How Do You Like Me Now?

I decided to change the "Valentine's" background. It did fit with the "grandkids are my heart" theme, but I wanted something different. I haven't blogged much lately, not much blog worthy going on and I've been a little busy.

I know I've mentioned my photography hobby, but I also do it some on the side. (Private school teacher pay doesn't go very far. ;) People saw some of the pictures I took when I first got my camera and asked me to take pictures of their kids.

Now, I am fully aware that I am NO Jami, Van, or T. G. (awesome local professionals) by ANY means, but you don't have to be when the subjects are as beautiful as these two little sisters!

Here's one of my kindergarten students from last year.

And her beautiful little sister!

I've also done several Senior portrait sittings so far.

I'm editing some more I took this past weekend.

I've been blessed to meet several sweet new babies.

Have I mentioned I LOVE babies?

My one (and probably only ever) wedding.

Tiffany made a beautiful bride! (Her mom looks okay, too.) LOL

Love ya, Lenie!!!

I wish my two oldest granddaughters (and Leon) lived close enough to get pictures more often! Their visits are SO rushed. I did get to take Christmas pictures of the older girls the year before last, but this Christmas they weren't able to visit until after the holidays. I also took some pretty ones of Lauren last spring, but Rebecca wasn't here that weekend.


We're so lucky we live where the flowers bloom early, there are a lot of nice public parks, antebellum houses, old churches, and the Mississippi River right in our backyard. (Well, practically!) So many beautiful picture locations to pick from!

I'm going to start another blog soon, just for my photographs. I'm open to taking pictures at events that the professionals may not have time for (reunions, parties, etc.). But, please, NO wedding picture requests. I need more experience (and better meds) before I EVER think of tackling one of those again. Even if it did give me one of my favorite pictures of all times!


These are the hands of the bride (Tiffany), mother of the bride (Ellena), and grandmother of the bride (Mary). Mary is my aunt and Ellena is my first cousin (and one of my best friends on this planet). There are very few people I would photograph a wedding for and she is number one! And maybe the last! LOL

I hope you'll peek at my new blog! I'll let you know when it's up and ready--- might be a few weeks or so.

My "Grand" Vacation

I saw a post on the Riggs' blog a couple of weeks ago. It was titled "You know you're old when...." and encouraged the readers to finish the statement in their comments. I couldn't think of anything to put at the time, but I have one now. You know you're old when... Spring Break is spent visiting with the grandkids! LOL
As a kindergarten teacher, I get a "Spring Break." However, mine was not spent at the beach, but with my "babies." I headed to Sarah's and Leon's on Monday the 16th. I got my "baby fix" on till Thursday. Then Sarah and Leon came to my house the next day for the weekend. Two of our girls (and two grandgirls) came in from Arkansas, so we had a mini family reunion!

Is it just me or does Leon look a little surprised to see Mimi on his 4 week birthday? I got a rare "awake" picture.

Don't you just LOVE sleeping baby pictures?! Especially when the baby's this pretty? Who's prejudiced? Not me!

Here's a new picture of Rebecca and Lauren. Look how beautiful they are! Lauren was in the BEST mood this weekend! (Remember, she's the unpredictable one. :) All of the kids were SO sweet and happy all weekend! The following pics were all taken last Sunday.


I love this new portrait of Becca! I think I'm going to enlarge this one. I haven't gotten a good one of her in a while. Don't my azaleas make a pretty backdrop? They don't now! It's been storming for days and the downpour a couple of hours ago pretty much destroyed them.

We had fun just hanging out in the backyard, too. Harlee had a ball swinging, while her brothers spun so fast on the tire swing I couldn't even get a picture of them that wasn't a blur.

Here is the first picture of all six together! L to R: Lauren, Becca and Leon, Noah, Harlee, & Mason.

One more sleeping baby picture to tide you over. I was rocking him right before he had to leave. It will probably be another couple of weeks before I see him again. :(

He's almost 6 weeks old already! He was almost 5 weeks in this picture. Precious boy!

