A beautiful Life

About a month ago, we had a family friend who passed away. Dustin Demo, he was one of Robby's childhood friends and his family was also close to Robby. Dustin left behind a family who loved him and a son who adored him. I had only known Dustin for the last 4 1/2 years; however he was still someone who would have done anything for me, Robby, or Eleanor.

The funeral was sad, as most of them are, however I found myself going back in time......the time that my brother passed away. It is hard to bury your big brother, no matter how old or young you are. At the funeral the priest spoke about how Dustin had saved his little sister's life. This struck a chord with me. How unselfish he must have been to do this for his little sister, and how he would do it again if he could.

This young man reminded me of my brother Greg for many reasons.

My brother Greg always wanted to take care of everyone. He never met a stranger and he was there to make you laugh and listen to you even when no direct words were spoken. Greg battled with mental issues in his adult life. We were unaware of these issues at the time, but soon realized it was a battle in which professional help was needed. My parents went through such agony and emotions trying to help, comfort and understand this disease which had taken the soul of their child. I was still young, but we all had to rally together to understand the nastiness of the inner demons in which Greg faced daily.

I will always say that my brother was a strong individual, not just physically but mentally as well. Life is not always easy, and Lord knows there are curve balls along the way however how you handle those charts your character. Greg's character: Funny, Charming, Hardworking, Easy going, and Loving. I am most proud of the loving part. He might not have uttered the words, "I love you," but his actions said, "I love to always and would do anything for you." This action means much more than words can describe.

As I wrap up this entry, I will say that today I know that Greg was here, here in Eleanor's dream. Every day when she wakes up from her nap, we sit in the chair and I ask her questions. Like, how was your nap, what did you dream about, did you dream about, grandparents, parents, cousins, aunts/uncles. She answers back with some rambling child speak, today when I got to Uncle Greg, there was no child speak. She looked at me and said "hug...pat, pat, pat and then gave me a kiss." This was my sign that Uncle Greg is her special angel.

Happy Birthday Greg, we love you always.

Mama Thelma's Final Sunset

A week ago today we buried my mama Thelma. The day was a different type of day for me. I have strong feelings of fear when it comes to death and viewing dead bodies. However, I had no trouble viewing my mama Thelma. She looked peaceful and happy (i know ironic to say, but true to see). My mom and I were at the funeral home just she and I for about 30 minutes. In that 30 minutes, many people just "popped" in to say their last goodbyes. I took this as a touching time. People didn't have to stop and they didn't know that we would be there, they stopped because Mama Thelma meant so much to them.

Mama Thelma as I suspected had touched many people's lives in her 99 years. She was called, Thelma, Mama Thelma, Mrs. Thelma, and Mrs. Sandridge. Everyone who came to the viewing/funeral had so many positive words to say. What I took was a sense of empowerment that I think Mama Thelma left me.

Mama Thelma had women's rights before women knew they were worth more than just housework and raising babies. Mama Thelma knew you had to save money to make money and that you helped out children and mothers. Mama Thelma was forward thinking to say the least. Each one of her daughters is so privilege to have had such a leader in their mother. I was blessed to have a strong grandmother.

On the way to the grave site. One thing stuck out to me. We as a family were following Mama Thelma. Mama Thelma was short in height but strong in personality and life. She could put fear in you all while loving you in the same sentence. She lead her family down the right path and counseled many others. The people at that spoke said the same thing. Ms. Thelma was always there to listen to anyone at anytime. Never judging, just listening. If we all can have this same attitude our lives will be enhance and surrounded by people who love us.

I will miss my Mama Thelma, but I know that she has left her mark on me. She shall never be forgotten, only remembered with happy stories. She is now resting next to her husband, how she would want to be.....under the big tree.

Mama Thelma's final resting place...under the big tree

In memory of my MAMA THELMA

My mama Thelma, was the strongest and smartest person I have ever known. Not because she went to Harvard or was considered to be a millionaire, but because she led the right life with no regrets.

