4-H Baking contest!

I love that it doesn't matter how she places...

it's just fun to be together
Make a big mess in the kitchen!

and eat peanut butter cookies!

I love you sweet Grace!

Sunday!

Sunday went wonderful again, we are settling in.

After church and lunch we went home and some of us put on comfy

clothes and hit the Living room for a movie! The smurfs...

we had sweet company that came by to announce that this little guy had went forward to be baptized. He had given us life to Christ earlier but was ready to make it public... Praise the Lord! I love it that our children have peace in Christ at an early age!

Thank you Lord!

I love that despite age differences these two are so close.

I love that we can just hang out, be lazy and still have a good time. I love that being with them is easy!
I love the way these two play!

Thank you Lord for a good day!

Weekend!

Friday night Kacey played at Madison County High school. They won by 2 and she was high scorer with 7 points. Then we drove to the VBCC for the Rock & Road show concert.

We met Mountain View's youth there.

Sidewalk Prophet

Tenth Avenue North
Kacey and I

Mercy Me

Hawk Nelson

LaCrea, and Disciple. I love Mercy me but Tenth Avenue North was my favorite. They were Grace's favorite as well, Kacey liked Mercy me.

~~

Saturday Greg went hunting.

I was so honored, when Kacey wanted a picture... that's unusual!

and just a sunshine picture.... Love it!

Saturday, as Kacey and I were in the car alone, out of the blue

she said, Momma, I think I'm going to like our new church!

Thank you LORD!

Friday!

I'm so thankful it's Friday... We are so tired this week.

Greg's coming down with a cold!

Judy had her back surgery yesterday, they fused vertebrae and she'll be in a back brace and out of work for a estimated 3 months.

I'm thankful for the little things this morning.

I'm thankful the girls are adjusting well transitioning to Mountain View.

The Youth group had around 30 there Wed night.

Grace has a good sized class on Wed nights as well and they are starting to listen to Easter music. Grace likes her class and her teachers. I'm so thankful.

Kacey has had some struggles this week but we are choosing to see the good in it.

Help us Lord to encourage her and help her to have peace.

After tonight we only have 2 basketball games left.

That's crazy... After her game tonight we are meeting Mtn. View's youth for the Rocking Road Show Concert at the VBCC.

Praying this Friday, for a GREAT day, peace and rest for my anxious heart.

~~

Philippians 4:6
New King James Version (NKJV)
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

23 years!!! WOWSERS!

Okay, for a second you'll just have to excuse my sappiness!

Today is our (Greg & I) dating anniversary!

23 years ago today, he had a friend to call me and I said something like... well maybe if he ask but not if it comes from you. Yeah, I was tough even back then!

But he did get on the phone and he did ask so here we are 23 crazy wonderful years later!

Crazy huh?

Just for memory sake and some background on just "one" of the reasons old sappy here was sentimental about leaving FBCUG!

~~

Greg and I met at FBCUG. I already attended. His aunt Wanda was sick and she was having a hard time. He and his family came to church that night to be with Wanda. I was a youth sitting on a pew behind him and I remember asking this girl... Who is that and she was like oh that's my brother, Whoops, subject change! ;-)

~~

After we starting dating he moved his letter to UG.

~~

On April 25th, 1992 ~ Prom night

It was almost time to be home and he pulled into the church parking lot, it was late.

I was "tough" again... Me: what are we doing here..

Greg: Get out a second

Me: Why, it's cold

Greg: Please, just a minute...

See I am not very cooperative :-)

On the steps of the church he got on one knee and asked me to marry him.

~~

On June 5, 1993 we were married at UG

and here we are 23 years later and I would not change a thing...

And even though 10 years ago, God started preparing me for Greg to be called into the ministry.

Since me being the control freak I am he had to give me plenty of notice it was coming!

I would ever so often say... Do you feel the call to preach..

Greg: Well no, I am not a preacher... :-)

A year ago, if you told me I would be married to my Pastor I would have fell out of my chair!

What can change in a year? a whole lot that's what...

Happy Dating Anniversary Greg!

Thank you for making everyday, Just another Day in Paradise!

There is no other place I'd rather be.

Things I Love!

Kacey was hiding her face... we had all been crying..

Courageous is an awesome movie... But I love our family time.

More Basketball!

