The Loves of My Life

About 13 years ago, we took a road trip through WV.  Along the way, we made a stop at Dilley's Mill so Johnny could show me where he had spent many a summer with the Boy Scouts.  While there, I snapped this pic which has being a favorite of mine for many years.

After that day, Johnny talked about how one day he would love to have JJ experience what he had all those summers ago.  Well, dad's wish came true this summer when JJ made his first trip to Dilley's Mill as a Boy Scout.  Mom was extremely excited too.  However, I knew there was one picture I just had to get before we left there.  Luckily, Friday night, I got my chance.

I was so excited to get this photo!  I plan to make this a yearly thing!  Here is too many more great summers at Dilley's Mill!





Happy 14th Birthday JJ

At 10:28pm on June 17, 1998, a true little blessing came into this world:

Weighing only 4lbs. 6oz and 17 3/4 inches long, JJ made his way into the world!  And what an adventure it has been since then!  From an adventurous birth (6 weeks premature and an emergency c-section) to the adventure loving spirit of a young man now, it has definitely being a joy and blessing to watch him grow up!

Happy 14th Birthday JJ!!  You will never know how much mom and dad love you!  Hope you have a wonderful day my beautiful boy and many more happy, healthy, and adventurous days to come!  I love you sweetie!

From 1st Birthdays to

14th Birthdays - You will always be my little boy!

This is my favorite picture of JJ and his Daddy!

This picture has been sitting on my dresser for close to 14 years now!

It amazes me how they are sleeping in the SAME way!  And no it was not

staged.  I just picked up the camera and snapped the pic!

Some of my other favorite pics of JJ through the years!

 Look how little!

 JJ and his best friend - His binky!

 2nd Halloween - My little lion

 Ready to go hunting!

 One of my favorite outfits when he was little

 And my handsome young man today!  Love you sweetie!

A Great Experience

The two questions that a get a lot these days when I mention the WV Power Host Family program is "What is a host family?" and "What exactly do you do as a host family?"  Well, all I can say is "Being a host family for the WV Power is a GREAT experience!" 

Last year when Johnny came home talking about this program, I was like "I don't know."  I worried about what exactly we had to do, how much of a time committment would it be, etc.  Now, I look back and am very THANKFUL to be part of this experience. 

The program works like this - our wonderful host family director Robin Black assigns you a player (or sometimes two).  You meet your player before the season begins and you assist them in finding/setting up a place to live.  Then there are several committments you do through the year - attending host family picnics, packing them a "road bag" for away trips, and helping them pack/clean their apartments at the end of the season.  After those basic things, it is up to you what more you do.  We have taking our players out to dinner.  We try to make as many games as we possible can to show our support and support them and the team.  We try to see our player before each game and bring them a little treat.  Honestly, I try to treat my adopted "son" as I would want someone to treat my child in the same situation.

I think one of the BEST things of the host family program is this - I have met some wonderful individuals, made some great friends, and extended my family!  Not only have we got the chance to get and know our players, we have met and got to know some other great players also. 

So, would I recommend this program to anyone?  ABSOLUTELY!!  Am I grateful that Johnny came home talking about this program last year?  ABSOLUTELY!!  I actually look forward to baseball season and count down the days until the "boys of summer" come back into town.  LET'S GO POWER!!!

Trent Stevenson - Our first adopted Power player!

I am very thankful to call this young man my second son now!

We love and miss you Trent!

We were very honored to meet Trent's dad, Jim!

I was so happy to see him anytime he got to come in.  A truly wonderful person.

 Rinku Singh and I

Rinku was our second Power Player.  A very wonderful young man!

Top pic - Tina Harrison and Justin Ennis

Bottom pic - Willy Garcia

These are Tina's "boys".  Two great individuals!

Also, Tina and I have really grown close this year!  I love knowing she is at

the games with me!

Our new player this year - Clairo Perez

We meet Clario around mid-May.  Very nice young man!

Though there is a little speech barrier, I am glad to see Clairo each game!

Other wonderful people we have meet!

Top - Robin Black - our fearless leader

2nd - Rod "The Toastman" Blackstone

3rd - Jon Schwin

4th - Justin Ennis and Mike Jefferson

5th - Gregory Polanco, Elias Diaz, Junior Sosa, Jose Osuna, Francisco Aponte, Orlando Casto, Clario Perez and Porfirio Lopez

Wonderful events shared together

JJ and I have shared many wonderful events over the past 14 years.  From his birth, first steps, first day of school, first dance, etc.  However, when I get to share events like what happened Sunday with my son, it makes it even better.

Sunday (6-10-12), JJ and I became members Kanawha Salines Presbyterian.  We have been attending services there for two years now.  I had been wanting us to join for awhile, but I wanted to make sure it was the right time.  So after some talking with JJ, some talking with Cathy Appleton (our Pastor's wife and a very special person I am lucky enough to call friend) and a lot of prayer, I spoke to our Pastor and set the wheels in motion.  After being approved by our church's session three weeks ago, JJ and I made our commitments in front of the church Sunday morning.

As we were standing there Sunday, I thought back to another special event JJ and I shared together - our baptism.  What a better thing to share with your child than being baptized together?   Though I had went to church on and off while growing up and being saved when I was younger, I had never been baptized.  So, on July 11, 2004, JJ and I shared this wonderful event together.

It has been wonderful to share in all these special events in my son's life.  I am very proud of the wonderful young man my son has become and am very thrilled to watch his continuous growth in the Lord.  We have come along way from that little boy of about 5, looking up from his car seat in the back seat and saying "Mommy, God wants me in church."  Now, who can argue with that?  Have a great night everyone!

My Grandpa Daniel

Yesterday, as I was with a patient, we began talking about coffee.  As we were talking, she told me that her grandmother had started her drinking coffee when she was still in a high chair.  When she mentioned this, it got me thinking about my Grandpa Tom Daniel. 

I can remember many mornings, sitting with him in the kitchen drinking "coffee."  I say "coffee" because I think it was probably more milk and sugar than coffee.  However, I will never forget those mornings. 

Grandpa never meet a stranger.  I never really ever saw him get angry.  I loved the summertime when we would see him uptown because usually Stacey and I got to go home with him.  We were definitely "his girls." 

Please don't get me wrong, I miss all my grandparents more than words can say.  I have very special memories of them all.  However, since Little Grandpa passed away when I was in 5th grade, the memories of him stick out a little more from time to time.

So, here is to you Little Grandpa.  Thank you for all the memories, especially those morning coffee dates.  I love and miss you!