IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD

There is very little that Hillary Clinton ever did or said

that I admired... Except the one statement

she alway quoted:

IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD

If there was ever one of us that was

raised by this motto more than another it was Minta.

Now Minta and I are here to prove to all of you

a spoiled rotten child will not always grow up to 

be a irresponsible adult.

Minnie came into our family when Mone was

40 and Joe was 48.

I was 16 and was so excited to have another niece.

She was connected at all of our hips.

I often compare her to those stuffed monkeys with the

long arms and legs that velcro around your neck and waist.

You didn't have to hold her, she just hung on.

It didn't matter who you were as long as you were family

and willing to hold her, she clung to you.

If you put her down she cried until the next person picked her up.

She was so tiny we all loved wearing her around.

Joe could not tell this girl no, I don't think she heard the word

until her Dad died when she was 9.

I can't speak for anyone else but I remember when Joe died 

I felt so sorry for Minnie and made a conscious decision

to be special in her life and to help Mone in any way I could.

I think many of us did.

Was that a good thing? At the time we weren't sure but

just a year later when Mone found out she had cancer,

Minnie was already used to being with all of us.

So the Collins "village" all came up to the plate

to make sure that this girl of ours would be okay.

We took her everywhere, made sure she ate, went to school,

Mom mostly took care of Mone while we took turns taking 

care of Minta. Oh, and sometimes the girl could drive you crazy.

Many days after school she would come to my house and

many days she had conduct slips for talking or not 

staying in her desk, when I would question her about it 

she'd be saying she didn't know what was wrong with her teacher.

The girl HATED, HATED school,

how ironic she would be a teacher.

Once Mone was better, Minnie still expected us all to do for her

and I didn't mind... well sometimes I did mind.

Like when Mone would call to see if I could go pick her

up at South Lafourche, sometimes to myself I would

think, why doesn't that girl take the bus?

So I would stop what I was doing to drive to school 

and the minute I would see her with that big smile 

I would take back all the negative thoughts I had.

You see, that is how she won us all over, she was just so darn cute!!!

Then when she became a teenager, she loved hanging out at my

house. She and Roddie were 6 years apart and they both

loved horror movies. She would come over for one night to 

watch scary movies with Roddie and wouldn't leave.

I remember one summer I had to ask her if she was going to 

go home or should we go pack so she could move in.

At that time, however, I had grown to love her company.

It was a break from staying home with two rug rats all day.

She helped entertain my kids and many nights, I would go to 

bed and listen to she and Roddie talking about all kinds of things.

She was a good influence on him, he loved it when she would come sleep.

So, once again, time has played that trick on us and

the little spoiled girl is now about to have her own baby.

Because of our village, she has grown into this beautiful young

wife who is going to be a wonderful mother.

She asked me at Christmas time if she could name her 

baby daughter, Lillian,

"What? Are you Kidding me?"

What an honor that she and Duane would love my 

name enough to honor me with naming their

first born Lillian.

Yes, this child will be born into this village we call family

and with her wonderful parents, we will be

there to support them on their journey with

this baby girl.

It takes a village to raise a child 

I am so glad that I have been a part of this village.

THE OLD SWIMMING HOLE

Okay family, time to reminisce about 

the old swimming hole....

Weren't we so lucky to have this pool in our backyard?

So there is me in my pj's probably still 

recovering from chemo. or radiation.

Then there is mom holding Tiffy and

Aunt Lee-Lee in the black suit.

I think I don't know the two boys

One looks like it may be Reggie

or maybe Aunt Ella's kids.

Who is the man sitting in the back shielding his eyes

and the little boy sitting on

the box?

NOW, LET YOUR IMAGINATION GO BACK....

Back to your favorite memories of the pool.

I have so many...

Remember Dad would never swim but every

year on July 3rd, he and Uncle Luke would

come back from the Tarpon Rodeo 

and he would entertain us by jumping in usually 

with all his clothes on.

Every year he'd tell us he wouldn't do it then

he'd just dive in!

Oh how I loved that!

