My Baby's Birthday

"March 19, 1975"

My baby daughter was born

Today she turned 34

Wow, where did the time go?

Her dad asked that question this morning

I don't know but it sure did fly by

She is such a special person

I am so blessed to have her not only as a daughter

but also as my best friend

I just want the world to know how much she means to me

I love you Vikki Sheree, you are my SunShine

I sing this song to you

In my daughter's eyes I am a hero

I am strong and wise and I know no fear

But the truth is plain to see

She was sent to rescue me

I see who I wanna be

In my daughter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes everyone is equal

Darkness turns to light and the world is at peace

This miracle God gave to me

gives me strength when I am weak

I find reason to believe In my daughter's eyes

And when she wraps her hand around my finger

Oh it puts a smile in my heart

Everything becomes a little clearer

I realize what life is all about

It's hangin' on when your heart has had enough

It's giving more when you feel like giving up

I've seen the light

It's in my daughter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes

I can see the future

A reflection of who I am and what will be

Though she'll grow and someday leave

Maybe raise a family

When I'm gone

I hope you see how happy she made me

For I'll be there

In my daughter's eyes

Veterans Day Parade

I know the Veterans Day Parade was in November of 2008,

but I must tell you that Steve and I rode the bike along with several others in the parade.

We rode with the ITT CAS Float and we won 1st place for the large corporation division!

We then got to go to the Veterans Memorial Museum for the awards Ceremony on January 21st to accept the 1st place award for ITT!

Since then, Steve and I have joined a group of riders called the "PATRIOT GUARD".

We are very excited about being apart of such a wonderful group of individuals that have the same love and loyalty to our flag and what it stands for.

They also have the greatest respect for our veterans.

We are members of the "Christian Motorcycle Association" and just finished up with "Boot Camp" in Prattville, AL, along with our Chapter Members, "The Forgiven Riders".

We are now looking forward to participating in activities of the "PATRIOT GUARD" as well. Thank you God for such wonderful friends, riders, and believers!

See, even tho the parade was in November, I still had a lot of info to share. Maybe I will get some Christmas pics posted next since it looks like I am still in the catch up mode!

God Bless, Sandie

Sandie and Jennifer (the great artist at ITT)

The Same Band is Still Playing?????

I LOVE THIS GIRL!!!
The 5th of January was the last day for school to be out, so Mattie and I spent the day together. It was such a great day. We both decided it was almost as good as our family day at the river. We both think that was the best day ever. She was dropped off around 7:00. I cooked her breakfast (she did not I could do that so she had begun without me). We hung aroung the house a while and did stuff and things. Make up and hair... We headed out about lunch time and thought we would go to Ketchup's but she decided she wanted to go to the Hardees in Meridianville. She has never been inside and she was really excited to not go to the drive thru. We sat at the high table and had wonderful conversation about ketchup and stuff. I told her that when I am older when she starts to drive would she would bring me there to eat? She said I would never get old. LOL She then wanted to head to town. She had only mentioned Chucky Cheese about 50 times by this point. So off we go. WOW, that same band is still there that was playing when we used to take our kids! They haven't aged a bit, but I really could tell I have, I felt it. She had me on some of those rides and playing those games until I was in pain. There were kids everywhere! I swung that big purse on my back and took off with her, but I am here to tell you... I can't keep up! Then there were those tickets that you stand in line to get a wrist band?!?!? That flat wore me out, but she had a blast! We then visited my mother and that was so special for all three of us. We went home and the next project was painting a birdhouse purple. She loves to do crafts. She was so sweet and I am so glad we got to do everything she wanted to. I love all my grandchildren and pray for more days like that with each one. This day made me realize how fast time is flying by. By the way, I got to pick her up from school one day the same week and that was also a great experience, until the lady behind me blew her horn for me to move forward and I about jumped out of my skin! LOL WOW, getting old is not that easy!

Daughters of the Confederacy

My daughter, Vikki, and I both belong to the "Virginia Clay Clopton" Chapter of the "Daughters of the Confederacy". Vikki has also enrolled her children so they are members of the group called "Children of the Confederacy". Vikki and I enjoy the luncheons with the "Southern Bells" at the Huntsville Country Club and recently we were able to participate in one of the many activities the chapter gets involved in. On Pearl Harbour Remembrance Day, December 7th, 2008, we were able to participate in a Grave Marking of two confederate soldiers that are not in the section of the unknown soldiers. As a matter of fact, my granddaughter, Mattie Grace, was asked to place the flags on the graves of the soldiers we were there to honor. And yes, of course that was a true honor for her to be a part of this ceremony. As my mother watched from the car, Vikki, Mattie and I walked with the group to the graves together. Four generations of "Daughters of the Confederacy". It was very cold yet heart warming at the same time to remember the soldiers that fought for our southern states.

