Miracles in the Flesh

Our God is a miracle maker!  No matter how many times I witness His marvelous works~ miracles always overwhelm me and words seem insufficient.  Seeing our preacher's wife "home" this morning, in our midst, with their brand new daughter was amazing beyond description!  Calley was missed so badly!  It was so good to welcome her home, to meet their miracle, to see their family complete and together (in the flesh) for the first time in a couple of weeks... let's just say there were tears, lumps in throats, and a thankfulness in the air this morning that was palpable.  I feel so blessed and priviledged to have walked alongside them on their adoption journey.  To touch a miracle in the flesh!  To witness the miracle of a family built by God, in His timing, spanning a continent, and the hearts He touched along the way.  There are no words that I can think of that truly capture that experience.  God truly does work in mysterious ways~ too great for the human mind to comprehend.  Just standing in awe at His work.  :)
Wish I had a picture to post, but there are plenty HERE if you want to check out this miracle for yourself.  :)
Welcome to the Reed family, Camila, where you will be loved beyond imagination!  You have NO idea what an amazing family you've been "birthed" into~ and how wanted you are!  :)  Welcome to Cornerstone Church~ your church family that has interceded for you and begged God for your safe "delivery."  We loved you before we knew you and are so excited to FINALLY meet you in person!  I pray you never enter the doors without feeling our love for you and your family.  And finally, welcome to America~ I hope we serve you well and you learn to love our country as your mommy and daddy have learned to love your birth country.  You are a miracle and loved by so many people~ many you may never meet this side of Heaven, but love you just the same.  :)

"Your people will be my people and your God my God."  Ruth 1:16.  Our God is THE God, Camila, that brought you your family!  Therefore, He has always been "our" God, but you are now "our" people and we are yours.  God bless!  :)

Dear Santa...

This is Leon's third Christmas and he is really into it this year.  He's oohing and ahing over all the lights and trees, asking for things, opening presents, and talking to Santa.  :)  Shelbi and I went to Gulfport (where he and his mommy moved a few months ago) and picked up Leon for a few days.  I haven't seen him in three months and it was getting unbearable.  On the way home we searched for houses lit up in the dark.  He would get so excited every time he saw "Krismus wights."  I said, "Leon, you like Christmas lights, buddy?"  He answered, "Yeah!  and cheese... and cereal."  LOL  This kid cracks me up!  Later, he snuggled up in the recliner with his Poppa and just sat staring at my living room tree.  In awe, he looked up and asked, "Poppa, did you make that tree?"  Larry told him, "No, Mimi did."  Leon looked up at me with the sweetest expression and said, "Mimi, good job on that tree!"  Man, this boy melts my heart.  :)

Saturday, we went to my dad and stepmom's in Pearl, MS, for their Christmas dinner.  Before my stepmom could finish her plate, Leon was under her telling her he was "ready to open pwesents."  heehee  After lunch, we took him to Bass Pro near their house to see Santa.  His first Christmas with Santa picture was pitiful~ a local Santa with an eye infection produced a creepy looking picture.  Click HERE to see that one again.  Last year, another mall Santa was no better~ he closed both eyes and looked asleep when we got the picture.  (Neither mall allowed me to take my own pictures.)  Bass Pro let me take my own.  I couldn't take many because I didn't want to hold up the hours long line, but I got a couple of keepers.  :)

Leon walked right up, took Santa's hand (probably didn't hurt that it had a "canny cane" in it), and climbed right up into his lap.  He looks a little stiff in the first picture, but at least he's not crying like some kids.  :)

Then, I suggested he tell Santa what he wanted so I could get a "relationship" picture I was craving.  He turned and said, "I want a wagon."  Then he proceeded to tell the big guy that he has been "peeing in the potty."  LOL  Santa was very impressed and told him what a "big boy" he is.  :)

I LOVE this picture!

One of the gifts he got Saturday was a Woody doll from my sister, Becky.  He loved it!  He pulled the string several times on the two hour drive back to my house.  "There's a snake in my boot!" cracked him up every time.  Then, he'd tell me, "You're my favorite dekudee."  (deputy) 

In case you're wondering if we've discussed the real meaning of Christmas with him, he also piped up with "I love Jesus!  I love birfdays, too!"  :)

So far, this has been the best Christmas~ and it's not even Sunday yet.  This is why two to five is my favorite age span.  :) 

Leslie and Her New Family!!! :)

My youngest, red-headed stepchild, Leslie remarried today.  The bride was beautiful, the location (in an old chapel) was perfect, and we gained a new son-law and two new grands.  :)  Omar, the groom, is a great Christian (most importantly) and father to his two kids.  We actually didn't meet him until an hour or two before the wedding.  lol  Everyone there, though, kept telling us how wonderful he is and how much he loves Leslie.  He also came with two of the cutest, sweetest, funniest kids!  (I sound like a Mimi already.  lol)  I can't believe my baby stepdaughter is now a stepmom herself!  :)   

The ceremony.