Tonight Grace's team played DAR...

Grace got the first 4 points of the game!

Throwing in the ball!

Coach Dad and Grace!

Coach gets down on eye level with the girls... He is so good with them.

Greg was determined to get this one child to score who hasn't all year...

they tried to set it up for her and tried...

she got the ball and scored and Greg I think was more excited than her or her Mom!

Grace in a jump ball!

Final.. we one 15 - 9

Grace had 6 points!

Good Game ladies!

I'm proud of you Grace and Coach!

I love you both!

Our first Sunday!

Our first Sunday went wonderful.

God is still smoothing the path before us.

I'm so thankful. Both girls went to a new class/different from the one they attended together while we were just visiting. They LOVED them...Thank you Father!

I also went to a new class from where I had been while visiting. I joined a women's class. There are in a Beth Moore Bible study right now.

It was a sweet day and we all felt peace.

At the end of service we as a family went to the front and moved our letter. That was bittersweet. Knowing this is what God has for us in the present but knowing we'll never enjoy it or be blessed by it if we aren't able to let go of the past.

FBCUG will always be our home church and the Lord may eventually bring us back but for now in order to Bloom where we are planted we are learning to let go and letting go is hard.

The sweet Rowe family came to hear Greg's first sermon. I was thrilled to see them knowing that our friendship is still growing in spite of not being able to worship together weekly... We serve the same God and we're all part of the same team no matter where we chose to attend corporate worship. Thank you Father.

Kacey attended youth Sunday night and is trying to make it Wed night even though she'll be late because of basketball... that's progress.

Thank you Father..

Thank you for you many blessings!

It's funny how when this Control Freak lets it go, God works it out! Sometimes fast as if saying, see child the sooner you trust the sooner I can help.

I'm still working on it!

Finding joy in the journey one step at a time!

A Championship Saturday!

Ready to play!

Introductions complete with Shoulder bump!
after talking to the refs!

foul shot!

Ready to jump up to accept their trophy!

The beat Albertville 52-24!

Kacey had 10 points and everyone on the team got to play!

My girl!

trophy!

coach Serrett got Coach of the Year!

Way to go JV Lady Knights!

1st in County!

Getting a Papaw hug post game!

some of her fan club!

LOL! I'm sure I'm in trouble for not giving a heads up on those shots.

Shea/Grayson and Jamie

Lane texting his Mom!

Clay/Andrea/KK/Roger Lynn and Renee

out of 5 games Arab was in the championship of 4.

out of 8 teams that's pretty Awesome.

JV Boys won 1st as well!

Varsity Girls won 1st

Our Varsity boys lost but took Second.

We watched a lot of ball and spent the day doing a lot of sitting.

but I wouldn't have missed a second of it with our girl.

We went out to eat when we got home to celebrate!

We love you Kacey and we are proud of the young lady you are on and off the court!

3 gym Thursday!

I worked until 1 meet Greg and 2 then off to Snead College to watch Arab JV in the Semi-Finals!

It started at 3:30...

They introduced the starting line up, you can't tell much from the picture but this is Kacey being introduced and giving Shelby a chest bump!

after the handshake with the refs.
Time for tip off.... and Momma had to put the camera down and watch...I'm sure Mark took some awesome pictures I can post later!
We won 31-22 against Guntersville
Kacey had 9 points and was high scorer.
She only had 2 fouls!
Yeah Kacey!!!!
So then we flew to Arab to watch Grace, her game began at 5:30!
She played so hard...she was precious!

I mostly watched there too...

Here is an after the game shot...

So then I flew to Flex to attend boot camp with Cheri and Tracy...

Okay I had started running in the fall and had worked up to running 25 minutes nonstop and I was TICKLED, then the time change and basketball and I've not done anything since... I'm a stress eater and I have put on more than a few pounds since I stopped exercising in the fall. BUT I was not prepared... oh my they were not messing around... I may not be able to move again anytime soon! So between the games...running around the world.... exercising.... and not sleeping well the night before i think I got some pretty sweet sleep last night!!

~~

This Morning Kacey had to be at Basketball practice on the court dressed out and shooting by 5:30 this morning... YUCK... Greg carried her and went to work early. They are going to the other semi final game tonight then to eat and then watching the varsity girls. So we will be tuckered again today!!! Then we are helping another Mom out, so we have spend the night company tonight as well...

