Merry Christmas

 
 
 

Merry Christmas! We had a great family Christmas this year.
My parents came up from Atlanta to spend a few days. We had a celebration time with both sides of the family a couple of days before. It was great to have everyone together. I also enjoyed having Michelle with us (my sister by choice!). Thanks everyone for making this a great Christmas!

The tattoo process....

 

 
 
 

Half way to 70.....

I hope my birthday at 70 is as much fun as today was!
I always try to post a photo of me on my birthday. This year you are getting a "back" view! HA!
The tattoo was the big highlight of my day.
I have been planning for it for awhile and decided about a year ago that 35 would be the year. Why a dragonfly you ask?
Well, it has significance to me.
My mom once told me that when she sits outside on her deck the dragonflies come and land on you and they are incredibly still. She said that it reminded her of the scripture Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God."
Since that time we have exchanged dragonfly gifts and even have matching necklaces that she wears everyday.
I decided if I got another tattoo that it would have to really mean something.
Throughout the past year I have continually come back to this scripture. I know that God wants me to let Him be in charge. Sometimes that is a difficult thing for me to do. Being a control freak (in recovery) it is so hard to not want to tell God what I think He should be doing and try to do His job for Him.
Hmmm...doesn't work to well, trust me.
So, after getting a good friend to draw this beautiful art piece, I now have a forever reminder that God is the one in control. I just need to be still and rest in Him!

Gingerbread House gone bad....

 

 

 

I thought it would be a fun thing to make a gingerbread house this year. I have never made one in my entire life (my mother deprived me, I mean she was smart). It seemed like a very simple project. I bought the one that comes already for assembly. You don't even have to make icing, or buy candy, it is all in there.
So, how hard can it be. Perhaps there is something to reading directions before hand....
It seemed like it was going well. I had the walls and roof all in place and we started the decorating part. Harrison was enjoying sampling the candy from each bag. Julia was being artistic in her designs. Then the roof started to slide. I fixed it and held it, and was getting frustrated that my perfect craft was not working. Mind you, I love crafts, but I don't do them with my children because I hate messes and I am a perfectionist and they just simply don't do them right!
(I am working on that in therapy)
Anyway, I thought the kids would be very sad that our gingerbread house was just not going to work. They however, thought it was absolutely great that is wasn't working because they so kindly offered to eat it instead!

Trick or Treat?

Here are some photos of Dorothy and Batman. We had a great night trick or treating. I have to say I was absolutely amazed at the event in Spring Hill.
It is such a family community and this was no different. Most neighborhoods have sidewalks and everyone is out and involved. Our community group gave out hotdogs, chili and hot chocolate. It was fun and safe....have I said how much I love SH?
It is just nice to be in a place where you don't have to worry all the time.

The prayers of a child

Julia has started a prayer journal. I discovered it the other night under her pillow. She wrote this prayer the night my parents had major flooding in Atlanta.
I love to see her sweet heart out on paper. Julia is pretty shy and never prays outloud with us and she rarely shares her feelings. Being the social worker (and very open about my feelings!)I worry about her. Finding this was the best gift to me.

Fiona

 

 

 

We have a new addition in the family! We decided to get Harrison a "real" dog for his birthday. Fiona (as named by the Williamson County Animal Shelter) is a 9 week old Beagle/Australian Shepard Mix. She has been a lot of fun. Harrison loves her. I however, forgot what it was like to have a puppy. Just wanted to share a few pics of our new baby!

That's my Boy!

 

 

 

First Day of Second Grade

Julia started Second Grade today! Can't believe how fast time is going.

Sunflower

 

 

We planted a few Sunflowers this year. It is amazing how something so big can come out of such a tiny seed.
I took both of these pictures today of the same flower just hours apart.

Continued Growth

 
 
 
 

Just like our lives are continually growing, so is my garden!
It has been fun to nurture and grow such a beautiful garden. I have had lots of cucumbers in the past week. They have given me the opportunity to reach out to my neighbors and share. I am not normally a person who can go meet strangers and strike up conversation. Cucumbers have been a device to allow me to knock on neighbors doors and even be invited in! What a great gift God has given me!

Vacation time for Mama and Dee~

 

 

 

 

Paul and I went on our first vacation together in about hmmm....15 years!
We had a good time going to Florida. Paul was a great hubby and spent the day at the beach and pool with me. It was fun to relax in the sun (Paul, who rarely is in the sun managed to get burned). The first photo is of us with Paul's Grandmother...we had a great time visiting with her on our stop in Jacksonville.
We then went to Orlando for a couple of days (yes, without the kids!) Paul decided after we got there that he felt a little bad about not bringing the kids. Disney area just isn't the same without the kids. We spent a day at Universal Studios, because of the Simpson's Ride. It was a great ride, but overall the park was lacking. We had a good day though. Paul's favorite part was probably our stop in Daytona at the Harley Davidson store. For me it was fun just to get away and be us without the kids. Hopefully, it won't be another 15 years before we get away again!

Happy Father's Day Paul

 
 

Happy Father's Day Paul... Thanks for being the father of my children!

Happy Anniversary!

 

 

Today we celebrated 15 years of marriage. We had a special celebration day with the kids. It was a wonderful day that I will always treasure. I look back at 15 years ago saying my vows (at 19!) and I had no idea how hard marriage would be. I don't think anyone does. Today being able to say them again, I was able to really understand and know what I was committing to. God has our family on an journey and I am so glad that I have such wonderful partners in our walk.

I love living here!

This is a normal sight over my house! I love it!

Growth

My garden is growing! It is fun to watch the growth happen in the yard.