Concerts, life, death and chaos

Hey yall, its been hectic lately and a few weeks since my last post. Its easier to just list the events and happenings of my last few weeks:

Todd is still recovering but returned back to work- his catheter was removed which made him much happier as you can imagine. He’s a stubborn goat but who am I to say anything because I am also a terrible patient!

Todd and I went to see Iron Maiden with 2 friends from church. It was so much fun and Todd did well hanging in there until the end.

The weekend after Todd’s surgery, some very dear friends of our Mark and Debbie, came over to our house and cooked us dinner. I cried . It was the best gesture someone could do. Hindsight, I should have asked for casseroles so that I wouldn’t have to go grocery shopping when Todd was asleep and then prepare dinner when I am totally frazzled.

My boss was in from out of state this week for work .Always added pressure when that happens.

My bestie  ( Kimi) had her 50th birthday and we had party a few weeks ago for her. We didn’t stay long because Todd loses his steam in the evenings but we stayed long enough and had a blast.
About the same time Todd was diagnosed with prostate cancer,his cousin Mark was diagnosed with lung cancer. Mark lives in Utah and his sister Kimberly lives 10 minutes up the road in the next town over from us. Their parents Karen and Larry, live in Houston. Mark has been on a cross country roadtrip with his son Eric and they were supposed to be at Kimberly’s tomorrow and we were going to have lunch with them on Monday.Sadly, Larry passed away last night. He has had some rough years previously with his health but he always seem to manage and pull out of the dire moments.Unfortunately, this means we wont be seeing Mark and that makes Todd sad and disappointed but completely understandable. Mark is a few years younger than Todd and they grew up close friends.

Yesterday , Mom called and said Nanny was back in hospital with congestive heart failure. Apparently,Nanny did not take a single pill from her list of medications in over a week.That’s not good! She is diabetic and has high blood pressure and many other ailments she takes medication for.So far, they have removed 5 liters of fluid off her heart.

Tomorrow, my uncle James is hosting his annual grand party for July 4th. He lives on the lake and there are fireworks, BBQ, and the whole shindig. Specifically, this year we are having a combined July 4th party and a surprise birthday party for Nanny. She will be 90 towards the end
of the month of July but cousins will be in from out of state and it’s a perfect
time to celebrate. The hospital feels that they should be able to get her stabilized and ready to go home tonight or tomorrow morning if all goes well.
For Mother’s Day, I wrote Nanny a letter telling her how much she meant to me and recounted some fun memories I have. My uncle is “stealing”the idea and asked all the family members to do the same and add pictures and we’re putting in a scrap book for her tomorrow. I had to come up with another letter for her and I based it around the food she makes and how there’s nothing else like hers. I was bawling silently at my desk as a I tried to put how much I love her to pen and paper knowing she was in hospital and I was scared to think of it being life or death serious.

My mom’s husband Randy was diagnosed with lung cancer 2weeks ago ( seriously I cant make this up). He went in this week to do biopsy and they went in from his back and punctured his lung in process.The day was much longer as expected but they sent him home with a chest tube and he got it removed today.

A close friend works for Brighton and they do a ginormous shoe drive and they send all to Haiti so she asked me to ask my coworkers forshoes. My backseat looked like Sanford and Son and had over 50 pairs of shoes to hand off to her this past Wednesday. Its always fun to help with a good cause.

The same week Todd had his surgery, my cousin Monya and her family –husband Scott and daughters Mari and Emma moved into a rent house less than a mile from me.I have really enjoyed them being so close. The girls love that I have a swimming pool and have already been over many times which I enjoy.
 Last night was a series of crazy events though. Todd was in Chicago on business meeting and Scott was working late shift at his job . Monya, the girls and I went and ate dinner at Red Robin and on way home the girls dropped me and Monya off at my house and they were going toswing by and pick up their swim suits and then circle around to join us. As Monya and I were sitting in the pool, she happens to look over at our piece of the fence that got damaged and fell during big storm a few months ago.The fence had pulled away again and there was large gap that my dog Lila can get through.We all jumped into action because Lila is a runner. She runs and runs and will not come back until you catch her.Mari picked her up, put her in the house and Monya and I jumped out of pool looking for a solution. I grabbed hammer and nails and she saw a 2x4piece of wood I had in the garage that I use for my junk shows.We hammered that into the middle of the 2pieces of fence that are separated and filled in the gap. It totally looks redneck but it got the job done! Lila isn’t getting out in that area. I literally am so grateful she noticed becauseI would have been besides myself if I let Lila out at 2:30 am ( seems to me the magic hour) and she got out- I would have never known until too late. So then once we got the fence stable, it was time for the all of them to head home. As they went to Mari’s car that was parked in my driveway next to me, they noticed that the tire was flat. Not just a little flat yall but like pancake flat.None of us knew how to change the tire. I happen to live across the street from a large Frisbee golf park so I sent the 2 girls to ask some guys if they could help us. Two nice young men agreed and they walked over, however none of us had a jack so they weren’t able to help us after all. Monya found a can of fix a flat and has an electric tire charger and it took a while but it got aired up enough for them to follow me to the closest tire repair store. We left it overnight and they had it fixed with a replaced used tire by 10 am today.  I mean the night was exhausting !!! Note to self- buy a jack, an electric charger and learn how to change tire.

