Day 210 ~ Wordless Wednesday?

I'm going to give this Wordless Wednesday a shot this week..

What's Wordless Wednesday?  From what I can make of it ... it is when bloggers share pictures, of whomever or whatever and that's it.

Some bloggers just share one photo, while someone else may share a variety of pictures telling a story or of a particular theme.

Soooo... being that today was a pretty emotional day because we said good bye to and celebrated the life of my husband Dean's grandmother...   God bless you Grandma Betty.  (I will dedicate a post to her in the next few days, just have to clarify some dates.)

So... my first Wordless Wednesday contribution is...

A daughter is the happy memories of the past, the joyful moments of the present, and the hope and promise of the future.  ~Author Unknown

Blessings to all!!

155 days to go...

PS... Sons, I love and miss you.  To the moon and stars above and back.  You are my sunshines.

All contents herein are protected under Copyright laws and can not be used, altered or copied.  All accounts herein are written by Carla B Karam and are true accounts of her life.  Some names may be changed to protect the innocent or protect me from the guilty.  (just kidding...wink, wink)

Day 207 ~ Heaven Gets A New Angel

At times life has a funny way of reminding you know that you aren't in charge.  You can plan all you want,  but if life wants to step in... it will.

Unbeknownst to my husband and I, life was happening while we were sleeping in the wee hours of  Saturday, the 31st of December.  When we had gone to bed the night before, it had been no different than any other night... my next day had already been planned as any other day.  New Year's eve was going to be perfect.  But as I said before... life has a funny way of stepping in when it needs to.  You see our family had been trying to get a hold of us for hours... yet both of our phones were off.  

Our sleep came to an abrupt end when our dogs woke us with their barking.  At first I thought there was a cat in our yard or something, but when Shelby, my little yorkie, started with her high pitch whaling... I knew something was up.

Dean returned confused.  A neighbor friend came by saying mom and dad called him.  They had been trying to get a hold of us for hours.  No sooner he said that, we were both checking our phones.  When I saw that not only mom had called, but our cousin did as well... I knew Grandma passed away.

We had less than a half hour, more or less a ten minute drive and we had to get dressed, brush our teeth, at least wash our faces and get out the door before the funeral home was to pick Grandma Betty up.

When Nana passed, Dean and I decided that Calley was old enough to not be shielded from death.  Now that I give it some thought, if both Nana and Grandma had not passed away in such a loving environment, in their homes, and instead a sterile hospital, we would have decided differently.  We decided not to push Calley and to allow her to say good bye however she wanted to.

Calley, kissed both her Great Grandmothers good bye ever so lovingly ... knowing that both were now home with Jesus and their beloved husbands and families.

Then it was my turn.  As I said my good byes to Grandma, all my memories of her rushed before my eyes.  I saw her life play before me.  

What a beautiful life.

Beatrice Richards Karam

August 31st, 1917  ~  December 31st, 2011

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways    ~ Psalm 91:11 

Blessings to all!!

158 days to go...

PS... Sons, I love and miss you.  To the moon and stars above and back.  You are my sunshines.

All contents herein are protected under Copyright laws and can not be used, altered or copied.  All accounts herein are written by Carla B Karam and are true accounts of her life.  Some names may be changed to protect the innocent or protect me from the guilty.  (just kidding...wink, wink)

Picture credits... images are property of Carla Barila Karam and Taking Back My Life ~ Making It My Own.  Copyright laws apply.

Day 189 ~ Family, My Everything

It's amazing how a person's world they are born into, affects their being.    

I can say that I have always been the one to go against the grain for a cause, for the "right" thing.  I have always been a rebel of sorts.  Always sticking to my guns. [The more you push, the more I will dig my heels in.]  wink, wink  A believer that there is something to be said for family loyalty.  With honesty right there next to it.

I am a person who was taught to be honest, considerate and courteous.  I am also the person that stood up for the underdog.  I don't know why I always go for the little guy, but I do.  

Furthermore, I am also the person that in a few years when I am in a better position, I would love to buy a house with a couple of extra bedrooms, just to be able to foster a couple of children in need of a home, comfortably... and who knows? possibly adopting them.  I'd love for Calley to have siblings.

