Age - it's just a number!

I once read a proverb that said "everyone is the age of their heart". I have always believed this. Monday was confirmation once again of that belief. As many of you know, I met Loitton when I was 15 years old and in my eyes I can still see him at the age. When I met him he was a lifeguard at a local pool and loved, loved, loved anything pertaining to the water. Just recently we joined the local YMCA. We had several reasons for making this decision but the main one for Loitton was to be able to swim and for me it was to get more exercise.

Monday, we arrived at the local Y, I headed to the weight room and he headed to the pool. We didn't have a game plan so as I was exercising it dawned on me that we had not decided on a time to meet up when we finished our work outs. When I finished up in the weight room, I went to the pool to hopefully get to watch him swim a few laps but he was no where to be found. I looked around the building and in each and every room. I knew he had to be somewhere but where??? I finally stood at the front door of the building because I knew he had to leave out of that door. After a few brief minutes, I looked up and my eyes caught two men standing in the middle of the water park. I did my infamous whistle but that was not to be heard over all the excitement at the water park. However, Loitton turned around and noticed me waving at him. He came to meet me and as he approached, I realize he is with our minister. I just chuckle and wonder what the two of them have been up to. They have just finished the "big slide" and are so proud of themselves. I honestly loved the excitement I saw in Loitton's eyes! He was just like a kid and couldn't wait to tell others about the slide. As I looked around, I venture to say he was not only the oldest person in the water park but apparently the oldest who had gone down the slide. Our minister commented that there was a sermon in their experience and I quickly questioned him to make sure Loitton had not said any bad words coming down the slide :)

So you see, everyone is truly the age of their heart and on Monday, Loitton was younger than his calendar years and boy I can't wait to go back! This time, I'll join him.


On a side note, thank you to Heather for the new look on my blog! I love it and hope you do too.

More on being a grandmother

I know I have written a post on being a grandmother before but things are changing. I now have two grandchildren and twice the blessings! I once read that grandmothers are the ones who take delight in hearing babies breathing into the phone. This weekend I had the delight of being with both of my grandchildren. On Friday evening, we were in the grocery store and Morgan Kate and I were wandering down an aisle all by ourselves. Actually I was trying to keep up with her but anyway we were on the cookie aisle. She would go from one side of the aisle to the other, taking off a box of cookies each and every time. She would place the box on the floor and move on. At that moment, I stopped and chuckled. I thought about the times that my own children would do that in the grocery store and I would reprimand them and see who was looking. I certainly didn't want anyone to think my children were out of control. On this trip to the grocery store, I not only didn't care what others thought I laughed at Morgan Kate and played along. (Just for the record I would put the boxes back on the shelf as she moved on). My point in sharing this was to hopefully explain how for my children this type of episode in the grocery store would probably not have been pleasant but for my grandchild, it was genuinely fun and a valuable lesson learned. I have learned to enjoy the simple things in life, the pleasures of watching inquisitive minds at work and to truly step back and allow children to be children. It's amazing how the things that your own children did that drove you crazy are the very things that are so cute when your grandchildren do them.


On Saturday I shared lunch at McDonalds with both of my grandchildren. Again an experience that was just plain fun and I'm sure everyone noticed the pride on my face. Upon returning home, I was swinging Hunter outside. He was wide awake and looked up with his beautiful eyes as I was singing to him. I probably need to stop right here and explain that the majority of my family dodges me singing so to have a captive audience was nice. I honestly don't know if he was just trying to figure out what the noise was or whether he enjoyed my singing. I like to think the latter.


To top the day off, my mom had come for a visit and she was quizzing Morgan Kate - she loves to see what she can say these days and my mom will prompt her and see what answers Morgan Kate gives. She pointed to me and asked Morgan Kate who I was. Morgan Kate never missed a beat and shouted "Ka Ka". Talk about your heart melting! The sound was sweet and the hug that followed was beyond words.

Being a grandmother is just that....GRAND!

