Monday, January 25, 2016

Mr. Blake

During our ice day, Blake and I had to run to my classroom and get some papers to grade (part of teachers making up time...blah blah blah).... Blake LOVES coming to work with me. He gets so grown up sounding and he says he has to do his work. Haha! Class, meet Mr. Blake! Pay attention! Haha


Ice Break 2016

Our lives this weekend slowed down significantly thanks to two snow days... I mean ice days! On Thursday night we got got a significant amount of sleet and freezing rain. Then on Friday we got a slight dusting of snow. And now we are just simply waiting for it all to melt....


Meanwhile, Blake and I took full advantage of the weather while we had it. We couldn't build a snowman, but we could break out the sled and have some massive ice sledding fun!





Saturday, January 16, 2016

Granny Johnson

I have been putting off this blog entry... I suppose because I haven't been sure what to say...

The past two weeks have been extremely emotional for my family and my extended family. On January 9th we lost an amazing woman, my Granny. Blake calls her Granny Johnson. She had several health issues that came out of nowhere over the last 6 months and her poor body finally just gave up.

Little did I know how important this past Christmas with her would be. I called her my little Christmas miracle because she was able to be home for Christmas to celebrate with all the family and to celebrate her 63rd wedding anniversary to my Papa. We knew that was a big deal for her to be home, but little did we know that it was the last time some of us would see her.


We actually thought she was getting a little better, atleast enough to start coping with her present medical issues. My mom and Uncle Donnie had continued taking turns to assist her where needed. It was during my moms turn that things started to go down hill. On Wednesday January 6th she was taken to the hospital. They discovered that she had two blot clots and her kidneys were also failing because of her medication. The doctors said there wasn't much else they could do for her because her organs were basically shutting down. That was when she was moved to hospice.

*taking a  deep breath*

The last time I spoke to my Granny was on Thursday the 7th. I originally called mom to tell her Blake and I would be up there on Saturday to see Granny. Mom asked if I wanted to speak to Granny. Of course I said yes, but I hadn't really prepared what I wanted to say to her. So, I decided the best thing to do would be to keep her spirit up and tell her some cute things about Blake and assure her I would see her in a day or two.

Granny had a different plan for our conversation, and I am forever grateful she did! She proceeded to tell me that she had some bad news, like I wasn't already aware. I stopped her and said I knew and it would be ok because I was going to see her Saturday. She and I were able to share a special moment. She told me she loved me and how special I was to her. I was able to let her know and assure her how special she was to me and how much I loved her. I was able to thank her for everything and tell her she was an amazing woman in my life. I will never be able to express how emotional and grateful I am for that moment we had.

I was not able to see my Granny on Saturday like I planned. She passed away a few hours before I got up there. My heart was so heavy.... with so many emotions. I have to admit I felt guilty and angry that I wasn't able to see her, but I guess this is just another example of how God has different plans and timing for many things in life. My mom reassured me and told me I wouldn't have been able to see her anyway because she wasn't able to really talk to people.

Blake and I still went up to help with the family and we also stayed up there a lot that week for the funeral and visitations.

The visitation was so sweet... she looked absolutely beautiful. I will never forget how peaceful she looked. The funeral was also just as she would have wanted it. She was one very loved woman because the funeral was packed!!!

One of the speakers, a former bishop of hers, mentioned how anytime he called on her to play the piano for an event she would always say, "I'll be there!" She never once had to think twice about it. I know she is still here. And I know she is saying "I'll be there!" to us as she waits for Papa and the rest of us to join her one day.

Blake had a hard time understanding to begin with. He pretended to talk to her on the phone while we were at Granny and Papa's house. Mom said Granny was probably telling Blake to make sure we had it all perfect down here. Haha. Blake got a good lesson and now understands that Granny is in Heaven but she will always be with us in our hearts.

I will miss her so much... I miss how she would say my name "say-rah". I will miss how she would always call me on Sundays. I will miss how she would always try to force feed us when we would come visit. I will miss how frustrated she would get at Papa. HAHA! I will miss how she loved to shop and drink Diet Dr. Pepper. I will miss her sarcastic wit. I will just miss everything.

Papa is having a hard time without her... and we are all missing her greatly. Literally a year ago today she was in the most perfect health condition. It reminds you how quickly things can change! As cliche as it sounds, you really do have to take advantage of every moment in life because you just don't know what Gods timing will be. I look forward to the day that we will see her again!




Monday, January 11, 2016

Chinese Lantern Festival

Blake and I had an awesome opportunity for our first mommy/son date of 2016. The Chinese Lantern Festival was in Cary for a few weeks and we made sure to go! It was such an amazing experience! Basically, this festival came and set up at an amphitheater in Cary. They had over 20 lantern displays with LED lights inside of them. They looked amazing at night.

Blake loved walking around and looking at them. His favorite was the dragon on the water. They even had water spraying out of it's mouth! My favorite was the giraffe set-up. The pictures don't do it justice. These displays were HUGE! Blake and I also enjoyed a nice snack and hot chocolate on the patio that looked out over all the lights. It was the perfect first date with my main squeeze.





Sunday, January 3, 2016

Welcome 2016

Well hey there, 2016!! I love having a fresh start with a new year. There is so much hope and positivity in the air when we  welcome in a new year.

2015 had it's ups and downs (like every year), but overall it was a pretty great year! Here is a quick recap:

In 2015....
  • I kept my resolutions ALL year (1 craft and 1 book per month)
  • Blake and I traveled to Boone and saw Thomas the Train
  • We had an amazing Summer full or adventures together
  • Blake turned 3 and I turned 29
  • Blake successfully started preschool and has made so many new friends!
  • We were pretty healthy minus a wicked sinus infection.
  • Blake became a fan of movies and the movie theater is now a favorite spot of ours.


Now for 2016.... there is something that is telling me that this is going to be a freaking fantastic year! I just know it!!! I am ready! Here are some of our goals and things we are already looking forward to:

Bring it on, 2016...
  • Resolution1- Read at least one book per month
  • Resolution 2 - Have 3-4 Mommy/Son Dates or activities per month with Blake. I want us to be so close this year (even closer than we already are. haha)
  • Financially get ahead... already paid off a credit card
  • Hopefully enjoy some snow days (fingers crossed)
  • Go on some awesome vacations (beach... maybe a water park... maybe the mountains again?)
  • Knock off some stuff on my bucketlist (paddleboarding, ziplining, etc)
  • See Lion King on Broadway with my dad
  • Plan a spectacular 4th bday for Blake! 
  • Survive my  30th birthday - ugh...
  • Make as many new friends as we can! 
  • ...and who knows what else... COME WHAT MAY! 
We have had such a wonderful Christmas Break (2 weeks) and we have to go back to school tomorrow. I don't think either one of us is excited about getting back into the routine. Hopefully we can squeeze in a snow day or two at some point to help out with that. I also have some awesome Mommy/Son dates already planned for Blake and I. It is going to be great!

My mantra's for the year...
"Have courage and be kind"
"Be fearless in the pursuit of whatever sets your soul on fire!"