He knows!

Back from vaca today.  I have so much to share and so many fun pictures.
But first before I jump into all of that fun I have to stop and say Thank You!


It has been a tremendously hard month.  We had some issues with the big mutt, that seemed super huge at  the time and then a dear friend died.

 Suddenly died, tragically.
The kind of news that sends you through the motions of planning for the funeral, caring for the family and holding one another.

 I was there for my hubby when we got the news...it was his dear and close friend.
 I was there for the younger friends who had not yet experienced a loss...the twenty somethings.
 I was there for my kids.
 
                                Explaining the hard facts about cancer and depression.

                                        About how four kids lost their dad way too soon.

 But....then....when you least expect it....WHAM!
 You get hit!
 The why?  the How could it happen?  the Oh God, please help! 

 I am the gal who feels...and I mean really feels.  Your pain is my pain.  Your fear, my fear.  This loss hit me and tossed me around like a rag doll.  

It made me physically ill.  I could not eat, my stomach was a mess.  SO you go to the doctor and they give you meds. And those meds make you even sicker.....Hence the trip to the ER.

So..there I was..with doctors and medicine and none of it working and a vacation to plan for not to mention getting on the road.

What do you do.....You pray.

Not the everyday kind of prayer...I am talking about the Lord take it, kind of prayer.  The you have no words, no understanding, no strength kind of prayer.  I asked Him to cover me, to protect me and I leaned in.

 I am not a good leaner.
 I am the go to girl.
I LIKE to control stuff.

AND guess what?   My hubby was right there...he never left...he was still stinging from his pain, but my guy was with me.  He was in the restroom with me..you all know what I mean..that type of wedding vow stuff.  It was going to be ok.....just let go.

See who has his hand on the bottom, my rock, my man, my Moon Bear.

We did pack up and we did go and we had the best most relaxing week of vacation ever.





You see...He knows.  God gives us just what we need when we need it.  His grace is sufficient.  Those of us like me who hold on tight have a hard time remembering this.

 We are so use to fighting and figuring out and taking care of , that when we are met with something that is so beyond us, we freak.

My sweet cousin, Catherine and her hubby Duane and(Max,Dom, Ava, James, Sophie, Gino, Bella, Noah, PG, )

My cousin, Catherine was my first friend and will always be my sister, said something our grandmother use to say.     "Don't go before the Lord, Joannie."

See... she knows me...she knows how I think...and how I can spinnnnnn.  "Don't go before the Lord!"

AMEN!!!!!!  

This week was exactly what the Lord ordered.  OHHHH....get this one girlies.....I even forgot my entire suit case.

Not only did God want me to lean in He wanted me to TRUST HIM!  

No luggage.....and it was the best week ever.

Blessings sweet friends...and remember....DGBL.

Family Fun Close To Home!!!

We are in Williamsburg!!

It took less then two hours to get to Kings Gate by Wyndham.  We have one of those timeshares and usually make the drive to Orlando to stay at Orange Lake.  This was fine when we lived in ATL.  Eight hours and we were in Disney bliss.  When we moved to Raleigh NC it was more like 12 hours...still doable.  Now that we are in Richmond.....no way!!!  We did it last year and it was not a relaxing haul with the four kids and a car that air conditioning decided to die.

So this years mission statement for the family...something we do every year, was to KEEP IT SIMPLE!

YES!!  We are having a great time and it was a quick easy drive...and here is a good one.
I was not feeling well before we left. The trip was on the back burner and I could see this kids wilting.

Phone Home!!

Well one six hour stay in the ER and no longer taking a new medicine and I was on the road as scheduled.




I think it is amazing what we can do when we see our kids making kind adjustments and leaving their disappointment aside to make sure mom is ok.

  It is empowering,...so  sweet hubby, who never left my side, packed up the Imodium the Hydrocodone and whatever else the Dr. had for me in my cocktail remedy and  we made it happen....time to make some vacation memories.

I am trying to Instagram so you all can get a look at this amazing part of the country...no guarantees...learning curve.

Many blessings and sweetness being sent your way...joannie b

Sing out loud!!!!

What would we do without our girls???

Ya know those friends that are there even when you don't know you need them?

The ones that sing back your song when you have forgotten the words......

These are special people.  They may be family, your sister,your mother, your cousin.  Or they maybe a friend you met when you were six and you have always kept in touch.  Or maybe they are a few great gals that you only met this year. 

You share with them, you laugh with them and you hold each other up.  Friends like this are a gift. 

 Since moving here to Richmond I have found some sweet sweet sugar sisters.  They are an amazing gift...I have a tendency to be very very silly and they still keep coming back. 

 I rarely miss a chance to wear glitter and sparkles and I mean to Kroger and they still go out with me....love my girls.  

So here is a shout out to my Sugar Sisters..Lenina, Kimmy and Becky!  

Cant wait for the adventures we have ahead.

Smooches!