Another weekend without enough days

Wow - can't believe another fun filled weekend and oh so sad to see it end. Last weekend was family oriented, lots of time with our children and their friends. This weekend was strictly dedicated to us - Loitton and I! Friday afternoon as I was leaving my office, I thought I would treat myself to a pedicure. As I headed home, I looked forward to some down time, time to relax and enjoy the evening with my hubby! The evening started off great - steaks on the grill, taking time to talk and catch up on the week...just chillin. While we were in the yard, we allowed our lab, Chevy, to get out of the pen and roam a little. Well, his roaming turned into his first overnight away from home!! All throughout the night we got up and would look outside just knowing that he would be at the back door - not. Saturday morning we decided to pack up and head to Charleston for the day. As we were loading the car we looked up and guess who came home - Chevy! Dog tired and I mean that literally :) After fussing some, we hugged his neck and put him back in his pen. Not sure when his next outing will be. At least with him home, we could go to Charleston and enjoy ourselves. WELL...we did not get the memo about all the activities taking place in Charleston this weekend. The Blue Angels were in town, Folly Beach was having a Sea and Sand Festival and their was a cancer poker run. All of this coupled with just a normal day in Charleston made for tons and tons of traffic. Lady luck was on our side...we beat the heavy traffic into Folly Beach, we beat the dinner crowd at California Dreaming, and managed to do a little shopping. All in all a wonderful day. This morning we topped our weekend off with church activities and another afternoon of relaxing. Oh how I love the weekend when Loitton does not have to work! As I was putting this post together, the song "You're still the one" came on and I just laughed. I have to agree....after all these years, you are still the one Loitton Hardison. I sure enjoyed the weekend, my better half :)

There are not enough days in the weekend!

I thought when I was younger that once I got married I would not wish for the weekends however as I have gotten older, I long for the weekends even more. It seems like there are just not enough days in the weekend and this past weekend was a good indication of that.

On Friday I felt like our home was a distribution center...people were coming and going. They were all there for one reason. They needed to pick up their "Team Morgan Kate" tshirts for the big walk. We had some dear family in town to help us get ready for the event and to just hang out and enjoy fellowship. One thing that our family prides itself on is the closeness that exists and has always existed. When one family member is in need of support, everyone steps up. My sister, niece, and a friend (Charlotte) came on Friday, had dinner with us, and was there for the weekend events. On Saturday, other family and friends joined us to kick off the walk for the March of Dimes. I was almost breathless as I looked out over the crowd of supporters, almost 70 in number, sporting a tshirt designed by Heather in honor of Morgan Kate! We not only walked for Morgan Kate, but for our other grandchild, Hunter, who was born at 35 weeks and we walked in hope that "Baby Lee" my niece, Kelly's little one who is due in October and Becca (Amanda and JP's) little one due in two weeks and Nolan (Raven and Koto's) little boy will be born healthy and full term. You see we really walked for all babies - because all babies deserve to be born healthy!

A walk is using one's feet to advance or to accompany someone and I was honored and proud to use my feet on Saturday to accompany all of those people who sacrified their Saturday morning to walk for babies! I hesitate to mention all the names for fear of overlooking someone but you know who you are and I will never forget you doing this!

The weekend was capped off by a baby shower on Sunday for a very special mommy to be. Raven was honored by her friends (Heather, Liz, Melissa and Rita) at a baby shower - everything was perfect down to every little detail. Special detail for a very special mommy!

Wow - what a weekend! I honestly had to go back to work to rest :)

William Hunter Hardison

On Wednesday, March 10, at 8:20 pm, our first grandson was born! William Hunter Hardison weighed 7 lbs 4 ozs and was 20 3/4" long.

When Morgan Kate was born, I sent Heather a poem I had come across about becoming a grandmother. I found it online and loved what it said. I edited it, of course, for Morgan Kate's situation. Yesterday, I pulled the poem out again and revised it for our first grandson.

