Babes

School starts Monday and my feelings are a kind of bitter-sweet. Sweet, because the beginning of the school term ushers in fall, my absolute favorite season of them all, and sad because it marks the beginning of a new era in the life of Savannah, which, of course, effects me as well. I can hardly believe that my grandbaby is about to go to middle school. It seems like it was just yesterday when the long awaited ultrasound revealed that the desire of my heart was about to be filled...a baby girl was soon to arrive. I'm sure I would have been just as elated, well... maybe...had the stork brought a boy, but after having two boys of my own who are only 12 months and 5 days apart I was ready for some pink, some lace, and, of course, some big ol' hair bows in every color of the spectrum.

Savannah made her grand entrance on November 29, the day after Thanksgiving in 1996, and I don't believe she could have looked more like her dad and her Uncle Jarad if she had tried! I truly believe the minute Justin laid eyes on his little princess, every thought of having a son melted away. Savannah and Justin are big fishing buddies and her every conversation is frequently dotted with references to 'my Dad.' She is indeed a chip off the old block!

Savannah at birth.

Justin Matthew, 1 day old.

Shifting gears...just as unbelievable is the fact that my baby boy, Jarad, just turned thirty. Jarad was without doubt the sweetest little guy I've ever known in my entire life. Even as a little child he was extremely kind and tender-hearted and always concerned about the feelings of those around him. One would be hard pressed to find a child as loving and as sensitive as Jarad was.

Jarad in kindergarten...

From the memory bank....when Jarad was in kindergarten he came home one day and announced he wanted us to get some 'well-u-fare.' When I asked him to tell me about this 'well-u-fare' his explaination was quite simple: When you get 'well-u-fare' you get to eat breakfast at school and they have cereal everyday! That conversation came shortly after the announcement that he wanted to be 'lurgic.' Once again, I asked for elaboration, at which time I was told, "When you're 'lurgic' they give you juice with your lunch and you never have to drink milk at school again!"

Many, many sweet memories exist of those early childhood days. Sadly, it seems as though I merely blinked and they were gone.

Thirty Days of Happiness: Day 15

Rub-a-dub-a-dub. Three generations of babies in the tub, or sink. My, how I wish digital photography existed in former days! Nonetheless, lots of happiness abounds in perusing old pictures. And as most any mother can attest, lots of love and happiness is derived from a chubby, squiggly, sweet smelling baby straight from the bath. I'm not sure of my age here, but Justin and Savannah were both 10 months old.

Rhonda
Justin
Savannah
A baby is God's way of saying life should go on...

Family Pic's...Priceless

Hard to tell who is the proudest..


Savannah, Justin and, uh...Portus (I didn't name him!) That girl loves her daddy.

Some tired peeps...

Fathers Day Addendum

I spent the day with my Dad yesterday at his wonderful home on Lake Sam Rayburn. We had a delicious lunch of fried catfish--freshly caught from the lake--and spent most of the afternoon just sitting on the deck and visiting. It was a very nice day that ended all too soon, according to Savannah, who spent most of the time in the water.

Daddy enjoying my Montana pictures.
Cruisin'...
In his new toy, the 'Rhino'
View of the lake from the house...
and the house from the lake.
Andi, chillin' on the great grandparents sofa.

From Pampers to Pegasus!

Granmommy (me!) & Savannah, February 1997
Savannah's 5th grade graduation, May 2008

Where, oh where does the time go, pray tell? While viewing the pictures from 5th grade graduation it really hit me that 'Granmommy's baby' just isn't a baby any more. How sad! I remember when our trips to the mall involved loading the stroller and diaper bag and shopping for big hair bows and Tele-Tubbies and videos such as Mulan and Aristocats. My, how that has changed! These days it's Books-A-Million and Bath and Body and Macy's and, for heavens sake, please don't dare mention a pretty ribbon or hair barrette unless you're prepared for the eye roll of the century! And if you really, really love an outfit, just act as though she's a little too young for such and, only then, will she surely love it too.

