20th Reunion
I know I was a slacker this past week but I was the busiest I have been in a long time. I was trying to get a project completed for the museum, get a video completed, awards purchased and pack us both for all of the weekend festivities. I will do a run down of the weekend tomorrow. I am just too beat to get it all in but I will tell you that it was an incredible weekend and I think that my contributions to the reunion went very well. The best part of all of it was that I got to see my sister, Rhonda. It wouldn't have been the same if she hadn't come so I am very thankful that she and Eric could be there. Here are a few sneak peaks....

SCARED!
Tonight I got the biggest scare! Landry was in the tub and she stood up and slipped. She started crying immediately and I knew something was really wrong. That girl is tough as nails and she brushed off some of the hardest spills I have ever seen without so much as a whimper. This time not so much. When I looked down the first thing I saw was blood coming from her mouth. I thought 'O My God..she's knocked a tooth out!' It took me a little while to make sure she hadn't jarred it loose but I think she ended up biting her lip more than anything. She was calmed down with in 3 or 4 minutes. I wish it only took me that long! I was a wreck after seeing blood pour from her little mouth. She didn't even know it was there. Don't you wish we were all that resilient?! I feel for any fella that tries to mess with her. I take odds on her any day.
This morning she got up to the altar and I stood her up right in front of me. I told her it was time to pray so she would fold her hands and she immediately did. She stood there so patiently. I noticed several people in the pews admiring her big girl skills and it made me so proud of her. Yesterday we had to take her to the doctor because she was getting hoarse. I was worried about her spiking a little fever too so we took her on in. It was mainly a teething thing. She tested negative for strep to that relieved us. We went to the Farmer's Market and got some veggies for dinner and came on home. It was so beautiful outside but I opted not to take her to the pool just in case. She is quite the fish so I want to get her out there as often as possible this summer. I can tell her to swim when she is in the bath tub and she'll turn on her stomach and say 'kickin kickin kickin! all the while thrashing those legs around like a true fish. She'll turn over on her back and try to float when I ask her if she wants to float. It is so funny. She fears nothing!
This week is going to be an extraordinarily busy week for me. I am heading to Mobile for my 20th high school reunion! I cannot believe it. How did all of the time pass? It will be a lot of fun catching up with old friends and seeing their families. My sister and her husband will be flying in too so I get to visit with her for several days...can't wait!
I have a few videos of Landry that I am dying to share with. I will upload them in the next few days.

Singing in the Rain...
Don't you love those extraordinary opportunities that life throws your way sometimes? For me it was such a sweet moment between me and the Bug today. I was sitting in the floor of my bedroom folding this mountain of laundry and all of the sudden I heard the back door fly open and Landry was jail breaking on me! Mike accidentally left it unlocked when he walked Bella this morning and she immediately found her way to the unmanned door. It was raining like crazy outside and all I saw was her little hand go out and reach for the rain drops. There is an area that pours out some water over the gutter and causes this sheet of rain to come down. Landry saw it and shrieked ' Shower! Shower! Shower!' I told her that WAS a shower but to come back to me. She wanted to get in it so badly...I could feel it in her bones! After less than a minute of thinking about it I finally just said go ahead and jump on in. She didn't waste any time getting under that waterfall. It was cool yet she still eased her way underneath the steady stream of water. I ran and got my camera and stood there while she just explored the situation and enjoyed her outside shower. She looked at me and said "Mommy...shower?" I told her to hold on hoping that she would get bored and want to get out of it before I had to go in. Landry was having none of it. She came over and picked up the bottom of my shirt and said 'OFF! OFF! OFF!' I guess since she knows that we don't usually have shirts on in the shower she thought that I needed to get prepared to get in! I told her that I had to keep mine on but I put my camera down, picked her up and we proceeded to have one of the best times I have ever had with her. She LOVED being in the outside shower with her mama and I really think she knew this was something kind of special. We danced around in the rain and I literally got soaking wet. It poured on us and I can't imagine not having taken advantage of that one precious moment with her. I am so thankful I did. It makes me appreciate the little things I share with her each and every day. If I had to miss a moment like that to make an extra buck, I would hate it. I know that most people these days don't have the luxury to make that choice but I thank God(and Mike) every day that I do. Singing in the rain today with my daughter has got to be on my Top 5 all time favorite things I have ever done. It just goes to show you that some of the most valuable things in life are absolutely free. We were....siiiiinging in the raaaain....just siiiiiinging in the raaaaain! What a glorious feeling...I'm so haaaappy again!

Do some thing out of the ordinary today...you'll be so glad you did.

Grandaddy and Grandma
I can't even begin to tell you how happy I was to see my Daddy and my stepmother during our trip to Florida. I don't know how it could be much better than spending time with Kelley, my sweet family and my Daddy all in one week! It was a blue ribbon week for me! When Mike came in last Monday we spent some time on the beach and in the pool with Landry. She is such an easily adaptable child. She just goes with the flow and nothing seems to faze her. I love that about her and I hope that is one characteristic that she holds on to. It will serve her well in so many ways.
When we were at my Daddy's, I noticed all of his medals framed and on the wall. I had never seen them before like that and I asked him what they all meant. While he was explaining them to me I began to get a little emotional. I didn't expect it to come on like that but it did. I stood there in awe as he to explained all of them(and there were many) and I felt myself well up with pride for a man that has already been my hero my whole life. The one medal that was especially important to me was the one he received for the work he did in at Tan Mai Orphanage in Vietnam. It kind of took my breath away to think of all the things that our soldiers do and have done to give us all this life we live. There are so many components to our military, war and freedom. Those that don't have a history with the military could not possibly understand what the cost of FREEDOM really is. I know this sounds like a Memorial Day post and maybe it is a belated one but seeing those ribbons and metal all strategically placed in a case made me think a little longer and little harder about how and and why I am here. My story is a fairy tale and I am one lucky princess.

My Beauty
I know I may be just a little biased but I think my girl is an absolute beauty. Yesterday when she and her Daddy drove up to the condo I just couldn't keep my hands off of her. She was such a trooper on the plane...even though Daddy said she was very rambunctious :)...she slept the whole way to Jacksonville and was in a great mood. She is cutting some molars and you can tell it is affecting her normally sweet attitude. She has shown a little of her grumpy side lately but all in all they both did very well while Mama was away. When we woke up the next morning, Mike slept in late. The condo had the most incredible light so I got my camera out and ended up getting up some of my favorite shots of her. She is my beauty...inside and out. How blessed is this family to have so much love? Thank you, Jesus, for all of the beauty you give to me....in so many ways and with such abundance. When will I ever be worthy?

