Didn’t know what I wanted to share this morning. Having a lot of mixed emotions. However, grateful, blessed, loved are what I am feeling most.
Last night I attended a birthday party celebrating my grandmother’s first cousin’s 70th birthday. It was such a beautiful celebration. I only wish my mom and grandma were still alive to celebrate it with us. I miss them both soooo much. However, spending time with family—some of which I hadn’t seen in ages—made me feel as if they were still with me, just couldn’t make it to the party.
My grandma had 11 children—7 boys and 4 girls. My mom was the oldest. My aunt, Jackie, is her last surviving sister on my grandmother’s side. She’s only four years older than me. One of my first babysitters and playmates.💗
Thank You, Lord Thank You, Lord Thank You, Lord I just want to thank You, Lord
I am so grateful and thankful for life. Thankful for another opportunity to get life right. Thankful for another chance to love and be loved. Thankful for my babies, family, and friends. Thankful that we are all still here and doing well.
My daughter is home so I plan on spending as much time as I can loving on her before she leaves. She got here yesterday and we have already had a few deep discussions, listened to Cowboy Carter, sung, danced, and laughed. Hadn’t realized how much I missed her. So blessed to have her home. God is good.
Y’all, because of Jesus, I am who I am today—undefeated and blessed. It’s a wonderful thing. Amen
There are only two weeks left in 2023! Be sure to spend them doing something fun and meaningful including making beautiful memories with family and friends. Love you!♥️
Just returned home from visiting my dad and bonus mom. My momma – which is what I have always called my bonus mom – is not doing well. She’s telling everyone that she is, but she’s not. I took her to her doctor’s appointment Monday and she was diagnosed with one thing. Then, after we left, she began telling me about another issue she was having, which she failed to mention to the doctor.
When we returned home, I listened as she told my dad what the doctor had said. It took her forever to explain her diagnosis so I went on and told him. However, before interjecting, I waited to see how they typically communicated these issues with each other. Wanted to know what happened when I wasn’t around. From previous events, I knew that neither went into exam rooms with the other so they only told each other what they wanted the other to know. This breaks my heart because I really do not know the extent of their illnesses. The only reason the doctor knew what to check for during this visit was because I provided information that my mom failed to provide. Knowing that I didn’t even have all of the information about her symptoms makes me sad.
I was suppose to come home Tuesday, but decided to stay an extra day to see if she felt any better. Then, when I got ready to leave yesterday, they both asked if I could stay one more day and I did. Today, I didn’t want to leave them. Instead of feeling like I was leaving my parents, I felt like I was leaving my kids. They looked so sad.
Y’all, life is so, so precious and so are relationships. Cherish both. When I first got there all I could think about were things I needed to do so I could get back home. Couldn’t fully focus on my parents because everything I was doing was task driven. Those extra two days put everything in perspective. The message – I was on God’s time. He allowed me that time to be with them and love on them. Over the last few years, God has made it possible for me to be available whenever any of them (including my late mom) needed me. Believe me, I know that I am blessed. I know there aren’t too many people who can just drop everything to take care of their parents and not have to worry about things at home. Y’all, when God promised to take care of me, He meant it. So, I must always remember that whenever I have to stop to take care of them, it’s because God has blessed me so that I can do so.
Y’all, love and relationships are priceless. Make sure you hold them very dear. Love you.♥️ ~Shaun
Outside the doctor’s office posing with a giant catfish. I always make time for a quick selfie. Lol😁
Saturday, I spent the day with one of my sisters in Mobile. We had a late lunch at Roosters in downtown Mobile. Y’all the food was so delicious that I ate EVERYTHING on my plate. I typically have to take the rest home. If you’re ever in Mobile, you have to go there!
Then yesterday, Mother’s Day, I spontaneously decided to do my own photo shoot. I put on a dress I had never worn, threw on some make up, grabbed my ring light stand and took photos from my backyard. Had so much fun!
