Summing it Up

It has been a while since I have written anything to post on my blog. My excuses are that I have been distracted, busy spending time with my family, lazy and just plain old not in the mood to sit still long enough to write. I can blame some of it on my laptop, it has reached the stage where I should not have been paying for high speed Internet when all it could handle was dial-up. Ben has tried to work his IT magic on it and we replaced the fan and I deleted as much garbage as I could but still it lagged behind. I am happy to say for Christmas, my wonderful husband bought me a new laptop and I am ready to try and commit to at least bi-weekly (monthly?) updates. Not that my life is that interesting but it is fun to look back and read how things go down or up!

Since I last wrote:

~ I have fallen even more in love with Allison Olivia. She is the highlight of our weekends and Chuck and I literally fall over each other just to hold her. My daughter, son-in-law and Allison come over every Friday and we eat together and hang out or lately we have been playing Wii. Lauren and Allison usually spend Sat. and Sun. afternoons with us too. It is a win-win situation for all - We get to enjoy Allison, Lauren gets to relax and Allison gets lots of hugs, kisses and attention. My son-in law either stays and visits or gets stuff done around his house (or steals a nap I am sure). We all get along and enjoy each other so it is a blessing to live close enough to see them often.


~ Chuck has been busy with his volunteer duties at the fire station. He passed a few more tests for his certification as a Firefighter. Even though he is a Volunteer Fireman - he still has to go through all the training and testing just as if he did this as a full time occupation. He really enjoys the crew of men he works with. Chuck has always been an adrenaline junkie and one to help others so this fits him perfectly. Unfortunately he hasn't been hunting this year at all and our camper up in Georgia has been neglected and I am sure needs a good cleaning. Normally by this time of year he has been up to Georgia a few dozen times but things just haven't worked out that way. I would normally join him too just to get away and enjoy the great outdoors (No, I DO NOT HUNT) but it has been nice to wake up to the crisp cold weather and be all nice and snugly in the comfort of our camper. I usually read and catch up on naps and of course keep the camper clean.

~ I am happy to say we still have our jobs and we are blessed to have paychecks coming in. We know things are fragile out there and the outcome of the election, the economy, the stock market, etc. has us a tad concerned. Chuck was recently told that in the new year if things remain slow for his company that they will need to put him on a 32 hour work week. We both know first hand how fragile employment is. Nothing like being unemployed for 5+ months to keep you looking over your shoulder for the Unemployment Reaper.

~ My mom came to visit and meet Allison. Her visit was as always enjoyable and we were able to spend quality time together and take pictures of the four generations of females which was special. She enjoyed Allison and is looking to come back out here from California soon.

~ My nephew and his wife are moving to Virginia. My niece and her husband in NC announced they are having another baby. My other niece here in FL is having a baby. My nephew in NC got engaged over Christmas. Lots of happy events.

I have hopes and prayers for 2009, as I am sure you all do. I have a grateful heart. I have a will and pride that I need to keep working on and of course the ever present extra pounds I would like to lose but I never make resolutions as I am honest enough to know I am weak. I want to tell my Husband that he is still my best friend and I love and admire him. I want to tell my daughter that she makes me proud and I think she is a wonderful mommy. I want to tell God that I am so humbled and grateful and filled with gratitude that His Son died for my sins and without Him in my life I truly would be lost.

May good health and happiness be with us all in 2009. Happy New Year.

Baby is Growing and Life is Settling

So above is the latest picture of my most favorite baby, Allison Olivia, you make Grammy very happy.

I find myself exhaling and relaxing the shoulders a bit. Chuck made a decision after much prayer and thought and we will not be relocating to North Carolina for the job offer. I am glad of course, since we can stay in our comfortable "perfect for us" home but most importantly, we remain minutes from our precious granddaughter, daughter and son-in-law. There is a small part of me that is a bit disappointed - I so want to leave this State's heat and humidity (I still hope to someday) but as much as I hate that part there are too many other parts that are great.

Life is settling in other ways too: Chuck is enjoying his volunteering duties over at the firehouse; our granddaughter is growing and becoming a happy person; I feel closer to my daughter and I so enjoy watching her become a wonderful mommy to Allison. Chuck and I are making the way back to our whacky sense of 'normal'. Chuck and I have good jobs (for today at least). Paying bills with a paycheck instead of unemployment benefits is nice.

During our period of unemployment, I knew without a shadow of a doubt we would be okay - although I am the first to say there were days of complete fear. I know that the sense of peace I was blessed with came from our Lord. I also knew if I remained faithful, HE would provide and deliver us to today. Thank you God for so many reasons.

My How the Days Fly By

My beautiful daughter Lauren and her beautiful daughter, Allison have been visiting us almost every single weekend since Allison's birth. This has been such an enjoyable and precious time for both Chuck and I. Of course we enjoy visiting with Ben and Lauren too but kissing, loving, holding and just enjoying Allison has been a TRUE and COMPLETE BLESSING!

