Today...

is my Grandmother's birthday. My grandmother is no longer with us. It's been almost 8 years since she passed away. I still think of her often, like the other day when I was ironing my clothes...I wondered what she was going to be doing that day, would she be in her garden, getting her hair done, visiting with her newcomers...then I remembered she isn't even here anymore to do those things. How heavy my heart became.
You see, my grandmother played a huge role in my life. Although not perfect, she provided consistency in my life when there wasn't any. She made home cooked meals that we ate at the table almost everynight, she bought me school clothes, took me shopping and outshopped me...I watched her put on her "hair and make-up" everyday, canned plum jam with her, grocery shopped, learned how to iron and type. We share(d) a love for gardening and flowers and getting our hands and nails dirty in the soil, cooking and baking, make-up(I don't think a day ever went by when she didn't do her hair and make-up and when she died, my sister and I re-did her make-up for her as she lay peacefully in her casket), laundry, housekeeping, celebrity gossip. I watched some of my first "big girl" movies with Grandma, like Dirty Dancing, Pretty Women and Little Women. Grandma always kept busy around the house, always doing something.
Grandma died way too soon. Although she did get to see me get married and know Steven, she never got to see me graduate college which was important to her, she never saw me pregnant and never got to meet my boys, she will never see my flower or vegetable gardens or taste my meals and baked goods which are inspired by her...I miss her so very much and today on her birthday I hope she knows what a special woman she was to me and in my life.
I miss you Grandma~

Happy 4th Birthday Abram Mathew

4 years ago, you changed me as a mother.

I am beyond blessed to be your mama.

I love you all the way to the moon and back.

Happy 4th Birthday Doodle Bug!

-love Mama

from 3-one day short of 4 :)

3rd birthday

Halloween 2008

Christmas 2008

naughty!

sledding January 2009

March 2009

LOL :)

May 2009

June 2009

you can say that again ;)

summer school June 2009

July 4th, 2009

August 2009

Sept 2009-first day of preschool

Lindig Farms

2-3 years old

At about 2.5 Abram wasn't "as" naughty as he had been. He really started to enjoy the outdoors but at about this time he also started disliking people, other than his immediate family members. He was, and still is very introverted. Doesn't like most people, loud places, crowds...but he sure loves his mama. He likes the safety and comfort of his own home and family.

He holds a special place in my heart that is indescribable :)

man, this smile melts my heart!

notice we are sitting far away from other people ;)

Lindig Farms 10/2008

3 year old birthday

TwO and PotTy TrAiNeD