I'm Going To Be A Great Aunt Again!

My niece Britainy and John are expecting a bouncing baby boy on 7/7/14. Our whole family is so excited. Our last little boy will be 22 on July 28. Since that time there has been 5 girls. My niece Cassidy 18, my daughter Audrey 16, niece Janie 6, Avery 5 and great niece and soon to be big sister Finley 2 in May.

Christmas at my Parents!

I know this is quite a few picture, believe me, it's just a tiny "drop in the bucket" (where do we get some of our crazy sayings). 

My brother Tony holding his 5 year old daughter Janie's presents...the little ones aren't spoiled! 

No, not at all hehe!

The most adorable picture. My great niece Finley cuddled up in the blanket Jen made for Britainy.

WARNING...she gets even more adorable!

Warned you...she fell asleep!

 Jen opening Keegan's present! (I think Mat's trying to photobomb - not really)

Mom & Dad (and of course Ali at my Dad's feet)

One of Audrey's many presents.

One of Audrey's presents for Granny (a glass cardinal ornament). Granny loves her cardinals she has in the backyard.

Sisters - my nieces Britainy & Cassidy!

Avery at her house before heading to Granny & Grandpa's.

Photo by Mitzi

Nieces Avery & Cassidy

Photo by Mitzi

My great niece Finley at her house Christmas morning!

Another cute one of Finley!

Cousins - my nieces Avery & Janie!


~♥~
 A story to go with the next three pictures!
When we (my sister, brother & I) were young we didn't have a lot of money. One year we really struggled with what to get Dad for Christmas. Well, Dad loves peppermint, and we found straight peppermint sticks that were about a foot long and about the diameter of a quarter. We bought 3 (1 from each of us) and we had his present.

Fast forward to our adulthood (I'm not sure what year, some time in the beginning 80's I think) my sister Mitzi finds a giant peppermint stick like the one in the following pictures.

Now six grandchildren and the first Christmas of a great grandchild later. He still gets his giant candy cane.

There's no name tag. It's one of the first presents opened. He acts like he has no clue who it could be for, or what it is. The little one's have so much fun telling Grandpa that he had better "open it to see who's it is".

He then opens it and with the honing steel from the knife block he whacks at it and we all get to enjoy someffo the best peppermint I've ever taste!

~♥~

My nephew Keegan with Jen! Isn't the chalkboard fireplace so cute!
My niece Britainy drew this on her chalkboard wall for her stockings! There was a "fire" burning and everything

My sister Mitzi

A cousin pile

The three little girls!

Hope your Christmas was as blessed as mine!

Thanks Is Such A Small Word

Remember

by Brittany Vigoreaux

American soldiers sacrifice so much,

All for the freedom of our country.

Leaving their families and heading off to war,

Not knowing what the future holds.

Working day and night

Determined to stay strong.

Watching friends be killed every day

Letters from home inspiring them to keep fighting

So little is given to them

Although there is little to do,

For those who have died in war

We can still remember

Remember all the men who have died.

Remember all the battles fought

Remember all the tears families cried

Remember it was freedom the soldiers brought

To this very day soldiers are under-appreciated

Veterans Day is the day

For the dead, living, and fighting soldiers

To be remembered

~oOo~

Enjoy Your Freedom

and

God Bless Our Troops

~oOo~

A very special thanks to my dear husband Rudy for his service in the Navy, my uncles Joe, Hubert, Arnold, Curtis, Estes (whom I never met, he gave his life on Tuesday, July 25, 1944. He was buried during WWII in Normandy American Cemetery; Colleville-sur-Mer, France), my cousins Kevin, Brenda & Sandi, and my brother-in-law Jeffrey. 

Happy Mother's Day!

"Happy Mother's Day" means more
Than have a happy day.
Within those words lie lots of things

We never get to say.
It means I love you first of all,
Then thanks for all you do.
It means you mean a lot to me,
And that I honor you.

But most of all, I guess it means
That I am thinking of
Your happiness on this, your day,
With pleasure and with love
~Author Unknown

~♥~

I love you Mom!

A very special first Mother's day to 
my niece Britainy, 
also to

Mitzi, Bridget, 

all my aunts, sister-in-laws, nieces, 

cousins and friends:

I hope you all have a wonderful 

Mother's Day!

I love you all!


Thank you Audrey for making me
a very blessed momma!
I love you very much!

A New Great Niece!

This cute little girl is my niece!

It seems to me that she should still look like this!

♥♥♥

Well she is now a beautiful young woman and Saturday May 5th, she became the new momma to a bouncy gorgeous healthy 6 lb 1 oz baby girl!

Finley Johanna enters the world!

One very proud daddy!

Isn't she beautiful?

Audrey & I saw & held her on Saturday on her birthday. 

So Sunday we went back to the hospital so Rudy could see his great niece too!

My girl with my new great niece! Adorable!

Look at those tiny fingers!

♥♥♥

Monday, May 7th, she started her new live outside the hospital!

Love you so much Finley!

Merry Christmas!

"And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."
Luke 2:1-14
~*~*~*~
Thank you Father for sending your only Son to pay my sin debt.
Only by Your grace and mercy am I forgiven.
Your grateful daughter,
Tammy
Amen
~*~*~*~
“That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:15-18
~*~*~*~
Have a blessed Christmas with family and friends!

So Cute...

I had to share!

