Life with my sister

December was the busiest and most festive month ever. All the traditions we have started with Henry, plus adding new activites into the mix, made for a whirlwind of fun. We took our 6th annual trip to the lights  of the Delta and then drove Into Missouri to see a light display on a house that was all over our local news. It's always a fun, predictable outing, that includes eating in a booth at Perkins. Ahh, and if you REALLY know Randall and me, you know Perkins is where it's at! ;) I miss eating the salad bread bowls and I always think of Meemaw and her love for that apricot syrup.  We walked in the parade with the Pregnancy Resource Center. I serve on the board and we were so thrilled to drive our new mobile ultrasound unit in the parade. It will go into outlying areas and serve women who otherwise would not have access to a Center....and save babies! We walked behind it and waved at people.  Henry had a field trip to a Christma...

I love hosting my annual cookie/ ornament exchange. It is such festive fun and a rare time to have all my Jonesboro friends all together.  These girls all love an excuse to leave the kids at home and come visit, eat and score lots of cookies and a new ornament. I love hearing the laughter and excitement in the walls of our home.  I always wonder how "dirty" the dirty Santa game will be, but it's usually not too bad. It's always funny to see that one friend who keeps losing her ornament. Luckily, it wasn't me this time!  This year it was my beautiful and fun neighbor, Lindi. She got the bean bag on the floor and the brunt of the game. I loved that it was her though. It was fun and she's a great sport about it all. She did end up with a fun ornament in the end.  My church friends and mamas make me feel so loved. I'm blessed with friends from several circles in Jonesboro. That ole saying about having a church f...

It been forever since I have blogged. Over this festive holiday I have been chewed out by many for it. So, I'm making a vow to do better! I had no idea so many of you missed me :) Here is a recap of some of our happenings this past month in Memphis. We have been there every weekend for something or another since Thanksgiving.  At the beginning of December we ran the St. Jude Half Marathon. We love Memphis and an excuse to run through it and to help the kids at St. Jude was a plus. We attempted it in 2013 but an ice storm the morning of the race prevented it. We were so glad to have perfect weather this time.  At the race expo, the day before, we ran into some of our Mississippi Lee cousins. A family who runs together, stays together- ha! It was a fun surprise to see them. They are so much fun.  My sweet man runs about 4 minutes faster per mile than me, so we did not run together... I would have died- ha! He was a great supporter though and he...

Happy Thanksgiving!  I'm a couple of days late, but we've been out of town having fun so I'm sure you'll forgive me.  Thursday morning we left early and drove to Branson for the weekend. We met Stephen's parents at the world's largest Golden Corral for Thanksgiving dinner. This has become our typical Thanksgiving destination, and we don't mind it a bit. Most of us had steak, Anna had pizza, and all of us ate turkey. It isn't traditional but it's what works for us! After lunch we headed to Silver Dollar City, but stopped first to pose in front of Ronald Reagan. Abby had sent a picture of Henry in front of this statue and we knew Stephen had to see it! This is Samuel and Lauren in front of our favorite president. (Lauren spent the weekend with us. This is her first Thanksgiving without her mom. We were grateful for the time she was able to spend with us. She is so sweet, and funny, mature, and beautiful.) Stephen took quite a few pictures at Silver Dol...

I know these aren't the most fun posts, but they're fun for me to look back on. Thanks for indulging me! In the great outdoors...It is so cold!! It was 30 degrees outside this morning and has snowed a bit in Little Rock overnight. Tomorrow nights football game is going to be brutal! With thanksgiving,,lIts warm inside. Last week our heater was out and it was a little nippy inside. So, we're very thankful for our heater in these really cold temperatures! Within our walls...We have been so busy the last couple of weeks. It seems like I've hardly been at home during the day. Hopefully things will slow down next week. A heart of prayer...As you probably know, Samuel is dating a sweet girl who lost her mother in February.  It breaks my heart to think of her being 18 and a senior in high school without her mother. I pray for her a lot. I cry for her a lot also. Random observations... I'm going heavy on the random on this one. I really dislike washing my hands in a public ...

Three years ago today our family was shell-shocked. We were scared, confused, abandoned, hurt. We felt fearful, heart-broken and lost.  Today, Stephen preached at a friend's church and during the service, they called all of us to the front and prayed over us. People left their pews, circled around us, laid their hands on us, and prayed. I couldn't help but think how far we've come.  Three years ago we received so many sweet words, prayers, notes, gifts, visits, and even offers to beat up a few Baptist deacons and their wives! Those things got us through some rocky months. But more than anything, the comfort we received from the Lord reassured us that we were loved and cared for by Him. He saw our pain, He knew our pain, and He loved us.  Jesus redeemed our lostness, our pain, our worry, and our sadness. One of Samuel's favorite songs when we was a toddler said, "I'm trading my sorrow, I'm trading my shame, I'm trading them all for the joy of the Lord....

Halloween week was festive around here. We went to a pumpkin patch with some friends from church. Henry loved the hayride and corn maze.  We make a cute ghostly looking pair! It was so hot that night it was unbearable, really. Mosquitoes drove us out of there quickly. Memphis Zoo Boo was the best halloween fun we've had in years. The lady working the Panda exhibit said "we have candy and dancing inside" and I replied loudly, "yeah, you do!" And my crew almost died from laughing in embarrassment. Randall took these of us dancing it up with the pandas!  We meet our friends there and enjoyed being with them and making new memories with our kiddos.  This is us with Mandy and Charlie about 10 years ago and now. We have such fun times together. I'm so glad they moved back to the midsouth.   Elvis made his grand appearance at trunk or treat and was a hit! He would take off his wig all the time because he was so afraid everyone would really think it was Elvis and no...