Pictures for ya!

7 UP

Are we there yet? are we there yet?

I'm just pretty sure that I could never tire of this power, beauty and display of God's creation

a different perspective of beach life.

clam shell parking lot at King Neptune's diner

there is plenty more where these came from but alas, I've stolen these pix from my FB and downloaded them to my phone. The rest of the Fort Morgan grandeur and history will have to wait till I return home.

Go karting is fun in any state. though we were the only people here, so that was kinda creepy.

You'll be in my heart forever.

plum tuckered. she plays hard all day long.

Grams retaught Levi not to be afraid of the water....it's almost kinda like riding a bike. sorta.

lotsa jellyfish...and no, we don't eat their goo here...

Lu Lu's over priced but very cool and Jimmy Buffet-y atmosphere...lotsa alcohol and overpriced everything.

my camera on my phone does take an occasional amazing picture. THIS is one of them. reflection of clouds and such in the surf. wow. how can one deny God in this locale?

Molly runs the entire time she's on the beach. David kinda does too.

Hey, I found some pics for you. I'm blogging on a PC, which is also not like riding a bike. I've had to reteach myself how to do this. My dad, blog follower #1, has informed me that I need to blog a little bit every day...so it's on...the challenge, I'll take it.

so, on that note, I will be back, tomorrow...and hope that those of you in the frozen tundra are enjoying small bits of JOY in your day. I'm going to put my flip flops on and go to the store with my momma. After the storm lets up...I so wish you could see what I see right now...crashing waves, water that goes on forever, and mist in the air. I just love the beach...I'm gonna be a beach bum.

Still here...and a 30th Thursday to boot.

Ok, I'm trying to finagle a way to get some pix on my blog..but we don't have wi-fi access for the computer at the condo, except on my parent's computer...and of course, they don't have my pics on it.

soooo, just wanted to say HI to my awesome blog friends and to let you know that I'm working on getting some pix on here...we are having such a good time...today, we are just lazing around and we've been down to the beach, swam in the pool, Bible time, lunch....good times.

Today is Jack's 30th Thursday with Jesus. I'm sure we don't even care about Thursdays in heaven but down here, we do. So I took a walk on the beach for my boy today, with my older boys...who just happened to take off and run 2.5-3 miles down the beach to a private pier. I realized that it was my first time to have ANY time by myself. Of course, I enjoyed some sunshine (which is gone now, since we just had a rippin' coastal storm) and all of the incredible waves, and talk cried to the Lord about how I'm ok but I'm just sad that Jack isn't here with us. Not for him, naturally, but for us. How different this vacation would have been if he'd been here with us. I'd have more of an excuse to take naps...Molly's outgrown them but man, if she doesn't still "need" them (grumpy, moody little punk :D)

bittersweet for sure.

I really think I could be a snowbird. I don't want to leave my midwestern home, too many memories and good people around there that I love...but just for a change of scenery and pace, I'd come down for a month or two.

I love the Gulf...I love all the waves, and how the sun shines thru the clouds...how old men set up fishing poles and sit for hours, just fishing. I love that you can walk for ever down on the beach and it just never ever gets old.

I also love this condo and the fact that my parents have made it available for us. Thank you, Mom and Dad....you have been so patient and accomodating to our big brood. I love you guys...this has been memorable and I'm reminded of just how cool my parents really are...

I also love the full length mirrors in each and every room...reminding me that, yes, I'm a mom, so I'll never be a rail thin person (not that I ever was) but I can see the areas that I need to work on, which, in turn, makes me so thankful for my hubby, who is dedicated to my health and will do whatever he needs to do help me achieve weight loss. Thanks David. Thanks for being such a good vacation taker....so many things to be grateful for.

I love my kids...I love the big 3, that are so helpful and loving of Levi and Molly....the ride down was, as excpected, slightly unnerving in some spots for the sheer fact that we are traveling with a four year old and nine year old...and Ethan, Will and Mel were simply amazing. Thanks Guys...you're all gifts. (of course, right now, as I blog, Molly and Levi are driving me batty, not gonna lie...bickering, whining, bugging for things that I've already told them they couldn't have...blah!!)

