Where has the time gone????

It seems like yesterday that we were planning a family vacation to Florida and that was last June - so I guess I need to update my blog and fast to catch up on all the news, happenings and events!!!
We traveled to Satellite Beach Florida in June for a 2 week family vacation. I drove everything we would need for 2 weeks to Florida and everyone else flew. The little ones did great on the plane - and they had 2 additional trips that we hadn't accounted for as well. Unfortunately, Amanda's Father-in-law passed away just as we arrived so we came home and then went back. In hindsight, I guess God knew we were going to need two weeks because this is the first time I have ever planned a 2 week vacation. Nonetheless, we went, the babies had a blast, and we all loved having everyone under one roof - so much fun and the ocean is our favorite place to be. My cousin's wife and daughter from Georgia came down for a few days and also my friend from Orlando visited for the day and her husband and son joined us for dinner one night. We had a wonderful and relaxing time. My girls and hubbys took the 2 little girls to disney for the day and had a blast. Tessa and Isabella never miss a week telling me that they want to go back to the beach house. And this June, we'll do it again, but a different location each time - I love making memories with my family!!

HELLO FRIENDS!

I am shocked that I haven't posted but one thing to this Blogsite since January!! I have been facebooking way too long!! So much has happened this year that I cannot ever remember it all. But I shall give it a try...My Mom went back to her apartment in February after having open heart surgery on December 19th. Each day she gets stronger and is venturing out into the world trying to find her old self - the person she was before the heart problems started; where she danced, laughed, went to dinner with friends, burned up the roads visiting and running errands, before her life came to a halt on her couch for about six month prior to surgery. She still holds it against me that I caused her so much pain by "tricking" her into surgery, but I know deep down she is thrilled that God spared her life and she is still here with us. All my babies are growing up so fast, Harrison is almost 8 months old, Tessa turned 3 in March and Isabella will be 2 in July. Where in the world does the time go. I have kept Izzy this semester of school for Heather and she has been a great joy to me. Watching her learn, use her imagination, talk, play, hug and love, she is a whirlwind of energy and laughs all the time. What a happy, precious child she is. Tessa and Harrison are at home with Amanda and I have the privilege of watching them from time to time for her, or she brings them during the day to play with Isabella. Tessa is the absolute smartest 3 year old I've ever seen. She has been talking in sentences since she was 2 and her imagination and theatrics are hysterical. She loves her Mothers Day Out program and is looking forward to going to the beach with Gigi and Isabella, Mommy, Harrison, her Daddy, Peter and Heather. We cannot wait to go, and will be there for 2 weeks. What a blessing to have my precious family with me for 2 weeks at the beach!! And my big boy Harrison, you stole my heart with those beautiful blue eyes and the love you give when you look at me and kiss my face off!! I am in love with you precious boy! I took photography classes for 6 weeks this spring, taught by my friend Jim Whittle and had such an amazing time. I had so many friends in that class, some I had never met face to face and what a blessing these people are in my life. The classes were so much fun and I learned more than I ever thought I would and got a new camera out of the deal since I needed a good one for class!! There were 5 of us girls who went to high school together in the class, several acquaintenances and many new friends that I was able to get to know much better. What an awesome time!! I haven't built any homes in the past year as I still have 3 for sale with the market as slow as it's been, I may not build another one until next year. But I have loved my time with the little ones and have enjoyed this spring and some downtime. I am hosting the White Family Reunion this Memorial Day weekend and all my Dad's family are coming to my house. At last count there will be almost 100 people here - I cannot believe this has grown so large. I thank Facebook for this reunion because if we weren't all on Facebook, we'd never found each other. I am proud to host this event and know that all the people coming are going to receive such a blessing from meeting and seeing their family. I don't know why we quit having them, they were a way of life during my youth and I loved them. I hope to keep this tradition going and not let another year pass without bringing everyone together. The thrill of modern technology - the internet!! I'll post photos after I've recovered! We took Mom to Mimi's Cafe for Mother's Day dinner and it was great. It was Me, Mom, Heather and Izzy, Amanda, Greg, Harrison and Tessa, Paula (Greg's mom), Sheila, Don, Abbie, Lillie and Curtis. We had such a great time. Thank you girls for the awesome dinner! I went to Nassau in April with my best friend from high school, Lana Toon. Arles and I were supposed to go but he got kidney stones and didn't want to travel so Lana went with me. We had the most amazing time and I love being with her just as much as I did when I was 16. Okay Lana, don't ever say I never take you anywhere! haha I want to tell everyone reading this that life is good, I am great, I have blonde hair again, but this time it is really, really blonde and I am getting ready to find out if life is really more fun for blondes!! I have not worked on my bucket list since the photo classes, but after Florida, I'm going to get back on it quick!!! Life's too short not to have lots of tiny little moments of total and complete happiness - just like when Harrison gives me the greatest slobber kisses I've ever had or Tessa says "tickle my back Gigi" or Isabella says "Hi Gigi" in that precious low tone of voice. My beautiful angels and my two amazing daughters make my life one that I never dreamed possible. Thank you all for your amazing love and support. Blessings to everyone ....later, Debbie

