Katherine Elizabeth

 Oh Katie...today is your day! I look forward to celebrating with you tonight...the chicken is cooling so I can put the pot pie together...the coconut cake is in the fridge...and the presents are almost wrapped!

Today, as I drove to church, I was thinking when time  starting running so fast!!! I was thinking of all 4 of you guys in the car...we'd pray on the way to church...and then belt out some good ole Steven Curtis Chapman songs or some Point of Grace...then came Casting Crowns and Newsboys! There are days I feel like if I'd just turn around and look you'd all still be sitting back there again...

But we all know that isn't going to happen...Now you all get in your own cars with your own families and go worship where God has you all planted!

Katie, I pray this year is the best one yet! I know already you are walking through some first...Journie's first day of school...Bear becoming a little man!!!! Stretching as a believer, wife, mom and teacher! I was thinking of your 4th grade FROG group...and remember then the scripture God laid only heart for you...Matthew 25:21...His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much.  With your sweet family, church and job...He has blessed you with your much! Serve Him well and know how you much you are loved!!!!!

Happy birthday!

Love, mom

Michael

 Just wanted to take a minute to brag on my son!!! I remember the first week of kindergarten...it was rough for him and myself both...needless to say, that was picture of what school was going to look for him...but he was always well like by friends and teachers...(some teachers didn't really trust him with their elbows...he can explain that to you!)...he worked harder  than some kids had to...but then when college came it was a different story...seemed to be a bit easier for him...when he graduated he said he was done!...and now he just completed another round of school...going to do some more...rocking working at the bank...being Beks significant other...Kale, Charli, Ella and Lundy lulu's daddy...loving Jesus...running a mini farm...

Love you Michael...so very proud of the man you are! Have the best day ever with your sweet fam!!!

Love, 

mom

memories and the future...

 This month begins a series of several anniversaries we'd rather not remember but are forever burned in our hearts...those who've moved on are in my thoughts so much lately...thinking oh they love this or they'd love that...or can it really be that long since we've seen them...sometimes it feels like forever and other days it was like just yesterday...

But on a brighter note...today is Charli Grace's 4th birthday...maw maw's birthday was just last month so she too, has been on my mind alot...remembering all they things she taught me over the years I had the honor to be a part of her life...and today, I was thinking how much she would love this precious little girl we call Miss Charli! So I thought it only fitting to take Charli down to Maw Maw's house and take a few pictures of her there for her birthday...

While Charli and I were taking picture God just began to talk to my heart...about what an amazing heritage Charli has behind her...a great grandmother who worked hard all of her life to make ends meet...who loved people with such a sweet love...who would help anyone out...made the best meatloaf in the world...had the best oatmeal cookies in the cookie jar always...had a bowl of dominos for the grands to play with...who loved our kids so much...and had such an attachment with our Michael...but even more than this...she loved

Jesus...and she prayed her family would love Jesus...that's the hertiage Charli has behind her...

Then we walked to the creek...and Poppa came to mind...a man who, like his mom, worked so hard to take care of his family...who, in my opinion, has one of the prettiest place in the county...who liked to tease people unmercifully! (anyone remember who he used to sing, She thinks my tractors sexy to?) Who had a nickname for just about everyone...so creative and yet named his dog...dog! Who taught my husband how to be a man...and how to be a man who loves Jesus! I know Poppa also prayed for his family to love and serve Jesus...we took pictues by the old black Ford and the old car in poppas yard and in the hay field...I looked out accross that field...and thought if he were here he'd be about 3 weeks out from beginning haying season...again...you know he worked so hard on that farm...but he took Sunday's off...it was a rare occasion to see him in the field on a Sunday!...I'm thankful that he loved so well...and that he loved Jesus...again, this is her heritage...she asked me about poppa today while we were taking pictures and I was telling her how much mawmaw and he would love her and how beautiful they would think she was...she asked why they went to heaven and I told her because they were such great people Jesus decided He wanted to spend time with them now...she said in all her innocence...well when we are babies before we get born we are in heaven and then we get to go back to heaven again someday!...yes sweet baby if Jesus is in our hearts we get to go back again....and now as she gets another year older I find myself thinking I will begin now to pray for her legacy she will leave on this world in her old age...I pray that for all 12 of them...Ayden, Landon, Rylee, Caleb, Camden, Laney Kate, Char, Journie, Kale, Ella, Bear and Lundy Claire...your sucess in this life will only be found in Christ....

oh what a year this one has been!!!

 I didn't realize until yesterday that the world actually shut down last year the day before your birthday!!!! I was even in the last store you and I went into last year before it happened!!! But the year has been survived by you and your family, and personally, I think you've/we've come out a bit better! I know each one of you kids have been able during this time to focus on your own individual homes and kiddos...

