Back to Bloggin'!!

Wow, it's been a little over a year since I've posted here on my blog and I've sure missed it!  This past year and a half saw lots of heartache, with changes and adjustments that took place - BUT as I stated in a previous post, we are so very blessed to be a close-knit family, grounded in love that's unconditional and we share a mutual faith in our Lord and Savior.  We remain grateful for His Grace & Mercy.  Though my marriage dissolved and I found myself alone and hurt and scared, God's love never fails and I've learned who I am IN CHRIST and my worth and value is in Him!

With that said, I'm happy to proclaim that God brought me, my children and family through another emotionally tough time - and I'm stronger for it.  I know that He will never put on us more than we can handle - but oh boy, I had begun to wonder just how strong God thought I was!!!  But you know, it's in times like these that He reminds us we are to trust in Him and know that He works all things out, in His time and in His awesome way!

So in this past year and a half, I've moved twice..... and I DETEST moving!!  I had to downsize quite a bit - well, actually, a WHOLE lot.  And yes I've pouted, stomped, cried and pouted some more!!  But the greatest thing is how God works things out - I'm back on Johnson Hill, buying my late Grandma's house, next door to my wonderful parents (the Johnsons), and up the hill from my sweet daughter and my precious grandchildren!  How blessed can an old girl be??!!  It's actually the house my uncle built, that we lived in for a minute while having our house built (when my sister and I were young teenagers) which is where my sweet parents still live!  My Grandma bought the house from my uncle and lived there until she passed away 2 1/2 yrs ago.  SO we're fortunate to be able to keep it in the family and I'm lovin' livin' there!  My family loves it too!

But - IT REALLY IS SMALL!  I'm not complaining . . . . but I have SO MUCH STUFF!  Crafting stuff!!  It's ridiculous - though during the 2 moves, I really did purge quite a bit and have a good bit more to go.  I'm thinking I will do another Virtual Craft Room Sale to weed out some more that I just don't have space for.  We'll see!

So anyway - I'm back!  And I'm on fire about my Close To My Heart business!  I just returned from our annual Convention which was held in Orlando, Florida and let me tell you - it was awesome!  Great and fun new products and benefits beginning in just 2 days!  That's right - our Brand New Autumn/Winter CTMH Idea Book goes live on August 1st.  So be sure to check out my website to view this beautiful new catalog - it's choked full!!

Welcome 2012!!

Whew ~ Fresh Start!!  Thank you, Jesus!

I thank God for a great year in 2011 (tough times & bumps in the road, right along with the smooth & happy times!).  December 31, 2011 found us all in good health and all together at the close of the year.  Lots of changes and adjustments are taking place in our family BUT we're so blessed to be a close-knit family that is grounded in love (unconditional love) as well as sharing a mutual faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!  We're so grateful for His Grace & Mercy!

After bringing in the New Year together, we enjoyed two awesome services at church on the 1st!  What a way to start the New Year!  I thank God for our precious church family and for our pastor/friend and his sweet wife.

But this new year also brings new challenges, as well as those changes and adjustments I spoke of - so for that, I ask all my praying friends and family that visit my blog to keep me and my family in your prayers, as I will you & yours!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL and may each of you experience God's Love, Grace, Mercy and tremendous Blessings and live with JOY!

Jenn

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing everyone a wonderfully blessed and Happy Thanksgiving!

I'll be enjoying a scrumptious dinner with my family this evening, a little shopping tomorrow, AND some much-needed 'crafty-time' thru the weekend!!

I LOVE the lyrics to this old song:

"Thank you Lord, for your blessings on me"


Verse I 
As the world looks upon me, as I struggle along 
They say I have nothing, but they are so wrong 
In my heart I'm rejoicing, how I wish they could see 
Thank you Lord, for your blessings on me 
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Chorus
There's a roof up above me 
I've a good place to sleep 
There's food on my table 
And shoes on my feet 
You gave me your love Lord 
And a fine family 
Thank you Lord, for your blessings on me 

Verse II 
Now I know I'm not wealthy, and these clothes , they're not new 
I don't have much money, but Lord I have you 
And to me that's all that matters, though the world cannot see 
Thank you Lord, for your blessings on me 

Repeat Chorus, then: 
Thank you Lord, for your blessings on me

I truly do thank my Lord for so many blessings!  AND not just today, but everyday!!
For Salvation and the promise of an abundant life and an eternal life
For my precious, precious family
For my church and church family
For our health, our homes and our jobs
and for all our beautiful friends!!

