Wordless Wednesday

1 Year

All week long I was dreading Saturday. It marked the one year anniversary of my brothers death. I have thought about him alot this past week. Remembering his warm smile and his beautiful eyes, always brings a smile to my face and a tears to my eyes. When I think back on September 13th, 2007 I get sick. I can still see his body laying in the car, with all the blood on his seat. I can see it like it was yesterday..

As Saturday drew closer I thought what will I do to keep my mind off of him. God took care of that for me.. He had a plan for my day. My good friends and I went shopping and kept my mind busy. They probably don't even realize that they helped me in such a tremendous way. I stayed busy most of the day and when I came home I ate dinner with Lindsey and we watched a little TV and I climbed in the bed around 9:15, which is my normal bedtime. I lied in bed for just a few minutes before I drifted off to sleep. The thoughts in my mind were of the good times I had with Todd. I could see him at the front door with the great big smile on his face, just tickled to see me.. I could hear him telling me he loved me.. He would say "Love ya Girl". He was so quick to tell me he loved me..

Thank you Lord, for making my day a great one. Thank you for the wonderful memories of my brother, thank you for the Friends you sent to me that day. Thank you for loving me when I need it the most..

Good Ole Gatlinburg, TN

We escaped to Gatlinburg this past weekend. I just up and decided I wanted to go. I would have loved to been up there in those beautiful mountains by myself, but it does not work like that.

Randy, Lindsey, Tianna, Erica and Adam joined me. The ride up there was very pleasant. We woke up on Saturday morning to find there was no water. We were not able to take a bath, make coffee:( (you would not like me without my coffee) I made a quick dash to the grocery store to get some water. We had breakfast, sat around on the back porch for a few hours and still not water. What to do now? We all needed a shower....

We had to go to the club house to shower, which was not at all fun. The shower stalls were so small. No even enough room to turn around in them. The water finally came on around 4:00. So much for Cabins4you.com . I was not going to let this ruin my trip though. We went shopping (which is my favorite thing to do) . Grabbed a bite to eat and then headed to Gatlinburg so Lindsey & Tianna could escape mom & dad. We gave them a couple of hours to hang out without us tagging along.

Not the best trip I have taken to Gatlinburg, but it was time away from Spartanburg and the long weekends that I so dread these days. Life seems to have taken a toll on me these days, but when I am spending time with my kids, it gets me through!!

Cathy

Meet Cathy- my sister. Oh what a wonderful person she is... A true God fearing woman. She is married to Larry- Meet Larry

This is normally where you will find Larry. Either the recliner or the couch. He is usually napping. Larry has been around since 1972- I was 7 years old when Cathy and Larry got married. So he is my brother. He also loves me as a sister.

Cathy and Larry have 1 son (Jeremy) and 1 daughter (Kerry) and one wonderful grand daughter whom they cherish more than anything. Her name is Kaylen... She more or less lives with Cathy and Larry, and they would not have it any other way...

Larry's health has declined significantly in the past 10 years. He is not the same man he used to be. Oh he is God fearing just as Cathy is but his mind is not what is used to be. He has seizures and they have affected his mind. He is such a fine Christan man. What a great follower of Christ he has been and still is. What a great influence Cathy and Larry have been in my life... Always the same no matter what...

With Larry's sickness it has made Cathy have more to do. Not only does she work a full time job, takes care of her grandaughter, takes care of mama but she cooks almost everyday and has a spotless house. She is a work horse I tell ya..

Cathy is loads of fun.. She loves to laugh and to make people laugh. For some reason on Easter Sunday she climbs up the ladder and gets in the tree......LOL

Gotta love that Cathy Jean!!! She keeps her head up and stays positive. Knowing that God is in control and everything will work out according to his perfect plan...

Easter 08

I had a wonderful Easter Sunday. Of course, I always love spending special holidays with my family. We attended Church and had a beautiful service. I never get tired of hearing about the resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Pastor Hall showed videos to go along with his sermon. It really lets you get the full effect of how much Jesus suffered on the cross.

After church we headed down to mamas to enjoy a delicious Easter Sunday dinner. We had all the fixings, along with turkey and ham. I ate and ate and did I mention I ate.. It was a great day of fellowship. The day just kept getting better.

We played outside with the kids most of the day, The annual egg hunt was great, along with red rover red-rover, and bum, bum, bum. We had more fun than the kids.

Enjoy the pics and know how special my family is to me!!

Memories

I had posted a few days ago, about the "stuff" that my daughter left behind. I found these too. Erica wore these dresses when she was less than a year old. The pink dress is what she wore home from the hospital on December 16, 1987. The little frilly dresses were my favorite. Oh how beautiful Erica was sporting these dresses, did I mention she did not have any hair until she was over a year old..

This is a mouse costume that she wore her 2ND Halloween. The Mini Mouse Costume is what she wore her 6Th Halloween. I will definitely have to look through my photos and post pictures of her wearing these adorable dresses and costumes. I know I have some...

I figure I will have to seal these babies up. She may want them one day. She can show them to her little girl!!! They say no children, but I think they will change their minds..

I SURVIVED!!!!

Lindsey and I were real excited about the trip. Just to get away for a few days was great.

We made it back. I had a great time, but I am very exhausted. The bus ride is what done me in. I just re-couped from the bus ride to Orlando. Only to be tortured for 11 more hours for the trip back to Spartanburg. But let me tell you!! It was great. Just so you can be jealous. I laid out in the sun on Saturday..... The weather was absolutely beautiful. God really blessed us while we were there.

