Now Her Hair Will Be Long Again . . .

That's what Aly said this morning when I tearfully told the girls that my beautiful cousin was gone. When we visited in Orlando, Karen was self-conscious about her sparse hair. She put cute little clips in the front and said she wanted to grow it again. And that's the first thing that Aly said, "now her hair will be long again." Yes it will. Long and blowing in the wind.
When I wrote yesterday's post, I really thought we had a little more time. I didn't know it would be only hours. So now I cry not only because of the utter sadness of the whole ordeal, but for her husband and daughter, her sisters and nieces and nephew, and my poor aunt. For her I pray the most, for strength, because how do you bury your child? People say God has a reason for these things, well I hope he screams it at me soon, because I see no reason.
So now we go to Georgia. The last time I was there was for her wedding, now I go for her funeral. And I will stand with my 2 sisters and my 5 cousins and remember happier times, like Christmas Eve and Nanny and Pop's and laughing and fooling around.
There used to be 9 of us, now we are 8.
Now she is re-united with her father, and all her grandparents. Selfishly, I wish you weren't, not yet.
Good-bye dear Karen.

My Cousin Karen

Wow! What to say that hasn't been said, prayed and cried? I don't know anymore. I think about you night and day and all the things I would like to say to you. Like what an inspiration you are to me. I always told you that you should write a book and I meant it. You knew so much - about so much. I used to call you up and pick your brain about business and you were right there for me. You were a teacher and yet you helped me so much with homeschooling, all of your ideas, book suggestions and copies you mailed to me. You gave me the first book Kristina ever read from, remember that?! We used to laugh because we both hated it so much but you knew it would help her and it did. And speaking of books, remember that book from when you used to sleep over with Lynn and keep me up all night?! The one with the lion with the one hair sticking up?? I looked for that book to give you for Ella but I couldn't find it anywhere. How you both used to drive me crazy with your laughing - how I wish I could hear it again now. I remember when you were 1st diagnosed and you told me how it puts your life in perspective, that things didn't bother you anymore because they just don't matter. I hugged my kids tighter that night, because of you. And you have no idea how happy I was to see you last year in Orlando. I cried when I saw you not because of the cancer but because you looked so damn beautiful, so happy to be there. And I was so happy for you - you were so excited to go home and get a painting lesson. You were like a breath of fresh air.
I know you worry about Ella now, and I cannot tell you not to. What I can say is that she is one lucky little girl to have you for her mother. She will always know you and will carry on your beauty with her. So go in peace Karen and know that you are loved. And never forgotten.
Love, Me

Here I Am - Again!

Well, truth be told, I've been a 'slackin - again. Really, the days get away from me. And the weeks. For instance, Easter - took me by surprise. Sure, I have calendars and shop at Target and Walmart, but really, was not expecting it when it finally came. Thankfully, though, the Easter Bunny is on his toes, and all went well. We went to the beach - see pics above - and it was quite lovely. The night before we practically ran to the mall to see the Easter Bunny, 'cause, yep, I also forgot that!! How this is possible, I don't know, but it is.
What else I don't know is how to insert pics in the text instead of them all at the top of the post, but I guess I should read Blogging for Dummies, or something like that!!
I digress.
We went camping a few weeks ago to a very nice state park, Lake Louisa. Very hilly and beautiful. Maybe I'll post a pic - when I can put it where I want! And Nina's friend and her family from FLVS came and spent a few lovely hours with us. They live near there, we've met them before at Downtown Disney - and they came again to see us at the campground. They are such a nice family, I feel like I've known them a long time, even though we haven't!
Now if I can rant here - well of course I can, it's my blog! - Dancing with the Stars. I love the show, I really do. 'Cause in my head, I can dance just like Julianne!! hee hee If you watch the show, you know that's funny!! Seriously, tho, the other night they have Carmen Electra do a "dance" number. If you can call it that, 'cause she can't dance and really has no talent other than - o.k. forget that. With all the really talented dancers on the show, why do we have to sit through her strutting around. I may have to write to ABC about this! I'll let you know how that goes!
And one more thing, please, please, pray for my cousin tonight and every night. If you don't pray, then please think of her and do something in your own way. I'm feeling very sad and helpless and trying to make sense of something that is senseless.
Life can be cruel.

Happy St. Patty's Day!!

To all my Irish friends. I'm not Irish but isn't everyone a little Irish on St. Pat's Day?! I think so. Aly wore a green bracelet so she wouldn't get pinched. Go figure! I made corned beef and cabbage and potatoes and everyone seemed to really like it. Well, I knew Jim would, but the girls did to. Of course all day I kept hearing, "I don't know why you're making that, we're not even Irish!" Driving me crazy . . .
Nina now wants to be a vegetarian, but, you know, the kind that eats butter and dairy and drinks milk and you know, what will I eat at friend's houses, so you know, I may have to eat meat sometimes. . .
I give it 2 days tops.
Aly gives it less.
Love ya Nina!
That's it for now. Same old here, which is very good, I think. We're just waiting for it to warm up enough to go swimming everyday. Can't wait!!

May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields
and, Until we meet again
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

I'm back!!!

Well, it has been brought to my attention that I haven't blogged in awhile, so here I am. It was also brought to my attention that the reason for this is my supposed addiction to Facebook. I am neither confirming or denying this, just pointing out that this was mentioned to me. More than once. So it is my resolution - on March 2, better late than never - that I will from here on out blog more frequently. It's not that nothing has been going on, things have, it's just I haven't felt like writing about any of them in awhile. The girls are still doing martial arts, Aly just got her blue belt - go Aly! - she lost another tooth, Nina is of course rockin' in all of her online classes, she went to Poynter Institute in St. Pete last week to take a workshop for aspiring journalists, she got picked to moderate a book discussion and I know there's lots more . . .
Aly is taking horse lessons and learning a lot, still likes to ride, I made awesome fried chicken last night - well they told me it was! - and everytime I talk to one of Nina's teachers they tell me she is #1 in the class. Understand that some of them have 200+ students!! Amazing. Not that she is smart, I knew she was, just amazing to hear that about your own kids. If you have them, you know what I mean!
Anyway, still living and learning and loving together on the dirt road, and I promise to log off of Facebook more often - haha, I can't even type it with a straight face! - and blog more. I promise!!
Peace, love and understanding . . .

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

Yea! I made it to another year!! I'm not going to say which one, but last night my father said, "you'll be 34, right??" And he was dead serious! I said, "you wish, that would make you a lot younger!!" Ah, 34. Well, I'm a little bit older than that, but that's o.k., all is good! I have had a great day too. Jim and the kiddies gave me an MP3 player, now I am very cool, just like the kiddies! Except I don't know how to load songs on it yet, Nina did it for me!
I have some pics to load and I'll do that soon, but for now, I am going to make some tea to try to warm up! It's in the 50's here and it's 3:30 in the afternoon! Yikes!
Love and happiness today . . . .

Camping!!!

Well, we are back from our New Year's camping trip and we had a blast! We took this pic at the campground hiking one of the trails. Even Lucy had fun on this trip, as she made friends with other miniature schnauzers!!
I'm caught up on laundry - finally - the girls are back in martial arts, school work has resumed and we're going to a park meeting tomorrow with the homeschoolers. Other than that, life is the same and that is good!!
I'll try to post more and put more pics up too!
I hope everyone is having a peaceful 2009 so far . . .