Sixteen years ago...

My oldest child, my son Jonathan will be "sweet" sixteen tomorrow. My how time has flown, it just seems like yesterday, I can remember the day you arrived and how scared I was as a new mother. Wasn't sure I was "qualified" for the job, but looking into those sweet innocent eyes, I knew I would do anything for you. We had ups and downs along the way, but we have survived. For awhile there, it was just me and you, we were always together. Now we are part of a new and improved family, he is a big brother and has younger brothers and a sister looking up to him. It seems like yesterday that he was learning how to walk and now he is becoming a young man. For his birthday we (both sides of parents) got him his class ring. Next big step will be senior prom and graduation.....wow, how did I become the mother of a teenager already? Happy Birthday Jonathan, I am so proud of you and the man you are becoming.

I love you Jonathan, I wish you well and hope you future is filled with all kinds of possibilities.

And we are off....

Well my baby girl is walking, she started off this month with a step here and there. Then on November 17th she put it all together and took 5 steps, now she is walking more and more and becoming ever so sure of herself. She is just too cute for words, she is wobbly, smiling and just too darn precious. In eleven more days my last baby will turn one on her birthday, this will be the first of many more to come. I'm sure I will look back on this day with fond memories and hope to share many more with my daughter. I can only hope that she will be as close as me and my mother.
I love you Gracie Girl!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Well as the title would suggest, at least it is in my house. Most people think I am crazy to have put up my tree this early. So what, I am crzy, but you know I just love to sit there in the still of the night after everyone else has gone to bed and just stare at the lights on the tree as they sparkle and the ornaments dance on the tree from the light breeze of the ceiling fan above. This is sheer peace at its best, well at least for this mom of four! A half hour of peace and quiet around here is golden.
My three year old son is so excited this year about Christmas. Just yesterday while we were eating dinner, he proclaimed "mommy Christmas needs presents", I said "yes it does", then he said "Christmas needs toys, lots of toys!" I then commented with a slight giggle, "Oh it does, does it", and he said "yes". Amazing how they figure this gift thing out so quickly. But it's heartwarming to see the wonder in his eye, how excited he gets about seeing the lights and the decorations. I wonder how he will react when he sees Santa Claus this year? Probably will run and scream I'm sure. My daughter on the other hand, this will be her second Christmas, she was just about 3 wks old last year and not an active participant. The older boys, well what can I say, they just want stuff. This year things will be a little more conservative then they have been in the past. That means some well thought out gift giving. My husband and I have told the boys not to expect a lot this year. I would really like for them to be able to go to the mission and help in the kitchen and see how good they have it. Maybe seeing others who are far less fortunate then themselves will teach them a thing or two about compasion and doing for others.
As far as me, all I want is a healthy and happy family. As I have gotten older, I have realized that presents don't matter as much as just being with your family and sharing the memories. Because when I have long left this earth, that will be all there is left to me.

Serenity in the Smokey's

Just wanted to share some pictures of my little day trip to the Smokey Mountain's and Cades Cove near Gatlinburg, TN. My mother, Noah, Sara and myself took a nice drive through the mountains today (11/6) to get a glimpse at Gods hand at work. The trees were spectacular, varying shades of gold, red and orange, with lots of evergreens in the mix. The meandering road from Gatlinburg to Cades Cove was about 28 miles long and ran next to a creek that was babbling through the mountain. Just our little piece of heaven here in east Tennessee. This is by far my most favorite season here in Tennessee with spring coming in at a close second. The weather this fall has been fantastic and it has allowed for some of the most brilliant colors I have seen in years.

Soon the trees will be naked and winter will soon come and then we will patiently wait for spring and the rebirth of nature.

Not my choice

Well the election is officially over, it was nowhere even close at the end. About halfway through the evening I got so sleepy that I had to go to bed. I'm sure I did not miss much as it looked like Obama was going to win in the end. I said a prayer as I went to bed that God's will be done. I am a believer that nothing in life happens by accident, unless you are in the kitchen. I have to believe that the results of this election were meant to be, and now we have the next four years to see what happens. No matter what happens, I place my faith and firm belief that God will see us through these difficult times ahead. It doesn't matter who sits in the oval office, because God is still on the throne!

No more political adds

I'm sure I am not the only one who is sick and tired of all the political adds out there right now on TV, radio, newspaper, billboards, yards signs, etc... Thankfully we are down to the last 3 days of the campain (Thank God!). Even though voting will be over on Nov 4th, I'm sure this election is far from over....I kind of get the feeling we will be going at this for several days after the election and won't know who the POTUS will for days.
No matter who you chose, it is your choice and hopefully it is a well thought out choice. I early voted last week and got my hubby to go and vote Thurs before the polls closed. I knew that this year the polls would be busy, so I didn't want to wait to the last minute. Already people are turning out in droves.
All we can do now is pray for our nation and our leaders. Whoever inherits the title of POTUS, will have a hard four years and I am so glad that it won't be me.

God Bless our Country and keep us safe for the times ahead!