New Memories on an old Foundation

This weekend I realized Saturdays are not good for me. I wake up grouchy and emotional every Saturday. I thought and thought about this and realized Saturdays were my "day" with my Dad. Even when I was small I remember spending Saturdays with him. I laid in bed Saturday morning being all miserable and I got a bright idea.

I took Grant to a place my Dad used to take me all the time growing up. I called Auntie Lauren, because Dad always took her there as well. We headed to Sonic for some drinks and made our way to Martin Nature Park.

I hadn't been there in over 20 years. It was Grant's first time.  Of course, the second we get there he starts one direction and we start another. He was actually correct, though. He immediately found a map and was scoping out where to go. He had a great time. I was so glad to be able to share this memory with him and Lauren just as Dad had done with me so many years before.

Well armed. Sword and shield to fight the bad guys.

Quite the poser, yes?

The Monroe shadow.
Lauren, Grant and Ashley
Dad was there in spirit

Grant fell completely in about 5 minutes after this
shot. It was a cold walk back to the car for him!

I woke up to this Saturday. My beautiful Amaryllis
opened.

My Sweet Sissy

Lauren turned  18  on the 29th. Grant and I attended her low key dinner party, very Lauren like. Janie made homemade sauce and toppings and everyone made their own pizza. Grant loved hanging out with Lauren's friend's and has a new found love for Beyonce (thanks to Zach and Auntie Lauren)! He ran all over the house singing this:

http://youtu.be/4m1EFMoRFvY  (Keep in mind he's heard the song, but NOT seen the video, inappropriate footage for a 6 yr old, just an FYI)

Happy New Year

It's been a nice break from work and school and Grant and I really enjoyed our time off. We both slept in until 7:30 (that's late in our house) and hung out in our pajamas. We went to the zoo, went to the movies and saw this:

 Great movie! Really. For parents and kids.


We finally sold my Dad's car, which was surprisingly emotional for me. I went and said by to the car one last time. It was his most very favorite thing.
Grant came along and managed to touch every car in the showroom that said PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH.

Awesome.

Although I will say, I was disappointed with a certain "member" of the Jackie Cooper "team" and wasn't really enforcing the parental  rules once that check was in my hand. We met my Dad's favorite person at BMW, Cesar. He took us to the car and shared some memories he had of my Dad.




"Ichi" will live on in our hearts, Dad.



We stopped by Starbucks and some coffee and cookies





We went to the Hockey game New Year's Eve

 Grant made it until 11:00 and watched the ball drop in NYC (shout out to the fam in NYC and Jersey, we were thinking of you). We went to Nene and Mike's for black eyed peas on New Year's Day and Grant ran all over with Connor. No pictures on that one. I was too busy talking. I let Auntie Jess and Uncle Bryan chase after the boys. It was nice. Happy New Year!

Perspective

Taken from my daily Purpose Drive Life:

“But make sure that you don't get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God.” (Romans 13:11 MSG)

We manage time; we waste time. We spend time; we save time. We wish the time would come; we wish the time would pass. We see time fly; we feel time drag. We watch clocks and carry calendars, creating the illusion that we somehow control time, yet all the while moments flow forward like a mighty river that cannot be stopped, harnessed, or re-routed.

Yet, God controls time. He created time and we, his creations, are fenced by his time, directed and guided by his holy and loving hand. The year 2012 is a gift of time from God.

How will you use it?



I remember talking to  Dad last year at this very time, discussing 2011. I was just so sure "next year" would be better than 2010. I think we both wanted to believe that.  Dad had a terrible ending to 2010 and I always tried to focus on tomorrow, things will get better.

Things got worse.  Life got hard. The battle became too much.

And now he's gone. There are no more tomorrows for him.  Or New Year's to contemplate about.

Time is fleeting. There is no more time with my Dad. Just one sided talks with an urn.

I have a new perspective of "time".  Time with loved ones. Time spent in quiet reflection and grief. Time spent in prayer. Time watching Grant grow and experience life.

Hopefully 2012 will bring new joys and less sorrows.  Although the sorrow in my heart is no where near over,  there is still the idea that things will indeed get better.

Happy New Year, Dad. I miss you.

A few lost photos from the break...

I went to lay down in Grant's bed the other day (he was watching a movie in my room) and looked up and saw this:

Grant put the Good guy on one side and the Bad guys on the other
in the rafters of his bunk bed.



And this is how I found him when I went into my room
to ask hm about it. Apparently the laundry basket is
more comfortable than bed.....



Christmas Continued

After we opened our presents, it was off to Jane and Auntie Lauren's for brunch.

Grant was given an automatic Nerf machine gun.

It's loud.

And shoots bullets faster than I can blink.     All over the place.....and someone won't pick them up.

We spent time with Nene and Mike Christmas Eve and watched Ms. Edie Jane sing on the Karaoke machine, which is also loud, but I don't have to worry because it went home with Edie Jane.

We stopped to look at the lights at Chesapeake, which were fabulous!

I can't get these to turn around. They're still pretty, though.

We visited Laine, too. Grant got a bow and arrow from Laine.
He loves it.

Grant's favorite toy so far. Laser Guns, Seriously. Look at

his face.

Grant singing at Christmas Eve Service



Christmas Morning



Be nice. This was the only photo I could get of the two us first thing Christmas morning.




Grant woke up at 7:30 and looked at me and whispered, Merry Christmas, Mom. Now let's go!

He jumped up and down and was so excited with all of his presents. He was confused as to why Santa didn't fill my stocking. He looked down and said, "You must have been bad".