O-MY!!!
How can I even begin to tell you how much fun I had with the girls?! It was even better than I had hoped or planned. Since I didn't know everyone and the ones I knew I didn't know well, I wasn't sure if it was all going to work. Why..Why..Why do I question anything that God has a hand in? We had a BLAST! We stayed in an amazing condo in Jacksonville Beach (thanks GREG S.) and even though the weather was less than desirable, we absolutely had a great time. We started out at the condo on Friday night and a friend of mine and Kelley's and his girlfriend came over and we ate, drank and got merry! We went a few blocks down the road and went out dancing and ended up at the Waffle House....yes, it was THAT good. We goofed around on Saturday and waited for the rest of the crew to come in and we got ready for our big dinner. We gave Kelley her present and she loved it. I created a 75 page book for her from emails, notes and pictures that everyone gathered for her. It had some pretty amazing notes and letters to her. It made me so proud to have a friend that happens to be MY best friend that everyone else thinks so much of. It turned out really to be a very special gift and one I know that she will cherish forever. We hung out at a really nice beach club when the sun decided to come out and watched the sun set at the most perfect place. We ate great food, had fabulous conversations and celebrated one of the most wonderful women I know. I look back at all of the time we spent together and it was truly a beautiful celebration. She has been such a wonderful friend to me and one I know that I can count on for life. Happy Birthday! I love you, Kelley B!

Jacksonville Beach!
Yesterday I flew into Florida for a fabulous girls/family beach trip. I put together a trip celebrating Kelley B's 40th birthday with her 'lifers'. I am so excited! They are actually going to be here any minute and I have a few little surprises for the birthday girl. Unfortunately, the rain is here but we will all have a great time any way. When they leave on Monday, Mike will fly in with Landry...oh, my!...and will meet me here at the condo and we will start our family vacation. After a few days, we will drive to my Daddy's and visit them for a few days. I will blog about the details soon....

On the Landry front....my, my she is growing up too fast! I get a kick out of the things she gets excited about. Her latest obsession? Da...daa...da...daa DORA! She hands me the remote and says 'Dora Dora Dora Dora Dora!' so she gets Dora. Nothing else even gets her attention but she loves Backpack, Map and Dora Dora Dora Dora. This is going to be fun!!

Big Girl
Today I picked up a Britax car seat from a friend of mine whose son had outgrown it. It was almost brand new and is almost exactly like the one I have in my car. I wanted another one for Mike's car but they are pretty pricey so we've just never got around to it. I also took the plunge and FINALLY turned her car seat around. I know. I know. She could have turned around at a year old but I saw this video that freaked me out so I just couldn't do it yet. We had already turned Mike's around but I was avoiding it completely. I guess part of it was the milestone that it represented. I am not ready for her to get too big too soon! She can stay little for as long as she wants to. The best part of getting the seat was that I got to spend time with my sweet friend Jennifer. Her son Parker was quite the host to little Landry and they played like they had known each other forever. Wouldn't it be nice to just see someone for who they are that day and not have a judgement or a thought about them other than 'Hey! Let's just be friends and have a good time!' I guess that exists somewhere in the perfect world that exists on the 'other side' for us big people. For now, I guess we'll just have to see it in the actions of children. Parker is an only child and really enjoyed having a playmate around....even if she was less than half his age. It was like Christmas for us because they gave us a few things that he doesn't play with any more. He was so sweet and had no problem giving up his old toys to her. When we were leaving, the two of them were blowing kisses to each other and he came over and planted one right on her mouth! (Watch out Charlie!!) She just loved all his attention. I hope they can get together and play again soon. Thank you Jennifer and Parker for all of the goodies!!

There is also some big news forth coming so be on the look out!

Mother's Day 2009
I have a different perspective on this holiday and it's all because of Him and a little girl named Landry. For the past several years...7 to be exact...I have had a really bad attitude about it. Last year was pretty good but still stung me pretty hard when it came to Sophie. This year was different. I got to enjoy the fruit of being a mother in a totally different way and I also found some forgiveness that I didn't know I needed to give. It is a bittersweet holiday for me. No mother of my own and no Sophie...how does two bads get trumped by a good? Well it does and it did this year. It's even easier if you have a Landry like my Landry. She makes lots of pains go away and lots of heart breaks healed. How does seven years of heartache just go away all of the sudden. Even I don't know but it just did and that is all I care about. I credit her for so much of my happiness but the truth of it is that God has allowed me to have her, my husband and my family so He gets the credit today. He made me a mother...not her and not Mike. God did so ---'GOD, I'm giving you hugs, kudos and a huge high five today'. Is that appropriate? I don't know but if HE were here and I had the chance to give props for today I would hug Him and give Him a high five for this glorious life I live. I think He would want me to keep it real so that's what I would do.
Today, I got to sleep in...til 9am! Woo hoo! Mike took Landry to the other side of the house and I enjoyed a rare morning sleeping in until I got up. We got ready for church and afterward we went by Sophie's grave and to my sweet surprise there was a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers in her vase and a new wind chime hanging. They were from Landry(via her Daddy) and thanks to her babysitter Ashton, aka 'Sha Sha', my first piece of art. I loved it! Then, in an attempt to keep the Bug happy, we went to Pizza Inn for lunch. It was a success because she loves the salad bar and the occasional bite of pizza. Isn't it funny how those fancy lunches and dinners are just not that important anymore. If she isn't going to be happy then I simply won't even consider it. I guess I really AM a mama! She ate like a champ and then it was home and off to nap time. The whole Mader family took a nice long nap and Mike even got up with her when she got up. (I could get used to this!) He got her pool ready and she went swimming for the first time this year and she LOVED it! She kept calling it a 'bath' so we tried to get her to use the word 'pool' and she finally obliged. She slid down the 'siiide' and played with her 'toiz'! She also has been letting me put her on her back in the tub so she can float while I hold her up. She had no problem doing the same in the pool. She is the most trusting child. I can ask her if she wants to float and she rolls right over and lets me do my thing. She loves the praise and really responds to in almost every situation. All in all we had a really fantastic day. I am so blessed...more than I deserve but truly, truly blessed. Thank you God for my life. Thank you for taking care of my Sophie and my Mother and for making them both whole and perfect again.

