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

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 ~

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!}

Our Easter Babies

It was a beautiful weekend for Easter.

A mite cool, but sunshiny smiles.

I am so in love with our family.

The men that lovingly married our daughters are men of our hearts. We could not have asked of God any better than the ones He chose Himself. And the grandbabies?! Well, if you're a grandmother or a grandfather yourself, you know there aren't words to express the love in our hearts when they run to us with that look that's just reserved for us. To watch them grow brings a tightening to the heartstrings but what a blessing. This year we were given another gift to love and spoil. Owen Heath Taylor joined our family and again, we've lost another piece of our heart. We are all thrilled that he and Leslie came through birth just fine and are settling in at home with daddy Heath. John and I are so very thankful for these sweet blessings. 

The Maddox's 

The Green's 

And, The Taylor's.

With our newest family member.

(Marley has been very receptive {smile font}. 

John and I stayed with Miss Marley until Owen came home. It was cute the way Heath and Leslie introduced Marley to her brother and invited him into her home. I'm not sure how long Leslie has had Marley but I know it's in the double digit years. We hated leaving but have been blessed with almost daily photos of this precious gift from God. He seems to be changing daily, but then, they all do that, don't they? I look at our daughters and wonder where time went. Just this past Easter, they were playing in the front yard with my grandmother's hats and acting like they were "old ladies". That photo still makes me smile. 

Of course I had to get some rocking time in!

Happy Easter, Dear Ones ~

He arose.

What beautiful words.

Celebrate His ascension

tomorrow and everyday.

Here are some of my favorite posts from Easter's past:

Yes, Grandmommies Brag

Family & Friends

And Some More Easter!

Elle Elizabeth Maddox

March Winds Bring Easter

It's Easter!

And this year, we have Owen Heath!! What a beautiful gift from God during this Holy week. Leslie and Owen are home and doing fine. We are blessed.

Birthday Flashback ~

I thought it would be fun to have a Birthday Flashback. It really is true, that one feels ten years younger on the inside than the mirror shows on the outside. Life is fleeting, and I savour each and every day. With three dearly loved daughters, and three men sent from God to marry them, they've given us six precious and adorable grandbabies, with number six to be born in just a matter of weeks. God is so good and I fall at His feet with love and adoration. So here you go, Birthday Flashback to 2009!

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!

Bits & Pieces of June ~

1 ~ What is with the border around the blog title?! I cannot get rid of it! I wanted the title to say "Faith, Family, & Friends" instead of the original "Faith, Family & Food".  When I re-added the new header, there was a border! I've gone thru HTML, and editing shops and STILL, there's a border. An ugly border. Stacia, Teale, ideas?

OKAY! Uploading the photo and putting it on here, there's no border! Why won't it look like this when I try to do the header in Layout?!?!?! Help, someone!

2 ~ I am missing our youngest and her babies! It's been since the first part of March  (I know we're blessed that they aren't further away. All three girls live within less than five hours, so we feel truly blessed). She did drive down with a friend for a quick Sunday lunch - it was a business trip - and that's been it. However {smile font} they may make it here for a weekend trip soon, and we are driving up the end of this month to see them!

Jenny took this photo and I love it!

Elle is a girly girl, but she so wants to learn karate.

Imagine, a girly girl that can turn your head around,

with one kick to the cheek! 

And the two older brothers she adores.

Her karate heroes.

Oh, I can't wait to get my snuggles on!

Stacey came with her babies & the sun was out!

Stacey's two love the open water.

And the waves obliged.

Boogie Board time.

John went with them to The Track.

Go Carts, Bumper Boats, and the Arcade.

Alaina had lost two teeth before they came.

She is our snaggle toothed princess {hearts!}

Stacey's view of the Gulf, and her cute feet.

John and I like sitting under the umbrella!

And her family will be back!

To help celebrate the 4th of July. Which means,

we have to go purchase a grill,

for the Grill Master is coming!!! WhooHoo!!

