Not for,but not Against

Well took a 19 hour break from school and made it my spring break. Didn't get to really have a break with all the events that happened during last week, but i made the most of those hours and i hated to leave. Mom and Dad picked me up and then we made the drive to Tuscaloosa where we would watch Bama take on Georgia State, where the best friend is a freshmen pitcher for GSU. She didn't know that i was going to come so i surprised her and it was exciting to see her get the start against the defending national champions. It was weird to be sitting in the stands cheering for her and not be on the field or in the dugout cheering for her. In the first inning she got 2 out of the 3 outs being strike outs and they both were by two well known Alabama people! We were so ecstatic when she got both of those! This would be the first time i wasn't cheering for Alabama but wasn't cheering against them either. It was great ti be able to see friends that got to school there and catch up with them. Then STeve and Julie Kay Brown was there with their family and we stayed the night with them in their condo. But before the game thanks to John Lowe and his connections we were able to take a tour of the new field house and I was able to see the National Championship trophies and all the others the locker room, training room, and the indoor batting cage. Then when we were leaving we saw Jackie Traina warming up like arms reach from me and met one of Bamas all american players Stephanie Vanbrakle who is now the pitching coach! It was a great short break and i wish that i was able to go back with mom and dad this weekend as they watch more softball and basketball and relax, but reality of school is keeping me away. Would be great to step back and have a break but guess its just not meant to be. Well quote is "Tough times don't last but Tough people do!"

One week away

Yesterday was not a typical Sunday morning for our family. This day was 1 week since Paw-Paw has passed away. And it meant change for us all but more so change for my Sunday routine. On the typical Sunday dad and i would go to visit before church, and this day would be the first in many that we wouldn't go there. So since Caleigh was leaving early we went and picked up some breakfast and we made out typical route still in a way. Just a little something we went to Milton Bakery (can't go wrong with that) and then took an assortment of doughnuts to the nursing home for the nurses to eat on! Was a chance to see and check up on some of the nurses and such again. I decided that I wasn't going to drive back to Troy till this morning so I told myself i had time and made my trip to visit PawPaw like I do on Sundays, except this time he would be at a different place. It was tough to see all the dirt and flowers laying there by his name and knowing that he isn't here anymore. It is all a little surreal to me at the same time. No one ever wants to lose a loved one and one who is a great father or grandfather. But we all have a time when we will meet our Maker and be reunited with loved ones and be able to share stories and laughter. That is what i tell myself, that MawMaw and him are catching up on these last years that they have been apart and she is sharing her version and he being stubborn will make it a point to share his. These next few weeks and months will be different for the family, where we go back to old routines that we haven't done in years and we go back to new routines that we have never done. Please keep our family in your prayers as we adjust to the new routines and try to adjust to the emptiness we have. Quote of the post:

"The Loss of a loved one turns our life upside down. Our world as we know it has changed and those changes require that we in turn adjust to the new "normal".

No More Suffering

Well on March 10, 2013 heaven received another Angel. Paw-Paw passed away Sunday morning somewhere around 11:45am. The passing was a sense of peace for us because these past few days he hasn't not been himself and very aware of the things going on. He was not complaining, or yelling at us for the tv being loud or joking around about who was coming to see him. He wasn't his stubborn or loving self at all and that was something that i couldn't watch. Anyone who knew him would say that he was always smiling walking around and giving out hugs and to women kisses. From pew to pew at FBC on sundays and then back in the day he would be there hours before we got out of school and he would visit with anyone that walked by him at Berryhill Elementary. We were told that it was down to some of his last days and i was then able to make the most of those days. On Sunday mornings over the past year and half dad and i would fix us a cup of coffee and then head to the nursing home to visit with PawPaw before we would head to church. The ladies at Sandy Ridge Nursing home were like family over the last year. There were there like clock work. They all called him Poppa, and loved him as if he really was. Dad and uncle Robert were up there from 2-3 times a days and knew all the ladies up there. Over that time period we adopted many aunts up there. These ladies always made sure that he had whatever he needed and most of all he loved that he could gives out hugs and kisses. Everytime I would visit he would always be like this is my new girlfriend here and it was a different one every time. Those women all hold a very special place in our hearts. Some even came to visit him when he was moved to the hospital a few different times. They all made the time spent there easier. He is being reunited with MawMaw now after seven and half years apart, and over 53 years of being married. They are reunited and along with many other friends and family members. He is now looking down over all of us and laughing at us and when we ( i know i will) have our stubborn moments he will be like yes they received that from me! haha but i wouldn't trade that trait from him in the world. Thank goodnes I was a girl because his idea for a boys name was William Robert( after his name and my other grandfathers) and then to be nicknamed Billy-Bob! So I like the nickname of Mikey better than that for sure! This is going to be a rough few weeks to months for the family, especially us here who are used to going to Sandy Ridge all the time and things like that. We all know that he is in a better place. I am blessed to know that on his final hours that morning i was able to spend by his side before i went to church. I Love you PawPaw