I'm Dreaming of A White Christmas......

Oh Wait!  It's NOT a Dream!!!

SNOW on Christmas in Tennessee!  And, not just a few flurries - enough to build a snow man!

Curtis, Lydia and Chloe played in the snow and built a snow man.  I stayed inside and made hot chocolate.  It's rough to stay inside while all the fun is going on - hee, hee hee.  Oh, let's see, I also stayed warm and dry and still got to hear the laughter and watch the fun.  Hmm, the older I get, the more I think I LOVE my part. 

Christmas 2010 was so AWESOME!

The snow was PERFECT for building snowmen and sledding -

AND my children and grandchildren were able to join us - despite the weather conditions.

Thank you God for blessing us with CHRISTmas and for the extra blessing of snow!

SELFLESSNESS

Be SELFLESS - give of your time, your money, your listening ear, etc..... We all have something we can give!  You can baby sit for someone so they can have free time.  You can listen when your child, parent, sibling, friend speaks.  You can volunteer to help - and then DO it!

You might say - Life’s a bone grinding mill. It’s tough, and at the end of the day we go home, lick our wounds, and get back at it the next day. It’s hard to reach outside of ourselves and see others in need. And then to actually do something about it? Almost impossible - but not impossible.

You might say, but "How could it be possible?"   I say - it's possible because I have strength for the journey! And, you can have it too. Just read Isaiah 40:31. It says:

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength... mount up with wings like eagles... run and not be weary... walk and not faint.
 
So - get you some strength and go do something SelfLess! 
 

I Turned 45!

Can't believe my Mom and Dad are old enough to have a 45 year old daughter!  My, oh my, I didn't think they were much older than 45 themselves!

This year I was blessed with lots of cards/emails/texts, gifts, lunch dates, birthday cake and kind wishes.  I also got to have my mother sit beside me in church!

When I was born - Dad had to miss his first Sunday in the new church building at Tellico Plains Church of God.  He called Paul Fritts to speak that day.  I am happy to report that 45 years later I did not make my Dad miss church!  He is involved in the ministry again at Tellico Plains and now, the pastor is Paul Fritts.  So, although my Dad wasn't sitting with me in church - he was at church being used by God!

My step-son Terry and his wife Amie brought a couple of the grandkids over (Catelynn & Collin) and even brought birthday cake and ice cream!  I have a feeling my daughter-in-law made all of this happen.  :)  Amie's there - but you can't see her, because she took the picture.

Thanks everyone for remembering my birth date!







 

True Happiness

Doesn't Popaw Curtis look happy?  So do Chloe and Julian!

I just LOVE this picture. 

It really captures joy and happiness that can be felt just by being close to someone.
Even if you feel alone sometimes - you're never alone. 
The scriptures tell us - He will never leave us, nor forsake us.  Hebrews 13:5. 

I was working the other day and knew that Lydia and Julian had stopped by to visit.  It was very quiet - so I wondered what they were up to.  When I reached the end of my shift and traveled up the stairs (ain't it rough to have such a "long" travel time - lol) - I was still thinking - Man, they sure are quiet!  Low and behold this picture is what I saw.  3 perfectly content human beings - happy together.

Happy Halloween!

 

Chloe really enjoyed Halloween this year.  Which of course, allowed me to have lots of fun too.  She had a shirt for each day of the week (most I failed to take pics of).  Someone told me I should've worn this one....

(In case you can't read it - it says "I'm a Little Batty!" - lol)

Catelynn and Chloe got to go to their first pumpkin/slumber party at Kylie's house and they both wore a Halloween pajama set to sleep in.  They bobbed for apples, painted faces, had pillow fights and watched Casper the Ghost.  Kaydee & Jonathan from church did this for them.  What a fun pumpkin/slumber party!  Wish I had pictures, but I didn't go.

Chloe's school field trip took them to Guthrie Farms in Charleston, TN. She had a great time on a hay ride through fields of pumpkins. They got to pick out their own pumpkin and bring it home.  So, Saturday evening - Chloe called her big sister and asked her to come carve her pumpkin.  Even tho "Sissy" was on her way to a costume party - she gladly obliged her sister.  Here's the result...  Thanks Sissy!

Lydia, her friend Jacob and Chloe - aka Spider Girl

Since Sissy was dressed up as a "flapper girl from the 20's" - Chloe had to try on her outfit

 

More "try it out" pictures - Go "Spider Power"! 

Now, of course - the first thing we did on Halloween was go to church Sunday morning!  Yes, we have our priorities straight.  Then we ate a good lunch and the evening's fun began. 

Our first stop, of course, was to Memaw and Popaw's house.  Chloe's empty bag - was almost full by the time we left - thanks Memaw & Popaw!  After Memaw & Popaw's house, we went to the mall and trick-or-treated.  We like this option, as you make a circle around the mall, they have fun activities for the kids (sponsored by Westwood Baptist) and as long as they're little - it doesn't really matter how much candy they get.  Julian's other grandma (Joan) & his Pappy (Tony) help Westwood every year.  This year they were dressed as Mr and Mrs Potato Head.  Some of their friends were Little Bo Peep and a Pink Pig.

The kids really like getting their pictures taken with the characters.  Although Julian didn't go to the mall, we did get to see him dressed up as "Broby" (a character from a cartoon called "Yo Gabba Gabba").

We also went to "Aunt Rita's" house and had to empty Chloe's bag and it got filled again.  We then went home and had trick or treaters come to our house.  Julian was one.  Catelynn was dressed as the cutest witch I've ever seen.  Collin was a Ninja turtle.  Hailey was a kitty cat.  Some of the pics turned out a little dark, but maybe you can see how cute they were.

