a gift for papaw

I want to share a story about my sweet Korinne. Last Saturday the girls and I were busy getting the house in order for our guests. We were mostly putting away all the neglected "this and thats" lying around. I was in my bedroom straightening up my dresser when both my daughters walked in. Korinne held out a tiny, faded, purple envelope. It was wrapped in friendship bracelet string with a sunshine sticker on it.

"What's this?" I asked. "A card." she responded. (I can see that Korinne). "To who?" I asked slowly, expecting it to be for me. "Papaw Richard." she answered.

...Papaw Richard had gone home to live with Jesus one year and six days before.

It turns out she had made him a card, and had not had time to give it to him before he passed. Brian and I did not take the kids down to see him that last week. We had decided we did not want them to be fearful of Papaw or remember him as being so sick. Their happy memories of him needed to stay fresh in their little minds and hearts. Which is exactly how it has been.

Korinne was not sad Saturday morning, I think she just knew I would want to keep that most precious card.

I'm going to tuck it away into our big family bible for now to save for her until she is grown. I'm pretty sure my Grandpa has read it already anyway. He probably showed it off to Jesus, beaming with pride, saying, "look what my great-granddaughter made for me." Then Jesus hung it on Heaven's fridge.


- But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. -Isaiah 40:31

our new life

Today we waved goodbye to Mamaw and Papaw as they headed home to Cincinnati.

We are still getting used to this militarty life, it's not easy. My poor kiddos (and myself) cried our eyes out for awhile and then I finally pullled myself together and reassured them that it would get easier.

They didn't really care to hear it though. They just wanted their grandparents to come back and keep them company.

The boys had been hanging out with Papaw playing ball (Connor got a new bat and glove as an early birthday present), swimming in the pool Wesley and Ben bought for everyone with money from Grandma King, and just kind of getting in the way as Papaw did some odds and ends jobs that Daddy hadn't gotten around to yet.

The girls had been painting their hearts out refinishing their bedroom furniture in very pretty purple and green Tinkerbell colors and learning to sew from Mamaw. Kylie made bathroom curtains for mine and Brian's bathroom and sewed bead-fringed tie backs on the curtains in her and Korinne's room.

We are all better now...our hearts are mending and we are settling down for the night, I thank God for putting such special people like Mamaw and Papaw in my children's life.