and Claire (joined us this year). They will all be going to the same "big boy/big girl" school in the Fall. Just like any relationship (that has grown beyond and into a friendship) there have been great times AND frustrating times, but the good FAR outweighs the bad! Momma Beth provided such WONDERFUL care when he was an infant ( I wouldn't trust ANYONE else) - she worked around his picky eating habits, she was patient with his traits of OCD (lining up all the blocks by color and such - I think it's because she identifies with those qualities LOL), she worked one on one with him to help enrich and expand his curiosity about letters and numbers, she snuggled him up in the mornings when he needed just a little bit more lovin' - for all of these things I am so very grateful. We love you Momma Beth - in spite of teaching him Hotty Toddy, having him kiss Col. Reb, and other such bad habits (wink wink). You have been there through all sorts of milestones: teething, letting go of pacie (quite easily I might add), transitioning to big boy food, and potty training - you are a WONDERFUL "other mother" to him. I have looked to you for advice so many times and will continue to do so - thank you for being Richard's "Momma Beth" the past three years.

Memorial Day Weekend...

We headed to the Sullivans for Memorial Day weekend. Richard had so much fun with his Poppa and PatPat. We played at the house Saturday, church on Sunday AND the race of course, and then we stayed for most of Monday as well before heading back home. Poppa and Ty were really sweet and got up and cooked breakfast on Monday! I slept in till 8:30 and Richard even crawled up in bed with PatPat and slept a bit longer. Richard got a new puzzle (60 piece of the USA) and a race track (#88 of course) while we were there. He also loved watching the new kittens tumble around and play outside.

Time with MeMe and DD

LB, Momma Beth's daughter graduated from high school last week so Momma Beth took off the day of graduation and the day after.....that meant special playtime with MeMe (and DD came out on the second day). MeMe even spent the night - thank you for playing with Richard MeMe. We love you.

P.S. LB we are really proud of you (notice her honors cords)!!!!!!

Mothers' Day Part Two...

I was blessed to have the opportunity to be with both of my "moms" this mothers' day. After church, lunch, feeding the ducks, nap time and part of the afternoon at mom and dad's, I headed to meet the Sullivans at Ichiban (LOVE me some Ichiban). We had some delicious sushi and then headed to our house for dessert and time to visit. The weather however had other ideas for our evening and PatPat, Poppa, and Shane had to get on the road to get back to their homes and we spent some "quality time" in the CLOSET as the sirens went off....what a day!!!

P.S. Thank you for my new swing honey; I can't wait to spend time on it this summer!!!

Mother's Day 2009

We headed to Clinton for church with mom. Afterwards was a yummy lunch of pork tenderloin. Then time to go and feed the ducks...and then time to pass out for an afternoon nap.... I love you mom! It is amazing how you have such a different appreciation and different relationship WITH your mom once you BECOME a mom....I'm so thankful for my mom...Joyce Christine Milner Spires.

Miscellaneous....

This year has been so different than I had envisioned. . . isn't that often how it is though? We have things all planned out and then God leads us down a totally different path than what we could have even imagined - sometimes quite bumpy, but if we continue to focus on Him and depend on HIS strength we make it through and can see the beauty of the rainbow after the storms.

My coworker (partner who teaches the other two grades of gifted) did NOT plan to get sick and miss half of the school year (and not even be back yet). Another friend experienced the joy of finding out she was pregnant for the first time only to be brokenhearted a matter of weeks later when she miscarried. Another friend who suffered two miscarriages is now holding her precious daughter in her arms. Another friend is pregnant with her first baby (a little boy) and is now past the exhaustion and is enjoying this time of wonder with her husband and family. Another friend continues to look at the calendar and wonder when "God's timing" is going to be as they wait month after month to see the "two lines" giving them joy. And yet ANOTHER friend experienced a miscarriage yesterday - I so badly want to take away the hurt, but I can't - it is hers' to experience and grow from so that she can minister to others' that will come behind and travel this path. Daddy's kidney disease had gotten progressively worse and in September he had transplant surgery; after a few follow up surgeries he is now doing GREAT! My father-n-law was diagnosed with cancer towards the end of the year and has since faced radiation TWICE. I have no relationship (not by my choice) with my only sibling. Another change we face, is that my sweet little boy is growing up all too fast and only has a few more week at "Momma Beth's" house: she is ALL he has EVER known...when I went back to work when he was 11 1/2 weeks old he began going to her house - he prays for Momma Beth, Daddy Marc, and LB nightly, but next year he will be going to "big boy" school everyday - I'm sure it will hit me when I see him in his uniform! UGH All of these paths are not necessarily what each person would have picked out for themselves to travel, but God is so faithful...His love and mercy so unfailing...a pastor once told me that in all of life's trials we can choose to become bitter or better..it is up to us.