"I do."  He was so nervous!  It was cute.

With this ring...

Love the look on her face... pure joy!

Another picture of joy!

Cinderella's slipper  ;)

Our newest granddaughter~ Hayley.  Isn't she pretty?

The newest grandson~ Gian (John)  He wouldn't smile until his dad tickled him!  So cute!

The whole family

Leslie, Omar, Hayley and Gian

I LOVE this picture!  (and the people, too)

We are very happy Leslie got such a great instant family!  :)

The reception.....

The cake was beautiful... and delicious.  :)

The bouquet and the rings.

Omar's favorite!

The kidnapped bride~ She's yelling, "HELP!"  Hilarious!!! 

My absolute favorite!!!!  :)  What a cast of CHARACTERS!

They should have a LOT of family fun!

CONGRATULATIONS, LESLIE & OMAR!!!

Welcome to our family, Omar, Hayley & Gian!  We are so blessed!  :)

Updated Photography Blog :)

It's been MONTHS since I posted on my photography blog.  Just been really busy and the only pictures I've taken in forever were of the grands.  Those I posted on here and Facebook.  Finally took some Senior portraits again.  This post is for my niece, Hayley, who begged to be on the blog.  LOL  Soon, I'll post the other Senior girl's pictures.  And maybe a few from the wedding last month and the one I'm doing in a few hours.  Busy~ but FUN!  :)
Click HERE  to see the updated blog post.

Christmas with my Dad and Stepmom

Last Saturday, we all gathered at my dad and stepmother's to celebrate Christmas with them.  This was the first time in years that all 10 granddaughters could make it.  Plus the only two great-grandbabies.  Now that I'm a "Mimi," I know how much that means to parents/grandparents when they get to have everybody together at one time~ you know, outside of funerals. It's so hard to synchronize schedules when your children leave home~ not to mention what's it like to coordinate with grown grandchildren, too.  It's a true miracle when all the schedules work out.  I was so glad my Dad and Margie were able to have everyone this year.   Larry and I will have all of our daughters and grandchildren here Christmas evening for the first time in years, too.  Two years ago New Year's was the last time they were all here together.  I can't wait to get a picture of all the grands together.  :) 

Here is my Dad (Paw Paw) with my great-niece, Marley Nicole!  :)

My pretty girl is so precious in her Christmas tutu outfit her Aunt Courtney got her.

LOVE this booty shot!  :)

She tried to help Leon open his coupe car, but then Paw Paw pushed her present over to her.

Leon, with his OCD, was not satisfied until every piece of paper and tape was off the box.  ;)

Marley was content to pat her box and play with the bow.  Silly girl!

Paw Paw was even more excited than Leon about the car and dumped the contents all over the floor.  LOL

Someone didn't hesitate to try it out.

Riding in cars with boys!  First picture of the cousins together.  Wish my brothers were here to see this!  ;(

(We really miss you Ronnie and Keith.  You're never far from our thoughts.)

Be careful what you wish for.  Leon had been asking to "hold" Marley, but when he finally got to~ he wasn't thrilled!  haha  Looks like he's pointing for her to look the other way, but I think he was pointing to someone to get her off his lap.  ;)

Momma, Lindsey, was teasing baby girl!

And the fake smiling begins~ this is Leon "cheesing" on command.  Looks more like he is in pain.  Hilarious!

Man, this is a load of girls!  My daddy fathered three daughters and between us and his two (step) sons, we gave him and my stepmother TEN granddaughters!  (Not even one grandson!)  He doesn't look too miserable about it, does he?  :)  Leon is the first great-grandchild and only boy born into the family so far.  He looks so out of place.  LOL

Until you start trying to get professional looking pictures, you don't realize how impossible it is to get 16 people to look in the same direction at the same time!  (And no, I have no idea what Shelbi is doing!  ha)

MERRY CHRISTMAS, DAD & MARGIE!  I LOVE YOU!

HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE DAY AS MUCH AS I DID!

September~ Family and Football

Leon was here twice the month of September.  We took him home Labor Day.  Then that Thursday, Sarah called from the ER.  She and Leon were both sick~ he had bronchitis.  She was also moving to another house.  We went back and picked Leon up.  The first few days, he was running a fever and felt awful.  By the third day he was up and running around~ back to his sweet, happy little self.  He ended up staying with us for two weeks.  Boy, was it hard to take him home!!! 

