Computer anger - School - Vacation - Brooke

I hate our computer. It's old, slow, cranky and I find myself wanting to hurt it almost daily now. I spent 3 days this weekend scanning, defragmenting, organizing, deleting, cleaning...just trying to make it run better. No such luck. Yes, I know we need a new computer. "Big Bertha" is 7 years old now, but I'm just trying to buy her a little more time. Not sure why? Guess I'm just being sentimental?? Or cheap??

I start an online class tomorrow through CCC so my blogging may slow down even more than it already has. Sorry. Between that, my business class at WBU, my exercise class on Thursday nights, working, taking care of Mike and Brooke and dieting...there's just not much time left. I'm still trying to figure out how to work more exercise in? I know one thing...this body AIN'T GOING TO HAWAII IN ITS CURRENT STATE! Yep, we're going to Hawaii, but don't tell Brooke. We NEVER tell Brooke about going places until we're physically in the car going. She'll drive us nuts otherwise! And in this case, she'll find a way to get sick. Ha. This is a mommy and daddy only trip! A retreat into paradise. We thought we better do it now versus later since Brooke is getting more clingey the older she gets and our support staff aren't getting any younger. (No offense F-F and P...we certainly couldn't do it without you guys!) We're going to Oahu for 7 days and 6 nights in early June and are super excited!! If anyone has been and has suggestions...please let me know! I'm having fun researching the island, the food, and the people. I would love to hear from you!!

Brooke continues to do well - PRAISE GOD! We took her to eat at Leal's tonight (in the Mustang) and as soon as we finished - she raised her hand. That means she wants the waiter to come over to our table so she can sign "soapapilla." She made up a sign for it about 6 months ago, which is goofy in itself, but it works. The hand raising really cracks us up. She even does it at home when she wants something. Silly kid! Well...she finally wore us down and we bought her the kitchen set that Santa didn't bring her. Mike and I spent 2 hours putting it together yesterday. I've never seen so many pieces! Ugh!!! But she loves it and it's small enough to put inside her tent, or in her closet when she grows tired of it. Why is it she always wants the BIG toys that take up so much space? I researched kitchen sets looking for one that wasn't big. This one is nice only cost $35!

I better go...a certain little girl is wanting her mommy to go to bed with her. Have a blessed night!!!

Aloha

Eating at a car wash - Diet - No Thanks

OK, remember the Progresso soup ad? The one where Brooke kept telling us to call and order her some soup? Now she's carrying around one of those coupon books(the ones you buy from kids at school) asking to go eat at A-Key car wash. No matter what we say, we can't seem to convince her that it's not somewhere to eat. Any thoughts? Anyone? This silly girl is driving us nuts!

We're all 3 back on our healthy eating plan. And as much as Brooke "thinks" she's starving...she's actually doing very well. Her obsession with what she can no longer have is to the point of her picking out food in magazines, bringing them to me, and telling me "MMMMMMMM" and pointing to herself. Confession...I felt so sorry for her last week with the broccoli and cheese ad in my Weight Watcher magazine that I gave in and made her some. Now her INR levels are down to 1.4. See what happens? GEEZ! I can't win. She does keep us entertained though! There's never a dull moment.

I spent the last two days in court. And I figured I would get picked as a juror...it's the "honest face." Lucky for me...the trial started today and ended today. It was a mistrial. I'm not sure how a person can sit and listen to 5 days worth of testimony on a double murder and not walk away a changed person. I know I couldn't have! I'm thankful I don't have to endure that! I was on the Grand Jury for a 13 year old that was murdered 10+ years ago and I still think of her. Those things are hard to erase. When you hear about all the horrific things that are going on around us - it makes you even more appreciative of your loved ones. Life is so precious. Be thankful your family. For freedom. And most importantly...BE THANKFUL FOR THE GOD WE SERVE!

Where has December Gone - 5 Females and Mike

I blinked and it was all over. My head is still reeling from the fastest month I've ever seen. Does it seem like Christmas has already come and gone? WOW. Time really does fly!! Our holidays were great. We celebrated with my family the Saturday before Christmas and had a really fun time. Brooke got more fire gear (another helmet) so everyone put helmets on and posed with hatchets, fire extinguishers, her badge, etc. I have some really fun pictures and we shared a lot of laughs. We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in Red River with all of the Hankins crew. That was nice! It took us 5 hours and 15 minutes to get there due to the snow and ice, but it was worth it. What a beautiful place. We had a great time and truly enjoyed all being together in such a fabulous setting. As always, it was nice getting to spend time with the "babies" as Brooke calls them...Colton and Jonas (our great-nephews). They are 2 and almost 3, so not babies. I found myself tearey eyed once while watching them play. Confession...it hurts me that I will never get to be a grandmother. As much as I try not to let it bother me...at times, it does. So I spoil them as much as possible and buy them all of the obnoxious noise-making toys that I can find. That's what grandparents do, right??