I remember watching my Nan holding Sarah right after she was born. Nan had 6 kids, 15 grandkids, and Sarah was her fifth great-grandchild. I asked her, "Nannie, don't you ever get tired of babies?" She answered, without hesitation, "Never." After three babies of my own and 6 grandchildren, I feel EXACTLY the same way. Nothing has ever compared with the feeling of holding a new baby. PRICELESS!!

MASON IS FIVE TODAY!

I cannot believe it's been FIVE years since the birth of our third grandchild! Time does fly! We celebrated Mason's birthday yesterday at his house. All six of our grandchildren were there and five out of six of our daughters. He had a blast! His mom rented a Spiderman jumper and they all loved it! He got quite a load of gifts including, a wagon, truck, clothes, books, pirate and policeman dress up costumes, books, other various toys, and a HUGE Diego Mountain playset (from Aunt Mallory and Uncle Daniel who couldn't be there-- we missed y'all!).

Here's the birthday boy cheesing it up! Is it any wonder I love him so?!

His "treasures." (And his nosy, meddling, little sister, Harlee ;)

Grandma and Grandpa also gave him a bunch of bug collecting equipment. Do they know our boy, or what?! Noah and Becca found a hole first and started poking around and then the whole gang got in on the search.

This is what Noah pulled out of the hole. You should have seen the little girls screaming and scattering! Shelbi snapped this picture of the uninvited guest. Mimi is NOT a fan of toads (especially up close and personal)!!!!

Anyway, we had a great time with the kids and grandkids! More to come on my Spring Break and my grandkid fix , but I wanted to give Mason his birthday blog first!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SWEET BOY!

WHO LOVES YOU THE BEST?

MIMI, POPPA, AND SHELBI

Sarah is 21!

I can't believe Sarah is 21 today! I collected all of these pictures from her childhood and scanned them in today. (No digital cameras in 1988-- no personal computers, either.) Time really does fly. I was almost 23 when Sarah was born-- now she's 21 and a mom! Amazing! I am so proud of the young woman/mother she's becoming. I will be heading to her house tomorrow afternoon or Monday morning. I'm on Spring Break and want to spend it with her and Leon. I doubt his little bottom will hit the crib, except at night! I can't wait to see them!

This is Sarah at 30 days old. I plan on taking a picture of Leon

at 30 days and post that next week.

Sarah at 2 or 3. Always the clown and ready to party! :)

Sarah at 6. Isn't she the cutest little

cheerleader you've ever seen?!

I think this is her 7th birthday. (I didn't do

a very good job writing on the backs of my pics.)

Those are her cousins, Amber and Briana, that are

the same age as Sarah.

This is her "dressing up" at around 11 years old.

I think she and her sister, or friends, were

playing "makeovers."

Eighth grade picture.

All dressed up for her Senior Prom. Isn't she lovely?!

And 3 weeks ago today with her 5 day old

son, Leon!

HAPPY 21st BIRTHDAY, SARAH!
WE LOVE YOU,
MOMMA, DADDY, AND SHELBI

My Hi for the Week

Go to www.riggsfamilyblog.com to read everyone else's "Hi/Lo" posts and get your link on their site.

My Hi for this week was my daughter, Shelbi, sharing her testimony during our youth revival. It was a miracle because she has struggled with selective mutism for almost 17 years! Read the two previous posts on my blog to get the whole picture! :)

After this, I REALLY don't have any Lo to report.

God is great!!!!!

Can I Get an Amen?

This same daughter I talked about in the previous post gave her testimony last night! There were very few dry eyes in the building. Several children/young adults made professions of faith after they heard her speak. She was shaking and crying (as were her parents and many other church members), but she stayed strong and made it through. I think I was even more excited last night than the day she was born! It was like watching her being reborn and, in a way it was. Are you amening yet?

Last night, hearing our daughter speak about her struggles trying to communicate, brought back a flood of memories. In spite of all the hardships, God was with her (and us ) ALL the way. His protection over Shelbi does not just apply to delivering her from Selective Mutism. His hand has been on her since conception.

