God Bless Connor Wesley

My sweet Connor was confirmed into the Catholic Church at the Great Easter Vigil.
He has been working all year to become Catholic. Kirk and I are so proud of his Christian journey and the strength of his faith.  We all met at Texas A and M ( Woop) to support his confirmation into the Catholic church.  Paige's parents and brother came in as well to support Connor. It was a beautiful service. The music was absolutely stunning.  They even had a Korean choir.  Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Cute Couple

Loving my grandbabies

Kirk, Brooke, and Annabelle

The Martin Family

So proud of Connor!

The babies were so good in church

There is my boy

The laying of hands

So proud of Connor

Psalm 37:5-6 

Commit your way to the Lord;

trust in him and he will do this: 

He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,

the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

Count Your Blessings, Bella

Spring Break 2015

What a whirlwind Spring Break 2105 was!

Kirk and I took a little couple trip to Salado.  We went to the Wineries and enjoyed a lovely dinner. We stayed at a Bed and Breakfast and just relaxed. I highly recommend Salado- it is a sleepy little town on Mondays- but we enjoyed ourselves!!

We then went to Brooke and Travis' house in San Antonio.  We took the kids to Seaworld and I am not sure we will do it again.  I had seen the documentary "Blackfish." The documentary really bothered me, but I also love Sea World and like to see it through kids eyes.  Well of course the kids loved it- but when I saw that dorsal fin (see picture below) on that beautiful killer whale, well it just brought tears to my eyes.  In captivity the fin collapses and is a sign of distress for these whales. I most likely will not go back again.  We did have a great time and Brooke's boys loved everything about Sea World.

The Last part of Spring break was spent with Luci and the Dallas kids.  We went to Grapevine Mills Mall and went to Legoland and ate at the Rainforest Cafe.  They have really updated Legoland with a slpash pad and this great Lego car ride. We had a lot of fun. It was a great Spring Break and I got to spend it with my husband, kids, and grandkids. Who could ask for any thing more.  Such a blessing.

Count Your Blessings, Bella

Snow

We had Snow in the early spring in Dallas and lost two days of school.  We are feeling it now as we have to work on Saturday June 6th.  We sure did play a lot though and loved watching our puppies play in the snow.

Sure do love my snow days!!!

Count your Blessings, Bella

Finley Grace Turns Six

We celebrated Finley's 6th birthday at Chuck E Cheese in January  with her friends and family.  I love Chuck E Cheese Birthday parties!  All of my children had a Chuck E Cheese birthday party. Some even had two! Here's to my first Granddaughter and the special moments you have brought into my life!  Your Bella and Pops love you.

 Here are some pictures of the Fabulous Finley and the party:

Count Your Blessings, Bella

Granddaughters

God has blessed us with 4 beautiful granddaughters.

Finley Grace, 6

Riley Hope, 2

Corrina Lynn, 8 mts

Annabelle Louise, 8 mts


When I was younger, I always wanted daughters.  Kirk came from a family of 3 boys and I knew we would just have boys.   Was I wrong, God blessed Kirk and I with both and we had 2 boys and 2 girls!  My Grandsons are absolutely wonderful and adorable.  I love playing with them.  My Granddaughters are just as wonderful and adorable.  We have tons of fun together.  I look forward to many, many more years of fun and talks with "Bella." I saw a very cool post in Facebook the other day as a tribute to a friend's grandmother:

" Feel blessed having had my angel for as long as I did. She was no typical grandma... She was my nanny... My best friend ... My Ma-Nanz. She would take a lemon drop shot, curse like a sailor, yell JACKKKK and make me laugh until I just about peed my pants. She was my other mother (udder-mudder as she always said). We'd stay up late sharing stories while doing our nails, we'd go on cruises, get froyo, share each other's sweaters and even saw Chippendales in Vegas together."

Now that is the kind of Bella I want to be.  Right now I enjoy all my grandchildren and have special relationships with each one. Here are some of the highlights of spring with my Granddaughters.

Here's to all my Girls:

"My angels. (my daughter and my granddaughter)"

There are no words to explain of my love,
for my angels sent to me from above.
They are my heartbeat, they are my life,
i'll be there for them through happiness and strife.
I'll never judge. Just understand,
when things don't turn out the way that they planned.
I'm a shoulder to cry on, i'll share in their glee,
because my angels are so precious to me.
I'm a mam, i'm a nana and i am their friend,
on who's love and support, they can always depend.
Whatever decisions in life that they make,
I'll be there right beside them with each step that they take.
To encourage and advise every step of the way,
to ensure that tomorrow brings a brighter day.
My love for my angels will grow beat by beat,
my heart it is theirs, they make me complete.

Count Your Blessings, Bella

God Bless Annabelle Louise

We headed down  to san Antonio and spent New Years Day with Brooke and family.  We also celebrated the baptism of Annabelle Louise.

It was such a special day as Annabelle wore the same dress that Brooke was baptised in.  The dress was made by my dear friend Mary Allen 28 years ago.  I think they look alot alike!

Annabelle Louise 2015

Brooke Marie 1987

More Pics of Bella and the boys in San Antonio:

Count Your Blessings, Bella

Welcome 2015

New Years 2015!

Kirk and I celebrated at the STARS game.

We then went to some dear friends house Mark and Dana and made some great memories.  We remembered about the days when we would leave all 8 children ( thanks Sheree Rodriguez) and go to dinner and a movie on New Years.  We would celebrate at one of our houses and bring in the New Years together.  It is great to get back together with lifelong friends and create new memories!

So I always pick a word of the year and my word of the year is:

persevere

      

be determined or resolved, carry on, continue, endure, go on, hang on, hold fast, hold on     (informal)   keep going, keep on or at, keep one's hand in, maintain, persist, plug away    (informal)   pursue, remain, stand firm, stay the course, stick at or to

Last year my word was te·na·cious

[tuh-ney-shuhs]

adjective

1. holding fast; characterized by keeping a firm hold (often followed by of )

2. pertinacious, persistent, stubborn, or obstinate.

3. holding together; cohesive; not easily pulled asunder; tough

As the definition states, having tenacity means being persistent. Some people are born with tenacity. Others acquire it. Regardless, it is a key ingredient for success in life.

I was tenacious about getting healthy and getting a principal job.

This year I will persevere in these area as well.  I will continue to grow in my leadership skills and continue my healthy journey!

Lots to be thankful for in 2015!

Count Your Blessing, Bella