Fathers Day with my Grandad!

I have to say that this weekend has been absolutely wonderful! Brian was with us all weekend (gotta love that!), he has been transferred to his official station in Irving and he starts tomorrow. We are both anxious about meeting the wonderful firefighters and families at station 11, A shift. We both love our firefighter family we are leaving at Station 7, B shift. I am so sad to leave them! I have met some wonderful Firefighter wives who are great support for me, since they have been there and done that! Brian went for a massage today, his fathers day present from the kids and I, and had a delicious dinner cooked for him. The best part about the whole weekend happened yesterday!

Josh, Brian, Daniel, me, and my parents all went over to my Meme and Grandads house to help them with whatever they needed. Brian, Josh, and Daniel broke up concrete around their table in the backyard while my mom and I went to Lowes to buy flowers. My Grandad has always been a flower loving man! He is out on the back porch atleast 3-4 hours out of the day relaxing and so we thought it would be nice to make it sort of an oasis for him. I forgot my camera, so I didn't get any pictures of the backyard before or after, which sucks, because it looked so good when we were done!

Grandad and David, my son.

I could be negative and say that it would have been nice to have more help, but I am not even going to go there. It was so rewarding and I loved seeing my kids playing in the same places I played. I loved my Grandparents backyard, it has always been somewhat magical and safe! I loved seeing David and Carson playing in the front yard on the hill by their front stairs that we used to all slide down when we were little.

At the end of the day we grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, made french fries, and had some delicious cake that Amber made (all chocolate, YUMMO!). After getting everything cleaned up and loaded back up in the cars, it was time to end a perfect, exhausting, but rewarding day!

My Grandad was so appreciative of everything and he loved it all! We all know that our time with him has been a blessing and each day that we have with him is precious! It is so heartbreaking for me to see my Grandad, who has always been such a strong, independent man break down because he is so overwhelmed with what his grandkids did for him. Seeing him cry is the hardest thing about him being sick. I have to say that I am excited as well that my Grandad has excepted Jesus into his heart! He has never been a religious man and never wanted any of us to talk to him about anything to do with God, Jesus, The Bible, or church. One of my uncles friends brought him to the Lord and I am overjoyed! Now I will not only have him in my life, but also my eternal life in Heaven! Don't think it is ever to late to know Jesus! My Grandad is 81 years old and is born again!

I ask all of you to continue to pray for my Grandad! Not only for his cancer not spreading, his congestive heart failure, and pneumonia that he is still recovering from, but I ask you to pray for peace for him! Peace for him to realize that my Meme will be taken care of and that his great grandkids and their kids, will know about what a great man our Grandad is!

Curious?

I am just curious why I feel the need to express myself? I am an outspoken, very opinionated person! It drives Brian crazy most of the time, but that is who I am and he loves me for it! I stand strong with what I believe. I am very sarcastic and a smart ass most of the time. Those who truly get to know me, see my silly side that will make you laugh until you almost pea your pants! But, if you get on my bad side or cross me the wrong wat, it is not good. I believe in revenge and love getting it. I truly believe that Karma is real and I love it when karma bites back to those who truly deserve it. I believe that you reap what you sow! I also believe that if I make an effort to be in your life and attend your events, please make an effort to attend mine! I wear my heart on my sleeve and am easily hurt! I can't stand immature people and people who use me, Brian, or my kids. I believe to have fun with my kids and be goofy with them (Ashleigh just says "Your wierd mommy, but I like that you sing and dance with me", I mean really? Do you know all the songs your kids know and do you sing them loud in the car? I believe that without faith and Jesus, we would have nothing! I believe we learn from all the wrong choices we have made to help our kids and ourselves make the right choices. I love the fact that my grandparents are still alive and they are able to see my kids grow up! I believe that no matter what choice you make, no matter what it is or what it is about, it is your choice and not my place to judge? Until next time.

