A Thankful Heart

I've just been thinking lately how blessed I am. Just having a thankful heart. These are some of the things I'm thankful for.

Friends

Candace, Selina, Junior

Ivey & Annette

The Cooper Family

Allen, Casey, Taylor, Teresa, Kim, Rhonnie, Mary

Allen & Jeremy

Family

Sweet Grandpa & Grandma

Proud Smith Grandparents with Grandchildren

Andrew's Dad, Andrew, & Grandpa

Jaxon, Jack, Jaden

Grandma & Aunt Estelle

Two Sweet Ladies

My Precious Children

Easter '09

My Sweet Mama

My Sweet, Silly Daddy

Anthony, My Macho Brother

Sweet Little Girls

Faith

Cute Twin Boys

Brock & Bryce Woods

And how many other things!!!! Definitely too many to name or even count!

Thank you, God!!

Oh, the joy of sins forgiven!!!!

It has been a truly wonderful weekend!! Andrew got home from Florida early Saturday evening. Can you tell Abby & Nathanael were glad to see him? They sure do love their Daddy!

For supper he wanted Homemade Vegetable Soup and a birthday cake, since he was gone Wednesday, his actual birthday. So, of course, I made him one.

I know, it's not a traditional birthday cake. But a traditional birthday cake maker, I am not! Besides, this kind of cake is his favorite. Chocolate cake with chocolate icing. Yummy!!!!!

I saw these tulips at the grocery store and had to get them! Tulips are one of my favorites. They just look like spring! I brought them home, arranged them in a vase and put them on my dining room table. Andrew likes for me to have fresh flowers in the house.

Abby and Nathanael waiting for Daddy to get home. They love their Leapsters!!

Sunday was a wonderful day! After the sermon at church Sunday morning, a couple came to the altar and God so wonderfully saved them!! There was such a sweet, sweet spirit. I think about the song

" There's a sweet, sweet spirit in this place; and I know that it's the presence of the Lord. There are sweet expressions on each face....."

At YFC Sunday night, our YFC leader asked us to define "grace". We got the usual definitions of "God's unmerited favor", but I like how our leader described it.

G-God's

R-Riches

A-At

C-Christ's

E-Expense

Oh, what a merciful and gracious God we have! His mercy surely is from everlasting to everlasting!!

Midweek Madness

Does the middle of the week seem hectic to anyone besides me? Andrew had to take his parents to Florida, so it's just me and the kiddies! And yesterday was Andrew's birthday. Happy 29!!!

Tuesday night was PTC at Mt. Zion Christian Academy. Abby made all A's except for a B+ in Cursive Writing. But I think that's great for a 6 year old! YEAH, Abby!! : ) She was proud of herself, as she should be!

Abby doing homework

Abigail loves to play around on the piano. I talked to a lady about giving her lessons, but she thought it might be best to wait one more year. I hope she stays as interested in playing as she is now.

Nathanael is my little cowboy. Doesn't he look tough? : )

Just us relaxing!

All my Christmas decorations are still up. I know, that's terrible, right? I hope to be able to take them all down tonight, though.

Busy Weekend

Mercy me, what a busy weekend!!!! And here I am today, back at the office. Don't I ever get a day off?! Just kidding. Monday's are normally my day to work, but Abby & Nathanael were out of school yesterday so Andrew and I switched days. Sweet of him, huh? Well, maybe. He just didn't want to keep two kids all day by himself! : ) Don't tell him I said that!

Saturday evening we went to Kim's birthday party. Happy 29!!!!!!! It was at Fuller's BBQ, a great buffet restaurant in Lumberton. Naturally, I ate too much. And then there was the birthday cake! Made by none other than Ms. Homemade Goodness herself, Mrs. Ivey Woods! Best cake maker in the world! Ok, maybe not the ENTIRE world, but definitely my world. Afterwards, to Walmart to pick up a few things for Sunday dinner and then home to cook it.

Sunday was a glorious Lord's Day!!!!! The weather was perfect! It rained Saturday night and everything looked so clean and refreshed. The temp was warm enough we didn't need even a jacket. Nathanael was very glad for that! Andrew preached a wonderful message to the lost about "Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." Praise God for the rest we have in Jesus!!! After the altar call was given, a precious soul gave his heart to the Lord! How his mother rejoiced!!! God is so good!

Grandma & Grandpa were over for Sunday Dinner.
Sunday dinner was:
Pork ribs cooked all night in the oven with gravy, onions, and cream of mushroom soup
Mashed Potatoes
Baked Beans
Deviled Eggs
Cheddar Biscuits
Turtle Brownies
Butternut Squash Pie ( Grandma's Specialty )

Everything was delicious!!! Can you tell I like food? Then, NAP TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Grandpa

Grandma & Abby

I'm Gonna Try This

OK, Livi. I'm gonna try this. It was fun getting my blog set up. Let's see how fun it is to actually blog! I'll probably blog about 2-3 times a week, not every day. Well, here goes nothin'!!!

I'm working at the office today. I have how many things that I need to be doing at home, but it was my Saturday to work, so..... Here I am while my laundry (and a long list of other things) sits at home awaiting my return. Andrew is keeping the children today : ) , how sweet of him, and Abby and Nathanael said they were gonna clean their rooms and do the dusting for me . What little angels I have. Ha Ha!!! We'll see how that went when I get home. Actually, they do a pretty good job to be 5 & almost 7.

We went to Cracker Barrell last night. I love that place, especially the Country Store! This picture is of my two men getting ready to go. Andrew was in the bathroom combing his hair and Nathanael was trying to give himself some spikes. I thought is was cute.

These are some random pictures I thought I'd share with you.

Daddy at Christmas showing off his gun and holster Anthony got him.

Mama in the kitchen about to take biscuits out of the oven.

My "Tiny Elf" and little reindeer. Who says Rulodph is the cutest Reindeer?

Andrew's Mom, Dad, Brothers, and Sister. This was taken on Andrew's Dad's 80th birthday.

Left to Right: Barbara Jean, Perry, Casey, Andrew, Jack, Mom, Dad

Mt. Zion Ladies Auxiliary went on a Christmas Shopping Trip to Myrtle Beach, SC. We had a blast!!! This is us out to eat all wearing our Santa hats.

8 of us went on the trip. We drove a Suburban. We all had lots of shopping to do. Us 3 were in the back seat. You can see the shopping bags were up to the roof! We had bags in our laps, under the seats , under our feet. If there was a space, we crammed a bag there!