It's never easy to say Goodbye

When you say goodbye to someone, you usually expect to see them again. Maybe, tomorrow or in a month or year. But you usually see them again. We had to say goodbye to an amazing woman. Troys mom, my second mom, my kids Nunny, Paula, passed away after a courageous fight with pancreatic cancer. She was such an inspiration to so many people. We had to say goodbye and know that we would not see her again.

I just want to say Thank You to so many people who have helped us out during this difficult time. We have had so many tender mercies rendered on our behalf by so many people. So....Thank You!

Thank goodness we know that our Goodbye's are not forever. We will see her again but until that time we hope to always have her presence with us and to never forget her example.



We love you Nunny, can't wait to see you again!

If you would like to read more about this amazing woman please visit our Cancer Sucks blog at http://www.paulanoorda.blogspot.com/.

Mamma Mia! Or not

Before this crazy summer started I had the opportunity to go to Mamma Mia in Las Vegas. It was a girls night out on the town. We had such a great time. Seven of us crammed into one car teaching Nunn new words and June's ears are probably still burning. Anyway, we went to Mamma Mia and it was so fun.

Since then I have been so excited to see the movie. Yesterday, Keli asked me to go with her and her mother-in-law to see it. We took the girls and went to the movie. It was definitely not as good as the play. It was pretty cheesy! When Pierce Brosnan would open his mouth to sing the whole audience would start laughing. What's sad is that it wasn't during a funny part of the movie.

Who out there has seen the movie? And what did you think? Did you laugh at Pierce too?

Thank's to Keli for inviting me to go. However, I would suggest a short 6 hour drive to Las Vegas to see the play instead.

Things we love about Nunn

In the last four weeks there has been a lot to happen in our family. What has taken over our lives is that our Nunny is sick. Cancer is a vicious mean disease that can ruin people. In our family it has definitely brought us closer. We want to spend every minute together.


I decided I wanted to find out what my kids love about their Nunny. I don't want to dwell on the cancer but on the things she has taught us and given to us that we will never forget. Here are a few of the things my kids mentioned with a few of my own:

• Uno Games...Gabe loves to play uno with Nunn. Whenever I would go to pick the kids up they would be playing uno with Nunny.
• Sequence...She wouldn't always let Eli get the dragon. She played by the rules.
• Reading books...Especially Spooky Old Tree. I loved to watch her read this to the kids. She even made them get the shiverings! She is the best at reading books because she knows how to cut out the boring parts and the story still sounds good. The kids never even notice.
• Cookie drawer...bottom right hand drawer in the kitchen. Everybody knows where this is.
• Treat shelf...there is always something chocolate on the treat shelf in the fridge. She always has it stocked with yummy treats.
• Backyard...The kids love her backyard. The huge sandbox (with water), the swingset and swimming pool. She always has something fun for the kids.
• Going to McD's...She would take them to get cinnamelts and cookies for a late breakfast.
• Love...My kids always knew that she loved them. She always told them and they will always know that.Nunny's food...The kids mentioned her open face cheese sandwiches, enchiladas, augratin potatoes and her homemade chicken noodle soup. I don't make any of these quite like Nunn.
• She always knows what to say in any situation. Whether it be good or bad she always has the best advice.
• Fun Girl trips...Just in the last year we went to Seattle and Chicago. We always have so much fun. The picture up above is from Seattle.
• My favorite saying from her is: "This too shall pass."

Thanks Nunny for being such a great influence on our lives. We love you soooo much!