At two months pregnant, I spotted enough to concern me and my doctor. No major cramps, but he did ask me to come to the office. He checked everything and found nothing wrong. My pregnancy progressed normally, but at eight months I had contractions. At the hospital, I was monitored and observed overnight. The contractions were real and steady, showed up on the monitor, but within hours completely stopped. Then a couple of weeks later, my water leaked. When the nurses checked me, they said my bag had not broken at all. Hat in hand-- I headed home. A few days before my due date (on our second wedding anniversary), more contractions even harder than the first time. Once more, my labor stopped. I was SO upset and disappointed! This was also getting very embarrassing! After all, on the third kid how can you make all of these mistakes?! The day before my original due date here come pains again. I cried to Larry, "I AM NOT GOING BACK TO THAT HOSPITAL! THEY'LL JUST SEND ME HOME!" I sat at home and waited until I was beyond miserable. Larry made the final call and I went back, terrified of being sent home. Four hours later, there she was, all 8 lb. 15 oz. of her! I was never so glad to see a baby in all my life!! Right after, one of the nurses said, "I've been delivering babies for 12 years and that's the first time I've ever seen one with TWO sacks of water!" Maybe, God had extra protection around her for a reason-- so she'd come at just the right time? like an extra layer of bubble wrap around a valuable package?! Hmmm... I wonder. :)

Forward to fifteen months old. Odd looking bruises started appearing on Shelbi in very unusual places. A dark, dime-sized bruise appeared on her hip under her diaper area. Another appeared on the top of her ear. She got her 15 months shots and the nurse said it could cause a "measles looking rash in ten days." Ten days later when she broke out in little purple dots, I assumed that it was the reaction to the shot. (I found out later they were little blood blisters.) When I changed her diaper that night, it was dry except for what looked like a pink lemonade colored stain. Thinking she had a kidney or bladder infection, the next day we went to our pediatrician's office. He took one look at her and said, "I'm pretty sure she has a rare and serious blood disorder called ITP." Essentially, it meant her platelet count was extremely low. Normal for her age was around 250,000 and Shelbi's was 1,000! Hoping he was mistaken, I whispered, "And what else could it be?" I'll NEVER forget his next words-- they're still echoing in my head after all these years. "It could be leukemia." She had to go straight to the hospital! I called my husband to meet me there and could barely say the words. Then I called my mom to go watch the other five kids so Larry could meet me. When she heard my panicky voice, she said, "Does he think it's leukemia?" I lost it and between sobs managed to say, "I don't know." Terror set it as I watched nurses bring a metal crib into the hospital room and wrap the rails with blankets and tape. That night, Shelbi slept on my chest and I wept until her golden curls were drenched. Her platelet count came up with IV medications, but bottomed again two weeks later. Our doctor sent us to the Children's Cancer Center for a bone marrow biopsy to determine if it was ITP or if it was leukemia. Thank God, it was the blood disorder! ITP is treatable, but there is no cure. Her doctor said sometimes it goes away as quickly as it comes and is rare to have more than one or two episodes. Shelbi would be hospitalized and on IV meds MANY times over the next two years. Then steroids controlled it, which made her miserable. Until she was about six, we were in the doctor's office getting her finger pricked about 3 times a week. Finally, I just asked her doctor if we needed to continue coming. He told us to just keep an eye out for bruises and bring her in if I noticed anything. Praise God, I can't even remember when she had blood work done again. God has healed her!

After all of this, at 13 she was diagnosed with scoliosis. The specialist said the curve in her spine was just a couple of inches away from needing surgery. The kind of surgery that involves cutting you open from the back of your neck to the top of your tailbone and attaching a steel rod to your spine. He said a brace could be made for her to wear 12 hours each night. It wouldn't straighten her spine, but MIGHT keep the curve from worsening. After wearing the brace for almost two years, x-rays showed the curve was LESS than it was when we started. That wasn't supposed to happen!

