I know the last post was all about Alley but I wanted to post a few pictures we took of her birthday celebrations. She awoke to find a new bike in the living room and then she got ready to go out to lunch at a fancy restaurant with Mimi. I worked on her triple layer Red Velvet cake while she was gone! Then, we had cake and ice cream at Mimi and Grandpa's house that night with all of us and Great Grandma Burton, too. We had an official birthday meal for her on Saturday since she was too full from her nice lunch on her actual birthday to enjoy a good meal! I'm not sure if we have any pictures of that part but I think she had a pretty good birthday. She is holding up two hands in a couple pics, showing TEN fingers for TEN years...we told her this is the last year she can do that!
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Sunday, August 24, 2008
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Happy 10th Birthday, Alley!
Wow! What a lightning fast ten years! Ten years ago today, August 14th, 1998, Alley Caroline Branson was born and our lives have never been the same. She was due on August 23rd but when I went to the doctor on August 13th for my regular check-up, the doctor decided that I should be induced the next morning because she was "big, at least 8 lbs." I was young and inexperienced so I trusted him. We weren't even quite finished with our childbirth classes we were taking at the hospital. We went that night and borrowed a video so we could watch ahead and be ready for the next day! Michael, my mom and I headed to the hospital at 6 am the next day. I remember sitting there while we finished checking in and knowing that my life was about to change big-time and I am so glad it did! We didn't know then whether we were going to welcome a boy or girl into our lives but we were very excited, this being our first child as well as the first grandchild and great grandchild.
I had a funny doctor who made the scary experience of first time childbirth a little easier and thanks to an epidural, it was pretty much pain free. I even slept through some contractions! The doctor guessed the baby would be born by 1:00pm and the nurses thought it would be 3:00. She proved everyone wrong and came at 5:12! I was closely watching the scale to see how much this "big" baby weighed and was surprised to see that she was only 6 pounds 4 ounces! We were all amazed by her and were enjoying watching her but when the shift changed, the new nurse said she heard fluid in her lungs. They then took her to the NICU and hooked her up to some machines. They said she was okay but we didn't get to hold her. I pumped milk and took tiny little amounts to the nursery for them to give her with a dropper. I got to sit in there with her at night some. I finally got to hold her on Saturday morning but Michael didn't get to until Sunday morning. She was so tiny! She had a few other minor issues so we had to stay an extra day in the hospital but then she was cleared to go home. We were living with my parents for a few months then until we moved back to Bristol so we went to their house where my mom and sisters gladly helped with Alley and let me get some much needed sleep!
She got plenty of attention and grew quickly, even getting a little chubby. She had a few ear infections and almost choked on something once and scared us half to death but she was a real joy to us all. She has always been a "drama queen" and now she is teaching her younger sisters to be the same way!
I really can't believe she has finished a decade of life already. I know the next ten years will pass faster than these have and before I know it, she will be leaving our house to move into her own. It is my prayer that she will be a godly young woman who wants nothing more than to "walk in a manner worthy of the gospel". I know I don't have too many years left to help prepare her for all the tasks and trials that lie ahead so I know I need to depend upon God now and in the future...it's all in His hands, not mine, anyway.
She is a huge help to me, especially with a 4 month old sister around. She is talented in drawing and singing and she likes to read, stand on her head, put on plays with her brother and sister, and watch old Andy Griffith episodes. She doesn't like to do chores or schoolwork but she does anyway! She likes baked potatoes for supper, Cream of Wheat for breakfast (or pancakes), she likes to paint her toenails and fix her hair and coordinate all her accessories! She wants to learn to sew and just recently sewed a pillowcase as a birthday gift for Liam with Aunt Jana's help. She is a beautiful girl, inside and out, and we love her very much. We can't imagine life without her.
(In case you've never heard why she is named "Alley"...Alley was my maternal great-grandmother's maiden name and Alley was born the year my great grandma turned 90. My great grandma was the oldest daughter in her family, my grandma was oldest, my mom was oldest, I was oldest and Alley was oldest...5 generations!)
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Last Day in Single Digits!
Tomorrow, August 13, is Alley's LAST day to be 9 years old! On Thursday, she will be 10 years old!! It is a big milestone to complete a whole decade of life and begin a new one that will be filled with many more changes. She is really growing up but I am not going to say too much now since I am planning a longer post for her birthday. She mentioned earlier today that she only had one more day to be 9 so I thought I would commemorate that on here for her!