We are dog-sitting our niece's dog and her boyfriends dog. They're our cousin-dogs. Right now, Mike is at the holiday tournament, Brooke is in her room watching a movie she got for Christmas and I have no idea where the 3 dogs are? That's a little scarey! They're sweet dogs. Maddy is an Australian Shepard and super smart. Chloe is half German Shepard and half Lab and is a little timid. It's been good for Brandi to learn to "share" her family and her things. She's suprised us with her protectiveness of us and everything we have. She's like Brooke in that regard and likes things a certain way all the time. Chloe and Maddy are good girls and have been hardly any trouble at all. Besides, I tell Mike he can tell everyone he has 5 women in his life right now. Ha. And all 5 shed really bad. He ran the vacuum today which seems like a mute point. Anyway, the two cousin-dogs leave tomorrow, so I'm sure Brandi will sleep all day. I've been proud of our little Alpha Dog! And I thought she was a pushover. YOU GO GIRL! Would it be insensitive, vulgar or disgusing to blog that Maddy just let a silent one that has me gagging. Ugh. I hate dog farts!! (Sorry Dave, your girl may be sweet but she sure is RANK!)

I have to get some air. Night all!

The Silent Angel

I lost a dear friend yesterday. Joyce Davis was one of my lifelines for almost 20 years. Her cards and uplifting words helped sustain me during tough times. Each card would hold a balloon for Brooke, which brought a smile to the face of a sick little girl. I will forever be grateful to Joyce and her outreach and I will definitely miss her cards.

People like Joyce are rare; they are silent angels who prefer doing for others without recognition. Her ministry was done in so many ways; whether by slipping in and cleaning the kitchen at church, helping with Vacation Bible School, taking food to the sick, mending clothes for the Hope Center, or by her cards. I am thankful I had the opportunity to tell Joyce just how much her outreach meant to me. I told her that what she did made a difference. She reached out to others and touched their lives in so many ways and the world will be a sadder place without her. Our loss is Heaven's gain. Our prayers continue to go out to the family. May they find comfort in their pain and healing with time.

Thank you my dear friend for being a Christian example for all of us younger women to follow. Rest in Peace.

Readers - Car - Rudolph - TSO

I've been bad. I haven't been faithful to my blogging duties. Sorry. I have no excuses worthy of the crime, but I will try to do better. I appreciate the 4 people who in one-weeks time made me realize why it is that I blog. It's nice to know that people read what I have to say and that some even like it. :) So thank you to all of my faithful readers. I appreciate you taking time out of your busy lives to listen to me ramble on about mine.

Let's see...where to start?? The Mustang. I made the mistake a couple days ago of suggesting we take my car to go eat - NOT HAPPENING! Brooke gave us the "Ain't no way" sign and squawked something at me. We took her car. When the weather is nice and the Hankins trio is going somewhere in town...Little Miss Sunshine is the only mode of transportation these days. And yes, I am still riding in the back seat. While it might not be that easy for me to get out of the car...it's a heck of a lot easier than it is trying to get her in and out of the back seat. She does very well getting in and out of the front seat thankfully and she still laughs as we drive down the road. This car did exactly what I had hoped it would...it makes her happy. Or should I say "HAPPIER?" The car got it's first bath from us today and she really cleans up nicely. Mike got the BROOKE license plate put on the front so there's no mistaking whose car it is. Not that Brooke would let us forget it. She is very proud of her car. And we're very happy to be able to have done this for her. It's very much worth it, and I can't think of anyone more deserving of a sporty yellow car than Brooke.

Not sure what's up with the Rudolph obsession this year? We can't figure this one out? Usually the hefty guy in the red suit is #1, but Rudolph and his red nose have Brooke entranced this holiday season. Everything is Rudolph. I bought her the cutest stuffed Frosty the Snowman that sings but she won't have anything to do with him? Hmmmmm....???

We took Brooke to Lubbock Thursday night to see TSO...this was her 3rd time seeing them. Once we finally managed to find a parking lot and a parking space in a parking lot (long story - don't ask)we really enjoyed the show. And we were only 15 minutes late! For any of you who haven't heard of the Trans Siberian Orchestra,or had the priveledge to see them in concert, you've got to check them out. WOW. They are incredible. Very much worth the money to see!!

