Two Little Feet....

Thank you Lord for this precious little girl

you've given us.

  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

He Knows My Name -McRaes

 
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

Happy Memorial Day...

On this Memorial Day, I would like to take a moment and say "Thank You" to all of our service men and women who are serving or have served this country. They have sacrificed their time at home with their families ,so that my family and me are free to live ours today. Many have lost their lives while serving. How can you thank someone enough for something like that?


I hope you've enjoyed your day compliments of Jesus & the American Soldier.

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

Baby Belly...

Oh weeeeee.... I finally talked our daughter Samantha into letting me take some pictures of her. She is really starting to show now. Baby Christian "Carter" is due in July, so it won't be to much longer now.

Due to her swelling and high blood pressure Samantha is on strict bed rest now, but she has been a trooper through it all. She hasn't complained or been ill that much at all. She's just so very thankful to finally have a baby of her own. Please keep Samantha and Baby Carter in your prayers.

*Ashley done the editing on these pictures and put all the cute little touches*

 
  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

22 years...

It's our anniversary!!!!!
Happy anniversary Hubby Man!!!!!

From then to now.

This is what 22 years looks like...

Happy Anniversary Hubby Man!

I love you.

~Wifey

  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

When God Doesn't Make Sense...

I love that my daughter Katie now works at our library. She always finds awesome book and brings them home for me:) Last week she brought home "When God Doesn't Make Sense" By James Dobson

This is a very good book especially if you are going through some things that just don't make sense.
These are words taken from the inside flap..
"When we are young and health is good and we have not yet encountered disease, disappointment, and sorrow, it is easy to believe that life will always be rather carefree and happy. But every person who lives long enough will eventually experience difficulties that are not easy to understand. At those times the pieces simply will not fit, and God just doesn't make sense. Most of us are inclined in those moments to struggle with the most troubling question in human experience, *Why did God let this happen to  me?* ".

Can you relate? Have you been there? If you know anything about my childhood or what I've been through as an adult then you know I can relate, I've asked God the big "WHY?" many time in my life...even recemtly. If you can relate, then this book may be a blessing to you. It's a good book for those struggling with trials and heartaches that they just can't understand. Maybe it will help you better make sense of how God works in our lives.
God bless,

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

My Oldest Son...

My oldest son Jonathan. He finally stopped long enough for me to take some new pics of him. This boy has grew up so much just in the last two years. He is a mini of his daddy and Paw Paw Howell. I'm so very proud of the young man he is. I am blessed to call this boy my son.

I love you son with all my heart.

 Thank you for being you.

I am so proud of you.

Love,Mom

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

If Heaven wasn't so far away...

I really like the chorus part of this song. If only it wasn't so far away.


Yes, I would pack up the kids and go for the day.
I'd love to see my Nanny again. I can only imagine how beautiful the gardens and flowers must be there. Nanny loved gardening here on earth. I can just picture her picking berries and flowers. If only Heaven wasn't so far away.

I would love to see my brother Robby again. I'd love to tell him all the good things that have happened since he left here in 2005. I would love to see his beautiful smile and hear him call me "Sandy Lou" just one more time. I don't know where he got Lou,but he gave me that name years ago. If only Heaven wasn't so far away.

If Heaven wasn't so far away, I  would love to go there for the day. I'd wrap my arms around my younger brother Bryan. Oh how sad it's been around here without him. I can imagine if they have fish up there in Heaven that him & Robby have been fishing non stop.

I'd love to hold Anna's first baby and Samantha's two babies that didn't make it to be born on Earth. They are forever in our hearts.

I'd love to see my Grandma Wilson, PawPaw & MawMaw Sullivan, and I'd like to meet my Dad's parents ,because I never got to meet them. I have lots of relatives who have gone on before me that I'd love to see and someday I will.

Gosh, wouldn't it be awesome if only we could just pack up for the day or even just look through the gates of Heaven at the ones who've gone on before us? It wouldn't be so hard to take, If Heaven just wasn't so far away.

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

MeMe's BIG Little Helper...

I have a big helper these days. She always helps meme take care of the flowers and the animals. She loves when we get out and walk around the yard and look at the gardens. She tries so hard to be big. She wants to do everything we do and she tries. She is like a sponge absorbing everything we say and do.

Brookelyn now recognizes who people are and can remember most names. She see's her PawPaw Howell and she says,"PawPaw". She sees Corey's dad and she says,"Fat Paw" (he chose his name). Her grandmothers are called Nanny, Grandma, MeMe(me), MeMaw, and Linda and she knows every one of us by our names. She also knows all of her aunts and uncles too. I think that is really good for only 16 months old.
She keeps us busy all the time. She has brought a lot of joy to all of us. We are blessed to be the family God chose to place Brookelyn in.

Do any of you know what this flower is? It spreads and has hundreds of tiny little purple flowers. It came up a few years ago in my garden and I believe it must be from a seed that a bird dropped or something because I did not plant this. However I've rooted it and have it all over my garden now. I just love it but I don't know what it is.

These always make me think of my brother Robby. He always mixed these with yellow roses. So every year when they bloom I think of him. Oh how I miss him.

Taking a rest after all the walking.

My babies (Jacob & Brookelyn)

Coming Soon!!!!!