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Grandpa Burton
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Monday July 28, 2008 was a day that I have dreaded for most of my life. Until that day came, I did not know what the calendar date would be but ever since I understood what death was, I have dreaded the day that I would lose my Grandpa Burton to death. I am still dreading losing my other grandparents and I know I have been extremely blessed by God to reach age thirty before facing a loss of this kind. He was 84 years old but his death was sudden and unexpected. This has been an unspeakably hard week for me and for my family but God is good. He has given us all strength to make it through these hard days and He has even helped me to see many things for which I am thankful.
* I am thankful that my Grandpa lived 84 years. He had a heart attack in 1992 and another scare a few years ago but he survived both times and he was able to live long enough to see his grandchildren reach adulthood and to see seven of his great grandchildren.
* I am thankful that he lived his 84 years fully up until the very end. The last thing he did was cut the grass on that Monday afternoon. He could still drive wherever they needed to go and he could still fix things and make things. He had an almost finished stained glass butterfly on his work table, lacking just three pieces.
* I am thankful for the 60 years of marriage my grandparents had together. Their 60th anniversary would have been on September 24 of this year, less than two months from now. They had a 4 day trip to Branson, MO planned to celebrate.
* I am thankful that Grandpa never had to give up the things he loved to do. He loved to sit in his recliner and take cat naps and work crossword puzzles but he could never sit still long. He was usually outside, in the basement, or helping Grandma clean up the kitchen. I heard he recently climbed up on his roof and cleaned his own gutters!
* I am thankful that Grandpa didn't have a long painful illness that caused him to suffer or to live his last days in pain.
* I am thankful that there never came a day that he didn't recognize our faces or my grandma's face and that he never had to move into a nursing home. He would never have wanted to be a burden on anyone.
* I am thankful for the precious memories we have, even though I always assumed I would have more notice when it was time to say good-bye. That part has been hard but I know God knows best.
* I am thankful that my entire family was together this week as we celebrated his life. During the funeral service, my sisters, three of my cousins, and I read letters to Grandpa that we wrote to him during the days before the funeral. They were amazing testimonies of a wonderful, godly man who loved and served God and his family. People at the funeral who had never met him felt like they knew him and wanted to be more like him when that hour was over.
* I am thankful for pictures and old photo albums who faithfully guard our memories until we need to pull them out during days like these.
* I am thankful that our family moved to Kansas City exactly two years ago to be closer to family and for all the little visits we had, especially our lunches at Grandpa and Grandma's house. We went there for lunch just a few weeks ago and Grandpa cut and served Liam's favorite, Cheeseburger meatloaf. I am thankful I didn't know that was the last time I would eat a meal with Grandpa or hold his hand and hear him pray.
* I am thankful my mom and dad sold their house in Bristol in time to be here in Kansas City for the last 6 months and that my dad stopped by for a visit with Grandpa and Grandma just an hour or so before he died.
* I am thankful my Grandpa got to eat catfish, steak, and chocolate in the last month of his life and that he was able to attend a patriotic service where he was honored with other veterans for their service to our country a month before his death.
* I am thankful that he didn't pass away ON someone's birthday, since we had 4 birthdays in the family in the 10 day period between July 26-August 4. God's timing is perfect. If he had passed away two weeks before he did, my dad would have been in Washington on business, a week before and my cousin would have been in Hawaii, a week later than he did and my uncle would have been in Florida on business.
* I am thankful that the air conditioning in my van didn't go out on our rushed trip home from Alabama, slowing us down by a day, and that it hung in there during the funeral days so I could get where I needed to be with all 4 of my kids.
* I am thankful for all the things my grandpa made for me over the years that will help keep him alive in my heart for years to come and that my children will have concrete reminders of him. He made a cradle for me 30 years ago and all 4 of my kids have used it, too. He made me a few stained glass pieces and a toybox and a keepsake chest. He recently made a wooden step stool for Dresden and my two nieces and nephew with their names on them.
* I am thankful for so many more things, too....don't be surprised if you find little things about him on this blog for many months to come. This is the first time death has hit me so close to home and it's going to take awhile to adjust to life with a huge hole in it.
* Lastly, I am thankful for the hope we have in Christ. Because of Christ, I know I will see my grandpa again someday and I know that my grandpa is rejoicing in being in the presence of Christ and resting in Him! I am thankful for the reminder at the graveside service that in this vapor of life, we walk through the valley of the SHADOW of death and that this separation is only temporary. Praise God for His unspeakable gift of Christ, enabling us to fellowship in Him for all eternity!
