YMCA T-ball 2009

This year was Garrett and Graham's first year to play t-ball.  Garrett was the oldest on the team and Graham was the youngest.  Jeremy was one of the coaches along with every other dad.  It was so funny.  During the first game Graham got mad when he didn't get the ball on defense and threw his glove and ran off the field crying.  (He gets that from his Papa!!!) Needless to say he basically liked playing offense! Garrett loved it and did great!  In this league they didn't keep score or outs or throw players out.  Basically they all get to hit the ball and run the bases! Almost every player on the team was a friend from church.  We were pretty much the "Pinelake" team.

MSU @ Trustmark Park

This was a few months ago when MSU and Ole Miss played at Trustmark Park.  I'm trying to catch up!

Dad and Linda
Papa, Garrett, Mimi and Graham (I love this picture!)

2009 State Champs

Back in May my dad's baseball team, West Lauderdale, won their 11th or 12th (I forgot which) high school baseball state championship at Trustmark Park.  We ended up splitting and won the 3rd game.  It was a very exciting series!!!

Graham eating a frozen lemonade
Garrett, Cameron, Graham and Kennedy
Garrett, Cameron, Papa, Graham and Kennedy

Graham's 3rd birthday party

This year for Graham's birthday party he wanted "a man riding a horse" or a cowboy cake.  He loves horses, cowboys, cars, trucks and motorcycles.  Garrett thought it was just as much his party, too.  We had the party at our house with water slides and swimming pools, a pinata and pizza.  I think all the kids had a good time.  Thanks to everyone who came!!!

Garrett and Graham opening presents after everyone left
Blowing out the candles
The birthday cake - you can hardly see the two horses at the bottom

Hank, Raylin and Garrett
Thomas, Caroline and Elias
Luke and Kanon
Graham and Caroline
Graham, Caroline, Hank, Garrett, and Raylin

This is the water slide that we bought.....long story but the kids loved it and will love it all summer!!
Graham and Hank
Raylin and Caroline
Luke, with Garrett behind him
Hank and Raylin

Elias's birthday party at the Ag Museum

Yesterday we went to the Ag Museum for Elias Grantham's 3rd birthday party.  The boys had so much fun.  Graham got to do 3 of his favorite things....ride ponies, trains and carousels!!!!  See how happy he is on the carousel???  Well, this was the last ride before going home and he pitched a fit!!!! That sweet little face can fool you!

KK's Birthday

KK's birthday was June 2nd.  I won't tell how old she is!  KK and Papaw came over, and we went to El Sombrero's which is becoming a tradition along with a cookie cake.  I don't know if cookie cake is everyone's favorite or if I just get everyone one because it is my favorite!!!  We love our KK - or "Tay-Tay" as the boys call her!!!

Jeremy's 33rd birthday

Jeremy turned 33 on June 4th.  Birthdays aren't a real big deal at our house other than a cookie cake and your favorite meal cooked at home - steaks and baked potatoes.  We usually go out to dinner just whenever we get a chance and instead of a gift, we save up for a trip (like to Disney World).  It's hard to believe I've been the one who gets to share in Jeremy's birthdays since his 18th!!!  He is an awesome father and husband.  I don't what we would do without him.  I can't wait to see how he's going to be with a little girl!!!

Jeremy's Residency Graduation

(John Cross, Matt Cassell, Jeremy, Josh Cockrell - Jeremy's best friends in med school and residency)

We've reached another milestone... Jeremy graduated last week from his 3-year Internal Medicine residency!  Yes, he is a doctor and has been for 3 years... My dad still asks when he's going to be a "real doctor," meaning when is he going to have his own practice?  So, now the next step is his one year of Chief Residency, which he is in now.  Then, next June we will move to Birmingham for another 3-year residency in Dermatology...Then we will return to Jackson for his practice to begin with UMC.  So, the answer to the question -when will he be practicing? is 4 more years!!! Yes, by then Jeremy will probably be fully gray-headed and all our friends will be retiring, but that's okay.  I know God has a plan for this LONG journey!!!

Graham's birthday

Graham turned 3 today.... I can't believe my baby is already 3.  For some reason I can't find his birth pics.  I know that I have a lot of posts to catch up on, but for now, this is it!  I'll post pics of his party later afterwards.  Last night we went to El Sombrero's with KK and Papaw and we were going to get the waiters to sing to Graham.  He realized what we were doing and started crying, so we said nevermind!

It is a very hot and long summer as I am now 31 weeks pregnant.  Ella Katherine will be here on Aug. 14th.  The boys are so excited, especially Garrett.  He just loves babies, especially our friend, Caroline, who is 13 months.  He is going to be so good with Ella - Graham, I'm not so sure yet.  He might take a little while to warm up to her.  He might surprise us, though!

Two years ago today I woke up on a Sunday morning to a phone call from my sister that said, "Sha, you know how Mom was sick...? Well, she died!"  For days and weeks I replayed that conversation in my head.  I couldn't get it out of my head, especially every time I lied down in my bed in the place where I found out that news.  Later, I thought about it less frequently, and then I would think about it every Sunday morning............

