The Other Side

Peace Ya'll. It's All Good!

Grandmother-hood is a beautiful existence.  Today, my first born Grandaughter turned 14.  Wow, hard to believe.  She was so little when she came into my life.   Devin Sky Rinaker-Allen has brought so much joy into all of our lives.  From the squealing giggles of little-girl hood to the recent WWE whoops during her summer stay.  Life would be remarkably insignificant without our Devin Sky.  

So much changes between summer visits and the Devin Sky that visited this year had definitely crossed over from childhood to teenagerhood.  A little boy-crazed, attentive to her physical beauty, the tom-boy sliding off some; she is a remarkable young woman.  It amazes me how much like her father, Jeremy, that she has become.  At times it was like having him back in the house.  Devin is a hider of emotion and one could miss the fact that she does indeed have dreams and fears and uncertainty as she is clearly individualistic.  I love that about her. 

So, today, wild child…enjoy 14.  Not too much.  Can’t wait until next summer. — Grandma

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Decorating the tree

Happy 14^th Birthday beautiful girl,

What awaits you in your world?

Running horses, racing cars…and boys…

Finding the right mate amongst the stars…

With Daddy standing over watch

Not always smiling and shotgun cocked

Capturing our hearts

He wants to protect you from the pain

That comes with boys and cars and rain.

We love you Devy-Wevy just as you are,

You are with us, every day, even from afar,

We hear your laughter echoing on our walls,

We, too, pray to protect you from life’s falls.

Bringing in Breeby

Enjoy the freedom that youth does truly mask,

Listen to your parents first and your friends last,

What you do and the choices you make today,

Can follow you always so think when you play!

We know what a teenager thinks that she needs,

Responsibility, trust, respect comes with Godspeed—

My Girl Devy-Wevy!

For now, take time, dream big and go jump in the hay,

Climb trees, go barefoot, and laugh along the way.

Let your family still wrap arms around you to protect

Confide in our love and keep your common sense intact.

You are the future and for now you are enough…

Beneath your sideways hat and expression so tough–

Family Bonds

I love you GRANDdaugther, woman child, girl,

Now go forth at 14 and conquer the World!

The baby is not “the baby” anymore.  Becca, a/k/a Kathryn celebrated her Sweet Sixteen on the farm yesterday.  It is hard to believe she is 16!  All of her siblinings — Jeremy, Ashley, Edward along with spouses, Carla and Lee were there.  Her Dad completed the family picutre with neices Devin, Bree, and Mackenzie.  Friends from school made the party a happy event for Kathryn.

Kathryn and Grandma

I should embarass her now and post a bunch of baby pictures like the “Year of the Goat!” or the beach baby year, but I will save those for the fiance.  Instead, I will share this artist rendition of Grandma Pauline and Kathryn.  For the memory makes the Sweet 16 complete.

Kathryn is my last born.  Our little surprise package from God.  I named her “Kathryn” after K.T. Oslin and Aunt Kitty and “Rebecca” after Reba McIntire and because my oldest sister Janice always wanted a little girl so she could call her “Becca” — so “Becca” stuck until the middle school years.  The country music singer theme must have been the right thing to do as Kathryn loves to sing and you can tell just by looking at her pictures that she is full of the joy and spirit of a performer.  I see myself in all of my children and can classify all of the good and bad traits of mine each have inherited, for Kathryn “the good”  is the creative gene.  She is an excellent writer and I suspect she will publish one day when she fully embraces that gift.  She has inherited much of her personality, self -assurance, and strength from Debbie.  Kathryn is our baby-girl, she has kept us all young and pulls us all together with her love and laughter.  Her sister Ashley captured it in a 5th grade essay, Kathryn is a “Gift of Life” …. she gives this gift to all who know her.

We love you Baby-Girl, Happy Sweet Sixteen!

Mom, Debbie, Dad, Jeremy, Carla, Devin, Bree, Ashley, Dave, Edward, Lee, and Mackenzie!

Breeby Turns 6!

Where does the time go?  Surely my second-born little angel is not already 6 years old.  Let’s see, how old does that make Aunt Janie…(LOL).  I missed Breeby’s Birthday party this year.  The first time.  Sometimes, I really hate that my children live in Georgia and moved so far away.  We called her and sang her happy birthday.  But she will be here soon!

Happy Birthday Sweet Angel!

Love MiMi and GoGo and Becca

Here is a book for you from MiMI

http://www.meegenius.com/book/1494?bt=am95QGJhbGRyZWVzb2x1dGlvbnMub3JnOmpveUBiYWxkcmVlc29sdXRpb25zLm9yZzoxNDk0OjE2Mw%3D%3D

Dr. Ashley Elizabeth Allen

It is the true beauty of motherhood to see one of your children accomplish their goals in life. We attended Ashley’s graduation ceremony in Mississippi today! She won the top award given to a student of Veterinarian Medicine — The Dean’s Pegasus Award. I was in awe!

Ashley receiving the SCAVMA Award

 The best part is that after the ceremony was done, the celebrations complete, the U-Haul was headed home for the first time in what seems like an eternity! SHE’S COMING HOME! So, for at least a year, she is within driving distance again.  PTL!

Whoo Hoo! Congratulations Baby-Girl! You have arrived!

Dr. Allen at Work!

