Sweet Abby.... Sweet Sixteen

She is 16 today.  She has always been the most compliant child.  My helper.  A big sister since she was 13 months old.  She's always been a daddy's girl.  His sidekick.  She's funny.  She laughs when she's nervous.  She's loyal.  She can be a little messy.  She loves music of any kind....and she likes it loud.  She can catch fish all day with bread on her hook.  She cries during movies.  She is dependable and responsible.  She loves playing the horn.  She loves  the band.  She loves her friends.  She loves her cousins, aunts, uncles, and all her  grandparents.  She loves Erin and Samuel and has always helped me take care of them.  She is a conscientious student.  She is learning to walk with God....and nothing could make us more proud than that. 

Last Friday night we had a sweet 16 party for our sweet 16 year old girl.  Abby danced the night away with her friends.  

the party was just getting started!!

My three!!  

How are we old enough to have a 16 year old?  Time is flying by.  Weren't we just having her 13th birthday party?  We are so proud of her.  She is becoming quite the little lady.  

All State 2016

All State Band 2016
Mobile, AL

Brenda Swinney Canterbury

Dave's oldest sister passed away earlier today.  She had a second aneurysm this week followed by a stroke.  This is what Dave wrote about her earlier on my Facebook page:

My beloved sister Brenda went to be with the Lord last night around 3am. She always affectionately referred to me as baby brother. She was 17 years older than me. I was eating her wedding cake in my high chair at 9 months old. Her husband, Doc, was (and is) one of the most powerful influences in my life. I always strive to be like him. I grew up with her kids (Jeff, Stephanie, and Paige). Jeff, the firstborn nephew, was only two years younger. We grew up as great friends. Brenda was the stereotypical older sibling, always taking care of everyone. I am very proud of her, proud to have had her as my sister, and glad that she can't be harassed by illness anymore. Jesus, thank you.

She was all that he said and more.  She was deeply loved by her family.  While Dave was in cancer treatment, she came to Houston to spend a few days with him.  This meant so much to him.  I hope she knew how much he appreciated that.  He said he felt like he had just gotten to really know her over the past few years.  She was a good big sister to him.  She was a good daughter, mother, grandmother, and friend. She had many health problems, but was always so cheerful, always smiling.   She pushed through her pain like no one I've ever seen. Thankful that today she is free of all her pain.  She will be missed, but we can be assured we will see her again.  

We are confident, then, and would prefer to be away from this body and to live with the Lord.  

2 Corinthians 5:8

Dave with his mom and siblings at his mom's birthday last year.

Well.....the month started off with bad news. The sale of our house fell through, so we are starting over.  And strangely, I'm content.  I wasn't at first....but I am now.  Realizing that there is always more to every situation than what I can see.  We spent last weekend and much of this week working in our yard and doing some things around the house to get it ready for the market again.  The yard looks so nice....ready for the beautiful blooms of Spring.  Our house is nice and clean....I really love that house.  It's so comfy and has a homey feeling.  But we are ready to move on.  So I hope it will be a special refuge of comfort to new owners soon.  

Always lots going on with our family.  The kids had intercession at school last week.  Abby shadowed the band director at Alexandria High School.  She loved it!! 

Erin and Samuel did the community projects.  The first of the week they painted murals for display in Anniston.  Thursday they did work on a house through habitat for humanity.  Friday they went to SIFAT in Lineville, AL.

my little artist

Always lots of band activities for us.  Abby has been a part of the Alabama Youth Symphony Orchestra this year.  She got to play in a side by side concert with the ASO a couple of weeks ago. 

Donoho had their Spring concert.  All three of my babes are in the Advanced Band.  Abby and Samuel are also in the Jazz band.  

Dave took the band to Music Performance Assessment where they scored all superior ratings.  

 Samuel and Abby were a part of the Calhoun County Honor Band.

Abby made the District Honor Band.  The concert was last Saturday.  She was thrilled this year to have Madelyn and Hannah with her.

