From Our Family to Yours

Wordless Wednesday

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have an 8 year old

Our baby girl turned 8 years old this year. To celebrate her birthday, she asked for an "art party." And me, being the art-wanna-be that I am, was totally up for it! She invited all of the girls in her class as well as her soccer team. We had three different "stations" where the girls could get their art on. First, we had a bead table where necklaces and bracelets were made. Next, we had the ornament table, where one could paint, draw, sticker, or pretty much any way you want decorate an ornament. And third, was personalizing a tumbler with art, your name, or whatever their little artistic hearts wanted to do.

I think the girls had a great time, and P loved every second of it! Here are some pics from the big day..










Happy Birthday baby girl! We love you!

Wordless Wednesday

Incredibles--take three

The Incredibles showed up at our house again for Halloween this year. I do believe this will be their last year to trick or treat with us. It's been a good run. Check out how the Incredibles have grown over the past three years.




That last one is a little taste of Violet's attitude and Dash exhibiting his super powers. Be very afraid.

Oh, and time, could you please stop moving so quickly.

Wordless Wednesday

. . .

Ella Kate Stanley

She was known as MamaKate to us. My mother's mother. On Sunday afternoon, October the 4th, she went from this life into the presence of Jesus.

She was 84 years old. She married my Grandaddy when she was fourteen and he was eighteen. Boy, was that a different day and age. You know, when you said "I do" and it meant for life, come what may, good/bad, rich/poor, sickness/health. They would have celebrated their 70th anniversary; yep, seventy years of marriage this January. Wow! And if he's said it once, he has said it a hundred times, "If I could, I would have kept her another seventy." Their story is a true love story.

In my mind somehow they have always seemed timeless. I grew up going every summer and every Christmas to visit. They were farmers and worked very hard, very long days just to make ends meet. But they loved each other. And they were happy and content with each other and with what they had. And let me tell you, it wasn't much.

It's hard to think of her no longer being there when you walk through the front door of that house. My heart breaks for my Granddaddy and the huge void that it has left for him. He is lost without her. He is the most selfless man I have ever known. He loved her with all of his being and still does. Death is heartbreaking and grief is overwhelming at times. But I choose to celebrate that she is with the Father. I know we will see her again and for me, that makes heaven even sweeter.

Wordless Wednesday