Happy Birthday, LeeAnn!

Today I want to take the time and acknowledge someone very special to a lot of people- my Aunt LeeAnn. LeeAnn is my Dad’s sister and is the middle child of 5 kids. She reminds me so much of my grandma and I love that about her. She got all of her great qualities! Sometimes people tell me that pictures of me look like LeeAnn when she was a kid. We share a love of writing that seems to run in our family, and a love of music and laughter.  She always takes the time to write blogs for various family members’ birthdays and never expects anything in return. Her blogs have me laughing out loud most of the time and always make my day a little better. She always organizes things at Christmas and has been the Bingo caller since I can remember! And for many years she has made the drive from Muskogee to Kingfisher to come to every birthday party and family function we’ve ever had. My mom always said how nice that was of her.

She is seriously one of the funniest people I know. There are not a lot of people who can stand in front of a crowd and do comedy or do improv! I would rather be at the dentist having teeth pulled! I admire her because she will try anything, whether it be Zumba or playing handbells, volunteering for everything under the sun, etc… all things I would never try even at 28. I also admire her for what she has been through.. a devastating divorce in which I’ve also suffered through because of the same reason, though she was married for many more years than I was. She always tried to be strong and has always been a great Mom who will do anything for her kids. She even went back to school in her 40’s and got her degree which is something I’ll probably be doing into my 40s at this rate!  Her boys are the same age apart as mine (my cousins Chris and Andy) and we are both the middle child so I can identify with that as well. She is writing a book about her awful dating experiences that I can’t wait to read!  Not a lot of people could make a book out of some terrible experiences and be able to laugh about it. She has a blog that inspired me to write mine, although hers is a lot better and funnier! 

So to LeeAnn , I just wanted to say how much I admire you and I know that many of your family members and friends do too. You have more friends than I’ll ever have in my lifetime, and that is because you are the nicest person we know! I’m so glad you found Joe and you deserve all the happiness in the world. I’m sure Mema is so proud of everything you’ve done. 

 Happy Birthday from everyone who is lucky to know you!  

And here are some words from your family that I gathered: if I had more time I would’ve gotten a lot more I’m sure! 

From your nephew Jesse- “She is strong, encouraging, hilarious and just a person you like to be around. 

Niece Jordan- “ She is hilarious and likes to tell stories.” 

Son Chris- “ She is a great mom and I am lucky to have her.” 

Daughter in law Juliet- “I am thankful to her for how she made the transition to life here simpler, and helped me get up here.”

A 12-12 kind of day

My grandma died on 12-12-04. It was devastating to her family to say the least because the cancer took her away so quickly. It was like she was gone in the blink of an eye. She also died sometime at 12 am. I remember the phone call from my cousin Chris like it was yesterday.

Well since that day I have seen 12-12 everywhere… not even just one 12 by itself, but always together. I remember on 12-12-05, the one year anniversary of her death, my radio went off at 12:12 am blaring music and there was absolutely no alarm or anything set on it. It woke me up and scared me so bad! That was the very first time I noticed it. I had been working on writing a poem for her that I was going to share at Christmas and I know that was a sign from her. 

Over the years, I have seen 12:12 a lot, especially times. I ALWAYS get text messages at 12:12 pm, and it seems like most nights of the week I will wake up and sure enough it will be 12:12 am. Something else really weird is that now every time when I check what time it is, (if it’s not 12:12!) it’s either 12:38 or 12:43 pm. The times my kids were born! Cooper 12:38 pm and Carter 12:43 pm. My kids were born in 2006 and 2008, after she died.

Now you are probably wondering why this is a good thing.. At first it was kind of scary, like when the radio went off in the middle of the night in a totally different room for no reason. But now I find it comforting. Like today, it started with a bible verse posted by a friend this morning.. the first thing I read of the day and it was Romans 12:12 “ Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, and be constant in prayer.” One of my favorite verses. Then I went in the grocery store and doing my usual check of expiration dates before I buy anything, I noticed that everything I picked up to buy expired in 12-12… things all over the store!

I’ve had totals that were 12.12 also. I just looked on my aunt LeeAnn’s facebook and realized she got married this year on 2-12-12 at 2:12 pm. Mema is her Mom. What a happy day and neat thing to do. This year on the anniversary of her death it will be 12-12-12. That will be even more weird, and I’ll have to think of something special to do that day. 

Anyways, all that said to say this- I know that there are so many of us who miss our Mema! Family, friends, everyone that knew her. We are never going to forget her. And I say keep the twelves coming! It makes me smile every time even though I miss her so much and wish she could be seeing my kids. She would have been a wonderful great grandma, just like she was a wonderful grandma and Mom. I picture her little corner of heaven all decked out in leopard print, cheetah, etc and whatever “loud” things she used to love! I can’t wait to join her someday.

Happy 4th birthday Cooper!

Dear Cooper,

What a year it has been! We have been through a little bit of everything… from different daycares to evaluations, a diagnosis of ADHD, speech therapy, potty training, etc. You have done so many great things this year! You make everyone laugh all the time because you are so silly and crazy, and you are so sweet. I am so happy to be your Mom every day, even when you test my patience and everyone elses to an extreme! : ) You are such a happy and unique little boy, and SO smart! You love Mario more than anyone in the whole world I’m pretty sure, and that’s okay because it just adds to your uniqueness. (the old cartoons and video games)

I love you Coopie Gray! Happy Birthday from Mama and Carter and everyone else who loves you so much.