Happy 30th Birthday, Fernanda!!!

If you haven't heard how blessed we are with Fernanda in our lives by now, you must be completely out of the loop! :) She not only loves and cares for Addison 3 days a week, she loves and cares for our entire family full time! Ha! Fernanda, you will never know how much all you do means to us. Thank you and we love you!

One Hundred Years from now
It will not matter what kind of car I drove,
What kind of house I lived in,
How much money was in my bank account
Or what my clothes looked like.
But the world will be a better place because
I was important in the life of a child.

Family Time

No matter what the occasion, time with family is always amazing! Hope you enjoy these pictures of our time with family the past 3 weeks. It was so great seeing everyone!

Addie Louise Benton Gardner

It's with a heavy heart that we say good-bye, for now, to Bo's Grandmother just 2 weeks after saying good-bye to my Grandmother. The two amazing women we named Addison after are in such a short time period taken from us. However, just as this song says, we grieve for ourselves, not for them as we know without a shadow of a doubt they are much happier, healthier, and truly home . . . so we celebrate that for them and the legacy they left us.

Addie Louise was married to Edwin Charles Gardner and had 3 beautiful children. She was an outstanding mother and Mama, and she had such an amazing influence on everyone she met. This was true even after dementia came into her life. Her beautiful spirit shined through her face and all who came in contact with her could not help but be blessed. Every day I see her influence in my husband, my mother-in-law, and I know someday my daughter. She taught perseverance, hard-work, frugality, joy, peace, laughter, and love. Her presence and influence will never leave us. Thank you Mama for everything you are to us and for helping raise my husband into the amazing Christian man he is today. We love you and miss you!







Mama's funeral is on Saturday, May 23rd in Baton Rouge, LA. Your thoughts and prayers for our family are greatly appreciated! For those who have asked or would like to send flowers, the funeral home is Raben Horst on Florida Blvd. and the phone number is 225-272-9950. There has also been a scholarship set up in Mama's name at the college where Jan works. Donations can be made to:
South Louisiana Community College
320 Deval Court
Lafayette, LA 70806
please note on the check (for Addie Louise Gardner Scholarship Fund)

Thanks again for everyone's love and support. We could not have made it through the past few weeks without your prayers, help with Addison, help with Harley and our house while we are gone, help planning and offers of so many free flights to try to help us with all the last minute traveling, so many cards and texts, and so much more . . . we are so blessed by ALL of you who have been so supportive at this time. THANK YOU!

Celebrating My Heroes

Well, it's been a difficult week. Watching someone you love so much go through the difficulties of death, saying goodbye to one hero and grieving with my other hero, and then trying to "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" and continue right on with life. Having my first mother's day while losing my amazing Grandmother was such a bittersweet reminder of the cycle of life. How blessed I am to have such amazing role models of mothers in my family! I hope to be a hero to Addison in the same way they have been, and continue to be, to me. Thanks for leaving such an amazing legacy, Grandmother, and for continuing that legacy, Mom. I love you!

Shirley Maxwell Phillips was married to my Pops, Baron Phillips, had 2 beautiful daughters, 7 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren. She was a beautiful, spunky woman who had a wonderful life. She gave so much joy to her family, loved to dance and laugh and play games, made the best chocolate cakes every time we came to see her, and just knew how to make every Christmas the best one yet. She loved children and children loved her, especially this 30 year old child! :)

Thankfully, we did have good news this week. Bob came through his surgery this week with flying colors and found out he does NOT have cancer, after doctors were certain that he did. What a miracle!

Also, thank you so much for all who have sent flowers, food, cards, text messages, phone messages, and prayers to me and our family this past week. Your love & support means more than you know. Now that I'm back in Chicago, I will hopefully be getting back to everyone soon.