The Nelsons

Today we celebrate a couple that is very dear to my heart. So much so that I named my child after her. My Aunt Elaine and Uncle Robert are celebrating their 50th anniversary today. How does that happen? How do two people live a life with all of the trials and tribulations that a family will go through and still love each other like they do? My Aunt Elaine can tell you some of the best stories you will ever hear. I don't know how she remembers the details that she does! I have a hard time remembering what I ate for lunch from day to day yet she can tell you the most minute details of a day that happened when she and my mother were children. I started the blog in large part so I could remember the details that matter. Otherwise, it just wasn't going to happen. My Uncle Robert is something else. He used to have this reputation of just being mean. He didn't have a whole lot of patience for the kids in our family and let me tell you...if you EVER slammed the screen door, you were going to find yourself opening it and shutting it 'properly' at least 50 times in a row. If any of my siblings or cousins are reading this you have a big smile across your face and your laughing right about now. Today, he is one of the sweetest, kindest men I know. He is truly one of my favorite people and his heart is made of gold. He spends time with Landry and will get down on the floor with her and play ball with her for as long as she wants. It is one of the best sights you have ever seen. I love these people and I am so proud to call them my family. They have given their entire lives to raising their children and sometimes their grandchildren with the most generous heart and with all of their souls. I feel like I am truly home when I am at their house. I always know I have a bed, breakfast(Uncle Robert makes the best grits!), homemade pizza and there are always plenty of eyes on Landry when I'm there. Their love story proves that true and long lasting love still exists. Thank you for being such a fine example to me and to Landry and for loving your namesake the way you do. I love you both so very much and I hope you have a beautiful and blessed day.

What a gift!
Tonight I got a note from an old high school friend. Tracy blew me away with the kindness in her words and her sincerity. Thank you for giving me another reason to stay inspired and continue this blogging journey. This Facebook thing has really surprised me. I am so amazed at the people that I have reconnected with and the amount of kindness I have been given because I have shared this blog on my FB page. My inspiration comes first and foremost from Landry but I have found that it has been a great form of therapy for me. I can express myself in a way that I have never been able to before. Sometimes the naked truth comes out but it is my life and I don't have any reason to put a veil on it. I feel more freedom just by being truthful. I know that sometimes it may not be very popular but I can live with that. One of my best friends, Missie, told me that I should write a book. Lord, what would I write about and who would read it! Ha! I would have to lace it with some really funny stories or make something up! Anyone got any ideas? Thanks to everyone who has ever been generous with their hearts and words. They are a priceless gift to me and I really do cherish them. Virtual hugs to all of you!

Forever Blowing Bubbles!
Ok....I am probably going to regret posting these but these are flashback pics of me and some I took of Landry the other night. What a hoot! BTW...today I celebrate being in the US for 37 glorious years. Cheers to my parents that allowed me to be reborn and be blessed with so many opportunities. I love you!

Music to my Ears
I have always loved the music that St. Philips has blessed me with but today seemed extra special. We sang several of my favorites but one arrangement of the 23rd Psalm really touched me today. I am still trying to catch my breath from being sick last week and am still hanging on to a little cough but I (in my most sincere attempt) belted out that song like I meant it. It is my hope that Landry loves music and will have a better talent than her parents. I would love for her to play the piano and the guitar and have a voice of an angel. Her babysitter, Ashton, has the most beautiful voice and I have found her more than a few times singing to her. That makes my heart smile....big! Right now she will break out in a full dance when any thing with a beat comes on and she loves for me to sing 'Itsy Bitsy Spider to her. She will do all of the hand movements and they are always right on time. I can pretty much change her state just by busting out a little IBS to her. It's like magic. My friend Theresa bought her a Barney CD with her name in it and she recognizes her name in it when we play it. As crazy as that purple dinosaurs voice drives me, I'll gladly listen to it if it makes her happy. The funny thing is that she has never seen him because she doesn't watch TV. Well I say that but for the last few mornings she finishes up her milk and grabs my remote(while laying in my bed) and says Help! Help!---actually pronounced 'hep! hep!' She wants me to turn on the TV but never watches anything on it. She never has. As far as the HELP plea, she completely understands what that means. If she ever gets stuck doing a puzzle or trying to accomplish something and cannot do it, she never hesitates to ask me for 'HEP'. This sweet child of mine rarely ever gets frustrated because she can communicate with me so well. She is only 16 months old and has close to 300 recognizable words that she can say and understand. I don't know about you but I think that that is amazing. She is a SPONGE. She soaks up each and every day as a learning experience. Most people that spend any time with her cannot believe her vocabulary. She is also really learning peoples names and can recognize voices and faces with such ease. She knows SuSu, MoMo, PawPaw, Keeee-deee, Sha Sha, Sophie(pronounced sometimes Fo-fie) and of course the Mommy, Daddy and the most important...Bella! She certainly recognizes other people but she knows them by their voice alone. I have to tell you about Sophie. She pointed to a picture I have of her hanging on the wall one day and gave me the BABY sign and said 'baaaaby'. I told her that was a baby and what her name was. She said 'FO-fie!' I started crying. Couldn't help it....it just happened. When I told Mike, he told me that she had done the same thing with him the day before and was waiting for her to do it for me. I asked her if she wanted to give her some kisses and she held her arms up and she immediately reached over and gave her a kiss dead square on the mouth. It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. since then, she does it every few days and even if we are in another room and her name comes up, she runs back to my bathroom where her portrait is on my wall and screams ' FO-FIE!!' It is so funny. How will I ever explain her sister to her? I stay in a conflicted place where she is concerned these days. As much as I miss that child, I have to thank God that he chose to take her because I wouldn't have Landry. How can a Mother be almost grateful that she doesn't have her child? It hurts to think about it but it hurts even more to think about not having Landry. She is the core of who I am as a mother and I don't think I would be the mother I am if any thing in this life of mine were any different. It something I ponder from time to time and struggle with but the more I learn what being a mother is, I understand a little more what God's plan was for me. How can I question that? She is perfect and whole in His arms and he gave me something so wonderful in return. As I approach Mother's Day, I can only be filled with gratitude and thanksgiving for the many many blessings I have already received from these two beautiful children. Hug your kids, your pets, your spouse or whoever extra tight this week but make sure you hug your Mama if you still have the luxury of doing so. I know I certainly would.