Just last Labor Day, my husband had job-related classes he had to take in Memphis. His boss said he could take his family him, but with a grandchild due in February, I was trying to hang on to every vacation/sick day I could and I NEVER let Shelbi miss school for no reason. Shelbi begged to go "Mom, it's Memphis. I've never been to Memphis." Well, neither had I and a free vacation was just too tempting to pass up. Shelbi and I looked on the Internet and got ideas of things to do while Larry was in class all day. The Saturday night before Labor Day, Shelbi had terrible stomach pains and Larry debated on whether we should go or not. I said, "If something really is wrong, I'd rather be in Memphis with you." She seemed fine so we went ahead with our plans. Monday afternoon we arrived in Memphis. It was too late to do much, but we rode around looking and ate dinner. I remember finding the hotel and as we pulled up I saw a hospital across the street. I joked, "Well, there's hospital if we need it." Two o'clock in the morning, Shelbi is doubled over. Her stomach was hurting so badly, she couldn't stand up. The ER was empty, in spite of a large city full of Hurricane Gustav evacuees! Shelbi began throwing up as soon as we got there. Three tests later, it is confirmed. This 16 year old's gallbladder is inflamed and FULL of STONES! They asked us if we wanted to have the surgery there or come home and have it. Well, just so happens our little home town was hit by Gustav--- there's a county-wide blackout. Hospitals are running on generators! There's no air conditioning, stores and gas stations are out of service. Total chaos! What do you think we did?! That's right! We spent our "once in a lifetime" (teenage drama) vacation in the hospital and do you know what? I was grateful! Once again, God had protected Shelbi and I believe we were on that "vacation" just for her surgery. AMAZING!!

Last night as she gave her testimony about God's divine deliverance, all of these things and more flashed through my mind. It was heartbreaking, heartwarming, heart stopping, and heart wrenching! It was the bravest thing I've EVER seen and I am so proud of her! It has been an awesome experience to watch her grow! She is my inspiration!

SHELBI, YOU ARE AN AWESOME YOUNG WOMAN OF GOD! I LOVE YOU WITH ALL OF MY HEART AND I AM HONORED TO BE YOUR MOM!!!

Lord, thank you, thank you, thank you!!! AMEN

I Believe in Miracles

The following video is just a very short clip from a skit performed tonight during our youth revival at church. Pay close attention to the blond-haired girl in the gray shirt in the third scene. Then read the rest of this post. It will have you believing in miracles, too.

This girl is speaking in front of a crowd for the first time in her life. She is my (almost) 17 year old daughter, Shelbi. What, you're probably wondering, is so special about a 17 year old speaking in public? And what, if anything, would it have to do with believing in miracles? Well, what if I told you this child spent the first 14 years of her life struggling with Selective Mutism? What if I told you she had NEVER spoken ONE word to a stranger during those 14 years? What if I told you she overcame this anxiety disorder, not with medication, not with hypnotherapy, but with the help of our Lord and Savior?!

