WFMW: Photo Reminder

When my mother died 7 years ago I realized that I had very few "good" photos of her. Most of my pictures that included my mom were action shots (her looking at the baby or opening a present) or group photos. I then decided that I was going to take lots of pictures of my dad just being my dad and my kids' grandpa. And thankfully, I have lots. :)

Well, with my brother's untimely passing I realize that I should take more "good" photos of ALL the important people in my life. Since Jim was an active dad (and uncle) many of the pictures of him are of his back or side... holding someone, fixing a racetrack, or helping one of the kids to bowl a strike. I also wish I had more pictures of him "just because."

Here is the last photo taken of my brother (and some of my cute family). We'd stopped at my favorite restaurant close to my brother's house and I took this photo "just because".

So, what I hope will work for you this Wednesday is to take lots of pictures of ALL your loved ones, including yourself!

Leave a comment and then head over to Shannon's blog, Rocks in My Dryer, to see more Works for Me Wednesday tips!

A New School Year

Tropical Storm Fay couldn't keep us away from school for too long! A few days delayed, but here are photos from the boys' first day of school.

A Celebration of Life

The last few days have been very sureal. And, although it doesn't happen often in life... I'm left with little to say. Or maybe, little to type without crying. My brother passed on Friday, August 8.

But I feel the need to focus on what I've been given rather than what I've lost. Through God's grace I had 37 years with a fabulous brother. Tonight we will gather to celebrate his life.
We truly are being held up by God's strength. Thank you, in advance, for continuing to pray for our family and especially for my brother's daughters and his wife. Please also remember in your prayers the three men who received organs donated from Jim.

Continue to pray.

Here is one of my favorite photos of my brother. :)

We Interupt this Blog...

For a Prayer Request...

Please pray for my older brother. He is in the hospital after having a heart attack on Saturday night.

I really don't have time to give too many details, but Jim is fairly young (44) and the father of 3 delightful girls. Please pray for a complete recovery and for peace as the family waits for more details.

Here is a picture of my older brother (left), my younger brother, myself, and my dad. This was taken last November.

Settling In...

We're settling in. We have found the Target and the Publix. We've played in the beach (South Beach, at that!) and two different playgrounds. I've driven to the boys' school to see if I could find it. (It takes about 30 minutes to get there, even though it isn't that far away.) I've driven on the freeway down here and despite getting cut off by a police man I think we survived. (The whole "monkey bus" cheered when I crossed four lanes of traffic in less than a mile to make it to the Dunkin' Donuts exit!)

The church is just fine. They've been very generous to us and have helped us move in. Chris was installed last Sunday and the service was nice. We were blessed that an old pastor friend was able to come down and do the sermon for the service. It was nice to see a familiar face. The parsonage is lovely and it is about twice the house we used to have. While I'm loving all the neat little details of this house (hardwood floors, huge master closet, gigantic kitchen, and hot tub in the Florida room) it just occurred to me that it will be twice the effort to keep clean!!
The yard is huge and full of all sorts of tropical fruit trees.. so I can use any recipes for mangoes and avocados. It is also full of all sorts of new and exciting creatures from crab spiders and locusts to lizards and iguanas.
The boys are enjoying the extra spaces to play and Aaron loves that he doesn't have to share his bedroom anymore. They've enjoyed riding their bikes and scooters in the church parking lot. We have to wait until just about bedtime to ride bikes, though, because it is so warm during the day.

Well, I'm off to break down another box...

We're Here!

We made it!! We are in our new house and loving it!
Our trip down was uneventful, for which we are thankful.
Most of our things made it out of the moving van unscathed. Some things now have a scar from moving, but a little of that is expected, I guess.
When we were almost here we turned off the turnpike because it was so crowded, thinking we could find our way. (Hhhhaaaaaaaaaahahhhhhhahaha...) We stopped to use the restrooms and to ask for directions, but in the traffic hubby went one way and I went another. Then I saw him zip by and I followed him. I called him on the cell phone and said, "OK, I'm right behind you." Then I did get right behind him at a stop light. Hey, where is all the stuff in the back? Hey, where is my son? Hey, That isn't my husband!! That's right I followed somebody else's husband for miles out of my way.
Anyway, tell me why it is that when you are lost you are never lost in a gated community? I always find myself lost in THAT section of town. You know tattoo parlors, half dressed women, bars on the windows and stores that D asked what kinds of "toys" they were selling.
Phew, anyway. We're here.