I remember eating watermelon so many times on the patio.

I remember the psychodelic patterned paint 

we had on that patio.

I remember staying in that thing from morning until night.

I remember Todd hanging out by the fence just

waiting for Dad to invite him in and I loved it 

when Daddy would make him suffer sometimes 

because he had everything and bragged about everything

but he didn't have a pool.

I remember Uncle Luke not knowing Tie didn't know how to swim

and he threw her in.... I think she is still afraid of water because of that.

I remember how messy our yard was but every year the pool

was cleaned, painted and ready for us kids.

I remember playing the flip game, who could make the most

flips without coming up for air.

I remember playing Marco Polo for hours.

I remember singing songs underwater so others could guess what

the song was.

I remember VOLLEYBALL, OH how much fun was that when

we would all play.

I remember Dad putting fish in there during the winter

and C.J. fishing in there until Dad swore

he had pulled their mouths out from catching them so often.

I remember C putting her alligator in there, what was his name, Pish?

We didn't have a lot of money but

we had a lot of fun in that pool.

Waiting to hear ya'll memories.

This should fill up with comments!!!

We were so lucky!

LOVE IS IN THE AIR

I just had to share this most beautiful picture

taken at Roddie's outdoor party 

by my friend Patty.

The girl cutie is my pal, Stacy's

little miracle of a child

and the handsome little boy is none other

than our own...

OWEN PLAISANCE!!!!

Now you must know that Owen does

not laugh like this for no reason.

He must have really been impressed by 

little Abby.

Owen is growing up so fast as he reminds 

me each time he sees me,

"You know, Aunt Lil, I am now a whole hand"

Which means he is 5 years old.

I guess that means he is now old enough to 

come sleep at my house this summer....

This picture has now became my screen saver,

every time I see it I put a big smile on my face,

it's the way I want to start every day.

Love these two cuties!!!!!

ABBY CLAIRE DUPIERRE

I found out yesterday that Abby won

over-all achiever in 4-H for the year.

This is a big achievement since it was overall of

all the elementary and middle school students

and she is only a 4th grader!!!!!

So I thought now would be a good time

to share on what I know and believe to be true about

Abby Claire...

When Abby was younger, we lived in the same street 

and we spent a lot of time together.

She was the only one out of the little ones

who I could let come in my playroom where

I built dollhouses because she understood

gentle and understood at a very young age

what delicate meant. She'd come up there with 

me and we would talk about all kinds of things

some of it I didn't understand and most of it I did.

After a while, I understood all of Abby language.

Her Daddy, my nephew, Guy has been such a good

Daddy to her and opened her life to all kinds of things.

Like if Abby asked, how does a carrot grow, instead of

telling her, they would clean a row to plant, 

and plant and nurture that carrot until it grew.

He did this with all things. I know many times

this must have driven Lisa crazy because Guy

wasn't the type to clean up after himself, just the teaching

part for Abby.

The good part about Lisa is that she always allowed it

and because of their wonderful parenting, Abby is the

most well-rounded, modest child and it is

why she has achieved this 4-H honor at such a young age.

She is modest, will never brag about herself.

When I saw her at a birthday party yesterday

she gave me big hugs and kisses and moved on

to play and nurture the little kids 

never mentioning her award. Her Mom

had to tell me about it. This she gets from

her Dad.....

She is the one out of all the little ones

who reminds me the most of Jesi as

a younger girl.

They are comfortable in their own skin

and really do not care who likes that skin

or not. They feel if you have a problem

with them then it is you own problem

and they don't have time for you.

What an honor it is to call 

ABBY CLAIRE DUPIERRE

my niece.

TEDI GIRL

TEDI GIRL 

I love my Tedi-girl!!!

She is the cutie in the yellow shirt 

and I don't know what she did or said to

make aunt C choke with laughter

but whatever is was you know it was

funny because that girl is a hoot!

Tedi is my third godchild.

Her, mom, Tiffy and I were raised

more like sisters than aunt and niece.

