Honoring My Father

Yesterday was the first anniversary of my daddy's passing. It was not fun or easy, but we all made it through a tough day, despite the tears. I still can't believe that it has been an entire year since that sad day. Maybe because I still don't want to think about him really being gone.

I always want to remember and honor my father and the life lessons that he taught me. When he started to really get sick last summer, I would write down in a small notebook quick thoughts about him whenever they popped into my head. I read them to my mom that Friday that he passed and then gave the notebook to our amazing pastor, Dick Brooks. He wove them so wonderfully into my dad's eulogy. I haven't looked at that notebook in a year, but I thought that it was about time. And so, I wanted to share those thoughts/life lessons about my dad with my friends and family...

• Love/honor your spouse
• Respect your grandparents
• Keep close friends - old and new
• Laugh often
• Tell tall tales ... and some short ones too!
• Adore your grandchildren
• Love the Lord
• Pray
• Embrace your in-laws
• Love your children even when they don't seem lovable, even when they disappoint you
• Never say, "I told you so"
• Tell the truth
• Teach life lessons from personal experiences
• Allow your children to grow and make their own mistakes. Just be there to catch them if they fall or fail
• Spare heartache
• Give Big Hugs!
• Eat lots of shrimp - I believe that my daddy might have set an Orange Beach record back in the day!
• Don't forget dessert!
• Sometimes you just need to lick the ice cream bowl - especially to make your kids laugh!
• Enjoy the ocean! Put your children on your shoulders and let them dive in to the waves. They will giggle with glee.
• Always remember where you came from and who you are
• Study your ancestors
• Be kind - especially to strangers. You never know when someone just needs to see a smile.
• Balance your checkbook - down to the penny, every month!
• Don't fight over money ... sometimes it comes as easily as it goes
• Dance your little girl around your family room on your feet often - she'll remember it forever!
• Mow your grass in clear, even lines
• Don't be messy!
• Think about resale value
• Work hard
• Know how to tell a joke - and delivery a good punchline
• Don't embarrass others
• Be compassionate
• Get excited about the little things in life
• Eat out!
• Tithe
• Tell your daughter that she looks like a princess on her wedding day
• Tear up as you walk her down the aisle
• Pitch in when needed
• Always wear a watch
• Part your hair perfectly

Some are wise, some are silly but they are all my dad. I hope that he is smiling down from heaven right now.

A Sad Day...

Today would have been my daddy's birthday. I have to admit that I have been fighting back tears all day long. I probably just need to have one huge crying fest, but somehow I just can't bring myself to do that. I guess that this day will always be bittersweet for me. I wish that I had told Nora a fun story about her grandpa today. I'll have to make sure that I do so tomorrow. I have a really sweet photo of my dad holding Nora and just gazing down at her. It sits on a dresser in her room. When we walk by it, I stop, point at the picture and tell her about her grandpa and how much he loved her. I hope that someday she will come to know him through my memories.

One of my favorite family photos. Christmas 2004

Celebrating my mom's birthday just a few days before Nora arrived.

My daddy holding that sweet baby girl

A Bittersweet Father's Day

We had a quiet Father's day yesterday. Nora and I let Mark rest a bit in the morning - his first treat of the day and then had to wake him up to give him his card and gifts and kisses, of course! We then headed to Sunday School and had another really great lesson from one of our pastors. He's taught our class the the month of June and we've really enjoyed his insight and learned a lot. If you haven't read the book of Philippians in a while, you might want to - it's pretty inspiring!

After class, we went to lunch with our friends Shawn, Kathy and Elizabeth. It was so much fun to watch those big girls sit at the table, eat and be silly! Nora was perfectly content to sit at the table and eat whatever we put in front on her. We could not have asked for a better eater! If only she wouldn't whine when you don't get food to her quick enough. Little stinker! I think that Elizabeth was more interested in checking out everything in the restaurant. Too funny! I just love watching their little personalities come out. So sweet!