I'm truly blessed!
Jenn

Happy Birthday to Jaime!!

It’s hard to believe my first-born is 26 years old today!!  He’s my Independence Day baby, born on the 4th of July, 1985!  Jaime’s across the way working over-seas and the 4th is nearly over already for him as I’m posting this, even though we’ve not even had lunch yet here at home!  But we’ll definitely celebrate when he gets home!
To My Precious Son, I love you!
You are a shining example of what a son can be – loving and compassionate, beautiful and good, honest and principled, determined and INDEPENDENT, sensitive and intelligent.  You are a shining example of what parents want their son to be and I am so very proud of you!
written by Susan Polis Schutz (but read from my heart!)
Much love and lots of hugs and kisses to Jaime!!
Happy Birthday!

My Journey to Texas to Scrapbook! (Part 2)

Part 1 just below, if you missed it!

So I got a great night’s sleep at Aunt Ruth’s even after sitting up chatting half the night!  I actually slept comfortably in my late grandma’s bed!  And her picture sat on the bedside table so I was able to smile back at her and say goodnight!

We enjoyed fresh brewed coffee with some Apricot Croissants (a first for me!) for brunch.  I actually didn’t head on out until around noon because I had to wait for my prescription refill to be transferred from the Meridian Walmart to the Longview Walmart.  Well, THAT took forEVER!!!  I had already completed what little shopping I needed to do before getting back on the road so I was simply walking around, killing time.  Decided to grab a bite in the Subway (because the sweet lady at the Pharmacy told me, once again (for the 3rd time), it would be a FEW more minutes!  Not her fault but I sure got tired of hearing that! 
** BUT as I headed back to the Pharmacy for the fourth and final time that afternoon, I ran SMACK into a classmate from home, Quitman, MS!!!  What a great coincidence!  It was awesome to see Jamie Mitchell and hear about his sweet family.  Jamie and I graduated together in 1984 and I believe the only time I’ve seen him since then was at our 10 year class reunion in 1994!  So that was a nice treat that made me forget I was irritated about having to wait on my meds!!

Needless to say, I pulled out of the Longview, TX Walmart at 4 pm, continuing my journey to Weatherford.  Before I even got back on Interstate 20, the rain began and I don’t think it slacked up for the next 3 hrs that it took me to go through Dallas and Fort Worth then my final stop in Weatherford.  That was frustrating but I simply asked God for traveling mercies and knew I had family and friends praying me through the rainy weather as well!

Though I didn’t venture out into Dallas, Fort Worth or Weatherford this trip, what I did see was amazing!  And like I said, just being back in Texas was so special to me! 

My first night in Weatherford, I enjoyed a ‘breakfast for supper’ meal at the local IHOP!  We don’t have one at home so I really enjoyed that and it was close by my suite so I got back before dark.

This was my little mini-vacation so I did nothing for a day and a half before heading out to the scrapbooking retreat, except for rest, read, relax and enjoy eating at new places!  NOW on Wednesday, I DID drive back to Fort Worth to visit one of their SIX Hobby Lobby stores!!!  Can you believe a city can have SIX of them!!!  I was in hog-heaven!  It was definitely ‘Texas-sized’, the biggest Hobby Lobby store I’ve ever been in! 

THEN I found the ‘Braum’s Ice Cream shop!!!  Oh My Goodness!!  It was awesome and my choice of the ‘Two Scoops on Waffle Cone’ for only $1.79 was Chocolate in the bottom and Buttered Pecan on top – this thing was HUGE – again, ‘Texas-sized’!  I believe that was the BEST ice cream I’ve ever had!  Of course I had to get my phone and snap a picture of it!

It’s really true what they say that, ‘Everything’s bigger in Texas’!!  Even the bananas that Aunt Ruth sent with me to snack on during my drive were bigger than usual and delicious!!

