What did I do this weekend?

A whole lotta this...and it was wonderful!

Grandparents

A very good friend of mine (since 2nd grade) had sent me a quick e-mail over the weekend letting all of us girls know that her grandpa had been diagnosed with cancer and was taking chemo, but wasn't expected to recover and has been given a poor prognosis. This got me to thinking...thinking about how wonderful grandparents are and were. I had the BEST grandparents ever and I am still fortunate enough to still have two of them here on Earth. I lost my Nana (my Mom's mom) almost 11 years ago, I was a senior in high school. I can remember the day like it was yesterday. I lost my Pepa (my Dad's dad) 6 years ago, he had battled prostate cancer.

I learned so much from both my Nana and my Pepa. My Nana, was sick since I can remember. She had a brain tumor that they discovered right around the time I was born, they operated, she died several times on the operating table, but they brought her back each time and she made it through. She was beautiful, inside and out and God wasn't done using her not only to impact my life but SEVERAL others. She looked just like Shirley Temple as a little girl and she gave me my love of music. She taught me a few songs on the piano. My sister got her artistic side, they both can draw and do such neat, creative things. (For the record, I cannot draw a stick figure, but my sis can't carry a tune, isn't that funny?) She also taught me not to judge a book by it's cover. After her surgery, she was unable to walk and her appearance had changed. She had to have one of her eyes slightly sewn shut b/c she could no longer blink, but she was still beautiful. I never thought of her any other way than that. She used to take my sister and I to Target, along with Starlett (she watched my Nana during the day and was like a second grandmother to all of us). She would give us each $5 to get ANYTHING we wanted. I still have a CareBear that I bought w/ that $5, I know, I just totally aged myself! But she would sit at the snack bar there and off we would go with Starlett, usually straight to the toy aisle. One day, I already knew what I had wanted, I had been thinking about it since the last time I had been there with her and so I got done early, so I went back to hang out with Nana. A little girl and her mother were sitting at another booth and the little girl kept staring at my Nana, I had NO idea why, but Nana knew she looked different, I didn't, but she did. Nana asked the little girl if she wanted to know why she looked different and so she sat there and explained everything to this little girl. I'll never forget that as long as I live, what a testimony and legacy she left in 15 minutes that day. She loved to watch us play sports in High School and I loved having her there. She doted on us all the time. How amazing that I got to spend so much time with her as a small girl.

My Pepa was a man's man. He worked hard for everything that he and my Mema ever had and still have. His parents were immigrants from Czechoslovakia. He was a WWII veteran who earned a purple heart. He had six children, all of whom do very well for themselves and are extremely intelligent. My Dad raised me a lot like my Pepa raised him. You just need to learn how to do things for yourself, so you don't have to depend on anyone. Be self sufficient. That is one thing I do like about myself, I can change a car battery, change a tire, put together furniture, things like that that most (not all) women can't or don't do. I had the privilege in my high school World History class to do a project and we had to interview someone about an historic world event, well who do you think I called on? PEPA! Now, you have to understand, Pepa was a very quiet guy, but he had the best sense of humor. He would make a quiet joke that you had to be listening for to hear it. And he had the best smile...so, he let me come to their house and sit down and ask him all kinds of questions. He was shot in both knees because they were hanging out of a foxhole he was doubled over in. He had to drink his own urine to not dehydrate and to keep himself alive. A true hero. I get so emotional when our church does our Veteran's Day service, I just think about him and what he physically, spiritually and emotionally went through over there for me and everyone else. And I miss him. He was able to see me get married, I will always be grateful to God for that. He told me I looked beautiful and had that handsome smile on his face even though he felt horrible.

It's hard to believe that I am getting older and the inevitable happens. I am so thankful that both of my grandparents had relationships with Christ her on Earth and I can rest comfortably knowing they are in Heaven. If they were still on Earth, they wouldn't be able to see me all the time and everything I do, like they do in Heaven. I would have LOVED for Ben to get to meet them and someday he will and I'll get to see them again too!

Giveaway-Check out HER Blog!!

A good friend of mine is hosting an awesome giveaway over on her blog! Go check it out @ http://www.burkettblessings.blogspot.com/ Don't you think I should get another entry for the shout out???? Good luck!

Goodbye January...Hello February!

Dear January,

Where exactly did you go?

