Family Fun

A visit home...

Papa's Smile

Cousins Coloring

Mama Cooking

Sweet Smiles

Little Brother contemplating

Big boys playing Yahtzee

Little boys laughing

Families Gathering

I hope your holidays were filled with love and family. I know mine were!!

~Blessings

How can this be???

Who does this???

There is a certain person (shall remain nameless), that has a severe dislike to cake frosting... Who ever heard of such a thing... This person has mastered avoidance, and is able to leave the frosting in tact while managing to eat the entire inside portion of cake.

This person also has an adversion to jam, fruit pies, and well just about "anything clumpy". And to top it off, the same person dislikes whip cream... I just don't see how this is even possible... Humm.
Blessings

Mid tour leave

The cute guy was home for his mid tour leave. He has now returned to duty. But while he was home we enjoyed good company, way to much food, and we all shared a wonderful cold.

A visit from Grandma and Grandpa (The cute guys parents) Spending time out side in the back yard.


Spent time in the kitchen cooking too many meals... My waist line is a smidge larger.

Time spent pondering the wonders of life...

~ Blessings
only a few more months until his return!

On the needles...

Here we go again. I am attempting to make a baby sweater. I love, love, love knitting. I enjoy baby projects the most. I must have some sort of knitting going on, it brings me peace, and soothes away any stress. At this point in time, I have no little ones due, but who knows, my friends now have married children who may someday have need for a sweet baby sweater. I will need to make it in a different color. I don't think most enjoy the colors I like. This color is honey, it reminds me of fall leaves, pumpkin pie, and all things warm and wonderful about fall. I find Debbie Bliss to be an excellent place to start. I have enjoyed the many patterns I have made from her books. I finally purchased this one, before the library banned me from using their copy. I am having fun.

~Blessings

Pondering Life...

I am so thankful for my son... Deep thoughts, I wish time would stand still like this photo... He may be leaving us after his Dad returns home this fall. Jared, I love you and thank you for being you.

Loving my family

Who wouldn't want to love a face like this?Even when she is distracted...
~Blessings to all~

Jared has his birthday

The request was an ice cream cake. (without all the candles)white cake with strawberry ice-cream .

In honor of Jared turning 18 years old. Wow!!

Happy birthday son, you truly are a blessing.

One little fish

Remembering to pack the important things...
Socks, t-shirts, uniforms the list goes on and on. But one must always remember to pack the mascot. This tiny fish made one trip to Iraq and is now on his second deployment. Sara my oldest gave this to her daddy when he left a few years ago.

Isn't it funny, how in life, it's always the little things that count the most.

I could just burst...

I am a grandma again...


Benjamin William arrived this morning at 4:32

He weighed in at 8.1 lbs and 20.4 inches long.

Praise to the Lord

The Long Good Bye...

Now that the cute guy is safe in country. I thought I would give you a view of our life. You usually get to see the good, here is the ugly. I am married to a soldier and this is our life.

Two weeks ago...

He dropped of his gear...Many were joining him. The picture is blurry because we were driving and I was sad.

After the drop off we joined him inside with a ton of other families for family time...

He made calls to find his guys...

We tried to enjoy our last few hours with him.


We watched people arrive, cry, and laugh

For some this was their first time, but for many it was not.


Then we said our good bye until he returns home.

This is our life, he is my solider, they are my joy.

Saying good bye

During our move we had our faithful little tag along... Hammy!!
She was Little's pet. Hammy was well loved and doted on as seen in her bling photo created by Littles. She made the trip with out incident... until the day we moved into our new home. She got sick a week before the move and was unable to rally back to health. We miss her dearly!! It left a small void for Littles, but we were thankful to have had hammy as a friend for more than 2 years. I thank the Lord for allowing hammy to find us (really we found her in a flower pot on our porch). She brought many smiles and laughs.

So farewell our fluffy friend, you are missed.

Hammy in her fancy Cinderella attire.

Thank you for the snack. Would you like a nibble?

One thing is true...

This girl loves her dad!!! We were at an award ceremony for her choir this weekend. The cute guy had to work, fortunately it was at an event on the other side of the park. He was so sweet to pop in to see her. It always makes her smile. Me too.

blessings

Working Fashion...