Tune in later for Part 3 . . . . . . . .

My Journey to Texas to Scrapbook! (Part 1)

From the moment I saw this sign that welcomed me back to my home state of Texas, I began smiling!  And I kept that smile my whole trip!!  I think I smiled even in my sleep! 

Just being back in Texas where I was born and spent my childhood, (and what a wonderful childhood I had) - planning a layover at my Aunt Ruth’s and Uncle Bob’s home in Longview -  then on to Weatherford, TX to enjoy meeting new friends that I would spend 4 whole days with -  working on my most passionate hobby, scrapbooking and papercrafting -  was plenty to fill my heart with excitement!  Boy that was a mouth-full !!

My first stop in Texas, after resting at the Welcome Center, was in Marshall to see Jaime!  He was working days that week on his land rig and the timing was perfect as I came up on the Marshall exit, to pick him up and enjoy some Mexican appetizers at The Jalapeno Tree!  It was such a treat to spend a little time with him and get to see his work week accommodations.

Aunt Ruth and Uncle Bob are terrific hosts.  My cousin Rita was there as well when I arrived and of course she had me rolling with laughter!  She’s hilarious!  Aunt Ruth had a delicious Pot Roast with potatoes cooked so I surely didn’t pass that up!  She and I sat up talking like teenagers until about 1:45 am!!  It was great spending time with her but we also shed some tears because just a few weeks earlier, she had lost her mama, my grandmother.  Hearts are definitely still aching at the loss felt at Grandma’s passing but we’re so blessed to know that she simply made it to Heaven before any of us did!  As I’ve said, she’s smiling as she’s now ‘Face to Face with Christ our Savior’.  That gives tremendous joy and comfort!

 

This picture was about 16 months ago of Grandma and my sweet daddy!  It was Thanksgiving day 2009 at the Johnson household!!

Stay tuned for Part 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Happy Anniversary to my wonderful parents!!

I'm so extremely blessed with my wonderful parents - I thank God for the awesome privilege of having been born to two such loving, giving, self-less, Christian people!!  They consider themselves 'simple' but that's not a bad thing!  My daddy and mama are so loving, accepting, non-judgmental, and hard-working and have opened their hearts and their home to so many people since I can even remember as a small child.  There's warmth, safety, joy and love always felt at home with them.

I truly thank my God for my parents and pray He continues to bless them and their union that began on this day, October 25th, 45 years ago in 1965!!

James (Tootsie) and Pat Johnson

Besides 'daddy' and 'mama', as they are to me and my sis, they are known to many as  Grandpa & Granny (most that use these endearing terms are not even blood-related!!), Uncle Tootsie and Aunt Pat, Bro James and Mrs Pat and of course, Tootsie and Pat.  But Theresa and I are the truly blessed ones because we call them Daddy and Mama and when I'm with them, I always still feel like their baby girl!!

Thank you Lord for your many blessings on me!

See what I mean?? . . . . . .

Jessica’s creativity (see previous post), really came through on this project!!  She made this ‘diaper cake’ for a friend’s sister and I think it turned out great!!  She can just throw things together and before long, she’s created something awesome!  Of course I had to take pictures of the cake and the little stool she painted, but this time, I had an assistant!!  

Nicholas grabbed my ‘pink’ camera and started snapping photos right along with me!!  He did really good and was up on the table, crouching and turning to get all kinds of angles!  He was so funny – then it turned into a photo party!  Even after Jessica left for the baby shower, Nick held on to the camera.  I didn’t realize he had been busy snapping until he came up and said, “Mammy, let’s scroll through my pictures”.  I just started laughing and said, “Oh my gosh, Nick, Mammy’s a hot mess”   and   “Oh no, we have to delete that one, Mammy is toe-up!!”  He was laughing so hard at my reaction to those pitiful pictures!!  Oh don’t get me wrong, he did a great job BUT he caught me looking a hot monkey mess while I chased Madalyn around, cooking supper with her at my feet and Cooper on the counter ‘helping’ all while stepping across a ton of toys on the kitchen floor!!  Nick would zoom in and that made it even worse but it was hilarious to him!!  It was fine because hearing that hearty laughter from my sweet grandson is so worth it!  

