a tribute to my Granny...

My Granny went to be with Jesus 2 weeks ago tomorrow, in the wee hours of the morning. She was 90 years old. Some words to describe my Granny would be: faithful, fiesty, innovative, hard-working, perservering, creative, diligent, loving - lover of family, birds, books, and last but not least, Coca-Cola.

Granny lived through the depression, married, had 3 children, had a house catch on fire and another burn to the ground, outlived her husband by 45 years and never remarried, outlived her son by 29 years and one of her daughters by 6 years, all of which had tragic deaths. But you know what? I never once heard my Granny say one negative thing about all of the hardships she endured. And, through it all, she trusted Jesus. Talk about faith? What a sweet testimony she left behind of being faithful to Jesus through thick and thin. Yep, that was my Granny.

She wrote in a couple of notepads throughout the day. When we were in Ruston a couple of weeks ago, I found one that had been beside her bed and another that was at her breakfast table. Here's an excerpt from a couple of her journal entries:

"Friday, July 24, 2009, 12:25 p.m. - So here I am in bed - I can see beautiful trees - and pink flowers high on limbs in the sky. Trees planted long ago - to edge my vegetable garden space. There's the 'hole' in the tree limbs through wchi I send many prayers - and the Good Lord said yes to most of them and helped me through the others and I've often said 'thank you' for a wonderful family - now and for all my life. This south west room has had a lot of 'living' here. As I lie here I'll read some books - Bud my sister sends so many of them - nine the latest yesterday - there are many cross word puzzles from the Ruston Daily Leader and others - a few finished. My Bible is near by to read, with many notes from Annie. I smile many times when I see a 2 1/2" picture of Orphan Annie, and a comic picture from children's books from long ago when I read to the children from their books. - a little nap."

"Wednesday, July 22, 2009, 11:30 - Kim caled - we will have a new little boy at Christmas"

Granny's last playtime with Josiah

I had called Granny just 4 days before she passed away. I called her on the Wednesday we found out we were having another boy. So sweet to see that phone call recorded in her notebook. That was the last time I talked to Granny. However, the last time I had seen her before she died was in early June. It, too, was a sweet 'last' with Granny. Two of my best friends from high school and their kids joined us, along with Jenny and her kids, to play in my Granny's backyard. The yard where we played as children - there's a treehouse, trampoline, swings, and beautiful flowers in Granny's yard. Granny sat on her back patio in her wheelchair in the heat to watch all of us. I know she very much enjoyed seeing the kids laugh and play and I'm sure she thought about us, her grandchildren, all grown up with families of our own now. We had breakfast with Granny the following morning and returned to Arlington that afternoon. I sure didn't know then that I would never see my Granny again here on earth.

Granny and me the afternoon my friends came out to her house.

I am so grateful for these last memories with my Granny.

It is so comforting to know that Granny is now with Jesus. After 6 different hip replacements and a recent broken femur, I'm sure she's definitely enjoying her new body! Though her old body is no longer here on this earth, I am so grateful that I can be assured to see her one day - me, in my new body and she, in hers!

Today's Sonogram...

We had the sono today and all looks great - heard the heartbeat, saw the little spinal cord and head and legs and arms and saw that the baby is...

A LITTLE BOY!!

Josiah is gonna have a baby brother!!!

Gran Gran, Papa, & Mamaw come for a visit

My Mamaw wanted to come see our house, so Mom & Dad brought her here this past Saturday to see the house and to see Josiah! It was so sweet of them to make the 4 hour drive here, only to stay 3-4 hours in the afternoon. We had lunch and visited at the house a bit, and then they got back in the car for their return to Ruston. I was so glad they came. We got some good shots with Josiah...

turning thirty

These are the gals I hang out with most. We celebrated Nikki's 30th birthday this past Friday at Bistro Louise, a posh little restaurant in Fort Worth. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NIKKI!

South Carolina

Twenty-two Audis were in South Carolina

a couple of weekends ago....