3 ~ I have a girlfriend visiting this weekend and it's always so good when she's here. Guess where we met up for lunch?!

What do I love about The Hangout?

Besides the music, the dancing on the tables

and in the aisles? The sliders and fries?

IT'S ON THE GULF!

Walk right out to the sand and surf.

Or do as we did,

sit yourself down on a boardwalk bench.

We'd planned to do a bit of shopping,

so we're saving the beachy part for tomorrow.

Always a breeze, always the smell of salt,

always a vacation day ~ when you're retired!

The cutie in the middle and the cutie on the right,

didn't like this photo. Yeah, we all have cellulite.

But you know what?!

We're happy. We feel good,

and we're children of The King.

Can't get any better than that.

Besides, I think cellulite is a natural part

of a woman's body now. Julia Roberts has it {big smile font}

When I saw this, I immediately thought of my circle of friends.

4 ~ I read some of the funniest things on Pinterest this week. Laughed out loud many times and laughter is so good for the soul. Here are a few.

One to inspire ~

and one that taught me something!

I pray you've had a good week.

Here's to love, laughter, and family & good friends.

Blessings ~

Crockpot Chicken Taco Chili ~

Very seldom do I cook new recipes. Well, okay, very seldom do I cook. Shhhhh, only my friends & family know. I like good food, though, and am beyond blessed to have family & friends that are good cooks! Those that aren't? We meet at a good eatery!

I found this recipe on Pinterest. Yes, my new favorite place to be. It looked good. It looked easy. AND, we were having family in. So YES, I wanted to impress {wink font}

I won't go into it here BeCAuSe I want YOU to visit this site! Don't let the title fool you. This girl has some good stuff. And not just photos. Y'all, this recipe is a throw together, can't get easier, will make it again recipe! Click here on Photo a Day to get the easy peasy recipe. We ate it in different ways. I made a burrito with mine adding shredded cheese, shredded lettuce, and Lite sour cream. The Hood ate his with a burrito on the side, and Stacey (if I remember correctly) ate hers with tostido chips. You can't go wrong. It's that easy. Now, if I could just buy shredded chicken somewhere. Have a blessed week!

Oh, and those sweet things that visited with us this past week?! Our oldest daughter and their two sweet babies. The Hood went to The Track with them while they rode race carts and bumper cars! Yeah, we hated seeing them leave. We have five of the most loving and affectionate babies. We are so in love~

They'll be back in July for the 4th! And she's bringing HER hubs to grill and cook! He's a master at grilling and cooking on the grill. I'm cutting way back on my eating until then so I can stuff myself while he's here!

Crawfish, Crayfish

If you live in Mississippi in the Pearl area, visit The Crawfish Barn! (Clicking takes you to their Facebook page.) Owned and operated by two of our sons in love, this seafood shop is quickly becoming the place to find yummy seafood and sides! Heath Taylor hatched the plan, got with Brett Green, ironed out the details, and they began making it happen. Opening Day took place just this year! Below is Brett with our Stacey and their babes~

Joining our family this past New Year's Eve, we are blessed to have Heath love our Leslie~ 

 I heard they are adding picnic tables, as customers were wanting to come and stay to eat. (Originally, it was a 'come, buy, and leave with it' type of place). The photo below isn't the best BUT it gives you an idea of what you can expect to get once you get there. When you visit, be sure and tell them you heard about their place from someone they love on Alabama's Gulf Coast.

Now that I've told you where you can get fresh crawfish in the Jackson MS area, let me share a fellow blogger's recipe for a boil. Melissa, at Made In The South, posted her recipe. I'll eat the corn and potatoes but you can have the creek shrimp. Crawfish 101 - Boiling.

"Congratulations, Brett and Heath. We are proud of you and for you. We missed having you here this month, but heard you were cooking and selling food. We plan to visit soon and have a hearty meal. Love and hugs, Nan and Pa"

"Hurry back, sweet girls, We do so love you and your families."

PS - I like to call them crayfish. Makes them sound less muddy.