Many things to share ..............busy times!

Well, it has been a while since I posted. I started and then life just got crazy busy. Last post , I introduced you to Naomi, our first granddaughter. Since that time, we have welcomed her with a sweet shower given by family and friends. Prior to that, my sweet little grandsons celebrated Halloween and were absolutely adorable! They say that a picture is worth a thousand words, but these pictures are priceless! Naomi chose to just go as herself, a little " princess".



Naomi in her party dress!



Staci and Naomi with hostesses...Noelle, Christie, Julie, and Dana.
( Rynthia, we missed you! )

Staci and Naomi with mom, aka Gee...hostess, too.


Staci and Naomi with their MeMa!


Sam , the very strong " Mr. Incredible!

Jude , aka Spiderman, behind that awkward mask!!

Naomi - our Sleeping " beauty" Princess.

Micah- the awesome Mr. Incredible !

Gavin , Buzz Lightyear ..." to infinity and beyond"!

Cash...the cutest elephant EVER!

Next on my agenda was a trip to Austin. Brad and Noelle ( my 3rd child/ first son and his wife ) are expecting their second child the around April 7. They invited me to be with them during their first sonogram. This was a monumental time, since this was the " sex" of child sonogram. Yes, they chose to find out the sex. Drum roll, please.................It is a girl!!! So, soon we will have granddaughter #2. God is so good. Now as to the sonogram. After determining the sex, the technician began a journey of examining every square inch of that sweet little girl. It was just amazing. Each time I get to be a part of such a time, I am more amazed at God's creative hand and I marvel at how wonderful and special that each person is created to be. Naomi, you now have a girl to join you amongst the little boys!

PICTURE COMING SOON!

Lastly, we have had birthdays these past few months! First to celebrate was Sam. He was five years old on September 25. It is so hard to believe that five years have passed since he first enterd our lives. He was the first grandchild and first grandson. Sam, I love you and I am so proud of the five year old boy that you have become. I love your tenderness and affection . I love that you like to still cuddle with me! I love lying next to you in bed and making up stories . I love playing a "concert" with you or just be there to listen.

Happy birthday, Sam! Waking up to balloons is great!

Next on the birthday train was Jude! Jude's could have been overshadowed by Naomi's arrivel. However, we all made sure that that didn't happen. Jude was two years old on October 25. Once, again,time has just flown . Jude, you are just pure joy and happiness ! You make me smile so much . I don't know when I have ever seen a child that just seems to glow with so much joy! I love you so much! I love your smile. I adore your laugh. I love how you will sit and sing Bible songs for so long and not ever be bored. I love your imagination and enthusiasm for life. I love reading to you and singing you songs in the dark. I love when you ask for more!

Happy Birthday, Jude! How could you resist that joyful face?

Last in the birthdays ( until December) is Micah. Micah is our second grandchild. He celebrated his 3rd birthday on November 21. We had a wonderful party with "happy face" pancakes and lots of family and friends. Micah was so excited this year about his birthday. It was the year that it "clicked" and he actually counted down the days! When I would call him and talk about the party, he would just say " Not yet, Gee". Micah, I love you! I love how you get so excited when you see me and how you want to immediatly put your car seat in my car, so that you can be with me where ever I go ! I love that you like to call me and talk to me on the phone for a long time and tell me lots of cool things. I love playing pretend with you , especially " Handy Manny" on your birthday! I love that you are so tender and sweet and talk to me and ask me lots of questions! I love how tight you hug me when you see me!

Happy "3rd" birthday ,Micah! Cupcakes are so yummy!!!

Now it is time to celebrate Thanksgiving! I am so thankful for the family that God has given me. I remember a song that we used to sing at the church where I grew up as a child. It was " Showers of Blessings" . Well, if blessings are like showers, then I am drenched with the blessings and love of my God and Savior. I have am amazing husband, four wonderful children, and six ( almost 7 ) grandchildren. I am blessed to still have my mother and my mother in law. Lastly , God has so enriched my life with unbelievable friends that have shared many roads and stories with me. So, last , but definitely, not least, I love my Lord and say thank you for all you have given me . Thank you for my salvation and for walking beside me every moment of every day. Thank you for loving me and dying for me.My prayer on this Thanksgiving is that my life will reflect Jesus , so that that each of these special people in my life will see Him in all I say or do.