Holding hands with Auntie Becca

Playing with Daddy

I finally made it back to Tifton to see our little M & M today, well yesterday now.  She’s absolutely beautiful! and Mommy and Daddy are hanging in there after one month and three days.  The worry is lessening in their faces and the settling in of parenthood has begun.  My daughter-in-law, Lee, is such a tender-loving  Mommy, naturally caring, and warming my heart; son Edward just loves all over his little smurf who seems to slurp up every second of it.  She is absolutely precious and is nearing the 5lb mark now.  It shows in her skin tones and her alterness.  We had a bit of a scare a few days ago, but the blood transfusion was not necessary and she seems to be a little fighter.  Thank you all for the positive energy and the endless prayer!

I Love You Daddy!

Aunti Becca

I'm so sleepy!

I see MiMi!

Too little to play

Ed-Man!

I was blessed with four healthy, full term babies.  The two boys exploded onto the scene at 8.5 lbs and the two girls entered delicately at 7.4 lbs.  Mackenzie’s Dad, Edward Fitzgerald, was full of emotion and spunk as an infant and toddler.  He was the third child, forced into tea parties with older sister Ashley and her best friend Elisa, but made tough by big brother Jeremy.  He had the cutest pout, a mind of his own, and laughter that made all of us laugh.  Little Mr. Independent came trotting into the kitchen one summer afternoon with three of his fingers hanging from shreds of skin as he was too hard-headed to let brother Jeremy peel him a peach.  He could do it himself.  I grabbed a kitchen towel wrapped his hand and rushed him to the emergency room where they reattached his fingers and the entire staff fell in love with him because he was a tough little trooper.  I on the other hand was a blubbering nervous wreck until Grandma Allen got there with his siblings.  Grandma Allen was the strength of our family and her presence was calming.  She believed children are the greatest gift from God.  Even during the difficult times and she spoiled my four without guilt.  I know her spirit is with little Mackenzie Marie daily.   I see so much of Grandma’s spirit in Mackenzie’s little cousin Bree and our little M&M will be filled with Grandma’s spirit, too.

Mackenzie holding Daddy's pinkie!

It is with such pride that I reflect upon the life of my youngest son Edward this evening.  To know of his accomplishments and to have shared in his pain.  To experience the things in life that fill his life with happiness, whether that be a field of watermelons, his beautiful wife, Lee,  a late model ripping around the track, and now the pride in holding his little girl. He has taken a wife.  He has brought a beautiful little girl into the world,

New Daddy!

who so tiny, wraps fingers around his for security.  The journey ahead will be filled with so much happiness…first words, steps, boyfriends.  Today, my son, may feel like you are caught in a cyclone, but the work will pick up, little Mackenzie will get stronger every day and before you blink, you’ll be chasing those Roundtree boys away from your doorstep!  I know these things are true, because it was just the other day that you were crawling across the porch yourself, heading for

Heading for the dirt pile!

that dirt pile to play with brother Jeremy,  climbing up in the back of that watermelon trailer, climbing in the seat of that late model….time does not stand still.

Tough times pass, my son.  You have so much happiness ahead of you.  Believe in the power of God in your life, serve him, continue to provide for your family and one day, you will experience such joy as you reflect back on the life of your child.  You will be amazed and filled with pride as I am in you.

Thank you for your positive thoughts and prayers over little Mackenzie.  She had a rough night, but is progressing again.  She is holding 2 to 4 CC’s of formula and her white blood cell count is dropping as well as the jaundice levels.  I believe in the power of prayer in unison and in the healing nature of God. 

Sweet dreams tonight, Mackenzie Marie.  Grandma has you in her heart and God has you in hand.  We love you our little peanut M & M.

Mackenzie Marie joined our family on September 2nd.  She weighed 3 lbs 10 ounces and is very small.  Please join us in prayer as she is struggling.  We ask that God give Mackenzie Marie strength to make it through another second, minute, hour and day as each moment is a blessing and a triumph from heaven. 

We ask for strength and endurance and faith for her young parents Eddie and Lee.  We ask for healing and growth and time to love and nurture our little Peanut M & M.  Please join us in prayer.  God is good.  Amen.

Guardian Angel Prayer

Angel of God, my guardian dear,
to whom God’s love commits me here;
Watch over me throughout the night,
keep me safe within your sight.

My grandaughter, Bree, celebrated her 5th birthday today!  My time does fly when you blink your eyes.  I drove to Georgia yesterday for the big day.  It always amazes me and I am so thankful for my daughter-in-law, Carla.  At times, the love and gratitude I feel toward her is overwhelming.  She takes such amazing care of my son, Jeremy, and my two granddaughters.  When I look at the man he has become through her, the care she takes in making their house a home, loving her children…she is such a gift.  I found her before my coffee this morning, replacing items, tidying, feeding dogs, feeding Bree, organizing, bagging garbage, packing the birthday bags for the trip to the park…a little whirlwind of activity that I am sure gets taken for granted and it ocurred to me that she is such a wonderful wife and mother…I could not stop the words from telling her so as I was aware that each item touched, each action taken, each task completed came purely and unselfishly from her heart.  It is what she has chosen to do and what she does so well and we shared a hug and a tear because someone needed to notice and say, “Our family is so blessed with you, Carla Marie.”  And we are as Bree turned five and the days move her forward through a mother’s love.  You are a lucky man, my son…but I know that you know.  I wonder, does she know that you know?