Horn playing girls

The kids love their youth group at church.  A couple of weeks ago the were able to be a part of the united DNOW with other churches in our county.  They had small groups, worship with 2000 other teens in the county, did a big service project where they gathered food and clothing for our local food banks, and just got to spend some time getting to know God more.  

This week is Spring Break.  I have enjoyed having the week off with the kids.  It felt like old times when we were all home together every day.  The kids have 9 weeks of school left.  9 weeks!!  It's hard to believe this school year is almost done.  It's been a very challenging year for all of us.  But....we've almost made it.  

Packing up our Life

I'm trying to pack up a house we have lived in for 13 years.  Sometimes I get overwhelmed and just want to take a nap.  I feel like this......

I'm going through drawers and closets, dishes, clothes, shoes, books, music, and everything else you can think of.  I keep trying to remind myself of something my daddy always says and what Dave told me the other day....."Do you know how to eat an elephant?.......one bite at a time! ......that sounds gross now that I've actually typed it.  But its true.  I'm trying to take one drawer at a time. One closet at a time.  I think the packing may be a little easier if I knew where we were moving.  We are looking, but haven't found THE house yet.  We are off to look at a couple of homes today.  Maybe today will be the the day!

the end of 2015....a little late

I've started to write my thoughts here several times, but I would get side tracked and I never wrote a word.  October, November, and December came and went.  So much to remember.....so much to write.  I started this blog as an online scrapbook and journal of sorts.  A place for me to share my thoughts and pictures of our family.  Then in 2010 it became a place to keep everyone updated on Dave's health. After Dave was better, I found it hard to write.  But, I'd like to get back to my original purpose of this blog.  A place for me to scrapbook and journal through my life.  So.......where to begin?

Back in July we put our house up for sale.  We have tried to sell it on and off for around 4 years.  We had just sat down to watch  JSU play for the National Championship when our agent called.  She had someone who wanted to see our house at noon that day......it was 11:10 when she called. We all jumped up and started cleaning our house.  We were pulling out of our driveway when they were pulling in.  They made an offer the next week and we had a contract on our house!!  Now we have to find a new house....yikes! We close on February 19....so hopefully we will find something before then.

After being home with the kids for 15 years, I started working at the hospital in July.  What a huge transition that has been for all of us.  I thought maybe I wanted to go to nursing school...nope. no thank you. So glad I got a taste of hospital work before I ventured into that.  I've been doing unit secretarial work.  I decided to renew my teaching certificate back in the fall....so I took the Praxis in December and I am officially certified to teach again!!  So I will be applying for teaching jobs soon. 

Look what came today!! 

So excited to see that!!

The kids made it through their first semester at Donoho.  Lots of tears were shed but we made it.  I'm proud of them.  They did well considering all the changes that were thrust onto them.  

Our holidays were a bit different this year.  I had to work on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.  We made it work though. We all learned how to be a little more flexible.  We left for Houston on December 26th.  Dave had his yearly scan scheduled on the 28th at MD Anderson.  We got really good news. He had a clear scan.  He has officially been NED for 4 years!  

I'm sure there are so many more things of importance that happened during those months that I could write about tonight.....but sleep is calling, so the writing must wait.

Ahhhhh......September

Finally! August has come to an end.  This is probably the month I dread the most.  Maybe dread is not a good word.  August is just filled with so many things to do that we don't necessarily look forward to.  But then September rolls in and we begin to get into a groove.  85 days until Thanksgiving.......114 days until Christmas.....how can you not get excited about that  

The kids have 2 weeks of school behind them.  They are getting use to their new routines.  I think they are even starting to like it.........for the most part anyway. We are all adjusting to the homework.  It's exciting for me to see what they are learning.  

Friday was the first football game of the season.

It was a great night.  

The weather was perfect and the band sounded great.  

Oh...and the Falcons won the game!  

So what am I doing since they are in school?  I started working at the hospital in July.  So Most days I'm at work while they are at school.  Before Abby was born, I was a high school Family and Consumer Science teacher.  Maybe I will do that again.  Maybe.....we will see.

Welcome September.  I'm glad you're here.