Sick
I hate being sick and I really hate being a sick Mama. I used to be able to just get through it and forget about it but I have found it doesn't quite work that way when you have a little person. I hate it more for her than I do for myself because she just doesn't understand why I can't do some of the things I always do for her. I am supposed to be invincible and bulletproof. I hate to see that look of want from her for me and not be able pick her up or spend time with her. It's heart breaking. I want to always be the person she can count on for any and everything and she just didn't understand this week. I am feeling a little better but I still have a few days left to shake it. I spent the day with her today but I tried not to get too close to her(how hard was that?!). I was looking through my baby album today and I came across this picture of me. When I asked Landry who it was, she pointed to herself and said 'Laaaandry' (actually pronounced Yaaandwee!). She really does look like me but when I look at the pictures that look the most like her now at 16 months, I was 2.5 years old. When I got to the U.S., I was 17 months and weighed 14 lbs. She weighed that at 4 months! Mother always told me that I looked like a 6 month old baby that could run. I can't imagine what that looked like!
On a much happier note, Mike made Winners Circle which means a trip to Hawaii for us! I am so proud of him. It is such an accomplishment to make Winners Circle because that meant he tiered the top 11% in the country. I am looking forward to a wonderful trip and more importantly watching him get rewarded for a hard year. Congrats Sweetie!

Behind
I am so behind. On my blog posts, on my chores, on my paperwork, on my photo editing. I am pretty much behind on everything except where Landry is concerned. She gets so much of my attention that some things end up going by the way side. She is growing up so fast that I find my sense of balance shift at the drop of a hat just so I can keep up with her. I refuse to miss a thing because she is changing and growing at warp speed. Her personality cannot be beat. She is funny, sweet, charming, loving, strong-willed and just plain wonderful. I can't imagine being any more in love with this child but to my utter surprise I fall harder each and every day. Bliss I tell you...pure bliss.
Today, we took Landry on her first trek to the golf course. We played alternate shot and had such a great time. She seemed to love being out there and even more, she enjoyed the vroom vroom. This is what she calls riding in the golf cart. She is obsessed with it. She wants to go every day...so she does. Sometimes it's a few times a day and she thinks she is something else. I look at her and think about how completely different our lives were growing up. She may be an only child and I was one of 6. We didn't have a lot of money...at all...and she is fortunately not going to have to worry about many of the same things I did. The things I worried about should never be issues for her. My only issue with her not having to struggle too much is the character development that I truly believe comes with dealing with life's challenges. I believe that there is a level of character that is instilled when you really have to work hard for something. I never had anything really handed to me and I would like to believe that moving through those obstacles gave me the resilience and fortitude to persevere. I believe that gratitude is incredibly important and that it is instilled in her from a very early age. She does a great job of saying thank you and please EVERY time she wants or receives something. It makes me so proud of her when I hear those words come from her sweet little mouth. I don't want her to ever have to struggle but at the same time, I think that there are opportunities for growth that only come with them. What's a mama to do? I guess I will let things progress as they are meant to and if there is a time where I believe that she needs some 'character development' I will address it then. Until such time, I will spoil her rotten just to the point where she realizes it. I promise to do better on the blogging front.

Flashback
When I was deciding on what Landry would wear for Easter I had intended on making her a beautiful gown on baby blue. I had all of the material and lace all ready to go. I went to her closet and realized that there was a beautiful gown with her initials already smocked in the collar and decided that would be a better option since it was already made. As I was looking I stumbled upon the one and only piece of clothing I have from my childhood. It is a traditional Aoi Dai. I wore it when I was 2 years old. When I saw it I took it off the hanger and looked it over. I slipped it on Landry it barely fit her and she is only 16 months old! I kept thinking about it and I made a decision that even surprised me. I decided that Landry needed to wear my gown on Easter. No, it wasn't the typical southern Easter dress full of fine fabrics and hand sewn lace as I had always envisioned her in. It was a piece of my history and a piece of my past. I loved seeing her in that gown. It was so cute on her and it really was a hit at church. She had such a great time. Enjoy some of my favorite shots from a most glorious day!