All righty then..I'd best go so I can figure out how to transfer some pix. But really, I think I will have to wait till we get home to put my official pix on here. Until later, LY

these are my babies. thank you, Lord.

Sept 1996. Ethan was a cherub. This is how I imagine Jack would be..maybe not as roly poly.

I love my Mummy. I'm still not sure what happened to this shirt.

funny kid.

Mel and Levi...she's all Princess Leia'd up for the opening night of Episode III

the gnawing I referred to in the previous post.  and funny, because it's exactly four years ago today that this was taken. awww. I'm all verklempt.

who, me?

A classic Melanie

Valentine's boy...

Mugsy Levi

My baby messing with Becky's baby. Molly had the seven week advantage for sure. Sorry Nora Bean.

sweet Jack. 

this is one pic of Jack that I can look at for longer than 10 seconds. maybe 20.

the depth of my sadness can't be contained. but my Lord knows the way thru the wilderness...

check out that pointer finger...this boy had some amazing fine motor skills.....and maybe slight OCD.

sweet Mel

my little Muppet, Levi

never was there a happier firstborn boy of a Greenhill or a Young. 

Oh those eyeballs.

see what I mean about Jack having a constantly open mouth? all of my kids just breathe in life...so I  know he would have too.  seeing these makes me miss him even more than I already do. incomprehensible.

There ya have it....I had to post a few of my favorite pix of each kid. Of course, there are so many more where these came from...I have been given so many gifts. I cherish them...even the sad, gut wrenching ones...

I don't know God's plans at the moment, but I don't have to. Happy Friday.

Valentine addiction, homemade noodles and visitors from Nola

Beware, I am addicted to Valentine's Day...not just because I gave birth to my handsome son Ethan on this day (almost) 16 years ago....gasp!....but because I love all things red, pink, hearty, cupidy, lovey dovey.
And I am NOT a lovey dovey person...

all that to say...Pinterest is dangerous...you can go on there and find just about anything you would like to find. Thankfully, I'm only looking for crafty, family oriented things. You do have to watch out though because people can be crude and nasty and will PIN just about anything you could imagine. Pinterest, you need a filter. just sayin.

I have found all of these adorable OLDIE V-Day cards and I'm hooked.
Love them.

This is the one I plan to give to David...he loves popcorn. And he's corny. LOL. just kiddin',  honey.

Thanks to Aunt Sherry and Uncle John (see below), some of the best folks around, Mel and I were able to get our hair/brows taken care of this past Tuesday. I love this girl...she took this pic with her phone but it has quickly become one of my new favorites. Not because of my gigantic nose but because it just shows that we can enjoy each other's presence, even in the midst of cold weather, lots to do and life in general.

These kids love this sweet lady! And I'll admit, she's one of my absolute favorites.  See the pan on the stove behind them? yeah...there is some homemade chicken and noodles in there. Made by Aunt Sherry? Nope...Uncle John's the noodlemaker in their home. (I love that!!) and boy, were they tasty! I think that is one of my comfort foods. these guys are some of my comfort people. (Uncle John isn't pictured. my bad)

Molly has big dreams of one day becoming a Jedi Knight. Here she is in the traditional Padawan (apprentice) garb of the defenders of peace in the Galaxy. (Or just one of my sweaters but man if this doesn't look like a Jedi robe. I love Obi Wan Kenobi and yes, I'm a Star Wars geek)

OOOOh, so cute. 

'Twould??? ha ha...I always talk like this so this one was especially hilarious to me.

awwww. pure love.

GOOD MORNING!! Man, is it cold enough for you??

I shall be blogging from the sunny, warmer shores of Gulf Shores/Orange Beach, AL TOMORROW!

I am really looking forward to this. immensely. HI MOM AND DAD...see you very soon. Hello warm (ish) sandy beaches, gulf sunrises and sunsets, and dolphins...goodbye, for now, old man winter.

