Faith, Family and Friends: Babies

Showing posts with label Babies. Show all posts

Bits & Pieces

Life can be complicated. Easy. Hard. Complex and, yet, there's always someone or something that causes me to smile. It's usually then that I remember the One that formed me also set the stars in the sky and knows me better than I know myself. We all have our hurts, pain, and memories we'd love to forget. But along with those are the tender, precious, beloved memories we pray not to ever let slip from our minds. This past year has brought many emotions, along with finding more about life, God, and the sifting of friends I've known for decades and some I've only met the last few years. Each special in a season of my life. Some have gone on. Some have stayed. Some have backed off for one reason or another. It's Life. And it's expected.

He never backs off. We do, but He doesn't. He's always there, waiting for us to call upon Him to praise Him, need Him, or just want to rest within His love. I am a very thankful child of a very loving King. His Spirit teaches me and helps me understand so that forgiveness comes easy. Life is good, as long as I'm closely aligned with Him. Aaaaannnddd, He knows just how much I love

SNOW! It snows very little where we live. (Did I say 'very'?) We see more ice. Maybe it will snow this year?! Probably NOT. So, with that, here some photos of past snows, sweet babies and memories from the heart ~

Our home, January 2008

Snow! On Christmas Day!

Oh, sweet 'laina. Barely three years old.

My princess.

A trip to Gatlinburg in February 2009. Snow, snow, snow!

The smile is genuine.

And at The Park in March '09!

I was in heaven. Beautiful.

Back in the 'burg, Fall 2010, looking for snow and finding it.

And blessed with another baby girl ~

ElleBelle was headed toward her second birthday here with her Daddy.

We moved to the Coast in 2011, so there was sand.

Not snow. But we got some Winter loving.

They got snow and so did Gulf Shores! What excitement!

The beaches were covered with snow and ice.

It was also the first time I learned that hearing pinetree limbs cracking

and falling off the trees was NOT fun! It meant clean up.

We were blessed with a new grandson.
Sweet Owen celebrated his first birthday that Spring.
Snow and a first birthday within months of each other.

Another decade for me this year

and the hopes that it WILL snow before 2016.

It does NOT look like it'll happen, but one can hope!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Have an awesome week, snow or no snow!!

Really Missing Them ~

Sometimes I miss them so much it hurts. Days become months and I realize, I need to see them! To hold them close! To smell their hair and breathe in their familiar scent! To hug them tight, and sing 'Nan Loves'. Because they are beautiful creations of those in my heart.

Babies & Angels

Babies can see angels. I'm sure of that. Why do I think so? Their eyes don't have the scales of the World put upon them yet. I long for the day when the scales from my eyes fall away and I can see what our little ones do while they still can. Watch a young child take delight in the tiniest flower or engage in a conversation and there's no one that you can see. Yes, I believe in angels and I believe they absolutely love the little ones.

Matthew wrote in chapter 18, verse 10, "See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven." (By the way, I thought this was a well written article concerning guardian angels. I don't feel we are assigned one, but I fully believe that they watch my Father's face and hasten to do His bidding when I call upon Him to send one quickly. I've had to do that before. With Jenny. It's her story and a great testimony. Here's the link I was reading this afternoon, Do We Have Guardian Angels?

Our newest grandbaby has a great great grandmother! How wonderful is this! Owen and Leslie and some of the family visited Mother Alice today. She's in an assisted living home and loves company. She is holding our precious Owen. He was three weeks old this past Tuesday. (Sigh) Not only is she holding her great great grandson but she is praying over him. And Leslie. I can only imagine the angels that were there and the love for our Lord and Savior that filled the room. What a blessing, ya'll!

When we saw this photo, John and I spoke of the beauty of having a Christian woman, that's lived a long life filled with life's tragedies and times of bliss, pray over our Leslie and her son. Words don't do justice with what our hearts felt, for we know how much we love Owen. I can only imagine the magnitude Mother Alice feels for the child she is holding. We are so very thankful our children, and their children, walk with the Father and are surrounded by like minded Christians.What a blessing!

Am I framing this? You beat your bippy. She's not related to me, other than being through a blended family but I've had the honor of spending a brief time with her during a visit with Stacey and her babies. She's a gracious woman that loves the Lord. I'm so glad I had the chance to meet her, knowing I'll get to know her better one day in Heaven.

This is what I immediately 'see' when I hear of a child dying or a mass murder such as we've seen all too much these last years. These little souls are with our Father before their earthly bodies are slain. Our precious Jesus took the sting of death with him on the cross. 1 Corinthians 15:55 "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" My near death experience? No pain at all. And I've spoken with so many others that had an NDE or was sitting at the side of one that left this world before the shell ceased to function. So I know the satisfaction the murderers feel is empty. If they only knew. And my heart is so filled with thanksgiving that He took them before they felt any pain. I think of the angels that suffered with Jesus on the cruel cross, knowing they could not minister to Him until it was over. I know they are there to gather the little ones. For as I've found out, someone always comes. When it's our appointed time to leave this earthly body, this shell, someone always come to make it easier. You'll never go alone. As long as you're a child of God, you'll never be alone.