Where do I start?
My life has been such a whirlwind lately. I don't even know where to start and do I dare to even try to catch up on this blog in one post?! I am going to give it a try but forgive me if I can't keep my eyelids open to complete the task. We left last Monday and headed for Augusta. My friend Ken Duke was playing in his first appearance and we were excited to see him. We followed him around while he played with Vijay Singh in FREEZING cold temperatures but it was worth it. I was able to take my camera on the two practice round days so I have some really great images from the trip. On Wednesday, we went to the Par 3 tournament and we saw every great golfer on tour. I witnessed Gary Player make a hole in one on #9 and watch the crowd erupt into the biggest roar. He was playing with Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. How much better does it get than that?! Augusta National is truly one of the most divine places on earth. It is so beautiful and pristine. Even with thousands of people there, you get this sense of a peace and tranquility just by being there. It was a privilege that I will not soon forget. The weather for the next two days could not have been better. Ken made the cut and hung around for the weekend. We left after Thursdays round and drove 8 hours back to Jackson. The next morning, I anxiously awaited for my Buggins to be delivered back to me(thank you Momo and PawPaw!) and I just cried when I got her back in my arms. I missed her so much! I was kind of surprised at my emotion but it felt so good to smell her smell and hug her sweet little body. It was like Augusta on my own front porch....HEAVEN! I worked to get the house ready for my Easter company. Mike's sister Wendy and her husband and daughter came from Virginia for a visit. We haven't seen her since Sophie died so it was nice to catch up and see each other. Haley roved herself to be quite the artist. She has an amazing talent for drawing. She is only 9 years old and can absolutely knock it out of the park with her art. My nephew Ben also came over and we all visited for a while. They took off to go visit Mike's mom for a while and we ended up going down to Crystal Springs for a crawfish boil. Later that night I found myself in a bidding war at a bake sale over an orange pineapple cake that Momo made. I was determined to get that cake until the guy I was bidding against showed me up with a $150 bid!! I thought all was lost until I struck a deal with him. I offered to make a $75 donation to the church if he would let me take that cake and if Jadeen, aka Momo, would make him another one. He agreed to let me have it for the donation so everyone was happy! It is sooooo good! I think I got the best end of that deal and the money went to a great cause. The next morning was Easter and I was so excited to have Landry participate in her first real Easter egg hunt. The fun begins!! One of the big topics of conversations surrounding Landry was what I was going to have her dressed in for Easter. I had a beautiful hand smocked gown that I hand made for her to wear. I woke up one night thinking about this gown I have and I just couldn't get it off my mind. It is the only thing I have from my childhood. It is a traditional Vietnamese Aoi Dai. I went to Landry's room and pulled it from the closet and it fit her. Perfectly. I thought to myself...this is the only time in her life that she will be able to wear this dress and it is a special day for us so I went with it. I scrapped the traditional fine hand sewn southern dress for a 38 year old gown made from scrap material and aged snaps. I absolutely loved it on her and so did everyone else. I was so happy with my decision and I thought she was as cute and sweet as she could be. Finally, we came home after service and I finished cooking the Easter dinner for our family. There were 6 adults, 1 child and a sleepy Landry. I served quite a spread and there was more than enough food to spare. After we ate, I passed out and took a nap. I was absolutely beat. I really needed the rest and I felt so much better when I woke up. I bought Haley an Easter bunny house to assemble and Ben and I helped her put it together. We laughed the whole way through it. We affectionately called it the Whitfield House. We also dyed Easter eggs and finished the evening off with a Wii marathon. It was so much fun to laugh and cut up with everyone. Great Easter memories for all!
Today, I woke up and Mike cooked us all breakfast before he headed out to work. As always, he cooked up a feast and we ate yet again! Since it rained so hard yesterday and Wendy wanted to go visit Sophie's grave, we opted to wait until today to go visit her. I was pretty sad about it but there wasn't anything I could do. We went today and we really had a great visit there. I am physically pained less and less with each day that passes. I am so grateful to God that he heals broken hearts and has been working so hard on mine. My moment closest to Christ and probably the most difficult of the weekend was when I took Landry to the altar as the children flowered the cross. I was standing up there and all of the sudden they started playing 'Jesus Loves Me'. I felt my chest tighten and my heart drop. The last time I heard that song in that same way was when I was telling my child good-bye at her funeral. I wasn't sure I was going to make it through it but somehow Landry helped me persevere. She has that effect of me. Whew! I think I have covered most of the last week but nothing could have prepared me for the love I felt for my child, my family and my God this beautiful Easter season. Thank you God for giving us your son and for loving us the way only you can.

The Masters

We are headed out to Augusta tomorrow for 3 days at the Masters! I am so excited because Mike has never been and it is something that was on his 'bucket list'. The Masters is a special event because it preserves the true integrity of the game of golf. They are very strict at Augusta but in a good way. There are no commercial endorsements there at all. The grounds are pristine and manicured beyond perfection. The one thing I love (and hate) about golf is that it challenges you mentally far more than it does physically because it's not a sport you can master. I have been a golfer for a long time and I truly love the game. I really hope that Landry will come to love it and that we can play as a family one day. Mike and I even had a golf tournament when we got married called the Mader Cup! It won't be for a while but we'll have her a set of clubs before you know it. In the mean time, I'll leave you with one of my new favorite pictures. She was really excited when we shook the tree and told her it was snowing. Some of the white petals flew into the air and she was just elated. She even stopped blowing her bubbles! On a sweet note, today, she looked at me and said 'Mama, some juice please!' I said ok..what else would you like? She promptly answered " Down and fish please." In other words, I want down and I would like some juice and goldfish, please. And yes, I did get a 'tain tu' ---aka thank you when I delivered.

Manners are FREE
This has been the longest I have gone without a post. I think the one about my Mother really wore me out. On a happier note, my Daddy is being honored by having a room in a building at the Army base in Ft Knox, KY. He was the Adjutant General there when I was about 5. I am so proud of him and his accomplishments. He hasn't been in the Army for 25 years so for them to honor him now is pretty special. I have to get them some pictures of him so they can display them. I can't wait to see it!
So much as happened in the last few weeks. I don't know where to start. Landry astounds me every day. She is really talking up a storm and has over 200 words in her vocabulary now. She is starting to put 2 and 3 word sentences together and is starting to really understand concepts like in/out, up/down, and on/off. She can tell you just about anything she wants or thinks and I know I'm a proud Mama but dang she is smart! One of the things that makes me the most proud is that she is starting to learn some really important manners and while I know that she might not completely understand why she is saying 'Thank you' (or Tan tu) she says it without prompting almost every time someone does something for her or gives her something. She's been saying it for quite a while but I still get a thrill when I hear it come out of her sweet little mouth. She ALWAYS says 'please' when she asks for something. I think that one of the most important things that you teach your children is manners and respect for one another. They are paramount to having happy, successful relationships and they are FREE! I want Landry to always show her gratitude for whatever it is that is done or given to her her. She is off to a great start and I couldn't be more pleased. When anyone hears her say 'Thank you' I get the best reactions from them. It reinforces what she is learning and establishes a life long lesson of gratitude.
Her latest obsession is her life jacket. I bought her one so we can have it when we go to Parish Weekend with the church. I wanted to make sure she had one in case we go on the paddleboats. There are 4 clasps that hold the jacket on and she quickly figured out how to fasten them together. She will sit there as long as I will and snap them together. She asks for more 'please' when she gets them done and she goes to town again. She'll do that for an hour! I get so much joy out of seeing her learning and being so proud of herself for her accomplishments. Her motor skills are really good for a 15 month old.
I had a day of mini-sessions in Crystal Springs, did a portrait sitting that will go on the Methodist Childrens Homes Easter Card. They are sending out 15,000 of them and they all have my logo and info on the back. Hopefully, I'll get some business from that. I just loved the children I shot for it. They were small miracles and it made me realize just how blessed the Mader family is. Those two children were a beautiful example of God working through His servants. I hope they stay with their foster family and eventually become their 'forever family'. I would have taken them home in a heart beat! They are loved and so happy now. I pray that God continues to keep them safe and blessed.
On a final note, we have a big trip planned! It is a trip Mike had on his 'bucket list' and I was able to make it happen for him. I can't wait!! I'll detail more in my next post!