MEL

Check out this great MSN Video: Touching Soldier Homecomings

It is so hard on the kids and me for Brian to be gone for the 24 hours he is gone, but I can't imagine him being gone for months or even years like our military. Brian has gone to the airport to welcome the troops home and he was so moved by it. Watch this video. It will move you and touch your heart. Check out this great MSN Video: Touching Soldier Homecomings

Loving Life!

This weekend was so wonderful! On Friday the girls ended another year of school. I can officially say that I have a 4th and 5th grader......sigh............yes, that means Ashleigh's last year of elementary school is next year. It seems like I was just preggo with her, in labor for 24 hours with her, and was welcoming my sweet baby girl here..........and now she is almost done with elementary school.............UGH! She has already started the eye rolling, whatever, and being embarrased of me.........I am not ready for all this "big girl" stuff...................On to another note, I can't say how proud I am of both of my girls! Ashleigh was commended on all 3 TAKS tests and Katelyn was commended on her Reading TAKS! I was so nervous for Katelyn, she has dyslexia and the school said she wasn't bad enough to do anything about, but she passed! On Saturday, we had a relaxing morning and then we were off to Isaiah's graduation party. Lorina, Isaiah's mom, is one of my closest friends, we have been through so much together in the last 10 years that we have worked together and to celebrate this milestone with her was so wonderful! Isaiah has turned into one of the sweetest, good looking young men that you will ever meet! After the graduation party, My parents kept the kiddos and I went on a date with Brian. We ate a delicious mexican food restaraunt at The Harbor with Garry and Robbi, two of our best friends, and as usual had a wonderful, enlightening conversation about life. On Sunday, we cleaned house in the morning and then headed to my cousin, Lana's, ranch. She is my Grandad's sisters daughter....................so on the Massey side of the family. The kids had a blast! They had horses, peacocks, cows, ponies, donkeys, goats, ducks, chickens, and many other animals. They had a pool with an awesome slide that the girls could not get enough of. It was nice to meet alot of my Grandads family that I had never met (well maybe I have met them, but I was really little). Nothing like ending the weekend with The MTV Movie Awards and seeing Taylor Laughtner and Rob Pattinson looking HOT! Just a few more weeks until the release of Eclipse and I can't freaking wait! True Blood next week............................Now to really get the summer started! Until next time................. Love,
Mel

idea.....................Read and let me know what ya think..........

So I have a great idea for a short story or possible book, but I want to know what you think? I don't really know if it would be considered? It is about my fears put into a story about Brian (aka Riley in the story) and his fellow firefighters facing danger and the recovery that they and their families go through. These are the scenarios that often are going through my head while Brian is away at the station. This is fictional and none of these events have actually happened to the named characters. here is a little bit of it......

Chapter 1, The Horrible News
It was a typical morning, Riley was at the fire station working his 24 hour shift, the girls scrambling around getting ready for school, my son causing commotion, the dogs barking and playing, and me yelling to hurry. Just as we are walking out the door, my doorbell rings. I went ahead and sent the kids to get in the car. I hurried to the window to look out the blinds and didn't recognize the car, but went ahead and answered the door.

As I opened the door my heart sank. I realized who it was, the fire department chaplain and assistant chief. My heart pounding, I slowly opened up the glass screen door. The chaplain spoke first,"Mrs. Thatcher". "Yes", I replied. "May we come in?" the chaplain asked. Of course, come on in. I-I-I am at loss for words.........Why are you here? Is Riley Ok? Is he dead? Oh my God! I lost it. I lost it before they could even tell me what was wrong with my husband. Was he even dead? I always assume the worse. I tried to compose myself as they sat and stared at me. Mrs Thatcher, the chaplain asked, where are your children? Oh crap, they are in the car. I have to get the girls to school, David to daycare, and myself to work. Well, Mrs. Thatcher you may want to contact your boss and let him know that you won't be in today and is there anyone you can call to help with the kids? Why? Why? I kept asking.