Everyone said Shelbi was just shy when people would talk to her and get no response. As her mom, I felt like it was a little deeper than mere shyness. When she turned three we enrolled her in pre-school hoping she would come out of her shell. At this time, Shelbi would mostly talk to her daddy, me, her sisters, grandmothers, one of her aunts, and a few cousins. The only people she talked to outside of our immediate family were my friend, Cristi, and her little boys, Mark and Joshua. Cristi would babysit for me occasionally and Shelbi and Josh are the same age. She attended two years of pre-school-- a small, private, church-run school and never talked to the other children. She started public school in kindergarten and spoke not a word to anyone, including the teacher. During kindergarten, the school psychologist told me that she suspected Shelbi had Selective Mutism. SM is an anxiety disorder characterized by the person's inability to speak in certain situations or to certain people. This is not a physical condition, the person is ABLE to talk, but is a type of stress disorder. There are varying degrees of SM. Some sufferers ONLY talk to family, while others, like Shelbi, slowly make friends. Some are also so severely affected that they can not socialize at all. Shelbi played t-ball, participated at recess, PE, church, just not verbally. She was never ostracized by others. Treatment varies, but usually is some mix of behavioral therapy, counseling, and medication. When Shelbi started second grade, her pediatrician asked us if we wanted to try giving her Prozac. I am NOT against necessary medication, but Larry and I prayed about it and did not feel comfortable putting our seven year old daughter on an anti-depressant. Our doctor, a Christian himself, respected our decision. A few weeks later, Shelbi started talking to FOUR classmates and another cousin. I felt God was letting us know we'd made the right decision for her. The next year she made a few more friends. She was comfortable and confident with herself, an honor roll student, and now playing softball and basketball competitively. I believed without a doubt that God would deliver her from the fear of speaking, but wondered how long we would have to wait. Waiting upon the Lord is harder than it sounds. :) Between third grade and eighth, Shelbi made only one new friend and still wasn't talking to teachers, most of our adult family members, or our church family. High school was approaching and MY anxiety was rising. I wanted desperately for Shelbi to be freed once and for all from this disorder. She was SO bright and funny at home-- such a lovable and likable kid--it killed me that other people couldn't get to know her as we did.

Shelbi received Christ as her Savior several years ago and she was praying about this. Our entire church, especially Shelbi's youth group, had been praying for her. One Sunday morning, ten days before Shelbi would start ninth grade, our pastor announced that God was leading him to have a special prayer service instead of a sermon. Larry, Shelbi, and I went to the altar to pray with Bro. Todd for our other daughter who was in the hospital. Larry then asked Todd to pray with us for Shelbi to be delivered from SM. THAT VERY NIGHT, SHELBI SPOKE TO A STRANGER FOR THE FIRST TIME! It was only telling the lady behind the counter at the bowling alley what size shoes she needed, but what a response to prayer!! Don't you love it when God answers in a way that can NOT be explained as anything but HIM?! I can't begin to tell you, and you can't begin to imagine, how much that one word meant! Shelbi said God had given her the boldness to talk to the lady and that it was easier to talk to strangers than people that had been "begging" her to for years. I think I must be the ONLY mom in the history of the world to excitedly tell her child, "Please, baby, talk to strangers!" while thinking, "Talk to anyone!" LOL

Well, if you want to watch the video again and see the miracle with a different perspective, feel free! I know I will!

THANK GOD ALMIGHTY, SHE'S FREE AT LAST!!!!!!!

Weekend Visit with Leon

We went to visit our new baby yesterday. He's already 13 days old! His jaundice is going away, his complexion looks good. Here are a few pictures so you can see for yourself.

I caught a sleepy, little smile!

I love how blue his eyes look, but that may change soon. Mom's eyes are green.

Aunt Mallory finally got to see and hold him, too!

Mommy and Leon

Introducing My Newest Heart

Leon Wayne

Monday, February 16, 2009 at 1:24 am

7 lb. 4 oz. and 20 in.

Well, I'm really not sure where to begin. Sarah called last Sunday afternoon and said she had been experiencing some "uncomfortable pains," but wasn't sure they were the real thing. This being her due date, I asked if she wanted us to head her way. After all, she is almost three hours from us. She told me to wait, she was going to go walking, and she'd call if they got regular or more intense. About 7:45 that evening, she called to say her contractions had been about 7 min. apart for an hour. Larry, Shelbi, and I were in the car and on the road by 8:00 (my bags had been packed for a week). After an hour on the way, with almost NO CELL SERVICE, I was finally able to get through to Sarah. Some friends had taken her to the hospital, the pains were about 2 or 3 min. apart, and she was already close to FIVE centimeters. I was panicking for several reasons. Number 1, because we were still an hour and a half away from her. Number 2, I wasn't sure anyone was there with her. Number 3, when I had her I went from 5 centimeters to having her in an hour and a half. I called friends and asked them to pray we would make it in time. Finally, we got there around 10:30. She was in a birthing room all alone, and crying uncontrollably. The nurse checked her and said she was 7 centimeters. Sarah had planned all along to NOT have an epidural, but the pains were so intense she decided to get one. By the time she got it, and it took affect, it was almost midnight. An hour later, she was dilated to 9 cm. and they began prepping her. Larry left the room and Shelbi and I stayed with her. At 1:24 AM, Leon entered the world. Shelbi and I were crying, Sarah just seemed kind of shocked and relieved. It was definitely one of the most intense, beautiful moments of my life. The emotions were overwhelming and there are no words to describe watching your grandchild enter the world. I was so proud of Sarah. She did a great job, especially considering she had worked from 7 that morning to 3. She kept her calm through the contractions, waited to go to the hospital at the right time, and pushed with all her might in spite of being totally exhausted. There were no complications during her entire pregnancy or during the birth and Leon is perfect (except for a case of jaundice). We are so blessed!!

