My Little Bunny

MeMe's had the camera out again:)
Sweet Pea was about to fall asleep in the basket.

Wordless Wednesday

No words necessary:)

Brookelyn's 1st Spring!

This is Brookelyn's very 1st Spring and I think she likes it!!We took her for her first walk in her stroller yesterday,and she loved it!!!!!I think she'll be an outdoor girl just like her MeMe:)We will be spending lots of time outdoors this Spring & Summer.~~~~~~~~~We sure are enjoying this little blessing from above.Thank you God for sending her to us. All strapped in and ready to go!
Where we going MeMe?

She loves looking around at everything now.

It's all new to her:)

My Little Sweetheart

My little sweetheart is growing like a weed.She is a litle over 2 months old now! She always smiles & has just learned to chuckle out loud.
She is happy & content pretty much all the time.
At her 2 month check-up she weighed 10 lbs & 11ozs.

As you can tell ,

She has her MeMe wrapped around her lil finger.

I can't wait to see what she does next:)

Foster kids update...

Someone wrote me and asked me did we get the two little fosters we were suppose to have gotten on Monday. No we didn't. We had agreed to take them ,until we found out that they were coming from another county (over an hour away). I would have had to take then back and forth 2-3 times a week and that was just a lil to much driving. So we had to turn them down, but they found a wonderful family to take them that didn't mind the long drive. Thanks for asking!!!!

Flashback Friday

For flashback Friday, I decided to share my Lil Man "Jacob".He is 8 years old now,going on 18...lol But once upon a time he was just a little peanut...that seems like forever ago.Time just passes to fast and kids grow up to quickly.
I remember the day I prayed for this child.
I even asked God for a son.
Thank you God for blessing our lives with
Jacob Noah.

Happy Birthday!!!!!!!

Did someone say birthday?
Yep!!!! It's true!!!!
It's birthday time for not one but TWO!!!
Scroll down to see who...

It's birthday time!!!!!!
It's Amberly's 3rd birthday
&
Devon's 1st birthday!!!!

I hope you have a wonderful birthday!

Love, Aunt Sandy

Spring Has Sprung!

Spring has finally sprung in Howellville!!!
The Sweet Peas have really enjoyed being able
to go outside to play.They also enjoyed having Bailey visiting.Here are a few pictures from the first week ofSpring!

Girls,girls,girls...oh my!!!!!
Back when my youngest was a toddler,

I had all boy babysitting kids,but now it's mostly girls...

except for the drop-ins.

Happy Spring Everyone!

Today's Devotion

Verse-Psalm 71:8
Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.

Thoughts-
Worship is not something we do only at appointed times. It is apart of who we are and what we do. It is an avenue for us to express our love and to honor God for all that He is and all that He has and is doing. In praising Him we become consumed with His presence. It leaves little room for us to continue pondering the burdens of our day. We can praise Him when the sun rises in the morning until it sets with our hope for tomorrow. We are not restricted to our Sunday corporate worship. It is always appropriate to praise God. There is no set way to worship and praise God. It comes directly from your heart to the heart of God. Sometimes you may want to shout, other times sing, and yet another time maybe just sit and quietly reflect on His greatness. No matter how you do it; today is a wonderful day to praise and give thanks to our God.

Sweet Bailey

Aunt Sandy has been at it again:) I just can't help it. I know I take to many pictures.I just love pictures. It started as a child.I would look through my Nanny's & my Grandma Wilson's albums over and over. I would study each face and I'd imagine what type person they might be or had been (If they were deceased).I know it sounds crazy, but I was so interested in people & faces.I was especially fond of old black & white pics.My mom should have known then, that I'd grow up one day and wantto be a photographer.Pictures tell a story. Pictures show feelings. Pictures have meaning.It is one second of someone's life and only the one behind that camera sawthat one precious moment in person.

