Something Is Missing

About this time for the past four days -- after my three boys were at work and school and the house settled into quiet -- a little voice would say, "Good Morning DD!"

I would turn towards the voice and see a four-year-old boy standing in his jammies with sleep still in his eyes and a big smile on his face. Behind him would be a nine-year-old boy rubbing his eyes and his hair going in all directions.

From Sunday until Thursday, I kept my sister's two boys while they went out of town. They live in Dallas but will be moving soon. Unfortunately, we didn't take advantage of being only four hours from each other like we should have.

It occurred to me that it has been five years since I've had someone to pal around with all day. It has been at least five years since I sat by the window in Chick-fil-A watching "my kids" play in the play area. It has been five years since I sat on the park bench and listened to the laughter of boys climbing and swinging and running.

I really enjoyed my time with Jed and Judson. It is quiet in the house today. Even Colby mentioned last night how weird it felt not having Jed to play with. That is sweet. I am thankful for the memories that were made this past week. That is what family is all about.

I Come From A Long Line of Love

Chris and I come from great "marriage genes". My two sets of grandparents and Chris's two sets of grandparents were all married for at least 50 years if not more. Chris' parents have been married for over 50 years and my parents just had their 40th anniversary in June.

My sister and I decided it would be fun to take our families, our parents and our grandma to one of the spots my parents went to on their honeymoon. One of their stops was in the mountains of Chama, NM. My sister and I did some digging and the cabins where they stayed are still in business -- so we booked two of them and loaded our vehicles with enough food for weeks and all met there for a weekend of fun.

A good "camping" experience MUST have some s'more cooking involved!



In order to prepare for our ride on the Cumbres/Toltec Railroad, Nanny read "The Little Engine That Could" before we all turned in for the night.


Saturday was a big day...train ride from Chama to Antonito, CO and then ending the evening with a Chuckwagon Dinner at the Elk Horn Lodge.








Everyone from age 2 to 82 had a blast! It was a fun weekend in honor of our parents!

Today is Chris' and my 18th anniversary. Eighteen years is a long time in some respects and yet when I think about the 40+ years that all of our parents and grandparents spent together, it really is not that long. I am glad, too. I don't feel like we have been married that long. I love sharing my life with him. We have come a long way and I can't wait to see what our future holds!

Happy Anniversary, honey! I love you!!

We Will Miss You, Mom Boots

Yesterday, we celebrated the life of a true Southern Lady. Chris's 90-year-old grandmother passed away on December 28. We laid her to rest next to her beloved Lloyd, who has been waiting for her in heaven for 11 years.

I first met Mom Boots and Daddy B 17 1/2 years ago. I was blessed to marry into that wonderful family who made me feel like a granddaughter from the start. During our first year of marriage, Chris and I went to Arkansas to visit them. They opened up their hearts, arms and home to me. Mom Boots would pour me a glass of southern iced tea -- sweeter than sweet and strong enough to chew! We would sit in her kitchen and visit as they do in Arkansas. She had a soft, southern drawl and always a twinkle in her eye.

She and Daddy B have a lake house on Lake Erling and that is where I first sat in a boat and fished. Now, by fished, I mean that my sweet groom would put a worm on my pole and I would hold the pole until I felt a tug. Then Chris would take it from there! However, our boys learned to love fishing while sitting on the dock at the cabin. When we went this past March to celebrate Mom Boots' 90th birthday, Colby had a successful fishing day - making his brother very frustrated! Mom Boots loved to fish more than anything and thought that the sunsets at Lake Erling were prettier than anywhere else in the world!

Fish frys, vegetable dinners, and milkshakes were always a part of our visits. We have great memories of walking in the woods, watching the deer come into their front yard, and taking life as it came.

Mom Boots was a strong, smart woman. She loved every one of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren deeply. She will be greatly missed.

Traditions

I guess once you do something for six years it becomes a tradition -- no matter how far from different it is to when you grew up! Instead of spending Thanksgiving cooking and cleaning and hanging out at grandparents homes, we head to Abilene and stay in a hotel!! It is not too much of a stretch to say the Blakley women are not all into that cooking stuff and my dad doesn't like that cleaning up stuff -- so about 7 years ago, my sister and her family, my family, and our parents decided to start meeting somewhat halfway.

Abilene is a sweet, old, laid-back town with a great all-suites hotel that serves a good breakfast and a great Thanksgiving buffet. The kids love playing in the swimming pool, playing in the game area -- video games, ping pong, pool tables, shuffle board -- and throwing the football around outside in a big grassy area. They love going to Happy Hour every night to get a coke and maybe a snack. And the kids also depend on Aunt DD to bring the crafts to take up the extra time!

The day after Thanksgiving has been one of "discovering Abilene". We have been to the zoo, Children's Museum, parks, movies, and bowling alleys. It has been a nice, relaxing way to spend a holiday together without all the work that goes with it!! And, for my husband, who loves all the cooking, he only has to wait a few short weeks for Christmas to have a true home-cooked feast!

Craft time!


Waiting to eat!



Connor ate seven plates of food!


Working off all that food!


A tradition that will never change -- naptime!

An Emotional Two-Week Roller Coaster

The past two weeks have both flown by and dragged on and on. I was to have flown to Albuquerque on the 24th of September to help my mom and dad. Unfortunately, mom had a major setback and ended up in the hospital for a total of 19 days. She went home on her scheduled day only to return the next day when a fever and infection had set in. I postponed my trip by a few days so I could maximize my time with her at home. I ended up going on Saturday the 27th and didn't return home until the 8th of October.

Before going to Albuquerque, my mother-in-law went into the hospital as well. She has been diagnosed with congestive heart failure. She is still in the hospital after being there for two weeks.

Needless to say, my time in Albquerque was a bit draining; but also very rewarding. I was able to see my mom at what she perceived as her weakest but I perceived as her strongest. I am proud to have been there to help her when she needed my help. My sister came and she, my mom, my dad and I actually enjoyed being just the four of us. I believe we will be thankful for those weeks forever.

My sister-in-law and I would meet for lunch and talk about this "new stage" of our lives. Our parents are getting older and as much as we want to rewind time, we can't. We have to be strong and relish every moment we have with them and each other. Life is full of the unknown.

I can't imagine living life without my husband and without God. How do single people and non-Christians make it in this world?

Chris took over the household while I was gone and did a fabulous job! When I got home, the house was clean, laundry done, groceries bought and dinner was already cooked! He definitely knows my love language!!!

I am thankful for all God has given me and even for the difficult times He allows. I wouldn't trade my life for anyone else's. He has given me a snapshot of why I need to slow down and enjoy each day and each person in my life!