A Moment you'll never forget...

Yesterday I went and visited a friend from college...Her baby turns 2 months tomorrow and I have been wanting to visit for weeks....last night I tried to come up with the words to describe my visit and I just couldn't seem to find the right ones...until today and I read the blog of another good friend who had made the trip with me....she found the right words - and so, since I can not seem to perfect them anymore - I am "stealing" her blog...yep, stealing it word for word. Taylor, you have said it best...it is through eyes filled with tears that I read and read this:

It is not often that you meet royalty.

Truth be known, I am confident I was not deserving of the honor that was bestowed to me today.

I believe passionately that I met a princess.

I do not know that I have met, or will ever meet for that matter, someone who has impacted so many people in such profound ways...A long time ago I was told many people will come and go in your lives, but only a few will touch you...will impact you...will change you...will make you a better person simply by knowing them. I remember challenging myself those many years ago to work each and every day striving to make a difference. I know it was for this reason that I entered the education profession... And, when I think about it, most of us spend the better part of a century hoping, praying that we might achieve this one goal - to make a positive difference in the life of just one person.

Ironically, this little princess has achieved this sometimes unattainable goal in the shortest amount of time.

And while it angers me to screams, hurts me to the core, and perplexes me beyond comprehension that this little princess was chosen not to live beyond my years, I am comforted in my confidence that He had a perfect plan when He chose to put her in this world.

Little princess, thank you for reminding me of my blessings and for teaching me to cherish them as I have failed to do before. Thank you for renewing the friendships I hold so dear. Thank you for placing me in a position that I might come to respect your parents in a way I have respected no other. Thank you for allowing me an insight into motherhood I needed to know. Thank you for showing me what it means to be grateful. Thank you for proving that even in the darkest of hours there IS light. And thank you most of all for making me open my heart so that I might believe in Him the way He has instructed me to do. Thank you...

As your incredible mother said tonight, you will never experience the joys and sadness that we have come to know; however, because of you we will forever find joy even in our saddest hours.

No matter how long your future may measure, little princess, you have already made quite the difference in mine.

You WILL live long...

It was my greatest honor to meet you today.

With love beyond words...

Julia and me

Taylor and Julia

Mommy and Julia

Sweet baby face

Julia trying hard to stay awake after a big lunch

(you can visit Taylors blog at: http://cokerfamilyupdates.blogspot.com/)

summer time!!! in texas = HOT!

summer has officially hit and we have already reached the 100 degree mark! It makes for some really really really HOT afternoons....so we have taken to the pool! Jerra LOVES it!!!!! she gets soooo excited when the pool comes into view...

I got a few snapshots the other day at our neigborhood pool and some in our front yard - I will get more the next time!

Memorial Day.....

what memorial day means....

We need to remember with sincere respect those who paid the price for our freedoms; we need to keep in sacred remembrance those who died serving their country.

And this is what Memorial Day commemorates: The brave men and women who lie underneath the Earth just so that we may stay proud on the ground above. These men and women gave their lives selflessly, thinking of not themselves but the future of us...the future of the citizens of the United States of America.

On Memorial Day we need to stop and pay with sincere conviction our respects for those who died protecting and preserving the freedoms we enjoy, for we owe those honored dead more than we can ever repay.

A new favorite!

I've tried giving Jerra Blueberries in the past, but she just was never interested...until this weekend! she started eating them like crazy! and boy do they make a MESS!!!! she has also discovered a love of watermelon...she likes walking around outside carrying her slide and chopping down on it...It's very cute!

Jerra and Nala....

just some cute pictures from the weekend....

The park

Jerra has discovered a love for the park near our house. she gets so excited when she sees us heading in that direction. The swings and the slide are her fave's! its so much fun to watch her discover all the new things in her life!

We "lost" Nala last night....

and after spending a few moments searching we found her here....

New member of the family!

Introducing MS Nala....the newest addition to our family. She is a 12 week old Rhodesian Ridgeback. They are raised in Africa as lion hunters...hence the name...

She is ADORABLE - and SOOO sweet! she just wants to be near you at all times and is happiest sitting in a lap or cuddled up as close to you as she can get. Her personality is really starting to come out - she plays and plays and then sleeps and sleeps. Chance is still not too sure what to make of her and Dixie has just become her personal chew toy....She is the runt of her litter - and she is still really small and skinney! we will be working at fattening her up!

So far her and Jerra have been good - sometimes she gets a little over-excited and its too much for Jerra, but we are always around and make sure everyone stays happy....

Our little baby.....

As J approaches her 15 month mark, I am amazed by how much she has grown and changed....her personality has really emerged and she is sooo much fun! she is also very independent and stubborn and has an extremely goofy side to her. She has blessed our lives in more ways than we can count and we are so thankful that God choose us to be her parents...Our sweet baby J - we love you more than words!

JJ's hand on mine at 1 month

JJ's hand on mine at 14 months

Our sweet baby at 2 weeks

Our sweet baby at 14 months

JJ March of 2007
JJ March of 2008

I have been scoping out new photography spots in our area, and so J gets the pleasure of being my model - sometimes she enjoys it, sometimes she is SO over it! this time I got a cute one of her exploring a new site I found....

On the way home we stopped for a quick bluebonnet pict! I am sure we will have more of these to come over the next week....
Had to plop her into some pink flowers as well!