Today's Devotion

2 Corinthians 10:5
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

Feelings come and go, we can be feeling great and all of a sudden something happens and the winds shift and a giant wave of change comes over us. Life brings a variety of emotions and feelings but we must remember to restrain ourselves from living by them. We can't simply trust in our feelings alone but in the truth of God's word. Acting on our feelings instead of God's word can prevent us from attaining the goal that is set before us. If we trust only in our feelings we can be easily influenced simply because it feels right. We can just as easily allow hurt feelings to turn into bitterness. Even the good things we feel can turn sour; feelings of happiness and contentment can swerve off course and become laziness and procrastination if we are not bringing all our feelings in line according to God's word. Feelings of love can be mistaken inappropriately. If we did not have feelings and emotions life would be dull but we must not allow them to rule us.

Being Dumpy

It's been a while since I posted:( I have fallen behind on here. I've lost a couple of my readers,and I'm sure it's because I'm not posting as often as I was or maybe my style of writing has changed a little,or maybe I'm just boring...who knows. I hate to see any readers leave, but I understand. I haven't been able to spend as much time as I'd like on here and I haven't been visiting everyone's blogs as often as I want.
I'm so busy these days. I'm not complaining though,because everybody that knows me knows that I thrive on being busy. I was told when I was a child that the devil rides an idle horse. So I guess I figured if I would just stay busy that he would leave me alone...wrong!!!! Who ever wrote that is sooooo wrong. He rides any horse that will let him.
Last week, it was my turn. It was one of those weeks that the devil tried to attack me and bring me down on ever side. He rode me from the time my feet hit the floor until I went to bed at night. I got up each day just waiting to see what was going to go wrong.
I spent alot of time in prayer & in God's word trying to see how God was working in each situation that came my way...I'm still trying to see it.
I was heavy hearted most of the week. Someone done something that was really wrong and being only human I wanted to blow and tell that person just what I thought of them and what they done, but then God reminded me that it's not my job to do that, but it's his. He reminded me that even though I have a right to be angry, that I had to forgive and love this person anyway. Remember that part, "Be angry, but sin not". I also had to remind myself that as a child of God that I belong to Him and that my actions should represent Him.
Am I the only one God stops in his track????? I see so many around me that are never troubled by the things they say or do to others... I don't understand that ,because God stops me every time . He says, "Don't you do it" and I can't. So pray for me. This is going to be tough to get over. It's gonna take some time for me to move past this. Enough on that. I don't need to be giving credit to Satan here on my blog for the things he's done this week.
Got to think positive...
God has been good to me. He has blessed me much more than I deserve. He really is working in every situation and He always reveals it to me later down the road. It's just hard.
Some good things did happen this past week. We had some beautiful sunny days and temps in the 70's...yay!!!!!
I had a good work week! Most of my babysitting parents have gotten their jobs back now...yay!!!!! So when they have a job, it means I have work too. Thank you Lord for my job.
I submitted my last big test to the school and I'm eagerly waiting on my grade. I'm really confident that I did well. I poured my heart into this project. Now, I'm one step closer to making my dreams come true.
My sweet Bailey came and spent the week with us. After not seeing her for 3 loooong weeks, it sure was nice seeing that sweet little face. and spending time with her. I'm so glad for the time we have had with her. She is a blessing.
Today was weighing day. I've lost 11 pounds now!!!! Only 4 left to my goal weight and then it will be just maintaining it from there.
Well, that's all I have for this time. It's kinda a dumpy post I know. Just pray for me...I really need it.