Sarah and Leon meet for the first time(on the outside).

Leon is named after two of the best men in mine and Sarah's lives. My grandfather (aka Poppa) was named Floyd Leon. My husband's name is Larry Wayne.

Proud Poppa and his little namesake.

Leon and Aunt Shelbi

Dressed and ready to go home on Wednesday. His sleeper says "Thank Heaven for Baby Boys" and he is wrapped in the same blanket I brought his Mommy home in. He looks just like his Mom's newborn pictures. :)

Here he is all dressed up for his first well baby checkup. He is a breastfed baby and jaundiced so he had to go for a checkup and blood work Friday morning. The bilirubin count was elevated so we had to go back early Saturday morning. Thanks to all the prayers of family and friends, he doesn't need "light treatments." Praise God!!!

Poor baby, his Mimi's favorite hobby is photography. He had his first photo shoot Saturday at only 5 1/2 days old. Hope he gets used to the camera. He's too beautiful not to snap away. :) I only took 200+ pictures between Sunday night and Saturday afternoon. That's not too many, right?

The beautiful new mommy and her angel.

Finally, my turn. Look at that little face!!!

Welcome to the world, Mimi's little Leo the lion hearted.

WE LOVE YOU!!!

My Funny "Little" Valentines

I scheduled this post to appear on Valentine's Day. I hope that today I'm loving up on my newest sweetheart! :)

Rebecca will do anything to get a laugh and she's such a camera hog!



















Noah with his new smile courtesy of his Aunt Sarah. He's quite the ham!



Mason decided to make a "wig" out of Spanish moss.



I LOVE this picture of Lauren and the wild static hairdo!



Harlee did this while I'm trying to get a portrait. Miss Mess!

Prayer Request

Hi Everybody,
Sarah called today upset because she missed her appointment this morning with her OB. She overslept. When she called to tell the office she would be late, they informed her the doctor she's been using went out of town yesterday and will be gone a month! Then the receptionist said they couldn't get her in to see another doctor until next week. She reminded them she is due this weekend, hasn't been checked in two weeks and was 2 centimeters then, and told them he has not completed her birth plan, or even done the last ultrasound he was supposed to do. The receptionist just repeated that the doctor wouldn't be back for a month. Sarah is stressed out, hormonal (of course), and exhausted from two jobs and being nine months along. She wasn't just upset-- she was sobbing. I tried to comfort her, but it's hard being three hours away from her and she about had me in tears, too. I know as many people as we have lifting her up in prayer already, that God has a plan, is in total control of the situation, and has the doctor lined up that is supposed to deliver this child. Getting all of that through to Sarah (and I did share all of it with her) is not easy, especially in the mental state she is in. Please continue to lift her up. Unless, she makes it to next Wednesday, I don't think she will meet her doctor until she goes to the hospital. Be praying for whomever that will be. Thank you so much. God bless you.
Love,
Penny

Ain't Love Grand?

