2008 - Full Year Summary

Let see… In January Princess Ashlyn turned 2 years old and is one amazing child. She is so smart and so funny. I love seeing her and spending time with her. We play in her kitchen and dance and sing and read books. I love getting to grandma sit with her. We have a lot of fun.



Debbie celebrated her birthday too.

February…..awe February…..huh? I just don’t have anything for this month?? So I will just put pictures here of Landon, Debbie's son. They are two of my favorite people.




In March I turned 49, which was interesting because when I realized I was 49 I began to think, “huh…I will be 50 next year” and then my entire head, body & soul rejected that idea and I could not even rap my mind around it! I kept thinking “50….doesn’t that mean I am a grown up? Like OLD???” Anyway, that has pretty much been the way it has been for all the months to follow.

In April I know it was Brandy’s 26th birthday and I remember being a bit down because I could not see her and really did not talk to her much since our hours are so different between here and Germany. But, other than that….pretty much just April.

Now May on the other hand I found out Brandy and RJ were expecting…..actually I really think I found out before this but I don’t have anything to write about on this month.


June was really hard at work, everything was falling apart around there and it seemed everyone was in their own little world and not paying attention. Later in the year I found out this was true.

July was exciting because I found out I was really going to Germany for Thanksgiving to see Brandy and David. RJ would not be there because he is still over seas. But, as you can see he is adapting to the culture very well. LOL. He needs a bit of a tan to pull this off don't you think?

Chris came home for a few days, but I only saw him one evening to celebrate his birthday and he was off to his mom’s house. I wished we could have had more time together.

August is one of my favorite months of course because my awesome son was born 29 years ago. I got to see him and his wonderful family. I am sure Ashlyn and I played in her kitchen during this month because that is what she and I do when I to her house. Have I mentioned what a Princess she is? She is a delightful little girl!

I also went on a Cruise this month. It was the most awesome experience I have ever had. I have never been more relaxed and just peaceful. There is something about being out at sea with nothing as far as you can see to get the real picture of just how awesome God is. Now it was not all glory, I was sick for the first whole day. This really nice lady gave me a patch and I am telling you she saved my life. I recommend the patch for anyone it really works.

September pretty much sucked because of the hurricane. It was so scary waiting on it and then after it passed it was so strange see the destruction. I was so blessed and cannot complain about one little thing because there are still people with no place to live. I was so lucky to be at my son’s home with them, and safe. We were even in the air conditioning and with food the whole time. Not once did we suffer through out the storm or after wards. Now, when I got home I had wet carpet and walls but it was still trivial when you look at the hole picture. RJ had a birthday this month, but he was overseas so I emailed him but we could not celebrate. I really like celebrating birthdays!

Tom has been gone for a year now, and I miss him a lot. The company is just not the same without him. The company is struggling …there are so many power struggles and as I mentioned before it seems every one is taking a blind eye to the failing going on.

October is David’s birthday and I was unable to be there for his party, but Brandy sent pictures. I really don’t like being so far away from him, but I was excited because I would be seeing him in only a month. October was cold a lot I seem to remember, or maybe it was rainy.

November I got to go to Germany, So this was a pretty great month. Germany was awesome, because I spent time with David and Brandy. Poor Brandy is 8.5 months pg and still walked me all over the place. David was so very happy to see me. It was so funny because when he saw me it had been so long he actually looked at his mom and said, “mommy, that lady looks like my grandma,” and when she said it was, he crawled up me to put his arms around my neck and kept hugging and hugging me. Then he said, “I missed you for 100’s of days!” He was so happy to see me and we could not be separated the rest of the trip. The trip on the plane really was awful, 10 hours there and 10.5 back. UGH!

My Wonderful...and I mean Really Wonderful Daughter In Law also celebrated a birthday this month. As you can see she is beautiful, and her heart is the size of Texas.

Now it is December and I have a new Grand Daughter, Emily Elizabeth. She is so beautiful and an angel!! I have not seen her or held her but I feel her in my heart just as if I have. I think it is God’s blessing to me. Because when I look at her picture it is as if I have known her for a long time. Brandy just emailed me this they are home and Emily is in her own bed. I am so happy for her, she and RJ are so Happy. I cannot wait to hear what David has to say about all of this. LOL As you can see mommy is doing great and Emily is so pretty. RJ is home for the birth of the baby.

It snowed here in Houston and Debbie took a picture here at work. It was pretty cool. I am really not much for the cold and really could have done without it, but what the heck !

Christmas is just around the corner and like last year I am going to Jason’s & Sarah’s house. Her family will be there, Chris and Lane are coming which is so exciting to be together.

