Madison Turns "19"

Up next...Madison!  Today he turned 19. 

 

 

Even though he is considered an adult because of his age, he still gets excited about his birthday.  Just like when he was little.

 

I never tell him what he's getting.  He will give me ideas but he has no idea until he opens the gifts what they will be.  This year one of his gifts was Microsoft Office for his Mac.  He also got clothes and gift cards.

 

He was especially happy that Kaitlyn came down to stay and celebrate with him!  They had a big date night planned for the next night.

 

I am amazed with each birthday what a fine young man my son is becoming.  He began life as a 4 pound preeemie and is  finishing up his 1st semester of college with a 4.0 GPA.  He works two jobs, finds time for Kaitlyn, playing with his little sister and attends church regularly.  He is also a good friend to all his buddies.   His dad and I could not be prouder of him!  My friends tell me all the time how lucky I am to have such a great kid.  I don't feel lucky.  I feel blessed. 

 

Happy 19th Birthday Madison!!!

Sophie Turns "5"

I cannot believe my sweet girl turned 5 today.  

 She was so excited but daddy and I were sad.  She is getting so big and we just want her stay our baby.  

Sophie's best friend Lydia joined us for the party.

 These girls love each other and have the best time dressing up and giggling about everything.

 Sophie and I made cupcakes.  

 She loved all her presents!

 Especially the sparkly stickers.  She decided to make "toe embellishments" out of them.

 Sophie is growing into a beautiful young lady.  She loves school, her friends and anything to do with creating artwork.  Daddy and I are so proud of the sweet, caring little girl she has become.  

Happy Birthday Sophie!

Extreme Stress

We felt that selling our house was the right thing to do for many reasons and we were okay with that.  Unfortunately, as time went on and we were waiting to hear about the closing, things became very intense.  I had started some packing but didn't do too much because we were waiting to hear from the real estate agent that the buyers paperwork was going through okay.  We were never given any type of timeframe.  I had a trip planned with my girlfriends over the weekend and was looking forward to it.  I needed to relax and hang out with some of my good friends.  As I was preparing to leave I see an email from the agent that had been sent late the night before.  The buyers wanted to close in 5 days and they wanted possession at that time.  WHAT????  Not only was I going out of town but when I returned I would be starting my new job on Monday morning and was supposed to be out of my house in five days!  Camden encouraged me to go ahead and leave, he would work on this problem.  To make a long story short, we were able to get an extra few days after the closing.  Still tough with my new job and all the work that had to be done.  We were very upset.  The agent came by to talk to us and things got pretty heated.  We felt the time frame was unfair but she insisted the contract gave them this right.  Her clients were trying to get their locked in interest rate and that is what caused this problem.  There was no way we could physically get this done with me being gone for two days and with the new job starting.  We were only moving across the street to my parents house but still impossible.  There was nothing we could do so we got to work.  There are those people that you can always count on to be there when things get tough.  This was no exception.  We got help from my mom and dad.   Mom packed while I worked.  Dad brought over his trailer and helped Cam move what they could.  Madison worked so hard every night packing things in his station wagon and hauling it over to mom's.    Camden's dad came over to help but hurt himself in the process.  He had to have surgery.  More stress.  I went to work.  Camden packed and moved us.  I came home at night did what I could, working till I couldn't move anymore.  I'm not sure I've ever been as stressed as I was this week.  I felt so overwhelmed everyday!   Halfway through, we got word that the couple buying our house were having trouble closing the house they were selling.  By the grace of God, we were given another week.  Still hard but doable.  On Saturday almost a week after we had gotten word we had to be out,  my brothers and some of Madison's friends showed up.  It took eight of them to move my piano 8 feet to the POD but that was the final piece and it was done.  We had made it.  

We were moved.