Pics from the Halloween Party

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My Baby is Four!

This weekend marked the 4th Birthday of Hannah! It was a busy weekend, between the birthday festivities and a Halloween party with the group from church! On Saturday evening, we went to the very high hills of the next county, to a clearing atop one of the high hills, for the party. One of our members has cleared some land on the top of that hill and put in some fun things for his grandchildren to play on. There is a lighted putt-putt golf course, a tree house, swings, cable lines to go down, and a very nice spot for a campfire. We roasted hotdogs, had hot chocolate, and let the kids do some early trick-or-treating, since everyone will be at church on Wednesday night.

After dinner, it was off to the "haunted" barn and trail that led up to the barn. It was a good long hike, and I could not help but think how it must have been for soldiers during the Civil War, making their way through the woods in the pitch black darkness. It was cold and wet, and that campfire felt great when we got back to it. The haunted barn nearly scared the life out of Hannah. I had no idea she would get so scared, or I would not have let her go in there. I gave her the choice to stay outside with some others who were not going in, and she opted to go. I thought she would have nightmares that night, but I guess she was too tired.

We had a great time, and we did not want to leave, but we all knew that church came early at 8:30 the next morning. Plus, all our young men had sermons to give in a special class they have been doing, so we needed to get back and make the final preparations for that.

Sunday, after church, we came home, made dinner, and had Hannah's cake and presents. She wanted to do it while her brother Daniel was here. Since he had to go back to college that afternoon, we had to hustle and get through the party. She loved everything she got, and fortunately, she does not take a lot of sleep to be in a good mood. She smiled greatly for the pictures!

I can't believe how the years get away. It seems so short since I was making the uncomfortable ride up to the "Boro" to give birth to her! I am just glad it is now instead of then! I would love to have her back as a baby for at least a month, because it seems like I missed out on so much of her first few weeks. She is still a beauty, and she keeps me in stitches all the time with what she says. Enjoy the pictures!

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Happy Birthday, Beautiful Lauren!

One of my dear readers is 3 today! O.k., well really, her mommy reads the blog to her. She just happens to be my beeeee-utiful niece Lauren. If her mother were the material type, they could be making millions in the modeling business. Her hair is naturally curly, and her eyes are blue as the Caribbean! She is a sweet little darling of a girl, too, and I find it hard to believe it has been 3 years already since she was born! Grow up, sweet girl, to be as precious as your mother and grandmothers, and you will do well! Always remember, "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised." (Proverbs 31:30)

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Need a Laugh?

If you just want to have a real laugh, then check this out. This is the kind of laughter that is addictive! If you can watch this whole thing and not crack a smile, then you are truly a serious person!

Happy Birthday to My Definitely-Better-Half!

Don't fall out or anything, but I am actually posting two days in a row! It is after midnight, and I should be in bed, but before I went I just had to wish my sweet husband a H-A-P-P-Y B-I-R-T-H-D-A-Y !!!

I was just thinking back to when I first met him. It has been a whole decade now--nearly 1/4 of my life so far! The years have flown by with him.

In 1997, I was a divorced mother of three kids, living in this little country town, relatively happy with my life, but greatly missing the companionship that marriage brings. I was too old and settled to really get into the "dating scene," especially with three little boys, ages 3, 9, and 10. There are not many men who are interested in taking on a woman with 3 boys, let me tell you.

I had dated one fellow, and that did not work out for a number of reasons--one of them being the boys. He wanted me, but he just was not convinced he was man enough to be an instant father to three boys. I can tell you in hindsight, he surely was not.

Then, most of you know the rest of the story...how the good Lord invented the internet so that I could meet my fellow, and how I got a "powerful, mighty hankerin'" to learn how to use a computer and the internet about that time. One thing led to another, and I met my beloved on a now-defunct website called The Christian Connection, to the horror and amazement of my family, neighbors, and church friends. All were sure that I had lost what little mind I had left.

But the reality was, I think that Tim and I both knew that we had something special early on in the relationship. Even though both of us had been severely "burned" in our last relationship, we knew exactly what we were looking for, and we found it in one another. Yes, there were complications. I was not looking for someone way up north, and he probably was not looking for instant children. Those things were not major issues though. Both of us were looking for someone with convictions--someone who was willing to form strong beliefs and hold to them in good times and in bad.

God provided me with a man who had been raised in a family of 6 boys and one poor little sister. He was not intimidated by a house full of noise and stinky socks. Three boys was mere child's play to the oldest of 6 boys! He was already well-versed in breaking up fights, and finding lost snakes, and the best ways to get mud and blood out of nearly anything.

God provided me a man who had character and backbone already built in. It was not optional equipment with him--it came standard on this model of a man. Fortunately, his parents had instilled wonderful values in him, like respect for authority, patriotism, and honor, and decency. He knew what was right, and he chose to believe that you should do right all the time, even when no one is looking.

