Tuesdays Thankslivings

491. Walk to Gigi and Grandaddy's last night.

492. Discovering they had company. So very thankful Gigi is opening her home to hospitality again. She delights in doing this so much.

493. Watching Cookie "air" pee on every mailbox.

494. Walking hand-in-hand with my hubby.

495. The beauty of spring - azaleas and dogwoods galore.

496. Alec's creative mind and him making a camp stove out of aluminum cans.

497. Hearing Ash make beautiful music with the piano.

498. Having Jon home with us and the "Fab 5" being complete.

499. 12-mile run with Becky.

500. The conversation Becky and I had. Made us both want to keep running.

501. 2-mile run with Ash.

502. Talking with Ash and this, that, the other, and whatever.

503. Homemade caramel popcorn.

504. Hanna asking me to come and cuddle with her several times throughout the day.

505. Laughter.

506. Game of "Family Fun" around the table after dinner.

507. Jon being such a fun dad and making up a game as we walked home.

508. Sound of the birds chirping.

509. Peace.

510. Grin on my face throughout the day just simply because I rejoice in Him for I trust Him. May even the mere expression on my face reflect His glory.

511. Comfy, cozy bed.

512. Jon holding my hand at night as we drift off to sleep right after the sun sets.

513. For "I'm sorry" from my children.

514. For a little time with Jon before he headed off to work on a house.

515. For Alec who makes me laugh and who "gets" me.

516. For love and hugs from my kiddos when they know I'm stressed to the max.

517. For Gigi fixing us dinner tonight - chicken casserole and hummingbird cake.

518. For Tuesday's with Granddaddy.

519. For a littel time to work this afternoon, freeing up my morning.

520. For all the days that don't turn out the way I want them to.

521. For the days and times I cry out to the Lord with a heart of desperation.

522. For Jesus being not just enough, but EVERYTHING.

523. For learning how to say No and learning my limits. . . not having to fit a gazillion things into one day.

524. For encouraging emails, cards, and phone calls from dear friends.

525. For the sounds of the voices of those I hold dear.

431 to 465

431. For surprise Christmas gift from Gigi and Granddaddy.

432. For Gigi being so excited she couldn't believe she didn't tell us when she bought it in September.
433. For Kara Jane teaching Hanna a "tune" and Hanna playing it at Gigi and Granddaddy's . . . alleviating Gigi's fears that Hanna wouldn't like the piano.
434. For little girls' giggles.

435. For best friends.

436. For a precious girl to share a birthday with me.

437. For chocolate milkshakes.

438. For lunch dates.
439. For saving up money for 3+ months to surprise your friend. . . with a trip to pick out Toms for her birthday.
440. For all things glittery and pink.
441. For Hanna's selfless and giving heart.

442. For a sweet friend to love even though you've had more fights than you can count on both hands. Your love for one another supersedes any hurt feelings.

443. For a sweet Daddy who coaches basketball.

444. For the smile it puts on my face to watch these girls play every week.
445. For my girl who really has a knack for basketball.

446. For scoring 3 goals. 447. For getting over shyness for a little while and being aggressive with someone other than her brother or sister.
448. For looks over at mom when she scores a basket.

449. For the "I just don't think I will ever. . ." to the "If we ever. . . "

450. For a "pre" birthday text from Ang. L.

452. For Melissa and I's talk about the Lord today.

453. For SP's tears in her eyes as I shared with her the truth of Eph. 6:19-20.

454. For MK's precious heart over being broken for the lost who think they're saved.

455. For phone calls from JS.

456. For lunch with my parents 2 days in a row.

457. For the sound of an open door as Jon walks in from running.

458. For cold, rainy days.

459. For hot tea on cold, rainy days.

460. For snuggled up and cuddled up under blankets and finally finishing reading "Johnny Tremain" to the girls.

461. For all the ways Alec makes me laugh.

462. For Jon listening to the ESV audio Bible and coming home telling us we have to listen to the voices of different people. Cracks.us.up.

463. For Jon's support in ALL that I want to do. . .even though fears are involved.

464. For God birthing things in our hearts.

465. For a hardworking husband who never complains about how hard he is working these days.

401 to 430

401. Starting out my Saturday morning with coffee/hot tea with Bethany. . .such a wonderful time and good for my heart.

402. Hanna's giggles.

403. The sound of rain.

404. A good run after it's been two weeks.

405. Dear friends.

406. Talking to my little sister and seeing the wonderful mother she is becoming.

407. Hearing my nephew cry.

408. Hearing my niece talk to me on the phone and hearing her repeat "Mama".

409. 7:00 a.m. conversations with my mama.

410. Morning "I love you" texts from Jon . . . especially when he's not happy with me.

411. The love Ash has for her so imperfect mother.

412. Caught up laundry.

413. Enough time during the day to read some.

414. Cookie going berzerk when we enter through the door, especially after a long trip.

415. Hugs from Alec.

416. When I'm quiet and reserved, Alec checking on me to make sure I'm okay.

417. Bethany's words, "I think you need to listen to that."

418. Hot tea.

419. Toms.

420. My heater by my desk.

421. Gracious friends who are so forgiving of the busyness of my life right now. . . who want to spend time with me when I have a minute.