Mrs. Thatcher, I don't know how to explain this to you, but I will simply put it out on the table what has happened to your husband. You see Mrs. Thatcher, Stop being so formal please, please call me Melissa, I said. Ok, Melissa, your husband is trapped under a collapsed building. What do you mean? a collapsed building? Is he alone? No mam, the assistant chief replied. Well who else is trapped? There are two others with him, I can't tell you their names until their families are reached. Seriously, why? Like I am in the right mind to do anything right now or contact anybody! WHO ELSE?

Foster and James. Oh my God. I am Jeff James Family. He is my little brother. So you are telling me that my husband and my brother are trapped? Ok, pull yourself together Mel. Does Jeff's wife know? Does she? You know she is pregnant? Did you know that Foster has a sweet baby girl? Does Angela know? I asked. Yes, Angela knows, she is on her way to the scene and that is where we would like to take you. Does Jessica know? Tell me please. We are headed to her house with you when we leave, the assistant chief replied. I need to call my mom so she can help with my kids.

My mom arrived in about 10 minutes to my house, but it felt more like hours. I explained to her what was going on and that we were going to Jeff's house to tell Jessica now. My mom lost it as soon as she heard what was going on, especially since it was her son that was trapped. After a few minutes we were on our way to Jeff and Jessica's house to deliver the dreaded news. It took forever to get to their house, I had already called Jessica and told her to get ready and I would explain what was going on when I got there. When we pulled up in front of the house, Jessica came running out. What is going on? she asked. Riley, Jeff, and Steve are trapped under a collapsed building and they want us to come to the scene now. Angela, Jason's wife, is already there. Are you ok? Can you handle this? Do you need to call anyone? I am fine, she said. Lets get to our husbands.

Chapter 2, The Scene

It seemed to take days to make out to Irving from Rowlett, but it only took about 45 minutes. We rounded the corner and right in front of us sat a huge pile of concrete, twisted metal, glass, debris, it looked like a bomb went off and this is what was left. My husband was eaten by this concrete monster. Thats exactly what it looked like, a huge concrete monster. Several Fire Engines and ambulances surrounded the scene along with cameras and onlookers. I think by this point I was in total shock and the actual event had not sunk it. We climbed out of the car, my body felt like it was weighed down with concrete. Jessica and I holding hands trying to comfort each other, crying, trying to take this all in. We found Angela and all stood there in aw of this enormous mass that had swallowed our husbands.

As soon as station 7 saw me they immediately came over to embrace Jessica, Angela, and I and let us know that they were doing everything they could to get Riley, Jeff, and Steve out. I said, I understand. I mean, what else could I say? There was alot I wanted to say! Why? Why did ya'll let this happen? Ya'll are supposed to protect each other! WHY? I don't understand?
But, I did understand. I knew that they had done all they could to keep them safe and this was just a freak accident. Noone could have avoided this!

The chief saw us and came over to let us know that they still had communication with all three of them and they had requested to talk to us. Oh God. I am not ready to say goodbye to Riley, my husband, my best friend. I can't do this. I need to leave. I will come back when he is out and ok. At that moment, he handed me a walkie talkie and I heard the sweetest voice. Hi sweetheart, Riley said. Hi babe, I replied. I love you, I tried to say without sounding emotional. I love you too, Riley replied. Don't you leave me. You are supposed to come home safe to me. You promised, I told him. I know, he said. I am trying to get home safe to you, but we are stuck in the basement. We have about another 45 minutes of air left in our tanks, before we will be in serious jeapordy. Why aren't they doing anything? I asked. Everyone is just standing around staring at the concrete, really. Come on we need to be moving the concrete. I handed the walkie talkie to Jessica to talk to Jeff and Angela was handed one by David, a fellow firefighter, to talk to Steve.

As soon as I said that I realized that there was a huge crane pulling up to start removing the debris to get to the guys. This could be good or bad, noone could predict the outcome. The good, they are able to remove the rubble and get to them safely and the bad is the building could totally collapse in on them and crush them. Now it was a waiting game. Oh GOD please put your hands around them and keep them safe............................................................................

This is all I have for ya now. I know, horrible grammar and lots of errors.........but it is a rough draft. So leave me a comment and tell me what you think?