Christmas 2009

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Merry Christmas family and friends.

We had a great holiday at the Fontenot house. However, it was our first year without our big kids and granddaughter to visit with, and our first year without snow.. so it was a bit difficult to maintain the Christmas spirit like I usually do, but it was also a great opportunity to do something a bit different, and I think it made all the difference...

We decided (for a number of reasons) to simplify our entire Christmas experience.. I did only a small about of baking, our children definitely got much less in their stockings and we decided to give even more than usual. Even Jesse did his own good works and I was very proud of him. Steve and I decided to not exchange gifts at all, which was a first but ended up feeling really good. I loved my Christmas and everything about it.. I think we will definitely start some new traditions based on this year.. (If you want to know more about what we did to give as a family, you can click the link about Markelle's gift at the top of this)

Having said all that, we didn't exactly cancel Christmas.. Santa still came and Jesse was spoiled by his grandparents.. There were still plenty of presents to go around. I think at the top of the list is the new addition to our family.... Meet Izzy, our mutt. Jesse's only wish was for a puppy of his own... so that's what Steve and I got for him. He was blown away and even burst into tears when he saw her. We all love her and I think she will be a good dog.. Jesse is going to be a great person for her and I think they will be forever friends. I'm sure Jesse will remember this holiday for the rest of his life...

This really has been a year full of blessings with Jesse's good health, Heidi's new found love and marriage, our daughter Jamie's graduation from college (which will soon be it's own post... so check back) as well as the blessing of Steve's good job. We are also looking forward to a visit from our son Aaron next week, which couldn't make us happier. So even though we miss our family and friends like crazy this time of year, we still have a lot to be happy about and that's what we are focusing on.

Thank you for all your love and support this year, we simply couldn't do it without you..

Wishing you all the best holiday season and the happiest new year..

What are you thankful for?

The holidays are upon us again and as usual, I begin to get all sappy and emotional about all the things in my life that I have to be thankful for. I've decided to make a list.. not that it covers everything... but just highlights a few..

I'm Thankful For...

1. Steve ~ who even after 13 years of marriage, still loves me as much as when we started dating, and for whatever reason seems to "get" me no matter what crazy idea I'm focused on.

2. 3 beautiful, healthy, smart, amazing children and one perfect granddaughter ~ These people fill my heart with so much joy and pride I'm sometimes afraid it might explode.

3. Jamie, Amy, Heidi and Mikalie ~ for being my people, my role models, my hero's. For teaching me about friendship and commitment, and for making me laugh.

4. My parents ~ for loving me so much and wanting to be with me. For offering every day in every way to make my life easier.

5. Carole ~ for showing me what real acceptance looks like and for her part in making Jamie and Aaron who they are today. And for loving my Jesse so much... :0)

6. My family and Steve's family ~ who have shown me that no matter how far away we move they are always around to support me.

7. My far away friends ~ who prove all the time that family is of the heart and standing by me as if I was one of their own.

8. My sweet niece Sarah ~ who puts a smile on my face and reminds me daily that life is really about family, friends, having fun, doing good things for others and holding firm to your beliefs. Nothing else really matters.

9. Matthew Dodd ~ for filling some huge holes in the hearts of people I love.

10. Charitable giving and the ability to do it.

11. Lumber Products ~ for choosing Steve when I'm sure the decisions were tough ones this year.

12. Whole foods, my new hip, exercise and time to sleep. These things keep me happy and healthy.

13. My Church

14. Meds, doctors, nurses, and great facilities to keep people healthy and to offer lasting support when things don't work out like we'd hope.

15. Markelle, her donor, Jesse's donor, Darian and God ~ for teaching me that no matter how big or how small we are, we have the ability to change lives and leave a lasting imprint in the hearts of strangers.

What are you thankful for... I'd love to hear your list..

CafeGive Widget

Celebrate Life

Happy Celebrate Life Day!!

It's November 13th... A very bittersweet day in our family.. It's the day Markelle was called to receive her new small bowel and bone marrow transplant seven years ago. It was a life saving day for our precious princess which makes it a sweet, sweet day... The fact that she's not here today to share it with us makes it a little bitter...

How would one describe the extra 3 years we got to spend with that beauty...? A three year celebration of life, that's how. Each day was a gift and a treasure.

We learned so much from Markelle. Selflessness, patience, sacrifice, perseverance, commitment and faith, just name a few of the qualities Markelle had and gladly passed on to the rest of us. She was the most amazing girl and continues to be a strong influence in our daily lives. Not a day goes by that I can't count at least one blessing in my life linked directly to her and what she left behind. I'm sure a lot of you feel the same way.

For these reasons, I choose today to Celebrate Life.. Her's, mine, my family's, Markelle's donor's, Jesse's donor's, and all my friends. I am grateful to every person who touches my life, and I believe there should be a day set aside to celebrate them. What better tribute to a gal who started it all?


So... tonight, I will celebrate with my family, talk about you and how much we love you, and then say a little prayer for you at bed time.

As for Markelle... There is now a big hole in our hearts from loosing such a priceless gift, but that hole is filled to the top with precious memories and lessons learned. About life, love, loss and survival... We will forever celebrate her and what she left for us.

Take some time tonight to Celebrate Life with the ones you love... and as always, talk about the importance of organ and tissue donation... it really does change lives!!

Halloween

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Halloween this year started at 6:30 in the morning when Jesse crept ever so quietly into our bedroom and screamed BOO!! one inch from my face.. He can't sleep when he's excited.... and he WAS excited!!

Jesse struggles to make decision. As a matter of fact, It actually pains him when he's asked to do it. So when he offered up the suggestion of a shark for Halloween, I jumped in feet first. I really needed some positive reinforcement for making his own decisions... But what I didn't realize was that it was going to be difficult to find a shark costume that didn't involve body parts hanging out the mouth... (Maybe we'll do creepy next year). Anyway, after looking all over the internet and the stores, I decided to just make the silly thing. The costume turned out great, but really you need to sort of see it from the side or back to really be able to tell what it is. He's suddenly become worried of what other people think of him, so he was afraid someone might laugh at it, but was pleasantly surprised to receive several compliments.. He was so excited to trick-or-treat, as last year he was feeling a bit under the weather and really can't even remember it. Gage was scheduled to come and go with him but got the junk and felt too sick to go out in the cold. Jesse was bummed and we missed him, but still had a good time running from house to house... And now the candy sits a top the fridge... oh where are the days when he wouldn't touch sweet thing? Now he wants to know for desert after a snack!!

We also carved a pumpkin, you can see from the pictures that he still doesn't like touching yucky things.. He was totally grossed out but had a super great time!!

This was the first year without his people.. We really missed Adrienne, Alex and Gage.. For me it seems things just keep changing.. But we had a great time. As we were headed back to the house last night Jesse was skipping and twirling and said this was his best day ever!! I love it when he says that.

Happy Fall...