Ok here is a Christmas picture of Jason, Sarah and Ashlyn.

My heart is sad that Brandy, RJ, David and Emily will not be there. Wow….that is making me want to cry….enough of that conversation. The all came last year for Christmas so it was my favorite Christmas in a long time. All of us together.

Here is Ashlyn’s and David’s Christmas picture for 2008 with none other than Santa! HO HO HO ! She did not cry this year. I am so glad she is happy about Santa this time.



So, again I hope to blog all year. But, for now….have a Merry Christmas and may God Bless you in ever step you take!

I will add pictures of the cruise and all later. I have been working on this for a long time now and will add more next week.

2008 - Got away from me

Wow- so much has happened in 2008 and I just did not keep up with this. I have a new grand daughter Emily Elizabeth, I went to Germany to see David (grandson) and Brandy for Thanksgiving, I spent the past year enjoying my Grand Daughter Ashlyn, she is two. I went on a cruise to the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, and Cosumel,I loed it and it was the best experience!

I will update this whole year with pictures and all soon. For now I am just looking forward to Christmas and the end of 2008, and the beginning of 2009!

I am back ...beeen awhile.

Ok, I did not keep this up all year like I said I would....LOL

I am currently in Germany and have decided to start this back up again. Sarah and Jason are so good at it and RJ and Brandy may start it too. Well Brandy probably not but RJ has and interest in doing this. I think it would be so great to be able to keep up with him while he is away.

Having a great time, will post when I get home.

Happy Birthday

It's the weekend! Lots of rest and relaxation. Tomorrow is my friend Debbie's birthday. Funny how she is 35 and me 49 yet we have so much in common. She is very special to me and I love her and Landon a lot. I am trying to get to 12:00am so I can text her Happy Birthday to be the first one to wish her a Happy Birthday. Silly I know!

Well, It is now time to go text her so ...Father God, be with Debbie and Landon, I thank you for bringing them into my life.

Back to the US

CHRIS IS COMING HOME ON MONDAY

Chris has spent the last several months living in "the east"....."in the middle" as he would say for he has been in the middle east doing his job in the Air Force. This is a picture of his office and a picture of him hard at work....looking a bit tired I might add. LOL

I cannot even say how thankful I am for young men and ladies who have a job in the military. And how grateful I am for their sacrifices during this time of war.

Say a prayer for Chris when you think of him....I know I do.

Thoughts Before Bed Time

I just came in from walking Gracie, pretty darn cold out there. The stars and the sky are so amazingly beautiful tonight. I could see all the stars in the sky and the crisp air on my face gave me a since of clarity. I found myself visiting with God, as I walked up and down the grass realizing how truly beautiful the evening is.

Gracie of course did not do her business. Ha Ha! So another trip tonight to the potty ground in definately going to be happening, and we are only 30 minutes from my New Year's resolution bed time. I promised myself I would be in bed each night between 10 and 10:30 in an effort to take better care of myself. Oh, I guess I have not mentioned my New Year's resolution was to take better care of myself....I digress!

Gracie spent the week with Lane while the kids were here, and boy has she come back a different dog. For the good! She actually minds....that is of course if I don't laugh at her when she doesn't. What can I say...you can see the picture ... how do you get mad at that face. LOL

I cannot help but think of Jason, Sarah and Ashlyn right now. I had such a great time at Christmas, we had a nice day and they were gracious enough to have all of us to thier home. Oh and provide dinner and I did not clean up a thing. (How wrong....yet nice was that!!)

You have to admit....they are a good lookin' couple!! The only thing better looking than them is this little cutie....Ashlyn Marie

What a precious child!

Well that is about it for today. I am thankful tonight Father for such an awesome family. Take good care of them....They are my life!

Owner Thomas W. Warren

I am actually at work right now, awful I know....but it is 10 minutes until 5pm. Yes...I know that is nothing more than justifying. HA!

I have been thinking of Tom all day today, he has been gone just over three months now. It is really strange how things just went on as if he never sat behind that desk the past 35 years. He gave up so much for this company, family time, vacations, and even when he did Chemo and went through so much he came in that back door to his office every single day. Some days when it would take him 30+ minutes to walk from his front door to the car, he would still find the energy to come into the office and work.

He spent his 71 years working to build a company his family doesn't want, making money he did not want to leave them when he died, and now there is fighting amongst everyone left behind. Makes me wonder what kind of relationships he and his family might have had if he would have spent less time building up something that is probably going to be torn down anyway now that he is gone, and devoted that time and energy in them.

Pondering...