This is the story of Landrey Hope, the unborn daughter of our new defensive coordinator & his wife. I am beyond thankful that God brought them here & cannot wait to meet His Miracle. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Ruler of Hope: Landrey's Story: This is a story of how God impacted our family through an unborn baby named Landrey Hope Eargle. This is Landrey's story. On April 5,...
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Clearing out the weeds
My flower bed has been severely neglected in the month of June. Prior to that, it was lovely, not a weed in sight, and if one did creep up in the night, I would pluck it out the second I saw it in the morning light. Well, life happened and I kept meaning to get out there, but never did. Today I was bound and determined to get it back in shape. It took all day. Okay, full disclosure, it took a few hours but since I have a 1 year old, it took all day.
I was planning on doing the bulk of the work after we put Ella to bed, but it started raining. Ugh, another distraction, even if we did desperately need the rain. I decided to go out and get to work any way.
I was pulling weeds like crazy, in the rain and I started thinking about how my life at times had been like my flower bed....all overgrown and in serious need of weeding. I was also thinking how easy it was to see the big, established plants through the weeds, but the new plants were literally being attacked. I was kicking myself because if I had just gone out and spent a little time each day, the weeds would never have gotten so bad!
Can you hear Him? I certainly could. The familiar sound of my Savior, using such a simple thing to remind me that I need him to clean out the weeds in my life EVERY SINGLE DAY, because when I wait, the weeds take over. What was so daunting could have easily been prevented with just a little time each day. Then He started bringing some of you to my mind. A lot of my people have a lot of new in their lives....new jobs, new babies, new marriages, new Bible studies, and doesn't the enemy love to attack new. I felt like my Father was warning me to be standing in the the gap, on guard for my friends....to shoot down weeds that might be coming towards them like I'm some Bible toting, weed killer out of a Round Up commercial. Ha! So I started praying, right there in my yard, on my muddy knees, with my hands in the dirt pulling weeds and knowing that God was using intercessory prayer to protect my friends from "weeds". Maybe you are not a believer and you think I'm crazy.....if so, I'd love to talk with you more. Maybe you are one of those people with a lot of new, if so, know that God put you on my mind....and I'm guessing He's using others too. Maybe you are an established plant that stands out against the weeds....awesome, join me in prayer! Maybe God brought me to your mind tonight.....wonderful, stop reading and start praying because I'll take all the prayer I can get for my little family, these weeds are killing me.
You may be wondering why I wrote this.....I wrote this out of obedience to my Lord mainly. I also wrote it so that you know that God cares enough about you to call on people to lift you up in prayer. Even when everything is still new & shiny. So, enjoy the new & watch out for weeds, but know that My God has your back!!
I was planning on doing the bulk of the work after we put Ella to bed, but it started raining. Ugh, another distraction, even if we did desperately need the rain. I decided to go out and get to work any way.
I was pulling weeds like crazy, in the rain and I started thinking about how my life at times had been like my flower bed....all overgrown and in serious need of weeding. I was also thinking how easy it was to see the big, established plants through the weeds, but the new plants were literally being attacked. I was kicking myself because if I had just gone out and spent a little time each day, the weeds would never have gotten so bad!
Can you hear Him? I certainly could. The familiar sound of my Savior, using such a simple thing to remind me that I need him to clean out the weeds in my life EVERY SINGLE DAY, because when I wait, the weeds take over. What was so daunting could have easily been prevented with just a little time each day. Then He started bringing some of you to my mind. A lot of my people have a lot of new in their lives....new jobs, new babies, new marriages, new Bible studies, and doesn't the enemy love to attack new. I felt like my Father was warning me to be standing in the the gap, on guard for my friends....to shoot down weeds that might be coming towards them like I'm some Bible toting, weed killer out of a Round Up commercial. Ha! So I started praying, right there in my yard, on my muddy knees, with my hands in the dirt pulling weeds and knowing that God was using intercessory prayer to protect my friends from "weeds". Maybe you are not a believer and you think I'm crazy.....if so, I'd love to talk with you more. Maybe you are one of those people with a lot of new, if so, know that God put you on my mind....and I'm guessing He's using others too. Maybe you are an established plant that stands out against the weeds....awesome, join me in prayer! Maybe God brought me to your mind tonight.....wonderful, stop reading and start praying because I'll take all the prayer I can get for my little family, these weeds are killing me.
You may be wondering why I wrote this.....I wrote this out of obedience to my Lord mainly. I also wrote it so that you know that God cares enough about you to call on people to lift you up in prayer. Even when everything is still new & shiny. So, enjoy the new & watch out for weeds, but know that My God has your back!!