Today is first weigh in after a week of Jenny Craig. I will admit, it was a lot harder to get back on this diet this time around. I'm so thankful for it, though, and thankful for the boundaries it sets up for me. I still manage to break them occasionally but it will be my first consultation with my new chick, Jean, and hopefully she will dish out some tough love to this girl.

Pray for my sister....she has been sick for almost this whole week. Get well very soon, Beck. Love you.

Yesterday was the 29 week mark since Jack left us. Grief. It never leaves. Even in those moments where you "kinda" forget, it's there. He'd be 6 months and 3 weeks on this coming Monday. We visited this grave yesterday...so weird. David and I talked about what we thought he'd be doing right now. Raspberries, drool, smiles...he'd be teething, for sure, so he'd be gnawing on anything. Remember when Molly used to gnaw on my chin? I will have to find those pics...or I could just go back on here to Jan/Feb of 2008...since I won't have those earthly memories of Jack, I imagine him being like his big brothers and sisters. I'm sure his mouth would hang open like Levi's always did...or that he'd go after Cheerios with his pointer finger (amazing fine motor skills) like all of them have. A smattering of adorable freckles like Molly? yes indeed. Definitely Ethan's pesky streak and love for all things weapon (eventually, not at six months, geez).

I miss that boy. I laid in bed and tried to imagine how it felt that last month to have him in my ribs...he was so long and lanky. I cleaned the tub that I had him in,  yesterday...good therapy? I dunno....weird to think that there is ONE spot on this earth where I can go to, and know that my life changed forever here. it's my one spot with Jack, where he was near. And it's in my house. Unsettling...but the tub was really dirty since the boys don't know how to use Comet cleanser on it, apparently (love you guys!!) :)  so I break down and do it every month or so.

Ok, well, my appointment is coming up very quickly and I have so very much to do before we leave FOR THE BEACH!! soooo I'm outta here. Tashena, hopefully I will get a chance to run over and say hi to you today. I can't believe this week is OVER and I DID NOT get to come over....ahhhhh.

Happy Trails....

I had to edit this picture (this is my bad angle. ha ha) and almost forgot to put it on....This is Stephani and her son, Cohen. She lives in Louisiana with her family. She went to school with my sibs so I don't think I ever "knew" her back then but we've become friends on FB. She was in town for her son's first birthday so we met up at Sbux. Thanks for taking the time to visit, chick! Monkey man is very cute and I appreciate your encouragement.

oldies but goodies...

October 11, 2003...aww. such cuteness.

same as above. this porch is different now...

spring of 2003...this is the room that is now ours (mine and David's) 

shortly after Levi was born...awww. I'm biased but man alive if my brood of kids isn't stinkin' adorable...

ha haaaaa this one is funnnn. This was our first Harvest Party/Levi's 1st birthday in 2003 and darn it if Becky and Scott weren't hilariously awesome as a Pirate and his wench.

Hi.

How are you? doing very well, I do hope. 

I have lots of blogging catch up to do...but as usual, I'm too tired to do so tonight so for your viewing pleasure, Dad, Tory, Tashena...the rest of you...here are some flashbacks and highlights of my life. 

there is plenty more where these came from...

until then, adios...my coffee has worn off and I'm heading to La La Land, with butterflies and little wild haired angels floating nearby...


I don't know about you but I looooove the retooled blog background.


makes
me
happy


Godspeed...(what does that mean, exactly?)

winds of change....what's that smell?

I know, I know...that was just bad...

I am in the midst of changing things up a bit...doing some things to "improve my situation". Not that my situation is all that bad...but I'm not taking super good care of myself...

One of the things that I'm doing is getting a hair cut on Tuesday. No color...just cut. Beck and I will be doing the "at-home color experiment" again and I'm sure I will take some pix of that because I know you out there in cyberland will just be dying to know how this will go. Hang tight. It's sure to be a good time...

Now, this picture up above...I'm not a fan of Ms. Aniston...but she is always so pretty and her hair is always so wonderful...and is it just me, or is she looking her age FINALLY too?? whew....don't get me wrong, on her old days and such, she will always APPEAR physically more superior than me...and that's ok.

why did I say all of that?

I'm not sure...such a dingbat, really.

haircuts, and taking my health seriously - it's what's for dinner, folks.