When I was raising my two little ones

Tiff was trying hard to become a momma

and it just didn't happen and I remember being

so sad for her because she wanted a baby, to be

a mommy so bad. 

Then, just when she believed that part of

her life was over, here came Tedi.

I never saw two women happier than Tiffy and Ronnie.

I was asked to be this beautiful child's godmother

and how lucky I have felt since.

One thing Tiffy has done to the best

of her ability is raising this little girl

who is soon to be a teenager.

Tedi is the sweetest, funniest girl I know.

She has the heart of gold and wears it 

on her sleeve. Even when I go into

the public and people realize she is my godchild

they tell me what a treasure she is and

my heart is so full of love for this girl.

She is the most forgiving child and loves

her life. She is always seeing the good

in everyone, even those who don't always 

deserve it. We all learn from children like

Tedi. I so love it when she comes and

spends time with me, we are more like friends than

old lady vs. young teen.

Her momma is a wonderful momma,

just look at the product of her hard work...

TEDI GIRL

A Louisiana ghost story

Every summer I try and take the older great nieces and nephews 

somewhere special, just the two of us.

Last summer Hugh decided he wanted to go to Myrtles plantation.

He and I share a love for old plantations and ghost stories

and there were some good ones related to Myrtles.

We went there, went on the tour and took lots of

pictures in hopes of getting a good one of a ghost

that we could publish and make lots of money on.

Hugh had spending money, two 20 dollar bills.

He had decided he would spend on bill there at the

Myrtle's gift shop and the other on some of the

other adventures we were planning on finding.

He pulled out one 20 and paid for his treasures and

knew he had the other in his pocket.

As we were leaving the plantation, Hugh felt a cold

breeze on his legs which was weird since it was June

and it was hot. He didn't mention it at the time but

definately felt strange about it. We went on and at

the next stop he went to check his cash and his money was gone!!!!

We went back to the Myrtle's in hopes that someone

had found it and turned it in but it was not to be.

Hugh was really upset, I mean when you are 9 years

old, 20 dollars is a big deal.

Eventually he realized that what had happened to us

was well worth the money he lost.

You see, he and I are convinced that we were visited by

a ghost while there, a child ghost took that

money right out of his pocket when he felt that

cool breeze at his feet. As Hugh reminded me,

there is always a cold feeling when a spirit is present.

We then imagined that little boy ghost who lives at

the Myrtle's was probably sitting in the tree, holding

Hugh's bill and laughing.

Hugh however knows he got the last laugh,

I mean, as Hugh said, what is a ghost going to do with a 20 dollar bill?

It really happened, Hopefully Hugh will read this and tell

ya'll it really happened to us and whatever ya'll think,

Hugh, we know the truth, right?

SPEAKING OF DAD AND FISHING.....

SPEAKING OF DAD AND FISHING...

Do any of you remember when Daddy was insistant

that there was a bear in the back of Catfish Lake?

He swore he heard it every day and that

bear was taunting him.

Mom would ask him not to go fishing and

he'd say, "MInta, I'm going to keep going until I find that

da#* bear!!!!

Do ya'll think he was just pulling my leg or do

you really think there was a bear back there?

Often when I am going to sleep at night I remember

this and sometimes dream of a big black bear

bigger than Dad's boat.

my first godchild

EMILY

Emily was my very first godchild and

I remember the day she was born.

I had been married for just 7 months and

really thought I would never have my own children.

Pete and Cheryl had never said anything about

who would be this child's godparents and I

never really imagined that they would ask me.

I was at work at Lady of the Sea 

when I received the phone call that a baby

girl had been born and I was so giddy.

I have always been close to all my nieces and nephews

but most of them came when I was still a child myself.

Em was the first I can remember being born as an adult.

When I got off of work I went straight to Ronnie's house,

it's where I always went when something major happened.

While there she and I called the hospital to talk to brother

and Cheryl and Cheryl was feeling so good I was able to talk to 

her and she asked me then if I would be Emily's nannie.

What are you joking? I started screaming and crying

and was so excited!!!!

