The First Ornament

I'm not stressing about getting everything done in a hurry this year. So as a result, my house is being decorated a little a time.  This weekend was productive.  I was able to finally convince three of my kiddos and a friend of theirs to haul up most of the Christmas boxes from our storage room.  There is still stuff down there in the basement, but I'm not stressing to get down there to find it. Anyway, most of the decorations are out; most of the ornaments  on the main tree.  The top is kind of bare, but the bottom branches are quite full, courtesy of short people with little hands.  I need to enlist the help of a taller individual to get it complete.  


This is a picture of the first decoration of this Christmas season, well not counting the Christmas tree!  


Yes, it's half snowman/half football.  And yes it's adorned in purple and gold instead of red and green.  Gregory had the honor of hanging this little guy on Saturday night, following the LSU win over Georgia in the SEC Championship game.

He's now surrounded by lots of red and green.  There's a little black and gold one hanging nearby too!  Imagine that!  They are new, purchased while home in Louisiana last January.  I was so excited when I bought them because they reminded me so much of Greg. And now he's home, ever-present and yelling and clapping when there's a team from Louisiana playing football!  And what a year to be an LSU or Saints fan!


So it was a good weekend.  Football aside, it's beginning to look a LOT like Christmas; now to start working on it sounding and feeling more like it too!
  

2010 thus far. . .

So 2010 began noisily as it should have. We welcomed in the New Year with friends and spent all of New Years day packing for our trip home to Louisiana. Mark's girlfriend, Melissa, came over to help him pack and say "bye."

We left that night and drove through the night arriving in Livington early the next morning. Mark's best friend Tre' was our traveling buddy once again.



The week passed rather quickly but we enjoyed our time with Michael's parents. Mike and his dad took the kids on a boat ride on the Amite River despite the unusually cold temperature. It definitely felt a little more like Missouri while we were there.

We also spent a day in New Orleans, walking through the French Quarter, eating poboys and muffalatas at Cafe Maspero's and later beignets at Cafe du Monde. It's becoming an annual tradition. Mike's mom fed us wonderfully well too. We savored every bite of seafood gumbo, pot roast, spaghetti, barbecued chicken, not to mention 2 huge red velvet cakes, homemade chocolate pies and rolls. Plus there was some dirty rice, boiled shrimp, a king cake and I've likely forgotten what else contributed to the nearly 5 pounds I gained.

After we arrived home I began looking for another job. I could tell it was time for me to leave the nursing home behind. Plus I needed full time hours and Mike and I were both beginning to become stressed. Fortunately things turned out as I knew they would. I had faith that Heavenly Father had something in mind. Just home this is what it was ~ I start a new job tomorrow at DePaul Hospital. I will be working on a cardiac telemetry unit: taking care of patients following MIs, cardiac surgeries and procedures; a stepdown from the ICU. I am excited about the new challenges ahead and yes, somewhat nervous too! I am anxious to learn much more.

Other events from January include Thomas turning 10,

the pinewood derby at Cub Scouts

and the Saints making it to the Superbowl! February is already halfway gone ~ Todd turned 13 last week

and well, the Saints actually WON the Superbowl!!! We had a bunch of friends over to watch the game and help celebrate this long awaited victory. We in complete N'Awlins fashion had tons of food. I even found a local bakery that had black and gold king cake and Saints cookies. Sweet! This was special to any fan New Orleans born and raised as we are. But it was a bittersweet time as Greg who is undoubtedly one of their biggest fans was not here to savor this moment in history. In fact he didn't even get to watch the game as he was busy doing what he set out to do: teaching others about our Church and the Saviour. But I crafted a "stick Greg" as he will forever be known that watched the game with us and "paced" back and forth during the tense moments.

It's taken me forever to get this post situated the way I wanted. It's snowing again tonight. Time for bed now. Traffic will likely be horrible as I venture to my first day of orientation. Wish me luck!

Happy Birthday Greg

Early New Years resolution ~ write more in my blog. More than every 4 months anyway! And update the music in my playlist!

I'm writing today because I'm feeling kind of happy, yet kind of sad. 20 years ago today at 11:36 am a beautiful baby boy was born. Greg was always a bundle of energy, always very alert, very wakeful at times that I didn't want him to be. He was my only baby that really had bouts of colic. Oh how he loved to swing, and swing, and swing! Sometimes he'd be swinging at 3 in the morning. Only constant repetitive movement would keep him quiet. Like the spin cycle on the washer. Been there, done that. But it was short lived as the spin cycle only lasts a few minutes. Constant white noise would keep him hushed too, like the sound of a vacuum cleaner's hum, the static sound from the TV when a channel won't come in. He outgrew the colic in a few weeks, but the constant motion and noise continued. He was always into everything, climbing, running, making noises!

That energy was channeled into sports soon enough: baseball, soccer, basketball, and last but most definitely NOT least... football. He loved football: watching it, playing it. He played in middle school and into his Freshman year of high school. He continues to love watching it, both college football and the NFL. He is, without a doubt, the New Orleans Saints #1 fan!

That constant energy manifested itself in ADD symptoms, difficulty paying attention and organizing his time. Greg also loved to talk, and still continues to enjoy conversation about his interests: sports, politics, entertainment and now religion and his faith.

And so here I am, missing him terribly but so proud of him and the energy he is expending right now. Only he's not watching his favorite team as they make history and are Super Bowl bound. He's not staying up all night any more playing his favorite games on his XBox. He's no longer debating friends, family and teachers about politics. His stereo is no longer blasting his favorite country tunes. His time and energy are spent in much more noble endeavors. The late nights are no more, unless he is struggling with insomnia. The music and sports are mostly things of the past. Greg is now busy finding souls to teach, giving service to those in need. Those busy little feet that were always running and jumping have grown to become steadfast and sure, filling shoes that are likely becoming worn from constant walking and pedaling. The tiny 6 pound 14 ounce babe has matured in mind, spirit and body. I do truly miss him terribly at times, but take comfort in the knowledge that he is Okay.

Sometimes I imagine hearing his odd noises, banshee yells, and nervous hand rubbing...

I cherish those memories, yet I realize he's creating new ones, touching people's lives in countless ways. I can yet hear the pitter patter of his little feet running toward me. But then I hear the sound of those same feet, slower and more steady walking away from me and towards a

new world just waiting.