Pondering

I am sitting in my great room looking at my tree and my sweet Sadie zonked out on the couch, and visualizing in my mind our Christmas this year!! It was without a doubt, a memorable one!! First of all, who would have thought Mike and I would be painting our kitchen on Christmas Eve afternoon and Christmas morning?? At first I said to myself I wasn't going to get involved in it because I had way too much to do to get ready for Christmas night, but I succumbed to feeling guilty seeing Mike working so hard, and I finally pitched in!! It really turned out beautiful!! Here is a picture... However, the highlight was having all my family with me on Christmas night and just spending time with them. Breanna's face was priceless when she opened her new sewing machine!! I love when we all get together and the boys start telling stories of when they were little, or some memory comes to mind and we all reminisce and laugh until we are rolling on the floor!! Here are a few pics of the evening that will be a sweet reminder of a perfect night with my precious family:

Breanna was excited, to say the least!!

I was the only female in my family for many, many years, but look how the Lord has blessed me in the last three wonderful years!!!

Jeremy's family with Pop and Gongi!

As you can tell on their faces, Mama and Daddy were pictured out by now!!!

This tells the whole story!! They were ready to go home and get in their chairs!!!

A First

This Christmas Eve finds Mike and me all by ourselves because Lucas and Courtney are not coming in until late tonight and they are staying in Atlanta with Laurel Lynn and her family. They will have Christmas with them and their boys. We usually do our Christmas on Christmas Eve, but due to her new job, Courtney couldn't get off today. This is the very first Christmas Eve I have not had my boys with me. I must admit, it is very bittersweet!! Jeremy and Kendra went with Kendra's family to the Candlelight service at their church tonight. I am thankful that Jeremy is hearing the wonderful message again tonight. I pray that it will penetrate his heart and he will fall in love with Jesus. Mike and I were going to Crossroads to hear their Christmas program, however, when he got home from walking the dogs around lunch time, he said that he would start painting the kitchen if I would go buy the paint!! (We just redid our kitchen countertops and sink and it really needed a paint job!!) Anyway, I told him I would go and buy it, but I had way to much to do to get ready for tomorrow night, and that I wouldn't be able to help. So when I got home with the paint, and he began to get everything ready, of course, I joined in!! We got it all primed in about 3 hours and I started the trim with the actual color!! It is going to look great!! Mike keeps saying, "Looks like an HGTV kitchen!!!" Anyway, needless to say, we didn't make it to church. However, we had Christmas music playing in the background the whole time we were painting. In my heart, I have been worshipping all day long!!! I am feeling a little guilty about not going to church to worship, but I know the Lord is more interested in the attitude of my heart than if I am sitting in church on Christmas Eve night. I am so thankful that He sent His Son into this world so that we are not condemned, even though we sometimes condemn ourselves for not doing what we feel like we should do just because we've always done it a certain way. I love you, Jesus!!! Merry Christmas to everyone!!!

Christmas at Gongi's 2008

Well, our Christmas at Mama's and Daddy's this year was a little different. We decided to meet at their house around 2:00 for desserts instead of a full-blown lunch spread. And I think it all went pretty well, however, next year, we will have it at one our houses. Daddy insisted that we have it at their house this year, but it was pretty obvious, that we will need to change that from now on!! Here are a few pics from our get together. Macie and Jake gave them the sign they are holding and how appropriate the saying is...

If you can't read the sign, it says, All because two people fell in love....

Is this not the sweetest picture you've ever seen????

Where did the time go? Boy, do we all look old!!!!!!

Me and my sweet mama!!!

They were both so worn out by now. Ready for their recliners!!!!

