guess who graduates from college this May?

April and May finds us always busy with communions

and graduations.

This May our family will make the trip to Ruston

to wish good luck to my Great-nephew, Bronson

as he graduates from college.

When you talk about "against all odds"

this is what I think about when I begin to think about all

this boy has overcome to graduate from college.

He is the son of my niece, Toya and her highschool love, Sam.

Toya is the daughter of my brother, Peter and his

highschool love. Without going into a big

explanation that may not be all correct

I will just say that Toya was born to her mother

while my brother was in Vietnam.

Her mother moved on and married someone else

so Toya only became a big part of our lives

after her Mother died of breast cancer.

She was a teenager then and not long after

Toya found herself pregnant with Bronson.

Such is life that this child, Bronson knew to be his own.

My sister-in-law, Cheryl took Toya under her wing

during this pregancy to teach her all the makings of

taking care of a little baby.

Toya's life was complicated but I have always admired

her for the fact that when she couldn't be her best for

her oldest child, she did the marathon thing and

allowed his father, Sam to raise him.

Isn't that true unconditional love when

you realize you are not the best thing for your

child at the time and you allow the healthier

parent to do the job until you get yourself together

so you can be the best for him.

Because of this extraordinary love this child, now a man

has beaten all the odds and soon will be a college graduate.

Sam and Toya have done an amazing job with this child.

Toya, who once she got her life settled was

100% his mother, remaining thankful even to today

of all everyone did to help her raise this child.

Toya stepped up to the plate in the last 10 years to not

be just a single parent but a coparent with Sam

to give Bronson what he needed to succeed.

All us mothers are proud of our children

but to hear Toya speak of her first born,

well it is in awe of all he has achieved,

all she prayed and wished for and more.

I have very few regrets in my life

but one is that I was not more a part of Bronson's growing

up years. At the time I was busy raising my own children,

not as courageous as I am now.

However all of us, when we had the chance let him

know, spoke of how much we loved him.

I am so proud of this boy and will be

in Ruston on May 22nd to celebrate with his Collins

family to once again let him know just how important

he is to all of us.

His wonderful girlfriend, Cassi is a lucky girl

to have the love of this fine man,

for he has seen the world through a different set

of eyes, he is wise beyond his years.

In a life that he could have chosen the easy

road of "just making it"

or striving for the best,

he took the harder road.

He is an amazing brother to his little brother,

Dane and he will be a wonderful father taking

the lessons he has learned from all the adults

in his life to make him the man he is today.

I am so darn proud of this nephew of mine.

Good luck, my love, good luck!

farewell HOBL

Well after 6 weeks home,

HOBL heads back to Alaska today.

I often tell him and others

that I am not used to having him home

all the time and never have I ever

understood the relationship of those

who have a husband home every night.

Yet, after having him home for all this time,

we have adjusted nicely to each other.

Yes, he still did drive me batty,

yes, he still walks behind me to pick

up everything I may not pick up right away.

Yet, I have adjusted to all of this

and he has adjusted to me.

This tells me that we will be fine when

he and I retire...

Yesterday when baby girl left to take him

to sleep in New Orleans last night to fly out

today I was sad in the house.

There is a quiet here that hasn't been

part of my life for 6 weeks

and as much as I love the company of myself,

I guess this is what you call lonesome.

Just pictures to entertain this Sunday

Random pictures used as eye candy this morning.

Daddy way before I was thought of,

when he was happy and healthy.

Myself at Emily's baptism.

I look like a baby!!!!!!

I had just gotten married so I was 20, baby girls' age.

Jesi and Tedi at one of the many trips she

made with her Nannie to Yogi Bear park.

Myself and T-Jack at Lil Ricky's communion.

I am his Godmother, Jack is his Perrin.

The Christmas Eve when Arthur and Kris got the

game table from their Nannie's,

Aunt Ronnnie and Rebecca.

Biddy basketball team picture not sure what year.

The three musketeers are on the bottom row:

Robert, baby boy, and Dean.

Kris giving loving to his Nannie, Rebecca.

Mom, myself and C.

A historical picture when Daddy was one of the

first Alderman of the little town of

Golden Meadow, Louisiana.

He was also the town photographer so I don't

know who took the awesome picture.

Our big brother, Larry

with the one woman he always loved,

Lupita and their little girl, Thaisy

many years ago.

Hope you enjoy the pictures, I know I always

love going through old pictures and trying to

bring back magical moments of the times.

A sad week at TES

It has been a sad week at TES

as we find out about budget cuts

and all those that have been placed

on the "cut" list...

