Parker's sweet thoughts...

I had to share what my Parker wrote about his sweet Grandaddy.  Ever since he heard the news about his Grandaddy, he asked when he would be able to stand up and share with everyone what a great man he was.  So, without a doubt, we decided we would let him speak at his funeral. We woke up on Tuesday morning, and got started. I thought I would really try to help him put his thoughts on paper... but he ONLY wanted help getting started. So I thought I'd write the first sentence, and give him time to finish it up. (Still thinking he was going to need my help- I guess that's where the teacher still comes out in me!)  Turns out I was completely mistaken!! I came back up an hour later, and he had it done. He told me over and over... he knew exactly what he wanted to say, but just needed to write it out. Needless to say, I couldn't read the words without kleenex. It said so many things that would make Bobby so proud. I was so proud of him at the funeral b/c he spoke slowly and loud enough for all to hear. I must say, I was one proud mom!

And I know a special man who was beaming while watching him speak! He said over and over... I want to make granddaddy proud... and I think he did just that!

So, I thought I'd share what he wrote!

Today is a very hard day. Some of us lost a friend, a very special woman lost her husband, another wonderful woman lost her son, and a few lost their dad. I am here to say I lost my granddaddy. My granddaddy was really a great man. He was loving, selfless, and always had a smile on his face. He was very strong to suffer all the medicine they gave him. He never complained about it once to anybody. He was the only man I knew to become an Eagle Scout. He died and went to heaven, and it makes us all feel good to know he is now with his daddy. They are probably playing golf right now. He is at peace in the hands of the Lord. A pastor told me yesterday that “He is not leaving home he is going home.’’ I am glad that now he is able to talk, run, walk, and jump because that’s what he loved to do. He never wanted us to come over to sit; he always wanted to talk with me and play all kinds of games. We had fun with him. I remember some good times with him. When he used to take me to feed the ducks, ride the trolley downtown, and see the sun set in Downtown Memphis. He always wanted us to have fun memories with him. He told me that he knew I am going to grow up to do great things. I’m going to follow that and get it done for him because I love him so much. In both our hearts we were like two peas in a pod. I think it’s harder to leave the ones you love, then to have a loved one leave because heaven is just that great. I bet that my granddaddy would want all of us up there today with him to enjoy the wonderful heaven with him. Once he entered the gates of heaven I bet he wanted to redo that moment five more times again. I bet the angel that took him to heaven was his dad, so that made it even greater than just going by himself. Everybody here probably thinks that he is gone. But he is in our hearts the rest of the way. I know he would love to see all the people who gather here today to pay their respects to him. I bet he would feel so happy to know that everyone is grateful to him for so many reasons. I am happy to know that God answered my prayers in a way I didn’t expect him to. He does the stuff we ask him in ways we’ve never seen before. I asked that my granddaddy be happy, and he was. He was so happy when God accepted him in to Heaven. I hope he knows I love him so much and I will never forget him. I’m just glad to know I’ll see him again one day.

Always in our Hearts!

Robert D. Douglas

February 25, 1947 - May 6, 2010

With a very heavy heart, I write today to tell of the loss of an amazing person.  Bobby passed away peacefully tonight after a long battle with Glioblastoma.  He will be missed by so many!  Words are hard to come by.  It is a sadness that is hard to describe.  Knowing how much he will be missed... Understanding the pain Manley and his sisters are going through... Heartbroken for the devoted wife he left behind... Having to share the news with our three little ones...hearing them talk about sweet Grandaddy and asking what he thought heaven was like.  It's a sadness that is makes my heart hurt for what I feel, but hurt especially for everyone around me.  Bobby was truly loved by so many and he will be missed more than words could ever express.  All I know is that heaven received a very special angel tonight and I know he is watching us all.

Here comes the... flower girl!

Back in October, we got a very special phone call.  My cousin Ashley called to tell us her big news!  She was engaged!  She also called to ask Ava a very important question... would Ava be her flower girl!  How excited Ava was!!  I don't think I could keep up with how many times Ava asked "is this the weekend for the wedding?"  She was thrilled and we were both excited for her.  It was such a special job and definitely something she will always remember. 

