A December we'll always remember

Merry Christmas Daddy! Taken last Christmas with my sweet daddy and some of his grandchildren (mine and my sister's children)



Admittedly, Christmas was not the same this year. The same things happened, but it just doesn't feel the same.
I wanted to share with you our Christmas, and remind you to EACH DAY take time to treasure the ones you love, b/c you may not have them the next day.
As I asked my children what they wanted for Christmas, my middle child, our only boy, said to me "my pawpaws back". Where does one go from there?
So onwards and upwards we tried to go.
We took the Scouts to the Nursing home to visit the elderly there, the ladies were so touching. Tears streaming down their faces at the beautiful sound of innocent children singing. The boys handed out gifts to each person there, and had a wonderful time doing it.



Somewhere in here, we had SNOW!! This never happens in Louisiana, especially snow that sticks!! At 5 am my little one said, it's a miracle mom!!




Then came the school programs. I will warn you, in our school gym, a decent picture is not to be had. No matter what I did, I couldn't get a decent pic, and I wasn't up to fighting with the settings. Gabe LOVES school plays, Sarah loathes them. The kids did a great job with the performance, it was really cute. And Ms Sarah was student of the month!!







We took them to the zoo, they SO wanted to see Santa....they refused to get anywhere near him other than Sarah, who we bribed!!! But..the zoo was nice anyways!





Then a trip to city park to see the lights...here's a cajun version!





Christmas Eve brunch was held out our home for my family. This is where this blog gets really hard..and I will gloss over here and just say again, treasure them, every moment. God bless my beautiful sister and awesome husband, who give me strength of heart and soul like could never be gotten elsewhere.

Christmas morning came, with the wonderful smiles of my children. The most glorious thing is to see a child smile, there's nothing better. The opened their gifts and enjoyed each one...and after much searching found where that sneaky Santa left their present, a Wii that they have wanted since they came out. They've been playing it ever since I think.






But I do believe Ms Molly was as excited as the others!!






In the coming month we celebrate Ms Sarah's birthday. She shared her birthday with her awesome Paw Paw Bill. She will be 10 years old, it's amazing how fast time flies. We'll be posting pictures I'm sure (if she ever decides what her party is to be).
I look forward to the New Year praying for a more peaceful one, a happy and healthy year for everyone and lots of emotional healing.
This year I give thanks for my family, and my friends, who hold me together in times of need. I have been BLESSED with awesome friends, you know who you are.

May God bless your New Year....and give it peace and love.

Heather

Say it isn't so Mr Bill

It's with a new sadness I write this blog. Last week, I thought that I could feel no deeper sadness, today I know I was wrong.
Today was taken from me the most beautiful man there ever was. The man who raised me to be the woman I am today. The man who loved me like I was his own, and gladly shared me with my biological father, knowing that each of them held their own special spot in my heart.
This time last week, I thought the healing process would begin. Tonight, I sit wondering how all of this could happen, and if my heart will ever heal. My bounty of blessings, my two Dads, have been both taken from me in one week. It makes one wonder, it wavers ones faith, and shakes them to the core.
On December 4th the world lost a treasure. Those of us who were touched by him were better off for it. Those he leaves behind mourn him painfully, although they know he is in a far better place than they. The things he gave me in my life were not things that could be given a tangible value, but things that will live with me forever, and live through my children, and all of his grandchildren. God must have needed a powerful force in Heaven to have taken him from us. I know that somewhere, right now, his mother is welcoming her "Billie" with open arms, and his heart aches no more for his lost loved ones. He is rejoicing in the arms of his maker, his mother, his father, a daughter and a wife that passed before him.....and watching over so many that he left behind.
Mr Bill (as he was known by most everyone) will live on in our hearts. I take comfort in knowing that God gave him to me for the time that he did, and deep, mournful pain that that time was so abruptly ended. I know not what to say to even begin to explain how I feel, but felt the need to get some of it out. I thank all of my friends for their prayers, and hold my loved ones close to my heart - we will all need each other so much in the days, weeks, months and even years to come.