Friday, September 24, 2010

THAT FACE

I thought I would add some pictures of the last week.  With all that has gone (see previous post), I have missed a few days of pictures, but have managed to get some pretty cute pictures.  We are so blessed to have this little guy in our world.  His smile takes away a lot of sadness, sleepiness and angst.  Enjoy!

 This is T trying on his Buzz Lightyear Halloween costume...He was a bit self conscious, but man was he cute?!?!?!?!?!
 Last night we were playing on the computer together and I was able to snap a smile out of him.

 At Waterfront park in downtown Louisville there is an Abraham Lincoln exhibt....We took T downtown to play and got some pictures at the exhibit...

 After the exhibit, we went for pizza.  While we were waiting, we walked into a store that I really like and he was being VERY silly with his daddy.

 Last Sunday, I had a day off so we visited my dad at the lake.  Here he is overcoming his fear of dogs and feeding our friends' dog, Molly.

 Wrestling with Grandpa Kevin



On our way home from Somerset, we stopped so he could visit with his buddy Stella for a few minutes.  He loves her so much and was too excited to see her!!!!

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Grace in the Grieving

This has been an emotionally difficult week for both JT and myself. Last Friday, JT got a call that his Aunt Margie, his mother's youngest sister, had suddenly died.  At fifty-six, she left this earth without warning, without tarry.  A little over ten years ago, she battled lung cancer, losing one lung, and defied the six month odds.  However, in recent days, she was struggling, painfully, with the damage that radiation left behind...on her heart valves and her eyes.  Even more recently, a heart valve replacement was being considered.  When she did not arrive for work last Friday, her co workers of 20 years called her husband.  He arrived home to check on her only to find her unresponsive, performing CPR until EMS arrived.  Margie left behind three children 26 years old to 34 years old, three grandchildren, one unborn grandchild, a husband, 2 sisters, one brother, and her 94 year old mother... (plus many friends and nieces/nephews).  

While we ask, WHY NOW? we also praise the Lord for her life and thank him for releasing her from pain.  Yet nevertheless, I ache for my mother-in-law, losing her baby sister....as I am a big sister.  I ache for her grandchildren, because I grew up not knowing my paternal grandmother. I ache for her husband, because I, too, am a spouse.  I ache for her children because I, too, am a daughter.  But something new hit me with this loss.  I cried for Margie's mother, Mamaw, as we know her.  This is the first time I have had a child.  I watched her hang her head in tears through the funeral....her frail body shake with mention of the birth of her baby fifty six years ago.  This was the moment when "unfair" crossed my mind.  I can not fathom the depth of pain, her sorrow.  While God's plan is much bigger and better than ours, losing a child is not something that seems fair....is fair.  Now, I am a mother and I ache for her loss.  I hurt for all in Margie's family, but now I can hurt for Mamaw as well because I know motherhood.  

While hurting with the loss of Aunt Margie, I got a text Tuesday morning from my dad that my grandfather was not doing well.  He is 97 years old and has been becoming more fragile, especially throughout the last two years or so.  Then, the next morning around 6:45 I received a call from my dad saying my Granpa Stewart had indeed passed away.  I was post call (had been at the hospital about 24 hours at that time) and still had Aunt Margie's funeral that day.  I was sad for sure...hurting for my father's loss.  Yet, I could rejoice in my Granpa's passing.  He was suffering...He had lived 97 years, fathered 15 children (10 still living), had 27 grandchildren and many more great children...and great great grandchildren.  He was a blessed man, and one who had lived a full, long life. 

But there is grace.... Grace in that God saved these lives with His very son, Grace in the knowing they are with God....Grace in showing the fleeting moments are the most precious.  Grace in knowing watching your son put his underwear on backwards just because he wants to do it himself IS a special moment.  Grace in that time does illuminate the good times more than the hard times and the grieving times. Grace in the grieving...in knowing we will get through.  Grace in knowing God Himself has grieved as well....

A much thinner and blonder version of myself in 2007 with Aunt Margie (far left), Sharon (my mother inlaw), Aunt Shirley (JT's late uncle's wife), Aunt Linda, and Mamaw (who was 91 at the time)  It was a great party, though I do not remember why because this family gets together for everything!

Me with Granpa Stewart the last time I saw in June 2009 as he rarely felt well enough to travel to KY but would do so for family reunions once a year for the last 30 years until this year.

Thursday, September 16, 2010


Wednesday, September 15, 2010

A Moment....

I am sitting here tonight with Tedi in bed and JT out having coffee with his friend Phillip. The stillness is strange to me.... The boys actually met me at work this evening so we could visit Dawit Armstrong (Armstrong Adventures blog to the right) because he just had his cleft palate surgery and circumcision. Poor little guy! Tedi did not really get it but it was great to see James and Britney.

I am feeling so blessed right now. Though I am tired from work, I love my job. JT is loving his job. Tedi is learning and changing so so fast. JT said at school Tuesday morning a little boy jumped out of the car and yelled "TEDDDIII". Tedi turned and ran back to the boy, we now know is Jax, and gave him a big hug! How awesome is that!?! Now that his language is progressing.....he talks ALLLLLL THE TIME. He does not stop. He wakes up chatting and goes to bed the same way. It just amazing. I am totally and completely in love.... and I am in love with my husband. In my absence while at work, JT does such an amazing job as a daddy.
Thank you JT.... I love you.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

A Few Cute Pictures.....

Right now, I have been working 30 hour calls every four days so I do not have time blog all that is going in literary detail. Hopefully next month I can give more words to what is going on with us. These are some pictures from today that were exceptionally cute. My sister, Gretchen or Aunt GiGi to Tedi, sent him four books and a UT sweatsuit. He loved it! I hope you like the pics and I'll write more soon.




Sunday, September 12, 2010

2+ Months....
I have tried to take a daily picture since Tedi has been home. I have not always been successful but have gotten the majority of everyday. I refuse to pay to make the fancy videos so I don't have captions but the pictures start at July 3 and go until today. I hope you will watch.

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Tedi's First Football Game:
University of Louisville vs University of Kentucky









Tedi's First USA National Anthem



Looking at Fireworks