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
The Good Life
This is a little personal....but this whole blog is a little personal,
so what the heck. My amazing husband made this for our anniversary. As
you can imagine, I love every second of this. Not surprisingly, so did
Ella....that girl loves seeing herself on the television.
"Oh this has gotta be the good life
This has gotta be the good life
This could really be a good life, good life......"
"Oh this has gotta be the good life
This has gotta be the good life
This could really be a good life, good life......"
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Oh the drama!
Never in my life did I ever imagine I'd be dealing with the aftermath of Dad's death on a social media site with all this drama and craziness. I guess that's what I get for posting my disappointment about the truck.
First of all, let me say that I never have, nor will I ever wish the woman who was married to my Dad ill will. I wish her the best in her life and hope that she finds peace and happiness. She lost someone in all this too and I'm not going to try to diminish that loss. I will say though, that she does not have children (either bio or adopted) so she does not, she cannot, fully understand the bond my Dad and I have.
Secondly, I'm not using her name so she can remain anonymous.
Here is the original post "Sure wish we would have been given the opportunity to buy my Dad's truck from the woman he was married to before it was sold to some random person....I would have loved taking Ella to the golf course in it and having that little piece of my Dad still around." There was nothing specific about his wife, or anything meant to be outright hurtful.
His wife is upset because of how my Dad's Oklahoma retirement check is being spent. My dad left that check to my mother (who has dementia) and I have power of attorney for her. When Dad died, mom was in a nursing home and on Medicaid (as a retired teacher she had a limited income) after Dad's sudden death I, as POA, had 2 choices. 1) continue receiving Medicaid for Mom, give the money to his wife and risk the federal government coming back to collect if they found out or 2) use the check to care for my mom.
I actually went back and forth and tried to find a way to use some of the money each month for my mom and some for his wife, but I just couldn't do it with the limited resources there were. It was only after I decided to use the money to pay for my mother's care in a memory care unit that his wife really stopped being friendly with me.
When we went to get some personal stuff from his house, she had someone there who watched us. If you've never gone through your deceased parents belongings, it is heart wrenching and having a stranger watching you like a hawk makes it doubly hard.
The last I heard, his wife was not ready to sell the truck and would contact me if she had an offer. That never happened. I was disappointed. I was mad. I did not ever intentionally try to hurt her.
I was never outright rude, mean or hurtful to his wife. I would not have done that because I know my Dad cared for her. I only did the best I could in an impossible situation. Yes, I put something on facebook about being disappointed about the truck, but I never said anything directly about her or anything outright hurtful.
Not that I owe anyone this little nugget of info, but I'll put this out there too. For a while before my Dad died I was working at a courthouse 2 hours (one way) away from home. Dad & I had talked about him watching Ella so that she wouldn't be so far away. The week before he died, we had a plan to get a suite at a hotel in Duncan and Dad would stay there with Ella while I worked then the 3 of us would just hang out in the evenings 3 days a week. Dad cancelled on me. I was upset and I told him I was upset because he was the only family I had to count on. He was the only parent I had. The night before he died we talked and while I was disappointed, I wasn't mad. I told him I loved him and he told me the same. There was no hate talk, and for his wife to say that was not only wrong, it was a calculated attempt to inflict pain. It didn't work. Okay, maybe it stung a little, but I know the truth and that's enough.
I have 34 years of memories with my Dad. I will love him and miss him until the day that I die.
In 2011 I lost the mother I knew to dementia, 4 days after that I had my first child and 6 months after that lost my father to a heart attack.
I am not asking for sympathy.
I am simply telling the story as I see it.
First of all, let me say that I never have, nor will I ever wish the woman who was married to my Dad ill will. I wish her the best in her life and hope that she finds peace and happiness. She lost someone in all this too and I'm not going to try to diminish that loss. I will say though, that she does not have children (either bio or adopted) so she does not, she cannot, fully understand the bond my Dad and I have.
Secondly, I'm not using her name so she can remain anonymous.
Here is the original post "Sure wish we would have been given the opportunity to buy my Dad's truck from the woman he was married to before it was sold to some random person....I would have loved taking Ella to the golf course in it and having that little piece of my Dad still around." There was nothing specific about his wife, or anything meant to be outright hurtful.
His wife is upset because of how my Dad's Oklahoma retirement check is being spent. My dad left that check to my mother (who has dementia) and I have power of attorney for her. When Dad died, mom was in a nursing home and on Medicaid (as a retired teacher she had a limited income) after Dad's sudden death I, as POA, had 2 choices. 1) continue receiving Medicaid for Mom, give the money to his wife and risk the federal government coming back to collect if they found out or 2) use the check to care for my mom.
I actually went back and forth and tried to find a way to use some of the money each month for my mom and some for his wife, but I just couldn't do it with the limited resources there were. It was only after I decided to use the money to pay for my mother's care in a memory care unit that his wife really stopped being friendly with me.
