Thankfully Blessed ~

 we are so blessed

to have such loves

and to be loved

our children grew fast

and the grandbabies even quicker

truly, where does time go

we are so proud of the adults

they are becoming

and the parents they are

the grands?

very proud of those young ones

that are already moving into

the teen years

our hearts runneth over

with thanksgiving and deep love

Spring Is Here!

no Winter last forever;

no Spring skips her turn ~  

i am going to pay attention to Spring

i am going to look up through the trees

i am going to listen to the birds

i am going to nurture my soul

with his goodness and delight in his creations

this photo, today, made my heart smile

and i cannot wait until i can hold them

and snuggle the little one

heart memories

the bestest kind ~

Guess What!?!?

not exactly my favorite season since our girls aren't home any longer. well, okay, it's not my favorite season. there i said it. i'm a fall and winter person, with spring running a close second to fall. but here we are, moving into summer and that means, hopefully, we'll be seeing a bit more of our daughter's and their families. i don't know about yours, but our grands stay so busy with sports!

elle's program as she prepares to leave kindergarten. this child is so excited to be going into first grade. we had to laugh during the program as she looked a bored and only sang when she wanted to. she's loved kindergarten, though, and i'm sure will rock first grade. the girl loves school!

Stacey teaches high school so i know she's looking forward to some time with family, traveling, and not getting up early each weekday morning! looking forward to heading their way and spending some time with our ms babies and families.

owen is three now and still in love with being outdoors, his mum and dad, john deere tractors and being outside. did i mention that already?! the child loves being in the dirt, with the dog, on a tractor, and playing with the animals on the farm. can't wait to spend some time with them, too!

ah, yes, it does. although, the older one gets, the more we remember summers past. still sweet, still fresh, especially when i can't remember where i put my keys yesterday! have a beautiful summer, stay safe, and continue to pray for our nation.

Pieces of my heart ~

and here are some of my blessings this Spring ~

our youngest grandchild turned three this Spring

and i'm  not sure just when he grew up

too quickly that's for sure

loves his daddy & mommy, lucy, and tractors!

our youngest daughter with her family at Easter

one loves to swim, one loves basketball, and

miss priss loves her ballet and gymnastics

(and 'her boys')

our oldest with her youngest in Memphis, i think,

traveling with her soccer team. this sweet princess loves her

soccer and her gymnastics and i love watching

her intertwine ballet with gymnastics to music ~

{we have another son in law and grandson {smile font}but

no photos of them yet. traveling with baseball or outside!

I am a thankful for our babies, their men and the gifts of

grandchildren. He is always near. Always with us.

And that's a promise from a God that cannot lie ~

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!!

Bits 'n Pieces Of the Week

I love the saying. Love the color. Love hearts.

Owen is one today! Happy Birthday, sweet child.

Pa and Nan love you deeply.

I am so thankful that my King is also a Father that loves and gives me grace and mercy. He is already in tomorrow so there's no need to worry (although sometimes that's a hard, I'm human). And He will be with me wherever I go. He promises and He never breaks a promise.

And this photo? Well, it's under my 'Just For Me' board on Pinterest. I can get lost in this photo, wandering up the streets, and pretending to live behind one of the charming wooden doors. I've never been here but my dreams take me to an endless number of places. Blessed to have been given the chance to imagine ~ were you?

Our Winter Babies ~

2014 got off to a grand start with our Christmas celebration that we do in January. We've done this for 10+ years now and still enjoy it. The babies get too play with each other and the girls get to catch up and the guys cook and watch sports. John and I take delight in the laughter and memories hang around long after they've packed up and driven home. It's the highlight of our January. We love these munchkins dearly and their parents even more ~ Hurry back! We miss you already {heart font!}

Wowzer ~ I Think I Can Breath Now

Sweet Owen wasn't sure what all the hooping and hollering was about. He was a real trooper, though. Keeping us entertained while we tried to look past the moves Texas A&M were making against the Tide. Johnny Football is quick. And versatile. And hard to stop.

Then as the time ran out, we all began to breath again!

And laugh at the do rag his mommy made for him!

And he loved that we loved laughing at him!

What a ham for attention.

What hams we are to get a giggle out of him!

Roll Tide Roll! WhooHoo!!

Favorites From Last Week

The week began with Brandon's fishing trip ending and him returning home to three babies that celebrated with a trip to a favorite ice cream parlor and a wife very glad to have him safely home. I love this shot. He looks happy and there's a fish! 

Heath and our newest grandbaby, Owen. Need I say how thrilled the whole family is to have a new baby to spoil! Owen is growing so quickly, as they do, and his parents are fascinated. (He has his mommy's blue eyes {heart font} .) 

He loves to be swaddled, and listen to the vacuum cleaner. Seems to calm him. I think it makes him feel Mommy is near!

Brandon & Jenny's son, Ian, was baptized yesterday. Family and friends gathered to witness this precious moment. He was so happy. Our heart memories this past week still warm my heart today. We are a very blessed family. Thank you, Lord.

Summer's Begun!

Stacey & her babies came to spend Memorial Day with us! We celebrated with the rest of the coast at The Track playing Putt Putt, riding bumper boats and go karts! Ice cream and Dairy Queen yummies helped cool off the day! Everyone at the Track was having such fun. We didn't meet a single grumpy person, and the weather was warm but breezy. 

Alaina and Austin ~ I believe Alaina is trying to give the "I love you" sign. They are ready to have fun on the coast!! 

Sweet Owen turned two months! We've got a trip in the making to go see this young man and his parents. It's been too long for this Pa and Nan {heart font}.

Noah graduated from Kindergarten this month and we were so happy to be a part of that celebration. He had such fun and it was great seeing this young man get ready for 1st grade. 

John rode his bike up to Jenny's home and before he left, Elle and Noah volunteered to help him wash the bugs off. He was impressed with their hard work, and Noah wanting to take a ride. But he'll have to go through Nan first. Elle had the spray bottle and was loving that!

Our summer has gotten off to a great beginning, filled with family, love and laughter. Praying yours has been the same ~

Weekend Favorites

Our sweet Owen is growing so quickly

and I found this, read it, and loved it.

A few favorites from the weekend ~ 

It's been a restful weekend, but also one of getting things accomplished. Don't you just love the self-satisfaction of finishing a project?! I do and I will be feel soooo self-satisfied when we finish our guest bath. To bring a shadowy idea to fruition will be nice, especially since I keep second guessing myself or wondering which way would be the easiest, yet prettiest, way to stencil. AND to find just what I want to stencil. Yeah, pray for me. And for The Hood. I foresee some patience being tried {wink font} on BOTH our parts. Have a great week!

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~