Titus, From Giants

This past Friday I said goodbye to Titus, my bubby. He was 11 years old. He would have been 12 in December. He lived a really good life. I got Titus in 2005 (I think) when I lived in a one bedroom apartment and already had one lab, Maya. Titus was the last puppy in his litter and I just couldn't resist. Both the dam and sire were chocolate labs that were over 110 lbs. each, solid muscle. I knew Titus was going to be a big boy, and he sure was! He was a good dog. He did exactly what a dog is supposed to do....He did his job as a companion, friend, and bubby. He will be missed. 

"Once you've had a wonderful dog, a life without one, is a life diminished" (Dean Kootnz). 

I have lost all of his puppy photos due to my old computer crashing, but I have a few pictures of him when he was younger. 

This was February 2010 in Memphis. We had a big snow and we took the dogs to the park. 

The 2 pictures above are from Lake Catherine in AR. Titus used to dive/fish for rocks and actual fish. Strange little bubby but he loved it! He'd stick his whole head under water! lol

That was his couch. He kept me company all day and followed me around the house while I did housework, etc. 

Shelby Farms - He loved to swim and was by far the fastest dog in the water I have ever seen. He would have swam until he sank. 

Shelby Farms - I have never seen Titus happier 

Shelby Farms

Watching Tim clean a duck for the 1st time....Then Titus when on to shred the duck. 

This is probably the youngest picture I have...I think he was 3 or 4. 

  

I know this post is not very interesting to most, but I wrote it selfishly for me. I needed to do this. I loved that dog so much and he was there for me through so much. For those that know me, you know that my dogs are my children. Well, I lost one of my children. It hurts my heart that he is gone, but I know he is not longer in pain. So please hang in there with me and I promise future updates will be better. :)

by His grace, 

SH

Football is Here!

My favorite time of year is rapidly approaching! The sad part is that it disappears just as fast as it approaches. However, I am still really excited! We had our 1st hometown football game Friday night. This is Drake's freshman year on the football team. He is growing up (literally) before our eyes.

The picture on the left is exactly one year ago! The one on the right was take Friday night. It is amazing how fast they grow up. 

There is also a picture of me from a year ago and a picture of me from Friday night....it's amazing how fast I grew up too! Haha! I said to Tim on Friday that I actually look like a Mom. I have never thought that I look like a parent or a Mom until I saw that picture Friday night. I like it. 

Not mention that I'm really proud of the young man standing next to me! He sure looks handsome!

Friday night football games are great in Broken Bow. Our community is one that just loves and supports the hometown football team. It doesn't matter if you have a kid playing or if you have a kid that attends the school. Everyone goes to the games! We walk to the field from our house and love every minute of it! The local boy scout troops come and sell fresh kettle corn in the stands, which we quickly devour in the 2nd quarter, and the fireworks after every touchdown never disappoint. What's not to like about a hometown football game! 

We are back at it again this evening with Drake's 9th grade/JV football game. We're excited to see him in action tonight against Durant. Go Savages! 

by His grace!

Stacey

I'm a slacker!

I have not posted or updated about our lives since 2015! I feel like such a slacker! At this point I feel like there is way too much to tell, so I will just hit the important things. :)

For those of you that don't know, we moved to Broken Bow, Oklahoma last July. Tim was offered a job with Weyerhaeuser in Idabel, OK. This job was exactly what he wanted and what our family needed. It was one of the best decisions we've made thus far. Thankfully, everything sort of fell into place as far as moving and we were able to make a pretty smooth transition. We have loved living here for the last year and hope to stay here for quite a while. We'd love to have some visitors!!!

Now, there is no way to transition into this next subject.......In November we received a phone call in the middle of the night that the kid's Mother had passed away unexpectedly. When we moved we had allowed Noel (our oldest) to finish out her senior year in El Dorado, AR and live with her Mother. Therefore, she was with her Mother when she passed away. Meanwhile, Tim and I woke Nikole and Drake to tell them the news. That was a hard night. A hard drive and a hard week.
By God's grace, all three are doing well. They love their Mother dearly and miss her dearly. They are all dealing with their grief in their own way. They keep her memory alive and well. I could not be more proud of these three!! I love them so!

Noel has begun her freshman year at South Arkansas University in Magnolia and continues to live in El Dorado. Nikole has begun her sophomore year here in Broken Bow and Drake has begun his freshman year here in Broken Bow and is on the football team....Go Savages!

Tim and I are doing well - He loves his job and that means that he comes home happy. Which in turn makes me happy. :) I am a full-time student finishing my degree in Psychology from John Brown University online. I should graduate Summer 2018. We still have 4 dogs.....but now we also have 31 chickens! HAHAHAHAHA That's what small town life does to ya! Below are some pictures from the past year....