See him loving on Baby Bop?  This boy loves him some Barney.  His Aunt Shelbi did, too, and we still have her stuffed Barney and Bop from 17 years ago.  :)

My little maestro.  This was before Poppa caught him later on top of the ivories, playing with Mimi's Willow Tree nativity scene.  (Yes, these are September pictures, but it stays up all year.)

 All of the grands love playing peek a boo in our curtains.  I think I have pictures of all six doing this at his age.

His cousin, Amber, came over to visit Leon.  Sarah and Amber are 12 days apart and grew up very close.

Our oldest grandson played youth league football this fall.  Noah played center and did an awesome job.  His team won the "Super Bowl."  :)

Next up, October Balloon Race weekend and Trunk or Treat.  Hey, at least I'm catching up.  Give a lazy girl a break.

Counting my Blessings cont.

Last year I posted a list of things I am thankful for.  You can find the list HERE.  Just wanted to add some to the list.  Since I am still thankful for the first 32 things on my list, I'll just pick up where I left off.  :)

33.  My husband and I decided, through a lot of prayer and tears, that he would take his early retirement from the paper mill after 34 years and three transfers and come home.  Of course, early retirement is not as much as full, so he had to get another job.  Fortunately, when we bought this house it came with amazing, Christian neighbors and one of them offered him a job at his company two weeks before he returned home.  So Larry came home on a Saturday and started his job on Monday.  God is good!

34.  I LOVE my school I teach at and am so very thankful I get to stay.  I couldn't ask for a more Christian environment to work in~ and it is a public school.  It also has insurance benefits that helped make Larry giving up his job a lot easier and possible.  :)

35.  My mom had hernia surgery this year and did amazing~ she hardly even took pain medicine after.  My stepdaughter, Stephanie, had major surgery this year and God brought her through that as well.  :)

36.  My "baby" graduated high school in May with honors.  She received three scholarships to a Christian college only an hour and a half from home.  She comes home almost every weekend, so our "empty nest" hasn't been totally emptied yet.  Also, her going to college after struggling with Selective Mutism for years, still amazes me.  I am stilled awed by the miracles God performed in her life.

37.  I am thankful that I get to spend holidays with our daughters and grandchildren.  Three will be here for Thanksgiving and four Christmas Day.  The other two will be in after Christmas.  This year we might have a day with all six girls and all six grands at one time.  That will be the first time to have all six girls together since Christmas two years ago when Sarah was seven months pregnant with Leon.  I also can't remember when I had all six grandchildren here together.  Yay!

38.  My niece, Lindsey, had her first child (my brother's first grandchild) this January.  She, Marley, is absolutely beautiful.  I wish my brother were alive to see her, but am so thankful he lives on in a new generation.

39.  Being a teacher, I get every holiday off.  I am VERY thankful for that.  :)

40.  I have the best friend and friend-in-law in the world!  While Larry was working and living in Texas, my ten year old van gave up the ghost and we could not afford to purchase a vehicle while supporting two households.  Cristi and Todd not only loaned me their extra vehicle, they signed it over to us!  I never expected them to be so generous!  When Larry came home, I found a used car at a really great price.  We were able to let Larry's mom have his work car so she'd have a way to take her 96 year old mom back and forth to doctor visits.  Then, Larry got a great deal on a truck he bought from his uncle.  We loaned Sarah the van from our friends after her transmission went out in her vehicle, so she could continue her college classes.  A LOT of blessings were shared because of our friends' generosity.  As soon as Sarah can afford another vehicle, we will pass the van to another in need.  Thanks again, Todd and Cristi.  We love you two!

Guess that's it for today.  As soon as I can get my pictures transferred from my cantankerous laptop, I'll post the pictures of the grands in their Trick or Treat costumes.  Until then, I wish all my blogger friends a wonderful Thanksgiving.  :)

What are you especially thankful for this year?

Prayer Request

My cousin, Jeff, lost his wife unexpectedly this morning.  Vicki went into cardiac arrest early this morning and my cousin administered CPR, but could not revive her.  Neither could the EMT's.  She was only 51.  Besides being a wife, Vicki was also the mother of three daughters, a stepmother to my cousin's son, and a grandmother to four little ones~ one of whom was at her home when she passed away.  Poor little fellow!  Her parents and siblings are also devastated.  My heart breaks for all of them.  Such a tragedy!  Please join me in prayer for her husband and the rest of their family.
God, please grant Jeff, Vicki's parents, daughters, grandchildren, and extended family the comfort and peace that can only be found in Your arms.  Please surround them with your spirit today and in the coming days.  May Your presence, Your grace, and Your love be felt every moment.  May they grow closer to You, each other, and in their faith.  Strengthen, guide, and protect them.  To You may all glory be given.
In the precious name of Jesus,
Amen.  

