Princess Tea

I am so proud of this day.

Check it out at Princess Tea.

Texas - More of Maria's family

Justin, Janie and Cody!

Janie with proud Mom and Grandma!

Aren't we wonderful?

Texas - Maria & family

We enjoyed our visit with Maria and family. Janie graduated with honors - member of FFA (Future Farmers of America) and also Beta Honor. She will going this fall to Texas A & M at Commerce. Great job Janie!

Proud Grandpa!

Cheryl & Tim - their church

They are currently meeting in a home but appeared to have a good, solid group of people. They are in the process of leasing a building. Here is a shot of it. Not too good, but at least you have an idea

Cheryl-Tim & family

Graeson - as soon as church was over, he came up to me and with his big, beautiful dark eyes said looking at me, he said, "Hi Great Grandma." Boy! Did that make me feel old. But, Cheryl told me I wasn't old - just "great." I'll agree to that!

Gabe and his mother. Gabe looks just like Cheryl.

Gabe, Tim, Cheryl, Graeson - adorable little boys! We think they have duplicted themeselves - Gabe is Cheryl and Graeson is Tim.

Texas - Cheryl & Tim

Went to church with Cheryl & Tim. Tim preached an excellent message. Afterwards they took us to lunch at a terrific buffet-style restaurant. Had normal "American" food and also Mexican. The Mexican food was better than what we get up north. Loved it!

Happy Fathers' Day

Hey Pop! Happy Fathers' Day!!!!!!!!!!

I wish we could be closer to cook you a wonderful lunch and pick on you in person, but I hope you know how much you are loved, even if it is from afar!!!

• Thank you for taking on two more kids (who were probably bratty many, many times) that weren't even your own. You didn't have to.
• Thank you for putting up with me when I didn't want to accept you, like you, and sure didn't want to love you. You didn't have to.
• Thank you for adopting me even though I was grown and on my own. You didn't have to.
• Thank you for loving my children like they're your "real" grandkids. You didn't have to.
• Thank you for being Papa/Poppa (however that is spelled). You're the only one they've got, and they needed you. You didn't have to.
• Thank you for being a father/dad to my husband. He needed you too and still does. You didn't have to.
• Thank you for all you've done for us and been to us all. You didn't have to.

Yes, I know you're probably thinking lots of things to all my "you didn't have to's." But hear me out. I see kids all the time with parents (flesh & blood parents) who don't do half of what you've done for me and mine. I've seen kids whose stepparents or parents' live-ins are abusive, non-caring, and lots of other stuff, let alone parents who are absent or worse.

God blessed my momma with you, but He also blessed us too. I didn't know it at the time, but I do now, and I am so very thankful for you. I may not call you "Dad" but you are my Pop, which is different and better. My dad was my dad, not because he chose me, but because he was. I know he loved me, but that was his job because he helped put me in this world. But you chose to take on the role and all that it entailed, not knowing how it would turn out, and knowing it would be rocky at times. That took a lot of something special. That took a wonderful man to say "I do." You may not be perfect, and you may have made lots of mistakes in your life and have some regrets along the way, but Pop, your love and willingness to open your heart and home to two girls who were without a dad, well not every man would have done that. It takes someone special to do that. That speaks volumes about the man you are.

So, all these years later, thank you for being my father, my Pop. Thank you for being a dad to my husband and a wonderful, loving grandfather to my children. Happy Fathers' Day. I do love you!

Home at Last!

We have had a great visit- but it was so good to be home again. Traveled over 3700 miles - through 14 states - in 16 days. I'll be posting comments and pictures over the weekend.

Our Graduate

Janie's Graduation

Well my little girl is now a Freshman in college, and her graduation is over, I promised her I wouldnt cry, and I think I did pretty good, I did cry a little but not as much as she thought I would....It was great to celebrate with her and her class the accomplishments they made....Now they start a new chapter in their lives....
Congrats Rebekah on your son's accomplishments, and Congrats Robert on your accomplishments, God has led you to this place for new beginnings as an adult, now you will take the things that your parents and grandparents have taught you and start over so to speak as an adult....May God guide you on your path, and may you Bless everyone you pass with goodness.....

Hope your time with Gma and Gpa is as great as ours has been this last few days....I hate to see them go...but they have to to be there with you for Roberts special day.

Please keep us in prayers there are a few things going on here that we need Gods hand in....Dad and Mom will explain further....
Robert have a great graduation day, Rebekah and Rob enjoy his day of accomplishments as they are also yours.....

Love you all
Aunt Maria' (or Sis)