Butterfly Kisses

While we were away, we took a day to spend just the five of us and we visited the Knoxville Zoo. My favorite exhibit was the Butterfly Garden. Enjoy!

Happy 12th Birthday Samuel

We can't believe it, but our son is 12 years old. We are so proud of the young man of God that Samuel is becoming. We look forward to see what the Lord is going to do with his life in the years to come.

We were in Kentucky for Samuel's birthday this year, so he was able to celebrate several different times. On the night before his birthday, he was given a gift from Memama and Grandaddy - a trip to New Mexico to attend my cousins wedding!!!!

Then early on Wednesday morning, his birthday, he received a phone call, on his own cell phone.

After breakfast with Mammy and Popeye we headed down the road again to meet up with our good friends, the Groce's at Dollywood, where we enjoyed Little Debbie's as birthday cake and sang (loudly) to him.

Then on Sunday night we enjoyed supper with Grammy and Big Daddy, The Adkins, and Aunt Amanda, Uncle Les and Seth for a wonderful Mexican dinner.

Happy 12th Birthday Samuel - we love you!

Nannie Rose

My Nannie Rose went to be with Jesus yesterday only a short week after her stoke (Sunday, June 7th). We traveled up to be with her and the rest of the family on Thursday. I have so much on my heart and my heart is heavy. But, I am rejoicing that she is in Heaven with her Jesus and with the One who gives me strength to face what is to come. I have been praying for several days that Jesus would take her on to be with Him and I am glad that He did answer my prayers, but my heart still aches that I will not see her again this side of Heaven. The Lord gave me sweet times with her and my entire family over the week-end and I will never forget the presence of the Lord in her hospital room on Friday evening.

I hope the Lord will allow me to put more of my thoughts together in the weeks to come and share them with you. But until then, thanks for all those who have been praying for her and our family. The Lord has heard our cry and answered them!

*I can not end this post without publicly thanking my husband for being my rock over the past week-end. It didn't matter what I or anybody else asked him to do he was willing to do it; he was the driver, the errand runner, the coffee getter, the anything he needed to be and yet at the moment I needed him to be right beside me and be there to hold my hand he was there at that moment too. Travis, I thank you for being an amazing husband to stand beside me no matter where or what. I LOVE YOU!

Red, White and Blue Photo Contest

A girl that Travis works with is having a Photo Contest on her blog and this is my entry of sweet kids. This one hangs on my wall and it makes my smile each time I see it!

What a Difference a School Year Makes

Yippie, School's out!!!!! All three kids have had a wonderful school with wonderful teachers. It has been a great school year with many changes for each of them and more changes to come. Samuel is on to 7th grade in the world of school sports, Hannah Grace is moving on to 1st Grade and Faith is heading to kindergarten (oh, my).

Looking at the the beginning and end pictures, I can see so many differences on the outside, but there as so many more on the inside!