This is the day.....

This is the day the LORD has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24

Monkey, as you know this blog was started for you.....

a "diary" of sorts so that years from now you would know your Mimi and Papa....

you'd know about our lives and how it was in the "olden days".....

we never know how long we have.....

This week as I anticipate more blood work and doctor appointments, two very

important women in my life have given me a new perspective.....

One, your cousin Dr. D, said to me - you can be in pain/illness and feel hopeless and helpless or you can be in pain/illness and feel hopeful and that help is on the way.....

The second, Princess # 2 (she does have a "real" name but like you Monkey, she has Princess # 2 as a nickname) sent me a song "You make Brave"

They made me realize I can choose the way I want to live.....

And I have so very much to be grateful for......

I have family and friends that love me......

I have a husband and children that would do anything for me.....

I have appointments at both UCF and the Mayo Clinic.....

And I have a grand daughter that will be born in 2 short months.

- Perspective -

What you see depends not only on what you look AT,

but also, on where you look FROM.

- James Deacon -

So....

This is the day the LORD has made -

I will be GLAD and REJOICE !

P.S.  Monkey, in case you're wondering - Mimi is Princess # 1 !

Family isn't always blood.....

Family isn't always blood.  

It's the people in your life who want you in theirs;

the ones who accept

you for who you are.

The ones who would do anything to see you smile

and who LOVE YOU no matter what.

Today is your Aunt Cherie's birthday.....

Sometimes you reach a certain time in your life where the number of years is

 nothing more than a number....

Your Aunt Cherie has chosen 29 as her "number" so today we wish her 

Happy 29th Birthday !!!

Monkey,  may you be blessed to find a friend like Aunt Cherie who will be with you through good times and in bad.....who will be a shoulder to cry on and that person that you know would 

move mountains to help should you ever need it.....

Friends like Aunt Cherie are hard to find - 

I am truly blessed because Aunt Cherie and I found each other.

Sometimes it ends up different.....

Sometimes it ends up different

and it is better that way.

Monkey, last night your Uncle Cole was going to fly to Iceland with Papa.....

you know, that "non-rev" fun.....

so as Uncle Cole watched Papa being "pushed back from the gate" he waved to him

 and decided to do "different" and seize the moment.....

I know only too well - life is short - make each memory count.

 - He hopped on a plane to Paris -

 - and will spend today making memories with your cousin Ashley -

Oh the places you'll go,

today is your day !

Your mountain is waiting.

So...get on your way !

- Dr. Seuss -

Your time is limited.....

Your time is limited

so don't wast it living someone else's life.

- Steve Jobs -

Today is your Great Uncle John's birthday.....

He was a man of integrity and love and I miss my brother every single day......

He was passionate about Notre Dame and his Great Danes.....

He loved his adopted city of New York and shared that love with all of us.....

He introduced us to Broadway and treated us every year to a night at the "Plaza Hotel".....

Happy Birthday Johnny.....until we meet again.

John David Martin

You are her mom.....

- You are her mom and she is your whole world -

You'll be her first role model

her first friend

her first love.

She is your little girl

August 16, 2015

Monkey,  today you and your mommy were celebrated with so much love and kindness.....

What joy to see so many women brought together only with the intent to love you and your mommy - 

A baby shower isn't complete without a "pre-shower" mani/pedi day.....

The food has been prepared, the house decorated - time to celebrate !!

Every time a new bow is placed on your head or a new onesie is keeping you warm, your mommy will have a reminder of how much the both of you are loved by so many people.

The "showering" of gifts was overwhelming - 

                 

Then came the serious part, time to find out how much mommy and daddy know about babies.....

Some of the answers were correct, some - not so much....

what will always be correct is you are loved to the moon and back.

P.S. - your daddy is silly and you will always have an amazing "nap buddy".

You have brains.....

You have BRAINS in your HEAD.

You have FEET in your SHOES.

You can STEER yourself any

DIRECTION you CHOSE.

- Dr. Seuss -

As the days of summer become shorter and each day brings us closer to your arrival

we celebrate the last moments

of your Uncle Cole's college life. 

In days the celebrations will be over and it will be time to fly.

We are thankful for the memories and most importantly.....

we love you Cole !!!!

Until we meet again.....

Captain Jack Bindrim

Those special memories of you

will always bring a smile,

if only we could have you back

for just a little while.

Then we could sit and talk again

just like we used to do,

you always meant so very much

and always will do too.

The fact that you're no longer here

will always cause us pain,

but you're forever in our heart

until we meet again.

Monkey, one day as a group of us sat laughing we realized we had something special,

something that is hard to find.....

we found at a small restaurant in LWR (Main Street Trattoria)

 friendships that were proving to last the test of time....

every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday found us at the same corner of the bar - texting if one of the group didn't show up or was late - we were the "Trat Pack"

In our hearts we knew it wouldn't last forever - life is like that - 

but we didn't know it would hurt this bad.....

Yesterday, on the day Florida was blessed with sun, 

heaven was blessed with Captain Jack Bindrim. 

Love,

The Trat Pack