Until after the turkey and thanks.....................many blessings!

Thinking pink, ruffles and bows!

I just arrived home last night after being gone for about two weeks. The majority of the trip was spent in College Station with my oldest daughter , Staci, and her husband Ross, and their boys, Sam and Jude. We were getting ready for the arrival of a new addition to their family. After several days of waiting anxiously, Staci and Ross left for their adoption agency and arrived home about eight hours later with a new precious daughter. She is just adorable and so perfect and beautiful. Also, so feminine... little nose and lips, long slender fingers, just all girl! So Naomi joins our 5 wonderful and sweet grandsons! Look out boys! I know she already has her big brothers devotion and love and constant attention!

Every time a new grand child enters our family, my heart just swells with more joy and love! After parenting your own children, there are times you just can't imagine loving anyone more, then.......along come grandchildren! You don't love anyone more, your kids or the grandchildren. God just opens up your heart to allow more love to fill it. I will say that loving as a grandparent is different. You have " been there"" and now there is an understanding and awe that just takes over! Time becomes irrelevant and you find you can just sit and rock or play or tell stories forever and not care, because you KNOW first hand how quickly TIME will pass! I am blessed to have wonderful parents in my children and their spouses. They continually amaze me ! They also bless me and Nicky daily with their desire for us to be a vital and active part in the lives of these sweet and precious grandchildren. I know that not all grandparents get to be as involved as we are invited to do. So, thank you kids ! We are blessed in multiple ways! We love the time that you "bless us" with when you visit or send these " little blessings" to spend time with us. Thank you for trusting us and sharing them with us! My pray for all of you and for all the mommies and daddies that I know is that God will give you a revelation of how short a time you have with your kids and how quickly time passes. I know that there are things that do need to get done and kids do need to learn to be " alone", but I pray that God will show you that balance and give you the desire to be the kind of parent that God is to each of you. He always has time for us, regardless of the situation ! Nothing is too silly or small! Every moment that you give is a " moment " of loving, teaching, and mentoring. Remember, your children are a gift and a blessing, so get busy and truly enjoy your gifts to the fullest! " Showers of blessings, showers of blessing I see......." . Let it pour God!

Okay, here goes.......

Well, I have to say, I think it was easier for me to create this blog, than to actually post on it. I have been telling myself that I needed something really good to write. So, that was about two weeks ago. Then , I thought I would just start by explaining the " why" behind my "Show and Tell " title. I spent weeks trying to think of something extremely creative and finally just decided to pick something that was descriptive of my intentions. I suddenly was taken back in my mind and remembered the days of " show and tell". Do you remember them? I remember it being such a fun day at school and I think all kids look forward to it. I can remember my own kids on " show and tell" days. I know that most of those moments probably weren't extremely exciting or life changing for the audience. However, it was important to the one sharing. So , here is my explanation and disclaimer. My times of " show and tell" on this blog may not be very life changing for you, as the reader. I definitly know they will not be moments of great wit and laughter. I do not claim to be the witty , very funny one in our family. I do have plenty of those people in my family surrounding me, so maybe I just don't try and compete in this area. My posts that make you laugh or smile will be when I share the fun and laughter that I experience with my family and friends and as I just live life. My thoughts and insights may not be eye opening moments for you to experience . However, if I share them, then they are for me. So, maybe this blog is just for me...to read, to remember, to laugh again, to ponder a little longer. Whatever... it is my " show and tell" . So I will show you those I love and the times we share. I will share with you memories in the making and I will ponder outloud ( or in writing ) the truths and insights that God continues to teach me each day. Now, enough of that. Let "show and tell" begin!