About to brag a little!!

I just want to take this time to brag on my sweet daughter for a minute!! It’s so easy for the world to focus on a mistake or a bad decision that a person makes and totally forget that person’s MANY awesome qualities so I’m here to point some of those out!! Some people like to broadcast the ugly but I like to share the beauty!!

Jessica is such a sweet young lady who will literally do anything for anyone. She has such a big heart and loves her family and friends so fiercely. Her smile actually lights up a room and I’ve been told that from so many people ever since she was a little baby girl!! She’s creative, artistic and just simply talented at whatever she sets her mind to do! Jessica also writes beautiful poems and has even made up precious little songs for each of her awesome babies that they still love for her to sing to them!! I so treasure watching and listening while she sings these little songs to her babies and my heart strings are definitely tugged as I see their eyes and expressions when they look up at their mama!!

Though Jessica’s little family began at a very young age for her, she’s made so many accomplishments and waded through such adversity that I know most women could not have done and a lot of women never do. I’m so proud of her, not only because God blessed me to be her mother, but because I watched her bloom into a courageous young woman, mother, wife and friend, all starting at the tender age of 15. Her children and her family are her life – literally!

I’m so thankful that Jessica loves the Lord and that she accepted Him as her Savior many years ago. That’s why I KNOW that since God is the ultimate parent, I can simply ask Him for clarity and discernment to know when to just pray and let Him work in my children’s lives without any other help from me. Only God knows the right thing to do. That’s why I can have true peace about situations my children find themselves in – I have to release them completely into God’s hands and put Him in charge of their lives. Though I may not agree with their decisions or approve of choices they make, (Lord knows I’ve made my share of unwise, unhealthy decisions!), my children need me to LOVE THEM, BELIEVE IN THEM, and SUPPORT THEM IN PRAYER. We can’t “fix” or “change” our children. ONLY GOD CAN MAKE CHANGES THAT LAST IN ANYONE. Our job as parents is to release them into God’s hands and then pray for the Lord to make changes in them and their lives according to His will AND NEVER BE JUDGMENTAL TOWARD OUR CHILDREN OR ANYONE ELSE’S CHILDREN.

Thank you God for my precious children and grandchildren! They are my greatest blessings, imperfections and all! “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward” Psalm 127:3. I thank you God that even right now, you are working miracles in the lives of my children and my entire family! Keeping the faith and trusting in you God, is definitely the best defense against Satan and those that seek to judge, harm or destroy. I thank you for my Christian heritage and the wonderful parents you blessed me and my sister with! I love my family and true friends!!

Fun with Kam!

Just look at this sweet face!!

Kameron and Allie came for a visit this afternoon and we spent some time on the porch swing!  It was such a beautiful day out and we just couldn't bear to stay inside.  Kameron gathered up the toy tractor with wagon and a few hot wheels cars and found him a spot on the porch to play.  Then he jumped up on the swing with me and since he was full of smiles, I proceeded to get my camera out!!  I actually started with my IPhone to have a couple current pictures of Kam on there but I thought of the perfect CTMH Paper Pack I would use to scrapbook today's visit so I had to use my Sony.  

Kameron is talking so well . . . in really complete sentences!!  He has such a sweet voice too ~ can you tell I'm a proud Mammy??!!  Kam was 2 in December.  He's still not mastered big-boy underwear yet but is very advanced in his speech.  I've said it before and will say it again, Kam can't help but to be a talker with a mom and mammy who love to talk!!  He jibber-jabbered at a young age but is really talking well now.

   

I didn't catch their smiles at the same time but I though this was a great head on shot of Allie and Kam!

I love my daughter-in-law!!!  Allie's a wonderful mother and terrific wife to my son.  She and I have a lot in common (loving to talk, of course, is the first thing!) but we also share views on a lot of topics.  I'm so blessed that we have a good relationship. I consider her my friend as well as a daughter.

  

Little Beauty

Miss Madalyn Claire spent some 'Girl Time' with me a couple of weeks ago and we, of course, had a photo-shoot!!  She does great for a while but when she's tired of it, she's done!!  No more smiles and she even throws in a couple 'No, Mammy'.  But while she's in the mood I have to take advantage of it!  