It's Time To Wear Green

It's that time again!Yep, it's wear GREEN day as Jacob calls it:)Better known to most asSt.Patrick's Day I hope you have a wonderful GREEN day!
~~~~~~Irish Blessing
May you always have...
Walls for the winds
A roof for the rain
Tea beside the fire
Laughter to cheer you
Those you love near you
And all your heart might desire.

Are you a Evergreen Christian?

Last Sunday at church our Pastor preached a message on being an evergreen Christian.
He talked about the evergreen tree and how its foliage withstands the heat of the summer and the cold of the winter. It can even withstand a forest fire and come back stronger and more beautiful than before, because it's been through the fire. An evergreen is tall and strong and planted firmly. It prefers to surround itself with other evergreens and often is found growing close together. It doesn't easily break , but it bends when it should.
This got me to thinking about my life. Am I an evergreen Christian?When people see me on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and so on,am I the same as they saw me on Sunday morning? 1.Do I stand firm in the Lord regardless of what comes? When I face storms do I accept them as part of God's plan for my life and use them to make me stronger & better?2.Do I talk like a Christian? Does the words that come out of my mouth bring glory to God? or shame? Do I think before I speak and use my words wisely?(If it builds up it's of God. If it tears down it's not of God.) 3.Do you find me in places that I should or shouldn't be found?4.Do I surround myself with other Christians? Do I choose my company wisely? Do I fail to go to church?5.Do I look/dress in a manner that would be pleasing in the sight of the Lord?6. Do I act like a Christian lady in front of my friends? family? Complete strangers?Even on the phone????7. Does my life say,"She's a Christian" without my mouth saying a word?
8.Do I even consider what goes in my ears? Do I listen to gossip? Do I listen to vulgar talk? Do I listen to music that would bring shame to the Lord? It makes me think of the song my children use to sing in Sunday school...O be careful little eyes what you see

O be careful little eyes what you see
There's a Father up above
And He's looking down in love
So, be careful little eyes what you see

O be careful little ears what you hear
O be careful little ears what you hear
There's a Father up above
And He's looking down in love
So, be careful little ears what you hear

O be careful little hands what you do
O be careful little hands what you do
There's a Father up above
And He's looking down in love
So, be careful little hands what you do

O be careful little feet where you go
O be careful little feet where you go
There's a Father up above
And He's looking down in love
So, be careful little feet where you go

O be careful little mouth what you say
O be careful little mouth what you say
There's a Father up above
And He's looking down in love
So, be careful little mouth what you say

Now let me ask you. Are you an evergreen Christian?

Jeremiah 17:8
For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

He's A Sweet Thing

He's hard working, sometimes stern, deep speaking,stubborn as a mule, and solid as a rock, but if you break through that top layer, he really is a sweet heart:) Yes, I'm talking about my hubby. He often tries to act like the king of the jungle ,but underneath that he is a teddy bear:)
He came home today and told me one of the sweetest things I think he may have ever told me:) He said, "I want to grow old with you".
I know when you marry it is suppose to be for life and if God allows (and you stay together), you will grow old together. But to hear him say it, was just tooooo sweet. He heard a song that had those words in it and after he told me that, he played me the song:) Here is the lyrics.

I Want To Grow Old With You

I saw a sweet old couple in the park the other day
Holding hands and smilin' in an old familiar way
Then I thought about you and how I'd feel without you
And I knew, honey, I knew.

I want to grow old with you
Huggin' and holding you
Be my little old lady
And I'll be your big old baby
Honey, I do, I want to grow old with you.

We'll move to California or the sunshine state
If they're not to crowded in two thousand twenty-eight
Pacific or Atlantic we'll still be romantic
You and me, just a-wait and see.

I want to grow old with you
Kissin' and holding you
Be my little old lady
And I'll be your big old baby
Honey I do, I want to grow old with you.

When we meet the Maker then we'll understand
I might start all over and be with you again
You and me together forever and ever
I hope I can but until then.

I want to grow old with you
Squeezin' and holding you
Be my little old lady
And I'll be your big old baby
Honey it's true, I want to grow old with you.

Yea, I want to grow old with you
Squeezin' and holding you
Be my little old lady
And I'll be your big old baby
Honey, I do, I want to grow old with you.

Oh, I want to grow old with you
Squeezin' and holding you...

Just One More Soul

The preachers are weary.
The singers are tired.
The church as we know it,
Is losing its fire.
Some are discouraged, from bearing the load
But we must determine, to keep pressing on.