It seems hard to believe that this Sept. 22, Allison will be 2 months old already. Time literally runs at fast speed around here. I am always telling Lauren to enjoy every single moment with Alli, even on the days she is exhausted from lack of sleep and lots of breast feeding because time has a way of flying.

I know a big time culprit is my full time job... I feel like I am either driving to or from it, ironing clothes to wear to it, making a lunch for it or actually at it! The job is going well and I have no complaints what so ever - well except that I even need to have a job at all. Ha-ha.

Right now Chuck and I are at a crossroads. We have an opportunity to move to NC with a job offer for Chuck. On one hand it is our ticket out of this hot and humid state but on the other (very heavy hand) it moves us away from our daughter, granddaughter and son-in-law. Not to mention Chuck's two sisters and their families, good friends, a beautiful house, and so on.

I am not really open to this move, but as a supportive wife, I will make the most of it for my husband. I just can't bear the thought of not spending weekends with my girls and being 9 hours away from them. I feel like they bring me some of my happiest days. I have decided that I am leaving it in God's hands. I pray and I ask Him to please guide us and put us where He wants us. I am so not capable of a decision without His guidance.

I end this update grateful as always and loving my new role as grandmother. My thoughts and prayers are with those that have been and are about to be affected by this summer's hurricanes. There has been some very bad flooding in our very own city and on our very own street. We are so fortunate to have suffered no problems and for that and many other reasons, I thank God!

Happy News and Updates

I have been away lately and for very good reasons. Our granddaughter was born July 22, at 9:11 p.m. and it has been busy around here since. I was able to be there for the birth and had the great privilege of cutting her cord. Her daddy gets a little squeamish and decided to let me have the honor. Mommy did just wonderful and was a real trooper and literally pushed her out in 40 minutes. Our beautiful Allison Olivia is here and she is such a joy.

We had a hard time deciding what to be called as grandparents, since both of our parents are known as "Grandma and Grandpa" and it seems weird for us to take those same names. So Chuck will be known as "Papa" and I am leaning towards "Mama". I know Allison will call us what she wants but if I keep referring to ourselves as Papa and Mama, it may just stick.

Chuck's job seems to be going well and he seems to like it. He is on his second week and like I say "so far...so good". My job is getting busier as the Company let someone go and of course some of that person's duties are now mine. I will continue to remind myself that I am lucky to have a job and try very hard not to complain that my pay remains the same while the workload increased.

There is much to be thankful for and I am.

Good, No.... GREAT News!

Chuck was offered a job. Praise the Lord. He will start in 2 weeks. He will be back into the vault and safe technician world. It seems surreal and I guess once the paychecks start rolling in I will actually believe it. The company called him on a Thursday and he interviewed on Friday morning and was offered the position. We are so grateful and happy - Once again, I thank the good Lord.

On another note...Lauren is 38 weeks and 3 days along. The picture was taken last night. She is spending this Saturday afternoon with us. She is very uncomfortable and feeling ready to give birth. She has lots of pressure and contractions but nothing regular enough to call it "serious". Chuck went to go pick her up this morning as Ben was home sleeping late. Ben is going to stay home to get things done and stay with the dogs for a while. I love having Lauren home with us. It brings back warm memories of when she was younger. I know once Allison is here, Lauren's world will forever change (for the better) and she will no longer be my only baby :)

Work is going well for me and for that I am grateful, thankful and happy. I will be keeping you all posted. I am hoping I will be holding Allison in my arms any day now!!!!

Grateful As Always

Getting ready for a long weekend, getting ready for a relaxing three days of no work and no plans. It is a "play it by ear" kind of three days.

Lauren has her 37 weeks of pregnancy Dr. visit tomorrow and her Dad will be taking her. Ben has just started a new job and can't take off and I am trying like crazy to save up my leave time for after the birth. So I can try to be around to help the new family of three out.

I want to take this time to say Happy Fourth of July to all and to thank the troops over seas for their dedication and efforts. Thank you.

Another Wonderful Weekend

I haven't posted in a while. We had a busy weekend last week, we enjoyed the Baby Shower on Saturday and then Father's Day was Sunday. It was one of the fastest weekends in a while but an absolutely enjoyable one!

Lauren and Ben received so many wonderful gifts for Allison. They are all ready for the arrival with the nursery and items all prepared and washed. I am not sure about the mental preparedness part but I know Lauren is feeling tired and uncomfortable. I am sure those of us who have had babies can remember that very long last month!

Still no job for Chuck. My job is doing very well and so am I. All in all life is beautiful. I have no complaints only gratitude. Thank you Lord for everything in our lives and may you continue to bless us as we do our best.