We walked out in the backyard and I think she had to touch every blade of grass!  The little grunting sound she made with each tug was so cute!  

 

Madalyn was captivated by our neighbors' yard - lots of colorful things over there plus a kitty cat!!  In this picture she's pointing to the fence where a tweeting bird was pirched!  Well, it WAS pirched until she started walking over toward the fence, jibber-jabbering!

She even let me get her little measurements for a summer play suit I'm planning to sew up for her!  I found several prints of Tutti-Frutti fabric on sale at Jo-Ann's last month and picked up a few yards to make something for our 3 little beautiful baby girls!!  Now I just have to get together with Amber to measure Railey and Autumn! 

Memory Keeper using Veranda Workshop on the Go!

This is an absolutely beautiful paper pack that I've been stingy with because I just hate to cut it!!  I know that's crazy but when I really like a particular paper pack, (usually love them all!!) but when one REALLY grabs my attention, I just hold on to it and pull it out and look at all the different patterns but can't bare to cut it!!  Ridiculous, I know!  But these patterns and colors remind me of my mom so as I was piecing together the Biscuit Pillow I was making for her, I thought about Veranda and decided to use it on the My Creations Memory Keeper to give to her as well.  She had recently made a comment after church a while back that she needed some new pictures of all of us to update her collage frames.  So I printed a stack of our newest pictures and hid them in the Memory Keeper!  I also included a 'My Pages Talk - Voice Recorder' and recorded them a sweet little message then attached it to the front!!  I love my parents so much and feel so blessed to have been born to the two most precious people in the world! 
 
Supplies Used:
Z1116  My Creations Memory Keeper
Z1147  Foundry Metal Accessories - Foundry Bookplates
Z1269  Filigree Charms
Z1033  Big Pinks Flowers- White Daisy
Z1131  Creme Brulee Ribbon
Z1132  My Pages Talk - Voice Recorder
Colors:  Cocoa, Garden Green, Juniper, Creme Brulee

So, I went out to daddy and mama's last night and gave them their little happies and they were so very proud!  Made it all worth it.

I had whipped up a little Camoflage Pillow for daddy with a picture of him and mama from this past Thanksgiving.  I had intended to use a picture of him holding up the big deer he got during Hunting Season but my printer jammed printing it out.  He loved it just the way it was!!

I made this into a more boxy pillow instead of the traditional.  Daddy really loved it!! 

I felt just like a kid who had just handed her parents a page she had colored, smile across her face waiting on their reactions!!  How goofy am I??!!

Jenn

My Biscuit Pillow!!

It felt so great to be back sitting behind my sewing machine again Sunday afternoon!!  Sewing was a passion of mine for a long time when my children were small and I've only sewn off and on since then.  But Jessica received a very nice Singer sewing machine for Christmas from her mother-in-law, Robyn, and has graciously let me 'try it out' !!  I love it!!  It's quite a bit different from my old Singer as far as threading and how the bobbin is loaded but other than that, it's awesome!!  I'm seeing a new sewing machine in MY near future as well !!!

I posted a picture of the charms packet I purchased at Jo-Anns before Christmas (refer to this post!) and due to time constraints I never got to make any of those projects I had anticipated for Christmas.  SO . . . . I'm on them now!!!  My first project was the Biscuit Pillow for my mama and this fabric from the charms packet was so perfect as it is 'so her'!!  Back in the day when I first began making them, I made smaller 'biscuits' and actually made a ruffle to go around it.  I changed it up a bit and made the puffy biscuits an inch larger, made the backside into a biscuit as well, and didn't add the ruffle.  And the lap throw isn't actually a 'lap' throw because I ran out of fabric!!   I don't know what it will be but when mama receives it, she will love it and find a place and use for it!!  She's such a grateful recipient of anything we present to her, especially hand-made gifts!  It's nothing fancy or extraordinary but as I said in the above mentioned post, the fabric reminds me of her so much and she had mentioned how she always loved those pillows I had made years ago, so it did my heart good to make her one!!