Pray

I just got an email from my principal asking for prayer for one of our coworker's newborn grandbaby. He is in Intensive Care in Columbus with an infection in his blood and his heartbeat is too fast. Please, Lord, be with Bry and heal his little body. Take away the infection in his blood and fix his heart so that it beats correctly for his tiny little body. Especially be with his mom, dad, grandmama, and granddaddy. Give them the strength to endure this. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Delighting in Our Children

Being a mom is so special to me... even when my children are 30 and 27 years old, married, and out of the house and on their own. Yesterday, I had the privilege of hearing both of my boys' voices on the phone and oh, how it does my soul good to just sit and listen to them. Even if they only call to tell me quickly that Breanna won't be coming to my house today after school or if they call to just check on us to see how we are and what we are doing. Being the mom of boys, it's not an everyday thing to hear from them. They don't seem to need to connect with their mother as often as girls do. (Or at least that's what I hear from most mothers who have girls.) Anyhow, before going to bed last night, I was thinking that if I get so excited and feel so complete when I get to hear from my own children, think of how much more delighted we make our heavenly Father when we "call" on Him in prayer, if it's just to say "hi" or to pour our hearts' desires out to Him. I think of the verse that says He takes delight in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love. Ps. 147:11 and The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zeph. 3;17 Oh Father, forgive me when I let a day go by that I don't "call" You and talk to You in prayer. Help me to make prayer a priority in my daily life. I love You and thank You for all the many blessings You have given me, but most importantly, thank You for Your perfect plan of salvation through Your precious Son, Jesus Christ.

3 More Days!!

Can't wait for Christmas holidays!!
I am going to try my hand at downloading a video of Lucas and Steven Kilgore singing at last year's Christmas Candlelight service at our church. Awesome song!!!! Listen carefully to the lyrics. Here goes....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCieQktBUHY

RCA Visit

Just got back from a visit to the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta. A group of about 60+ teachers/administrators were selected to go and observe teachers and students in their classrooms and learn teaching strategies used to promote success in the classroom. Needless to say, we were blown away by the enthusiasm and energy that was exerted from every individual there, from the students to the faculty and all staff members. Ron Clark is a very high energy individual who makes me want to learn new things!! And I am old and worn out!!! I must say that as I sit here typing, I'm having to struggle with my body wanting to go lie down and take a nap because I am tired from just watching all of their exuberance, dancing, and singing!! They must take mega vitamins!!! I don't know how they keep up that level of energy and excitement all day long!!! But the kids are learning and benefitting from all of it!

And, I am proud to say, that at the end of the day I survived the slide!!! They have a huge slide, two stories high, that greets guests as they enter the lobby, and if students want to go from second floor to first floor, in lieu of taking the stairs, they can slide down the gigantic, spiral, blue slide!!! And at the end of every tour, teachers are invited to do the same!! Well, we all survived it and none of us was injured or banged up in any way!!!

Hats off to Ron Clark and all he and his staff are investing for the sake of these students, who otherwise would possibly be looking at dropping out of school at an early age, and being on the streets by the time they are 16 or 17 years old. Because of his vision, these students now have their OWN vision as to what they can be when they grow up...a positive contributor to society!!

Glad to Back in Full Swing!

Wow!! It is so good to be back at work and going full speed ahead! Never thought I would see the day. I think I must have had the flu or a sinus infection, because I was one sick grandmama!! Thought I was feeling better one minute, then, before I knew it, I was out like a light in my bed! Head hurt all the time, chills, runny nose, coughing my head off, sneezing, sore throat/ears, felt like I was in the bottom of a pool all the time,... you name it... it seems every part of me from my neck up HURT!!! Anyway, I think I am well on the mend now!!

Thank goodness, too, for I have not decorated one bit in my house, nor have I bought very many gifts. Only Breanna's, of course!! I am really excited about what I got her. I think she is really going to love it!! She will be following in her "Sugar's" footsteps!!! Below is a picture of her last year with a child's sewing machine that she got for Christmas from Santa. She sewed on it for 20 minutes and it broke. Needless to say she was a little disappointed. This year I got her a REAL honest to goodness sewing machine. I know she is going to love it. That little girl will be making her own clothes before we know it!!! At least, I hope so. Maybe she'll do a lot better than I did at her age, and stick with it. If she does, I think she'll be a great little seamstress!!!

By the way, these are Sadie's big sisters whom I was referring to when I said Mike took the "big dogs" to the lake today!!! Meet Big Daisy (on the left) and Little Daisy (on the right), aka. Big and Little!!! They are two CRAZY dogs!!!

Long Time No Write!!

