Cute little curly Q

Can I just say "awwwww, sooooo cute!!!"
I was folding laundry when Layla came in with the curlers, and told me she wanted them in her hair. We had never put curlers in all of her hair before, and she was willing to sit...so we gave it a whirl. Layla has a cute little cousin with super tight natural curls, and when we took the curlers out Layla looked in the mirror and said "look Mom, I'm Kayley now".
The women in my family are prone to creating boys. The pink ones come few and far between, so I was shocked and thrilled the day I found out my baby would be a girl... maybe the only one I get, who knows. If she does turn out to be my only one I would not feel sad for a moment, because she fills the sweet little feminine role so completely. I often get reprimanded from her for waking up her baby dolls, but a tender little hug of apology is always close behind. It is a beautiful gift God gives to all females from the time we are born, the gift of nurturing. Today I'm thankful for my little girl, and her sweet hugs full of comfort and love.

BFF

Today I spend the morning with my Grandma Anna, and she commented how great it is that carter and Layla have each other. We listened for a moment to them talk, and play together.
It made me think of my big brother Paul, we are the same age difference as carter and layla. He is such a great friend to me, and I always know he will have my back when I need him...but our friendship didn't start out so sweet.
We didn't exactly like each other when we were young, OK, we flat out hated each other. He got no greater joy out of life then to make me cry, and my most accomplished moments were the ones when he was getting in trouble. I would cry in my sleep "Paul, stop it", and my poor Mother would rush into my room in annoyance that he was bothering me at that time of night... but all she would find was me, fast asleep.
Not sure exactly what made the 360 change for us, but when I was 15, we suddenly decided we could stand each other. More than that, we actually started hanging out, and joining our groups of friends.
Now Paul has graduated from Dental School, and is 1st in his specialization program. He is married to the red headed version of me (I adore her of course), and has had each of his 2 1/2 children within a month of my 2 1/2 children. He is kind, strong, bold, and changing lives.
Paul, if you ever read this...I love you!

She went Home

I know it is my little sister Amelias turn to be with you now Mom, and that you have lots of work to do up there. I am forever greatful that I got you for 28 years, and I'll always look to you as the Mother I want to be. I miss you Already Mom...so so much, but I know we will be together again someday.

Love your girl,
Susie

Baked French Toast

I have so so so many pictures I need to post, it isn't even funny... but we will get to that some other time, right? I have had this wonderful recipe we love for so long that I can't remember who I got it from, so I'm sorry if it was you... but we really do love it if that makes you feel any better.
Truly, I wish I had discoverd it myself, because it is way easy and delish. The best thing about it is that you can prep it the night befor, and just pop it in the oven in the morning. Hope you enjoy.

12 cups cubed french bread
3 cups half & half
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. Vanilla
8 eggs
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. salt

1. Spray 9x13 glass baking dish with non-stick spray. place bread cubes in the dish. 2. In a large bowl beat eggs, half & half, sugar, cinnamon, salt, and vanilla with a whisk until smooth; pour over bread cubes. Cover tightly and refridgerate 4-24 hours.
3. bake @400` 20-30 minutes until knife comes out clean.

cover with your favorite toppings. Berries, whipped cream, powder sugar, syrup, butter, or whatever makes your heart happy.

It's a Baby

That's right, even though I have not mentioned it (except once in my Christmas letter post) I am having a baby. More than that, I'm really happy and excited about it. That being said, my baby and pregnancy have been overshadowed by the sickness of Mom. I have just been so preoccupied with all my emotions that have come with the news of her brain tumer, and I've barely given my sweet baby a second thought.
I'm sorry baby.
I love you baby.
Almost the only times I have thought of my baby lately have been with a heavy heart, because I know my sweet Mom will not be able to hold my sweet baby in this life, and that makes me want to cry. befor Mom lost her speech completly, she told Dad she just had to hold on till the baby was born, and she had to see the baby. But it doesn't look like that is the Lords plan for her, she is so close.
Mom came with me and Craig to the Ultrasound last week, and she got to see my baby! As you can imagine, that was an emotional moment for us all.
How special.
How blessed.
Back to baby. The moment I found out I was expecting a baby, I had a deep feeling in my heart that told me I would be blessed with another boy...and I've known it would be a very special boy ever since. I love this baby so much, and know that he has a very special spirit. He will come into our family at the perfect time, when we all need his sweet perfect spirit most. He will help us heal.
How spcial.
How blessed.