A little background on my mama Thelma, she had six children (five girls and one boy), she had been a widow for the last 46 years. She lived in this little white house...on the hill

I have many wonderful memories of my mama Thelma. She was the one who watched me when I was little and everyday we watched Days of our Lives. I suspect that any of us who were cared for by our grandmothers watched some sort of soap opera. However, my best memory of her is, going deep in the woods and picking blackberries. We would pick a bowl full of them, take them back to her. She would make the freshest blackberry clobber ever. The left over berries, we would get to dip them in sugar and eat them. This is how our summers were spent. Together at Mama Thelma's with family.

My mama Thelma listened to everyone, she was my grandmother, and a lot of other people's too. She was the person that when the world didn't think you had any worth, Mama Thelma found the good in you and made you feel whole again. She loved with her actions and her words.

She was only 5 foot tall on a good day, but her strength made her feel like she was 6'5. She believed in discipline and explained why. No timeouts or counting to 3, she told you once and you better do it the first time cause you would get a switch to the bottom. No SRS, this was love to help you become a better person, and that it did.

I feel very special that my mama Thelma got to see meet my husband Robby, hold my daughter Eleanor and see me graduate high school and college. 



You save more than you spend, you should always help out children, and be sweet to everyone. These were a few of Mama Thelma's great sayings.

We are now down to just 3 generations, but my mama Thelma is watching over the family she left here on earth. I feel a little sense of peace knowing that my mama Thelma is with my big brother Greg. They had a special bond that now is back together. She gets to see her two children and her husband. She is at peace and she left her girls, 56 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren memories for us to cherish forever.

365

I like to be a leader in most all aspects of my life. I enjoy trying new things and reporting back how the experience was. However, one this day one year ago I became a follower, I became a part of the motherhood crew.
I really had few expectations of what motherhood would be like, I just knew this was going to change our lives forever.....and it has.
My original due date was May 9, 2010. We had taken all the classes and had just gotten the babies room ready. We were doing major home construction, and that too had just finished, so we had been able to move back upstairs from the basement.

I got off work at 8pm, came home ate dinner and watched Law and Order, went to bed, only to be woken up because......my water had broken. Noway was this true, my due date was May 9, not April 9th. I had a baby shower planned for the weekend and still had three weeks left of "me time" A couple of hours went by and then we decided to go ahead to the hospital so they could tell us "false alarm." Much to our surprise, they did, send us back home, only two days later with Eleanor Allyn. There was no false alarm, she was ready to meet her mommy and daddy.

Motherhood/Parenthood has been great, has brought out areas of us in which I never knew we each had. We have both enjoyed it. Who would have thought that watching a little creature explore and learn could be so rewarding. The best I think it just watching her sleep (which she sleeps just like her daddy).

Eleanor Allyn has a special place in our hearts. Not only is she our first born child, but her middle name is after two men I admire most. My father, Glenn Allen and my brother Gregory Allen. Robby and I thought it only fitting that our little fighter Miss Eleanor have such a special middle name. We know that Greg looks down on her daily and watches his third niece grow into a toddler.

Mommy and the new Miss Eleanor

Daddy and Dr. Craddock

First bath (forgot how tiny she was)

Can you really remember when she had straight hair? HA

Merry Christmas everyone



photo shoot




Good morning




First Snow

First swim

Happy Thanksgiving

Mommy's seventh marathon

A walk down memory lane. So excited to make more memories with our family. I shall post again, as the time is near where I am sure she will start walking soon. STRESS.

First Snow

Yes this is titled first snow. Why? Because I am just now getting around to posting stuff again. I really don't understand why we can't have two seasons. Fall and Spring. Winter is depressing, cold, icy, and might I add it gets dark early. GROSS. Summer ( I would settle for 3 seasons to be honest). Summer, how much sweet tea can you drink? It's 9 o'clock and the sun is still out and I need to go to bed. I might sweat out my new hairstyle or better yet through my clothes. Whatever your fancy is, enjoy.

We here in the land of oz, were pounded almost blizzard weather. Blizzard on my dramatic scale. But snow and wind all the same.

