It's Sunday and today I am so so thankful for my sweet husband. Luke is a man's man. He loves hunting and fishing and a cold beer now and then. He (in my mind) can fix almost anything. If he's watching TV I can just give up because he always always always go straight to ESPN. And if Alabama football (actually ANY college football) is on then you might as well get comfy, because that's all you're going to be doing for the next few hours.

What I love about my "man's man" is how he changes when he's with his family. As soon as he sees his daughter, it's like he melts. It's absolutely precious to see my big strong husband lying on the floor playing Light Bright with a 2 year old. He's forever telling her how much he loves her and how beautiful she is. They have "secrets" that they whisper into each other's ears and when I ask what they're saying Camille looks at me and says "It's a secret!"

I think God knew exactly what he was doing when He gave us Camille. He knew this tough guy needed a little princess in his life. I'll never forget when we found out we were having a girl. TERROR!! We were so scared. But when we saw our little blonde angel for the first time, we knew our lives would never ever be the same.

Another thing my husband does that touches me is his love language of gift giving. When he goes to the store (whether it's Wal Mart or a gas station) he almost always brings something back for his girls. Chocolate milk for Cam and a chocolate bar for me. Or new alphabet magnets for her and a big candle for me. He really is the sweetest person and I am so thankful for him. He works so so hard and always provides for his family. I really do love my husband. September 2nd will be our third wedding anniversary and I look forward to many many more.

Something to Think About

So, once again I have to apologize for slacking off on my "blogging" duties. My life is crazy right now!! As you know, I have a 2 year old, I keep my 8 month old niece every day, and for the summer I'm also blessed to be watching my 6 year old niece, Bella, who is visiting from Hawaii. Add that to my usual daily duties and there's just not much time left over ;)

I got home yesterday around 6:30, vacuumed the house, unloaded and loaded the dishes, cooked dinner, folded some clothes and finally sat down to enjoy "Where the Wild Things Are" when I realized...I'm not going to make it!! So I gave up and went to bed. Ha! Such is the glamorous life of a full time mommy, auntie and wife.

As of right now, I'm sitting on the couch with one arm around my sweet Cam, watching "Olivia" and using my one good hand to type with. There's something that's been nagging at me this past week that I would love to share. It started with the oil spill and all the complaining I've heard and seen as of the past few weeks and I didn't realize how much it was bothering me until, oh, I'd say four days or five days ago. The complaining i'm referring to are from people angry about having to cancel their beach trips: "I'm so pissed off that I have to cancel MY vacation because of this stupid oil spill" or "I've been waiting ALL year to go on my beach trip but now I can't because of a little oil".

Does this sound familiar to you? You know, my family is used to going on two beach trips every year and my daughter LOVES the beach. We, along with alot of others, have had to cancel these trips. But I'm not complaining...and do you know why? Because (excuse me for being blunt here) that is completely and utterly selfish. How about all the fisherman and restaurant owners down in the gulf or in New Orleans who actually depend on the shrimp, fish and oysters from that oil polluted water? How about the poor dolphins, whales, birds, turtles and fish (just to name a few) that are suffocating in that "stupid" oil? It's easy to get stuck in a box where only you exist. The next time you want to complain about something, think about others outside of your box. Take that vacation...the locals still need tourists. In fact they need you now more than ever. And while your down there, maybe you should volunteer somewhere. Be pro-active...

"You are the light of the world, a city on a hill cannot be hidden...shine your light before all men, that they might see your works and praise your Father up in heaven." Matthew 5:14 &16

Family

This past weekend we celebrated my father's 60th birthday. My aunt and her family came down from Knoxville and my father was also able to enjoy his celebration day with all of his grandchildren (which is not something that happens often). Watching my dad's face was priceless. You could just see the happiness. Bella and Camille helped him open his presents and I don't think I saw him stop smiling once.

My father is an amazing man. To say he had a rough child/teen hood would be an understatement. His father was almost completely absent and had problems with alcohol. It would've been the easy thing to do to follow in his father's footsteps. Instead, he became a christian, married a wonderful woman and had five children. My dad was and is a wonderful father. I feel so blessed to have him in my life and my children's lives.

Yesterday was his actual birthday and I am so thankful for every year God allows us. So, this blog is dedicated to my wonderful wonderful father. I love you dad.

Carpe Diem

So, once again it's a Sunday morning and I'm the only one awake! I could really get used to this =) I've been waiting for a chance to sit down and write a new blog but this past week has been hectic, to say the least.
My husband and I took our annual trip to New Orleans two Fridays ago. We had a relaxing Friday night, a great Saturday morning and then Saturday afternoon, while we were strolling throught the Quarter, my dad called to tell me my grandmother had gone home. At first it was a shock...I knew it was going to happen but I honestly didn't think it was going to happen on that weekend. I cried and my husband comforted me and offered for us to go home. My first instinct was "Yes!! I want to go home, curl up in bed and cry until the tears won't come." But then I thought of my Grandmother. What would she want me to do? She loved life and she would want me to seize the moment and enjoy it too. So I did what my sweet, fun loving Grandmother would've done and I enjoyed my time in NOLA. We had lunch at Pat O's and then on Saturday night, my sweet husband took me out for one of the best dinners I've ever had...a five course dinner at Tujagues (which I would highly recommend) that any Creole would approve of.
We drove home on Sunday and picked up CamKat from her Auntie and Uncle's and then on Monday we made our way up to Knoxville. My Grandmother was an amazing person. A stranger sitting at her funeral would've been able to tell you that. She had a beautiful ceremony followed by an even more beautiful graveside service in one of the most breath taking cemeteries I've ever seen. From her grave you can see the top of the Smoky Mountains.
I could go on and on about my wonderful grandmother but I think you get the point. I will add that I am so proud of my grandfather who has loyally been by her side and truly given meaning to "through sickness and in health". He has some amazing rewards waiting for him in heaven and I admire him so so much. So, here's to you Grandmother and the legacy you've left behind...you were an amazing woman and I can't wait to tell my children and grandchildren about the woman I was blessed to call "Grandmother".