James done it up good on the planning part, as far as traveling at night. The kids slept most of the way. We arrived in Orlando about 9:00. a.m. on Friday morning.

We stopped at Golden Coral for a wonderful breakfast buffet. I got a few shots of some of the kids enjoying their fellowship time after being cramped on the bus for 11 hours. Here we have Steven, Sara, Kaitlyn & Scotty. On the phone is James.

Here we have Tianna, Lindsey & Sara. Tianna is always laughing or trying to make someone laugh. This kid is the bomb..... Once the plates were full these kids were doing some serious eating.

These are the Cisney brothers. Brandon (aka Sweeney) and Derick. These are two of the coolest!! Derick always trying to pick up the ladies. He is a for sure ladies man. NOT!!

JaMichael , Brandon, Zac, & Jeffrey

After breakfast we headed off to the motel. Where we waited until 3:00 to check in- It was a long wait. We stayed here at a 4 star motel. It was very elegant. The decor was gorgeous. Between the wait we went to the IZone area. Which was a room full of inflatables. It was a lot of fun for the youth. I got one pic while we were there and that is of Presley preparing to bungee jump.

The theme for the convention this year was "Set Apart". Encouraging youth to be different from the world. I will post on this later, I personally think it deserves its on post. Great theme. This was the first Wesleyan youth convention I have been a part of. It was great!! Great speakers and great worship. The bands were awesome too. I was very impressed with the program and what it had to offer the youth.

Speaking of being Set Apart, this is Adam Robbins. An 18 year old who graduated from Chesnee High school in 07. This young man was a chaperon on the trip this year. He is a great role model. Just an all around good kid. God has called him into the youth ministry. He is already teaching the youth on Wednesday nights he also has a small group on Sunday nights. I am very impressed with how God is using this young man. He is definitely Set Apart!!!



Until next time....

Cole Seay

This is Cole. He is my nephew. This is Todd's son. As long as I can see him, Todd lives on. He looks just like Todd did when he was a wee little boy. He is as sweet as Todd was too. He is a big collector of knives, flashlights, or anything small that will fit in his pockets. His dad started this. He has many of his dads knives. He knows not to play with them and he even asked for a safe for Christmas so he could keep them put up. Now how sweet is that.

I have a really funny story that happened to Cole last year. Todd gave him a knife to keep in his pocket. He had just started kindergarten. Not knowing any better he pulled it out and showed his to his friend. Needless to say, he got caught and got sent home from school. In kindergarten and getting suspended is not a good thing. Of course he did not think he did anything wrong. He was proud of the knife his dad had given him and he was showing it off.

I was glad I got to spend Christmas day with him, Mikenzie, and Mikayla. They each have a special place in my heart.

First Christmas in Heaven

I saw countless Christmas trees around the world below,
with tiny lights like heaven's stars reflecting on the snow.
The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away the tear,
for I am spending Christmas with Jesus this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear,
but, the sound of music cannot compare with the choir they have up here.
I have no words to tell you the joy their voices bring
It is far beyond description to hear the angels sing

I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart
But I am not so far away, we really are not apart
So be happy for me dear ones, You know I hold you dear
and be glad I'm spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year

I sent you each a special gift from my heavenly father above
I sent you each a memory of my undying love
After all love is a gift more precious than pure gold
It was always most important in the stories that Jesus told

Please love each other, as my father said to do
for I can't count the blessings of the love he has for each of you
So have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear
remember I am spending Christmas with Jesus this year


This is our first Christmas without Todd. I will be the first to admit I have been depressed and sad. I took over 2 weeks off for Christmas and I am beginning to think that was a bad idea. You see, people are therapy for me. I could never stay home and not work. I would be on every anti-depressant that was made.

Depression runs in our family genes and I have to constantly fight it. However, I have given in to it and I know it. It started Wednesday night. We went to see Todd's kids in their Christmas program at Converse First Baptist. On Thursday I went to help Rooter with some costumes for their Christmas program and I left to pick up Lindsey from school. I was suppose to go back to her house when I picked Lindsey up but I came home and went to bed. I didn't even call her and tell her I wasn't coming. I did not want to talk to anyone and have pretty much avoided everyone.
I woke up this morning and I said to myself, It is my Saviors birthday today, father please help me pull it together. Let me be happy and content. Help me overcome this. As, I always say, God has not let me down yet and he will not today or tomorrow or the next.

All kinds of memories cascade through my mind like a waterfall. I cannot stop them. Sometimes I fell as though I will drown in the sheer abundance of them. Most of my memories are good ones. from the second I arrived on the scene of the automobile accident my life swiftly changed. From that second forward, I knew my life would never be the same.

As I celebrate the birth of Jesus today I can't help but have a heavy heart. I wish my brother was here to share it with me. I miss him so much. I never thought he would leave in such a hurry. However, I am thankful that he shared with me, where he would spend eternity, just the day before his death. His life on earth was cut short, and I have so many questions that need answers, but I found peace in knowing that he was sure that he would spend Christmas with Jesus.

Camping Trip-Memories

I came across a few pics that were taken in 2005. The last day of school for the kids that year we took off up to Saluda for a camping trip. It was a blast. It seems to me it was so long ago. These were some of the best days of my life. The kids blessed me so much. They helped me walk closer to the Lord. I didn't do everything perfect, and I made a lot of mistakes along the way. But when I look back, I think maybe I made an impact in just one of there lives. They sure did impact my life.