My mom’s cousin Pam use to tell me over and over again…..”Love will find you when you least expect it.”  I thought she was insane and quite frankly, after the fourth or fifth time she told me I would get a little irritated and annoyed with her.  She always had ideas of guys to set me up with.  Doctors she worked with, farmers she knew, friends of her step-sons.  Nothing every panned out. 

Pam died a year ago and shortly after her death I stumbled upon my Redneck Romeo.  I look back on this last year and think dang…..she was right!  SHE WAS RIGHT!  I’m sure glad she was right.  I miss her terribly and wish I could introduce her to M, but I know she sees me and is probably smiling down saying, “I told you so!” 

We spent the last week on the beach and I thought about Pam and my mom a lot.  Both of their birthdays are in July.  Pam passed away a year ago.  So many things that make me sad, make me smile when I think of happier times, but most of all make me always shed a tear.  It’s been 10 years since I lost my mom but there is not a day that goes by that I don’t think, man I wish she was hear so I could show her this.  Or, man I wish she was here so I could call her to tell her what a great guy M is.  Or, man I wish she was here so I could call her to bitch about the mice in our house because we share the same fear.  Or, man I just wish she was here so I could ask her if she is proud of me.  I think worst of all I just wish she was here because she is missing out on so much.  I’m a firm believer in God and I know she isn’t missing anything.  But, she is missing this life with us…..me, her grandkids, her kids….

I hope that there comes a point in my life where I can stop wishing and just be ok with knowing she sees it all and knows it all.  For now I will take in the beauty of a sunset and the glow of the sun on my skin and just remember that although I can’t see her….she’s definitely here. 

I’ve never seen hair on a baby quite like WD.  That explains all the heart burn Red had when she was pregnant!

There is something about holding a baby, the smell of a newborn baby, and the softness of their skin that makes me just crave to have one of my own. Even M agreed after seeing WD’s newborn photos on my phone that we “needed one of those.”  He quickly added “later” to that statement. 

Well, later we will….for sure.  And we will be the best parents in the world.  But, for now we shall pack our bags for two and head to the beach in a few days.  We’ll pack light and sip lots of cocktails while we’re there and enjoy this kidless stage of our life.  But don’t worry WD, niece, and nephews….we’ll be sure to bring back lots of goodies for all the little ones in our lives!

Apparently all it took for M to give in to the air conditioner was for the newscasters to declare an EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING.  Who knew?  If I would have known that I would have put in a few calls to Angela Buchman or my guys on FOX 59 and see what kind of magic they could work.  So, it’s official.  We will be out shopping this evening with probably every other sweaty person in the area for a window air conditioner unit.  At this point you can’t even sit in our living room and breathe comfortably.  So, I’ve been indulging every relaxing second I possibly can find since the fair in the bedroom.  Pretty lame, but it works.

Speaking of the fair…..WOW what a long week.  I can’t imagine having my own children involved in 4-H someday and actually surviving that week.  I had the little blonde nephew all week and that was enough to wear this chic out.  He entertains himself pretty well and only requires a DVD and a set of Mattel cars each night before bed which is pretty simple living.  After a week of having him I thought I would be ready for some serious rest but quite honestly, I missed him so much my heart ached.  I love that little booger even if he has a sassy attitude at times and acts like his father, whom I love so dearly.  He learned how to tie his shoes.  He ate most of our candy in the house.  He followed M around asking lots of farm questions.  He even learned to love Shiloh our big sweetie of a dog.  The bonded and we can’t wait to have him back.  It was hard for M and I to not have the house completely to ourselves, but it was also a good dose of reality and what it might be like to someday have our own family. 

As for 4-H, although I can’t imagine how much work it takes to have children and get them through the projects and then the week long of events…..a part of me can’t wait.  I am so proud to be a part of the county and our 4-H program and it all proved to be such a close knit family at the livestock auction on Friday.  Who would have thunk that one small county in a little part of Indiana could raise that much money for an incredible little girl?  That made me realize, yet again that family isn’t just blood…it is who you surround yourself with.

Friday was the beginning of fair madness and because of the somewhat long “drive” to and from the fairgrounds I decided to spend a few nights closer to the grounds to make the late night and early morning trips a bit easier.  This has been our first nights apart since living together, and truly brings meaning to “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.”  I’ve also received texts from M letting me know that he can’t live without me because he burnt the pizza he tried to cook and he attempted a skillet meal and completely forgot to turn on the burner.  Poor guy will be starving by the time I get home later tonight!  Someone once told me it’s good to make them appreciate you.  I think she was right!

This past year has been full of “firsts” for M and I.  We’ve learned a lot from each other.  I feel like this past weekend’s holiday (fourth of July) was probably our first holiday of complete and utter relaxation….and it was amazing!  We partied a bit, laid in the pool together basking in the rays of the beautiful sun, and then went boating on wonderful lake up north with friends.  I’m not quite sure the holiday could have been better.  And as I told him on our drive home late last night after fireworks over the lake….I hope to spend all the rest of my 4th of July’s with this guy.  As my aunt would say, I “hit the jackpot” this time!

Fell in love at a tractor pull just when I thought my luck had run out.  He’s the one I want to wake up to forever.  Just as long as it’s about 10 a.m. and someone brings bacon and cinnamon rolls shortly after.  Now that’s the life.

This is the story of our beginning full of laughs, cries, and lots of kisses.  No one has ever put a smile on my face quite like M does.  I’m truly a Fortunate Gal!