Thank you, Mother Alice, for being such an example to us. We should pray over not just our babies, and we do, but others. Friends bearing a heavy load. Strangers that we know are hurting. Asking someone, "May I pray for you" is easier the more you ask. I've never been turned down. To be prayed over, as I have, has always filled me with peace that doesn't come from any earthly being. It's straight from the heart of my Father. Thank you for allowing me to share this today. My heart was so full upon viewing this newest photo of Owen, I just had to come here and leave my thoughts. They don't have to be your thoughts, but I know He loves little children. And his angels watch his face ready to go quickly at his bidding. I think they get quite the joy out of these little people. Until another time, have a blessed day~

Welcome to Our World, Owen

Our middle daughter, Leslie.

Her new baby son, Owen.

Her first.

Our sixth grandchild.

There aren't enough words.

Our cup runneth over, Lord.

The new family came home this morning.

Marley was happy enough.

She was glad her mum and dad were home!

Didn't give Owen much of a glance.

It was a good feeling to have them home.

Of course, we loved holding him as well.

A rocker+a baby=Pure Bliss

John now has four grandsons.

He's over the moon,

and the two granddaughters?

The ones that spoil him?

They keep his head in the stars.

The rocker? It belonged to Leslie's beloved grandmother. She's in Heaven now and Leslie recovered the seat. It mean a lot to this child to be able to rock her son in this chair. Goes clear to the heart of the matter. Thank you, Father, for this new family. We promise to always be a living example of Your love and promises. We won't lead him astray.

And to Heath and Leslie? Congratulations. Again. Owen is simply beautiful and we are thrilled that he belongs to you and that he's home where he belongs. The best part of your life has now begun. We love you very much and are always here for you {heart font}.

Flashback Friday

Sweet baby girl ~ 2009

Our baby girl's baby girl and her Nan

Leslie's Baby Shower

leslie is pregnant

our middle child

last one to marry (and to another gem)

last one to give us a grandchild (so we're told)

her shower was saturday, and she glowed

owen will be here the end of march

need I tell you how thrilled we all are

there were oodles of family there

and oodles of friends

and the most delicious food

i heard leslie say

they were all her favorites

so i think she planned the menu

robin and jeff decorated beautifully

and i think there's little more they need

other than diapers and clothing

yes, there were oodles of gifts

i love this middle child and her husband

who i am sure was handpicked from our lord

and i cannot wait to meet their baby boy

stacey, on the left, leslie, and jenny, on the right

can i say again how i love these girls

there

i've said it

we laugh so much when we're together

and we treasure the time dearly

it's not often they're all in one place

with the kids and men

but when they are we adore each moment

apparently, someone hasn't told obama that those that refuse to learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. kennedy said it. reagan said it. and other great men in our history have said it. so why hasn't someone slammed a book in his face and said, "read this!"

for i am afraid, we are doomed to repeat history

and if i didn't have my god, i'd be afraid.

but my God can beat anyone's god

He's bigger and badder

so bring it on, obama

let my God show yours

Let's Be Serious, Then I'll Be Funny

I have to tell you, our Congress and this President scare me. I would love to find grounds to impeach him and start over with, or maybe without, a Congress. We have compromised so much already on gun control. We need to feel safe. Schools need to be secure. The last several weeks all I've heard are hearings on gun control. What about funding education - hey, that's a new one! NOT! - and put security guards in schools. Restructure fronts doors to be security conscious. There's much that can be done to make a school and it's grounds more secure, but for that you need money. And guess what doesn't get much money in too many states in the Union? Education. Our children. We actually spend more money on the prisoners in the state of Alabama than we do on our school age children. That is sad. That is uncalled for. Guns aren't the problem. People are the problem. Secure a property and it deters unwanted intruders. That's my soapbox for tonight.

When I saw this, I knew it was me. I love to laugh. At anything. And when you go to someplace like a beach, a football game, Wally World, there are people. And there's always something to laugh at or about with people or animals. I love AFV!!! Those dummies! And yes, I laugh at me. In fact, I laugh the hardest then.

We have wonderful plans for the weekend. A baby shower for our newest grandchild! We shall finally celebrate Christmas with our daughters and their families! (We had the flu yuck and Jenny's family had ear infections etc, so we postponed) Having a shower on the same day makes for a fun-filled day. We'll finish it off at a favorite Mexican restaurant, the grands will get a whole day to play with each other (praying the weather lasts) and I'm hoping someone remembers to take lots of photos! I was made fun of not too many years ago for always having a camera handy. Now I forget {sniff font}. Here's hoping Stacey and Jenny have theirs! I pray you have a great, laughter filled weekend, yourself!

