Hopie's Art

Ever since she was a toddler, Hope has loved coloring & drawing. I always thought that she had a gift for that sort of thing. Her pictures bring smiles to everyone's faces. Her school teacher put her in an art class to help her to expand her talent. Here are a few of her drawings on the concept of shading. I will post more as she learns.

Here's a couple of her recent drawings just for fun.

Fairy Tales

Baby Noah is Here!

Congratulations, Richard & Shannon, on your beautiful baby boy! I love him to pieces already.

Noah Joseph Grahamn was born this afternoon weighing in at 8 lbs. 15 oz. and over 20" long. As I entered the birthing center I felt so much pride & excitement for my friends. Shannon has become like a sister to me and it does my heart good to see her blessed with this precious little one.

"I Cried About You Last Night"

Actually it sounded more like this, "I quide bout you wast night", coming from my 2 year old neice Savannah. I wasn't sure what she meant, but she had the most adorable, pouty face as she said it. I asked, "Why?..did you miss me?" She looked up at me with her big chocolate brown eyes and said, "Uh-Huh". It just melted this Auntie's heart all to pieces. She is so precious.

Thank you, Sally for inviting Joy and I over for lunch yesterday. It was nice to get out of the office for an hour and see you guys. What a treat! We will definitely do it again soon.

My Mini-Schnauzer Dewey

I posted a blog composed of pictures and love for our little yorkie, Phoebe, in an earlier post. Here's one about my little boy, Dewey. He is laying at my feet as am sitting here on my computer, which is where you will usually find him. He's not that irresitibly adorable little puppy anymore, but he is most definitely a handsome fella. We bought him a few years ago as an 8 week old little puppy. Oh, my goodness, is he cute! His little beard and large eyebrows give him a distinguished and charming look. He walks around with his head held high like he's the cat's meow.
He is a great companion and keeps me company while the kids are at school. Many times I trip over him while I am going about from task to task, but I love that he is always right there...

...at my feet.

What's with dogs and toilet paper anyway!???? Such a cool little guy.My babies.

Waiting for the kids to get home from school.

Smilin' while Phoebe gives him kisses. Oh, so adorable!Chillin'

Mmmmm...peanut butter!

The END.

Another Scrapbook Tin...

I promise I won't share EVERY one of these that I make...but this one is just too adorable not to post. I love the colors and how everything came together. I am learning as I go, and I can't wait to do another one. If you enjoy scrapping you need to try this!

Down East Concert Was Wonderful!

What a blessed time of music and testimony we had on Wednesday night. Down East, a southern gospel quartet, have been coming to our church on a regular basis for 17 years now. They have become family to us, and consider Pastor as their Dad away from home. We made it a family night, the babies and children stayed in the auditorium so that everyone could enjoy the concert. I got to hold little Mathias so his mom could take pictures. He clapped and kicked his feet with every song, such an adorable little guy.

If you want some fun, uplifting, Christ glorifying music in your home..Down East's CD's will be something your entire family will enjoy.

Love...

If I live in a house of spotless beauty with everything in its place, but have not love, I am a housekeeper...not a homemaker.

If I have time for waxing, polishing, and decorative achievements, but have not love, my children learn cleanliness...not godliness.

Love leaves the dust in search of a child's laugh.
Love smiles at the fingerprints on a newly cleaned window.

Love wipes away the tears before it wipes up the spilled milk.

Love picks up the child before it picks up the toys.

Love is present through the trials. Love reprimands, reproves, and is responsive.

Love crawls with the baby, walks with the toddler, runs with the child, then stands aside to let the youth walk into adulthood.

Love is the key that opens salvation's message to a child's heart.

Before I became a mother I took glory in my house of perfection. Now I glory in God's perfection of my child.

As a mother, there is much I must teach my child, but the greatest of all is love.

~AuthorUnknown

10 Things I Love About My Mom

Sally challenged us to make our list so here we go...1. She loves me unconditionally.

2. She is very sacrificial and will do without so that we don't have to.

3. She loves the Lord and encourages us to be more like Him.

4. She prays for me and my family every day.

5. She will change her schedule and drop whatever she is doing to help us with a task.

6. She's fun! We like to do the same kind of stuff.

7. She has a servants heart and is a wonderful help-meet to my dad.

8. She spends quality and quantity time with her grandkids.

9. She's more than a mom...she's my friend.

10. She makes the BEST lemon meringue pie ever!!!

Latest Scrapbook Venture

I love turning trash into treasures! Earlier I did a post about "Recycled Board Books", this time I recycled an Altoids tin. I have additional pictures and info on my other blog site "Daydreamed Designs" (link on my sidebar). Oh, the things you can create when you use your imagination!!!