One of the bloggers I follow (haven't met her in person yet) published a list of the things she loves about her husband for his birthday. I thought that was so sweet and wished I'd thought of that Thursday. I blogged about our granddaughter's birthday, but didn't even mention my husband's which happens to be the VERY same day as Becca's. Yes, that's right, he became a Poppa on his 46th birthday eight years ago. If your math skills are rusty, that made him 54 last week.

If not mentioning that it was also his birthday isn't terrible enough, I also realized I've introduced myself, our six girls, and all five grandchildren (including the future sixth one), but haven't even mentioned my hubby's name! I know, I know---- What is wrong with me????

Well, Honey, I'm SO sorry! I sure didn't mean to leave you out. Never in a million years would I mean to do that! Hope I can make it up to you by giving you your own post about how special you are.

First, a little background for the readers:

I wish I could say we met in some romantic way and fell in love at first sight, but our story is a little different from most couples. Larry and I met almost 30 years ago, but our lives intertwined even before that. My mom, Larry's dad, and Larry all worked together at a paper mill, so my mom met him before I did. Just a few years after they started working together, and I was just a teenager, my family moved next door to his parents and sister. His sister, Tracey, and I were both in the same school and quickly became best friends. I met Larry, his wife, and their two baby girls when they were visiting at his mom's and I was hanging out with Tracey. I actually ended up being his backup babysitter when Tracey or his mom were unavailable. :) I moved to Mississippi and married within months of my high school graduation. Larry's oldest girls, then 6 and 4, gave out rice bags at my wedding. By then, he also had another baby girl. I had two little girls of my own. During my six year long marriage, Larry and his wife separated and shared custody of the children. A few years later, my marriage, shaky from day one, also came to an end. My girls and I moved in with my mom until I could get back on my feet and eventually make a new life as a single mom. Larry's family and I were still all friends, including our little girls, and our parents were still neighbors, so I guess it was inevitable that we would end up running into each other often. He had not remarried. Because he was my only divorced friend, he became my counselor, sounding board, and shoulder to cry on. One talk led to another talk, sitting outside by our parents' fence into the wee hours as mosquitoes feasted on us. One night I knew my feelings were evolving past friendship. I pictured us raising a family, growing old together, and rocking grandchildren on our front porch. Our first kiss happened a few evenings later. Nine months later we married and combined our little families into one rather large household. Two years later we had another little girl together and thus completed our family.

So that's the when, where, and how of our meeting and "growing" in love. Since Valentine's is just around the corner I thought now would be the perfect time to share the whys... so, here they are in no particular order.

Larry is a godly man. Before he received Christ as his Savior June 2003, he was already a man of honor and integrity. However, since surrendering his life to Christ he has become more aware of God's presence, more sensitive to the Holy Spirit, and now is a praying man and husband. I KNOW this has made a difference in our family and a world of difference in our marriage. And my dream of growing old together will never end. :)

Larry is self-sacrificing. He always puts our children and me, and now the grandchildren, before himself. He never neglected his obligation to support his first three children. He adopted my children, accepting full legal and financial responsibility. Not every man would let another off the hook, while he paid child support faithfully. Even fewer would not resent doing it. His sacrificing to provide for us went beyond him just making sure we had shelter and food. He doesn't hunt or fish like most guys in our area. His interests revolve around cars and motorcycles. He has a classic muscle car and a old Chevy truck that he would love to restore. They have been neglected and abandoned now for years, because our family's needs have always come before anything he's ever wanted. A year and a half ago, we bought a motorcycle because he's wanted one for years. That is the first and only recreational thing he has bought himself in 20 years and he felt guilty. If we can't afford to get something our daughter can drive to college next year, he is willing to give his bike up. See what I mean? self-sacrificing!

He is a hard worker and good provider. For the first five years of our marriage, he was the sole provider while I stayed home with our children. The second five years, he was still our sole provider and supported me while I went back to college and obtained a teaching degree. He worked at a local paper mill for 28 years, working his way up from the wood yard to a trainer in the shipping department, until they closed the mill doors in July 2003. Three weeks later, he got hired at another mill 70 miles away. He had to start completely over, except for his benefits and years of service. When I wanted to move closer and save him three hours a day of driving time he refused because our youngest is still in school. He works 3 or 4 12-hour days at a stretch (or nights, depending on the shift), so that drive makes a 15 hour day. He never complains about the drive or the hours. Another example, also, of the sacrifices he makes daily.

