Easter 2013

                       The Sagles came and helped Laura Jo attempt her first time on the ice.

                                                    I hope there is chocolate in this egg!

                                          Philip is doing his Don Johnson impersonation

                                                        Ok girls....Everybody SMILE!

                                 Ok Emily....You stay on your side, and I will stay on mine

                                                                        Smiling Sisters

                                                        What is Easter without ham?

                                            here they are "hamming" it up for the camera....

Texas Trip March 2013

   Paula's daughter Julie wants Grandpapa to get in her little car....He is trying to accommodate

 Of course, what would going to TX be like without fried catfish and a TX shaped piece of cornbread?

      Julie, Paula, Landon, Evie, Memom & Grandpapa trying to smile in the blazing TX sunshine!

                                   Here they are greeting the brethren after church on Sunday.

                          Ooops, meant to get this picture before I ate it all......sure was good!

                                      Here we are in church.....Who is that tall guy in the picture?

Laura Jo Turns 4!!!!

Little girls in gowns and crowns dancing all around!

                                                          Sisters with their 4 year olds....

                                             Claire is loving it, and can't wait to start dancing!

                                               
           Daddy, I need MORE tissue please!

A Day in May

        A week ago we celebrated Laura Jo’s 4 years on this earth.  It was a crazy fun time with a house full of excited girls in pretend gowns and crowns and there was pizza and laughter and much joy.

However, on that same day a friend of Stacy and Adam’s was burying their little girl.  The Mom (Allison) had a healthy baby girl growing inside of her for 9 months....She was due any day and all of a sudden felt no movement.  She went in, only to find out her little Amelia was dead and the cord was wrapped around her neck.  She had to give birth or is it death to this child and had to deliver her later that day.  So I prayed for Allison and for her loss and the memories flooded back to almost 3 years ago when the same thing happened to Stacy.  Stacy was 5 months along and her baby had many medical issues and Stacy was told that little Hannah would not live.  We didn’t know until a month later after the delivery, that it was a little girl that we were holding that day in May.

A day in May that changed my world.  That was when God came down, held my family so tight, and my baby girl’s girl was ushered into the arms of Jesus.  No better place to be in my books.  But the pain of it, still to this day, is not eased. There are moments when I think about it and the tears flood my lap and the ache is revisited.  And the “WHY’S” are still there.  Why Lord did this have to happen?  Why indeed!  

Yes, Allison has 3 other children, but that does not matter to a mom.  She lost her baby! HER BABY! Her little “me” whom she carried for 9 months!  She had a room all prepared for her....the car seat was in her car, ready and waiting....and is now left empty.  I am just so saddened by it all.  I am praying God fills up her empty with lots of HIM.  I am praying Allison has felt the love of her friends, her church, her family.....

Whenever you deposit a little one into the arms of Jesus it is never an easy release. You want to hold on tight, because when you let go, they take the baby and the next time you see her will be on the other side of this life. 

I have always envisioned me going first, and holding Stacy’s 2 little ones o so tight, until she can join us.  We will make cookies and whoopie pies and play tag until we are laughing ourselves silly.  Sweet tea on my porch and the waiting will be a blink of the eye.  Now that will be a sweet anticipation I am looking forward to.  We serve a very good God!

JUICE PLUS

Hey fellow Blog Readers....
     I am now an official Juice Plus Distributor!  Yeah, I know...I am surprised too!  This is the year for me to turn my health around....From "are you kidding me" to "That's what I'm talkin' about!"  So if you want to hear more about it.....just click on my own webpage for a little video explaining the whole thing.  I have been taking Juice Plus since January, and have never felt better.....
                                           Juice Plus Video 

A gift from the heart!

     Every time Laura Jo comes over she is holding hand-picked flowers from her yard for me.  This is the first time they actually had stems....ha!  You may see weeds, but this Majo sees a beautiful bouquet!  I was made for this...This grandma gig....They run through my door with outstretched arms waiting for a Majo hug and kiss and a little happy dance.  In return I get flowers, a drawn picture, or sometimes a dirty diaper....which by the way, smell like a meadow of lilacs....ok, maybe that is a stretch there...ha!  The point is, they are precious and a treasure this Majo is humbled to accept.

Utah 2012

Another year in Utah for our family ski vacation...Saying it was cold, is an understatement....

 Here is Nicole with Casey, Steve & Brenda's dog.  Her first trip to the mountains, and she is sporting the latest in winter wear....her shoes lasted about 5 minutes....she was not going to have it!

 Claire looked like this the whole time....this is one happy little girl!  When she sees a camera she smiles from ear to ear!  The child is a natural model....just like her Majo!

 I was lucky to get a picture before all of the pecan pie was gone...I believe this was MY PIECE!

                                    The hot tub getting much hotter with these love birds .....

 This is the reason I come every year....Joanne's green Christmas tree cookies....my, my!

 Here is Jalin....Ain't she a cutie?  Zach has finally struck gold with this one!  I liked her immediately!  She is from Mississippi and is sweet as she is pretty!  Nothing is better than a gal from the south!  Zach had better not mess this up!  Jalin....we all love ya girl!

                     ok, ok.....it is time to go outside to do your numbers.....Steve, where are ya?