Megan's Dance Studio Recital 2013

Both the girls took dance this past year at Megan's dance studio in Indian Mound.  They both had a lot of fun this year.  However, I think they are going to do other endeavors this year.  No more dance for us forever or until we see what they really are passionate about.
I was truly proud of my Addie bear as she won the Dancer of year trophy for being the best dancer with the best attitude and having a smile on her face at each practice.  Made me so proud!

Summer Is Here!

Summer is here and 1/2 way over!!

I can't believe that this summer is 1/2 over and that tomorrow if July 1st!!  What???  I guess as I get older and things are always changing I can't believe how fast time flies.
The girls ended their school years well.  Addie did so well and only made one B the entire 2nd grade year.  Claire has really done well in her preK this year.
We have finished up the school year, dance recitals, and softball regular season and All Stars.
One more week and we leave for Destin!!!  I can't wait, well needed rest and time with my little fam!
This summer I have lost one of my dear friends, Paige Nash Morris.  Paige and I got close when I worked at Animal Care Center for 4 years.  She was the most beautiful, sweet, caring, loving, and feisty woman I know!  She knew how to care for horses, mules, cats, dogs, and feed people corn, funnel cakes, and sweet tea at the fair.  She was the biggest advocate for the Wilson County Fair and I got to see her "in action" at the fair feeding others and laughing with the best of them.
She found a wonderful man to marry and spend 11 years with and they had a beautiful little girl named Rubi who is 9.  Please continue to pray for Rubi and Scott as they have truly lost a great mother and wife.  Paige lost her battle with Stage 4 brain cancer:  glioblastoma.  Her birthday is today.  She would have been 43 today.  Paige breathed her last breath last Wednesday afternoon at home with Scott and Rubi.  We will celebrate her life this Tuesday night at her Memorial Service at Gladeville Baptist church.

Here are some photos of the girls:  Truly blessed
mother I am:  Addie playing Stewart County AllStars 7 and 8 year olds.  We played last Friday night against Clarksville Nationals and got smoked 15-2.
We went back and played Woodlawn Saturday afternoon at 4pm and won, then went on to play St.Bethlehem and lost 18-10.  Good games and great fun!!!  Can't wait for next year and hoping Addie still wants to play.

Coaches:  Jeff, Vanessa Downings, and Crystal
Players:  Back left:  Grace Estes, Addie, Hailey Fisher, Jennifer, Mallory Wallace, Kylie, Caleigh, front row L to R:  Kinsley, Laney Morgan, MaKalea, Cass, Jasa, and Sara 

Where oh where have I been?

I'm back!

I can't believe it has been almost 2 years since I have entered an entry in my blog!  I don't even recognize the new update.  It's been too long!!
I hope that I still remember how to post pictures.  Looking at the last post was of Addie two years ago at her dance recital with no front two teeth!  I love those pics and it also reminds me of how fast life happens.  Addie now has two front teeth and Claire is taking dance also.
I hope to keep up with this blog as my own journal/diary and hope I don't offend anyone with any of my posts, but its for me so I shouldn't care I guess.  So here goes!
The girls just finished up with Spring Break this week.  I took them to Franklin for two days and we spent the night with Nat, Justin, and Easton Thursday night.  Claire and Addie were so excited to have a sleepover with their cousin Easton.  I think about 10:45pm Claire came to my bed because E was talking she said.  Nat and I knew that wouldn't last too long.
We went to see my Dad's new condo that he bought last summer in Franklin.  I had never been over there so the girls and I went and they thought the coolest thing was that Grandpa had an elevator in his home.  I guess that is pretty cool, a little luxury for whoever wants to go to all 3 floors quickly.
Daddy didn't look so good on Thursday.  I pray for him every day.  I don't know what else to do.  I want so badly for him to know the Lord and my prayer is for him to begin a prayer life  and have a relationship with our Savior!  Big prayer needs for him right now is with his diabetes, blood pressure, depression, and whatever else he is addicted to.  I have never seen a man that has so much get up and go, just let it all go so quickly.  I know that Satan is winning against him right now and I pray that Daddy can fight the demons off if he is willing.
On a brighter note, Addie is doing very well this year in 2nd grade.  Her teacher is Pam Lidyard and Addie has made straight A's twice this year.  This next week she will have an awards ceremony where she will receive her AM medal and an award for making straight A's.
Claire started preK last November at North Stewart.  There was an opening and she has absolutely loved going.  She has made so many friends and she will begin kindergarden this Fall.  I am hesitate about it because she has a July birthday, but we are going to give it a go and see how she does.  She went to the kindergarden registration and she is so excited to start.
Next week I will turn 39 and I can't believe I only have 1 more year in my 30's :-(  I don't think I am ready to grow up and get older and more wrinkly!!
Well, off to cook supper on a Saturday night, not real excited to but Chris is calling!

My tiny little dancer

Addie took dance for the first time this past year at Alyssa's Dance Studio in Dover. She has had a ball and it has been really hard getting her to and from practice on Tuesday nights for a year, but with Nanny and Daddy they helped me make it happen! She had her dance recital last Saturday night in Paris, TN at Krider Performing Arts Studio and she loved it. She got a trophy with her name on it and she felt so proud. She was a beautiful little stinka if I do say so myself.

That toothless smile

Her ballet costume

Addie's class

Their tap costume

In between waiting for them to go back on stage we killed time and I went out to see them in the hallway and they were all crowded around a DVD player that was a movie about Justin Beeber. They were so funny!!

love the green hair extension??