Moms Blog

My Family started a blog for my Mom. We will be posting updates there, and it will be a place where her/our loved ones can leave messages to the family.
the link is www.leslieromriellupdate.blogspot.com . It was getting hard for us to say the whole diagnosis to people over, and over, and over. So we make sure to keep it updated.

Another thing. My sisters and I just realized we have a whole life time worth of questions we want to ask her, but our chances of haveing them answered are fewer and fewer each day. We started a list, but we are having a hard time thinking of all the things we will wish we had asked her.

Here is what we have so far:
1. what advise would you want to give your grandchildren about high school?
2. what advise would you giveto your grandchildren about dating?
3. what do we say if we have a child that doesn't want to go to church?
4. what activities do you want us to do as a family?
5. Are there any traditions you want to make sure we pass on to our children?
6. How do we deal with daughter in laws?
7. What advise do you have for us when our children get married?

If you have any ideas of things we shoul ask her, or do with her this week please let me know. Thank you again for all the prayers and love.

Love, Susan

One boy, one girl!

It was his Jr. year of high school when he walked into that room. There she was, a vision in her blue dress. In the middle of the chaos to be found in a high school US History class, she was the image of elegance and grace. He didn't know her name, but he was going to find it out. He slowly walked over and sat in the desk in front of her with nerves catching up (which was totally out of character for him), because he knew this moment was going to change the rest of his life. He caught his breath for a moment, and slowly turned around and said "Hi, I'm Greg Romriell...I don't think we have met". It was than that he noticed how stunning her deep blue eyes were against her fair skin, and dark hair.
She smiled back at him and said "Hi, I'm Leslie Streeper".


That is how it all started...over 40 years ago.
Greg knew once he went out with Leslie that would be the end of his single life, so he dated all of her friends, and kept a close eye on her. After a few months he got the courage to ask her out, and she said yes. They continued to date throughout their senior year of high school, and freshman year of collage. They were so in love with each other that the thought of being apart caused them physical pain. Even with this being the case, Greg went on a two year mission for the LDS church. They wrote each other every single week, and several of Gregs letters contained a proposal...which Leslie never accepted.
The day had finally come, they would hold each other once again. Greg had a plan. He had applied and been accepted to Dental school while he was still serveing his mission, and lined up a job, and place to live with his new bride. The only thing he lacked was his beutiful brides concent. That was his first order of business when he walked off the plane.
He built up the nerve to ask her to marry him...and she said yes.
They were married 3.5 weeks later, and immidiatly moved from Idaho to Kyntucky.
Fast forward 40 years, and 6 children later.
Leslie had always been one of the most intelligant people Greg had known, and he had high circles of influance. Her vocabulary was seemingly endless, and her beuty only increased over the years. She was like a fine wine, she got better with time.
Leslies friends and family started to notice things...something was going on. She could not remember the word...and she was the queen of words.
She calls me Joan..I'm susan.
She calls me her sister, or her friend...I still call her Mom.

This week we learned my Mother, Leslie Romriell, has a stage 4 brain tumor that is the size of an orange. The Doctors say they can not do anything to help her, and we have only weeks, possibly a few months left with her on this earth.

I cried!

Last night Carter was helping Craig carry some boxes upstairs, and he said to me "Mom, why do I always get the heavy stuff?", it made me laugh. I thought to myself "yes, that's what I was thinking, why do I get the heavy stuff? It's too much for me." That's when the thought came to me that Carter didn't have the heavy stuff, because his Father was carrying that for him...he only had been given what his Father knew he could carry.

Me Too.

I cried!

I know the next few months are going to be vary hard, but I'm so thankful for a family that will be together forever. We can get through this with faith, and we will always have eachother. This is how I'm getting through this trial. The love and support my family has felt has been amazing. I can not tell you how much a kind word means when you need it most. Thank you.

Love, Susan