I walked into our dining area and spotted Sophie reading the newspaper.  I told her to "freeze" so I could grab my camera.  She rolled her eyes and sighed like I was the goof ball.  As if  this was just a normal part of her morning routine.

Thanks for the laugh Sophie girl!  You are my sunshine on a cloudy day and I love you!  Girl.....Power......BING!   (Our secret handshake)

Every morning we woke to one brilliant sunrise after another in Corpus Christi.   We are all looking forward to driving back home today to our "other hotel" we call home at the moment.  How strange does that sound?

I asked Max if he wanted to go to the beach this morning, he replied "sounds just about perfect to me".  

Max and Daddy made this beautiful picture for me.  Don't you just love her seaweed hair? 

Admission to Texas State Aquarium...........$56.00
Lunch at Aquarium............$28.00
Ice Cream Treats...............$10.00

Spending time with my family.............PRICELESS!!

Woo Hoo, we made it to Corpus Christi after an eight hour drive!   The sun should break through today too!   Corpus Christi Aquarium here we come!

Our room with a view............

I am busy packing yet another suitcase to get on the road early and enjoy my family.  The kids are bouncing off the walls at the moment, excited to run along the beach and swim in the indoor pool.  Corpus Christi, here we come!

I had to buy the kids new swimsuits and I think Sophie liked hers.  She put it on over her jammies last night.  Love that girl!

It is a gloomy day with overcast skies and drizzle falling.  Kind of like my mood today.  It seems that every few days we hear different news about our visa paperwork, which is complete, but taking it's sweet time arriving.   We may or may not be leaving at the end of the month was the latest.  I am ticked at whoever dropped the ball.  They new about this in August!   

I know it doesn't do any good to stew silently, simmering in my negative thoughts.  I am trying to stay positive and encourage my family but today I feel  stuck.  

The kids have half day tomorrow at school along with having Monday and Tuesday off so we are driving down to Corpus Christi.  I think we all need a change of scenery and the ocean refreshes all of us.   

We saw the most amazing sunrise on the way to school this morning.  I wished I had my camera.  It was a rainbow of pinks.  When Sophie saw it she exclaimed "It looks like Raspberry Sherbet".  It was changing by the minute, once we made it to school, the sun was peaking through the now purple sky and Max said "I think I can see heaven now".  By the time I made it back into our room and snapped a picture, it had already changed into an insipid sunrise.

What a lesson in change.  How quickly our lives can take a turn from delight and beauty to complacency and even grief.  I am choosing to embrace the riches in my life today.   Yes, we will all experience seasons of heartache and grief but through the day to day of life,   I will choose to grab hold of joy!    

I spoke with my Dad today and he shared with me in detail Uncle Lou's final hours.  I feel the need to share the strength of Keri Lynn, Uncle Lou's daughter.  She was with him during his final days and was embracing him when he took his last breath.  She is a thoughtful, generous, loving and loyal daughter who stood by her father until the very end. 

Uncle Lou had a beautiful and loving companion in his life named Helen.  She was a lovely friend and confidant and spent hours upon hours with him during his final days.  She along with Keri were strong advocates for his care and comfort.  They were his soldiers fighting his fight when he no longer could.  He was blessed to have these brave and courageous woman in his life.  

My father is one of eleven siblings.  He is the baby and has had to watch many of his siblings pass away.  HIs brother, Uncle Lou has been very sick and passed away last night.  

He died in my fathers arms, surrounded by his daughter, a beloved companion, and a nephew.  The visual of the four of them surrounding him as he drifted off to meet Jesus brings me to tears. 

I will forever remember Uncle Lou with a cigarette in his mouth, a cup of coffee(with 10 spoonfuls of sugar) in his hand, and a gravely voice.  

When I was a little girl, Uncle Lou was a weekly fixture around our house, along with many of my Uncles.  Most of them were in the landscaping business and often times one of them would park their truck in front of our house, and then another would spot it and park his truck, and so on and so on.  They would all congregate on the side patio smoking cigarettes and sipping coffee.  I loved looking out the kitchen window seeing all of them chatting in their work clothes.  I would run out with the pot of coffee refilling their mugs.  Every single one of them, including Uncle Lou, would light up with a smile and make me feel like they were happy to see me.  They always sneaked a silver dollar or quarter in my hand as well.