God THANK YOU for my blessings...YOU, my incredible husband, my sweet little boy, my two sets of parents, my friends that are true, a job that I love (at least most days).

'Didn't mean to get "preachy" and this isn't really addressed to anyone specifically, I just have a lot on my heart today and am lifting up each of you in prayer... 1 Chronicles 29:11-13

11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours.Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom;you are exalted as head over all.12 Wealth and honor come from you;you are the ruler of all things.In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.13 Now, our God, we give you thanks,and praise your glorious name.

WHEW!!! I'm caught up....

Ok - so I've been as bad as some of my friends that I pick on for not updating their blogs, BUT I am now COMPLETELY caught up including the use of some pics from today(the one of Richard playing with his computer while waiting in the traffic to get off of Pinelake's campus)!!!

I couldn't resist ending with a few pictures of things/people I love: my God, my sweet husband, my child, my job, and Ichiban's sushi (the last one is ALL Ty's fault!!!!)

I hope that each of you has a great week this week.

Michelle

P.S. The picture that I used to represent my job is a t-shirt a friend of mine made for me: check her blog out (she can mail the order to you if you aren't local). Ballpoint Designs.

Relay for Life 2009: Bluff Buddies

Relay for Life 2009. Although a serious cause – it was a fun filled event!!! The Bluff Buddies were out in full force. Many thanks to Stephanie Brown, Lisa Iannelli, and countless others for pouring hours of hard work into the evening. We had a great time walking the laps and checking out all of the other booths – it was especially great to see our friends from Flowood Elementary….they had hot pink shirts as well. I also saw my cuz Mary Ellen at the Ergon tent; Aunt Carolyn and Uncle Rodney at the Fannin Baptist tent; and a lot of my sweet students. Check out Pam M. "before" in her purple survivor shirt and "after" once she has been glammed up a bit by un-named friends! LOL It was great to see Mr. Henry there on his scooter - his has such a faith in our Lord and how HE has brought him through these last few years. Somehow, even though it was Kelsey that we were making fun of about FOOD - the newspaper guy somehow snapped a pic of me and Joanna scoping out the food situation...if only we had evidence that it was Kelsey NOT us - you were right about the creme on the sno cone - def the way to go! Richard and Ty came after a couple of hours and enjoyed the kiddie area. Richard was so sad that the “jumpy inflatable” got a “bo-bo” – they turned it off when they had the remembrance part of the ceremony and they never turned it back on

Dawgs and Rebels...

A few weeks ago, we went to the MSU vs. Ole Miss baseball game. NOT the outcome we desired, but we still had a lot of fun! Richard enjoyed watching everything around him – the sights and sounds must be fascinating from a three year old’s perspective. It was a bit cold at the end of the game and even Mr. Eric’s jacket wasn’t warm enough – thank goodness mommy packed our MSU throw. Better luck next year Dawgs.

Welcome....

Announcing Lillian Claire Pepper! Two sweet friends of ours’ recently became first time parents! Congratulations Aubrey and Jamie. I wanted to wait until their special arrival to make a special gift for them (they had not revealed what their little girl’s name would be). I made this little frame for her nursery – it matches her bedding. I am so excited for them as this has been an emotional journey for them and even delivery was difficult as Aubrey had to have an unexpected c-section because Lillian was in distress. I love you guys – all three of you!!!