The Holidays

Brooke loves Christmas so we try to make it as festive and magical as we possibly can. Last Christmas was rough...we were living in a rental house preparing to move into our new home, which happened on Christmas night. So all of the glitz and glamour we usually provide - was sitting in boxes in the storage unit. To help accomodate, we bought a 6 foot tree, had 6-7 ornaments that people had given Brooke throughout the year, and I bought some door clings at Dollar Tree. Pretty sad. It was such a stressful time to be packing and moving! This year; however, hopefully we've made up for "missing" last year. We've got 5 trees up: a 9 footer in the living room that took us 5 hours to complete, the 6 foot tree from last year that now sits proudly in Brooke's room holding all of her Disney and fire truck ornaments, the cute little silver one in the kitchen, the 3 foot one in the entry way that used to hold the Disney ornaments, and the little tiny one in the hall that was given to me years ago by a friend. There's the annoying music box that plays 36 songs, the piano-playing snowman, all of the snowmen collection, the story-book reading Santa, the flashing Santa jar in Brooke's bathroom, and all of the many, many, many Christmas song playing gizmo's that Brooke loves so well. The only thing missing is HO-HO, our big, singing, hip-swinging Santa. Mike says he's in the garage but I have yet to see him. There is a problem. Two years ago when Mike was "assembling" HO-HO, Brooke was curiously watching. HO-HO is spring activated and his head tucks up underneath his body. He goes from 5 foot to 3 foot just by smashing his body down. Anyway...Mike pops him and his body stands up and his head rolls out by Brooke. She was completely traumatized. It was awful. She just stood staring at him for about 5 days following the incident. And she has spent so much time holding his hands while he dances that he now needs a complete hip replacement. He's in very sad shape, but we love our HO-HO. The new rule is that Brooke can't be present when Mike is "springing" him into shape. Ha.It's so much fun. We get to see Christmas through the eyes of a child each and every year! How precious is that!

I'm a little hesitant to say what I'm about to say, because Mike has always prided himself in us being the "blackest" house on the block, but the plan is to put up lights on the outside of the Hankins house for Brooke. I KNOW...YOU'LL BELIEVE IT WHEN YOU SEE IT. Me too! But I know that after spending over $300 last Friday purchasing the necessary equipment, and him calling whoever it is that does this for people on the side...I think it may be a safe assumption to say that it actually might happen. I'll keep you posted!

Lastly, after showing me, showing Mike, showing me again, and showing Mike again...Brooke finally brought the phone to me and told me to call PB Teen to order the kitchen set she's been bugging us for. Does anyone have $897 we can borrow and a place to store this monstrosity? Ha. Why is it that she doesn't like small, foldable, portable toys? I've got a nice piece of Christmas stationary out and we're about to write a letter to Santa. I will BEG him NOT to bring this! Where in the world would we put it? And $897? Shhhhhh...don't let Ma or Papa know she wants this!! You know how grandparents are!

Have a great evening!

Special Olympic Bowling - The Dance - Sledding at White Sands

Friday night we drove to Ruidoso, spent the night and drove to Las Cruces Saturday morning so Brooke could bowl at the Special Olympic state bowling meet (for the Southern side of the state). This has gotten so big over the past 5 years that the state has had to be split in half to accomodate all of the bowlers. I believe there are around 800 now. I have to admit, neither Mike nor I were very excited about making this trip having been in San Antonio last weekend. My mom went with us like she usually does, which is a big help. About halfway through Brooke's second game, she started to melt so I told her if she would bowl strikes, we could finish quicker and go eat. She managed to bowl 3 strikes in a row. Ha! Go figure! She bowled a 287 total (two games) and took the gold medal. That was exciting.

Saturday night was the traditional SONM dance, and most definitely the highlight of Brooke's trip (as it always is). She is a dancing machine! She had a great time, and so did we as we watched her enjoy life. Special people know how to have a good time! I wish everyone could witness that!! Brooke is really in her element at SO sporting events. It's nice to be around people who don't see the superficial things that other people notice. There are a thousand lessons to be learned at a SO event.

This morning we made our yearly stop at White Sands to sled. What a great time! If you've never done it...you need to! It's a blast! Brooke won't sled but she will spin and let us push her around the parking lot. My back is screaming about it now! Mom and I made a few standard runs before we got brave and finally went down the "BIG" hill on our stomachs. OUCH.

I thank God every day for Brooke and for other special people like her. They are put on this earth to teach us how we are supposed to be.