Think I should do this more often.😊
I dedicated this photo shoot to my late Aunt Deloris who passed last fall. She loved jewelry and would always tell me, “You need something around your neck; keep a pair of bobbles (earrings) on; and put some rings on (she wore them on every finger. Lol).” So I swapped my gold hoops for dangly earrings; added this outrageous necklace (was thinking of her when I bought it); and put on a gold bangle.
Funny Story: I NEVER do my brows and for some reason decided I needed some. Well, every time I messed up, I heard “Undo” or “Redo.” Y’all, I’ve been drawing too much! Had to tell myself, “Sweetie, you can’t undo, you have to start over.”🤦🏽♀️😂
The rest of my day was quite busy. After my photo shoot, I had to drive an hour and a half away to pick up my son from his cousin’s house. On my way home, I decided to visit another sister and got to love on my nieces and nephews.
My newest niece, Danae.
Before I left home to pick up my son, my daughter asked what I wanted to do for Mother’s Day and I told her I just wanted go out and eat as if it were any other day. Nothing big. Just a quiet meal with my favorite two.😊 Pictures from Keg & Barrel West Hattiesburg.
Perfect ending to a wonderful weekend!Shrimp & Grits
Well, that’s how I spent my weekend. Hope yours was just as pleasant. Have a wonderful week!
I really don’t know where to begin. Yesterday, September 1, was surreal. I am still trying to process it all, but I really don’t want to. Last week I shared that my Aunt Beaulah had passed. Yesterday morning we learned of one of my mom’s younger stepbrothers passing. Then hours later, her aunt, my great aunt and late grandfather’s only sibling, passed. Marvin was in Georgia and Aunt Deloris was here in Mississippi. Neither were COVID related.
My Aunt Beaulah (dad’s sister) had been suffering for years. Over her adulthood she’d had multiple strokes and heart attacks. We always joked that she was like a cat with nine lives. However, this last time she did not bounce back. My dad had three sisters, two of which passed nearly forty years ago. So for years she had been his only baby sister. Up until last year, it was my dad, two uncles and Aunt Beaulah. Last summer my Uncle Sam passed. Now Aunt Beaulah is gone. There are only two of them left. My heart aches for my dad and Uncle Bob. Neither are in good health. I can only imagine what it must feel like to be the last ones standing. As I said, I am still trying to process it all.
My Aunt Deloris (mom’s aunt), who actually read my blogs, was my girl! Now she could tell a good story. The last time I visited her, I told her that I was going to record her storiesabout her childhood. I explained how I wanted to capture her voice as well as her story so that future generations would be able to hear her speak. My plan was to do it this weekend when I visited for my Aunt Beaulah’s burial. I guess you could say God already knew it would never happen the way I had planned. He knew I would not have time to do things “just right.” Last year, as we celebrated her 75th birthday, I recorded her reciting names from our family tree dating back to the late 1800s. Perhaps that was all I needed to record. I also took pictures of names and dates of births and deaths that were kept in a bible her mother handed down to her. She was all about family. She loved us and we loved her dearly. She will be missed.
Marvin, my mom’s little brother, one of my first playmates, will definitely be missed. Words cannot even describe how I am feeling about his death. He was only a few years older than me. No one knew this but Marvin was the first person I told about me contemplating my divorce. I needed to tell someone and that someone happened to be him. Although I did not ask him to keep it between us, he did. That was the kind of person he was – loyal, a true friend and confidant. I am forever grateful for the time we got to spend together. Earlier this summer, he was diagnosed with cancer, which had already progressed to stage 4. During my trip to Atlanta, we had planned to visit but opted for FaceTime instead. That was the last time I actually saw him. Our last text was almost two weeks ago. He will also be missed.
Y’all, I’m in a daze. I don’t want to feel. I don’t want to cry. I feel like I’m tiptoeing around my own feelings trying not to reminisce too much. I was so excited about this new month of September. Said I wanted to do something different. Little did I know this month was going to start off like this. I am still optimistic that this will be a wonderful month full of opportunities and adventures even if I have to intentionally make them happen.
It’s Shaun’s World 
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