In other news - my parents are enjoying their time down south and we are looking forward to our trip down very soon. We miss you, Jim and Joan. we really do...it's weird to think you aren't 30 minutes away.

yesterday was the 28 week mark since Jack flew home to Jesus...I almost crashed (good thing I was on old country roads, by myself) the car, sobbing for our boy. wishing to have seen his eyes... waves of grief. even still. waves of grief in a sea of why. God is in control...say it with me...God knows and holds my every tear.

David is down in French Lick today. It snowed here a little bit. The cold finally arrived and quite frankly, I'm ready for spring. Granted, I will try not to whine as much as I did last winter (forgive me Jack) but I truly believe that the older I get, the more I dislike this stuff. Maybe growing up in MI helped me to get here sooner. My southern friend, Tambo, loves this stuff. I chalk that up to her southern roots!! it works.

Mel is going tubing in Cincy tomorrow. That makes me nervous. She is excited. Will is driving more and more, he and Ethan drive themselves to class. So weird. They even drove themselves to our dentist yesterday (no CAVITIES!! boo yah!) and then home. I'm loving it but still, it's true...having kids means your heart is walking around outside of your body. This is never more true than when they start to drive. Right Mom?

Levi is awesome...he really is. He grows and blossoms more every day. He exercises every other day and really does well with math. I'm sure that will change when he gets older.

Molly keeps on tinkling in her pants. it's kinda weird. and stinky. she will love that I posted this someday. ha ha. o well...she's simply adorable though.

Uh oh...I'm going to get deep here...you've been warned...

I see so many people struggling all around me. I do too. One of the clearest things I'm learning since Jack's tragic, brutally painful death is that it doesn't take much to lose focus...but it doesn't take much to get your focus back either...I am fighting for JOY...and I'm trying to keep my eyes turned toward Jesus Christ. If I start to recall that June day, I panic a little...and I have to verbally remind myself to put myself at Jesus' feet...we lose focus in the everyday things like fighting kids, money being spent quickly, gas prices, what this person or that person said on FB, whatever....we want to drown our sorrows in booze, or treating our loved ones, kids like crap, or coffee, or this sport or that person or activity....when what we really need to do is turn our eyes upon Jesus. Those things are temporary fixes...let me just encourage you to take your eyes off of yourself and point your face toward something bigger, something more powerful and redeeming.

Praying for Thao Nardoni today...check out his page on Facebook...Thao Nardoni Updates...this little boy is five and is fighting for his life.

I weep...

Happy three day weekend...hug the ones you are blessed to be around...cherish them. Watch your mouth, sing praise, pray, smile when you feel like frowning, get over  yourself. (listen up, Laurie)

Sully of the Cheeks

One year ago this past Wednesday, January 11, my friend, Jamie's, son, Sullivan, met Jesus face to face. SIDS...makes no sense. hurts so badly and to the very core.

gotta love this little mugsy. Praying for my aching friend...you are missed by so many, Sully and we rest in the knowledge that we will see you again.

Until that day,
those of us down left behind

note: I did this post Wednesday 1/11/12 but apparently I didn't hit post...hence, the edits and today's date.

hee hee....I get the hint...

Molly and Nora's sleepover, Dec 30, 2011

Jack's Garden on Saturday, January 7, 2012

Beck made me this cool bookmark.

Tory, you make me laugh. I was out taking a walk on this beautiful January day with my lovely daughter, Melanie, when your comment came thru to my phone...I've got a few pix to transfer from my email to my iPhoto so I will definitely work on that later today, after piano lessons and the like.

In the meantime, dear cousin...thanks for checking in on me, holding me accountable and such. My dad already informed me, all the way from Gulf Shores, AL, that I needed to get "to blogging".

My poor neglected blog. whatever has it done to deserve such neglect?

On a positive note, the sun is shining here in Indiana today and we are back to our (mostly) regular schedule, minus karate for this month, as we will be vacationing on the Gulf at month's end...I'm ready for some routine. And maybe some springtime.

Until later, dear cousin and others, have a lovely Monday.