Grace's 2nd Surgery

I must say, this time was a little better than the last.  We didnt tell her until the night before.  She was a very big girl.  They gave her some "happy" juice this time.  Pretty much, she was drunk, the first picture, she was talking and all of a sudden her words were slurring, it was a little funny.

Afterwords (about an hour in surgery) they come got me and Paul, the girl would not wake up.  We got her up enough for one zip of juice and to give her some meds for pain.  They sent us home with her still asleep.  They said if she's not up drinking in two hours to call us.  Well it was right before time to call when she woke up.  she is doing good, having some pain which should be gone by tomorrow.  Her eye will most likely look gross for a few more days.  They did discover the cataract is growing back on her left eye, so we'll now be following that with yet another doctor as well. 

She is ready for school to start back, we still need to get one or two things but she is good and she is ready.  Dance starts back on Thursday and she is doing very well (in my opinion) on the piano.   Maybe she can teach me.

The summer really went back very quickly.  Hope you enjoyed yours

Now, one would have thought that as close as I am with my Craven family that one would get these when they came out, right? Well One Would Be Wrong, Very Wrong. I was going through Grace's bag and found these. Sad, there are no words. But GREAT Pictures, I love them! Softball is my Favorite. She would do Volleyball as well but her mother wont let her for some reason. I tried to talk her into cheering but she wanted no part.

8th grade Basketball

2009 - 2010 JV Patriot Softball

Good Luck in your upcoming Sophomore Year!!!! I know you will be great!

Go Patriots!

Devan Marie Advincula

 With every July comes the anniversary of the saddest day we've know.  July 25 marks the day that our niece, Devan went home to be with God.  I can image her sitting with the angels as she looks down on her family.  This year marks five years that shes been gone.  Even now, I still expect to see her sitting in her moms lap, or smiling for the camera.  She is still so much in our hearts and daily thoughts.  I could never put to words exactly what I felt, but whenever I would think of Heaven I'd see Devan.  This past year Steven Curtis Chapman put out a song, Heaven is the face, if you've not heard it, click HERE)

 Devan with the boys at Disney World.

Look at that smile!

One of my favorites.

Prom

Devan and her mom.

Devan and Chris

Snow skiing, she did better than me.  She was always full of life.

Devan and her mom at my wedding

Lori, Brandon and Devan on a cruise

 Devan,

I hope you know how very much you are loved and missed.  I know we'll see you again. 

Homesick, by Mercy Me

You're in a better place, I've heard a thousand times
And at least a thousand times I've rejoiced for you
But the reason why I'm broken, the reason why I cry
Is how long must I wait to be with you

I close my eyes and I see your face
If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place
Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
I've never been more homesick than now

Help me Lord cause I don't understand your ways
The reason why I wonder if I'll ever know
But, even if you showed me, the hurt would be the same
Cause I'm still here so far away from home

I close my eyes and I see your face
If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place
Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
I've never been more homesick than now

In Christ, there are no goodbyes
And in Christ, there is no end
So I'll hold onto Jesus with all that I have
To see you again
To see you again

And I close my eyes and I see your face
If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place
Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
Won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
Won't you give me strength to make it through somehow

I've never been more homesick than now

Peanut Ray Winge

13.5 years ago, Paul Ray came home with a beagle that I wanted. I think he may have bought it home to give someone, I don't really remember exactly, but I remember being upset when he said no. However, after a long cry, he sent me out to get a dog. Our pick was a Shih Tzu! I remember going to the lady's house and having my eye on this one little fur ball, but another one kept following me everywhere, needless to say that little guy ended up going home with me. He was the cutest thing. I have LOTS of pictures, but most were before the digital age and I'd have to scan them.

