What I Have Read in the Last Few Months

The Women of the Cousin's War by Philippa Gregory

Princes at War by Deborah Cadbury

Lady Bird and Lyndon by Betty Boyd Caroli

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

The Astronaut Wives by Lily Koppel

Rosemary by Kate Clifford Larson

A Brief History of the House of Windsor by Michael Paterson

Clementine by Sonia Purnell

Out of Dublin by Ethel Rohan

The Queen and Di by Ingrid Seward

Fab: The Intimate Life of Paul McCartney by Howard Sounes

Feisty First Ladies by J. Randy Taraborrelli

Victoria by A. N. Wilson

The Kennedys by Peter Collier and David Horowitz

Prince William by Penny Junor

Jackie, Ethel, Joan by J. Randy Taraborrelli

Another One of Those FB Memories

Looking at the date this was posted and reading what she said makes my heart hurt.

February 25, 2011 at 10:36pm ·

Nikolas to Ava "when I grow up I am going to marry you". Ava to Nikolas "my daddy is at work far away and he misses me".

Grandmother and Granddaughter

I think Aubree and I were very comfortable in that chair. Once moment I am sitting in the chair rocking her on my lap and watching her sleep and the next moment, I ended up joining her.

Nikolas and Ava

Facebook sends you memories daily from pictures or posts from the past. Last night this picture popped up from 2011. Nikolas and Ava together as it once was. Sadly, I do not see them together again in the future. The enormity of the loss is great and if I allow it the loss can feel overwhelming to me so I make a conscious effort to keep the loss in check. I have to or else I would not be able to carry on in daily living. Ava should be a part of daily living. She should be traveling with Shaun & Nikolas to Canada next month as she did in the past. It was always Shaun, Nikolas and Ava. Three grandchildren three years apart each in age traveling along with their grandmother. That was the life I always envisioned. I never imagined a life where I would not have a close relationship with all my grandchildren. That is me. That is who I am. I remember a family member telling, "I am sure Ava misses you too". My response was "Oh God, I hope she does not miss me because if she missed me she would be sad". I would never want Ava to feel loss or pain. I would never want Ava to be sad because she missed me. I believe that is called love. I want her to be healthy and happy doing all the things little girls do. I want her to have friends, play with dolls, ride bikes, play, sing, dance, work hard in school and most importantly I want her to feel good about herself, love herself and grow into a responsible loving caring woman. I want her to have an education, a career, someday maybe be married and have a family of her own if she chooses. I want her to hold onto hope and faith and believe in her ability to live life to the fullest.           

This and That Over Last Few Weeks

Josh and Aubree

 Snow in the distance

 Bill and Aubree

 Silly Daddy with Valentine Gifts.

Silly Mommy and Daughter taking a spin.

Aubree's 2nd pair of earrings are Minnie Mouse (14k gold).

Getting her ears pierced.

 Having a day out at the mall with mommy and grandmom.

 Aubree's 1st pair of earrings are her birthstone (14k gold).

Converse with bows and glitter

Just Be Cause

Aubree

Laurel Hill Cemetery

Fifty Six Today

Josh and Lynee gave me some chocolate dipped strawberries which were delicious.

Nikolas is growing up.

My boys.

Mom and Aubree (her great granddaughter)

Shaun & Rita know me well!

This is for the beach house!

My girls!

Dad & Bill are two peas in a pod.

I love these pictures of Aubree and her grandparents.

My birthday was wonderful this year. Bill had my family over yesterday and today we went out to breakfast looked at a house in Gladwyn and did some shopping.

As a post note, I really love Lynee and Rita. They are not only great for my sons but wonderful attentive mothers and beautiful women inside and out. I am so happy they are in my life.