TGIF!!!

Chaos!

I heard this song this morning.... I added it to my playlist...

~~

It's time for healing time to move on It's time to fix what's been broken too long Time make right what has been wrong It's time to find my way to where I belong There's a wave that's crashing over me All I can do is surrender

(Chorus)Whatever you're doing inside of me It feels like chaos somehow there's peace It's hard to surrender to what I can't see but I'm giving in to something heavenly Time for a milestone Time to begin again Revaluate who I really am Am I doing everything to follow your will or just climbing aimlessly over these hills So show me what it is you want from me I give everything I surrender...To... (Chorus)Time to face up Clean this old house Time to breathe in and let everything out That I've wanted to say for so many years Time to to release all my held back tears Whatever you're doing inside of me It feels like chaos but I believe You're up to something bigger than me Larger than life something heavenly Whatever you're doing inside of me It feels like chaos but now I can see This something bigger than me Larger than life something heavenly Something heavenly It's time to face up Clean this old house Time breathe in and let everything out

~~

The Lord uses music to speak to me so often... and this song fits today... It's time to move on but the part in Red best fits us today.. it's chaos Lord but it's heavenly. And yes It's so much bigger than me....

~~

Last night was hard ... hard until I sat in that pew..the minute i was there a peace washed over me like never before... it's where we belong...

BUT.... I was unprepared for Grace and I had failed to prepare her.. maybe you can't prepare but I think the reality of leaving UG hit her last night and washed over her like a wave... She is much better and enjoyed her class. She even had other 5th graders in there with her. I'm thankful and tired.... please continue to pray for us and especially our sweet babies.. time will heal and they are being so mature about it. They guard their Daddy's heart and more than once have said... "Momma I don't want to make it harder for Daddy"

One day at a time.. finding joy in the journey and remembering to bloom where we are planted...
~~
Philippians 4:6-8
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things.

A cup of coffee!

I'm not a everyday coffee drinker.. actually it's been a couple of weeks sense I had any. Today a co-worker brought in some coffee for she and I just sit to talk a minute. It was perfect with cream and splenda.. and just the smell and the taste took me back...

I went immediately back 30 years... it was a little weird but I did.

I could remember sitting at my grandparents table and feeling so grown when my Grandma would let me drink coffee. It was so loaded with Cream and sugar it was harmless but I remember it well. Before I realized it I was telling about remembering getting to drink it every morning at the green house. When we would get up at 4/5 in the morning and get there in the dark I would curl up on their couch in the office and sleep for a while.

I remember potting plants, watering flowers, playing in the rain and running the cash register...LOL! Those were the best summers! I even remember when certain customers would come up and Grandma would say, hang around with her she pinches cuttings off my plants...I would follow them around talking I'm sure driving them nuts!!! But they wouldn't get a pinch!!!

I remember making a boat and putting secret messages on it and putting it in the creek and letting it float under one green house and coming out on the other side... I remember a backgammon game/set that had a brief case and I had some old bling buttons that looked like jewels that I would hide in the brief case and play for hours, hiding and pretending they were stolen! Funny... all that from one cup of coffee..

I pray my kids have precious memories like that.. I pray one day they can look back and see what a true treasure childhood/Grandparents are and not take a single minute for granted...

We are not promised tomorrow, make the most of today!

Dress!

After basketball practice today, Kacey, Grace and I went dress shopping for a Key Club Dance!

After many stores this is the dress she fell for! I am just thankful it's done and she likes it!!

Publix and Home... A long DAY!

Happy Monday!

Awana's!

Tonight at Awana's was bittersweet. I felt such a calling to start Awana's and never once regretted it. I can see in Grace's life what a HUGE blessing it's been and how much God has used that program to grow her and others!

All that being said tonight was hard knowing I wouldn't be back. Not in that setting. Praying my class is blessed with a new exciting on fire for Jesus teacher.

It's still hard! even when you know it's right.

So a sentimental Mom when her child is leading the pledge of alligence might have to walk and get water (so she doesn't lose it) knowing it was a last and then when her friend leads the next pledge and her girl is acting silly she might have to snap just one more picture...

Also, our church had a very emotional prayer time for us tonight.

It touched my heart deeply....

Finding Joy in the journey.... one moment at a time!