Two Word Answers:

Remem​ber your answe​rs have to be two words​.​

1.Where​ is your cell phone​?​ beside me
2.One tattoo? "not forgotten"
3.Your hair? needs cut
4.Your brother? no boys :(
5.Your sister? which one?
6.Your favorite color? aqua green
7.Your dream last night​? don't recall
8.Your favorite beverage? Starbuck's Chai
9.Your dream​/​goal? please Him
10.The room you'​re in? PNWAM office
11.Your ex? long gone
12.Your fear? family dying
13.Where​ do you want to be in 10 years​? God's will
14.Where​ were you last night​? parents house
15.With who? my kiddos
16.Muffins? Amanda's blackberry (still my favorite)
17.One of your wish list items​? finish remodeling
18.Where​ you grew up? Vermont/Lynnwood
19.The last thing​ you did? scanned accounts
20.What are you wearing? red dress
21.Your TV? not needed
22.Your pets? my babies
23.Your computer? Christmas present
24.Your life? abundantly blessed
25.Your mood? very happy
26.Missing someone? Dusty Poo ;)
27.Something you'​re not wearing? comfy jammies
28.Favorite Place​? Glenrose, Texas
29.Your summer? absolutely awesome
30.Love someone? Sooooo much!
31.Your favorite shape​? pretty diamonds
32.Last time you laugh​ed? lots today
33.Last time you cried​? Oct 17th
34.Who will repost this? Shannon/Sally

Girls Are Gross!

David spent the night with his cousin Joe over the weekend. He was highly disappointed when I picked him up so I asked him what was wrong. He said that all Joe talked about was the girl he liked, and David, who still hates girls just couldn't get Joe off the subject. He said he didn't want to go again because it is just gross to hear about girls.

Well, today he came home from school and the first thing he said was, "We need to move. Esther likes me." Esther lives down the road, rides his bus and is in his class at school. I asked him how he knew that she like him and he began to state the facts as he perseved them to be: She sits by me on the bus every day and gives me notes. She follows me at reccess and gets smiley whenever she is by me. When we go down to our math class she always tries to sit by me and I want to sit by my friends.

I tried not to giggle, but he was right, the girl sounds like she has it bad for our little guy. He has brought it up several times over the last couple of hours, about how disgusting she is and everything. I think deep down he's flattered, but he says he just wants her to leave him alone. Poor kid.

Amazing Grace

This has to by my favorite arrangement of Amazing Grace. I get teary every time I hear it.

Mended Friendships

"These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you." John 15:11&12

God never intended for Christian brothers and sisters to part ways when they have aught against each other. "Let brotherly love continue." Heb. 13:1. His plan is always restoration, although it is not always the easy way. It is so much easier to walk away from the relationship and pretend it never existed. When this happens, the hurt never goes away, it leaves you heartbroken and empty. God wants our lives to be full of joy, and to do that we must love one another as He loves us. His love is unconditional, and He has promised never to leave us, or forsake us.

God made me aware of this truth last summer after a week of messages during our annual Jubilee. He worked on my heart every night, showing me things that I needed to get right, and by the end of the week He had finally got down to the root of the problem, an unforgiving spirit. There was a message about three magic words that will mend any relationship. My ears perked up, for I had some friends who I loved dearly that I hadn't spoken to in years. I listened intently and wrote everything the preacher said down in my Bible. What were the three magic words? "I forgive you." No. "I love you." No. "Please fogive me." Nope. "I HAVE SINNED!" Hard words to say to anyone, but at this point God had softened my heart and put me in a place where I was ready to do whatever it took.

Jacob and Esau parted ways over a stolen birthright, but in the end, Jacob went back to Esau, expecting to find him still angry and full of bitterness. As Jacob approached, ready for the worst, the Bible says, "And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept." Gen. 33:4. This is exactly how I was greeted by my old friends. Arms open wide for a hug and tears shed as past hurts were finally put to rest. My heart has never been so full of joy and contentment. I thank my God daily for reaching way down deep and yanking out that big ole' root of bitterness from my life. He alone is worthy to be praised!

"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Eph. 4:32.

I do not have a picture of sweet Amanda yet, for she is all the way in North Carolina. Although we have not been reunited in person...our hearts have been reunited and I am looking forward to the day when I can hug on her neck and tell her how much I have missed her.