Now I'm off to my day-job - but I've already cut most of the pieces for my next project that I hope to start working on this afternoon or tomorrow evening!  It feels great to be sewing again! 

Jenn

My little 'Sweetheart'!!

Miss Madalyn likes to crawl down the steps herself since

she's such a big girl!! 

My little sweetheart spent the day with me and we stepped outside for just a few minutes to listen to the birds singing!  We could hear them through the window and she would make the 'Ohhhhhh' face and listen real intently.  So I decided to grab my camera and get a few shots of her before it got any cooler!  And of course, you guessed it, she did

NOT want to come back inside!!

Now, she actually posed her little self when I said "Smile at Mammy sweet baby girl" and she did really good - Only she forgot the smiling part!!  And she has such a beautiful smile!!

Then the birds began their singing again at the neighbor's house in their big tree.  Madalyn immediately turned her little head toward them!

She sat like this for a long while, listening and looking.  Then I told her we would soon have to go inside and she took off!!  When I ran after her and said, "You'd better come back here little girl" , she thought that was funny and giggled a little but I still didn't get her smile!

But then she gave me a half smile and even that melts my heart!!

 

I'm so blessed with wonderful children and grandchildren!

I just wanted to share some shots I took today while enjoying Madalyn's company!

She's a wonderful "Sweetheart"!!

Of course, I'll be using Topstitch Kit to scrapbook these pictures.

Jenn

Wow!! 2010!!

Happy New Year!!  I pray that 2010 is a year filled with happiness, love, laughter and prosperity for all!

We're so blessed with wonderful family & friends, our home, our jobs - but most importantly with a Savior who loves us and promises us and all who believe in Him, Abundant Life and Eternal Life!!  Thank you Jesus for loving me, for salvation and all the merciful grace you extend to us!

My prayer on this new day of this new year is that all will come to know Him and receive this gift of salvation that He so longs to give!  God is so good! 

Happy New Year! 
Jenn

Look at my Little Scrappin' Angel !!

I just had to share these photos of my sweet little grand-daughter, Madalyn, who is officially my newest scrapbooking partner!! Look at her drooling over the 'Magic Moments' paper pack from Close to my Heart!! She has great taste! Madalyn glanced up at me to see if it was ok to play with it because it looked so appetizing. Then when she saw what she thought was my approval, I get a big smile, and she grabs for it!! So precious!!

Jenn

I'm so proud of Jessica! She was nominated and elected as PTO President at the K-2 Elementary School where Nicholas is in Kindergarten!! It was a total surprise and she felt so honored. She'll be great because she is so creative and loves working on projects for children. She's not much on speaking in front of a crowd so that was her first question, "Will I have to stand up in front of everyone at the meetings and speak??" !! The current president assured her that she wouldn't have to do that very much. So she accepted and brought home a box FULL of stuff related to her new role!!

This is goofy but Jessica and I both have a passion for notebooks (what I always called "tablets"!) and pens! We sometimes pick one up for each other whether we need a new one or not!! So of course, this occasion of being elected PTO President calls for a new notebook!! But I suggested to her that she get a View Binder this time so she can use her Close to My Heart scrapbooking supplies to create a nice cover and she thought it a great idea! This way, she can also advertise her new business since she will be having so many new contacts. How exciting for her! And Nicholas is excited to have mama doing some work at his school. She and my son Jaime actually built the homecoming float for the Pre-K last year when Nick was elected Homecoming King of the Kindergarten!! It turned out great and they were super-stars for a while!! So this will be fun for all of us as we love to be active in school related activities.

All of my girls are blessed to be stay-at-home moms. I pray they never take it for granted and I've told them to remember to thank God and thank their husbands for this privilege!

Well, I plan to get some paper crafting done today. I sketched out a few cards for Christmas and I'm going to incorporate our new Jingle paper packet and my new Christmas stamp sets that will be available in our new Autumn/Fall 2009 Idea Book! This new IB is absolutely awesome and I can hardly wait for it to go live so you too can have a chance to own some of the new stamp sets, paper packets and other new products!!

Sweet Baby Girl with new Pink Ice Earrings!!

Ok - we're here at the Mall just sitting in this chair surrounded by sparkly things. I really don't know why - I just know my Mammy has her camera out so I'll give her my smile she loves so much . . . .