 

I think by now - you can see why we had so much fun.  Kids really do make things more fun!

Hope you had a great time too. 

Beginnings of Fall........

Ahhh, the cool crisp mornings - lots of sunshine during the day and the cool evenings - fall has arrived!

Fall began with an Open House and Bake Sale at Chloe's school.  Then we had her school's Fall Festival - complete with face painting, cake walks, "fishing", "duck pond", etc. etc. etc.  Curtis, Chloe and I were joined by Terry, Amie, Colby, Chelsea, Catelynn and Collin.  It was fun for me - hope it was for them too!

Then came the Cleveland Apple Festival.  I just love this festival.  It's a special little city festival that takes up a few blocks downtown around the courthouse.  There's singing, performances, home-made crafts, jellies, apple pies, apple cider, funnel cakes and mmmmmmmmmmmmm lots of good food.  There's also a petting zoo, hay ride and Chloe's favorite - riding horses (which she did several times).  Chloe and I went with this year with Lydia, Julian, Lydia's friend Jacob and my neice Jessica.

Happy 29th Birthday Kimberly!

My first born neice, Kimberly Christine Lawrence

(pictured with my sweet daughter, Chloe) 

Kimberly - you'll always hold a special place in my heart.  I still remember the sweetness of holding you when you were born.  You made me feel like a special aunt.  Although I didn't immediately start telling you that I was your "favorite" aunt - you made me feel like I was.  Aunt "Tee Tah" and Aunt Trish might disagree - but that's how I felt it was!  :0)

You'll forever be special to me! 

This year Memaw Brannen cooked lunch for her and I had the priveledge of baking the birthday cake!

2010 School Pictures - Kindergarten

Chloe had her Kindergarten pictures made - and of course, we bought some.

Times sure have changed - now you can select the background color, you can have their name printed on the wallet exchanges, etc., etc. I remember getting school pictures made - and yes, they were in color - but we sure didn't choose the background or even question it. Now, even in Kindergarten - that school picture goes in a year book. Year book? Who ever heard of getting a year book in Kindergarten! I think it costs MORE for Chloe to be in school than it costs when she went to day care and pre-school!

Oh well - she's worth EVERY penny and MORE!

HAPPY 74th BIRTHDAY MOMMA!

My sweet momma turned 74 on Tuesday!  Happy Birthday Momma!

Just like she typically does - she's been celebrating for over a week now!  Just a few of the things I know about - She got to go to Outback for dinner, she got to go to her daughter's place with family, she got calls from New York (and she's going to visit them soon), her mother-in-law cooked lunch for her, her sister cooked supper for her!  And, there are probably others that helped celebrate that I don't even know about! 

Some people are lonely on their birthdays - but I don't think my momma will ever have to worry about that.  Why?  Cause she makes other people feel special and they're happy for a chance to make her feel special!

When I was little, momma would correct me and I'd be pouting and mad.  Daddy would say - "Be kind to your mother - she's the best friend you'll ever have on earth" - I used to get so mad and think "Why are you taking up for her?"  But, Daddy was right - momma is the best friend on earth!

Love you Momma!

September Fun

Yes - I realize it's already October.  Too much fun stuff has been going on!  LOL  Here's a few pics of the fun we had in September...........

Collin had his 4th Birthday!  Aunt Chloe invited him over to swim and spend the night. 

Looks like they had fun!

Good thing - cause the pool came down the next weekend :0)

Had lunch with Chloe at school

We had our 5th Annual Water Day at Grace Assembly of God!

This year - Collin wanted to be dunked in the dunk tank - so he did!

Chloe was really missing her niece Catelynn, so her mom and dad let her come over for the weekend. 

We had such fun!  First, we had a complete manicure and pedicure.  The girls loved getting their legs and hands rubbed - especially with the oily, soft water. 

And, THEN - we had a TEA PARTY!!  Oh, What Fun!!!

We even used Memaw Brannen's China!!! 

(yes, I was a little nervous about the possibility of china breakage - but they did great!)

They Loved Desert

And, after a weekend of pampering and having tea parties -

they got up and got dressed for church...

I think they're so pretty!

And you would think that was a lot of fun for September - but wait - there's more - LOL.....

CURTIS TURNED 50!!!!!!

Thank you to EVERYONE that helped him know he IS special.

He received over 50 text messages, Emails, Phone Calls and Cards!!!

front row:  Catelynn, Chloe and Collin

back row:  Terry, Chelsea, Julian, Curtis, Colby & Amie

Not pictured - but they did come - Crystal and Lydia

Curtis was surprised when he was greeted by Julian saying "Happy Birthday Popaw!" 

and then the family just kept coming in the door.  We enjoyed a BIG dinner of beef roast, pork roast, green beans, mashed potatoes, carrots, rolls, and of course - cake and ice cream!

Time Keeps on Slippin, Slippin, Slippin....

Into the future..... okay, well, that's part of a song that got in my head when I realized how many events have already slipped by and I haven't even told you about them yet!  These are just some from August.....

Chloe got her ears pierced!

First Day of Kindergarten!

All is Well!

Fortunately, Chloe's going to Yates Primary - where her Aunt "Cammy" teaches! 
Jessica started school at Cleveland State Community College.  I'm proud we have girls in school.  :0)

Think she needs a haircut?

Chloe got her FIRST hair cut EVER

Curtis and I went to eat at Outback for our 6th Anniversary!! 

Chloe loves our anniversary - cause she gets to come! :0)