**Update**
I have been meaning to update Landry's progress for a month now and I keep forgetting! On the potty training front, Landry has slowed down on the potty training but I completely expected it at her age. She understands what the potty is, knows what to do, understands she gets a treat and even knows when she pee-pees or poopies in her diaper that it's supposed to be in the potty. She points to it and says pee-pee...usually while she's doing it in her diaper! I knew that the excitement would wear off and that she would want to move on to something else so I am not surprised nor am I disappointed. I am very hopeful that she one day it will click and it will come pretty easily for her. Today she asked for her panties so I let her wear them for a little while. I made a big deal about them and we danced around and did the 'big girl panty dance'. YEP...you read right. We have a dance and a song! Maybe one day, I'll be able to video it and let her show it off to you. It is a hoot and she thinks she is such a big girl. She makes me so proud in so many ways that I just can't be worried about something like this right now. After all, she is only 15 months old!!
As far as her vocabulary...it is unreal. Seriously, I am not just saying it because she's my kid but she really had quite an extensive vocabulary for a child her age. I quit counting a month ago but I know she has between 175-200 words in her vocabulary. Landry understands so many things and she really knows how to communicate so well. She uses her signs regularly and she can easily tell me what she wants...or doesn't want! Most people that interact with her cannot believe how extensive her vocabulary is. She says please and thank you without me prompting her almost EVERY time she wants something or receives something. It has become somewhat automatic for her. It is the darndest thing you have ever seen. She can piece 2 and 3 word sentences together and she can follow instructions very well. She is learning to put her toys away and 'help' mommy when she is asked to. I rarely ever pick up her toys without her. I always want her to understand that she has a responsibility to help in some way. She seems to delight in helping and is always willing to do her part....wonder how long that will last! She is the sweetest, happiest child you can imagine. I don't know what in the world I have ever done to deserve such a joy but I won't question a gift from God.
Her favorite word these days....MAAAA MAAAA. Heaven...pure heaven.

Confession #2
*Do you think Landry looks like me?*

It has been seven years today since my mother left us here on earth. I have had a hard time with this one mainly because I have spent the last year watching the most amazing miracle happen each and every day. I have watched this child of mine grow and flourish and I can't help but to be sad at all of the things she is missing. Last year, I shared a little something about our little angel Sophie. It felt more like a confession because we were sharing something about her that we had kept in secret in order to protect not only her but ourselves as well. Today I have another confession. At some point I am going to have to share with Landry why her Grandmother died at such an early age and how. I am choosing to share it here because I feel like Landry deserves to the truth about some things and as painful as they are, it is a part of my life and her history. My mother suffered for many years with mental illness. She changed a lot when my parents divorced and the June Cleaver that she was started to fade away. When the nest emptied she found herself truly alone for the first time in her life. The only thing she really ever knew how to do was take care of people and there was no one left to take care of. She stayed with my great aunt for a number of years but that proved to be too much for her in her declining health and my aunts need for greater care. She moved into an apartment of her own and there she became very depressed. When 9/11 happened it really did something to her. She constantly stayed worried for herself and even more for her children. She was glued to the TV and got so wrapped up in what was going on in the world that she literally drove herself crazy. I thank God every day that she never had access to the Internet. I was going through a very painful divorce, moving into a home of my own and settling in to being single for the first time in 12 years and I got a call. It was a call that would change my life forever. I had just come back from making a quick trip to see her because I knew something was up. 11 days later, my mother had decided that taking an entire bottle Tylenol would be an easy way out. She managed to get down 56 of them and after 12 days of terrible suffering, it finally worked. One of the sad parts was that she thought she would just go to sleep and that would be that. After it didn't happen that way, she got scared and changed her mind but by then it was too late. They were already in her system and it took it that long to shut her liver, kidneys and other organs down. All of my sibling flew in and we all endured it together. Even my Daddy was there for the whole time. He is what saved me. I was very upset for many reasons and I didn't leave my mothers side for the last week of her life. I showered in her room, I slept there and I was laying across her chest when she took her last breath. At that point, I begged for God to take her and he finally did. As sad as it was, it was a huge relief. We just couldn't take it anymore. We were all so exhausted and we just wanted her to have some relief. It was so hard to see her like that. I don't ever think I will be able to escape those images I have of her. I was so upset at that point that I made all of the arrangements for her, I did her hair, helped them her dressed and ready, picked out her outfit to be viewed in, picked out her flowers and picked out the box we buried her ashes in. When the flowers arrived for her casket(we viewed her before we cremated her) I went nuts. They were certainly not good enough for her and I made them take them back. They had these huge chrysanthemums on them(like the ones on a homecoming corsage!) and I freaked out. The flowers they sent back were the most beautiful flowers I have ever seen...even to this day. I am a control freak and everything had to be perfect... and I mean to the letter perfect. Rhonda and I did many of these tasks together but I will never forget being in the funeral home all alone with her and doing her hair. It was one of the saddest moments of my life and yet I was doing one last thing for her and it was incredibly gratifying. I knew that I would never be alone with her again and that even though she wasn't there, I knew she understood everything I was saying. If I could have one last conversation with her I would tell her that one day she would have all these beautiful grandchildren that would love and adore her. I would convince her that she had so many people that loved her and wanted her to be happy and complete. I would tell her that she was needed and wanted and that she had purpose. I would tell her that as many people that do a fantastic job of filling in for her, that there is no one like her Grandmother and that Landry needs you here. I would tell her that Landry needs her here to show off her new words and sweet smile and to be what she looks forward to. I would tell her that she needs to feel the love that only a grandchild can give her. I would tell her that in the seven years that she has been gone that there have been another 6 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild born to her and that they need her too. I never failed to tell her this(and often) but I would tell her that I loved her. If you can, would you please stop whatever you're doing and tell your mom all of these things? I only wish I could.

Good Stuff
Landry had her first trip to the beach today and absolutely loved it! It took her a minute to figure out how to steady herself on the sand but once she did she was an instant beach baby! I bought her a bucket and gardening tools for part of her Easter but I had to break it out early so she could use it at the beach. I slathered her up with 50 spf and we just had a blast. She went nuts when dipped her in the ocean. She did a complete belly laugh and it made my heart smile. I wish her Daddy could have been here to see it but Aunt Kelley was. She was the photographer for the day and she went to town. I actually got to be in a few pictures with Landry and that never happens! I will post a slide show in a few days when we get back but here is a preview of our bathing beauty!