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Monday July 28, 2008 was a day that I have dreaded for most of my life. Until that day came, I did not know what the calendar date would be but ever since I understood what death was, I have dreaded the day that I would lose my Grandpa Burton to death. I am still dreading losing my other grandparents and I know I have been extremely blessed by God to reach age thirty before facing a loss of this kind. He was 84 years old but his death was sudden and unexpected. This has been an unspeakably hard week for me and for my family but God is good. He has given us all strength to make it through these hard days and He has even helped me to see many things for which I am thankful.
* I am thankful that my Grandpa lived 84 years. He had a heart attack in 1992 and another scare a few years ago but he survived both times and he was able to live long enough to see his grandchildren reach adulthood and to see seven of his great grandchildren.
* I am thankful that he lived his 84 years fully up until the very end. The last thing he did was cut the grass on that Monday afternoon. He could still drive wherever they needed to go and he could still fix things and make things. He had an almost finished stained glass butterfly on his work table, lacking just three pieces.
* I am thankful for the 60 years of marriage my grandparents had together. Their 60th anniversary would have been on September 24 of this year, less than two months from now. They had a 4 day trip to Branson, MO planned to celebrate.
* I am thankful that Grandpa never had to give up the things he loved to do. He loved to sit in his recliner and take cat naps and work crossword puzzles but he could never sit still long. He was usually outside, in the basement, or helping Grandma clean up the kitchen. I heard he recently climbed up on his roof and cleaned his own gutters!
* I am thankful that Grandpa didn't have a long painful illness that caused him to suffer or to live his last days in pain.
* I am thankful that there never came a day that he didn't recognize our faces or my grandma's face and that he never had to move into a nursing home. He would never have wanted to be a burden on anyone.
* I am thankful for the precious memories we have, even though I always assumed I would have more notice when it was time to say good-bye. That part has been hard but I know God knows best.
* I am thankful that my entire family was together this week as we celebrated his life. During the funeral service, my sisters, three of my cousins, and I read letters to Grandpa that we wrote to him during the days before the funeral. They were amazing testimonies of a wonderful, godly man who loved and served God and his family. People at the funeral who had never met him felt like they knew him and wanted to be more like him when that hour was over.
* I am thankful for pictures and old photo albums who faithfully guard our memories until we need to pull them out during days like these.
* I am thankful that our family moved to Kansas City exactly two years ago to be closer to family and for all the little visits we had, especially our lunches at Grandpa and Grandma's house. We went there for lunch just a few weeks ago and Grandpa cut and served Liam's favorite, Cheeseburger meatloaf. I am thankful I didn't know that was the last time I would eat a meal with Grandpa or hold his hand and hear him pray.
* I am thankful my mom and dad sold their house in Bristol in time to be here in Kansas City for the last 6 months and that my dad stopped by for a visit with Grandpa and Grandma just an hour or so before he died.
* I am thankful my Grandpa got to eat catfish, steak, and chocolate in the last month of his life and that he was able to attend a patriotic service where he was honored with other veterans for their service to our country a month before his death.
* I am thankful that he didn't pass away ON someone's birthday, since we had 4 birthdays in the family in the 10 day period between July 26-August 4. God's timing is perfect. If he had passed away two weeks before he did, my dad would have been in Washington on business, a week before and my cousin would have been in Hawaii, a week later than he did and my uncle would have been in Florida on business.
* I am thankful that the air conditioning in my van didn't go out on our rushed trip home from Alabama, slowing us down by a day, and that it hung in there during the funeral days so I could get where I needed to be with all 4 of my kids.
* I am thankful for all the things my grandpa made for me over the years that will help keep him alive in my heart for years to come and that my children will have concrete reminders of him. He made a cradle for me 30 years ago and all 4 of my kids have used it, too. He made me a few stained glass pieces and a toybox and a keepsake chest. He recently made a wooden step stool for Dresden and my two nieces and nephew with their names on them.
* I am thankful for so many more things, too....don't be surprised if you find little things about him on this blog for many months to come. This is the first time death has hit me so close to home and it's going to take awhile to adjust to life with a huge hole in it.
* Lastly, I am thankful for the hope we have in Christ. Because of Christ, I know I will see my grandpa again someday and I know that my grandpa is rejoicing in being in the presence of Christ and resting in Him! I am thankful for the reminder at the graveside service that in this vapor of life, we walk through the valley of the SHADOW of death and that this separation is only temporary. Praise God for His unspeakable gift of Christ, enabling us to fellowship in Him for all eternity!
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