(remember I was only 21 if this sounds a little immature...

so shoot me already! Yes I know I still act like that all the

time....)

I was so honored and Em was even to have my

middle name, Therese!

I have not always been able to be with her

through many things but I have

always treasured being her nannie and

took the role seriously.

Rod was born just one year later

so I found myself raising my own children

as she grew up.

A special place in my heart, she has always had.

On February 14th she became a married woman

to a most awesome man, Andre'.

As I sat up on that altar waiting to

read at her wedding, I took a good

long look at this beautiful young woman

and realized it seemed like just yesterday

that I was up on an altar 

baptizing her as my Godchild.

Again, I find myself wondering where the time went?

I hope she has always felt just how special

she was to me.

I LOVE THIS GIRL!

a sad story with an encouraging ending

Over the Easter holiday a best friend of one of our teachers

lost his one year old daughter to a tragic accident.

She drowned in the family plastic pond in their backyard.

Evidently she unlocked the sliding door and went outside.

Minutes later her Daddy couldn't find her and began searching

to find her sadly in the pond. He, being a first responder tried everything

to bring his little girl back yet it was not meant to be.

This is not the part of the story her Daddy wants people to remember.

It is her beautiful brown eyes that he wants to be the focus.

You see through his anquish, he did know he wanted to donate

as many of her organs as he could. The only ones that could be used were

skin tissue and the corneas of her beautiful brown eyes.

Yesterday he received an email that a child did receive those corneas and for

the first time in her life she was able to see, see a world that before was completely

black to her. 

He has asked that if ever we are faced with such a decision remember to consider

organ donation and know that his little girl will live on through the eyes of another.

Kiss your children and give them an extra one from Aunt Lil tonight.

BREAKFAST FROM HEAVEN

TRUE STORY - I KID YOU NOT

This happened to me last year and it happened exactly how I tell it here.

IT WAS EARLY MORNING LAST SCHOOL YEAR AND

I WAS HUNGRY AND BUSY.

WHILE CROSSING FROM ONE OF MY SCHOOLS TO THE OTHER

I WAS REMEMBERING HOW WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL

DAD WOULD ALWAYS MAKE ME BREAKFAST.

I WAS THINKING ABOUT HOW MUCH I LOVED 

COFFEE AND CRACKERS 

AND HOW DAD WOULD DO IT SO GOOD MAKING SURE

HE SMASHED JUST ENOUGH CRACKERS INTO MY COFFEE.

AS I CROSSED THE STREET I MADE A MENTAL NOTE

THAT I WOULD BUY MYSELF SOME OF THOSE CRACKERS

HE USED TO USE, THE PREMIUM KIND WITHOUT

SALT ON THE TOP, JUST LIKE I LIKED WHEN I WAS LITTLE.

I DECIDED TO GO TO THE TEACHERS LOUNGE 

AND SETTLE FOR JUST A CUP OF COFFEE.

I OPENED THE DOOR OF THE LOUNGE AND

THERE ON THE TABLE, IN A LOUNGE WHERE NO ONE

EVER LEAVES FOOD, WAS AN UNOPENED BOX

OF THOSE SAME PREMIUM CRACKERS

THAT I WAS DREAMING ABOUT!!!!!

I HAD TO SIT DOWN WITH TEARS IN MY EYES.

I WAS SO OVERWHELMED BY THIS MIRACLE.

YES, IT WAS A MIRACLE AND TO THIS DAY

I DO NOT KNOW WHO BROUGHT THOSE CRACKERS

YET I HAVE NO DOUBT IT WAS 

BREAKFAST FROM HEAVEN.

 Of course, I had to scapbook the miracle.

The picture is of the page I made, the title?

thanks a latte' Dad for breakfast from heaven.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?

I loved this picture from the minute I saw it.

I wanted to scrapbook it and so I photoshopped it to say:

THE GANGS ALL HERE

Yet, something is wrong with the picture.

I just couldn't figure it out, I mean

we are all having a good time, Mom looks so happy...

Then I figured it out...