...........Now,  I can't believe it's been two years.  At that time the boys were 2 years old and 8 months old and Jeremy was in his 1st year of residency.  I don't know how I could have gotten through this if I didn't have a relationship with Christ Jesus.  He has filled me with His peace and His comfort.  It has been nothing that I've done on my own.  Sure, I have wondered 'why' many times, but my 'whys' and wonder have drawn me closer to Him thru being in His word in a women's bible study.  Although I wish He could have brought me closer to Him another way, I'm thankful He was able to use this experience in a positive way.  We still talk about Nana all the time to the boys.  Just this week Garrett brought a flower inside and told me he wanted to save it to put it on Nana's grave the next time we went home!  I wish Graham could remember her, but we have so many good things to teach him about his Nana.

Although God takes away, thankfully He gives, too.  He has brought my dad a beautiful wife (on the inside and outside), named Linda.  No, she doesn't replace my mom, but she has become my friend, and she has become "Mimi" to our boys.  She is a companion for my dad who makes him happy and takes care of him.  I prayed for God to send her for a long time.  I didn't want my dad to be lonely the rest of his life. They are so happy together, and my dad deserves that again.

I write all of this to tell you what God has done IN me.  His comfort has been unbelievable!  He brings me comfort in so many different ways.  I usually have a dream about my mom every month or so.  Just a few weeks ago I dreamt that she was sitting in a chair, and I knelt down beside her. She told me how happy she is, and I asked her, "But why is it sad sometimes?"  And she told me, "But I see everything that is going on with y'all!"  I do believe that she sees and knows what is going on with us.  My greatest comfort is knowing where she is.  It has changed my view of heaven and of worship.  I have said many times in the past, "I don't know what I would do if I lost ________." You've probably said it before, too, and filled in the blank with someone's name close to you.  I never would have thought that I could still have peace and joy after losing someone dear to my heart.  However, I choose to trust God completely that He has purpose in ALL His plans, even when I don't understand!

New addition to the family....

.......My dad and Linda got married this past Sunday at Union Station in Meridian!!! It was so sweet! They are so funny. They act like their 16 years old again! Linda has two married daughters, Stephanie and Natalie, with 3 kids and a little boy on the way in March. So, actually, there are many new additions to my family. After Natalie's little boy is born and our #3 there will be 11 grandchildren between Linda's girls and me and Boo! Therefore, Dad and Linda are looking for a big house for us all to come home to!!!

I know it's been awhile since I've posted. We've been so busy. We got a laptop for Christmas, so I haven't downloaded any new pictures yet, but I will post some soon. Since my last post Jeremy has been on 3 Dermatology interviews to Birmingham, San Antonio, and Galveston, TX. Garrett had his 4th birthday; we've been to DisneyWorld, and then Dad and Linda's wedding! We've also been to our first OB visit and got a sonogram. We took the boys and they got to see the baby on the screen. They were so funny. Everything looked great and there was only one baby!!! My due date is August 24th. We are so excited. Jeremy seems to think we're having another boy. WE WILL be finding out what this baby is!

I'll post later when I get some pictures downloaded!

Mom's Birthday

Today my mom is 60 years old in heaven. I miss her so much, and today I've been thinking about the things that I miss most about her:

I miss her laugh. Sometimes she would laugh so hard that she would poot! (She would kill me for telling that!)

I miss how she would always teach the boys something new everytime she kept them.

I miss how she could take care of me like no one else.

I miss how she would have my house spotless and re-arranged everytime we went out of town.

I miss how I couldn't find things in my house that she moved when we had been out of town.

I miss how she would have dinner ready for us after coming home from a trip.

I miss calling her on the phone and telling her the funny things the boys just did.

I miss getting her parenting advice when I need it the most.

I miss how she would give me advice even when I didn't want it or ask for it.

I miss my friend, my counselor, my prayer warrior.

I miss that I can't tell her that we're having another baby-(I think she already knows!)

I miss that she won't be with me when this baby is born, but somehow I can imagine that she will have the best seat imaginable!

I miss that I can't tell her how much I love her.
........................................................................................
Don't miss an opportunity to tell people how much they mean to you. You never know when it might be the last time you spend with them!

Christmas 2008

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. We found out the WE ARE GOING TO HAVE BABY #3!!!! I'm only 6 weeks, so the baby will be due in August....... and yes, we are going to find out what we're having.

The other good news is that Dad got engaged to Linda. He proposed on Christmas Day. Below you'll see pics of the signs that he made that led up to the proposal on the pitcher's mound of his baseball field at the school. I'm so proud of him. He did so good, and what he said to her was so sweet, but I'll keep that private and not post that for the world to see!!!

This was the first sign Dad made on the way to his ballfield at the school

This was the second sign Dad made at the school. (Dadgumit is his signature word - he mostly uses it when he's mad during a baseball game!)

Aunt Lana gave the boys their own bowling ball and bags. They loved them and we've already been bowling once.

Garrett loves to shave with his Daddy, so Santa brought him a shaving kit. Every morning he wants to shave! (Notice he likes to wrap the towel around him just like Daddy does!)

We sang "Happy Birthday to Jesus" on Christmas Day. This is going to become our new tradition.