A break....

As you guys can tell, I took a long break from blogging for awhile. The day after my last post, Mike's Mom called and said that Harold had taken a turn for the worse. The four of us took off to Laurens Hospital and we shared with the family Harold's life as he passed. He suffered so much with his cancer. I remember hearing Art and others say that the cancer didn't kill him, it saved him. That's true! The family has taken comfort in the knowledge and deep belief that he lives in each of us now.

He is in our hearts, always there to talk to, and he will be there when it's our turn!

Here is a pic I took several years ago in our back yard...

and I found this one too...

I can't speak for the others, but Courtney took it especially hard within my family. I took her to the Dr. and she was given reassurances that she is fine. She has leaned on her deep faith and wonderful memories she has of Harold, and she has come out even more beautiful and special.

Britt also took it hard, but she talked things out with us and she seemed to be OK. I'm very thankful the girls went thru this with the family and grieved with them, laughed at memories with them and cryed with them. It's a powerful bonding that will be with them forever.

Ashley begged to come home and even had the Coast Guard's permission to fly home when they reached their next port, but by then, it would have all been over with. She was allowed to call home from her ship and talked to us, which I think helped her get thru it. She called later to talk to her Grandma and Gt. Grandma Terry, which helped too. She's a strong girl and thankfully she seems to have gotten thru it all too.

Also, Irene passed away the same day as Harold. She was a permanent fixture at the Oolenoy pickin's and singin's we went to. She was also my grandparents next door neighbor. She was a wonderful lady I'm glad me and my family knew.

Sooooo, after all that, it was back to whatever normal is. Britt's ever expanding belly is expanding, my work is crazy as ever, Court is loving college life and doing great, Ash is back stateside going thru alot of training. She seems happy!

In fact, a week ago, they were in Costa Rica and she went mule riding and zip-lining!

GORGEOUS mule! BAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Here she is zip-lining.

I think they had a great time!

Here are a few pics of her and her boat-mates that day...

Ash is center in gray tank-top.

here she is in the purple headed out with the girls...

here she is on the left. working.

and...

and here, she found a friend...

What a life!

The other night, we all went to Cheif's Wings place and Court did some karaoke singing. Britt went too and we had a pretty good time.

Well, apparently, TOO good a time because she wound up in the ER yesterday with fever, dehydration and just felt awful. I called her OB office and they said to take her in for IV fluids, which we did. After the second bag, she was feeling MUCH better. We got back home late last night and she went straight to bed. What a week so far!

Well, that's all the more interesting highlights from the last few weeks. We're all just emotionally drained and ready for this year to turn around and shine some happiness our way! Little Lillie will definitely be a huge part of that!

OH, Ash is coming home in May too for a few days! WOO-HOOO! We have missed her SO much and I know she has missed us. Maybe she'll be home to go to mine and Dad's semi-annual GUITAR RECITAL! HAAAAAAAAA!!!! I can't wait!

I'll post more regularly now that my break is over!

More soon!

Joan