Larry is also generous with his things and his time--- always willing to help someone. He not only takes care of all our yard work, but also his mother's who lives alone. He also does all of our vehicle maintenance, his mom's, sister's, and anybody else that needs help. He once worked on my grandparents' vehicle for a couple of days. He's helped other family members move several times, friends haul things, etc. They don't even have to ask; if he knows they need help he automatically offers. In fact, he's driving three hours away tomorrow to pick up Sarah's car, leave her his car, and bring hers home to try to get it in decent running order.

His compassion blows me away. When my Mimi's health started to fail and talk of placing her in a nursing home drove me to tears on a daily basis, Larry offered to wall in our carport so she could move in with us. (My dad and his brothers decided that they were more comfortable with placing her in a facility, since I work and private sitters were beyond our means.) The mere idea that Larry was willing to take my grandmother in just to make me happy means more than I can put into words.

Last, but not least, his love for me and our children is steadfast. After his divorce, his ex-wife and his children moved 7 hours away. For the two years they lived there, Larry spent his one weekend off each month driving halfway and back on Fridays and then again on Sundays just to spend time with his children. Just months before we became a couple, they moved back to our town. I have never seen a dad get so excited about the opportunity to spend more time with his children. When I became pregnant with our child, I begged God for a little boy. I knew Larry, being the only son of an only son, really wanted a boy of his own. Alas, the sonogram showed yet another little girl. I was upset, but Larry said, "It doesn't matter. It's our baby and she'll still be special." Almost nine years later, our first granddaughter was born. That night while driving home from a long, exhilarating day, he wondered aloud how you could love someone so much that you'd never met. He was overwhelmed with the love he automatically felt for that baby.

I really could go on and on, but this is getting really long. I promise I won't shortchange him in the future. After this extremely long post, anyone who reads it to the end should have no doubts that I not only have a husband, he is deeply loved and appreciated. I need to make sure to let him know that more often.

This picture is a flash from the past. This was taken at the courthouse in Arkansas where we were married April 12, 1990.

The "Birthday Box" Tradition

Every child is excited on their birthday, but my Nan gave us grandchildren something every year that was extra special. For years, she always gave each of us a silver dollar until they became very hard to find. Then she gave us two half-dollars. But the special thing we all remember from those childhood years is our "birthday boxes." She would fill a box with a collection of things, nothing expensive or unusual in and of itself; it mostly contained small things like magic markers or a T-shirt or trinket picked up on one of her many extended stays away from home. Poppa worked away from home sometimes for months on end and she'd travel with him. When she was away and had to miss our big day, the boxes arrived in the mail. She would collect things all year long for those boxes. That's what always made these boxes special--just knowing that we were on her mind year 'round. We couldn't wait to open them and see what treasures awaited us! It was a wonderful way to make each grandchild feel important. That's no easy feat when you have 15!! Because of the sheer number of us, and the expense involved, the birthday boxes ended when we turned 18. I know I took a lot of this for granted at the time, but I have one cousin that said she bawled when she got her last box. When I had grandchildren, I knew as soon as they were old enough to appreciate a "birthday box" this would be one tradition I would carry on. This year I took a picture of the one I just sent Rebecca for her eighth birthday Thursday. Because my next grandbaby could come any day now, and because Becca lives in Arkansas, I mailed her box to her this year. Hope I get to watch her open it in person next year. Becca called to thank us and her momma told me that Becca LOVED it and was SO excited. I hope she knows that much more than a collection of small things was packed into that box!

I LOVE YOU BECCA and HAPPY 8th BIRTHDAY!!!!!

PS Thanks for making me a "Mimi." :)

What favorite family traditions are you carrying on, or are planning to carry on, with your children/grandchildren?