Wait a minute ~ what in the world is this lady doing and why is mommy holding my arms down AND PRESSING ON MY FOREHEAD - Mammy, HELPPPPPPPP.

Goodness, all that fussing really wore me out! But my mammy said I was such a big girl and looked beautiful with my new Pink Ice earrings!!

Boy, what an experience! Madalyn has a good pair of lungs!! She startles easily anyway so I think it was more the click of the piercer that actually upset her more than pain, as well as being held down. But she was a trooper and looks precious with her new earrings. And she's done quite well not messing with them last night or today. Her mom (my sweet Jessica) was 6 months old too, when we got her ears pierced - that would be almost 21 years ago!!! Oh my!!!

Just thought I would share our little adventure we had yesterday!

Jenn

Happy 4th of July ~ Happy Birthday Jaime!!

I wish everyone a wonderful 4th of July weekend!! We’ll be on a day-trip to Reform, Alabama to my mother-in-law’s to celebrate her birthday (it’s on Monday, the 6th) as well as fellowship for the 4th! We’re taking 3 of our little munchkins with us, Nicholas, Cooper and Madalyn and they travel well so we’ll have a great time!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY PRECIOUS JAIME!! My oldest, Jaime, is 24 yrs old on the 4th but he’s off-shore so I’m hoping he’ll get to call at some point so I can sing “Happy Birthday” to him! It’s okay – he lets me!!! I know this is SUCH an old saying, but it REALLY DOES seem just like YESTERDAY that he was my ‘little man’, toddling around. Jaime was a very calm, laid-back little boy and then young man. But he’s always had a great sense of humor and loves to make me laugh. He’s lifted my spirits through many hard times with his precious sense of humor as well as his sensitivity. Jaime has such a big heart and loves his family and friends deeply with it. I’m so thankful to God for giving me the honor and privilege of being Jaime’s mom. I’ve cherished every moment since the pregnancy test read Positive!!
Well, I’m off to finish our church bulletin. I normally prepare it on Saturday afternoons but since we’ll be gone all day, I’d better get it done tonight. All 3 babies are asleep now so here’s my chance!!
Jenn

My Partner in Life!

I'm so blessed to be sharing my life with my soul mate, my husband, Don! He's a Christian, a hard-working provider, a loving dad and a great husband. He's a big cuddly bear that everyone loves to get hugs from!! Besides my Lord, Don is my rock. He loves me as Jesus does, unconditionally, and I'm so grateful. We've seen lots of bad times but even MORE good times! We're a blended family and along with that ARE some hard bumps in the road - but because we kept God at the center of our marriage and family, we've made it through.

* I was a single mom, raising my two children, Jaime and Jessica, whom you've already met in previous posts, and he was a single dad, wanting and needing to obtain custody of his 2 small children. God had such wonderful plans for us and in 1997 we became one big happy family! Amber was 8 and Josh was 6. We were granted custody of them in January 1998 and I became 'mama' to 2 additional children!! Their mom was going through some stuff and felt she could not take care of them at that point so she asked me if I would take her children and raise them along with their daddy and of course I said "YES!!". She made that decision because she loved them very much but was in no position to care for them at that time.

* Amber and Josh are now 17 and 19 and have always been just as much my children as are Jaime and Jessy - I just didn't give birth to them. This is Josh a couple of months ago - he hates for me to take his picture!! He is so handsome and such a fine young man! He graduates High School this Friday night! He will be attending Junior College in the fall, pitching on the baseball team!! We're so excited - he's been playing baseball since T-Ball and is a fantastic pitcher.

Amber is here on the left in this picture - she and Jessica shared 2 pregnancies!! Her two baby girls, Raley and Autumn, and Jessica's last 2, Cooper and Madalyn were born within a couple week of each other's. It was a blast!! Amber is a beautiful young lady and has an awesome voice! She also played 5 instruments while in the band in High School. She's a great young mom to her 2 precious girls and I'm so proud of her.

So you've briefly met my immediate family and now know the inspiration behind my passion for photography and scrapbooking!

Now I'll begin posting more artwork!!

Jenn