Look there, right between Mom and Ronnie

Look at that big empty spot.

It is where Larry belongs, 

the Gang was not all there because he is missing.

He was not the perfect person, none of us are.

He'd go for months without calling then the

phone would ring and you'd here

HEY, SIS! HOW YOU BEEN?

I used to hate the way he'd call me sis,

I don't know why but it used to drive me crazy.

Like, don't you know my name?

Now how much I miss it, so much that I find myself

saying sista and brother so much just in

his memory.

He made many mistakes as all of us have done in our own lives.

Again, he was not perfect but he was the

perfect brother for us.

I miss him and there will be something

wrong with every picture we take from now on.

I never thought I'd miss him so much 

but I do.

helicopter view

Last year while teaching religion to 37 tenth graders

one of my students returned to class after having lost her Dad

in a car accident. She questioned myself and her peers

why the God I talked so good about could take her Dad.

She shared that her Dad never really was like a father to her

more like a friend because he suffered from drug addiction

so he never really grew up. My student questioned why God 

would have denied her a father in the first place then take

away the man who was her friend.

This got all the 15 year olds asking, "Yeah, Ms. Lillly?

why if God is so good would all these things happen that 

we don't understand?"

Finally, I explained what I believe to be true.

I told them that we know about coastal erosion and that 

we are loosing our wetlands, we believe that is true yet

most of us don't think about it or really understand what that

means. Yet if we get in a helicopter and see it from the

air all of a sudden it makes sense to us, we can see

the erosion. I told my class, God has the helicopter view

on the world. Things happen in the world and to us

it doesn't make sense, we can't understand how God could

allow these things to happen, but to  him up there, with

the helicopter view, it all makes sense.

I explained that things may happen to us in our 

little world and it could not even be about us.

It may happen to us because someone else

needs to see how we handle the situation which 

may change their life.

They understood this and some of my class explained

that it was the first explanation they could grasp and

understand.

So why do I share this story today?

Let this be the day you make amends and find peace.

Remember things may not make sense to you,

but to God with the helicopter view, he is waiting for 

your reaction to make the difference that could 

change the future.

LOVE TO ALL WHO I CALL FAMILY

my brother

Well, I see my brother made it to my site!!! And said such nice things about me.

Well big brother, I think about you, too!!

I love to scrap book and scrapped this about my brother

a few months ago.

I had the idea when helping mom pack to move and

found a letter he wrote me when I was 6

and he was in vietnam.

The letter is part of the scrap page,

the pictures are him as a little boy and

how I remember him as a young man when I 

was a little girl.

My journaling on the page says:

PETER

MY BROTHER, PETER

WAS IN VIETNAM WHEN I WAS BATTLING

CANCER IN 1969.

I'VE OFTEN WONDERED WHAT THAT WAS

LIKE FOR MY PARENTS BUT DIDN'T

THINKD OF HOW HE HANDLED 

BEING AWAY FROM THE FAMILY

DURING SUCH A HARD TIME

WHILE PACKING TO MOVE MOM TO THE MANOR

I CAM ACROSS THIS LETTER WRITTEN TO ME

BY MY BIG BROTHER WHILE WE EACH 

FOUGHT OUR OWN WARS.

I DIDN'T KNOW HIM AS THE LITTLE BOY IN

THIS PICTURE, ONLY AS THE MAN, YET

HE LOVED ME!!!

Hope you like it, Peter,

I will treasure this letter forever

what did I do to deserve this?

Look at this beautiful girl in this picture and know that this is my daughter.

The one who has many names, Jesica, Jesi, Amazon.... whatever you call her you know how special this child is. I see her and sometimes can't believe that I was the lucky one to be her Mom. Want to share what I wrote to her on her graduation day:

  WHERE DID THE TIME GO?

I REMEMBER THE DAY YOU WERE BORN

LIKE IT WERE YESTERDAY.

I HAD DREAMED OF HAVING A LITTLE GIRL

BUT WAS AFRAID TO SAY IT,

IN CASE YOU WERE A BOY.