We do not refer to the war as the "Civil War",

as there was nothing civil about it!

God Bless Our Soldiers/Sailors/Air Force/Marines & all others that Protect Our Country

The Great Smokey Mountains

Well, we did it again... Steve and I took Mother on a little vacation. I knew this was going to be a tough time of the year for me, so I can only imagine how she will get through her first holiday season with out her companion for 60 years. I thought I would take on a little tailspin through the Smokey Mountains. She loved it. We stopped at the first Cracker Barrel we came to! She had never been to one. It was a beautiful sunny day driving up there. We took her through Cherokee, NC, then over the mountain into Gatlinburg and then up another side of the mountains to our condo. We had a beautiful view and a wonderful time. Thanksgiving has come and gone. It was a very sad day to me, but we had a nice lunch at Mother's house and all the family was there. It felt like an "out of body" experience for me. Like going through the motions type of thing. Time will heal, I am sure. On the one year anniversary of daddy's death, Alabama beat Auburn and my family was so excited! He would have loved that! Thank you God for Nathan Bryant who spent the whole day with us and we had a great time! We are so blessed.

She liked this picture cause it make her look little!!!!

Our view from the condo

Mother and I were scared to both get out for fear that Steve was leave us there!

But we did let him drop us off to get some GREAT Fudge!!!

Thank you God for time well spent!!!!

Sanmann

The Grandkids are coming....

Tonight Matt and Vikki have her work Christmas Party at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse...yyyuuummm!!! Mattie and Nathan will be coming to Nana and Big "Dig" Daddy's house for the evening. I can only imagine what they will want to do. While at the grandparents house they will want to watch t.v, color, stamp, play toys, play keyboard, play drums, play dough, get all toys possible out and of course snack all night long. I know their parents will be thrilled about that, but that's what grandparents are supposed to do, right? I can't wait for tonight!

John Junior Gaught

How do you describe loosing the Greatest Hero of your life? Daddy would say to me, "Darling, I love you" and I would say, "I love you more" and he would say, "no way" I would come back and say, "Oh yes I do cause I have loved you my whole life". He would get tickled and say, "You got me on that one" God, I miss him so and one year ago TODAY, November 29, 2007 You took him on to be with You. Please understand, I am not angry with God, I just think this has been one terrible year. I don't know how to function without him here.

I am happy for him to be living in the Kingdom of God.

I love you Daddy,

Sandra Kay

Thank God For Our Grandkids!

Mom's Vacation

Well, let me tell ya, the pics below are my Mother's first vacation. She is 78 years old and she and my dad were married 60 years. He was a navy man for 7 years before they married and was done with travel at that point. She was terrified of water, so it worked out fine to just take a little trip to visit cousins and family and the local parks. Also with 4 kids, I am not sure I would have done much either. Never the less I want to share with you her first vacation. We lost my daddy in November 2007 after a LONG 3 year battle it dementia, so even tho he was not with us, it was still ALL ABOUT HIM!!!!!! I miss him so much it still hurts, but I am so thankful God has allowed Mother and I special times now. We toured the Battleship Alabama and also attended a Special Memorial Service for the families of the Landing Craft Infantry Shipmates that have passed on in 2008. It was emotional.

Please enjoy,

Shipmate LCI 343

My Beautiful Mother and Me on the Battleship Alabama
Mother's first time to see the ocean from the Pensacola Beach

That is as far as she would get out on the pier.

She was surprised to see the Florida State Line. She just thought we were going to Mobile AL!

We had a wonderful view of Mobile Bay and she watched every kind of boat, ships and barges. She had never stayed in a hotel at all and we stayed on the 21st floor.

The Rodeo

Steve and I took Mother, Vikki, Matt, Mattie and Nathan to the Rodeo!
We had a great time and Mattie and Nathan really enjoyed seeing the animals.

Mattie is my RODEO QUEEN!!!

Even Eleanor Can be a Cowgirl!!

I think Vikki wants to do the barrel racing now!
Nathan was just amazed!