We all met at the Eastons' and had such a nice, relaxing, long weekend....even went to the lake one afternoon! Josiah was definitely a hit with his cousins. He was like a magnet! They were so sweet to entertain him and play with him. And, Daniel and I enjoyed a lot of adult time with his parents and siblings.

cousin magnet

cutie at the lake

dinner on the patio

reading with Aunt Rachel

Josiah wants to tell you something....

The baby is due at Christmas. We'll know if Josiah will have a little brother or a little sister in 5 weeks!!

Summer is Here!

The heat is just now starting in Texas this week - or so the weather forecasters say. But, the past few weeks have been so incredibly pleasant. Josiah has really enjoyed being outside. And, we've enjoyed it too. Some evenings we all hang out on the patio in the backyard and push Josiah on his new swing. He loves it - especially when we get right up in his face as he's approaching us. He laughs the sweetest laugh from his gut! Wish you could hear it, but maybe you can imagine it from the smile on his face.

We've also taken some outings with him in the past couple of weeks. He's been to his first and second park, and he also had his first dip in the pool as well. He liked it a lot - and I figured he would since he's such an avid fan of his bathtime. It's so nice that he's at an age where both he and we can enjoy being out and about.

Our first park date was with the Bufkins. Meredith, Jaxon, Sawyer, Josiah, and I enjoyed the park in Mansfield. Josiah slid down the slide for the first time. And, he swang in this big boy swing for the first time. He loved both of his new experiences!

Here we are at his first dip in the pool. He liked it!! I wonder if he was thinking, "What a big bathtub this is?!?!!!"

Our second park trip was with Daniel and a family from our church, the Marvines. We went to Bicentennial Park in Pantego and took a dip in the fountain (no worries, it's apparently okay to do that - at least, the Mommy we met there told us that she's done it before when lots of other kids were in the fountain!) We grilled hot dogs with the Marvines and Josiah played on a pallet. The other 2 boys are 1 1/2 and 3 so Josiah enjoyed watching them kick balls and run around!

Audis' visit

A few weeks ago Daniel's folks came for a visit. We had so much fun with them. And, as you can imagine, they had so much fun with Josiah! They live in Maryland and this was only their second time to get to see him. The last time they saw him was 5 months ago at Christmas. How he has certainly changed since then!

"Hey Grandma! Look! You have teeth like me!!"

"And, Grandpa, you sure know how to make me laugh!"

The Audis of Arlington clan with Mom & Dad Audi

"Swine Flu Break" sends us to Ruston

The FWISD let school out for a week because of the Swine Flu epidemic. And, we took the opportunity to visit my family in Ruston. It was a nice, unexpected surprise! And, the best part...Daniel doesn't have to make up the week that he was off! So, thank you FWISD for an extra week vacation!!

Josiah helped Papa grill shish kabobs for dinner one night.

And he played "booo-heady, boo-heady" with Papaw.

And he got up close and personal with a singing & moving deer at my grandparents' house.

And he got to get behind the wheel of the car with his Daddy on my family's private land - no worries, it's legal to be illegal on your own private property! ;-)

Turning 32!

Daniel turned 32 on May 11. We celebrated on his big day at our house with cinnamon rolls for breakfast, a visit to his school to bring him lunch, and dinner at a sushi restaurant. THAT was a labor of love on my part. Not a fan of sushi, but, I did try some. It wasn't terrible, but, I won't say I'd ever really choose it myself.

sushi dinner

birthday kisses for Daddy

We celebrated his birthday AGAIN with a steak dinner at our house this past weekend. Daniel grilled steaks and I baked potatoes, made salad, baked a German chocolate cake, and served rocky road and vanilla ice cream. It was such a nice evening with our small group. (Michelle, we missed you and hope you are feeling better now! And, Brendon, bummer that you couldn't fly in from Uganda for the party, but we understand. ;-) We're looking forward to seeing you in just a few weeks!!)

the guys

the gals