missing my baby girl

My youngest daughter is in college. I have not gotten to see her much lately and it just seems like when I do see her all our family is together so I don't get one on one time with her. I think I am going to hang out with my baby(yes she is my baby even if she is in college). I miss her, Emily here I come.(alisha too)Going to the mountains this weekend.

I Choose to believe

My devotion the other day was SO what I needed. It talked about serving leftovers to company.That is something you would probably never do if you were trying to treat someone very special. The author then related it to our walk with God and giving God our leftovers. How many times do we give God the last of our energy rather than the first and best? God does require all of our lives. I am dealing with my oldest daughter, husband, and grandchildren leaving this year to go into the foreign mission field. I have not responded to God with my best. I have been selfish and self centered, because I love them so and don't want to be without them. I dont want to miss birthday's, holidays and just ordinary times together. I don't want to miss them.It breaks my heart to think about it. You see, it has been all about me. What is wrong with this picture? God is asking me like Abraham to give up my child.(and in this case my son-in-law and grandchildren). He isn't asking me to sacrifice them in the same way as Abraham, but He is asking me to give them up for His work and service. I want to please the Lord and no matter how this hurts, I trust God. I know He has a bigger plan than me having time with my family. I am encouraged. I am not alone. God may never let them actually go,or He may allow them to minister abroad for the rest of their lives. No matter what, I choose to believe that God is working all things out for their good and mine and His glory. I choose to believe God.

In the past week I have enjoyed a facial, a hair cut, and a pedicure. I have gotten to shop for new clothes and a book. I even treated myself with a free coupon for a coffee. Boy, am I spoiled. All of this courtesy of my family for my birthday.(except the haircut that was from ME!) I rarely take time for myself like this and really enjoy it when I do. I am thankful for the pampering. Sometimes in life you just really need that. If you are a bit in the dumps and ready for spring or just need time out of the norm. Try one of these pamperings. It will change your attitude.

Birthday message

This is ONE reason I love being a grandmother. It made my birthday special! My sweet, sweet birthday message! Thanks Olivia and Hudson! Grammy loves you!

could there be anything better?

Being a grandmother is the best job I've ever had. The love and peace I feel holding my grandson or having my granddaughter reach for me and saying" Ammy" is better than anything this life has to offer other than Jesus!"Olivia and Hudson, Grammy loves you!"

engagment dinner

January 24, 2009 was a day we celebrated the engagement of James McGinn and Alisha Burger. Tom and I hosted a dinner for both families and grandparents from both sides. We enjoyed a dinner of chicken parmesian,salad, rolls and a delicious chocolate cake. It was a very nice time to celebrate a special couple. Congratulations James and Alisha we wish you the best!

had a great trip

OK, so I am back and right on time. No snow holding us back other than it snowed in North Carolina the morning we returned. But as our traveling luck would have it there was no delay nor was there snow here when we returned. Tom and I had a great trip to MN. It was soooooo cold though that there was not much chance to do the outdoor stuff. -27 degrees without windchill is just a little crazy. We had a nice visit with my family and got to eat more than is humanly possible.( and I am not talking about healthy food, I am talking junk food.) We played games, laughed, ate and ate some more. We worked a little too. All in all it was great. Thanks all you Minnesotans, your hospitality was appreciated.

winter funk

I have been in a winter funk! It's been rainy here for days and I have had headaches. It just seems like this time of year after all the hub bub of the holiday season I get in the funk. So my hubby and I are going on a trip. Don't know if this will help but it is to MINNESOTA in the winter. Are we crazy or what? Hubby says he needs to get his winter in. Since we live in the south, we really dont get much winter. Hope this helps with my funk and lets him get his winter in. If I don't blog for awhile, it might be we just got stuck in winter.

Got a minute?

Life has not seemed normal lately, with holidays, vacation and kids home and work schedule different and planning Alisha's wedding, everything seems abnormal. I don't like when life is the same ole, same ole.....but there is some comfort in routine. I haven't prayed like I know I should and I am sure that is where my frustration lies. Isn't it wonderful to know that God never changes but also He is never routine, dull or boring? When I am discouraged or feel out of sorts all I need to do is spend a minute in prayer or read the Good Book and presto, my life seems to have perspective again!
But let all who take refuge in You be glad, Let them ever sing for joy;And may You shelter them. That those who love Your name may exult in You. For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O Lord, You surround him with favor as with a shield. Psalms 5:11-12

Happy engagement

So much has happened in the past few weeks. But the main news is Alisha is engaged to James. All our family is very happy and excited. We very much love James as one of our own. Now we are getting into the planning and it is very much fun. Here is a picture of the happy couple.

