Noah you're my honeybun

Someone is Missing at Christmas

Sarah and Noah

Sarah has given me the greatest gift.........my first grand child. There is nothing like it.  Noah came 6 weeks early. It was so scary to see Sarah so sick. There was nothing I could do to fix it. That was very odd for me because I have always tried to "fix" things for her. She had the baby and he was a little fella. He stayed in the NICU for 3 weeks. Even though I work in a NICU, it is not the same when the patient is your grandbaby. He did very well, and came home weighing a whopping 4 pounds. He is now up to 9 pounds. I say that he looks more and more like me every day.....that round, plump cheeks, those rolls on his legs, dimples on his hiney.....all looks alot like his Mimi.

Sarah is working hard, fulltime at a restaurant, PRN at a nursing home, and also taking a medical transcription course. She is hoping to follow in Grandmomma's footsteps and become a medical transcriptionist and maybe one day be able to work from home.

She has had it tough, being that she is a single mom, but she amazes me every day in all that she does. I am very proud of her and love her very much.

Her and Austin jokingly (I hope) say that Annabeth is the golden child and that I love her best. I hope that they each know that I love them each the best in their own special way.

Being a mom is great, being a mimi is even greater.

Annabeth

Annie is the sweetest little girl I know. She is such a people pleaser. She will do anything in the world for anyone.....especially me :o)

She is doing so good in school, we are so proud of her. School has not always been easy for her, but this year, she is so motivated and wants to learn. I think that some of it is due in part to her being involved in "Leading Ladies" at school. It is a club that the teacher recommends girls who need help with self esteem. Since becoming a leading lady, she has really come out of her shell. They meet, play games, mentor younger students. It is really cool, and she is becoming a better young lady because of it.

She accepted Christ as her personal Savior a few weeks back. We were at a weekend retreat at Bro. Bobby's cabin and during the message, something he said touched her. Right there, that morning, sitting on a hay bale, she prayed the sinners prayer and accepted Christ. Me and her and Bro. Bobby just cried. He is such a good pastor and friend.

I love my Annie (as she likes to be called now) SO much!!!!

Austin

What can I say? He makes me laugh, he is very kind and sweet, and he makes me CRAZY! He is a 16 year old boy, driving a car, forgetting to call to check in, makes me CRAZY! He is very focused on his own life right now....friends, school, extracurricular activities. He is very NOT focused on his home life, chores, getting a J-O-B. We are trying to change that. We are trying to direct him into a successful path at college....he wants to go to college.....just wants a major that will be hard to get a job in and may not make much money. I am like the momma bird, I love my kids, but am looking forward to the day that I can push them out of the nest and watch them fly on their own (just kidding, sorta). Maybe that is why God allows the teen, high school years to be so trying and dramatic. I mean, who would want their little sweet toddler going off to school and moving out and getting married??? No one, they are too sweet. But who doesn't want their smart mouth, curfew breaking, sleeps all day long, can't remember to take out the trash, keeps you worried for hours on end when their phone is on "silent", to get the heck on out. I know that it will be sad, but then your relationship changes. I know with Sarah, I was as ready for her to move out as she was. Now we are more like friends. I like it.

Don't get me wrong.....Little Boy makes me laugh....usually I am laughing the hardest, during those times I am attempting to lecture him about something. He is just like Jeremy in the cartoon Zits. But I love him.

Cruising

Well, Big D has finally talked me into going on a caribbean cruise. He has wanted to cruise for a long time, but since I am so claustrophobic and motion sick, I have been afraid. Well, I am still afraid, but decided to give it a try. It seems to be a very affordable way to travel and my friends have taken great pictures of their cruises. We are leaving February 3rd, 2011. We are cruising to Cozumel and then back, we will be on the water 4 nights. We decided for a short cruise this first time, so hopefully I will not go crazy :o) I am getting excited, watching the website, researching everything that we need to pack, weather, what to do to prevent motion sickness. I just hope I can relax, take a deep breath and enjoy our vacation.