Prayers Please

Yesterday I received bad news. My cousin's twelve year old daughter, Ashley was struck by a car while crossing the street to catch the bus. As of now she is is critical condition. They have a drain in her head to help alleviate the pressure in her brain and her lungs are severely bruised. They have kept her in a comatose state. We don't know what is going to happen and the doctors say it will take a few more days of watching and waiting til they can know what to do. Anyone who reads this blog whether you are a follower or just happen to come across it please take a few moments to pray for her and my entire family. Since October we have been dealing with the loss of My aunt Debbie (Ashley's Grandmother) and our grandmothers husband had a quadruple bypass. I just wonder how much more our family can take. Please pray for our strength to get through anything that comes our way. Please make a special prayer for Ashley to to recover fully. Pray that her Parents will remain strong and hopeful. And also please pray for the women who was driving the car. It was not her fault it was just a freak accident, I am sure she could use some prayers too.
I have been thinking a lot since yesterday at how quickly things can turn for the worse. And every time I had to raise my voice to my kids or scold them for something, a tiny voice inside my head said to me "can't you just let this one go? who knows how much time you have left?" I quietly bowed my head and said yet another prayer for Ashley, but also I thanked God for my children and for how much he has blessed me with them and asked him to watch over them and keep them safe. Yesterdays news was a reminder that even though they are young, they can be taken from us at any moment. I will now try and fully enjoy my children, temper tantrums and all.

Christmas Thoughts

This Christmas is going to be tough. It will be my very first without my family. I will miss the big family gatherings, the homemade chili on Christmas eve, The big family gift exchange that is always good for a laugh. I will miss watching my family open presents, and GULP, I will even miss the SNOW! (BUT ONLY ON CHRISTMAS)
It snowed here the other night (in Louisiana? yep) But of course it did not stick. Joe and I just sat on the front porch and watched it fall. I giggled a little :) I always took for granted having snow for the Holidays. I never thought how cheerful a fresh blanket of snow could be.
I never took my family for granted (and i hope that they know that). At times I miss them so much that my heart physically aches. I miss my Mom, her home cooked meals, her Christmas platters of goodies she always gave away, especially her Jalapeno cheese logs YUM! I miss my dad, he is always so caring and loving and can always bring a smile to your face. I miss my sister who is my Hero in every way. My Nieces and Nephew and the excitement they exude during the Holidays, they always make me laugh. I even miss the quiet nature of my brother in law. I will miss everything I have come to know over the last 25 years.
But gladly this Christmas won't be all about missing things and sadness. It would be far worse if we had moved somewhere where we knew no one. I am so thankful that Joe's family is here and that they are so welcoming and loving. I am excited to see what traditions they have and how much fun we will have.
I am also excited to begin some new traditions ourselves. Maybe making homemade cookies for Santa, or making some Christmas crafts as a family, or I might deviate from the opening all the presents on Christmas Eve (besides the ones Santa brings that night) and just wait til morning. But I have a feeling I won't have the patience for that one :) I am interested to know what fun Christmas traditions all you out there in Blog Land and your families share?
On an end note. I am so blessed to have my Husband and 3 little ones with me. To be surrounded by Love. And to know that I have already received the best gift of all.
Much Love to you all. Or should I say Y'all ( hey I'm southern now. lol.) And
MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Thanksgiving ( a little late, sorry)

Thanksgiving was fun. Not the same but fun. All of Joey's family here in Louisiana went to their other sides of family for the holiday so we just had a quiet holiday with ourselves. It was just Joe, the Kids, Myself, and Joey's Dad Vincent. I cooked my first Thanksgiving dinner all by myself, I was a little scared. But it turned out great. I cooked a turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, candied yams, and cornbread dressing. We also had store bought rolls, pumpkin pie, and pecan pie.

I had never cooked a turkey before, but a after some google-ing I had a pretty good idea of what to do (thank you google). It turned out great. And the cornbread dressing was just like my moms, so it made me feel good. But I did miss what I am use to. I have a huge family on my mom's side and usually after we eat everyone talks and laughs and jokes. But since it was just us it was so quiet it didn't feel natural. I am thankful that I have a big family. I miss them so much.

But being out here, so far away, is going to give us the opportunity to start new family traditions, and to become part of different ones with Joe's family. I am thankful that we do have family here. It would be so much harder if we didn't.

Simple Joys

Need I say more?

Admiration and some help

Ok, so I happen to follow two amazing photography blogs. Simmons Moments and Tiffany Morton Photography. And Everyday that they have a new post is like christmas to me. Kristi at Moments does the most beautiful family portraits I have ever seen. She is so creative and I Love Love Love the way she positions her subjects. And Tiffany, Oh Tiffany The way she photographs babies makes me want to have another just to get pictures taken by her. So all this Photography looking, and staring and obsessing over wants me to learn how to take better photos not for a professional reason just so I can take great photos of my little ones that I will cherish and look at and be proud of. So any suggestions? What cameras are best to learn with? Is photoshop elements enough to start out with? How do use natural light to my advantage? Help me I am dying to learn!! And I need a new creative outlet, Painting and drawing is hard for me to do right now because of the little ones, I can't leave anything out or it will just get ruined. I thought photography would be nice to just turn on the computer and do my thing. So please anyone with any advice I would love to hear it.

Happy Birthday Hayes

My sweet little baby turned one on Sunday. I can't believe a year has gone by so fast. I feel so blessed to have Hayes in my life. When I was pregnant with him, I was so worried that I wouldn't Love him, and that is hard for me to admit. The only reason why is because he came as a big surprise, at a time in my life when things were not doing well. Joe was having trouble sorting out his life, and the kids and I were left on the back burner. I spent the most of my pregnancy alone, without Joe. I left him when I was three months pregnant and feared how things would turn out. Joe came around, and did all that I asked to let him come back into our lives. And on November 8, 2008 Hayes was born, and all the worry and fear that I had been feeling washed away. When I heard him cry my heart swelled and I knew I would always Love him unconditionally. The past year he has brought so many smiles, laughs, and moments of Love. I am so blessed to have my family, and I thank the Lord that he gave us Hayes and that he gave Joe and I a second chance. I look forward to watching all my children grow, learn, and explore. So Happy Birthday baby Hayes, I will love you forever, look out for you for always, always and ever my baby you'll be.

November 8, 2009

November 8,2008

I love you Hayes Joseph Greco.

Love,

Mommy

Halloween 2009

So I am a little sad that the holiday is over. But the kids sure had fun. I had to work that night but fortunately it wasn't until 8 so I had time to spend with my kids. Ty wanted to be scary so he was a skeleton. Irie was a fairy princess but when I took pictures of them I forgot to put her wings on. I was so frazzled. I needed to get pics done, she was headed for a melt down and I knew she was going to have to nap before we went trick or treating. So in the pics just pretend she has wings. They both were a little ornery when it was time to go, but after we hit that first house and they realized what it was all about, they were all about the CANDY! And they said thank you without being told :)

It was also way nice to have a WARM Halloween. The kids got to go out just like this. No huge coats covering up there costumes. It was so fun. But we've already had to hide the candy.

Irie with her "happy face" pumpkin.

Ty with his "scary zombie face" pumpkin. I forgot, I have to right this down. At about the 3rd house we went to, This cute little old lady oohed and awed over the kids, and she was so sweet, as we were walking down the drive way Ty yells back over his shoulder "Happy Halloween, thanks for the candy, see you next week!" All of us were laughing. He says the funniest things lately. And some really bizzare things too.