If Anyone's Still Reading This, This is for You! :)

I would not blame anyone that no longer comes to my blog.  (Linda, if you are still looking for me I'm quite sure you are in the minority.  lol)  Lord knows I don't understand how I even have followers after ignoring this blog for the past two years.  They must be like me and rarely edit their reading lists. ;)  Even though I haven't posted, I have been keeping up with the blogs I follow.

I don't have the excuse that nothing blog worthy has happened around here in two years, but not a lot of major things.  I just got so far behind, I gave up the idea of catching everything up.  (I do hope to go back and add some posts of highlights, milestones, and a couple of short vacations.)  Some think I should close it and start a new blog, but I did document several life events: Shelbi's victory over Selective Mutism, the addition of the three most recent grands, and two years of the grands' lives.  I don't have the heart to erase all of that.  So, here's an attempt to start again, without starting completely over.

We have two new grandbabies coming this year (in August and October) and I want to celebrate and document their arrivals! I really hope to do better keeping up this time~ at least write about major events/memories.  I never want to post prayer requests again and not follow up with posting His answers.  Many people prayed during the MS River floods two years ago and my community was blessed to avoid catastrophic damage/losses.  Some families did lose camps and some lost their homes (that lived near the camps), but on the whole, we escaped the tragedies a lot of towns and cities suffered.

Right now, I am on Summer Break.  It will be spent with Larry while he is recuperating/healing from hernia surgery he had yesterday.  It was a second repair on a hernia he had patched last summer that never healed properly.  He'll be off work for six to eight weeks (without pay), so this will be a broke summer to say the least.  I'm just thankful it's nothing more than a hernia.  So many in our community have been diagnosed with cancer recently or lost loved ones.  I know how much worse we could have it.

Anyway, I'm sorry this post is so long overdue.  I hope it helps to see a couple of Leon's (4) and Harlee's (6) Spring pictures.  I took these in a park near here right after Easter.  :)

 

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.  :) 

Urgent Prayers Needed

I know after neglecting my blog since Christmas, I probably have very few even checking it.  :(  But the Bible says, "Where two or more are gathered..."  I'm sure by now, even if you live far away from me, you've heard about the Mississippi River and all the flooding surrounding it.  Towns and cities are being flooded up and down the river.  This month is supposed to break records from 1937!  My little Louisiana town sits right on the Mighty Mississippi and flood stage here is 48 ft.  On the 21st of this month, it is expected to crest at 64 ft!  The highest I've ever seen it was when it reached almost 58 ft. in 2008 and it was mainly just up on the riverfront then~ not even to the buildings. Even though officials and the Corps of Engineers believe our levees will hold, our town is frantically working around the clock to build temporary levees around buildings on the riverfront and our water wells.  Some towns (in Mississippi and Louisiana) that are not even an hour away are already flooding.  A lot of our residents are fleeing for higher ground or, at the very least, are packing up family heirlooms, photos and other irreplaceable possessions.  That is where my husband and I are~ in the process of packing sentimental things.  No mandatory evacuations will be ordered unless the levee breaks or water comes over it.  You can see pictures or read more about it in our local paper  http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/. 
 
Yesterday, my Mother's Day was not spent with any of my girls (they couldn't come home).  It was spent digging through my closets and cabinets searching for pictures and other sentimental things.  I came across my children's old art and work from elementary school and spent hours reading old Mother's Day cards my girls had made and reading sentences formed in Kindergarten and written in little journals.  Very sweet memories.  In spite of our circumstances, God gave me a Mother's Day gift.  :)  (I also got a Kindle in the mail today from my daughter, Mallory and her hubby, Daniel.  Thanks, M & D!  I love y'all.)

Anyway, please pray for all those along the Mississippi and its tributaries.  We're just blessed to be given this time to pray and pack up our things.  Time that many recent disaster victims didn't have.

Unless God intervenes, it will be a long time before I get pictures of Leon (or anyone) on our Riverwalk.  :(

Not that that's important right now, but see what a pretty background our river makes?!  Now, between the walkway and those rocks everything has been dug up in order to make a temporary levee.  Just praying it helps.

I miss this sweet face!  Haven't seen him in two months and won't get to keep him again until we are out of danger.  I know all you grandmas out there will sympathize with that!  ;)

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.

Giveaway

Click on this link to enter a giveaway.  :)  http://ahomemakershallelujahs.blogspot.com/2011/04/we-are-all-called-to-orphan-giveaway.html