Trip to Tennessee

Happy Tuesday, everyone. We are home from our trip to Tennessee and it was a really great time for everyone. In one way, I feel sad knowing it is probably the last time we will go with Joshua before he enlists...but in another way, I am so grateful to the Lord for allowing this time, I won't let anything outweigh that blessing. WARNING: LOTS OF PICS!!


This is my daughter, Krystle, and I on the Lumberjack ride at Dollywood. For some reason, my children laugh at me constantly and say "Mama, you are so cute...or Mama you are so funny". I have no idea what they are talking about, however, my sister and I say the same thing to my mother and it's when she is making no sense......hmmmm.


This is Nicole and Krystle making a Mom sandwich out of me. The things we did to keep warm! lol

My niece, Hanah, and Joshua and I posing for this shot. I think we were looking for a place to eat and getting to the verge of "hungry" and "tired" and "please stop" with the picture taking! lol

This is the whole gang minus the hubbies who are taking the pictures. We were sitting in front of a beautiful Christmas tree.

Hanah and I down by the Old Sawgrass Mill shop and restaurant. We were ready to get up in that restaurant and have something hot to eat!

I'm fairly sure I'm holding up the tree...of course, it could have been holding me up!

Josh and I stopping at the Cherokee National Forest. It is beautiful there. I told him to show his breath...big mistake. This is what i got! haha

Joshua, myself, and Jason at the Cherokee National Forest. It truly is beautiful there.

Josh and I climbed down to the water to get a stone to bring home. Awwww, don't worry, Josh was there to catch me if I fell in!

Hanah, Jason and I at Dollywood. We told Jason he looked like a video character ready to whack somebody! He didn't care...he was warm!

Joshua thought he was a pteradactyl here. Yes, he is a homeschooled child and has a wonderfully vivid imagination!

Nicole, myself, and Krystle posing for the cameras in Dollywood. You had the love the body heat whenever you could get it!

I'm fairly sure this was everyone's favorite ride! Nicole and Josh beat everyone up the poles too! It was the Lumberjack ride. I don't know what Josh was trying to pull acting all Armyish and all....sheesh!

Krystle and I...not sure where ... but I'll take those hugs anywhere!

My family down my the waterfall of the Old Sawgrass Mill.

Brendan was our birthday boy on the 29th of December. We celebrated by going to Dollywood. He had a great time! So did we. I can't believe he is 10 now!

I have a ton of pictures but these were some of the highlights of our trip. I hope you have enjoyed them. Thanks for letting me share a little bit of our vacation with you. I hope to get back to blogging on a more regular basis. Edie from Rich Gifts is going to be making over my blog here shortly. I know she will do a beautiful design. Until then, God bless you and keep you and may He shine His divine countenance upon you.

Have a beautiful Sunday

May the Lord bless you this day! I'll be traveling to Tennessee with family and we will be on vacation for the next week. I'll be thinking about you and as God brings you to mind, lifting you up in prayer. See ya soon!

He changed everything

I have played this song before but will leave this post up through Christmas. He is the baby that changed everything. He is our Jesus. Merry Christmas to you and each of your families this year. God bless you!

Happy Sunday....praising Him in all circumstances!

Circle of Friends

My precious friends, Andrea and Alleluiabelle, have passed an award on to me called The Circle of Friends Award. I am humbled by both of these women and how they cherish friendships and take every opportunity to tell their friends they are special.

With this award, I'm supposed to tell you five things about myself that I like to do and then pass it on. Both women passed it on to all of their friends and I will do the same. Please know that I've come to love bloggy land even though I've been absent a lot.

I love to read the Bible. I love quiet time alone with my Lord. I love to watch movies with my hubby and son. I love time at the beach. And I love to look into my children's eyes.

Now it's your turn. Grab that button and tell me about yourself and let's keep passing it on. God bless you.

A beautiful reminder..........

I heard this song for the first time on my friend April's blog last year. As I was out and about with my Mom yesterday, I heard it playing and I just had to stop and take it all in. So as you are pulling out your Christmas trees, ornaments, boxes, decorations, etc...as you go shopping to look for the perfect gift for that someone special, please remember the one true perfect gift has been given and this baby changed everything for all of us. His name is Jesus. Amen.











May the Lord bless you abundantly today. Big hugs from me to you!

Blue Monday

Good morning everyone! Talk about a bloggy break! I'd tell you all about it but instead I'm linking up with Smiling Sally and splashing some of the most incredible blue your way. I'm especially proud of this blue. I hope you love it as much as I do!


This is my beautiful mother and I celebrating her 67th birthday yesterday. She is so lovely.

This is my son and my nephew, Jason, who looks just like Joshua at that age. This picture really stirs emotions in me. We were taking my son's senior pictures and we went to Memorial Island and as we were snapping pics by the penta-structure the little one was talking to my son whom he adores. This just reminds me of the bit of time that passes as they are little feet and then they become young men.

My son is one of the most patriotic young men I know. He has a love for this country that can sometimes make my heart feel like it's going to just explode with pride. This statue is a dedication to the POW's and the MIA's. Joshua will be enlisting after he graduates and I think you can see the look on his face. The men and women who have fought for the freedom in this country that we have will never be forgotten in this young man's heart. He will continue their legacy....and with pride.

It stands for our freedom....and you can't take that away....not on this young man's post!

Joshua and his younger cousin, Brendan.

Joshua sporting the football letterman jacket.

Joshua down by the fountains in his letterman jacket.

We will be making a booklet of his senior pictures for our family this year. It's going to encompass many more pictures just like these. We were really happy with how they turned out.

Thank you for sticking with me as I overflow with maternal pride. I pray the Lord blesses you today.