When we went to get some personal stuff from his house, she had someone there who watched us. If you've never gone through your deceased parents belongings, it is heart wrenching and having a stranger watching you like a hawk makes it doubly hard.
The last I heard, his wife was not ready to sell the truck and would contact me if she had an offer. That never happened. I was disappointed. I was mad. I did not ever intentionally try to hurt her.
I was never outright rude, mean or hurtful to his wife. I would not have done that because I know my Dad cared for her. I only did the best I could in an impossible situation. Yes, I put something on facebook about being disappointed about the truck, but I never said anything directly about her or anything outright hurtful.
Not that I owe anyone this little nugget of info, but I'll put this out there too. For a while before my Dad died I was working at a courthouse 2 hours (one way) away from home. Dad & I had talked about him watching Ella so that she wouldn't be so far away. The week before he died, we had a plan to get a suite at a hotel in Duncan and Dad would stay there with Ella while I worked then the 3 of us would just hang out in the evenings 3 days a week. Dad cancelled on me. I was upset and I told him I was upset because he was the only family I had to count on. He was the only parent I had. The night before he died we talked and while I was disappointed, I wasn't mad. I told him I loved him and he told me the same. There was no hate talk, and for his wife to say that was not only wrong, it was a calculated attempt to inflict pain. It didn't work. Okay, maybe it stung a little, but I know the truth and that's enough.
I have 34 years of memories with my Dad. I will love him and miss him until the day that I die.
In 2011 I lost the mother I knew to dementia, 4 days after that I had my first child and 6 months after that lost my father to a heart attack.
I am not asking for sympathy.
I am simply telling the story as I see it.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
1 Year Photos!!
Ladies & Gentlemen.....SHE'S ONE!!!!
She couldn't figure out why the tutu was attacking her, but it was so cute.
So, we switched her to some shorts....she approved & turned on the charm.
I'm 1!
She loved the balloons!
Our sweet girls.
Our girl loves her "burpie"
Wearing Poppa D's hat
Daddy, Mommy & the Birthday Girl
Our Family
(minus the 3 that are impossible to photograph together)
C A K E!!!!!!!
My favorite....
Saturday, April 21, 2012
A Sweet Celebration!!!
Despite having to take Ella to the doctor the morning of her party & being diagnosed with and ear infection, we still had a great time at her party! She was such a trooper. It's hard to believe she is already 1 but we have been so blessed. She is happy, healthy, smart & funny....SO FUNNY!!
We wanted a small party, especially since she won't remember it anyway, but we wanted it to be cute and something she would enjoy looking back on. We used a lot of vintage items from both my Grandmothers and the rest was homemade. *Luckily we have been blessed with creative friends!* I wish I would have taken more pictures, but here are some of the decorations.
We were able to celebrate with some wonderful family & friends! We are so thankful for all those who have been there for us this past year as we've become a family of 3 and we can't wait to see what the future holds.
We wanted a small party, especially since she won't remember it anyway, but we wanted it to be cute and something she would enjoy looking back on. We used a lot of vintage items from both my Grandmothers and the rest was homemade. *Luckily we have been blessed with creative friends!* I wish I would have taken more pictures, but here are some of the decorations.
The desert table with the quilt my grandmother made me as a backdrop
The balloon wreath I made (thanks Pinterest)
Ella's birthday banner
A pillow case that belonged to my Grandmother that Lacy made into a doll! So cute!
Love cupcakes...
and pink cookies shaped like footballs with popcorn filled waffle cones.
Isn't that ruffle cake ADORABLE!?!?!?!
Party favors!
It's not a party without a pennant!
Daddy showing Ella how yummy cake is,
She didn't believe him...
She felt so bad, but she was trying!
post-party rockin with Uncle Chip
We were able to celebrate with some wonderful family & friends! We are so thankful for all those who have been there for us this past year as we've become a family of 3 and we can't wait to see what the future holds.
365 Days
Who would have ever thought 1 year could go SO FAST!
Ella's First Year Wrap-up.....
18,408,207 breaths taken
2,920 diapers changed
3 severe allergic reactions
0 trips to the ER
5 states visited
8 teeth showing
4 Southeastern Savage Storm football games attended
2 Caddo Bruin football games attended *including 1 State Championship game
1 Morris Eagle football game attended
1 Houston Cougar football game attended
9 rescued animals
2 words spoken ~ "Oh WOW!"
10 solo steps taken at one time
Countless number of hearts won....
It's amazing to think in just 365 days she went from
this....8lbs 6ozs and 20 inches long
to this....19lbs and 31 inches long
I'M ONE!!!!
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