Tears of Joy

My granddaughter smiled at me today - a real smile - and I cried and my heart melted...

It truly doesn't get any better than this!  Thank You, Lord!

30 Years - I Keep On Lovin' You!

When I heard this Reba song, I felt like she was singing about me and Roger.  Happy Anniversary, Honey...

I Keep On Lovin' You by Reba McEntire

Love takes the patience of Job
That's what my Mama always said
Faith is the belief in something more than what you know
That's what the Good Book says
You gotta play the cards you got
Who knows what fate is holding
At times you gotta go without knowing where you're going

That's why I keep on lovin' you
I keep on lovin' you
Through the baby don't leave mes
And never will agains
And I promise tos
I keep on lovin' you

Lord knows we've had our share of fights
Our sleepless nights, our ups and downs
We've had plenty and then some of baby I'm gones and turnarounds
Sometimes I swear it might be easier to throw in the towel
Someday we're gonna look back
Say look at us now

That's why I keep on lovin' you
I keep on lovin' you
Through the baby don't leave mes
And never will agains
And I promise tos
I keep on lovin' you

Keep on lovin' you
Through the I take it backs...I didn't mean it like thats
I'd never hurt yous...Oh, I keep on lovin' you

I keep on lovin' you...I keep on lovin' you
Through the I take it backs...I didn't mean it like that
I'd never hurt yous...Oh, I keep on lovin' you
I keep on lovin' you...I keep on lovin' you

A Few Precious Moments

My son was home this weekend...he came home to meet his new niece...

We spent the weekend together just sitting around, talking, watching some tv, of course eating, and taking turns holding Leah.  Since Ryan and Chelsa moved away 10 years ago, these times have been few and far between so they are always precious to me.

I understand that my children have homes of their own and spouses and now children, but I still miss them.  I can't wait to see them and I cry when they leave.  Sometimes I dream about when they were little and I am upset when I wake up from those dreams.  I will never stop missing them.

You have a child and you get used to having them with you every moment and then one day they go off to school and you don't have them with you for several hours every day.  Then before you know it, they go off to college and you see them about every two weeks for a couple of days.  Then they get married and move away to a different state and you only see them twice or three times a year.

I guess it is the natural order of things, but it doesn't make it any easier for me.  I thank God that I still have one child close to home and I thank God that I can see her and my granddaughter often.  But my heart still aches to see the one who moved away.

 Thank You, Lord, for the precious time spent together this weekend.

Uncle Ryan Is Coming To Visit!

My son, Ryan, is coming on Friday to meet his new niece who is now one month old...

I can't wait for him to get here (I wish Chelsa could come, too, but she is babysitting my granddogs).  I look forward to seeing Ryan hold Leah and taking pictures of that - how sweet!

For This Child We Prayed....

...and the Lord granted us our petition...and we dedicate her to You for her whole life...

God is good!  Thank You, Lord!

Happy Mothers' Day, Allison!

This Sunday is my daughter's first Mothers' Day.  It has been a special privilege and gift from God to see my beautiful baby grow into a beautiful woman and then to see her mother her new daughter.  She is so patient and sweet to her.  I knew she would be a good mother because she has such a loving, kind heart.

Leah is going to be dedicated to the Lord on Sunday morning and this is the best gift any mother or grandmother could receive.  We will commit together as a family and as a church to raise her up to know and love the Lord.  What a huge commitment!

There is no greater joy than motherhood--and no greater responsibility.  We bring our babies into the world and then we teach and train them to grow up and be independent--and leave us.  It is the natural order of things.  We need to savor and enjoy and remember each moment because in about 18 years they leave home and all we have left are our memories.

Baby clothes and toys and all the "things" of motherhood are fun and exciting, but the greatest responsibility a mother has is to introduce her baby to Jesus and to disciple that child in the ways of God.  If we fail at this important job, we have failed as a mother.

I wish I could go back in time and do a better job, but we only get one chance.  We do the best we can with the knowledge we have at the time.  We need to make the most of our time with our children.  By God's grace, He does His part and we do ours.

Happy Mothers' Day, Sweet Daughter.  I love you, Momma

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Today my Daddy is 92!  So much has happened in his lifetime....a Depression, a World War, a Korean "conflict", Vietnam, telephones, cars, televisions, computers, cell phones...he has seen it all happen.  He is a very wise and godly man and I thank God he is my Daddy.

Time Flies When You're Having Fun!

30 years ago today Roger and I got married!

Yes, we were both thinner then....It doesn't seem like that long ago except that we have crammed a lifetime into those 30 years.  Two children, 4 houses, 3 dogs, 2 parakeets, 12 jobs, 2 lay-offs, countless cars and car repairs, 2 hurricanes, 2 baptisms, 3 churches, 3 graduations, 2 weddings, 2 more children who married our children, countless vacations and celebrations, 2 deaths, and now the birth of our granddaughter.  Sometimes days seem long at the time, but when you look back on 30 years it seems like a blink of the eye.

Some years have been better than others....there have definitely been arguments and fights, but even in the bad times we learned something about each other and something more about how to live together as man and wife.

If I could go back and do it all over again, would I?  Yes, but I wouldn't change much, just a few things...I would try to do a better job of being a wife and mother.  We do what we can with the knowledge we have at the time.  Thankfully, God forgives us and we forgive each other.

We would not be together today without our mutual faith in Jesus Christ.  I don't know how couples stay together when they don't know the Lord.  We also have a mutual love for our family and the belief that family comes first.  Nothing and no one is more important to us than our family.

Marriage is hard work - is it worth it?  Yes, look at the results so far...

I thank God for the years I have spent with Roger and for all the blessings He has given to me and my family.

The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. 

Psalm 126:3