THERE WERE SO MANY MOMENTS

THAT I WONDERED HOW IN THE WORLD

I WOULD BE ABLE TO RAISE THIS

STRONG-WILLED CHILD.

YOU WERE NOT LIKE MOST GIRLS AND I

WAS PROUD OF THAT.

I REMEMBER BEING YOUR MOM AND WONDERING

WHAT YOU WOULD BE AS AN ADULT.

NOW I LOOK AT THESE PICTURES

OF THIS BEAUTIFUL YOUNG WOMAN

AND I CAN'T ALWAYS SEE MY LITTLE GIRL ANYMORE.

THEN YOU SMILE, AND THOSE CUTE LITTLE

DIMPLES COME OUT AND I SEE MY LITTLE GIRL.

THE BOND WE HAVE IS SO GREAT THAT

SOMETIMES WE ARGUE LIKE SISTERS BUT

YOU NEVER FORGET THAT I AM YOUR MOTHER.

EVEN THOUGH I GIVE YOU A HARD TIME

ABOUT RESPONSIBILITIES AND TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF

IT'S ONLY BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO CONTINUE ON YOUR

ROAD TO INDEPENDENCE. I NEVER WANT TO HAVE TO

WORRY ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT YOU CAN TAKE

CARE OF YOURSELF.

YOU ARE EVERYTHING I HAVE ALWAYS WISHED FOR 

IN A DAUGHTER AND AM SO PROUD THAT 

IT IS MY YOU CALL MOMMA.

GOD BLESSED ME ON THE DAY YOU WERE BORN.

I will forever love this child whom I birthed.

what motivates you?

Okay, so ya'll all know that I've had 13 months to get my body where I wanted it for this wedding.

However, nothing has motivated me. I've probably put on 15 pounds in the last 3 years with thyroid problems, back problems, but let me not blame this. My philosophy is, I DON'T DRINK I DON'T SMOKE, I DON'T DO DRUGS, I DON'T CHEAT ON MY HUSBAND SO I LIKE TO EAT, SHOOT ME ALREADY!

But now the wedding is so close and I'm so fluffy. Yesterday I recieved my motivation.

Now remember my mom is 88 and suffers from dementia. You can compare her to the old momma on THE GOLDEN GIRLS. She says what comes to her mind doesn't bite her tonque then forgets she said it.

So, yesterday I go to pick her up for her eye doctors appointment. Before she can say hello, glad to see you, love you she says, "Lilly, I hate to tell you this but you are getting fat."

This is the first time I have ever heard these words from my momma's mouth in reference to me in her whole life. It made me laugh so I said, "I know mom, that is why I'm on a diet."

She potitely tells me, " Well you better quit the diet because it's not working!"

So yesterday and today I  have walked two miles and cut out all my sweets...

Thanks mom for motivation and when I look hot at the wedding it'll be thanks to mom.

me mumsie

As I sat with Mom today at the eye doctor, I once again realized just how lucky I am to still have a momma in my life. I was born when she was 43 years old, just two years younger than what I am now. At 88 years old her body is beginning to fail her and I know within the next few years we will probably loose her. Today the eye doctor tells us that she has macular degeneration, basically her eyes have seen better days and that there is nothing that can be done for it.

I feel choked up when he tells us, not because this changes anything for her or us, but I look at her sitting in the chair and I realize just how vulnerable her old little body has become. How dependent she is on all of us kids and always, always so happy. Dementia is not always a bad thing and sometimes I wish I could forget the fact that one day she will not be here. I have so many memories of this wonderful woman, many times she has driven me crazy, many more times has made me laugh, sometimes even cry. She has mostly been a good momma.

I now call her mumsie or Mother Hubbard and mean that in such a loving way. Sometimes I miss having a Mom I can call for help, advice, etc. that mom is gone now. Roles have reversed and she now needs her kids to do the important things for her. None of us kids mind doing for her, she has been a good mom. I love her!

those were the days....

Look at me and the big sister, C.

what cute lil girls we were in that old house we lived in. We didn't know then what our near future would hold.

