Laundry Day...

Fresh "Landry"  & Rock Star - "Bro-Po"( Friend; Brooke)

NO,...no airing our dirty laundry today...but check back some other time for that...NO, our daughter decided months ago that she would like to be "laundry" for trick or treat.  Her Uncle Chris always calls her "Laundry" instead of Landry, as a term of endearment. :0)  But it truly began when my Aunt Karen accidentally wrote Laundry , in stead of Landry on my baby shower card.  It just kind of stuck.  And, it just so happened that a friend of hers had a fall costume party Saturday evening and this mother had to get into Trick or Treat mode real quick!  Whew!  Talk about a marathon....Soccer game, cheerleading at a football game, a quick sandwhich, then on to putting her costume together.  Landry won FUNNIEST COSTUME at the party.  I think I know what clenched it for her, DO YOU?  Do you see her little brother's old ( but clean)  Bob The Builder underoos on her head?  Yah, I was just  going to tack those on her shirt, but instead, creative sister came out with pigtails through them!  A special thank you to little brother for being immodest enough to let her use them!  I think it was a hit! Congratulations, Landry !  ( Although you always win the prize with us!  ) Happy Fall Y'all !!!  

Just noticed I had not posted anything about precious daughter lately.  Well, being that her birthday is today, - I have been a little retrospective.  Maybe a little too much, in fact.  I will save most of it for later because frankly folks, I get a little weepy.  Anyway, I am so proud of Landry.  She really is, a lovely young lady.  Believe me, this is only God - because He knows me and her father ( however precious we might be ourselves,..) Can not "make" Landry the person she is.  It was only The Lord.  His grace - giving us what we don't deserve - the best - as in Landry Elise Leatherwood -  was just that - GRACE.  Sure, she is imperfect, but as her mother, it is my DIVINE right to never admit it ( Although I guess I just did) We are so blessed to have her for a daughter and, more and more so every day - for a friend.  We enjoy Landry's company simply because she is a breath of fresh air to be around.  Innocent, pure, thoughtful, beautiful heart, sensitive in the things of The Lord and FULL of the JOY of the LORD! - She is the antithesis of this world.  So, she embodies the very thing we are to be - IN this world - but not OF it.  So proud....so, so proud.  Did I mention how proud?  Let me give you a glimpse into her character for those of you who do not know her, or do not quite know her that well.  The other day she chose her own outfit, as she does most of the time lately.  She chose bold orange - (her favorite)  in a corduroy fitted blazer, matching tights, modest length denim mini skirt, and her neon pink,yellow,orange and green high tops.  Of course she told me later that day that she received many compliments on her shoes, outfit, etc.  but that many of her classmates had made fun of her.  (Yes, the mama bear in me wanted to attack those poor children.)  However, my daughter's attitude was far more superior than her mom's...  I told her:  "I hope that did not hurt your feelings -because I think you look PRECIOUS! "  And her response was "No, not really - I mean, some people will like it and some people won't!"  She said all this as if she did not take too much stock in what THEY thought.  ( Yay!)  And she was sincere.  She DIDN'T care what they thought about it - She liked it - Her mother certainly liked it - And - well - I think that is all that really matters!  Anyway, if you are reading this, please give a birthday "SHOUT" out to my precious first born miracle...Miss Landry Elise Leatherwood.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETIE!  We think you are so special and wonderful - And there is nothing you can do to change that!  We loved you before we even knew your cute dimples, beauty of heart or ANYTHING - so if you did nothing else on earth except BE, we will still love your hide off....  Love MOM & DAD  ( Yes, Lawson loves you, too - but well...hE HAS HIS OWN WAY OF SAYING THAT!)

Blah Blah Blah.....

Get ready - you're about to encounter my world of rambling - - - This picture is a perfect portrait of the last few weeks - - - I am TRYING to be optimistic.... Like Lawson, who is OBVIOUSLY ready for the cold weather - ( like his hot blooded mother)  I found him in his room getting his winter coat and mittens on, even though the temperature outside does not reflect the need for these items!  Either way, I thought:  "Boy, do you look how I feel!  I am ready for some changes! Both in the weather and in my life !  Anyone who can recommend a good bible study?  One for just an individual - If I choose it - I will send you a special something - providing I have your address - just e-mail me your address at rheaganrhea@gmail.com - and don't forget your suggestions!  - Yes, I got this idea from my sister in law's friend.  I frequent her blog - and she also does gifts for her 50th blog - maybe I will do that, as well?  Who knows - maybe this will help some of my self-proclaimed blog stalkers to come out from the woodwork?!   

Toothless Wonder...

Last week, through weepy eyes, our son told us he didn't want a loose tooth.  Too bad.  No, I did not SAY that to him, but I THOUGHT it.  LIfe is full of many events that are unwelcomed.  But, in order for bigger and better things to occur, we usually have to endure SOME kind of pain.  No PAIN...No GAIN!  O.K....NO, I did NOT ramble on to him like that, either.   Later in the week he professed to our family that he was going to "have a loose tooth the rest of his life."  Again, I wanted to "blah, blah, blah.." about how spiritually we can not stay in the same place forever, either.  But I refrained.  I save this stuff for YOU, people!    However uncompassionate I may seem, I DID try to help him through this.  Here are the results this week.  ( He doesn[t look TOO horrified , does he?!)  OUR TOOTHLESS WONDER:  

School DAZE...