Eleanor would stare out of the window and just look at the snow. She told me "mommy, I just want some sunshine." I felt so bad cause I couldn't give her sunshine. I was always worried that the power was going to go out, we would run out of food, or worst case I would have no Internet. No happened as such. However at one point I did think we might get attacked by the ducks. Really, they covered the whole backyard, for those that know me really well, know that I do hate when things attack!

Overall, I would say that I am so happy spring is almost here. Everything feels better in the spring time.

Once a Man, Twice a Child (99 years and counting)

No for all of you worldly scholars I am not Jewish, but I will reference a Rabbi to bring

this weekly blog full circle.

My mother told me that my Mama Thelma (my grandma) recently said "Once a Man, Twice a Child." I took some time and really thought about what she meant. I finally figured it out.
We each come into to this world as small, helpless, dependent children, we become adults and lead independent lives, only to later have someone take care of us. If we are lucky we will have ourselves surrounded by our family and friends as we grow older.

Today our little girl is 9 months old. Who knew that 9 months could go so fast when you aren't pregnant. I think when you are pregnant the same 9 months are multiplied and time slows down. I move on.....

Today, my Mama Thelma is 99 years old. This dynamic woman has witnessed what the history books speak about. My Mama Thelma raised five girls, buried her husband and a son. She saw World War 1 and 2, Prohibition, the Ku Klux Klan form, the invention of the television and suffered through the Great Depression. She was a young lady when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, along when we dropped the "Atomic Bomb" on Japan. She apart of, The Civil Rights Movement and witnessed the first man in space. She prayed for forgiveness of those men who assassinated President John F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. A grandson, named Rodney was born during her time as well and in this same year she watched the first man  land on the moon. She witnessed 9/11 and the biggest political overcome yet to happen....



Barack Obama, first biracial president in United States History

Mama Thelma has a good bill of health for the most part. She takes one over the counter pill a month, she has great long term memory and 85% good short term memory as well. If I am 99 years of age
and can have half the amount of memory she has I will feel accomplished.

Mama Thelma has taught me many things. Never let excuses stop you, always save some money when you get paid, pay your bills on time, take care of all children and abused women. Give money to a charity no matter how much , and surround yourself with good people and then your family. Cause you can't pick your family so you just accept them, but you can choose your friends. Believe in yourself and put God first.



4 generations

The Year that was.....

2010 has came and gone. 2011 is here and everyone wants to start off right. "New Year's Resolutions," are funny, cause after February most people are back to their old ways. I will jump on this bandwagon as well. My resolution is to be a better friend, a great mom and wife, and a daughter/sister/aunt who everyone wants to be around.

I am making Eleanor's resolution as well, she will continue to grow, and learn how to walk. SIMPLE.

Now let's recap 2010........

January - home construction (really, the pregnant one had to waddle through construction)

February - more home construction (really, really had to waddle)

March - still more home construction (please construction boys stop saying my name and asking questions)

April - lives forever changed. Introduced Eleanor Allyn into the world (TAX DAY. 15.April)

yes, this is me drugged up and holding eleanor.

May- first road trip for Eleanor. Arkansas bound (State 1)

eleanor, great, great mama thelma (99 years old in january), mimi jean, and mommy

June- my 33rd birthday

friends since grade school. natalie, tonya, me, and aine.

July - second road trip for Eleanor. Arkansas bound. first plane ride for Eleanor, death of Grandma Lane. Flew to Illinois (State 2).

grandma lane

August- 3rd wedding anniversary. third road trip for Eleanor. Texas bound (State 3)

September - Robby's 34th birthday. Eleanor's baptism

October - fourth road trip for Eleanor. Mississippi bound (State 4)
November - another road trip for Eleanor. Arkansas bound for Thanksgiving and a little football!

the family

December - fifth trip for Eleanor, Florida bound (State 5). Seventh full marathon

mimi jean mommy, eleanor, daddy and grandpa robert

I would say that overall, we are blessed with a good family and good friends. I have found a new travel buddy in little miss Eleanor. We have a new child to help raise and mold. We look forward to taking this experience all in and making time for our family.


our family christmas morning