Our school is just like a family

there are those you spend more time with

and there are those who you don't get

to talk to often but still and all

you think of them fondly because they

are your family.

It has never made sense to me that

education is ever cut but

so is the laws that have passed.

It will be a different year next year at TES.

Pray that all find jobs and that

our children, our future have enough

to be able to learn what it is they

need to know to correct the errors of

our generations ways.

Historical Easter Pictures...

I have never been one of those Momma's that

stand in line in malls to get annual Easter Bunny pictures.

I never got that, parents stand in long lines

only to have their children go ballistic with fear

of the oversized rabbit wanting to hold them.

It is hard for me to understand how any of

these children look forward to Easter after

sitting on the big Rabbit's lap.

However, even with all that being said,

I do have a few of the children with the Bunny.

Like this one they begged to take at Oak Alley Plantation

Craft show. We went to that craft show every year while

the babies were growing up. It was one of our favorite things to do.

The weather that day was beautiful, baby girl had her

Easter egg dress on, one of the few dresses you

could ever get her in. Baby boy had bought this

tie-dyed shirt that day and had to put it on immediately.

Oh and there was this one when baby boy was fairly new

before I came to the realization that there

is no reason a child should be put through this against his will.

Like look at the terror in that baby boy's face!!!!

Then there is this one...

Yes

HOBL

has his own

picture with the Easter Bunny...

I think he

is lacking

in childhood memories

of Easter

he

presented this

picture

to me

one

Easter

just a few years

ago...

how

can

you

not

LOVE

this

man...

Yep, this is what it is like every day

to call yourself a Riera,

always a joke

it can get old and drive you crazy sometimes,

but as Kate Goslin would say,

"It might be a crazy life, but it is our life"

What have I done for two days?

For two days I have been laid up at home,

praying for warmer weather so I can have

some peace to this darn back issue.

So not to waste precious time, what did I do?

Scanned pictures!!!!!

For too long I have worked on trying to get all my old pictures on discs

in case I ever loose my photos.

I got a lot done which gave me lots

of ammunition for future blogs!

Sharing just a few with you guys

because I know how much you guys love pictures!

Roddie at 6, like how did I not get reported to OCS?

Look how skinny that boys' legs are!!!

I know I am prejudice, but is not this child

the most beautiful thing you ever did see?

Oh to kiss that baby face one more time,

to hear him say,

"Mommy, I need some lovin'"

Aleena as a wee little one

The Collins family.

This shows the big age gap in the children.

Mone being 25 and myself in Mumsie's arms maybe 2?

... and this beautiful little girl?

When did they get so big,

like I know I was there, but it happened

oh, so fast!!!!

Pure joy is what this child was to me.

Again I know I am prejudiced.

but what did I do to have these two

babies come to me?

Minta and Santa...

Didn't see Minnie dressed up like this

often, for Santa she would do anything!

Tiffy and Tie,

Tie always cried but I do believe maybe

Tiffany was pinching her...

Emily one Easter Sunday.

I am thinking the Zack is beginning to look more like her.

Old School class picture.

My Aunt Tim was my teacher that year

in 4th grade.

Just in case you can't find me,

I am bottom row second from the teacher.

Get better Uncle Jay!!!!

life cycle of a catholic worm

There is a reason why I sit in one of the front aisles

when I go to church.

It isn't for the reason you may believe.

I have to sit in the front everywhere I go

except the movies.

It is for the reason that my mind wonders.

Because I am a people person,

I can get interested on a family close to me

and totally watch them for the whole hour

and not even know what the homily was about.

It has always been my way.

I can loose tract of speech if my mind wonders.

The reason for this post is that last week

even though I was sitting in front at church,

I noticed a little bitty worm at my feet.

I wondered on that cold morning how the heck

did that little worm who was moving so slow

get under the pew of where I am sitting.

I wondered, "Did he come on someones' clothing

or did he make the whole voyage on his own?"

At the pace he was traveling it would have taken

him days to get where he was.

I continue to ignore the words of the priest as

I watch the journey of this imp of a worm.

I wonder if wherever he comes from, did

someone miss him?

I watch as he slowly crawls from one ceramic tile

only to turn and go back the same way it came from.

I realize that he is just going in a circle over and over.

I wonder how will he eat in this church

that never has food.

After mass I wonder if I should take him out with me.

Put him in the yard but really, wouldn't

it be cold for him? If he had to be somewhere

wasn't the warmness of a church a good place to be?