‘Cause if just one more soul
Were to walk down the aisle
It would be worth every struggle
It would be worth every mile
A lifetime of labor is still worth it all
If it rescues just one more soul

So preachers, keep preachin’
And singers, go sing
Laymen, keep sharing
That Jesus is King
The angels have gathered, they’re surrounding the throne
And they’ll start rejoicing for just one more soul~~~~~~~~
(The picture is a pic of our church. We have been blessed with a new sanctuary.)

Where have I been?

Oh my! I am so behind on here. Where have I been? Well, I really have been home alot lately, but boy have I've been busy.Time is just flying for me.So where should I start???? hmmmm...Well,I thought I'd share a few pics of my sweet pea. My little sweet pea turned two months old this week!!!!!Her mommy went back to work, so she has been spending her days with her MeMe now...and boy do I love it!!!! She just looks at me with those big blue eyes and MeMe's heart melts. She tries to coo and she just smiles when you talk to her. She is a sweet little baby.Her mommy is having a really tough time leaving her. She wishes it was where she could stay home full time. However I promised her I'd take the best care possible of our sweet pea. I already had a bond with her from birth ,but having her this week has just added to it. I love my sweet little granddaughter and I just can't thank God enough for her. Hubby has been working up a storm. He actually has three jobs now. We are in working/saving mode. We are hoping to purchase two new vehicles this year. So we are pretty much are not doing anything that requires money, if we can help it. I have been short of work over the last few months,but these last two weeks It has picked up big time. We are finally getting back to normal.Thank you God for work!I was doing the couch to 5k program ,but have had to take a break from it, because somehow I hurt my foot. I couldn't put weight on my heal. I figure somehow I done it running,but didn't realize it until I stepped out of bed the next day and felt a pain shoot through my foot. It's getting better and I hope to start the program back up this coming week.My oldest son Jonathan is doing much better after his accident. I took him back on Tuesday to have the staples & stitches removed. He is doing really good now. We can't thank God enough for watching over our son. It could have been so much worse.My youngest son is doing good too. He is finally getting his front teeth!!!!!! This is really exciting to him ,because he has been without front teeth since he was 1 year old. They appear to be healthy and strong,not weak and fragile like his baby teeth. Katie & Ashley have been taking turns practicing driving. We will be going soon to get license. My girls are growing up.Samantha is always busy too so we seldom see her. Life has a way of keeping us all so busy these days. Little Bailey called me today. We haven't seen her in a few weeks. She has alot going on in her life right now and I would like to ask each of you to take a moment and pray for Bailey & her family. When she called she asked me to come and get her, but we couldn't. She had to be with family this weekend,but I truly appreciate them for taking the time to let her call us. It's hard to tell her no and it's VERY hard for us to go this long without seeing her. I'm really heavy hearted about her. It's so hard to love a child and to know that you have no control over what happens in her life from day to day. All we want for her is to have a happy stable life and when things can't be that way, it breaks my heart. Please remember her.My mom went back for another epidural ad she seems to slowly be getting better. She actually walked from one end of the store to the other and that is a big thing for her. I just thank God that she is doing better. She's had some really tough months,but it seems things are looking up for her now.Tonight, one of our past fosters "Trinton" is spending the night. He & Jacob are the best of friends and I'm so glad that his family has let him stay a part of our lives.On Friday, we got a call for a baby & a toddler needing a foster home. So most likely Monday we are going to add two more little fosters to the family. I don't know any details about them yet, other then it's a boy & a girl. I spent today cleaning and locating my baby/toddler stuff. I've got to get a crib & toddler bed out of storage and ready for them.I've got to go change my clocks ...seeing how we spring forward tonight.I hate when the time changes. I wish they would just leave it alone.My body is not good with changes and It takes me a few weeks to adjust to it. I hate it!Anyhow, here are a few more pics of my little sweetheart that I took this week.I got a new canon 580EXII external flash and I've been practicing like crazy these last few days. I also signed up for hands-on photography classes that I'll be starting in 5 weeks. I've been taking classes online, but they've been very complicated. I'm going to finish them out to get my certificate,but no more online classes planned, atleast for now. I really need classes that show me it in action. My GPA is a 96 ,so I'm happy with that, but it's been hard and it's been very time consuming. Have a great weekend everyone!