The wedding was beautiful, the bride was gorgeous, the flower girl was precious beyond words, and the party was a blast!  Such a fun weekend full of great times, many laughs, and lots of dancing!

The sweet flower girl!

the dress was worn by Ashley when she was Ava's age. 

My "Little Grannie" made it, so it was a keepsake!

Parker is a proud brother...

The beautiful bride!

A family shot... minus Lily. 

 We didn't think she was ready for weddings yet.  Ha!

With my sweet girl!

My favorite men!

With Dad and sisters...

Mom and Dad dancing

Katie and Kelsey with my favorite "Little Grannie"

Cousins

My cousin Justin and his girlfriend

Katie and my cousin Kelly

Just a typical picture with my family...

Fisher and Maugarite

one VERY tired little girl...

she danced her heart out all night and had a blast!

Happy Easter!

I love Easter!  Such a fun time of year!  Love that Spring is here (even though sometimes, it doesn't feel like it yet!)... Love the time spent together as a family... Love dying eggs and trying to beat Lisa's dye job (Ha!)... Love watching the kids hunt eggs.  It's another holiday that I loved as a kid and one that I want to make special for my own three favorite people!  However, as a child, I never fully grasped what Easter was all about.  I knew we were remembering that Jesus died on the cross and celebrating the fact that He had risen from the dead... but I never really, truly understood what all it meant.  The older I get, the more emotional I get about what the Easter holiday really means.  I sit here and could just cry when I think about all that happened on this weekend. The thought of Jesus carrying the cross on his back...Being nailed to that same wooden cross...suffering and dying...for me... for my husband... for my kids... for my parents & sisters.  Doing it for all of those who believe in Him... Doing it so we could live forever with Him.  It's just overwhelms me to think about His journey.  And it brings such a peace to think about the fact that when the day comes that I am no longer here... I know where I will be.  And because of Him, I will be able to spend eternity in Heaven with all of those I love.  All because He chose to die for me.  Yes, the older I get, the more I come to truly understand the price He paid for me.  What a blessing to truly understand the story!

At the Ruhl's Family Egg Hunt

Not my most favorite Easter shot,

but it's the best we got!  :)

My blessings... who were VERY ready to be done with pictures!

With my sweetie..

An Easter couldn't be complete without the grandkids picture!  :)

 

"Best" Buddies... ;)

Joey didn't get the memo...

With my sweet Dad!

With our favorite Andrew! 

This was later in the day...(which explains why the girls look a little undone! Ha!)

My favorite picture of the girls! 

Over this year, they have grown to be such good friends!  Love it!

 

Sleepy Yet?

Oh how I love my kids!  They never cease to surprise me!  Even when they are all "tucked in"... they can still make me laugh!  Had to share these funny moments!  :)

Thought my sweet girl was fast asleep, but it looks like she was busy trying on her wardrobe instead!

Look at that sweet face!!

Our den is right below her... we were watching T.V. and I could hear her snoring over the show we were watching!  Again, thought she was tucked away in bed!  :)

Just another view of our sleepy girl!

Such a sweet picture!  Even better because she was listening to Taylor Swift's CD when going to bed!  If only I could see into her dreams this night!

This was from when Ava was 4!  I guess she was worried about rain!

And my all time FAVORITE!  She was supposed to be cleaning her room.  I guess it's safe to say that she would rather sleep on a hard chair, than clean her room!  Hilarious! 

Love my kids!

(Parker has never had a moment like this...YET... but I have no doubt I will catch him someday!)

Meeing Dexter... again! :)

This weekend, we went to go see the Ole Miss/ Memphis game (and yes, I was wearing Tiger BLUE).  We had a great surprise... Dexter McCluster came in and sat right in front of us!  Parker was pumped and we were all excited to get some great pictures!! 

Lily's First Fish

Today, we took the kids fishing at the pond in our neighborhood.  About five minutes after we got down there... Lily caught her first fish!  She was not scared one bit (not a big surprise to those who know and love her) and she definitely enjoyed her big moment.  The sad thing is... it was the only fish caught the entire time we were down there!  Oh well!  It was still a fun time for all!

A proud girl!!

Fishing Friends