Just as quick as my mind can become fixated on

these things, it can forget it.

As I leave church I don't think of my little worm...

Until the next day when the first thing I look for

is the worm. There where he traveled is a dried up

piece of matter that I know is this worm.

I feel bad for a second then realize

that his little job was done.

What better place to spend the end of your days

than in a Catholic Church.

Yep, my mind does work like this...

Not sure why but it does.

5th grade hygiene class

Every year I teach a 5th grade hygiene class.

It is my opportunity to speak with my students

who are moving on to middle school.

I speak of puberty and hygiene but I also

speak of bullying and teasing.

Each year I try and leave them with something to

remember me by, some life lesson that they

will take with them the rest of their lives.

However, this years class is special to me.

These children were the kindergartners when

I started my job at TES.

On Friday I talk to my girls.

Girls are so much more mature than boys at this age.

I tell them my story of teasing and why I don't tolerate it:

WHEN I WAS YOUNG I WAS TEASED.

I'LL BET THIS SURPRISES MOST OF YOU,

BUT I WAS. MY PEERS DID NOT KNOW

I HAD CANCER, THEY DIDN'T KNOW I WAS

FIGHTING TO LIVE, ALL THEY KNEW WAS

THAT I WAS A BALD SECOND GRADER WITH

BROWN TEETH. THEY TEASED ME FOR THIS

AND WHEN MY HAIR GREW BACK IT WAS

EXTREMELY CURLY SO THEY TEASED ME FOR THAT.

I WAS CALLED BIRD NEST, UGLY, 4-EYES.

I HAD A DECISION TO MAKE WAY BACK THEN.

I COULD CRY OR FIGHT BACK ALLOWING THIS

TEASING TO CONTINUE OR I COULD LAUGH WITH THEM.

I LEARNED AT A YOUNG AGE THAT TO LAUGH

AND NOT LET PEOPLE SEE YOUR WEAKNESSES

WAS THE WAY TO GO WHEN PEOPLE ARE MEAN.

SO I LAUGHED, I MADE JOKES OF MYSELF.

I LAUGHED UNTIL I GOT HOME FROM SCHOOL.

THEN I CRIED...

ONE DAY MY DADDY SAW ME CRYING.

I WAS SPOILED SO WHOEVER MADE ME CRY

MAY BE IN TROUBLE WITH MY DADDY.

I TOLD DADDY OF ALL THE NAMES

THE KIDS WERE CALLING ME AND HOW

I WASN'T GOING TO LET THEM SEE HOW MUCH

IT HURT ME AND MY DADDY RIGHT THEN

GAVE ME THE BEST GIFT EVER,

HE GAVE ME THE GIFT OF SELF-ESTEEM.

HOW DID HE DO IT?

HE SIMPLY TOLD ME:

"LILLY, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THE WORLD

SAYS OR THINKS ABOUT YOU, IT ONLY MATTERS

THAT WHEN YOU COME THROUGH THIS

DOOR THAT YOU ARE LOVED."

I REMEMBER THIS DAY LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY.

HAVE CARRIED IT WITH ME THROUGH MY WHOLE LIFE

AND IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN ENOUGH TO GET

ME WHERE I AM TODAY.

NOT EVERYONE HAS A DADDY OR SOMEONE

THEY LOVE TO GIVE THEM THE GIFT OF

SELF-ESTEEM SO DON'T TAKE IT AWAY

FROM THEM. BE KIND TO YOUR PEERS.

ONE DAY THEY MAY NOT BE THERE.

I tell this to my 5th graders every year.

I want to make the problem of teasing personal to them.

I want them to think of their school nurse before

they bully or tease.

I talked earlier about the special bond I have with

this 5th grade class. It is probably why I get the

reaction this year as I never have before.

I am teary-eyed as I look at my audience of

48 girls to see some of them crying.

After I am done, the majority of them

come to hug me and tell me how much

they are going to miss me.

I know I say it all the time,

but I love this job!

revamped the blog

Well so much for computer burn-out.

Spent an hour or two updating the

blog. Learned how to download free stuff

to my blog, put new pictures on the

sideline. So let me know how you like it and

look forward to the blog story of tomorrow.

Pajama day

Nothing I like every once in a while more

than cool dreary weather to stay in my Pj's.

Decision has been made.

After a wonderful day playing and cleaning

out the mess winter left in my front yard,

today I am making today an official

"STAY IN YOUR PAJAMAS AND SCRAP DAY"

Oooh the possibilities are so great.