We headed home to put Miss Nora down for a long afternoon nap. Poor baby - she was so exhausted that she fell asleep on the way home. We had a quiet afternoon, which was really nice. Mark watched his golf tournament and I got to have some Mommy time alone, so I worked on Nora's scrapbook. It's pretty fun to look back at how much she has already changed so much!

When sleepyhead finally woke up from her nap, we headed down to the Ogle hacienda to celebrate Father's Day and Bill's birthday. We missed out on swimming, but made it on time for pizza and cake with the Ogle, Jorgeson and Malvessi families. It was fun and entertaining, with lots of kiddos running around.

By the time we made it home, the entire family was exhausted (from what, I am not sure). It was a nice day, but I couldn't help but think that it was the first Father's day without my dad. It just made me miss him terribly. Sunday would also have been my parent's wedding anniversary as well, so it was bittersweet for that reason too.

Overall, I think that Mark had a nice day and knows how much Nora loves and adores him. Mark is such an amazing father. Nora and I could not ask for more! He is the definition of a "Hands on Daddy!" However, I know that he missed having the big girls with us. Somehow, someday, in God's divine timing, those girls will know of the unending love that Mark has for them and how he misses being a part of their lives.

We hope that all of the fathers that we know - especially Buddy, Uncle Matt and Uncle Jeff had a great Father's Day!

The Last Few Weeks of Sadness

Mark, Nora and I made it back safely to Dallas late last Sunday night. It was a long trip, but we are so glad that we were able to stay with Mom as long as possible. It was a hard couple of weeks, but Mark and I feel like we were so blessed to have been with our family during this sad time. It's hard to explain how I still feel about Dad passing. Part of me feels like he is still just in the hospital and he'll be home soon. I know that's not true, but maybe that's my way of dealing with it all. It just really hasn't set it with me... I don't know if it has really hit any of us yet.

I know that the blessings through all of this is that Dad is in heaven, smiling down at us. I tell Nora all the time that she has a special angel looking after her. I can't wait until she gets older for me to tell her all of the great things about her grandpa and how much he loved her. Mark and I have talked a lot about how special it was that Mom and Dad were here for Nora's birth. I don't think that my dad could have been any more proud. We really think that it was mind over matter that he was even able to make the trip. We know that he already was doing so bad, but he was determined to be here. We had such a good time for the 3 weeks that my parents were here. Those are times that we will never forget. I still think about Mark sitting at the table with my parents, listening to old stories that my dad would tell and just soaking it in. I'm not sure which of them were having the most fun.

The night that Nora was born, my dad was determined to wait it out. I know that he was completely exhausted, but he stayed to meet his first granddaughter when she finally arrived! My cousin Lisa told me that she while she was sitting with my parents waiting for the big news, my daddy was telling her that this was one of the best days of his life. Whoa! Isn't unconditional love amazing?

I am so glad that Mom called us when she did and that we were able to drop everything to go to Alabama. It was a sad, hard time, but I wouldn't have been anywhere else. My dad was pretty out of it when we got there, but they were able to finally wake him up for a bit. One of the nurses then took Nora and put her right in front of him. He smiled and his eyes got so big. It was the most awake he had been in a while. He clearly wanted to take everything about Nora in with his eyes. We put her right up to his face so that he could kiss her. If that wouldn't make you cry, I'm not sure what would...

It was hard, but so good to see my dad awake. When Nora and I left in mid-July, he was still in ICU and not awake. He couldn't really talk very well with his trache, but about a week before we headed to Alabama, my mom put the cell phone up to his head and he told me that he loved me. I am so glad that is the last thing that my dad said to me. It will stay with me forever.

