Thankful for Heaven

Although I have been focusing on the blessings that fill our life, I have also missed my daddy tremendously this week. His birthday was yesterday. He would have been 56. He would have enjoyed today. He would have loved visiting my home that he never got to see. He would have been so happy that Michael moved home. He would have been an amazing granddaddy to Tyson. I can close my eyes and imagine how much he would have enjoyed spending time with him! I can see Tyson smiling up at his face and reaching for his beard. I can picture daddy feeding Tyson lots of treats that he is not supposed to have. I can see the presents wrapped for him under the tree...something big and loud! I imagine Tyson in his arms...never allowed to cry in his presence. I can imagine the pride on daddy's face as he would watch me be a mommy. I think about where we would have been today, what daddy would have cooked. I wonder what Tyson would have called his grandaddy and how much he would have loved him! Sometimes the "would haves" bring a wave of saddness over me and I miss him so much my stomach hurts! Then I try to remind myself of heaven. One day I will see daddy holding Tyson again (I like to believe that they met in heaven before Tyson was born.) Today daddy is not tired or sick...he is in heaven! Today, I am thankful for heaven!

Happy Thanksgiving

Image courtesy of Jessica Budacki the best card-maker I know! I can't wait to see what's coming for Christmas!

A new depth of THANKFUL

Each year on Thanksgiving I have the children in my class list and write about things they are thankful for. This list ranges from family members to pets, or their teachers (they know how to keep us happy) to turkey and toys. This year's list even included Jesus! This activity and this holiday always make me pause to count my own blessings as well...
This year I will not be able to properly use words to capture the depth of my thankfulness for the blessings God has given me...beginning with a precious baby boy!
One day recently as I was happily buying diapers I told my mom that Tyson has made all of my "little girl" dreams come true! I remember going to the grocery store with mom and begging her to buy diapers for my dolls, whom I loved to feed with a disappearing bottle, dress and undress, and put in a crib (where they may stay quietly for a week if I had become distracted...Ha ha!). Baby dolls were my favorite! Just ask any of my childhood friends that came over to play. First you played dress up, married Prince Charming, had a tea party to celebrate, then went into the closet/hospital to have your baby! I played with babies until I was in middle school! I knew that one day I wanted to be a mommy! When Tyson Olin Smith was born on April 10, 2009, my dreams came true! This Thanksgiving I am so thankful for him!
I am thankful for...
his health, his laughter, his soft skin, his beautiful nursery, his bathtime delight, his cute clothes and toys, his love for me, and his smile, his daddy, my sweet, hard-working husband, my mom-the most wonderful grandma ever, our sweet dog Ralph-who has not been forgotten, our entire family, my season friends, who are all mommies now too, my best childhood friend and her cute baby bump, my wonderful job situation shared with my best buddy and her family that we love so much, our home, our church, our freedom, and most of all for Jesus- who in the words of my students "made us out of dust," "loves me no matter what," "died for my sins (that means when you do bad),"and "keeps me alive!"

Sitting Up!

How did this happen so fast! Tyson is so proud of himself for all of his new abilities that include belly crawling, fast rolling, climbing (all over anyone that sits near him), grabbing any object within his reach, and sitting up! When he does these things he smiles at you with a look that seems to say 'watch what I can do!' He is also eating lots of fun fruits and vegetables, including sweet potatoe puffs that he can pick up himself, learning to play patty-cake and he reaches for me whenever I am near him (yes-it blesses my heart)! My sweet baby is growing so quickly!

Family Time

Jeff, Jennifer and the kids came for a visit this weekend. It was wonderful to have them here. I just love to have all of the beds in our home filled up with family! Reagan came to school with me on Friday to be my "assistant" for the day. She is so smart and my students really enjoyed meeting her. Taylor has grown so much and is really learning so many new words! He had a blast playing with "RalP" (his version of Ralph) and eating sweets from Aunt Laura all weekend! On Friday night, Jeff and I went to Travis' football game...they won, making them conference champs and undefeated in the conference! I enjoyed spending QT with Jeff. I used to jokingly say that Jeff and I had a 'love/hate' relationship because we would tease each other, however, I have come to love him so much that I can't even say that as a joke anymore! He is so funny to me and we are a lot alike in many ways (just ask the swivel sweeper that we both love)! He loves Travis so much and really takes care of us. Jennifer and I have always been great friends! We spent Saturday together hanging out with the kids while Travis and Jeff went to a ballgame. That night we grilled out and watched the Clemson game. (They won...I am thankful for the sake of my furniture!) Ma spent most of the weekend with my grandma, watching Gaither videos and going to church. They are such cute friends. They all left Sunday afternoon...and we miss them already!

"TY" Bear

Happy Halloween 2009