What's on my plate

I was having dinner with a few of my closest girlfriends the other night when one of them asked how my mom was doing. People ask me this all the time because Mama has breast cancer. She said something like, "How are you doing with that along with all the things you've got on your plate?" I told her that it's as if the fact that my mom has cancer is the plate and everything else sits on it. Her cancer is a part of everything now. Somehow it influences every part of my life - marriage, parenting, homeschooling, meal planning, laundry, prayer, laughter, playing piano, doing my nails, reading a book to my children, eating too many miniature Reese's cups - you name it. I really wouldn't have it any other way, though. I live so far away that I want to feel connected to her and all she's going through. This blog is mostly pics and happiness, but since Mama was diagnosed, the anxiety about her cancer is ever-present. It's an undercurrent running through everything now. I just wanted to acknowledge it somehow.

Father in heaven, thank You for being so near to my precious parents...

Granddaddy's 65th birthday!

Here he is, my wonderful daddy, Bruce Peacock, surrounded by all eight of his grandchildren. From left: Tyler Peacock, Johnny Mac Byrd, Alex Gahrmann, Justin Gahrmann, McKenzie Peacock, Sadie Byrd (in front of McK), Dixie Byrd (left of McK), and Jesse Bruce Byrd on Granddaddy's lap. Precious!