Holy Moley...Where has time gone??

WOW..that is all I can say to describe last year, well, maybe a few more...like I'm kinda, sorta glad it's over.  But I still don't know where it went to?  Oh well, it's gone and never to return but I know that being busy the last few months of the year sure made it go faster too!  With me starting a full-time temporary job, it's kept me running like a crazy person.  But I will try to give you a quick run down of what caused the end of 2011 to pass so quickly for us!
Right after my last post, Zane became sick, in fact, he became very sick and ended up in the hospital for 4 days with double pneumonia!!  He missed 2 weeks of school and after 3 types of antibiotics, he finally got over it.  It was a rough 2 weeks for us, to say the least!  After that I came down with pneumonia, or at least the Doctor treated me for it, and said I would have to take an x-ray to be sure but I ended up with, what I think was, a cracked rib from the extreme coughing!!  Let's just say I was glad when November was OVER!
December, January and most of February came and went so fast, it's now all a blur!  I only worked for the temp agency until January of this year and decided to find a more permanent position.  In February, I took a part-time position as an Administrative Assistant.  However, on March 19th I was on my way to work and was rear-ended by another car.  It caused some disc damage to my back and I was having some pretty severe pain.  (By the way, the x-rays taken for checking my back, showed I did crack my rib!)  After a few shots, thankfully, I am much better and definitely back on the road to complete recovery!
April 5th was a pretty devastating day for us....Ron lost his job that he had for 14 years and 10 months!  However, he was still employed with them until June 10th and receiving his regular salary but had a 2 month vacation!  I think he enjoyed that!! At the current time, he is still looking for a job but we want it to be God's will for the position he gets, and we know that God will provide!  He's never failed us!
Zachary finished his Junior year and found a job at a little barbecue place just a few minutes from home.  His first day was on April 13th...and yes, it was a Friday.  The part that made it truly a Friday the 13th was when he called me at 7ish that morning and said he had been involved in a wreck!!  Thankfully, he was fine with some damage to his truck and very minor damage to the school bus he hit....yes, you read that right, a school bus.  The bus was empty, other than the driver and monitor and Zachary was somewhat upset but he survived and I think he now realizes that the bus is definitely bigger than his truck!!
Zane finished 3rd grade but after missing over 20 days due to sickness during the school year.  We made the decision to home school for 4th grade, hopefully to prevent any major sickness again with him!  He's growing like a weed and almost skipped size 10 clothing without blinking an eye!!
Well this has been somewhat short and and to the point but I promise (scouts honor) I won't wait as long to post again!!

Relay for Life...

This year Zachary and I participated in Relay for Life through the National Spanish Honor Society at his high school.  Relay for Life, you ask?  What's that?  It is a fundraiser that benefits cancer research through the American Cancer Society.  It is a way to give back on behalf of anyone who's ever been affected by cancer, be it a death to cancer or a survivor, it could be a close family member or just a good friend.  In one way or another, most of us have been affected by cancer at some time in our lives.  We have.  We lost our Memaw last year to cancer and other complications.  But there is some good news, we have an Aunt that survived breast cancer and lymphoma, and is still doing great!  Yet, until we participated in Relay for Life we never really knew nor saw just how many people are truly affected each year by cancer.  It was just astounding to see the latest cancer survivors take the first lap around the track and to watch all the people on the sidelines cheering them on!  The relay walking also takes place at night because it is showing that cancer never sleeps so we must continue to keep walking on through the night and continue the fight against cancer.  But even though it was for a noble cause we still had fun as you can see in the pictures.  Zachary stayed all night but I left him with his team mates and teacher, I wasn't brave enough to try it all night...maybe next year!  Yes, I said next year because I want my whole family to be involved next year and to help in the fight against cancer.  If the research even helps just one person, it would be worth it!  

Have wheels, will travel!

