Happy 1st Birthday Lily-Jo!!

Today is Lily-Jo's 1st birthday! I can't believe it! One year ago I was holding my first grandchild! It was truly one of the best days! Poppy and I are thrilled to be grandparents! I never imagined the joys it brings! And little baby boy is coming in April! I will be out of my mind with 2 of them to spoil!

This is one of my favorite pictures as we were both completely in awe of this little bundle. 

Her Mommy and Daddy had her birthday party last Saturday and it was so fun. Auntie Darb was just clicking away! Here are just a few pics she has edited! And just a quick plug for my baby's Photography business! Check her out at: babyrheaphotography.blogspot.com

Happy Birthday Lily-Bug! 

YaYa loves you very much!

Christmas 2012

I just found my Christmas pics in a folder! Does that tell you how s.....l.....o.....w  I am to get any blogging done? Christmas is tucked away in my basement and I'm getting really pumped to pack away my Winter/Snowmen decor! I'm just so ready for Spring! I can't wait for Groundhog Day! January and August are my 2 hard months to get through. I just feel better when we make it to February! Crazy since February can bring some harsh Kansas cold and snow.  
Anywhoo.....here are a few touches of Christmas.....

I got my girls and I aprons for Christmas Eve.....a yearly cooking tradition to wear now!

 Lily-Jo's first Christmas!

 The aftermath of the morning!

 Her Mommy made her outfit! So cute!

Happy 2013!

It is here....I tried to bring it in but at 11:00 p.m. Central Time...I succumbed to sleep. My husband was snoring by 9:30 p.m.
I am heading back to work tomorrow after almost 2 wonderful weeks off. Sleeping in, showers at odd times of the day, meals late, lots of cooking, staying up late, spending time with family, loving on Lily-Jo.....

I will only have 2 days this week with kiddos which will be a breeze. Those little ones will come all excited to fill Mrs. Madden in on what Santa brought and what they did all during break. That may be all I accomplish in 2 days! 

 My heart is very sad for the Sandy Hook families. I teach 1st graders and I have spent much time thinking how I would feel, what I would do, if that had been my classroom. I looked around my room that day and saw the chaos of "Christmas" presents we were wrapping, Rudolphs, Santas, ornaments, crayons, glitter, glue, pencils, backpacks, Santa hats............and a room full of teachers were with me in my room as we watched the news and we cried thinking of the innocence of the moment when those dreadful horrific moments took place. As we head back, our district is making changes to secure and protect even more than we already do. My eyes are now more alert although can you really protect yourself or little 6 and 7 year olds from basically a high powered machine gun???? Glass and locked doors do not keep evil out. I know you are all thinking of that community as well and your hearts and prayers are with them as well. 

Resolutions:
I usually don't get too serious or write them down. Maybe I should! Maybe THAT'S the key! HA! 

*I have been thinking that I'm definitely going back to more healthy eating. I love the Sonoma Diet! It fits my liking well and it works for me. Cut the sugar and the white flour! 10 Power Foods that I love anyway. 

*Time Management is going to improve! I'm putting scheduling in with that and saying NO when I can and keeping a close eye on the calendar to not let it get out of control! I want to enjoy what IS going on each and every day and be "in the moment". 

*Organization is on the list too. Beginning with writing down 
P A S S W O R D S (yikes!!!!!!!!!!) in a book to all those crazy websites, etc. I try to use the same one but that doesn't always work.  I want to purge and throw away, make organized shelves, and Simplify. My children and husband will laugh as they don't consider my lifestyle "simple". 

*And most importantly I want to draw closer to God and Jesus Christ. I want to study the Bible more in my time and read the Word and ponder it and apply it. Faith with works. I want to find ways to be more Christ like. I try to pray without ceasing....but I can still pray more. 

How about you....do you make "Resolutions?"

And so once again, I say......

Happy New Year to you and your family!

I leave you with scripture:

Philippians 4:8

King James Version (KJV)

 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

YaYa's Little Helper

Grandchildren make you remember the absolute joy of "little ones". 

Unfortunately, when you are a "momma" and in the midst of raising babies, caring for them, protecting them, teaching them, feeding them, not sleeping because of their schedule......you sometimes forget to just ENJOY! I raised 4 babies and I remember pure exhaustion much of the time! But God provided generations for us and the beauty of of grandparenthood is that you get to savor those special times, spoil as needed, relish those small details, and seldom say "NO".