Boy has time flown by! Well, the new year has come in like a lion, maybe it'll go out like a lamb. I guess I'll play catch-up...Christmas was a blast. We stayed here and my family (we added a new member too, my sis got engaged! Woo Hoo, love you Jake!) came to Tyler. We had such a good time. My hometown got slammed with a real-life blizzard, the weather was horrible and several of my friends and their spouses were stranded on the highway, unbelievable! So, my parents got stuck at my house an extra day, too bad ;)

The Mr. and I have started P90X...again...yes, this is the third time, but the last two times were when we sold our house and then started building the new one. So gimme a break! I have an alumni volleyball game at Tarleton State University (the place where the Mr. and I met and fell in LOVE!) in a few weeks, so I am really trying to work out everyday. It's tough waiting for Ben to go to bed everynight so we can slip in a workout, but so worth it. I really feel better already! Oh and a few weekends ago, I went to my parent's house and my sister was there and she talked me into running 4 miles with her...what? She knew I wouldn't say no...and I did it! Yes, I was tired, yes it was uphill both ways :), but I.DID.IT. I was so proud of myself. It's really hard for someone who played sports from 3rd grade Little Dribblers all the way through my senior year of college to have realized that I have "let myself go". I don't like this feeling at all, but I am doing something about it. I have my priorities straight now, my heart is right and I am really incorporating my relationship with Christ into this endeavor and that's the best move I have made yet. Every night I kiss Ben and tell him that Mommy and Daddy are going to be exercising, if you need us we are in the garage. He asked me the other night, "Why are you extercizing?" I told him that Jesus says that we should take care of our bodies since He gave them to us. He said, "You're right Mommy, Jesus loves us and want us to love ourselves and one another!" My sweet little boy, with a such a good memory. He loves to learn about Jesus. So, that about sums it up around the Coke Household...OH! Do you like the look of the blog? Figured it needed a change too! Have a great week, or month, or however long until I post again!

This is the before and after of Ben's big gift from Santa! He has gotten so good at driving...finally!

12 Days of Christmas

Our Christmas Tree!
Hook 'em Horns!! Future Colt McCoy..well, actually, I think he'll be better than that!

B being silly, playing with his "stuffed' deer mount!

Sacked out from hanging out at Mamaw and Papaw's on Saturday.

My sister (Jenny) and I, love her and miss her!

Well, Christmas is right around the corner and we are ready at our house! Ben is very much into everything this year. He is ready to open some presents!! Since my last post, we have had Thanksgiving, which was a blast, we saw my Mema (Dad's mom), Dat (Mom's dad) and LOTS of Aunts and Uncles. Ben did so good in the car the whole time and was such a trooper. He has fun every year. We've been getting ready for Christmas...shopping, cooking, decorating and this weekend...CLEANING!!! My side of the family is coming to our new house this year and we couldn't be more excited! I feel like I am now able to focus on them getting here. I've helped host ( along w/ three great gals and friends) our Sunday School party, Ben had his canned food drive and Christmas party this week and now it's my turn. It's been a busy season so far, but it's always a blast. I am ready to spend some time with my niece and nephew, I feel like I haven't see them in forever, we need a sleepover, pronto! I know Ben misses them too! Well, I hope all you out there have a very blessed Christmas and get to spend lots of time with those you love. Be sure you tell them you love them too! I have some random pics here of the last two months, yes, I am that far behind! MeRrY ChRiStMaS!!!!

WE HAVE MOVED!!!!

Ok, working, being a mommy, being a wife, moving and blogging DO NOT go together...at the same time at least! We have moved into our new house. We love it, especially Ben. He says we don't live in the barn anymore, we live at the new house. His teacher said at the "tool center" at school Ben gets his buddies to help him build the new house. So sweet, totally makes it all worth it, since we did it mostly for him anyway! God has definitely blessed us with a home we can serve him in. Here are a few pictures...enjoy!!

Slow Down

Wow, another month and a half is gone!!! Time has never flown so fast and been so slow all at the same time. Ben had a birthday...A MONTH AGO!!!! Yes, I am just now posting about it, don't make that face at me. He had a great time and really enjoyed hanging out with his school friends and cousins!!! We are coming along on the house. My parents have graciously and lovingly offered to help us build our fence. Can't thank them enough!!! They are working on it now while I am at work. The painters are working diligently and should be done this weekend, then it's countertops and floors and then US!!! Can I just say I am loving this weather this week!! I am ready for apple cider, concession stand nachos and sitting out on my new patio watching Ben play in the cool, crisp Autumn air. I am also loving my new iPhone. I swore up and down I was NOT getting one and neither was my hubby, but I was wrong. I love that thing!!! That is part of the reason I haven't blogged in so long, I have discovered FaceBook!!! Well, it's back to work for me! Enjoy your day and God Bless!!!!