Well, I have been under the weather again! Had to stay home from school yesterday, because I had a little setback. But now, after much needed rest and sleep, I am feeling mucho better! I have done little of nothing today. While Mike took the big dogs to the lake to walk and play, I did vacuum the house and finished my Explorer's Bible Study lesson. What a great lesson it was, too. I absolutely love this verse - Hebrews 6:19-20 - We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
What a blessed assurance it is to know that our hope doesn't lie in man who is imperfect and ever changing, but our hope lies in the One who is faithful and unchangeable. He will never leave us nor forsake us! Hallelujia!!

Gratitude

It seems the Thanksgiving holidays were such a whirlwind and a blur that I failed to do the one thing that is needed most. Give thanks and praise to my heavenly Father for all His many blessings! Forgive me, Lord.
I praise You for your faithfulness, even when I am not.
I praise You for your grace, even when I am less than gracious.
I praise You for your mercy, even when I am merciless.
I praise You for your abounding love, even when I am so unloveable.
I praise You for your perfect plan of salvation, even though I am so unworthy.
I praise You, Father, for you alone are worthy to be praised!!

Overwhelmed

I am so overwhelmed right now. I am back at school and still sick. Feeling light headed and dizzy, can't breathe, and my ears feel like they are stuffed with cotton. From what I can tell, I am not the only one battling with this stuff.
I was planning on taking a half day tomorrow to help out with mama and daddy, but it turns out that my daddy had already driven himself to the dr. this morning! I'm sure that was a little oversight of dr.'s orders!!! NOT driving the day AFTER you return home from the hospital and being weak as a dishrag. But I don't believe I have ever met a more stubborn man than my daddy!!! Or should I say prideful? I suppose those two are one in the same. I've always admired him for wanting to look after his "sweetie", but when it comes to jeopardizing his health, I'm not so sure how far my admiration will carry. Oh Lord, how I pray for You to open my Daddy's eyes to see that it is okay to ask for and/or need help. He can't carry this burden alone and he is robbing our joy of serving him and mama as his children.

After Thanksgiving Blessings

Well, the holidays are over and what a whirlwind they were! Thanksgiving night we all ate at Tammy's and had a wonderful time all being together. The food was fantastic!! I love gathering at her house because we seem to have more room and we're all on the same floor. I cooked all day - turkey and dressing, gravy, and penny carrots (Joel's and Jay's favorite!), and ended up making a pecan pie because Kendra got sick with the stomach bug and they didn't get to come to the gathering. We missed them a lot. On Friday, I woke up to do it all over again, because Lucas and Courtney were coming from S.C. after being with her family on Thursday and Friday. I cooked all day long. I don't know how people cook for a living. It is tiring!!! They make it look so simple. Although I do love it when I don't have anything else to do.
On Friday night, Mike and I decided to go down to Auburn to eat at Cheeburger Cheeburger to get some of their delicious onion rings! When we got home, I had a text message from Tammy saying emergency; call me. I called, and they had to send an ambulance to Mama's and Daddy's house to take him to the er because he was coughing his head off like he did the last time we had to admit him. Turned out it was pneumonia and congestive heart failure. Needless to say, they admitted him. The last time Lucas and Courtney came home this same thing happened and I ended up spending more time with Mama and Daddy than I did with them, so I asked my brothers if they could handle it for the weekend and then I would take over after that. Well, of course, they came through like my heroes - I love those "boys"! Then, I come down with the crud in the head and chest and spent my holiday weekend with my children sneezing and blowing my nose!! Mama came to eat with us and they all said it was a great meal. Anyway, I haven't been able to do my part with Mama and Daddy because I am afraid to get around them, not knowing if I am contagious or not. So as of today, I am staying at home from work to try to get myself well, so I can pitch in with them and do my part. I am so thankful for my brothers and their wives for how we all come together and pitch in when we are most needed!!! Hopefully, tomorrow I will be able to do my part for my parents!

First Blog!

I am trying my hand at blogging. I've really enjoyed reading others' blogs and all of the things going on in everyone's lives. I especially love to see how all of these children who are my boys' ages are now mamas and daddys. My how time flies! This is such a great way to keep up with everyone, as well as write down deep thoughts that might otherwise not be said out loud!!
This is officially my first entry and hope there will be more to come!