God provided me with a man who had a great work ethic. He knew his place--providing for his family, and has never shunned to do that, even when I know at times he was physically unable to drag himself to a job. He set out from the very beginning with my boys teaching them what a man is supposed to be by example. Every job change he has made in his life has been a promotion for him. He has great business sense and makes me proud!

God provided me with a man who was not vindictive or set on righting all the wrongs of the past. Even though there were many times when most men would have mopped the ground with my ex-husband, he has always shown great restraint in not taking vengeance and leaving that to the Lord. He has always respected the fact that my boys love their dad and has not spoken evil of a man who really did not deserve much respect.

God provided a man who needed to be saved. When I met Tim, he was so close to knowing the truth that "it hurt." He had taken his Bible and figured out what God had to say on nearly everything, but he just did not understand the true purpose or meaning behind the baptism of Jesus Christ, and he just needed someone to help him see it. I really did not have much to do with that, other than making him mad enough to go home and print out every verse on baptism in the Bible. Once he did that, and then sat down and read it all in one sitting, he was on the phone to me telling me he was ready to become a New Testament Christian! Such is his heart!

And God provided a man to love me, unconditionally and completely! Anyone who knows me knows that is a tall order! I am stubborn, sometimes prideful, and often mysterious. He has done a pretty fair job of deciphering all the female mumbo-jumbo, riding the waves of hormones, and swimming the seas of tears that a woman can put out! (It's a good thing I married a Navy guy!)

We lost a baby together--our first--but survived the grief to see two beautiful daughters come into the world as a result of our union. We have raised the three boys in such a way that sometimes I forget they have a "real" dad. We've blended a family that does not seem to know the meaning of "1/2-brother" or "1/2-sister."

Each of us has had a near-death experience during our marriage, which is not too common among those as young as we are. Both of us have also had other "injuries" which shut us down for a time. It was great to know that the other would keep on and hold things up until we could get back on our feet.

When we married in 1998, the theme of our wedding day was "Let us Begin in God's Presence." Everything we have done in the last 10 years was an attempt to stay in His presence. Tim helps me more than any other person on this earth to be what I should be. When I start to fall, he lifts me up and leans me on his strong shoulders, and we go a little further.

When I met Tim ten years ago, I had no idea where it would lead. The Lord knew. I believe that He, in his great Providence, gave us each other. I never would have believed that, in 1994, when I had to go out and mow my lawn with a newborn in my arms because it was all I could do, that in 1997 and 1998 and every year until the present God would work it all out and I would be so blessed. I share my story, not only to praise God and to honor my husband, but to give hope to any who struggle that God indeed has a plan, and it will come to fruition in His time.

The man who was praying to God that God would show him the way, found the Way, and today, that man is 46! He won't be spending his birthday partying it up. He will be in his favorite place today--with the brethren, and he will be doing what he loves tonight-- it is his turn to preach the gospel. He said he could not think of a more fitting way to spend a birthday--doing something that truly matters! That's my husband! :)

I love you, Tim!

Mom's Birthday

We traveled to my mom's house on Sunday, one day after her 68th birthday, to celebrate a little late! We were so happy that our friends Larry and Brenda could be in town. They used to live next door to us when I was just a little thing of 5 or 6. We played with their kids and were very close until we all up and moved to other places in the states.

I could not help but think about my grandmother "Nanny" as Mom and I spent a few hours together. Mom said that she misses her more every year on her birthday than any other day of the year. My mother looks more like my grandmother every passing day. There is a degree of comfort in that, for it as if you can see a glimpse of a loved one in the eyes or the movements of the one who remains.

I have mentioned before that I am constantly scaring myself when I flip on the bathroom light, and there, staring back at me is my paternal grandmother, my maternal grandmother, and my paternal great-grandmother. I am sure that if I had known the other females in my lineage, I would see them there, too. There aren't any ghosties hovering there in the background. Rather, their features are becoming my features.

It doesn't stop when I leave the bathroom. I go to the closet and look down, and I see my mother's feet. I reach for a dress and see my grandmother's hand. I see myself in a photo and realize that I have the same posture and gestures as the women who gave me genes. I make the same faces in reaction to the conversations around me. I know, because most of those have been captured on film as well.

I pull my little girls up into my lap, and they notice every new wrinkle, every new line, hair or blackhead on my face. I used to do the same thing with my grandmother. She delighted in me giving her "facials" to remove all the unwanted intruders from her complexion! I could not get the wrinkles off, but I think I traced every line with my little fingers thousands of times. In the eyes of the world, she was just an aging woman. In my eyes, she was beautiful. She was grace incarnate.

"Meme, your skin is so soft!" "Meme, you smell so nice." The little granddaughters now dote on my mother like I did mine. I am next, Lord-willing.

Mom on her 68th Birthday.

 

My mother and her mother (Nanny)