So many changes are happening in our lives every single day!  In just 2 days, both of my boys became even more independent than ever.  Yes, they mastered their own set of wheels!  Well...in a way, they did.  Zachary took the driving part of his driving test on Monday, October the 3^rd and just as we expected him to, he passed and is now a legally licensed driver.  It is a somewhat scary thought for me...knowing my son will be driving on the road by himself with all the crazy drivers out there!  Sounds like I will be praying even more and possibly acquiring more grey hairs, I would prefer the first over the latter!  Then on the very next day, Tuesday, October the 2^nd, Zane learned to ride his bike!!  It was rather interesting in how that came about too.  For the past year or so, we had been trying to help Zane learn to ride his bike with the training wheels and learn to balance using them.  But needless to say, it just didn’t happen!  He didn’t like the way he leaned on the training wheels and usually ended up falling over, getting upset, and then finally quitting until the next time.  Well, we were getting ready to go camping and I told him to try it again so that he could take it camping with us if he learned, but he didn’t want try it.  So, I asked him if he wanted me to take off the training wheels and I could try to help him ride it that way.  And to my surprise, he actually said yes!  Off came the wheels and I walked with Zane to the alley, on he got and I gave him a steadying push and he took off riding like he had been riding his whole life!!  My chin about hit the ground because I couldn't believe my eyes...and I think it surprised Zane as well.  Needless to say, the training wheels should have come off a long time ago...but better late than never!  As you can see, both of them are just as proud as they can be...and to be honest, so am I!!  

  

Happy 16th Birthday, Zach!!

Today Zachary turned 16...yes, you read it right, 16!  I am having a hard time comprehending it myself!  He is now legal age to drive and get a job, he's a Junior in High School and has a girlfriend that is older than him...where did my little boy go??    Unfortunately, that little boy is gone, but I can look at Zach and see how he is growing, maturing, and becoming a young man that I can truly say I am proud of!!  He has a great personality, likable by everyone, handsome and just an all-around good guy!  He is also very smart and in the National Spanish Honor Society and about to be inducted into the National Honor Society!! But one of the most important things about Zach is that he truly loves God, loves living for God, and loves being involved in everything to do at church for God; this is what I am most proud of!!  Yet I look forward to what the future will hold for him.  I truly believe that God has placed a calling on Zach's life and I know that if he continues to put God first in his life, there is truly no telling what he could do!!  I can't wait to see what God has planned for him...I just hope I'm along for the ride because it's going to be awesome!  I love you Zach with all my heart....Happy 16th Birthday, Sweetie!!

Fun times with Zane!

Zane is always ready for fun!  Whether it is outside or in the bathtub, he wants to be playing!  Of course, at his age, he should be.  I know that if I ever want a laugh, it's with Zane that I will get it!  I love to watch him being a kid; he's so good at it!  I was just thinking about how much he's growing and how I have to cherish each and every moment that God blesses me with...because that's just what it is, a blessing!!  Well, gotta run. I'm going to play with Zane and have fun!

A new "friend" for Zach...

A lot of things are changing for Zach as he grows up, including a new "friend".  Her name is Amber and she is a very sweet girl that visited our church with another friend!  Zach and Amber really seemed to 'click' and that "friendship" has really grown.  In fact, this new "friend" has consumed a lot of his thoughts and time.  Let's just say it's a good thing we have unlimited texting or we would be shelling out a lot of money!  Now he's looking forward to turning 16 since his Dad said he could group date at that time.  Hmmmm...wonder who his first date will be??    

Happy 9th Birthday, Zane!!

 Today is my sweet little guy, Zane's 9th birthday!  I really can't believe that he actually turned 9 today!  He is growing up so fast and it just blows my mind.  When I look at him I still see my little tender-hearted boy that will always be my baby!  But I can also see a maturing little guy that loves to have fun and be ornery all at the same time!  The baby part of him still loves to cuddle up to me and every so often will let me still rock him...of course, he would just die if he knew I was letting the whole world know that!  Yet the little guy part of him loves to pull a prank and always finds time to pester his big brother, Zach!  He is just this amazing, smart, funny, handsome, sweet little guy that I am so thankful that God placed in my life and for giving me the privilege of being his Mom!  I only pray that I can lead him in the path and teach him the way to please God all the days of his life!  I know that with God on his side, there is no telling what he could accomplish in life...he just has that type of personality!  I just hope that I get to be with him on his journey in life because I know it will be a blast!  I love you Zane with all my heart....Happy 9th birthday, Sweetie!