I decided to
open my blog today.
I was
surprised that our journey hadn't been updated since June 2014. I write posts and share pictures on Facebook frequently,
but I love this blog, and I've seriously neglected it!
It was hard
to get past the unfinished post from late August, attempting to share my
daddy’s journey from heart surgery to death.
Everything still reminds me of him, and that he isn't here. As if I needed that reminder that I miss him
so much. Maybe one day I can finish the
story, and maybe I could even write a story about him and not about his death.
Today, however, is not that day. I
can’t even get through this paragraph without the tears flowing, without the
painful heartbreak his loss brings me.
He was my person, my most favorite in this world. The one and only person that loved me
unconditionally for all 39 of my years, even when I was hard to love. He loved me and was always there for me, no
matter what. I’m told it will get
easier. Not to accept his loss, but to
focus on his life, the great man that he was.
I hope that day comes.
So there’s
that. In the midst of that terrible
memory, however, there have been many other significant events that have taken
place since my last post. Jacob started
chemotherapy again, began his senior year, and completed his Eagle Scout
rank. Jacob’s Eagle Scout project was
awarded the Suwannee River Area Council’s 2014 Eagle Scout Project of the Year
award, which is such a huge accomplishment for him! Brie is now a junior at Leon, has a great job
at Target, and is driving!! TD accepted
another promotion, moving back to his first career “home” in Finance and
Accounting, started running faithfully, and will join me in welcoming a new
baby boy, Grady, come August 2015! Along
with our new pregnancy, I completed my 10 month, 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training
Certification and have had the privilege of teaching yoga at Badass Fitness and
Journeys in Yoga over the past few months.
We also moved and have a new-to-us home in our most beloved area of
Tallahassee.
It seems
like so long ago, but I guess it happened since the last post, too! Gavin started Kindergarten! Oh my goodness, with a bang! We love his school (Roberts Elementary), his
teacher is fantastic and we have already been on two field trips. In October, we took a trip to the Pumpkin
Farm in Gadsden County, and last month we enjoyed the play “Cinderella” at the
Young Actors Theater. G’s first report
cards have been all “A’s” (which makes Daddy proud), he’s earned 5 Toe Tokens
in PE (which makes Gavin and Jacob proud) and he’s brought home some pretty
impressive artwork (which makes Mommy and Brie-Brie proud)!
Gavin was
tested and accepted into gifted and began his first gifted classes in
January. Gifted is held at his school
and he goes every day for an hour or so.
He seems to love it so far, and Daddy couldn’t be more excited for
him! Gavin easily makes friends and
although his work skills are always rated excellent, his talking gets him into
a bit of trouble (like his mommy J).
He even called himself a “chatterbox” at dinner last week. Those words never came from my mouth!
As for sports, G is still in Truesdell’s Rocket
man gymnastics three days a week, is currently playing soccer on the City of
Tallahassee Roberts Strikers and made his first two goals this past Saturday, and
will start Atom League Baseball at the end of next month. His favorite activity is still to RUN! I was a proud mommy watching him finish his
first swim-run in July for the TTY. He
ran the Miller Madness Cross Country 3K in October and raised a lot of money
and even earned some prizes for his school’s Boosterthon, running all 36 laps. On January 24th, Gavin took 2nd
place in the 1 mile race for his age group (0-6) at the Trent Trot 5K and 1
mile. The run was held at his school and
raised funds for Trent’s Childhood Cancer Foundation. In the afternoon you can always find Gavin
and Jacob in the front yard playing football.
G is a beast throwing and catching the football, but I do not want him
to play such a rough sport. No judgment,
please. I just can’t handle it!
Our Doodlebug isn't only smart and athletic, but also funny and sweet. Just this morning I found my tooth brush
hidden in my jewelry box, and I can see him pausing at school, giggling to
himself, thinking that I may be going all day with fuzzy teeth! Yes, I just used daddy’s tooth brush if you
were wondering J! My other treasure
was hid well, on my nightstand. I
discovered an ancient parchment (a sticky note) that says, “I love you with all
my heart,” compliments of
Gavin. He frequently puts his head on my
belly and says, “I can’t wait for our baby to come.” This week he is
now calling baby by name. Don’t get me
wrong, he can be too rough, choose not to listen, and gets super grumpy, but we
love all of those things about him, too.
The little person that he is growing into leaves us feeling very proud
and grateful. Gavin is the most amazing
child, the sunshine in our lives.
Obviously
Gavin was the best subject to start my writing again! We’ll end this as one of those to-be-continued
stories…
We loved
having family visit in January and look forward to even more company now that
we have a house that can actually sit a few adults! We have lots of Spring plans, including
building a swing arbor and expanding our garden, continuing (more like
finishing) some home improvements, and taking Gavin to Sea World for his
birthday. There will be plenty to write
about once the temperature rises!
As always, thank you for reading and following our family’s journey!
A few photos from January 2015!!
