Wordless Wednesday

Count Your Blessings, Literally

Since hearing that Larry's job will be ending soon, I've really been overwhelmed with all the decisions we are facing regarding our future. So much is up in the air. Still, I have much to be grateful for. I also made a promise to praise Him through the storm and that's what I intend to do. I decided to make a list of my blessings, some new and some old, that I am so very thankful for.

** Disclaimer** They are NOT listed in order of importance or value. :)

1. My salvation at ten years old (well, this one IS number one.) More importantly, I'm thankful for, and to, the one that made salvation possible. He who first loved me.
2. My husband who is willing to sacrifice what he wants in order to provide for us. The fact that he is a great father--- and his children realize it.
3. Our six amazing, beautiful, brilliant daughters.
4. My mother and sisters that have ALWAYS been there for me.
5. Our sons-in-law that we love and, more importantly, that love our daughters.
6. Our six amazing, gorgeous, brilliant grandchildren. =)
7. My awesome network of extended family. I love my aunts, uncles, and cousins. And my stepmother, father, and nieces and nephews. And most of my in-laws. ;)
8. That I grew up surrounded by six loving grandparents. They gave me roots and also sowed the first seeds of faith in my life.
9. Our church family. I've never been to any other church where everyone genuinely loves each other. And they will know you by the love you have for one another.
10. My job, especially now. ;-) And the awesome women I work with.
11. Babies! (enough said)
12. Leon's sweet disposition and his precious belly laugh. I'm thankful that I can have him the whole week of Thanksgiving. Yay for me!
13. Yesterday, when my husband was asked if he hunted, he replied that he doesn't have time because his family is his hobby. :)
14. I love that Harlee says she loves her Poppa the best. Aww.
15. I love that Mason says he loves Mimi the best. Still melts my heart. :)
16. I love that Noah says he loves Poppa and Mimi. Such a diplomat. lol
17. I love that Becca looks for houses with for sale signs (and reports to us when she finds one)because she wants us to live near her.
18. I love that Lauren is comically quirky.
19. I am SO thankful that God completely delivered Shelbi from Selective Mutism this year!
20. My little sister's MS is in remission! Yay!
21. Larry's job offer, even if he decides to turn it down. It's good just to know you're wanted. I know that from experience.
22. My house is warm in the winter, cool in the summer. I have food in the cabinets and the fridge and when I don't, Wal-Mart is .4 miles away.
23. I have the means (right now :) to sponsor two Compassion children, Latifa and John Dave.
24. Every month, when I put my St. Jude withdrawal in the checkbook, I'm grateful Shelbi did not have leukemia 16 years ago.
25. I have friends that know me and still love/tolerate me anyway. =) Mind boggling, I know.
26. Grants, scholarships, and even the loans that helped me return to school 12 years ago.
27. Computers, Internet, and cell phones that keep us connected to our loved ones.
28. Cameras that capture beautiful, treasured memories.
29. Seeing my daughters in gorgeous wedding gowns/bridesmaid/prom dresses. =)
30. Watching my husband in his tux when he gave four of them away.
31. My grandchildren are my favorite little people on the planet. I hope we are best friends when they grow up like my Nannie and I were. I hope they never stop missing and loving me, even after I'm gone.
32. I own old black and white (and more recent) pictures of family members that are gone.

I love that things are going to pop into my head later and I'll have to add to this list. I am trusting that this list will get longer each year.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Don't forget to GIVE THANKS! =)

Noah is 8 Years (and one day) Old

Our second daughter, Stephanie, had an ultrasound on 6/1/01 and we found out we were getting our first grandson. When she came by that afternoon with the sonogram pictures, Larry said, "I'll believe it when I see it!" LOL At this time we had our six girls and our first granddaughter was 4 months old. Larry couldn't even wrap his head around the possibility of not being the only family member with testosterone.

November 4th, Kenneth "Noah" arrived.

Boy oh boy, we were headed on a new adventure. We wondered if we'd even know what to do with a little boy. People say girls are harder to raise, but when you have nothing else, it's kind of hard to imagine any different. Of course, everyone know babies are all the same, right? Not true of this one. While most infants prefer women over men, Noah was born to be all boy. He was a sweet baby who loved all of us, but would tremble with delight when he heard his Daddy or Poppa talk.

I LOVE the look of total adoration in this one as he looks up at Poppa. =) He's six months here.

About a year and a half. This one was SO Noah! You could never take your shoes off when he was around without him jumping into them. This kid had a shoe fettish early on. That, he gets from his Momma. ;)

At his 2nd birthday party. Long before this picture, Noah was a funny kid. He kept us entertained with tricks, antics, and funny faces.



At 2 1/2, he became a big brother to Mason. Look at that little ham!

At three, he still loved putting on other people's clothes. :)

At four, he was the ring bearer in his Aunt Leslie's wedding. That's a whole 'nother post. LOL I always fall for a man in a tuxedo! Doesn't he look handsome?! And Becca looked like a little princess! Such adorable grandkids--- I'll bet everybody wishes theirs were as cute as ours. ;)

Here's one of my favorites of him with his little brother, Mason. They were 5 and 2 in this one.