Well, it's that time again!  We have partied at back to school bashes, fulfilled our school supply lists, sharpened our pencils, labeled everything but our underwear ( ummm...even did that, too...), made our lunches, gone to the 2 hour kindergarten orientation ( whew!),  met the teachers, met new friends and loaded our backpacks ( that exceed our own weights by 10 pounds, give or take...)  And we are BACK TO SCHOOL!  Here is what we looked like the first "daze"...( Note how mom looks after having the summer off...)  Happy School Days to ALL of you!  Darling Daughter started 4th GRADE!  And, Little Man started KINDERGARTEN! (SIGH)

Why We Celebrate August 10th....

 Landon Schaefer Leatherwood 

August 11th, 2002 - May 29th, 2003

I rubbed my sleepy eyes....it was still dark outside and Keenan was still asleep.  Eventually he began to stir and without even needing the alarm to go off, we both JOYFULLY slid out of bed.  We laughed at each other's funny "bed-head" hair-do's and continued to get ready for this special day.  We tried not to wake my cousin who had come into town just for this occasion and was sleeping on the couch.  We were also mindful that our only daughter, Landry, was also trying to catch a few ZZzz's.  We left the house as quietly as we could, even though we were still laughing at the spectacle we made of ourselves half an hour ago.  

Six months prior to this day I had gone in for a routine sonogram only to be told that my unborn baby had a horrifying and sometimes fatal disease called alobar holoprosencephaly.  I know....  The name alone left me speechless, as well.  However what followed after the diagnosis was even more frightening.  The doctors and genetic counselors actually DESCRIBED the disease to us.  Abdominal wall defects ( intestines rowing on outside of his body, facial abnormalities, not surviving a full term pregnancy, ...you get the idea.  The prognosis was not positive at ALL.  In fact, they relentlessly encouraged us to pursue abortion at all costs.  In their words, we: "Did not know what(we) were getting oursleves into".  NO, we did not, BUT GOD DID!   Twenty-four hours later, on August 11th, 2002 - I heard a soft-spoken nurse gasp & say - "Ohhhh He's Beautiful !"....  Then the doctor who delivered him exclaimed: "Oh my gosh, he's HUGE!!!"  ( He DID weigh 11 lbs 12ozs. /measuring 23 & 1/2 inches)  And a polite nurse beside me inquired: "How'd you DO that?!" ( Nothing a simple C-Section won't help...) I was so anxious to see him, but at the same time almost afraid to see if he was, indeed, alright.  So, I asked my sweet husband, Keenan - " Is he....alright?"  His tearful response was, "perfect."  And, more than we knew, he was.  The first glimpse I got of him. he was being cradled and rocked gently by his neonatologist and being the angelic miracle we had prayed for.  No tubes, no ventilators, no rushing around to resuscitate him, as was previously planned for.  Just 11 & 1/2 pounds of miracle.  

The nine & a half months that I was privileged enough to be able to caress, feed, console, and care for Landon were some of the most precious moments I will ever get to have on this earth. So, why do I celebrate August 10th?   It's the day a miracle came to live with us. - And reminded us that God is GREAT, even when the circumstances are NOT.  

 Why we remain grateful for this day is that OUR GOD does not rely on our feelings, the doctor's report, or what other people think, or say.  OUR GOD is faithful and does not waiver at ANY time, especially in adversity.  We also believe that we, as Christians should take it as a COMPLIMENT when we are faced with trials and tribulations, for it means we must be doing SOMETHING to make the enemy QUAKE in his little black boots ( I am not sure they are black, but work with me...!)  

We are also grateful for the nine & half months that God loaned us Landon Schaefer Leatherwood.  You see, it is also our belief that we do not own our children - but GOD.  He only allows us to be GOOD STEWARDS of these little pieces of HIM.  For HOWEVER long that may be.     

Thank you, Lord for giving us the privilege of being Landon's family.  We are honored.  Happy 6th Birthday, Bubba!  We love and miss you, 'till Heaven!  

Mama, Daddy, Sissy & "Baby Bubba" ( Lawson )

  

Virginia is For Lovers...

.....AND for Mom & Daughter Trips!  Landry and I just returned from Occoquan, VA where her Aunt Shauna & Cousin Kylee live.  They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and, well....We have SEVERAL pictures that say more about how much fun we had than I ever could!  We had the BEST time just hangin' out with the Oswald Girls!

  Swimming, Shopping, Yummy Meals, Laughing,....All packed into 4 & 1/2 day stay.  Whew!  La

ndry's first plane ride went great, as these "moment-b

y-moment" flight take-off photos show!  Thank you girls (and Joel) for showing us that BIG TEXAN hospitality can exist even in a LITTLE VIRGINIAN town!

     

A Glimpse at our Good Times...

The Many Faces of Flight...

WE MISS YOU !

XOXOX

Landry & Rhea