Family

A Quick Visit from My Sister & Her Fam

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My sister and her “little” family stopped by for a quick visit after work today. It’s always such a joy to see them. 

My sister and I could talk for hours. Somehow we never run out of things to talk about. It was also great to see My Toot and Chris in such great spirits and so excited about their future. 

But alas, it was just a quick visit.  I soaked up delicious hugs from Abigael and Evangeline and half a a kiss from Coralyse (she’s a tough nut to crack)  before they left.  Their hugs and kisses always warm my heart. 

Today I’m grateful for a visit from my sister and her family. 

One Year

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I tried my best to do 365 gratitude posts, but the last month of work, travel, and celebration  stole my focus.  

Starting from where I left off, we celebrated  Pop’s 70th birthday… My Princess Niece Evangeline’s 5th birthday…  And my Daddy’s life and death with a family fishing trip in Galveston.    

That was just one weekend!  The next weekend, we celebrated the 4th of July holiday relaxing and eating great food at Donovon’s uncle’s house in Donie, Texas.  We then left for a week in Orlando where I attended a conference and was able to also spend some time at Disney World with the family.   

 And last weekend, we celebrated Rose’s 40th birthday in Dallas.   It’s been quite a month and I’m grateful for every single second of it.  

As I reflect on my father’s life – the reason I began this blog – it makes me grateful for all he taught me, for always being there for me, and most of all for his shaping me into the woman I am today. 

I still carry some sadness, but for the most part, I’m so very thankful that I have so many wonderful memories of Daddy. 

This blog has been an incredible experience for me. I intend to keep it going, although maybe not quite daily.  It has proven to me that no matter how much my heart hurts, there is always something to be grateful for. Being grateful lessens the pain and highlights the joy.  Gratitude is a powerful thing. 

 

Day 342 / Hitchcock Movie Night

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The girls and I got Donovon the Alfred Hitchcock collection on Blu-Ray for Father’s Day, and last night Alexa, Donovon and I all decided to watch one of the movies. 

It was a challenge picking which one to watch. There are so many to choose from and so many that I, myself, had not yet seen. We landed on Rope which Alexa had already seen and Donovon and I had not. 

It’s not one of his better known ones, but I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. Everything from the performances to the camera shots to Hitchcock’s overall style had me mesmerized. 

It was a fun time and I’m grateful for a little Hitchcock movie night with the family. 

  

Day 336 / Engagement Party #2

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I mentioned previously how much I love weddings and anything wedding-related. So I could barely contain my excitement when we received an invitation to another yet engagement party.  Two in one year – Paint this girl GIDDY!

We traveled again to Houston to attend our long-time family friend’s engagement party today. It was held at Crisp, and I have to say the food was the best I’ve had in a long time. And of course, we had an amazing time with our family and friends in celebration of young love and their upcoming nuptials. 
I’m so grateful for yet another engagement party and all the wedding events that will follow. 

  

Day 324 / Cousin Love – Part II

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Alexa and Ava have five first cousins on Donovon’s side of the family – Carson, Caroline, Regan, Casen, and Paityn – each one so precious and loveable.
Carson is an entertainer.  He loves to make us laugh or sing and play his guitar for us.  Caroline is a sweetheart with a heart so big and true, she sees nothing but good in everyone.  Regan is strong and genuine.  She tells it like it is and pulls no punches.  Casen is multi-talented and disciplined.  And he’s pretty quiet, but you can’t help but see the love he has for his sisters and cousins when we’re all together.  Paityn is the newest little addition and she’s a bundle of pure joy.
They are all so smart and loving.  I’m filled with joy when I’m around all of them.  I love them like my own and I find my girls so lucky to have so many cousins in the family with whom they are so close.  I’m so grateful for so much Cousin Love.

  

Day 316 / Family Fun on the Lake

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After weeks and weeks of rain the sun came out for an entire day today and we could not help but go out and enjoy it. What better way than on the lake. 

Donovon and I took the girls canoeing on Lady Bird Lake.  It was the first time we’ve gone canoeing as a family and it was a blast!  

I’m so grateful for such a fun day on the lake!

   
 

Day 288 / Early Morning Conversations with My Little Princesses

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Morning time at my parents’ house has always been so peaceful and comforting to me. After Daddy passed, I didn’t think I would ever get that back. It has been the most heart-breaking part of his loss. 

Daddy and I were typically the first ones up. We would spend a few precious moments alone together catching up, talking about current events, and just discussing life in general. I always cherished that time. 

These past several months, I’ve had to adjust to his absence in the mornings when staying at their house. It has been difficult to bear at times, but I’ve muscled through it, for him, for me, and for the rest of the family. This morning, however, I felt more at peace than ever. I got up early and my mom was already awake tending to Ava, the first to awake, and making sure we had breakfast. 

Before I knew it all the girls were awake, and we sat at the breakfast table eating donuts and chatting.  They had no idea how much their presence and their chatter was such a comfort to me. It was pure joy. I’m so grateful for spending that time with them and their silly and delightful conversations. 

  

Day 286 / The Weekend

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Not only am I thankful for the end to a long work week, but I’m grateful that this weekend I get to spend time with my friend Rose and my mom, brother, sister and her family during a quick trip to Houston. As always, I enjoy any time I can get with my family and friends. So I’m very much looking forward to this weekend.