They did a finale at the end and the title to this years show was Let's go to the Movies so the finale was 80's attire and they danced to Footloose!! They were so cute saying, "we aren't even 8 yet and we get to dress like the 80's." I thought that was so cute!!

The opening act, going to the movies. Grace, Addie and Kylie

Addie has on leg warmers!!

Addie and Grace during their tap routine

Addie and her best friend this year in her kindergarten class: Darryll Cook. Addie adores her.

Addie and her friend Kylie

Happy Mother's Day

I am so blessed to have my mother today in my life. I am blessed to have a mother-in-law, and I am blessed so much to be a mother. We had a nice day today having lunch with Nanny, Pap, the girls, Chris and I at Ruby Tuesdays after church. I love this sweet family that has allowed me to take their name in marriage. I am blessed beyond measure. I then drove to Franklin with the girls to see my mom.

I do think of this day with sadness for those dear to me that don't have their mother's due to the fact that they have passed on, or for those that can't just jump in the car like I can and be there in under 2 hours to see theirs like me. I know I am blessed to be able to just go do that.

Let me tell you about my mother......she helped raise us and train us, all four of us. I give her the praise for instilling in me my christian values and morals. I love her for all she did for us, more than I will ever know. Even as a mother now, I still can't fathom what all she did for me. She shielded me, she loved me, protected me, cared for me, made sure we had all our "have toos" from Santa every year. Mom, if you read this.....know that you are my hero!! You amaze me at every turn in your life. Your life wasn't what you thought it would be after caring and raising four of us, but you are our rock and we love you for it!!! You are one of the strongest people I know. I know that your strength comes from the Lord. Your faithfulness and trust in Him. If I never "got it" before, I get it now..........I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!! I am proud to call you mom. My prayer is that Addie and Claire can say that about me in 30 more years.

I pray for the stresses of this life. When you are in a storm, like I feel that I am in right now along with so many others, I know that the little things mean the most. My friends that call, email, text. Those hugs from my children and husband. My personal relationship with my Lord and Savior is ALL I NEED. For all of you that are women and read this blog.......I love you and WE will get through this. So, for all of us that are in some type of storm I hope this blesses you:

"You remind yourself , that He is light, He is love, He is longevity and He is the Lord. He is goodness and kindness and faithfulness and He is God. He is holy and righteousness and powerful and pure. I serve Him because...His bond is love, His yoke is easy, His burden is light and His goal for us is abundant life. I follow Him because He's the wisdom of the wise, the power of the powerful, the ancient of days, the ruler of rulers, the leader of all leaders. His goal is a relationship with me.

He'll never leave you, never forsake you, never mislead you, never forget you, never overlook you and never cancel your appointment in his appointment book. WHEN YOU FALL HE'LL LIFT YOU UP. When you fail, he'll forgive you. When you're weak, He's strong. When you're lost, He's your way. When you're afraid, He's your courage.

When you stumble, he will steady you. When you're hurt He's gonna heal you. When you're broken, He will mend you. When you're blind, He will lead you. When you're hungry, He will feed you. When you face trials, He's with you. When I face persecution, He shields me. When I face problems, He will comfort me. When I face loss, He will provide for me. And when we face death, He will carry us all home to meet Him. He is everything for everybody everywhere, every time and in every way. He is your God." -Priscilla Shirer

Hard Times

This month has been a challenge for so many. I had a wonderful friend have a miscarriage, my friend Lynn in the previous post lost her husband Tuesday and she buried him today, however he is in Glory with his Lord and Savior!! Over 100 people have died this week due to the tornadoes and high winds that we have received over the past 72 hours, and my heart is so heavy for someone I love. We all need prayer!! Literally everywhere I have turned this week there is destruction. Satan is on attack!! A girlfriend's husband is leaving her and he suffers from alcoholism, another friend's child suffers from an eating disorder. Literally I found this all out this week!!!!

I started reading Life Interrupted this week in my Bible study time and wow do I need to read it!! The author tells us that these "interruptions" are actually divine interventions. If God is going to bring us to "it" He will bring us through "it"!! Lord I hope so because I don't know how strong I am!!

Good night all! I love you

Godly Women

What does it mean to be a Godly woman? When I think of the answer to this question one woman in particular comes to mind. She has been on my mind lately. She is such an inspiration to me and I love her. Her name is Lynn and she has walked a difficult road for many years. Her husband was diagnosed with leukemia almost eight years ago. Two weeks ago he started having some strange behaviors. After taking him into the hospital they found lesions on his brain that were biopsied. They came back as fungal. I think we all felt a sigh of relief that he would take the medicine and would eventually be better. Last week Lynn found out that he also has a brain mass that came back as lymphoma. The doctors warned her and her children that this time he is terminal. Wow....

so I think of her often because she has walked this path that she wouldn't have chosen for herself. She has been by her husband through rough, hard times. He has been in and out of the hospital numerous times. Her life and his in a moments notice 8 years ago was changed for the worst. She is Godly to me even thru her/his hard times because she is still with him. I am sure she has screamed out and asked why. Why me Lord, but she still continues to give God all the glory. Her faith to me is massive!!! I don't think just the average woman could have endured this test of faith. I think you have Lynn, and I continue to pray for you as you and your children walk through the rest of this path you are on. My heart is heavy for her to become a widow at the age of 49. I can't even imagine. It is my prayer that you continue to lean on the Lord. That you make Him all that you need. I love you my sister and my friend!!

I read Psalm 91 today and it made me think of you both.