Christmas favorites

I was tagged by Sheila for my Christmas favorites...
Favorite Tree: A real one for sure. Love the pine smell. This year is probably my favorite as our whole family helped decorate...even boyfriends of Alisha and Emily. Best of all Olivia helped. That alone makes it my favorite.
Favorite ornament: I have all our girls babies firt Christmas ornaments from the Precious Moments collection.
Favorite Christmas Song: Joy to the World.
Favorite Tradition: Reading the Christmas story by tree-light on Christmas Eve and then opening one gift each!
Favorite gift: I have had so many wonderful ones I cant pick, but I suppose the best gift is being able to be with family and watch them open gifts together.
Favorite Meal: Christmas eve meal with Pizza, wings, taco dip, shrimp. Yummmy!
Favorite Cookie: Sugar cutouts....I also like my brother Paul's chocolate star cookies.
Favorite Place to be: Home with my crazy fun family.
Favorite Memory: Being a child and having the most wonderful white christmas snow fall on Christmas day as my grandparents came up to our house for the day. Absolutely engraved in my heart. I also loved the time we gave our girls a trampoline and did a scavenger hunt for them to get to the big gift outside. (Watching Tom put it together outside on Christmas eve on one of the coldest days of the year was pretty memorable too.)
Favorite Movie: How can I pick a favorite there are so many. Elf, It's a wonderful life, Scrooge, The Little Drummer Boy cartoon.

I tag Tom and Jayme and Liz.

Happy Birthday Tom

Happy Birthday to the one I have loved for over 28 years. I hope this is the best year you have ever had. I love you.

Christmas is a coming.....

I love that old song, Christmas is a coming and the lights are on the tree. The version I knew was sung by Loren Green. Nothing reminds me of Christmas growning up more than that song on his Christmas album. I like thinking about lights on the tree. Light is an awesome thing. Jesus is the light of the world. There are so many verses about light in the Bible. This time of year especially I like to think about those verses as I look at the lights on my own Christmas tree. God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5 That is something positive to ponder in our world of darkness. Are you looking to the True Light for all your answers? May your Christmas season be filled with God's light!

Thankfulness

Since we are one day away from Thanksgiving I am going to post a 30 reasons for thankfulness list. I am thankful all year but never as thankful as I should be. Why don't you list your reasons to be thankful and keep them handy for times you don't feel thankful.
1. Jesus
2. Tom my hubby
3. My girls.. Sheila, Alisha, Emily
4. My Olivia and Hudson (grandchildren)
5. As Tom puts it when he prays (our boys) That is our girls husbands and boyfriends!
6. Our home
7. Flannel sheets in winter
8. Hot meals
9. a job
10. the use of all my senses
11. My family in Minnesota
12. Bible
13. my cats Chicken Nugget and Titus
14. water to drink and the Sweet Tea it makes
15. my car
16. Our church
17. Friends
18. Bible study class
19. Hiking
20. The heart to help others in need
21. music
22. Christian novels
23. leaves that fall
24 flowers that bloom
25. oceans to swim in
26. snow to play in and hot chocolate after
27. laughter
28. giving gifts
29. smell of a fresh cut christmas tree
30. snuggle time with the ones Ilove.

Hudson Isaiah

November 14, 2008 a very special day when Hudson Isaiah came into the world at 11:34 am weighing 8 pounds and 3 ounces. He is so beautiful and has made me a very happy grammy.

cleaning can be fun

I spent the weekend at my daughter, Sheila's house to help her get her NEST ready for the new baby coming next week. We cleaned from top to bottom and it was fun. REALLY, I love cleaning and organizing, so this is my idea of a great time. To make it even more fun, my little granddaughter Olivia was helping. What could be better than that. Well only 4 more days until the family of three will be a family of four.

Give me Your eyes

I have heard this song for a few weeks now on christian radio and love it. Take a minute to listen and watch.....Brandon Heath's Give me Your eyes.
http://www.brandonheath.net/updatesinfo.php?id=10

Keeping Olivia the funnest time ever

As you can see our time has been filled. It is a joy to play with our Olivia and laugh with her and see how much she already knows. We love her.
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Enjoying relaxing time with grandpa.

A moment to enjoy the beauty of flowers.

Grandpa's idea, Build a Bear!

Breakfast is fun and early!

My little fall cutie

What can I say. I am proud of my little Olivia. She is her grammy's favorite little bug. She is getting so big and fun to watch. Here she is with a pumpkin that her grandpa(baba) got her when she visited this past weekend. And she is wearing a kitty shirt that her grammy picked out for her. Emily her auntie is enjoying her too as you can see from the photo. The kitty is to make her giggle 'cause it is so cute when she does that. Fall is a wonderful time of year, but having Olivia around makes it even better.

Fall is here

I love days like this when the sun is shining the breeze is blowing and you get the beginning hint of color starting on the leaves. When you have friends to do things with and good food. God is amazing. What do you think?!