Reflection

Be the Change in the World You want to See - Ghandi

I have written in many posts that I have always tried to be the face of God whenever and wherever I can. I am certainly not a poster child of an Apostle but I do try to live a good life, love with my whole heart and be a servant of God. His face in mine. That is a tall order and there are many, many days when I don't deliver. I am human and I fail because I am human but I can't stop trying.
This morning at church I seemed to have a bulls eye on me. I had one person after another asking me to do something or to help with something. I am a true believer that 20% of the people do 80% of the work in almost every situation. I love feeling needed and even better...wanted. I was asked to help with Vacation Bible School, the International Dinner, and the newly formed Wednesday night supper(which I am now in charge of!), I watched the nursery and gave Oblations(delivered the bread and wine to the altar with my sweet family). It was very fulfilling day to say the least but a little overwhelming. In the past few days, I have been asked to help design a school election poster, design a custom birthday invitatation, asked to help recover dining chairs at a funeral home and help with the election of Alderman in my community. In addition to that...I have accepted the chair position of Grand Opening Events for the Mississippi Children's Museum. It is a wonderful honor but also a huge task. More to come on this later. I also am in the final planning stages of my high school reunion. I have several trips planned between now and mid summer and did I mention that I still have Landry and a husband to tend to?! Whew! My cousin told me the other day that she gets tired thinking about all of the things I do. I am also trying to finish up some lighting business and start a new photography business. All this to say.....I am blessed! I love that I have THIS life. THIS life is the one I was supposed to live and I thank God every day for giving me the love, resources, talent, time and ability to be His face when I can. Who would have thought that the sick little baby girl sitting on the floor of a dirt poor orphanage half way around the world would be given the blessings of this life. I ask myself...do I have any other choice but to be His face when I can? I challenge you to take a quick inventory of your life and see how you can be be the face of Jesus today.
I want to end this on a quick note about a blessing I received today. My friend Jill came up to me and took me totally by surprise. She said she had something she wanted to talk to me about and I could tell it wasn't just going to be any ole conversation. She told me that had I taught her many lessons over the last 3 years. She reads my blog regularly and I know that my words really seem to touch her sometimes. I am so flattered that anyone would want to read my 'daily insanity' much less take a lesson from it. She told me about a new friend she met and how this woman was telling her about her 3 children. She said that her oldest passed away and immediately, Jill asked her about him. She admitted to me that this is something she would have totally avoided years ago but that something I said made an impression on her. She knows that it is a true desire of mine that my daughter, Sophie, is not forgotten. Some don't want to talk about their heavenly children but most feel like I do and want to have their precious children remembered. She said after she asked about him they got into a wonderful discussion and it was 3 hours later when they wrapped up their conversation. She said that this new friend really appreciated her interest and I think that their budding relationship was founded on something special. She needed her to care about her child and she did. She was the face of God for her new friend. She didn't know that day when she woke up that she was going to be but if it is in your heart, it just happens. Thank you, Jill, for reminding me why I live for God and why I want to be the face of Jesus. Today, you were the teacher.

Lazy Day
What makes a rainy day = a lazy day? Today Landry and I were absolute bums. She wanted to nap a good part of the day so who knows what time she will finally end up going to sleep tonight. If you know anything about my parenting style, you know that I am a schedule follower and that I NEVER deviate from her eating or bed time schedules. I am kind of OCD about it actually. I am so blessed that she is such a great sleeper. She rarely gets up in the middle of the night and when she does, she usually puts herself back to sleep. She has been sleeping about 11-12 hours every night. WOW!
Yesterday we had a lazy day too. It was one of those pajama days that we are all entitled to everyone once a while. I decided that March 12th was an optional pajama day for the rest of my life. So far, I have exercised the holiday for the last 3. The first year, several of my friends came over in their pajamas and we watched movies and ate lots of really bad(good) food...all day long. They left late in the afternoon and we met up again at Sophie's first annual Dessert before Dinner party. This year was the 3rd year to celebrate her and we really had a good time. I bought 4 balloon for us to send up to heaven. The first one had Happy Birthday on it for Sophie, the second one was all of the Disney princesses for Landry to send to her sister and Grandmother, the third one was a pink heart for Martha because her heart was so big and the last one was a smiley face for a sweet guy from our church who just passed away and his name was Grif. There have been some very special people to pass in the last month and I couldn't go to their funerals. I had a hard time admitting this at first but I just don't do funerals well. I didn't think I could handle such an emotional funeral as Martha's so I just didn't go. I felt terrible for not going but I just couldn't do it. I gave the balloons to Landry to send up to heaven and she screamed ' BALLOON!' and let them go. She waved bye-bye until we couldn't see them any longer. I thought she was going to get upset but she never did. It was almost like she knew where they were going. I want to thank everyone for coming and for all of the sweet thoughts and prayers. I got an unexpected gift yesterday from my cousin Mindy and her husband Jim. Little did she know but she sent me my favorite flowers. She sent me a beautiful bouquet of flowers and the sweetest card remembering Sophie. It was total surprise and one that truly touched my heart. The unexpected sentiments are the ones that really take you by surprise. I woke up this morning and they were such a beautiful way to start my day. Thank you Mindy...I will never forget your thoughtfulness. I was also surprised at all of the phone calls, emails and Facebook wishes. I know that life goes on and people forget but it is really nice to know that you are loved and thought of on difficult days. I certainly felt loved yesterday and the pain of the day was certainly dulled from all of the kindness. If you want to take a look at all of the pictures from yesterday click on my photo album to the right. Otherwise, here are a few I picked out from the day.

Celebrate Life

~"When God takes something from your grasp, He's not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better."