*New baby belly pics of Samantha

*New pictures of my oldest son Jon

~~~~~

Both promised me that they would let

me take their pics this week!

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

So true...

In Memory of...

My brother Robby

My brother Bryan

All of my grandparents

and

the rest of my relatives

who left this world

way before I was ready

to say goodbye.

They will never be forgotten

as long as I'm alive.

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

We Are On The Fence!

 

Our Backyard Visitor...

We had a guest today! Jacob noticed them in the trees just behind the play area. It was a mama owl and her 4 babies. I wish I would have had my other camera ready to take these ,but I grabbed the closest one, so the pics aren't the greatest plus it was dark already.

This is mama. She wasn't to happy with my camera.

This is one of the babies.

They look big but they are really very tiny.

Can you see the baby???

Mama flying....

Dear backyard visitors,

Thank for letting us take your pictures. Please stop by again soon.

~The Howell Family

 
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

8 months...

Our little foster guy is 8 months old now

and growing like a little weed.

He has added his own

special touch to our lives,

and made us smile

more times then I can tell.

Everyday he is learning new things

and growing into the

wonderful little boy

God has planned him

to be.

We love you baby boy!

(Sorry no face pics allowed at this time,but maybe one day)

~~~~*~~~~

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

After A While....

After A While

After a while you learn the subtle difference,

Between holding a hand and chaining a soul,

And you learn that love doesn't mean leaning,

And company doesn't doesn't mean security.

And you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts,

And presents aren't promises.

And you begin to accept your defeats,

With your head up and your eyes open,

With the grace of a women and not the grief of a child.

And you learn to build all your roads on today,

Because tomorrow's ground is to uncertain for plans,

And futures have a way of falling down in midflight.

After a while, you learn,

That even the sunshine burns if you get too much,

So you plant your own garden,

And decorate your own soul,

Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.

And you learn that you really can endure.

That you really are strong.

And you really do have worth

And you learn and you learn,

With every hello and every goodbye,

 you learn.

author unknown

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

Not bad for a Monday...

Yes, it's Monday again. The day no one seems to look forward to,but, I can't complain to much...

1.Today, so far we've only lost Brookelyn's passy once!!!
2.All three baby Sweet Peas napped at the same time...woo hoo!!!! Sweet little darlings.
3.The boys finished their school work without me getting frustrated and telling them. "Get back on your school work" a hundred times... like normal.
4.Bailey watered my poor wilted flowers and they raised back up.
5.Only two tiny boo boos on the playground today. (I'm not sure if they were real boo boos or boos boos brought on by the desire to have a dora bandaid...lol)
6.Only one spilled drink.
7. Half the laundry is done!
8. Ashley went back to work.
9. The house in semi clean.
10. Z has covered me in tons of wet baby kisses. His are just the sweetest ever!
11.Z is learning to patty cake.
12. Z can almost climb up the step up.
13.Z is trying to help me type.
14. One of my orange lilies bloomed...they make me think of my brother Robby.
15.I've changed a dozen + diapers today.
16. The kids put up about half the toys.
17.The TV hasn't played much because the kids chose to stay mostly outside...yay!!!!
18.Brookelyn is napping again.
19.I have dinner planned,but haven't started it yet.
20.I have no appointments today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
21.Only one sweet pea left to be picked up.

I know, it's only 5:18, but still, it's not been that bad for a Monday.
I hope your day is going well.


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

A not so lazy Sunday...

On Sunday, after church, we have started a new family tradition. We have been going over to my Mom's and spending the evening with them. I just don't have much time during the week to visit, between taking care of kids,work,school, running errands,housework, etc.


What has amazed me the most is how time flies the older I get. I know that time really is the same 24/7 as it was 100 years ago,but for some reason the days seem to fill up and pass faster than when I was young. Am I the only one who feels that way? Surely it's not just me.

Z is hooked on Memaw's hammock.

He just wanted to swing & swing.

I really believe he would have stayed in

it all night. But,Brookelyn wanted her turn.

I think we are going to  have to get one of these for our house.

Don't you wonder what they are talking about?

Brookelyn is talking up a storm now.

She can say tons of words but most of the time

she speaks her own language...lol

I think she likes sweet tea.

Her mommy usually doesn't allow caffeine

but she gave in this time.

Is there really anything more better than a good

southern sweet tea on a hot sunny day?

We like our sweet tea around here.

Southern Style Sweet Tea

I buy the family sized ice tea brew bags.

In a boiler I add two bags to

about 2 1/2 quarts of water.

I bring it to a boil.

Once it starts boiling,I let it for about a minute,

and then  I turn off the stove and let the tea set

in the boiler about 15 minutes or so.

I discard the bags and pour the tea

into a gallon sized jug.

I stir in 2 cups of sugar

and fill the jug up.

I put the jug in the fridge until it's cold.

Then,I fill a drinking glass full of ice

 and I fill it up with tea.

Add a couple of lemons

and you have southern style sweet tea.

~~~~~~~~~

Brookelyn and her Mommy "Anna".

I didn't plan to have pics made of me.

I try to stay behind the camera.

(My mom & I)

My Parents

Bless them Lord.

Mom and Anna

Two of my Girls-Anna & Ashley

(Samantha was at home taking it easy,

Katie was at Barrett's house

& Jon was at a friend's)

So that's why I have no pics

of them.

Our little monkey...she got her toes from her meme...lol

I don't know who she called....hehehe

But, it looks like they had a good conversation:)

Notice everyone in the background in the pic above? I took mom on Saturday to buy her very first computer! We've been trying to teach her and daddy how to use it. Corey & Anna were teaching them how to look up vacation rentals ,because we are all going to take a VERY  much needed family vacation within the next few weeks. I really think it would be good for all of us...especially my parents.

Hubby cut up a watermelon and I think Brookelyn kinda liked it...a whole lot of like ...lol

These next few pics cracked me up once I got home and went through my disk.

Watch Brookelyn's face...lol

mmmmmmmm......

Elbows & all.

I think my superman liked it too.

Did I ever tell you that I love my family? Oh,I do so much :)

I have been blessed.

God has been good to me.

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