My Favorite Photos This Week

Jenny's family had a nice Thanksgiving break filled with dinners, shopping, laughing, and dreaming of all that comes during this season. This photo was taken at Brandon's parents, but I now have a photo of the tree already up in the Maddox household! Ah, to be a child again. Well, not really. It had its worry free days but I love this stage of life as well. Older, maybe wiser?, and happy. The older I get, the more I treasure photos such as these.

When I saw this one, I actually cried. This is our Leslie. Pregnant with our sixth grandbaby and we are overjoyed. The pathway to welcoming this precious child was a bit more difficult and the answer to many prayers. She and Heath made a fun and relaxing trip to the Smokies over the holidays and I love that this was made, for it's a vision I'll hold for a long time. I'm so looking forward to rocking their little man. Yes, we have another grandson to love and spoil. {heart font}

When Stacey posted this one, I thought, "Gosh, I miss them. It's been awhile since we saw them!" It really hasn't been, but I have the heart of a grandmother that adores her 'babies'. My sweet mother in ~~law~~ love always called hers "babies", no matter how old they were. Now I know her heart and how it feels to be a grandmother. There really aren't words, just as I never understood a mother until I became one. Babies. Be still my heart.

Stacey and Brett. The proud and loving parents of the two decorating their Christmas tree. All three girls have so much to look forward to in the new year with various dreams coming true. All three families stay busy. Busier than I think we ever were. However, it's easy to see that our children take time to share life with laughter and adventure; fill their homes with love; and make sure the Word of our Lord is taught and nurtured. It is an indescribable feeling to know we will walk through His gates one day and be together through Eternity.

I pray your holiday week brought joy and delight to your heart and home. Now begins the wishing and dreaming of a white Christmas, a baby's birth, and the gift of giving. I'd love to think we might have a white Christmas, but with our azaleas still in full bloom, I doubt it. But one can hope {wink font}. Take care and have a great week!

Already a Great 2013!

This precious man fell in love with our Leslie.

She fell in love with him.

An answer to prayers ~

Beautiful wedding.

Sentimental. Sweet. Dreams that came true.

Then we found out having a baby

was going to be difficult.

There were tears,

but there more prayers.

Months passed.

With prayers.

Meet our newest grandchild!

We are thrilled.

We are thankful. So thankful.

This is our first photo of him/her.

Heath & Leslie? Thrilled beyond words.

Thank you, Lord, for answered prayers.

For your love, goodness, and power.

We shall bring this child up in the nurture

and love of your Word. We promise this.

As parents, it's such a wonderful feeling

to know that all of your children,

their children, and their children

will walk thru the gates of Heaven with us.

What a beautiful blessing. What comfort.

Makes You Go Wow!

There are just some ideas that make you go, "Wow!" and this was one of those times. 320 *Sycamore. When I saw it I immediately thought how simple it was! And that it would look so good on our 'shelf over the TV because we don't have a mantel anymore' area. I can do this! I will do this, just as soon as I can get myself to Hobby Lobby and find those little silver buckets. Finding dried 'weeds' this time of year will be easy, as one of our daughters lives in the country and her dirt road abounds with this type of nature! The top of my piano never looked this good.

As a matter of fact, it looks just like my piano! Well, it belongs to one of our daughters now, but for years it sat in our homes and was decorated nicely but I never attained the simple, but elegant, look that this is.

And tearing up books?! I love books, love the look of old books, of loved books, but I am not beyond tearing the cover off one, or tearing the pages out of some to frame or use under clear switch plates.

Look what Lindy at Cottage Hill has done. Simple. Classy. Elegant. I intend to tear the covers off some old books I just use for decoration. These are some ideas that make me go 'Wow!'

And there are times that make us all go 'Aw' such as when babies are born. Kelly has been praying, I have been praying, we've all been praying for her sister to become pregnant. It's been a struggle for Amy, but she and her husband were blessed with the birth of Cole this past week and we are all overjoyed. You can read bits here of that feeling and Kelly will link you to Amy's blog where she introduces Cole to the blogging world. You really need to treat yourself to clicking on Kelly's header and just reading her everyday posts. I kid you not, with these posts and her Facebook stati she needs to write a humorous book on raising children and the every day moments of laughter there can be. Embracing the Craziness. Go check it out and plan to smile. We just always smile at newborns, don't we.

I hope the top ideas gave you some new ideas to play around with, and the news of Kelly's nephew arriving safe and sound filled your heart with the newness of our upcoming Spring. I just bet some of you north of the Mason Dixon line would love to see some warmer weather! It's coming. We just don't want it too soon. Early Springs just seem to make for longer, hotter, insufferable Summers. But then, I'm a Winter gal.