Under the Knife

Mom went under the knife today, and I was nominated by the family to blog this momentous event. She was in good hands though, with both her surgeon and anesthesiologist being in our ward! As is tradition, we all camped out at the hospital to give Mom support(i.e. to make ourselves feel better). With every birth of a baby, every trauma/emergency, every surgery, every kidney stone...we're there. It's what we do. It's how we roll. For those of you who don't know Mom went in for full knee replacement surgery today. She has put it off for years. She has tried some alternatives, but to no avail. She really couldn't take the pain any longer. The surgery went well. Mom did GREAT! Unfortunately, she is in for a long hard road with her recovery and physical therapy. It starts first thing in the morning, and they call it "Joint Camp"...how funny! The chair they put her in for therapy looks comfy, but we were told it is sometimes called the torture chair...uh-oh. Dad stayed the night with her tonight and will be by her side through the whole thing taking care of his sweetheart. Oh my how we love our parents and enjoy witnessing their simple, yet profound expressions of love for one another. How blessed we are to have such amazing examples. We are excited for mom that once the recovery is over she will be able to walk pain free. Truly life changing!

Memories

Memory Lane...
I got this from a friend's blog. I thought it would be fun! I hope you will play along. Here are the directions:

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments

Shout Out to My Girls!

This blog is dedicated to Becca, Hannah, Lauren, and Lindsey! I love my nieces. I love them more and more each day. I became an aunt at the tender age of 10... I thought it was so awesome, and it was! It was really cool to be a kid and be an aunt. Now that I'm grown up I love it even more. I've realized lately how lucky I am to have these beautiful girls/women in my life! I treasure the relationship that I have with each one of them. They are not little girls anymore, they're all grown up. In a way it makes me kinda sad, but on the other hand I feel it's such a gift to have been able to watch them grow up and become the fabulous people that they are! Lindsey is good through and through. That girl knows what she believes and stands for the right every single day. She has got to be the most dependable 17 year old ...ever. She is also beautiful, funny, and loyal. Lauren shines. She has a radiance about her that I'm not even sure she knows is there. And that makes her even more beautiful to me. She is talented, smart, extremely athletic, and good as gold. Hannah lights up a room! She is full of spunk and personality, and always makes me laugh. Her writing is poetic, often times deep, other times absolutely stinkin funny. Her wit and extreme intellect are incredible. Becca amazes me! She is so capable, so independent, so driven. She is not one to toot her own horn, so I will. She is about to graduate from college, and will be (hopefully) attending grad school here in Hattiesburg. She has so many accomplishments and great things she's done or been involved with. I admire her. She is loyal, kind, beautiful, and hilarious. What can I say? These girls rock! I love them dearly. They are my friends, and I know that my life is blessed because they are in it!
I LOVE YOU - Aunt Amanda