May even get in a nap this afternoon with my HOBL.

He likes his naps...

computer burn-out

Scrap pages to share with all of you...

Jesi pretends she doesn't like scrapping but

one day she surprised me with this awesome page she made.

Page I made about my honey, Kd

Grand Isle ladies retreat, oh how I miss Grand Isle and

good friends...

Made for Jesi's album

One day a long time ago, playing in the yard.

Look how young Jesi, Kris, Hugh and Tedi are!

Love letter about my baby boy

This page houses the love letter I blogged about

that C wrote me not long ago.

Mumsie and Daddy a long, long time ago...

Lately I have found myself not wanting to

play on this computer in the afternoons.

Which leaves my email box so jam-packed full

of mostly junk emails.

This week I have resorted to old fashioned

reading, watching movies, and falling asleep

way too early.

I want to think it has something to do

with myself getting used to Daylight savings time.

So, it got me to thinking, is there such a thing

as computer burn-out? Is this new

computer age taking us away from the things

that used to make our lives simple?

When we complain that children are spending

too much time playing video games and no one

plays outside anymore, can we say the same

about ourselves?

So this week I have taken a little break from

so much time on this computer.

Once this weather warms up and I get

a little break from this back issue,

I will make it a point to do something outside

every day. I want to get my yard to the

beauty it once was and oh, it is far, far away

from that.

So If blogging isn't happening everyday,

don't be concerned, Old Auntie Lil

will probably be planting, playing in the yard

or reading a good book...

or scrapping, I haven't been scrapping enough

so I share a few of my scrap pages in hopes I

get the urge to go into my scraproom and

make some art.

MAY WE ALL BE TWITTERCATED

... TWITTERCATED...

When I said yesterday, all the kids and adults at school

were twittercated, many looked at me with question.

Others wanted to know how I learned how to twitter.

So I had to explain what Twittercated means and that it

was here a long time before cell phone twitter ever was

thought of. I used to use this word each spring when

my babies were growing up, I wonder if they remember...

Go back to the Disney movie Bami.

Hunting season is over and spring is in the air.

All the animals are happy and falling in love.

Then one of the old skunks (or it may have been a rabbit) tell Bambi

"Oh it's okay, they are all twittercated."

What is this word I am speaking of?

Twittercated=spring fever.

Yep, spring was in the air, the wind was crisp and dry.

Children and adults were itching to get out,

and new love was seen in the eyes of many.

I love spring, flowers are peeking out the ground.

Today, use this word at least once.

When others look at you with the question in your eyes,

remind them of just what twittercated means.

Pull out your old Disney Bambi movie

and see exactly what twittercated looks like

in the forest.

Happy Birthday, Hughby for I believe yesterday.

Hope you had a fantastic time at

Commanders' Palace.

Birthday wishes coming in the mail soon.

Palo Alto, Donaldsonvile, louisiana

HOBL gets a lot of ribbing for bringing us to God-forsaken places.

He gets teased a lot for finding the cheapest places imaginable

for our family excursions. Oh but this weekend,

HE MADE AN A PLUS!!!!

What a wonderful log cabin in the middle of Donaldsonville woods.

The kids got to shoot skeet....

there was these awesome peacocks who followed us around

and slept high in the trees.

The history in this amazing log cabin was so much for me,

I was happy, happy!!!!

An old happy hunting camp in the middle of nowhere,

a roaring fire for two days...

Baby girl and I sat on the porch swing...

...and read to our little hearts were content.

I am telling you this cabin had so much rustic beauty

that no one could have not loved this place.

Baby girl and "Bruddah" bbqued on the antique outside porch pit.

We viewed a streaker, only to find out those "whitie-tighties"

belonged to none other than my HOBL...

Even the peacock looked fearful.

You know he will do anything to get those kids laughing...

Baby boy and girl took a ride on the alterain vehicle.

This is not Baby boy's bait, he actually caught this fishing.

Chase took Baby girl for a romantic boat ride,

almost flipped a few times but they made it.

HOBL enjoyed the view, especially of his lovelies enjoying

their time together.

How can you not be in love with this place.

The hunters did quite well...

So next time HOBL says,

"We are going on a family trip"

It may not always be bad, this wasn't even a Griswald trip.

Only one thing was missing,

Our KD...

So many times I said how Kd would have loved this.

Baby boy asked, "Mom, why are you so worried about KD?"

And I realized, that just like when I went somewhere

without my kiddies, I would always say that I wish they

were there to experience things with me.

I feel the same about KD.

Missed her much...