Six years old, with his Mommy at his Kindergarten Graduation reception. You think they are kin? If he were a girl, he'd be her clone. :)

Last year, at his seventh birthday party. He had to have a "John Deere" tractor cake. (Yes, Nicki! lol)

He's a great big brother to Harlee (almost 3)! He will do anything for this bossy little sister, except take his eyes off of the Nintendo DS. hehe

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NOAH!

WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!

MIMI, POPPA, & AUNT SHELBI

Sorry this is a day late! So glad you had a great day yesterday! =)

Wordless Wednesday

Processing, Praying, and Praising....

Thursday evening as I was heading home after a LONG work day, I called my sister and asked if she and her husband needed help at their deer processing business. A church friend had just told me Wednesday night that her husband was laid off and I thought Becky might need some help since deer season started. An hour later, I'm calling her again. This time I tell her to save a spot for Larry, too. Right after I had arrived home, Larry asked me to sit down. I took one look at his face and said, "Did you lose your job?" Yep, that's right. The paper mill he's worked at for the past 6 1/2 years is closing its doors on Dec. 26th. His supervisor had called him that morning and Larry carried the burden alone until that night. He'd even been to my school that day helping set up for the Fall Festival and never let on. He said he didn't want to tell me while I was at work. Here he was--- sick over this news, but more concerned with how I'd handle it. Such a good man! I was sick for him. He's been with this same company for almost 34 years. The local mill closed July 2003 and that's when he transferred to this one. He's been driving back and forth 70 miles each way, each work day.

Everyone I told asked, "What are y'all going to do?" Good question! =) Though it's kind of hard to answer that just an hour after you've been told. lol We're praying, weighing options, and trying to wait patiently for an answer. (I said "trying"--- no promises. We're talking only 2 months warning, people. Not much time for patience.) He can put in for a transfer again, which he might do, but all the mills, like everything else, are struggling so there are NO guarantees that they're hiring or that they'll even be open much longer. If we do move, the school system has to be taken into consideration because I'll have to change jobs again, too. (Which I really hate to think about. I'm just getting settled.) He can get some retirement, but not enough to cover bills and health insurance, which will now have to come out of my pay. He's not old enough to really retire, even if he does qualify for AARP =), so he'll find something to supplement that income.

On the positive side, I did just get a job that doubled my previous pay, remember? And has insurance benefits! I'm so thankful for that! Our vehicles are old, but also paid for. Our house has actually appreciated! That's a biggie nowadays. We do not have a short term savings, but we do have a 401K that we can cash in 5 years from now without a penalty. And we can take it out and pay the penalty, if worse comes to worst. I guess going through it six years ago (when he lacked 2 years getting even a small retirement) made it easier this time. We survived through the closure, the demotion, the decrease in pay, and him driving 3 hours a day. This time we are more confident that "This too shall pass." Today, Larry posted my favorite scripture on Facebook. This scripture got me through a rough situation eight years ago. Almost every Christian can quote it or, at least, is familiar with it. Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." We usually stop there, but the next two verses, though seldom quoted, are even more important. Jeremiah 29:12-13 "Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

"Praising through the storm" has become a popular phrase lately. I'm going to put that into practice. Hold me to that, okay? ;) Oh, and it is perfectly fine with me if you want to pray for us and the others going through this. I'm sure they won't mind. Some of them have a lot more to lose than we do.

Speaking of praise--- if you enjoy Angie's blog Bring the Rain, head on over there. And praise your little heart out!!!!! If you haven't read her blog before, then you're way over due. =)

PS One more praise---- if you can stand it! Tomorrow I get this little guy again for four whole days! YES!!! Now, don't be jealous! ;)

Wordless Wednesday

Lauren Turns Five!!!

Our second granddaughter (and fourth grandchild), Lauren Elizabeth, was born 5 years ago today. We got a phone call at 6:37 am that Debbie's (her mom) water had broken. They lived 5 hours away, so I got dressed and started packing while waiting on Larry who was an hour away on his way home from work. Needless to say, we "flew" to the hospital and arrived in plenty of time to meet Lauren. This is her sister, Rebecca, meeting her for the first time. So sweet!

Four months old

First Birthday!! This mess left a nice brown ring around Debbie's tub. ;)

Two years old

This is her signature sign that she needs a nap. She rubbed her tag every time she got sleepy!

Third birthday party. Love the static hair! ;-)

These two pictures were taken during their week long visit this past July.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LAUREN!!!

WE LOVE YOU!!!

MIMI, POPPA, & AUNT SHELBI

Happy Birthday, Ma (aka Doris E/MawMaw)

Lauren's not the only one celebrating a birthday today! Larry's mom, my mom-in-law, has one too! I won't put her age on here--- she'd hate me! If you've seen my previous family birthday posts, you'd know we have several double birthdays in our family! Lauren's sister Becca shares hers with her Poppa (Larry) and my stepdaughter, Leslie, shares hers with my sister, Becky. Anyway, Lauren was born on her great-grandmother's. Thought that was pretty neat.

This is one of the few fairly new pictures I have of her that I think she'd approve of. This is her with her favorite son at his 50th birthday party.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

LOVE,

LARRY, PENNY, & SHELBI