Not long after this was taken I was diagnosed with cancer. I was rushed off to some hospital and C began her life living between family members.

Not until I had my own children did I ever think what my illness had done to her childhood, to my whole family's lives. What C at 7 years old thought about when she was home without her Mom, Dad, and lil sister, when all the focus was about saving the little ones life. Look at her here, always smiling, that was her. She never made trouble, just accepted what was in her life. How I love her and all my brothers and sisters for the sacrifice they made for me, the rotten one!!!! I am who I am because of the love they all gave me.

I sit here this morning in the peace of my living room.

The lil girls are gone, it was nice to have my bed to myself

but this morning i kinda misses them awakening and giving

me big morning kisses.

As I sit here in the quiet I think about how blessed my life is.

I need to thank Ron. He has always worked so hard to

give us what we need. Because of both of our hard work

we have this beautiful but modest home that belongs to us.

I have 4 days off to do what I want, I can play all day with scrapbooking

or paper quilling or just lounging. There were many days

when we were young and I complained because I didn't

have time for myself or money to do anything.

Ron (hubby) would tell me that my time would come.

That there would be money and time to do what I wanted.

At the time, raising kids I thought it would never happen.

Ron kept promising, if we lived frugal when we were young,

as we got older things would be better.

He was right. Today I sit here in the quiet of the home he

has provided us and it is my day to do what I please.

His promises have come true. I don't want a castle, I don't want

millions of dollars, I want just what I have here:

Peace to be who I want, do what I want without worry.

Time to be with my Mom in her old age, take her where she

needs to go, time with my sisters and nieces and nephews and

their children.

Not often enough do I say thanks to the man I married 25 years ago.

I would not trade this life for anyone else's.

not now, not ever.

lil 

Two 7 year olds makes me a LILBIT tired.

I have two lil 7 year old friends for 4 days staying with me.

It's been fun so far, it's been tiring so far.

How much I've forgotten about being 7 and parenting 7.

One is my precious great niece/godchild

the other my baby I care for at school.

How blessed their parents are to have them.

Yesterday we did Pinocchio's Pizza Place where they played

for three hours along with my niece and nephews.

Last night we did manicures, pedicures.

Today we are heading to N.O. for Imax.....

Tired already but heart is full of love for these two lil girls

MY BABY BOY IS GETTING MARRIED!!!

Oh where has the time gone?

Roddie will be married in less than 4 short weeks

to the most wonderful girl for him.

I love Katie and could not have chosen 

a better wife for him.

Yet I am filled with memories of this precious little

boy and wondering, how did all of this happen

so fast?

Both Rod and Jesi are very special to me yet there

is a bond between a mother and her son

that is just unexplainable.

Especially for me, he is the first child of two

I was never supposed to have.

He is the child that came to me at a time when

I thought my marriage was over.

Once I found out I was pregnant, I was so confused.

What was I supposed to do now?

It was one thing to leave a marriage when it

was just me but how could I do this to a child?

Hubby, Ron was a drug user and I just didn't know what to do.

This baby became my reason for going on in this 

life I had created.

He was the child I slept with, who heard all my heartaches,

who couldn't repeat my secrets yet because he couldn't talk.

All my decisions were now based on what was best for him

Ron must have felt the same way, it was because of

this child that he sought treatment and has been sober since.

He was the miracle of our marriage and for a long time

I believed God sent him so we could find our way in this world.

Now I know the truth.

Our journey was never about Ron and I, it was always about

the child God had sent us.

God knew that this precious angel would be born with 

the genetic make-up of an addict.

Ron's drug addiction was never about us,

it was always about Roddie.

God prepared us and gave us everything we would

need to save this child's life.

Here he is, 5 years sober,

a wonderful man, soon to be a husband.

I am so, so proud to be his moma.

Proud to have been able to release him into this

world as a productive citizen.

Proud to have him be Katie's husband.

I love my baby boy even as a man.

A man to the world, always a momma's

boy in my heart!