The first night home we had him in the box next to the bed and he cried, that is until we picked him up and put him in the bed with us. (he wasn't fully potty trained at that time either) He quickly became king of the castle. Paul Ray named him. After we moved here he got sick and spent a week in the vets office, and has been on medication and on a special diet ever since. He was ready to go, but we were selfish, something you can really forgive yourself for. They say (so I'm told) that when a dog is ready to go, they will leave home. Last Saturday I put him out and when I went back to get him, he was gone. We searched EVERYWHERE. The roads, the woods, everywhere. We looked until late, and Paul was back up before 6. He was nowhere to be found.

He and Grace never really hit it off, he had already put in his kid time. I remember him playing with my niece Taylor when she was a baby.

He loved to chase a light, and would always open his gifts on Christmas, we have it on video. Anytime a picture was to be taken and he was near, he was sure to get in it. He loved to go for rides, didn't matter on what, a bike, the tractor or 4wheeler. He hated to get his hair cut, brushed or a bath!

He would have been 14 on New Years Day! We miss you Peanut Butter.

Cheer Camp

Grace went to Cheer Camp last week and LOVED it. She now says she wants to cheer instead of dance, we'll see. This was day three, it was a off week, and I didn't get a picture on Monday and Tuesday.




She won the gold ribbon. When asked for what, she didnt have a clue, then later in the day, it came to her, she said she had the best attitude. That's my girl.

They called Grace, but NOT Grace Winge, you know she wasn't paying attention, and she wasn't leaving until they gave her, her certificate.


Here she is looking for us, she was never able to see us, but she knew we were there.



She was so EXCITED! and she loves her pom poms.

Look at my certificate, she has it backwards, and they all have one, but Grace wanted everyone to see it.

Fluffy Update

I woke up Tuesday morning only to discover that Fluffy wasn't looking too good. I took him to work with me and kept him on a heating pad. Needless to say the poor guy didnt make it. Poor Grace was so upset.

To top off matters, her father has now told her, she can have a pet rabbit. GREAT - gonna try and talk her into a kitten or him into a puppy. I do not like outside pets.

Meet Fluffy

As a child, I do not recall ever wanting a rabbit and certainly not as an adult. However, Grace has wanted one from the get go, and I'm pretty sure Paul Ray must have wanted one as well. Well I've managed to say NO up until this point.


While Paul Ray was doing yard work over the weekend, he came upon what he assumes was once a nest, with one dead baby bunny and one live. Well he fixed the nest as best as possible and set his camera up to see if the mother came back to feed the little guy.


Well she didn't and he survive by his self all night. He kept checking on him all day, ALL day, the bunny was hopping around, so we're pretty sure he would not have made it all alone, there are too many creatures in the wild.
I kept telling him lets just wait, because I don't know anything about taking care of a rabbit. Well he made me go out with him, I sat down put my hand out and called him and don't you know that rabbit came to me. So I'm assuming God decided we needed a rabbit.

So meet Fluffy,
Now will you say a little prayer that he survives the next week, in reading, they say, most die the first week.

The joys of living in the woods.

D's Gal Summer Reunion 2010

We hit the road at 630 Friday morning 06/24. Me, Grace and Ashlee Gail. I haven't seen these ladies since I left Captain D's in 2001 when they starting closing the Regional offices. There are a few ladies who keep in touch, so we finally planned a get together. There were four of us that traveled to TN to stay with Elaine. WE had a great time.


Really ASH, I'm gonna start a collection of you hiding your face!


There were lots of hugs to be given and even more pictures to be taken.

This was right after I got there. My dear friends were waiting outside by the drive way for us when we arrive. I told Ash, now look for the house, she says you think it might be that one down there with all the people waving!!! lol I wish I had taken a picture. These are the five of us who spend the weekend toghter. Linda, Lynn, Elaine, Me and Kim
One lady, Joan, had left before we thought to get a group picture. There are a few lady who still work there.










She went from being afraid of the pool
To Lovin it and having a great time.



She was lovin the pool

Grace and Elaine



Grace with Linda's son Brandon

Me and my book keeper from D's, Shirley










It was a great weekend for all. We hope to get together again in a year or two.