Out of the blue today, this quote popped on my computer screen. I wasn't looking for it and I certainly didn't know what to think when I read it. Was it a sign? Was it a message straight from God? Yep...I know it was. I have seen many things along this healing journey that has helped me through to the next day. This quote will keep my heart safe for the rest of my life because I know how true it is. Sometimes you just have to see it written down. I needed it and God knew it. I kept thinking that all of those wonderful, beautiful days I have had with Landry would make my pain go away. For the most part, it absolutely has. It makes me know how blessed I am to be the Mother I was meant to be. It is the single greatest assignment that God has ever given me. She makes it so easy for me to have a sense of self worth and pride in my ability to raise her. Does that make sense? She gives me a sense of fulfillment that only comes from raising a child. She excels in ways that I never dreamed a child could. So many times, I hear people tell me how beautiful she is. What they don't know is that her heart is far more beautiful than her face. Her personality is far sweeter than those beautiful lips of hers and her compassion teaches me lessons every day. All this in the tiny body of a 15 month old. I love all these things and so many more about her. What it also reminds me of is the child I miss....the child that I delivered 3 short yet very long years ago. I miss my Sophie and no matter how much joy Landry brings me, that isn't going to change. I guess I assumed(hoped) that I would be instantly healed from my pain when we brought Landry in to this world but it doesn't work that way. I will always be the mother of two very special girls but I have to wait and see just how special my first born was. I know one day I will have that completeness I long for but it will be a while. For now, I have a very important job to do here on earth and there isn't anything more I would rather do. I miss you Sophie, more and more every day. Thank you for looking after your baby sister. You are doing a great job. I love you, baby girl and I can't wait till we meet again. Love, Momma

My Cutie Patootie
This is so Landry...they way she is 95% of our day. How lucky am I?

NOLA!
I just got back from New Orleans and did we have a great time! Six of my friends and I went on the train to NOLA for the weekend. We ate, danced, talked, laughed and people watched the whole weekend. As the 'social chair' for our group I told them when we were planning the trip that I wanted to do something 'touristy or cultural' while we were down there this time. I have been down to NOLA so many times and have rarely come out of the quarter. I proposed that we go on a swamp tour. Everyone was game so I booked a tour with Honey Island Swamp Tours. Our bus driver and our swamp tour guide were so good. They were informative, funny and insightful. They had some great tidbits of information to share and they really seemed like they enjoyed their jobs. We were all very impressed with the whole experience and I highly recommend checking it out if you are ever headed that way. As far as the girls...they were just great. We had a great group with a some diverse personalities. Everyone got along well and the goal of having a good time was certainly exceeded. I feel so blessed to know and love these women. I can't imagine not having the opportunity to be able to spend some 'Renee' time with my friends. It makes me a better wife and mother to just be me sometimes. It rejuvenates me and makes me appreciate the things I have in my life that are most important. Mike did a great job taking care of the Bug. I never doubted for a second that he wouldn't but isn't it nice to come back to a child who couldn't have been happier spending the weekend with her Daddy. They went to the playground, had lunch at the Chinese restaurant, went to Walmart and played and played. We talked on the phone several times and I got a few kisses blown to me from the Bug. He got Ashton to stay with her for a little while Friday night so he could hang out with some friends in the neighborhood but for the rest of the time...it was all Daddy...all the time! She was so sweet when I came home...she smiled that priceless smile and said MAAAA MAAAA! Heaven to my ears...pure heaven.
I have more pictures to post and other stories to tell but for now, I'll leave you with Buster...or at least that's what I named this beast. Scary isn't he?

Sponge
This is Landry starting to learn her numbers. She is such a sponge these day! I have a ton of video and some of it is so hilarious but it takes too long to upload! If you go back and look at the other videos in my account you just won't believe how much she's grown. Landry will learn just about anything as long as she gets some groceries for it! She can repeat her numbers to 5 if I help her. She knows what one, two and three represent when I count them out to her. I just stand in amazement at her for most of the hours in a day.

Realizations
Last week, a friend of mine asked me if I wanted to go with her to Baton Rouge to attend a photography workshop by Sam Puc. Mike was at a church retreat but fortunately I was able to work it out where I could go. There were only a few hours where we overlapped having care for Landry and she ended up being spoiled by both Nancy and Ashton. Landry is good at entertaining the masses! I made the round trip in one day so I was beat when I got home at 1am! I was so glad I went because I learned so much. She was really generous with her time and talent and I found her to be a very effective speaker. She did a live shoot and to me, that's where the rubber meets the road in learning. I can read all day long but really watching someone in action is my best teacher. I learned more in one wedding with Joe Photo than I would have in a dozen on my own. Yes...he is just that good. Sam even went over her allotted time by an hour which is the reason we got home so late. I got up the next day and went to church and I was dragging! I am so thankful that I have a husband and friends that help me work on this dream I've been dreaming. I am taking it slow and my actions are very deliberate. I am working to learn as much as I can technically but to me the most important part of photography to me is the human side. The part that connects you to your subject and extracts raw emotion from them. I am very much a photo journalistic style photographer and she really had a talent for creating the 'connection'. She shoots 10 clients a day 4 days a week. For the type of high end clientele she has that is almost unheard of. The fact that she has 4 children and has had over 40 foster children in her home just adds to my respect for her. All of this didn't exist in her life 9 short years ago. I can't even imagine. Please pray for me as I continue this journey. It is not only a new career path but also fuel to a passion I have had for a very long time. Last but not least, Sam is co-founding member of the Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep organization. It is a ministry of photographers who volunteer their time and talent to give the parents of an infant images they might not otherwise have free of charge. They go to the hospital and do a photo shoot right in the room. I wish I had had someone who could have taken Sophie's pictures for me. Mike really did a great job getting some and I took a few but it really wasn't the same. It is such an emotional time and your heart is aching so much that sometimes you just forget the details of 'after the fact'. I haven't signed up to volunteer yet because I don't think I am ready yet. I know I will be one day and I hope to be able to give someone this gift in their time of sorrow. I know my time will come to help someone heal but as I approach Sophie's 3rd birthday, I have come to realize how much more time I need. The funny thing about having a super, wonderfully precious child like Landry is that it sure serves as a reminder of that sweet child you said good-bye to. Mike went to a funeral a few weeks ago at our church(I was at WPPI) and he told me that it really hit him really hard and he got rather emotional over it. I ached for him. I mean I really, really did. When our dear sweet Martha passed away a few days later, I wasn't sure if I could endure it myself. I didn't want to relive even a moment of one of the absolute worst days of my life. I pondered over it and at the last minute I came to the conclusion that I just couldn't do it to myself. I hated that I couldn't pay my respects to her but I finally convinced myself that I had already had and that it was when it was most important. It was when she still knew it and could enjoy the photos I took of her, her many friends and her family. I wanted to remember her sassy, smiling, and of course, with those lips decorated in her shade of red. I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve them all by creating these images. That day will live with me for a very long time. Martha, I know you are doing what we talked about. I hope you left a big red lip print on that sweet little face of hers. I know she was waiting on you...