I could go on and on about the next few days, but I'm already crying enough, so I am not going to for now. I guess that I'll just say that I am so glad that my daddy is at peace and is resting free of pain. It is beyond hard to watch the dying process, but there are glimmers of light and God's love through it all. The chaplain at the hospital gave us a booklet about dying and it was exactly right. I am thankful that the day before he passed, my dad was more awake than he had been for months. He knew it was his time. He couldn't say it, but we had that peace about it. Mom, Jeff, Jennifer, Maxwell, Annah, Mark, Nora, Uncle David and I were all with him that Thursday night. It was the first time that he got to see that new grandbaby Annah. We were all able to love on him and tell him how much we love him. I put Nora in the crook of his arm as he laid in bed. I think that it made him happy. I would also hold her up to his face and he would kiss her over and over again. One of the last pictures that we have of my dad is with him kissing my sweet baby girl. It's going to take me a while before I can look at that picture again...

We knew that the end would come quickly and it did. Mom and I were there with Dad all day on Friday, holding his hand, telling him that we loved him and what a good man/husband/father he was, telling him that he needed to go in peace. Jeff came back to the hospital just before he passed. I know that my daddy was glad that we were all together, sharing our love for him. The tears didn't stop then and I know that they won't for a long time.

My Dad's Passing

I guess there is no great way to let everyone know our sad news ... my Daddy passed away at about 9:40 last night. Mom, Jeff and I were with him as he passed peacefully. We feel blessed to have had him with us as long as possible. Thursday night was very special as our entire family gathered together. Dad was surrounded by mom, Jeff, Jennifer, Maxwell, Baby Annah, Mark, Nora, Uncle David, and me. All of the grand kids were there and he was able to smile when he saw them and even give them kisses. It was something special that we will never forget.

We've scheduled the Memorial Service for next Saturday morning due to the threat of Hurricane Gustav hitting the Alabama coast.

Thank you for your love, support, prayers, calls, emails and kind words. We feel blessed to be surrounded by such amazing family and friends.

My First Mother's Day

How exciting to have my very first Mother's Day! Mark and Nora surprised me with her wrapped up in a pink bow with a beautiful ring tied through it. Whoa! The ring is just beautiful and delivered in the best possible way. To celebrate the day, we had a nice brunch with my parents at Toulouse. It was yummy and Miss Nora slept through the entire meal - an added bonus! Mom and Dad headed out this afternoon to return to Alabama. It was so hard to see them go. I can't seem to quit crying because I already miss them so much. I don't know how we could have made it through the last 3 weeks without them. It is amazing how differently you look at your parents after you become one yourself...

On a happier note, Mark's parents are heading out tomorrow for the Big D from Chattanooga. They are anxious to meet our sweet baby girl. I know that we are going to have a great time with them and Miss Nora will be spoiled rotten!

Happier note #2 - Mark's brother, Matt and his wife Stephanie, welcomed their fourth son on May 7th! Woo hoo! We now have 5 sweet and beautiful nephews. We can't wait to meet Aaron Matthew.

Nora Caroline Newman Has Arrived!

Our baby girl, Nora Caroline has arrived! Nora was born Thursday evening, May 1 at 9:30 p.m. She weighs 7 lbs. 8 oz., 18 and 1/2 inches long and is beautiful! It was a long delivery, but what a blessing when she arrived. Mark and I were balling like babies, what an overwhelming experience! She is truly a blessing and our little miracle.

We might be completely biased (imagine that), but Nora doesn't seem like a newborn to us. Her color is great and she is so alert, constantly looking around. She is already examining her surroundings and looking for opportunities to work her daddy. I think that she might already have this mastered...

If you would like to see her newborn pictures from the hospital, click on the link below:
http://www.our365.com/NewbornPortraits/Default.aspx?SM=ByFamily&BY=2008&BM=5&BD=1&FC=Dallas&FCY=US&FS=TX&MLN=New

Then double click on Leslie N and enter the Password (Nora) and the first four letters of our last name (Newm). That will take you to some of the sweet pictures of our baby girl! Our fabulous photographer friend Jessica, is going to take her official pictures next weekend, so we can't wait for that fun day!

I have arrived!

Giving a "Shout Out" to my people!

Check out my parents!

Daddy Kisses!

Grandma's got me now!

My grandparents already adore me!

Cousin Lisa is already here to visit. I can't wait to meet Will and the twins!

My momma is in love with me!

Sweetness! I already adore my daddy!