I am looking forward to a 4-day weekend. We get Monday and Tuesday off so it will be nice to have a short week next week.I bought Willie Nelson tickets for myself and bestie Kimi for her birthday and the concert is this Sunday.So east Texas party tomorrow, Willie on Sunday-laziness the next 2 weeks.HA!

My life is seems to be nothing but chaos mixed with good and bad and really bad.I don’t know what to think of it. I’ve been asking God a lot about his plan for me.

Have a wonderful holiday and be safe yall!

"D" is for Daddy

OK so the first word that comes to mind with letter “D” is Daddy so i Dedicate this post to him.   I recently just lost my precious dearest Daddy in January (12) and I am still struggling with Depression every single day.  There are moments that I literally just do the hard ugly cry and sob within minutes and no warning.  (Thankfully most of those moments are when I’m on way home or already at home from office). 

My dad had a double lung transplant almost 3 years ago  (July to be exact) and I truly expected to have another 20 years with him at least.  Daddy was 66 years old and lived life to the fullest. 

I miss him so so much. I’m buying my first house and its not too far from his.  He isn’t here to see that.  I need his advice and I have so many more questions that I needed to talk to him about.

If you still have your Daddy- call him, hug him so tight, give him kisses and tell him how much you love him.  

That's Dad in his Burt Reynolds/Tom Selleck days . 

He walked me down the aisle 5 weeks after his transplant.  

I used to love watching and listening to him play his guitar. This was one of my favorites he would play.  Seven Spanish Angels with Ray Charles and Willie Nelson.

E is for my Easter weekend

It's already Monday. My how the weekend flies by!! So how was everyone's weekend? Mine was super crazy busy but awesome.  Friday night was pretty chill and my husband and I always go out for dinner to one on of our favorite Mexican restaurants. When we got home we just hung out with the dogs and watched TV. Saturday was the busiest day by far.  I got up early and picked up my friend Tammy at her house and we headed to Canton.  For those who aren't from Texas, Canton is a ginormous flea market called First Monday. It's every month and in east Texas about 90 minutes from Dallas.  I usually have something specific im looking for but this time I just went to see anything new and for the corny dog, funnel cake and lemonade.  

I did pretty good but bought something kinda big and funny.  I bought an old metal shopping cart. It's not as big as the ones that stores use today.  It makes me happy because my grandma Nanny, retired from being a checker for Safeway many years ago.  Nanny helped raise me and I spent a lot of time in her store with my mom or grandpa picking her up from work.  My plans are to put some big plants in it on my patio. I also can't wait to use it for my huge Holliween party we have annually. I can put drinks and ice in it.  

I also bought 2 more wine crates and a slip with cute lace on the bottom, and 2 hanging plants. That was my haul. 

Tammy bought an old vintage door, a metal wheel, a large cross on a stake to put in yard and a few small things here and there.  It was so funny rolling around with the door strapped to the cart.  

The nice man was helping us tie it down with some strong twine. 

Yall- do you even know how badly I wanted this large birdcage?!! I'm still obsessed with bird cages and this one was only 200$.  If Tammy and I could have strapped it to our cart and loaded in my truck.....  Todd would kill me but it would be worth it. Lol. 

I ran into my high school friend LeighAnn. 

Tammy and I in back of my truck after loading everything. 

I also love Nightmare before Christmas and these shoes  would be perfect for my  party. Sadly no more in my size. 

Tammy and I didn't stay all day because I had concert tickets for that evening in Oklahoma.  So we left around 2 and I was home a little before 4. I had terrible sinus headache from being outdoors right now in the spring. Allergies suck! I laid down for a little nap and an hour later  , we were on the road to Winstar casino that is minutes away from the Oklahoma- Texas border.  

We saw kris Kristofferson, Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson.  It was fantastic!! I've seen Willie a number of times and he never disappoints. Merle was amazing and his son plays lead guitar for him.  Kris' daughter came out for one song with him and she played the banjo. It was a family night for sure.  You know these guys are old school country classic legends and I'm so glad I got to see them!! 

Oh and Jamey Johnson came out on stage for last song 

Selfies while waiting on Willie. 

It was a packed day but wonderful. Then of course came Easter and the day started at our church. Todd plays the drums in worship band and we have 2 services. He had to be there really early but I didn't go until the second service.  I really enjoy watching Todd play.  The service was awesome and our pastor was great as usual.  Afterwards, I rode with Todd and left my truck behind at he church to his parents house for lunch.  My brother n law and his girlfriend was there ( Kevin and Paula) and my stepkids met us there. It was kinda a big deal because Collin drove himself and Allyson for the first time. We usually pick them up and drop them off but we couldn't with church Todds schedule.  Collin will be a senior next year so it was good for him to drive. The kids are so busy and we don't see them near enough so it was great. 

I have the cutest inlaws and so blessed that I love them and they love me.  

After lunch we visited a while then everyone left and went home.  We watched the TV show The bible continues and I enjoyed it so far. It's to be continued next Sunday. 

So this is the longest post ever and ordinarily i would have broken it up for a couple of posts. The whole A to Z challenge has me doing things differently. 

Have a wonderful day yall!!