Life being what it is moves swiftly, and with that comes much transition. It seems almost surreal to realize I'm the granmommy of a little lady who will be a teenager in a mere 17 months. But what a proud granmommy I am! Did I mention that Savannah has been an honor student since kindergarten? She sure has! And did I remember to say that she is going into the 6th grade but, because she tested at a much higher level, she has been accepted at an academy and will be starting with 8th grade level work? Yep, Savannah will be in the Pegasus class! My, how I wish I could see what her future holds!

But the greatest joy this precious doll brings me comes from her pure and tender heart and the kindness and sensitivity she has toward others. She faithfully believes God for anything and everything, be it big or small, and she truly loves God and her church. As she enters the next phase of her life it is my prayer that she holds to God's unchanging hand and nevers loses sight of Calvary. I pray that she is always mindful of the fact that the achievements and recognition we gain while on this earth mean absolutely nothing if we lose out with God. She's been taught that since before she was old enough to understand it's meaning and I pray that it is firmly imprinted on the facets of her mind.

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6

Happy Fathers Day!

My Dad and me, 1958

Justin and Savannah, 1998

I was 3 years old when this picture was taken of me with my Dad. Fast track 40 years...Savannah, my wonderful grandbaby was 2 years old in this picture with her Dad, my first son, Justin. Yeah, I know, the math just doesn't quite add up. I was totally devastated when I received the news that Justin would be a father at the ripe young age of 19. Fortunately, God has a phenomenal way of making all the pieces of life's puzzle fit together perfectly, and I fell head over hills in love the day this precious baby arrived. In fact, I feel reasonably certain I was probably the happiest 41 year old grandmother alive! As for Justin, well, you would have thought he had been a Dad forever...in spite of the fact that Savannah was the first baby he had ever held in his life. And talk about genetics, I don't believe a twin could look more like him than his baby girl and fishing buddy, Savannah. A chip off the old block, with a bond much like that I still have with my Dad. Thank heaven for real fathers...they make a difference indeed!

A Happy Kind of Day....

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy;
they are the charming gardeners
who make our souls blossom.

Savannah Chelsie, my love, my life

A Few Vacation Pic's

Me 'n Daddy

Most everyone thinks they have the best dad in the world, but, I know the title really belongs to my daddy. For as far back as I can remember, I have been my daddy's buddy, his one and only little girl, his pride and joy. Over the years my dad has taught me volumes of practical knowledge that I truly treasure---how to grow a great garden, how to buy a new car at an unbelievable price, how to sling a hammer, install a sink, put a battery in the car, plant a tree properly, and countless other gems necessary to maintain a life of self-sufficiency. My daddy is getting older now but, in my eyes, he's just exactly the same as he was when I was a little girl.

I remember, when I was about five years old, giving my daddy a goodbye hug at the airport--- not really sure where he was going or why. As it turned out, he spent a year in Buenos Aires working on a special construction job. It never dawned on me until this morning, but, shortly after his return my parents built a nice new home. So that's why Daddy went away to work. What a sacrifice it must have been for him to be away from his family for an entire year. I still have the two dolls that he brought me from that trip, and they're still in excellent shape, though one is missing a shoe. Not bad, considering they've worn those same shoes for 46 years.

When Justin, my first baby, was born you would have thought that Daddy was the first person on earth to ever have become a grandpa. I think he must have believed that God created the earth just for Justin to walk on. Justin took my place and was the 'new' pride and joy. At that time Daddy was shrimping as a hobby and had recently purchased a new boat. He waited for months to christen the boat, planning to name it after the baby girl that I wanted so badly. When the baby arrived, with no girl parts, Daddy revised his plan and christened his new boat the Justin' Time. Every shrimper on the Gulf knew the Justin' Time and how it got its' name.

I could go on and on, singing the praises of my Daddy, but I really don't have time right now....I've got a special gift for my Daddy and I've got to go see him.