Not sure where to start but the last two weeks have been ROUGH - plain and simple. We had such a wonderful family time away but we "crashed and burned" when we got home. Not sure if it was the fact we had packed in so much or the fact we weren't ready to come back to real life but we returned from "the happiest place on Earth" - back to our "reality" and it wasn't fun!
Sunday
Catherine, one of Ella's new BFFs and neighbors, came down to play with Ella so I could "homeschool" Caleb to catch him up from missing a week
Catherine got hurt at our house on the first time of coming over without her mom - but the Harrells were very gracious to us and promised they were not mad and she could come again - SHEW!
Boltons came by to get Camden's souvenir from Mickey and ate meatball subs with us (Craw's fav) as a thank you for taking care of the bunnies for us while we were away!
MONDAY - I get a call from Kent on Monday morning saying Mom had found Caleb's bunny Marshmellow dead and didn't know how to tell me. She was SO upset (and I didn't think she even liked the bunnies :)) We know that it wasn't "just a bunny" but a link to dad that we all grieved and we grieved HARD (Welcome Back from a bittersweet trip!)
Also to note - We came back to no heat (and it was cold back in NC), our whole house was literally BEEPING (not bleeping, I didn't cuss) because our smoke detector batteries were dead and some of our outside stuff had been blow around.
Tuesday
I had shared ALOT with Corey about my feelings and we were in a good place. He even cut my grapefruit, sprinkled it with sugar and left it for me this morning. Simple task but made me feel so loved! Also used my new "Chip" cup from Disney
#strugglebusbuthappy
Wednesday
Delay to school and we STILL managed to be late
Always time for Donuts even if it makes you go to school at 10:30
#lifeistooshort #eatdonuts
That afternoon I went to pick up a gift card (which I then lost and still have not found) but decided since we had all survived the day to get everyone their own milkshake - I needed the caffeine, and didn't want to share!
We had the Upwards Celebration that night for basketball and these two put on an AMAZING show!
Prizes - happy kids
The kids could see that Bailey had gotten MUCH worse since we returned from vacation - Ella saw a friend on Facebook had gotten this puppy and decided she wanted one too "when Bailey died of course" #thatgirl
Ella took it upon herself to make a list of good GIRL dog names, take a family vote and decide "Sparkle" was the new dog name (but also reminded us that Bailey was not yet dead and not to talk loud because we didn't want her to hear us - all lighthearted but thinking this kid is cold hearted BUT FUNNY!)
Thursday
Got to see my buddy Camden at BSF - lots of women who prayed for him got to meet him and he loved BSF - never whimpered
Our House was a MESS! Every room was full of clutter!
We had the "ridiculous" bunny funeral where Caleb planned every detail but we were unable to fulfill every detail. Long story short - I was ILL that night. Just ask Kent he said he was scared of me!
Friday
These girls called and asked us to meet them for ice cream after school
Stone/Brown/Taylor clan happy to be reunited again!
Boltons helped chaperone Camp Smores Creek EVEN after Audrey started back to work that week and had a wreck that night - true dedication.
Our kids LOVE the Boltons! I was trying to explain to the kids that we would not be bowling (we were going to the movies) BUT we would be back to spend the night and Boltons would be bowling if they needed anything. Caleb stopped me mid sentence and said "You know Craw is like my uncle right mom?" I assured him he was right and Craw would be there if he needed them.
#loveourframily
Audrey sent me the pic of Ella and her on the bus. Audrey asked Ella what was her favorite part about Disney and she replied "Well, is it okay if I tell you all of them?". LOVE THAT GIRL AND HER SENSE OF HUMOR!
Caleb and Nathan have become good buddies and we are SO thankful
Crazy Party Slumber Party with these kids at church!
Saturday
Leah didn't want to leave church after having SO much fun but we had to get going. Ella put her arm around Leah and said "OK" and simply started walking. Ella is a VERY sweet friend and I can already see she will have a heart for the hurting and less fortunate. She helps a little boy in her class who needs special help but makes sure we know that she doesn't want to marry him.
She also has really made a new Vietnam student feel better who just started her class and speaks no English. The counselor at New Hope came to the car this week to tell me that even though Ella could not communicate that she moved to sit with the new student (away from her friends) and smiled and waved to make sure the new student wasn't alone. This girl has found her calling. Her teacher called me this week to say how PRECIOUS she was. I am so proud of her and how she is maturing!
Finally loves school!
We went to MeMa's and had the BEST time. Daddy picked Ella some flowers!
FUN night out laughing with Taylor Boys and their girls.
Celebrating Mitzi's Birthday and also Mason turns 40!
We also got the "sweetest" surprise - Rhett is going to be a BIG brother to another Taylor GIRL in August! We are SO excited - 4th Taylor Girl cousin born in August!
#bringonthecrazy #toomanyparties
Rhett, Delta aka "Good Girl" and Mer
Sunday
I had Toddlers and loved hanging with this crew BUT the adults there were driving me CRAZY!
Sweet friends came over after church to help me try and get my laundry under CONTROL after a bad week and feeling behind on life!
NEW WEEK - Monday the 19th
Corey started a new job at Merck - laundry ket piling up!
Caleb was having a bad day and asked if I could take some friends to get snowcones after school.
He loves Connor and Grayson! Friends plus snowcones = all he needed for a better day!
We went to check on Rosie!
#paranoidnow
We embraced the Struggle Bus we had been riding and the kids asked if they could wear their green LATE!
#surewhynot #atleastwehadgreen
The kids could see that Bailey was going downhill FAST and told her bye and gave her extra loving before leaving for school EVERY day!
Wednesday
Exciting Updates at Church - still so busy, still so stressful
I made some decisions that were best for our family and felt good about them!
#dowhatyoulove #trustGod #getyoursparkleback
I hung the cross that Dad made on my front door proudly, it had been an encouraging day!
March 21st at 6:39 pm our beloved Bailey entered "doggie" heaven
The kids were sad, took it WAY harder than I expected and Ella cried a really deep sob that I had not heard from her before. We all hugged and cried and told "Bailey" stories but also talked about how she was in Heaven with Marshmellow running fast with new legs and talked about the hope of HEAVEN! Kids said she was the best dog ever but truthfully the only dog they have known. She was our first baby and had been in our home for 12 years - hard to believe! Even though she had our issues, she was ours and we will miss her!
The kids love this picture of Bailey as a puppy and told me they thought she looked just like that when she entered heaven and ran to Granddaddy, PePa, GG and Papa to tell them they missed her! I hate that my kids now have a list of people they love in heaven BUT I am thankful that we get to talk about it and they will be ready to go! Caleb was also SURE that Bailey told Marshmellow we missed her here but that Rosie was alright!
#somuchsadness #prayRoiselivesforever