Thank you for loving your family so well...thank you for being better than you started out here...that's not to say, through Jesus, it got better here...thank you for being willing last March and April to read to your class...encourage them to stay safe and have fun with their families...thank you for praying for those who may not have been safe...or full while they stayed home...thank you for teaching the twins the about real history last year, history I fear they'll never hear...

So now, as a new and fresh and a bit scary new year starts move forward...keeping your eyes fixed on Jesus...running hard after Him pursing the woman...wife...mom...teacher...daughter/sister...friend He desire you to be...listen for His voice....don't get so busy or distracted you forget to sit at His feet...

I love you and so very thankful for you in my life...in our family...really when you think about all of us...the original 2 that grew to 6 that grew to 10 and then to 22...and 1/2...can't for get our sweet ror who always plays a part in our hearts...it takes us all to make us...us...

Love you have a super duper special blessed day...after you pop my rib back in....

love mom

Another Birtthday...but oh what a year!!!!

 2020 was one for the records for sure!!!! Dad and I are so proud as we've watched each one of you guys navigate this year as individuals, family, coworkers and more importantly believers,

I'm so thankful for you in our lives, you have no idea what you bring to our family! You are a wonderfully momma and the way you love, support and serve beside Jess is a true love story lived out before us!

I know you are beginning to truly understand just how fast your years are going by as a mom, and I've watched you invest wisely into their lives...as a loving mom but also pouring Jesus into them as they character grows more and more each year...I'm so proud of that in you!!! I'm so very thankful you were able to "get it" and start that from the cradle with them all.

So today, enjoy...let people give you some extra love or hugs today because you deserve it! Have an amazing date with the one who stole your heart when you were 16 years old!! Can't wait to celebrate you on Sunday!!!!

Love, 

Mom

as you are called these days...happy birthday Miss...

Somehow...in this momma's eye's today marks a big milestone in our family...all my kiddos are out of their 20's...how is that possible...just yesterday Scott, the kids and I were in our old white 5 speed mini van going to eat lunch at kentucky fried chicken...sharing one refillable drink!!! And then I work up today and none of them are here...I've got one of the next generation with me today...lookin pretty darn handsome too I might add!!!

Yep the baby is 30 today!!! They all have so much of their dad in them...and she is no exception! All day yesterday I kept remembering the day before you were born, Katie...I was so scared...there were many things I made my mind up that day...I would NOT say ONE unkind word to you dad during labor (succeeded), I would cherish you being a baby...like I did with Michael...I was so crazy busy with Cas and Sis being so close in age I forgot to cherish them...We were so excited to see what you would be!!!

The day you were born...seemed like the induction wasn't going to work...dad was hungry so I sent him to eat...I don't believe he ever got a bite in before he was paged back to the room and you came!!!

I think I can say that all 5 of us were so thankful for you...Michael sang to you all the time...Cassie mothered you and Heather was just plain crazy about you!!! 

I feel like I can say even today that is all true about all 5 of us...all though I'm not real sure Michael will sing to you anymore...maybe mashme birthday to you...!

Thank you for completeing us...for growing into the wife and momma you are! The follower you are...the paryer warrior you are and the encourager you are...the teacher, who sees the potential in a student and spurs them on to reach that potential...for being dad's punkaroo and for being my friend...I love you so much and I'm thankful God let me be your momma...have a blessed day sweet girl and we will celebrate with coconut cake on Monday!!!!

Heros

So I'd like to share a little bit about my hero...when I met him...I thought he was the most handsome thing walking...I might even add...a stud...girls...you can like those body builders...but you ain't seen nothin...til you've seen a good ole country boy with no shirt stackin hay!!!!

As we married...and started life together I got to see what a real hero looks like...someone who fights fair...someone who says he is sorry...someone who has the ability to love a messed up girl!!! Someone who loves Jesus...which is  he howcould love the messed up girl!!! Someone, who, as each of our children arrived...loved in a way I didn't understand...a dad who desired to spend time with thier kids...hands on...helping to give bottles...rock in the middle of the night...play with them...read to them...let them tag along as he worked around the yard...and two of ours loved to got to work with him and he never hesitated for that opportunity...and you know as our family got bigger...this hero didn't care ever if we had a house full of kids...I didn't know this kids of hero existed...you know the best part about it...this caused our girls to look for heros for themselved too!!!...and it grew a mini hero in our son...they are different people but Michael has many qualities of his father...his work ethic...his love for his own children...This mom is beyond thankful my kids...and now my grands...can call dad aka poppy their hero!

As time has moved on...I remember one thing as a young wife...wishing my hero was a tad more romantic...well people...2 things...1 heros grow in their abilities too...and he is more romantic...but 2...and this is a biggie...he may not always be the most romantic...this hero knows how to make me feel cherished...and I have learned that is what I needed from my hero more than anything...

So...today on my hero's birthday I want to say I love you...thank you for this life you have made for us...thank you for teaching about and showing me Jesus...thank you for your love and grace you show me daily...thank you for showing all of us how to loved well and cherish others!!!

Love ,
Beth