Remembering.....

So...I moved to the Gulf Coast in October of 1999. I missed my home state of Arizona terribly and had a HARD time adjusting to good ole' Mississippi. But I knew that I was meant to be here, that is was truly an answer to prayers, and I LOVED being so close to my mother and ALL my brothers and sisters AND nieces and nephews. So...I dealt with all of the little things I did not like about MS (hurricanes, bugs,hurricanes, humidity, AND hurricanes, )and learned to love the other great things about MS.
The first 4 years I was here I was deathly afraid of the weather...hurricanes to be precise! (My hubby was so great about reassuring me and calming my fears) Then I realized I had been here 4 years and nothing terrible had happened, maybe a few tropical storms, but nothing BIG. So I found myself very comfortable and fearless. Then of course that all changed August 29, 2005! Hurricane Katrina!! ....in just a couple days it will mark the anniversary of this life changing experience. This experience changed my way of thinking and my way of living greatly!! I truly have a new definition for certain words in my life. They are not just words, they are feelings and they are STRONG! Blessed, gratitude, appreciation, value, time, peace, hero, preparation, and service! I can actually say I am grateful I was a part of this history making experience. I saw some amazing things and will never be the same! But that in itself is a whole other blog, but I thought I would take the time to remember...(and try to prepare incase Gustav comes our way!)

I will never forget the feeling I felt when I saw these people...restoring our power and the military supplying food. Ordinary people making EXTRA ordinary results! These were just a few of our hurricane heroes!

Our children's school (we took the kids to look at the damage to their school and Chris and his friend were photographed and put in the newspaper for an article)

Signs of Hope...

And gratitude!

The "Before" pics of our kitchen for insurance

The "After" pics....The clean-up. Hot, dirty, and tired!

Teamwork with family made the clean-up fun. Besides what else can you do with no elelctricity and nowhere to go!

Remembering....

The impact of this storm was HUGE!!! I live in Ocean Springs and as you can see we (along with many other cities) were right in the midst of it all!

This is (or was) the Biloxi/Ocean Springs bridge. We used it all the time. Actually it was quite special to Jeremy and I , because when we were dating he lived in OS and I lived in Long Beach and this is how we would connect to see each other. We always took the bridge and drove down the beach.
This WAS a BEAUTIFUL home! It is completely gone! We love to take the kids bike riding and we passed this home many times.

HaNdPrInTs and TrEaSuReS

I just want to share one of my favorite poems. I am truly amazed at how big my children are and how fast they are growing up. I know, I know....we all feel that way, but life just happens and before you know it your youngest is starting school and right before your eyes your children are growing up and blossoming as you blink. This poem helps me to slow down and really treasure moments that you cannot get back. It reminds me of what really matters and that in everything I say and do, I am creating life long memories for my children. They are each SO precious, my very own heaven on earth!



Hand Prints On the Wall
(Author Unknown)
One day as I was picking the toys up off the floor,
I noticed a small hand print
on the wall beside the door.
I knew that it was something that I'd seen most every day,
but this time when I saw it there
I wanted it to stay.
Then tears welled up inside my eyes,
I knew it wouldn't last
for every mother knows
her children grow up way too fast.
Just then I put my chores aside
and held my children tight.
I sang to them sweet lullabies
and rocked into the night.
Sometimes we take for granted,
all those things that seem so small.
Like one of God's great treasures...
A small hand print on the wall.

Ready or Not...It already came!

The first day of school, August 6th! Wow, I just was not ready yet. You would think that with 7 first days of school with Chris and 4 with Cameron, it would be nothing by now, but I think it gets harder every time! I guess that is because each year, each child is at a different stage in life with new challenges to face and new heartfelt concerns for mom to face! What really hit me the most this year (maybe because Kyle, my youngest started the big kindergarten this year) is how, as parents sending our kids to school is REALLY a big deal. Throughout the year you may think nothing of it because it becomes such a daily routine in life and because it is just "something you do." But after I walked Kyle and Cam to their classrooms and walked away, my heart literally hurt for a minute and the tears started flowing. I just left my children with complete strangers!! And not just for a little while...all day! Pecan Park was going to become their second home. I thought of how hard we try to make our home peaceful and filled with love and security, then the questions started in my mind.... How will they be treated, how will they know their way around, how are they going to be talked to, and on and on. Sending my children off to school each day is a BIG deal, and even though it becomes just a regular "to-do", each time they head into school, a piece of my heart goes with them. I LOVE and adore my children dearly and I LOVE how they each bring me closer to the Lord. Through every experience we face together, little and big,(like school) I find my faith in my Father growing stronger and stronger. It is only through my faith that I find such comfort and peace when my heart is full of questions and uncertainty.

Too many to choose just a few!

More Pics

Portland, Part 2

• White Water Rafting...what an adventure!! We had an amazingly great time.


• Spending time with my brother in law, Jeff and his wife Wendy. They are so much fun! We love the way they love our children! They don't have children so when we visit with them they call us their Rent-A-Family! They are great!!


• Visiting with my beautiful cousin(who I haven't seen in over 10 years) and her sweet children.


• Exploring Oregon was awesome. It is so incredible to see all of God's breathtaking scenes in nature. I am in such awe of His creations, from mountains and waterfalls to even just the beauty of the countless shades of colors around us.