I count my blessings daily....God, Jesus Christ, the Bible, my husband, my 4 wonderful children, my 2 son in laws, my precious granddaughter, my precious grandson to be, my home, my job, my friends, my parents, health.....and on and on and on. I'm sure you do the same and your list is similar. 

Age has made me slow down and enjoy more. I'm not succumbing to OLD yet but just finding more calm and peaceful moments.  At many times, my house does NOT seem calm and peaceful! Perhaps loud and chaotic would best describe it. I just turn the Christmas music up louder and keep on Keeping ON!

In this holiday season, I hope you can enjoy those precious simple moments!

Today I'm home with Lily-Jo.....she is on the mend from RSV and doing great....I'm loving this day!

 

Merry Christmas from the Maddens!

Wishing you and your loved ones peace, health, happiness and prosperity this holiday season and in the coming New Year.
Love and blessings,
Rodney, Tanya, Zach, Lacey, Blake, Lily-Jo, Haley, Cody, Baby Boy, and Darbey

 

Has it really been 2 months?

I cannot believe it has been 2 months + since I've blogged. How does that much time go by? I honestly can't keep up anymore! Age? Perhaps! I think I had a birthday in there somewhere too! So in a nutshell...here is a 2 month update!
July - Haley and Cody got married, Rodney and I took a trip to Las Vegas which we had never been to, celebrated our 28th anniversary (wait....did we even go out to eat?), spending time with my mom at the nursing home.

August - High school Football started for my husband, moved Darb as she left for college at KSU and joined a sorority (YEA...how about those KSU Wildcats! Yes....Rodney and I both went to KU and he even played football there but KSU is getting our money right now and we love those Wildcats and Bill Snyder!), school started.....wow....Momma switched grade levels after 20 years....I'm now a 1st grade teacher.....I tie shoes, zip pants, hand out kleenexs, put coats on......and am teaching a whole new curriculum! YIKES! I have probably been working 50+ hours a week to keep my head above water! To all you teachers out there...does Common Core, MTSS, State Standards ring a bell????????? I am finally finally beginning to feel like I have a grasp on things!I feel like my head is peeking above the water level and I'm breathing!  It's a wonder I have not suffocated my husband in laminating plastic as I lay in bed every night cutting out 6-8 foot sheets of "stuff"! He said to me last night, "Where do you PUT all this stuff? You can't have enough room on your walls!"

September/October - Football games, college visits, traveling to Iowa a couple of times to watch my son's horse races, church activities, and most of all.......... PLAYED, CUDDLED, KISSED, SPOILED my granddaughter Lily-Jo. That has been the most fun! Life just kind of stops when she comes to YaYa's house! 

And my best news of all...................I'm going to be a YaYa again! My newlyweds surprised all of us with the wonderful news that they are expecting in late April! Coach and I can't wait! Grandparenthood is the best....nothing like it! 

I thought I was going to be so depressed and lonely and sad and miserable when my baby Darb left for college and God had this plan: 

 for me to teach 1st grade and be busy,
 to enjoy and spend time with Lily-Jo,
 to bless us with another grandbaby, 
to watch Darb grow and flourish in her new venture of college! 

Empty Nesters??????? Not hardly! We haven't felt that yet! And we are so grateful!

God's plan is always the best! He knows what we need, He provides what we need! I worry too much and wonder how will this work out? Will it be okay? When all I need to do is pray, turn it over to God, and let Him handle it. 

Take your burdens to the Lord and leave them there!

So anyway, that is 2 months in a nutshell! I'm going to try to do better! I will get around and visit and check up on all of you! 
I pray all is well with all of you! 

I'll work on pictures for next post! Trust me....they will be random!

Wedding - Part 2

 

 

Part 2.....

 

 

 

 Please notice my "blingy" shoes! I just loved them and was so excited about them....Story to come later about them!

 This was one silly fun group!

Lily-Jo was about pictured out...and the wedding had not started!

I'm so grateful for my girls! They are my rocks!

 My wonderful son who is still Mommy's little guy!

Lily-Jo got almost as many ooohhhh and aaahhhhs as the bride! The groomsman with Lace said they were all for him! :0)

Bittersweet.....giving his little girl away!

Someone got a bribe....a candy necklace when you get down the aisle!

Mr. and Mrs. Shaver