It was taken from a Chicken Soup for the Soul devotion. This is how is goes....

A Grandmother Is Born

It’s the time I’ve been waiting for, yet when it comes, it’s still a shock.

This is it, Kyle, my baby is having his baby!

And so the adventure begins. This pregnancy was a roller coaster ride and we held our breath and prayed earnestly that this baby would not be born too early. We prayed that this baby would be born healthy and that this baby would heal hearts, and bring two families together in a special way.

You called on Wednesday morning and said Mom, come…he is on his way! This time I could reach your dad on the phone…unlike when Morgan Kate was born. We arrived and began our day of anticipation. I did a little pacing and a lot of praying! I sat and watched your excitement build, Kyle. I sat and thought a million thoughts, and said short sentence prayers throughout the day.

Today, I knew that I would be somebody’s grandmother again!

After an afternoon of waiting, Kyle, you burst through the hallway doors and words escaped you. You stood there and in that moment I knew your world had forever been changed. I knew that a grown man had been brought to his knees by a tiny little baby.

I meet that bundle moments later and fall madly, desperately, hopelessly in love. Of course, I wept and laughed and thanked God for allowing me this moment, this gift, this day.

Later, his new uncles and aunts greet Hunter, laugh joyously at his perfection, and it dawns on us that Heather is an aunt for the first time.

This being, after all, the age of technology, the moments are dutifully recorded on video camera and pictures are flashing everywhere. Someday, we will watch—and laugh at our foolishness. But for this day, it is totally acceptable to act this way and to marvel at the new life.

A baby is born. The universal family of man—and our family—grows once again. It is as old as time and as new as tomorrow’s dawn. The dance of life goes on. The circle grows. And a dazed, overwhelmed grandmother tiptoes out of a room where a miracle has happened, wondering how she ever got to be so lucky! Thank you God for the blessing of grandchildren.

I love you Hunter Hardison! Welcome to our family.

The Weather and my mood

What was your weekend like? I don't know about you but I thought the weather in South Carolina was just about perfect this past weekend. The only thing that would have made it better was if my hubby had not had to work and could have been awake to enjoy all the sunshine! I did however wake him up early enough on Saturday to enjoy a trip to the farm and 4wheeling! We absolutely love getting outside and riding together. Although we had a short trip, it was just nice to feel the sunshine on our faces. I realized on the way back home, that my mood lately has been alot like the weather - gloomy! However the sunshine seemed to really perk me up .....so much so that I got outside and walked instead of walking on the treadmill. The scenery actually changed and I was even willing to pick up one trillion pine cones in our front yard.


I am ready for spring and warm weather. How about you?

CHD/MOD and Miracles

Two sets of initials (CHD and MOD)! Two terms that have become all too familiar and two terms that I am learning more and more about. First, CHD. It stands for Congenital Heart Disease or Defect. I'll never forget the phone call I got from a dear friend who was in tears trying to attempt to tell me that her precious grandson had been born with a heart problem. I was stunned. I had no words to console her other than I'm sorry and I'm praying. Here they were new parents, their first born, and he was being whisked away to a hospital out of town for heart surgery. Can't imagine, don't like to imagine the fear and anxiousness of those moments! By the grace of God and amazing doctors, that little fellow will turn 2 this month. How ironic he celebrates his birthday in the same month known as "heart month". We heart you Luke Jervey and wish you a Happy Birthday!


MOD - March of Dimes. A cause I am learning more about and becoming very passionate about. So passionate that I am trying to raise money for the cause and trust me I am not a salesman. However if I can raise money and raise awareness for the March of Dimes, I will step out of my box and try! You can make an online contribution for "Team Morgan Kate" as well as sign up to walk with us on April 10. We would love for you to do both. You can also contact folks yourself and raise money on behalf of our team. If you have any questions, post them and I'll try and answer them or get you answers.


Thanks so much for considering a donation. GO TEAM MORGAN KATE!