Where does the time go????

I cannot believe it's been so long since I posted to my blogpage. Facebook is taking all my time since I have found so many of my relatives and friends on there. I'll post more later on but I have been TAGGED by my daughter, Heather who just finished a Beth Moore Seminar. I am tagged to write 6 words about "before" Jesus and then 6 words about "after" Jesus. I have 3 minutes so here I go:

Before Jesus:

Lost, alone, uncomfortable, unsure, no direction

After Jesus: (remember I was saved at the age of 12 so except for a few instances, it is very hard for me to remember life without Jesus!!)

Comforted, met him at the Cross!

It is very hard to sum up the emotions that are involved in accepting Jesus as my savior. What a remarkable time in our individual lives.

I do know this, we are failing God if we don't ask someone every single day if they have ever "Been to the Cross" and ask them if they know Jesus.
(Thanks Pastor Stephen, I'll never forget your words during this message!!)

* I am upstairs as I am writing this, but the TV is on downstairs and I can hear a voice I know so well - it's Joel Osteen (another amazing Christian leader). Amazing how we know certain voices when they speak to us even if we cannot see the face. That's the way it is when you are a child of God, you know when He is speaking to you, and you do not have to see Him to know Him!!

Checking In!!

Well I've about decided that I am going to the once a month update on here since FB seems to keep me pretty busy and most of you check there too!! But for those who keep up with me and my family here, I will update as often as I can.
Mom - She is still with me after her open heart surgery and doing great. She amazed me more than she knows because I just knew this would be very hard for her, but she took it like a champ and has worked her way to doing everything she did before except sleeping in a bed. That's not happened yet so she is still in the recliner for now!! She will probably go home the end of this week and start her life on her own again. Thank God for that gift of life, for those who don't know, she was very, very close to death when she had this surgery!
Christmas & New Years around her were pretty quiet. Some of the kids did come for lunch on New Years Day and visited a little with Mom. We tried to keep everything low keyed because this type of surgery is hard on her nervous system. We had a great time visiting and everyone got to stay for a while and talk which isn't usually the case on holidays. We had a great lunch with ham and of course black eyed peas and the babies were wonderful!!
Arles & I went to Reno last week for the Safari Club International and met up with Scotty and Jennifer there. We had a great time but will probably skip it next year and do the every other year thing from now on. There's not too much to do in Reno but cha-ching on the slots and when you've lost any money, that's not so fun anymore!!! So we did get away and one of Mom's friends stayed here at our house with her for 4 days. Thanks Clara for taking good care of my Mom!!
The little ones are growing so fast and Amanda is already talking about her next one - I hope it's 2 years away tho so we can enjoy these for now!!! Enjoy our photos and I'll post more later on. Have a Beautiful and Blessed 2009!! Love, The Greenes