Unexpected Fun

This afternoon the phone rang and the caller id read "Walgreens". We no longer have prescriptions there, so I'm saying "Walgreen??" outloud as I press the talk button. After "hello", I hear a sweet voice asked for "Joyce?". "No, there's no one here by that name" I respond. "Is this H. K. J------ on C---- Lane?" Which is correct. So now I'm really confused.

Rudy and Audrey now see a very puzzled look on my face and give me that, "who are you talking to?" look.

It turned out to be our 83 year old neighbors, Mrs. B, stuck at Walgreens. She had been dropped off there by Joyce, my sister-in-law, who lives at the corner of our street. Mrs. B was to call Joyce if she got finished before 4:00 pm or she was going to ride the bus home.

Well, Mrs. B had left her rubber band bundle with her phone numbers, credit cards and her bus pass at home. The Walgreens clerk not having a phone book had sent her back to the pharmacy. There they found our H. K. J------ on C---- Lane listing and she told them she thought that Hank (Joyce's husband) had a brother down the street (and yes he does).

After Mrs. B. telling the story several times Audrey and I left to "rescue" her! Two hours later, which included, the rescue, a trip to the bank, the grocery store and listening to the same stories again on Mrs. B. porch, we finally were heading home. Walking to the car Audrey and I looked at each other and smiled saying we needed to make sure we did this more often and checked in with her regularly.

People usually check in with their neighbors when the weather is extreme. You know...really hot or really cold. But, please remember to check in with them, on just normal beautiful spring days too! You'll be surprised how blessed you'll be!

Expect the Best from Others

Just today I was looking at the small little book "If I really wanted to Make a Difference I would..." (such big information from a small book) and on page 60 were the big bolds words "Expect the best from others... and He too serves a purpose who only stands and cheers. - Henry Adams.

~oOo~

What a good thought to always have. Too often people let everyone "off the hook",so to speak, and expect them to "behave badly", have a "bad attitude", "be hateful", or whatever other thing that isn't "their best", that no one feels like they should even try to do their best.

Have you ever had a salesperson looked shocked at you when you're nice and polite to them? When you hold a door open for someone do they look at you as if you have sprouted a second head? Why is that?

Because we (as in everyone) don't expect the best from others!

Let's make a deal (hey, that sounds like a show)! Let's each try to expect the best from others and let's give our best to others too! Okay? 

Wow, another year is almost over! It's seems like just yesterday we were excited ringing in the new year 2000! Now here we are heading into 2011! Time flies!

2010 highlights!

• January: my "baby" brother turned 43, and celebrated his 16th wedding anniversary; Tracy (niece) turned 37; Matthew (nephew) turned 35
• February: Bear (our "canine" child) turned 9
• March: Patch (a "feline" child) turned 6; and Avery (our newest niece) celebrated her 2nd birthday
• April: Audrey (our little baby) turned 13! Mark (bil) turned 49
• May: Oliver (another "feline" child) turned 7; my sister celebrated her 2nd anniversary; and I turned 50 year's old O.o! Keegan graduated from high school. May also brought some sorrow this year. A dear life long friend Danny died at 50 years old. My aunt Ruthie also lost her battle with cancer
• June: my "baby" sister turned 45
• July: Keegan (nephew) turned 18 
• August: Britainy (niece) turned 25; my mom & dad's 53rd anniversary; Keegan left for college
• September: Penny (yet another "feline" child) turned 16; Cassidy (niece) turned 16; my mom turned 72; Rudy & I celebrated our 19th anniversary; Chapman (nephew) turned 10
• October: Janie (niece) turned 3
• November: my dad's 74th birthday; Britainy moved back from Florida; Aaron (nephew) turned 6
• December: Rudy's 53rd birthday; Bridget (sil - the baby of the family) turned 41 O.o!!; Larry (nephew) turned 36; Shane (nephew) turned 37; a wonderful celebration of Christmas with my family.

We had a very blessed 2010! Prayers for continued blessings in 2011!

This is the day 

which the LORD hath made;

we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalms 118:24

~♥~

What a short and simple scripture. Yet it speaks volumes. 

If we would just do what this simple scripture tells us to do, our lives would be so peaceful and enjoyable.  One thing we need to remember is, this verse does NOT say...This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice on the days that are perfect, problem free and easy and we'll be glad for those days. 

So, do we rejoice in every day, or just those that are joyful and pleasant? Let's work on that, every day, wake up first thing in the morning and start rejoicing for your day to come. Continue rejoicing till your head hits your pillow that night. I'm sure we'll see a difference in our lives.

Pictures From Sunday

I hope you had a wonderfully 

blessed weekend with family and friends!

Saturday Part Two - The Hunting

Here's some pictures from Saturday!

Everyone had fun!

Saturday Part One - The Coloring

The family met at my parents house Saturday, ready for our yearly egg coloring & egg hunt! Everyone enjoyed coloring.

Grandpa enjoying an egg,

Avery ,

Cassidy ( niece)

Janie (niece)

Audrey (my daughter)

Bridget & Tony (my brother & sister-in-law, Janie's mommy & daddy)

Janie again, Mark (my brother-in-law & Avery's daddy) & Avery.

That's part of my sister Mitzi (Avery's mommy) in the top right corner.

Taking pictures of course!

We had 6 dozen beautiful eggs!

Being with family the most important part of the whole day!