She's starting to hold her head up more.

Her eyes are also changing color. They are getting lighter everyday.The ring next to her pupil is getting wider daily. I can't wait to see exactly what shade of blue they are going to be.

But she is for sure going to be a blue eyed girl.

Goodnight everyone!

Don't forget to change your clocks too:)

Today's Devotion

Verse-Psalm 40:5
Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

Thoughts-
Each day we encounter a variety of situations; it is our reactions to them that make all the difference. We have a choice to make as we face each problem. Sure, we can’t control what others do or the trouble we may face, but we can decide where we are going to fix our attention. Sometimes we are inclined to dwell on the bad things, being quick to list every conflict, adversity, and affliction we have faced and are facing, all the while neglecting to see the grace and mercy of God in them. We have a choice to make, to either focus on the trouble itself, or the work God is performing in the middle of it. Fixing our eyes upon the grace that leads us; the mercy and forgiveness that has been extended towards us, as God safely brings us through. God indeed has and is doing great things. Let’s focus our attention on that and be glad.

Banana Bread

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup butter

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 eggs, beaten

2 1/3 cups mashed overripe bananas

Directions
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
2.In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar. Stir in eggs and mashed bananas until well blended. Stir banana mixture into flour mixture; stir just to moisten. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.
3.Bake in preheated oven for 60 to 65 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack.


Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him,and he will direct thy paths. ~Proverbs 3:5-6

Update on my son

Just wanted to stop by and update you all on my son.
But first, I want to take the time to thank you all for your prayers, thoughts,comments,and phone calls. I really appreciate it.
Jon is doing great. He is healing up nicely and feeling fine. He goes back Tuesday to get the staples & stitches removed.
He truly is a miracle and God was for sure watching out for my son.
(((hugs))) Sandy

My Son's Accident

Thank you all so much for all your thoughts, prayers, phone calls, etc for my son Jon. I just wanted to update you all and let you know that he is going to be just fine.

For those who don't know, my 16 year old was in an accident today. He was shot in the face & head by a 12 guage buckshot.

Here is what happened...

He had been helping his dad for the last few days cleaning out an old trailer at the bottom of our property. While Jon was cleaning today, he ran across a bullet. He took the bullet and pitched it into a box of trash he had been cleaning up ,and the bullet just happened to hit something just right ,causing the bullet to blow up and go in several directions.

One part hit Jon in the head just above his ear. It went in about one inch ,but it went sideways instead of deep...Praise God!!!!! The other piece went in just below his eye and was stopped by his cheek bone (I always knew he was hard headed just like his dad...lol).

They were able to remove both without any further damage. He has a few staples in his head, a few stitches to his face ,minimum swelling, along with a big black eye,but other than that he is just fine and very fortunate. The doctor put this accident into the category of a one in a million...bullets aren't suppose to just blow up, but now we know they can. So please handle all bullets with care and do not ever just pitch a bullet.

I just want to take this time to thank God for watching over my son today. This could have been much worse. I thank God that my son is okay and that he is still here with me tonight. Thank you God. Thank you God. Thank you God. Thank you God. How can I ever thank him enough? Once more he was watching over our family. I am one very fortunate & thankful mom tonight.

God wants to use you

God wants to use you to make a difference in the world.He wants to work through you.What matters is not the duration of your life,But the donation of it.Not how long you lived,But how you lived.~The Purpose Driven Life~Psalm 138:8
The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.

Brookelyn's Baby Dedication

Brookelyn Shae's baby dedication was yesterday.
Our Pastor Kent Bankston performed the service. Being charged as parents.
Being charged as family and the church.
Grandparents

Praying together

Dear Heavenly Father,

I would like to take this time to thank you

for this precious little girl that you have blessed

us with.

Please help us to raise her in a manner

that would always be found pleasing to you.

May our lives always reflect what you have done

for us.

May we never fail to carry her to church or to tell

her about you.
I pray that you will use her life for your glory and honor.

I also ask that you protect her and bless

her all the days of her life.

All of this I pray in the name of Jesus.

Amen

Our Pastor Kent Bankston and Brookelyn Shae.