I had to sneak these photos on, Aud would die if she new. ( and she will) But she looked cute. She would never go in public like this although I think it is cute. She always wears socks around the house and today it was these. :)

Cleaning the patio

Picking up crushed cans

frosting her cake

too cute. :)

Blessings

Somethings are worth the time...

Last week Sara and Josh flew in to see his parents. A birthday gift from Sara, but the trip was short. So Aud and I stole a few hours with them. It is always worth the time and effort to see those you love. I would do it again if even for a few mins. The trip was a little long for us about 3 hours, but the company was not wasted.

Josh, Sara, Emma and ??? (they find out on the 26th)

Looking at Audrey

Hi sweet one!

Blessings to all

A sneak peak

Here is a sneak peak at Odd's winter ball gown... More to come... But it wont be until the final reveal. She is going with some friends, or "stag", as we used to call it.

Blessings

Sweet Emma

My sweet little dumpling has come for a visit. Who couldn't resist this little face?Riding on the rocking horse, it's so much fun to play with grandpa!

Weee!

I am so enjoying my visit with my girls. :)

Blessings to all.

The Cute Guy and I

Audrey was kind enough to take this picture for me, I realized I hardly have any of myself. Hum, I hate pictures. Do not try to blow these up, they haven't been re sized and will be huge. The real reason for the post, the cute guy finally retired ol' betsy, and got a little something. :) He has been driving his truck since 1985, longer than we have been married. We still have her, but she is resting for a while, she has been a good girl, and we will keep her around to help with big jobs.

blessings

Summer is over

I am heading back to school tomorrow. Pray that I will have no fear, thank you in advance for your prayers.
Thou I do not know what this year will bring, I look forward to this quarter. I have waited many years to finish my degree, it has now taken on a life force of its own. I want so badly to finish even if I never use my degree. Education has always been important to me since becoming a mother. I only wish I would have applied myself when I was younger. I am amazed at where I am in school... I am amazed with what I am learning.... I am amazed that I actually have a pretty good brain. I only wish I had done something more with it. :)
Life has changed so much this past year, it makes my head spin and my heart ache. Yet at the same time I am happy and know that I am right in the Lords will.
One daughter married and gave me the most beautiful grand daughter. My son start public school last year, his sophomore year and did wonderful. His scores were off the charts, I am thankful to see the fruit of many years of labor and hard work on both our parts. This year my youngest joined him, that was really hard. Audrey is the baby and a mommies girl. I must say it tore me up and broke my heart. I never thought that any of these changes would occur, nor can I say that I wanted them to. I can only say life must be lived, and live to the fullest no matter what. Our plan is for Audrey to return home this next year, and start attending community college. She will be well prepared I am sure of that.
Well I am heading off to bed for now, it is an early day for me. No more leisure---- until November 26 winter break starts. I can't wait.
blessings to all

ps I will post pictures of my most beautiful birthday gift tomorrow.

The 7 Day Decorating Challange

I am following Anna's plan,I will stick to her rules and see what I can do this week. Most importantly it must be free and it must make me smile.

Today I started with the dining room, I moved the buffet back into the dining room, to make room for my birthday gift(you will have to wait to find out what it is). I also hung my grandmothers tea cups and a cross-stitch picture she made. I really missed having the buffet in the dining room. So that makes me happy.

I was wanting some fall butterflies for my dining room table, so I made some, that makes me smile.

I placed some rum balls on the table for a special treat. They were left from Christmas, but were still good. LOL If I had only waited I could have used them this year. (not really)

Casting Pearls: Be Still

As of yesterday my daughter Sara's husband Joshua was diagnosed with Crohns Disease. During our conversation today she said, "So many things are being tossed at us, and so many life changing things are happening so fast..." They are so young Sara is 19, Josh 24, and they have a little one, sweet Emma. I can only imagine the confusion, stress, and anguish they are feeling right now. I am praying for them, and ask for your prayers also.

For Sara,
I know it is hard to see the big picture with all that is happening right now. I can only hope that you continue to trust in the Lord and allow him to guide you through this. I know things are happening so fast, and it feels as if you are barely able to catch your breath. But here is a word from the Lord:

"Be still and know that I am God,
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!"
The Lord of hosts is with us(you);
the God of Jacob is our (your)fortress. Psalm 46:10-11

Sara take the time (no make the time) to be still and listen for Him, and know the He is God. He is there, and he will show you he is there. I love you with all my heart, and wish I was with you all.
Mom