Memories in the Making...

Tuesday, June 3, 2025

Easter Celebrations

We spent Easter with family and more family. It was a hard day, but we tried to make the best of it.

Rylee graduated on Saturday, May 9th. It was a bittersweet day, as we celebrated Rylee's accomplishments, but missing one of her biggest supporters. Rylee graduated #33 in her class out of 225, she graduated with a 3.8gpa, and she received a $1500 scholarship. We are so very proud of her. Now off to South College for nursing!

Rylee's Senior Prom

This was a whirlwind of a week... With Dad being sick and us having 1 week to find a dress, someone to do her hair, nails, etc.... But we did it! She looked stunning and Drew was a perfect date!

Broken

On April 15th a piece of my heart went to Heaven. My Daddy won his battle with cancer. He is now in the presence of our Lord. I never dreamed I would lose my Daddy so soon. Even after his diagnosis in April 2024, I never thought he would leave me so soon. I always spent a lot of time with him, but since his diagnosis I spent even more time with him. I will forever cherish the time... every beach trip, all the camping trips, lessons he taught me, garden work, the walks we took almost every day, games of cat we played, tractor rides, card games, Covid, puzzles we worked, ballgames, watching the Braves together, and repeating myself a hundred times. He was absolutely the VERY BEST! To think he couldn't love anyone anymore than he loved his kids, boy was I wrong. He loved his grand kids even more. They were his world and he was theirs. I pray I will never forget the kind of man he was and how he treated others. I will long for the day I can hug him again.

Thursday, March 6, 2025

Ry's 18th Birthday

Well it's finally here. You are 18 years old today, a day I know you've been waiting on for ages! You're ready to move on, become more independent, start college, make new friends, and continue making memories with Drew and Finley. Your life has just begun and I can't wait to see what you do with it. But I'd be lying if I said this day was filled with complete happiness. It was about 8:30AM on the 17th of January when you made your grand entrance. Having a little girl wasn't what I had planned, but I am so thankful it was God's plan. You are my girl and my very best friend.

Although people use to tell me time would fly by, I had no idea that the years would pass so quickly. And yet here you are 18. If I could turn the clock back a bit, I would play baby dolls with you just a little longer, let you scuba dive in the bath until your fingers were shriveled, and let you give me a makeover one more time. I've accepted everyday that you've grown a little more and needed me a little less. But today hurts more than others, as today is the day you become an adult, and soon you'll be leaving me for new adventures. I am not worried you won't be able to handle everything that life throws at you- you're the most strong willed, determined young woman I know- no I am sad today because I don't want to let you go , not just yet. But i know that I have to.

Ry, I can't put into words just how proud I am of you. I am proud of the determined, ambitious, kind, and generous young woman you have turned into. I am just in aw of how amazing you are. There are exciting times ahead for you- graduating high school, obtaining your college degree, getting your first real job, getting married, buying your first house, having children, and so much more!

There will also be hard times. Times you may feel your world is falling a part, but it's not. Sweet girl continue to be kind, be tenacious, be forgiving, and LOVE BIG! I love you more than life, Rylee. Happy 18th Birthday!

Love, Mom