I figured that just because I can not have any more children myself, that does not mean that I/we could not help some in need.   All children deserve to have a home, a family and most of all love.

Not too long ago my father-in-law shared with me how his mother, and her siblings, were abused by their parents...  Grandma Betty's mother and father would sit down at the dinner table to eat their meals, and would have their children wait whilst they ate... then afterwards, they would feed Grandma Betty and her six siblings their table scraps!  

I tell you that God has a funny way of handling life, because shortly thereafter...  Grandma Betty's parents passed away.  They were involved in some sort of accident.  Then Grandma and one of her sisters were sent to be raised by an aunt, being separated separated from her other siblings.

So ... the other day I was driving to the store, on the radio played some beautiful Christmas music, Calley and I enjoying one another's company talking, laughing and singing.  After parking the car in what seemed to be a parking spot set aside especially for us, I took a moment and experienced an epiphany.

All this time grieving the family I never had, the trials and tribulations bestowed upon me and the unfortunate experiences I have had to learn one of life's lessons from.  Then a flash of memories came before me.  

I married into this wonderful family more than eight years ago.  I knew that they were pretty special when I met them...  aaahhh... Karam family memories...  From Christmas Eve family concerts, game nights, annual cousin Christmas get-togethers, Sunday family brunches, Easter Sunday egg hunts, Memorial Day and 4th of July bar-be-ques, Thanksgiving football games to family political debates (I stay away from this discussion)... then I came to the realization... except for a couple of blurps I am trying to work through... I am blessed with a wonderful family!  I have my family I always wanted!  

Loyalty is what Christ asked of his disciples.  Loyalty is what we have to show to each member of our family if our family is to become a more Christlike family.    ~ Mario Puzo

A family in harmony will prosper in everything.    ~  Chinese proverb

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
...   our little girl we call Calley 

Blessings to all!!

176 days / 25 weeks to go...

PS... I love and miss you boys.  To the moon and stars above and back.  You are my sunshines.

All contents herein are protected under Copyright laws and can not be used, altered or copied.  All accounts herein are written by Carla B Karam and are true accounts of her life.  Some names may be changed to protect the innocent.

Picture credits... images courtesy of Bing images.

Day 123 ~ A Special Moment

What a wonderful Sunday spent with family.~  Nothing like breaking bread and catching up with loved ones.

Eggs,in olive oil, served with
Mediterranean olives, lebne,  ~
A Lebanese Tradition  

A tradition which I believe, if I have it straight, was started by my husband's great grandfather... passed down through the generations from Grandpa Ted (deceased), my husband's grandpa... and now continued with the current elders of the family, my father-in-law, his brother and sister, who are my husband's uncle and aunt.

It used to be that the entire family would go to Grandma and Grandpa's on Sundays, after church, and Grandpa Ted would fry up eggs in a ton of olive oil, and make his four children, their spouses, and his grandchildren their breakfasts.

Time has gone by since the last eggs Grandpa Ted served... however today we keep the tradition going by now getting together at Auntie Sue's...  my father in law's sister... where we now gather, along with the new generation teaching them the traditions left behind by our wonderful ancestors!

Let me add a slight correction.  Grandma Betty, Grandpa Ted's widow, is still alive and is technically the head of the family, however... sad to say that she is in her nineties, and well... how do I put this tactfully.. let's just say that Grandma needs everything done for her and does not say much.

However... I do want to share with you, that today after I gave Grandma a kiss hello as I whispered in her ear a sweet hello, she responded to me for the first time in months (actually sad to say, I can't remember the last time Grandma did talk to me,) and said "hello!"  I could not believe my ears!!

Needless to say, that not only will that moment be forever in my heart, but the peace and happiness which came upon me at that moment, stayed with me the rest of the day!

Thank you for all that I have in my life.

Nothing is more honorable than a grateful heart.  ~ Seneca

Blessed are those that can give without remembering and receive without forgetting.    -- Author Unknown 

He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.   ~ Epictetus 

Blessings to all!!

242 days to go...

All contents herein are protected under Copyright laws and can not be used, altered or copied. All accounts herein are written by Cali-Gal/Carla B Karam and are true accounts of her life. Some names may be changed to protect the innocent.