Birthday Party Day!

Cayden has his party today, and he was having a ball jumping and playing with his friends. I got a couple of good shots of him and Shelby.

This Mimi still can't believe he is four years old. I love you sweet boy.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET CAYDEN!!

Mimi and PawPaw are just amazed at how fast you have grown up. On the day you were born, there were a bunch of us waiting at the hospital on pins and needles waiting to meet you for the first time. This is you the day you came home from the hospital wearing the sweet little outfit I made you.

I know the angels in heaven must have been singing a very special song on that day because everytime we look at you, you make our hearts sing with your beautiful smiles.

Your smiles light up the darkest night. You have already touched so many people in your young life with your outstanding personality. We know you will continue to make us proud way beyond our dreams for you.

We love you so much, and we wish that today we could get some of those bear hugs and mushy kisses. We will see you on Saturday for your birthday party.

Hugs and kisses,

Mimi and PawPaw

Memories...

I don't know what in the world made me think of this, but when I sit in church my mind roams to a thousand places. However, I did listen to the sermon.

I've been cleaning out some things, and ran across some old photos, and I suppose this brought back some memories of my childhood. I can remember as far back as before I started to school when we lived in Monroe. My dad had his own business, and therefore, life in general was always a struggle. Even though my mom worked hard, she would try to sew for me some. I can remember that she made me those little eyelet panties that everyone pays $8 to $15 for these days depending on if they are monogrammed or what. She made them to save money, so that must mean material was really cheap. I know at that time all she had was a treadle machine, and the task must have been even harder.

I can also remember when winter changed to spring/summer, and Mama would try to put shorts on me that I would scream and holler because I didn't want anyone to see my legs.

Then when I was 6, and right before I started first grade, we moved to Bossier City. Times were still always a struggle for us. At that time, all I wore was dresses to school. I can remember my Mama taking me to town (which was downtown Shreveport on the bus) to try on dresses. She would pay down and put them on layaway for about 3 months. During that time she would take all of my dresses from the year before, wash them, and lay them out on the bed. There was a black lady that had girls younger than me, and she would always come and buy my old dresses mostly for $1.00 to $.50 a piece. Mama would take that money and help pay on my new dresses.

I can't remember much about shoes except that when I got a new pair of "Sunday shoes" I felt like a princess. I would wear them until they killed my toes because if I remember right I think I only got one pair a year, if that. After they started getting scuffed, I was allowed to wear them to school some days. Oh yes, I think I wore black and white saddle oxfords to school back then. I can now remember polishing the white part when they got scuffed.

Life has sure changed since then. I can remember when we didn't have a TV, and when we got that black and white TV we thought we had moved to Hollywood. Plus, we were lucky if we got all 3 channels, and most of the time they had static. Oh my, life is definitely different now. My kids can only imagine.

FIRST OFFICIAL DAY OF RETIREMENT!!

Yes, it is finally here! Yesterday was my last day of school. I think my kids were a little confused. Some of them thought I was coming back, or coming back to sub. Finally someone asked if I was getting paid, so I think they were worried that I wouldn't have any money.

On Monday afternoon, my school staff gave me a wonderful retirement party. I was so over whelmed. They bought me three beautiful pieces of Arthur court. The middle school staff that I used to work with brought me a card with a Hancock's gift card and money. That was so sweet of them.

Several of my kids brought me gifts, and many of them made me sweet cards. On Wednesday, the fifth grade teachers cooked lunch for me. It was wonderful potato soup, salad, and dessert. We have always enjoyed our lunches when someone had a birthday.

Clay took us all out to dinner last night to Jan's restaurant. I have always loved their fish, but the fish was terrible. Everything else was good, and at least we had a good time being together.

So I've had pretty much a week of celebrating. Now on this very cold windy morning, I got to stay in bed. It seems more like a sick day. I guess it will eventually sink in.

It was sad leaving my friends. Some I have taught with (side by side) for 10 years, and some I've known the whole 20 years. I hope we can all keep in touch.

So now to another chapter in my life, and a new year which I hope is filled with blessing for all of us, and for all of you.

Love you all,
Shirley

Eight months ago today...

Sometimes it seems like forever, and sometimes it seems like yesterday since my surgery. I would love to post some pics of what I looked like then, but I know some people would never believe it was me!

I have 6 more school days until official retirement. I'm so glad, and also so exhausted from trying to get everything done before I leave.

Thanks to all of you that have continued to pray for me. I could never have made it this far without all of your prayers. I go back in Feb. for my labs and tests, so please keep praying. I had a little scare this week with a little place on my tongue, but Dr. Ghali says it's on the "skin" side, and would be highly unlikely to be the "C" word. I think it was just a little dead tissue from the graft.

Hugs to all

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

I'm a day late, but we were gone all day yesterday to Delhi to visit with some old pageant friends. It was the first time in a long while, and we had such a great time, and some good food.

Emily did a year in review on her blog yesterday, and I want to share it with those of you that come and read. It was very emotional for me, but also makes me realize how blessed I am to have such a great family and so much support.

http://1prince1princess.blogspot.com/

I could have never made it this far without them, and so many other special people in my life. I'm not as good as expressing myself like Emily is, but just wanted to say I love you all very much, and God put you in my life for various special reasons. I hope I can give back to you just a little of what you have given to me.

Two weeks from today I will be AT HOME. My FIRST day of RETIREMENT. WOO HOO! Let me see, what do I need to plan for that day? Maybe nothing!!

I'm praying each and every one of you has a blessed year, and that you stay healthy. The older you get, the more you appreciate your health.

Love to all,
Shirley