Flashback Friday

Over three years ago, I lost one of my very best friends. That was my Nannie, my maternal grandmother. I loved this "old girl," as my mom and I often called her. I wrote this post about her and my Mimi.

These pictures were taken in May 2003, the night that my oldest daughter Mallory graduated high school. It was so hard to celebrate Shelbi's graduation with Nan not here.

Nannie and me

This ended up being one of everyone's favorite pictures of her.

Almost everyone in my family has this one framed in their home. :)

This is my favorite because that is the look I loved--- classic Nannie. In a crowd, she could give you this look and make you feel like you and she were the only ones around.

I have lost many dear relatives in my life, starting with my Poppa Dad when I was 21. Too many precious people to list here. Out of all of them, though, my Nan is the one I miss the most. So many of my childhood memories involve my grandparents, especially my best friend, my "old girl." Even her death, strange at that sounds, is one of the most precious memories I have. Many times she and I had laid in her bed together discussing "how awesome it would be to go to sleep and wake up THERE." There, of course, being Heaven. She always told me she hoped she'd go in her sleep. I prayed that for her and on a Friday afternoon in February 2007, God, in His mercy, answered our prayers. She passed away during an afternoon nap. How peaceful she looked, curled on her side, her hands folded in prayer close to her face. It was hard to believe that she was not just asleep. My sisters, my momma, and I sat by her side telling her good-bye while waiting on the funeral home to come. It was honestly the most peaceful time I've ever experienced. But when I think of her, it's the picture above that I see in my mind. Nannie with that twinkle in her eyes and that look that connected you to her, that look that said it all. I miss my Nan. I look forward to the day I'll see that expression again. :)

Beginning Our Busy Week :)

Shelbi's Baccalaureate Service was this morning at 8:00, so my Mother's Day got off to a bright and early start. :)

Larry's mom (aka MawMaw) came too.

This was my view of the graduates for most of the ceremony.

My best friend's husband Todd, also my former pastor, spoke at the ceremony. He and Cristi are also the proud parents of the valedictorian, Joshua! =)

Todd is in the blue shirt behind the podium (and the ill-placed microphone). On his right is Shelbi's friend Gabby's Daddy, also a minister.

Shelbi and Joshua

Larry, Shelbi, and yours truly after the ceremony

Dara, Gabby, and Shelbi :)

Shelbi and her princiPAL, Mr. Brown~ We love this guy! He looks tough, but he's a real softy. ;)

And last, but not least, Shelbi and her proud Daddy!

This is already starting to be an emotional week. We are not only ending a chapter in Shelbi's life, but ours also. This is our sixth daughter to pass through this school system. This next fall will be the first school year that we don't have a child in the local schools. :( I absolutely can NOT say enough about the teachers in our local public school. They've not only been wonderful to Shelbi, but to all of our girls. We are going to miss being a part of that community. They will always be dear to us for many reasons, but especially for the kindness, compassion, and love they showed a little girl who didn't talk to them for twelve of her thirteen years with them. And the group of kids she's graduating with~ well, they are all part of Shelbi's miracle. A miracle that is speaking publicly again Tuesday at Senior Night. Would someone please pass the tissues?????

I Blinked

My BABY is 18!!! Whoa!

Above: Senior Prom April 2, 2010

Below: Senior Portrait April 5th

It seems like just yesterday that I held her for the first time. *Sniff, sniff* (After my third and longest pregnancy that I thought would NEVER end. ;) Now, she's ready to graduate high school in four shorts weeks and head off into the hard, cruel world. Sometime, somewhere, along the way, I must have blinked.

HAPPY 18TH BIRTHDAY, SHELBI LAYNE!

WE LOVE YOU,

MOMMA & DADDY

I Left My Heart in Texas

I've been meaning to post these pictures of our new (new to us) camper. This is where my husband is residing until Shelbi and I can move to Texas this summer. It's parked in an RV park ironically called Just Like Home. ha

Shelbi and I went up three weeks ago to spend the weekend with Larry. He's only off one weekend a month (thanks to shift work), so he came home this past weekend. I'll go again this coming Friday through President's Day. Due to my work and his schedule, we'll only see each other twice a month until my Spring Break. :(

Look how tiny the bathroom is. I have to step in facing the tub or I have a hard time turning around to sit on the toilet. The tub is the size of a large dishpan. No kidding. I feel like Dorothy in Munchkin Land. =)

The living room/kitchen/dining room.

The master bedroom and Shelbi's "room" (the door is a curtain) below. It has two sets of bunk beds, but there were only two mattresses so Larry is using the other side for storage.

And there's my sweetheart sweeping the floor. He didn't stop grinning the whole time we were there. I think he had missed us a little. The feeling is mutual.

They say, "Home is where the heart is." If that's so, this little RV is my new home.