Maddux's name in the sand...

Photoshop corrected...

I was never going to say a word about his name being misspelled, the thought was the kindness gift.  Today I open my email again, this time from an affilited NILMDTS photograper in Oregon, who saw his name in the sand, knew it was misspelled, and then did some photoshop magic for me.  Again, another gift in itself...Thanks Amy.

Original..

I sat down at my computer today...opened my email, and this is what I find.  A gift from a stranger, telling me that she was thinking about Maddux.  How beautiful is this?  My heart has been touched, by a simple gesture from a woman, thinking about my son.  There is  beauty in this world...

Girls...

What is with these pouty faces now adays???

Giving Thanks...

This year we spent Thanksgiving with the Haralsons.  This has become a tradition.  We spend Thanksgiving with them, they spend Christmas Eve with us...I truly give thanks for my friend Ali and her husband Tony.  They are family to me.

my homemade pumpkin pie...

my homemade pecan pie...three attempts later...still yummy.

Jacob and Ami
All the kiddos...around the table.
Mike and myself
Ali and Tony...If I could choose a sister, she would be it!

Taking the girls to Twilight...

On the opening day...Friday November 21st. I have never seen anything like this. Lines , lines and more lines. Screaming girls everywhere you looked. Sold out theaters...Fortunately, we older women were wise enough to purchase our tickets in advance and get to the theater early...Anna and Kylee...Anna says she has Edward eyes in this picture...
Katie and Natalie
Kylee and Anna modeling their T's
Super Models...

The Premier of TWILIGHT...

Oh, if I was only 17 again...
Here we are at the midnight premier of the movie Twilight. Yes, I said midnight. Call us crazy? No, only obsessed...

My FB Sister...Ali and myself.

Ami and Kelly

I saw my friends Helen and Erin at the premier. They were with us the night Maddux died.

Shelly, me, Kelly, Ali and Ami at the White Chocolate Grill, yes sitting on the bar...

Ali and I in our Twilight T-shirts...

Our cheer buddies...

I have been waiting a year for this day!!!

How cute are these girls...

Natalie and Katie...
Anna and Kylee...

Nat and Anna with girls from her old cheer team, now with Cheer Central...

First Cheer Competition of the season...

Anna center...

Anna shaking some bootie...

Anna in her kick double...

Anna center...

Anna center...

Toasting the KIDNEY...

Two years ago today...I gave away a kidney. Thanks Ali, for the toast, and remembering.

My night...

Watching Natalie make a mess with dumplings...

Still watching Natalie make a mess...

Chicken and Dumplings...

Natalie getting her bootie stuck in my office trashcan...I mean really stuck...

Pulling Natalies Bootie out of the trashcan...priceless...

Interview with Univision Television

Bumping this to the top. The segment was beautiful. One of the best we have ever had done. I want to share this with you. I don't know how to speak spanish, even tho, you can still understand the language of love. Beautiful piece. http://www.kcectv.com/noticias.php?cat=noticias

10/21/08

Had an amazing interview today with Univision Television. I am so happy to see this happening, and the word about NILMDTS reaching everybody. You know, the death of a child can happen to anyone of us, as most of us here already know. The death of a child does not discriminate. Race, Religion, Rich or Poor, none of that matters. I know I used to think that 'this' could never happen to ME! Seriously, I am in excellent health, no family history, three previous healthy pregnancy's, three healthy older children. Not ME!!! Boy, was I wrong. Death hit me, and death hit me hard. And if 'it' can happen to me, my gosh, 'it' can happen to anyone. Sorry, but it is true.

But here I am today. And what a beautiful day it was. One thing I talked about was my grief. Does it ever get any easier? What about time? Does time truly heal all wounds?

No, I don't think my grief has gotten any easier. Or that time has healed my wounds. I just think that over time, I have gotten stronger. Strong enough to carry my grief.

A friend sent me the image above, and I so think it is appropriate. Thanks for listening...

It's Coming...November 21st.

Do you have your tickets? I have mine!

Cheer Central Suns Showoff...

Anna is middle

Nat is second from your right on top...(hand on keyboard

Well, I want to 'show off' my daughters...

New School Mug Shots 2008

Natalie Anne Haggard

3rd Grade

Anna Pauline Haggard

7th Grade

Chase Emerson Haggard

9th Grade

(Pre Haircut...)

Cheer Central Christmas Community Service

As most of you know, my daughters cheer with Cheer Central Suns. This is our second year, and the second Christmas Charity we have participated in. Below is the information:

Cheer Central is pleased to be partnering with the Denver Chophouse and their Miracle on 19th Street Foundation. The Denver Chophouse will feed nearly 3000 homeless people on Christmas Day. In addition, they will provide these homeless families with daily essentials such as toiletries, clothing and more.

Cheer Central is doing a JAMMIE drive to help the cause!! We are providing pajamas--sizes Newborn through Youth XL to give to kids during this day. There is a contest between teams, and we ask that EVERYONE get involved!! It is such an important lesson to teach our athletes that there are always those who need help. Thank you for joining us in this worthy cause!!

The girls picked out jammies that were age appropriate to Maddux, if he were still alive. Anna is holding a 4T and Natalie is holding a 3T. The girls have always been age appropriate to clothing size. Chase had always been off the charts. Even now...So, I am thinking that Maddux would have been closer to the 4T. Just another reminder, of what should have been. Don't you agree...?

For those who live in Colorado...

NILMDTS on Univision Television: Monday November 10th. 2008 @ 5pm and 10pm on Comcast channel 10 and regular channel 50. Direct TV? You're on your own finding the channel...sorry.

My moms a dork...(per chase)

I know...I am a dorky mom. Just couldn't help taking these images though...My little boy is driving. I still can't comprehend it...