422. Warmth of clothes when coming out of the dryer.

423. Hanna's silliness as we throw her out of our card games because she's too silly.

424. Hanna telling me, "I love you" at least five times a day.

425. Hanna asking me to come cuddle with her.

426. The light of a candle.

427. The absence of caffeine.

428. The grace of a great God.

429. Music.

430. Jon reading aloud to our family at night.

351 to 400

351. For this wonderful group of girls that Lydia and I get to teach God's word to each and every week. It is truly my joy and honor. I'm so blessed by them. 352. For Lydia teaching Sunday School with me.

353. For Lydia running with me.

354. For disciplining Lydia. What a joy and honor. I love her so much.

355. For Hanna asking Jon if he makes $400,000 a year or less.

356. For much, much less. . . otherwise money might control us.

357. For Faith.
358. For Faith's birthday.
359. For laughter.360. For Chick-fil-A's peppermint milk shake.

361. For father and son camping trips.


362. That God didn't make our world black and white.

363. For little country stores that are really huge on the inside.
364. For an amazing, sweet, loving husband to tell me about the little country store.

365. For Jon's dream of always wanting to catch a trout.
366. For a wonderful son that Jon can trout fish with.
367. For wearing shorts in the fall time of year.


368. For the one trout they caught.
369. For telling Jon it really looked like a sardine.
370. For my boys not getting attacked by a bear.
371. For a sweet niece to love on for three days.
372. For a sister who lets me love on a sweet niece for three days.

373. For a sister who really does know how to mother my new nephew and niece. . . although in this picture the expression on her face looks like, "Now, what do you do with this thing?"
374. For a son to hold his little cousin.
375. For the smell of a baby.
376. For being cured of baby fever. I love to hold them, but I'm so thankful I'm over and out of the baby/toddler stage.

377. For a mother hen.
378. For thhhuuuu baby holding the baby.

379. For an adorable dimple.
380. For sweet Hanna saving up her own money to buy her best friend, Kara, a pair of Tom's for her birthday.

381. For having a birthday the same day as sweet Kara Jane.

382. For Faith trying hummus again and loving it.

383. For dental floss.

384. For my Grandmama.

385. For Booher's texts before she has a test. . . to pray for her.

386. For Marty disciplining Alec.

387. For bedtime before 9:00 p.m. I know I'm old, but it is soooo nice to get 7+ hours of sleep.

388. For sweet Ash who spent her own money and brought home 3 milkshakes from Chick-fil-A.

389. For Jon's Garmin watch.

390. For chap stick with this cold weather.

391. For lotion for my dry, ashy legs.

392. For friends to run races with.

393. For my pillow that I take EVERYWHERE with me. And, if I let anyone in my family use it for the night. . . it is considered a great honor.

394. For warm blankets to cuddle up under.

395. For morning phone calls from my mom.

396. For morning "I love you" texts from my wonderful husband.

397. For my stepdad, James.

398. For James' laugh. It is truly contagious.

399. For deer meat.

400. For my newest book. I was going to order it on CBD. "Sermon on the Mount" by Martyn Lloyd Jones. It was 19.99. I get to church. They have one copy left in the bookstore. It is regular price $13 marked down to $7. Whoo hoo!

273 to 300

273. For front porches to sit on.

274. For children to watch play in the yard.

275. For time in prayer and in the Word on my front porch while the children play.

276. For cool breezes.

277. For the beauty of a colorful world.

278. For these 3 girls who probably teach me WAY more than I will ever teach them. I love them like my very own. For laughing, praying, sharing, studying the Word, and sharing life with them!

279. For Tuesday's with Grandaddy.

280. For walks to Gigi's and Granddaddy's.

281. For Gigi always bringing us either dessert or bread when she pops in for a visit.

282. For a husband who is affectionate.

283. For time to rekindle, rest, and relax.

284. For friends, in-laws, mama, and sister who take care of your kiddos and love them like their very own so that you can rekindle, rest, and relax.

285. For hardworking kids.

286. For "Bye Bye Booher" party and the life and legacy she is living!

287. For sweet prayers uttered to the One who has captured our hearts for Booher.

288. For children who pray.

289. For sweet tears.

291. For a home to share with others.

292. For floors to mop so babies can crawl.

293. For hands-on homeschool activities (demonstrating a "to-scale" model of the solar system).

294. For my mama.

295. For morning phone calls from my mama.

295. For a sweet conversation with my Grandmama.

296. For praying over my Grandmama and her broken heart and incomplete life without Papa.

297. For flowers picked and given to me by my children (this one from Hanna).

298. For a bed big enough for everyone to pile into to watch "Biggest Loser" and "American Idol".

299. For lunch with Bethany and a sweet time shared.

300. For grace.

In this Kitchen

In this Kitchen. . .

which is my Aunt Johanna's kitchen. . . she had all of us over for our first annual "Cookie Cooking". Honestly, any words I could try and muster up to describe the day wouldn't be able to express the joy in my heart. This day was filled with just an incredible amount of love and God's faithfulness.

We do sprinkles. . .

We do sharing . . .

even if that does mean the pin off your rolling pin breaks. . . poor Nanna . . .

I think maybe she and JS rolled the pecans too hard. . . Hee!Hee!

Ash took charge of these sweet girls. She had them mixing and measuring and pouring. She was just reading that recipe like she would a good book. I'm so proud of the little Mama in my sweet girl.

And this sweet lady here always brightens a room with joy when she's around. She is always such a delight and I just love her so much!




Nanna knows how much Hanna loves to be in the kitchen. I think Hanna loves the kitchen so much because she loves her Nanna so much. Therefore, she loves all things Nanna loves. .. which means cooking. That's really good for the rest of us, because Nanna just happens to be my very favorite cook and I could just eat myself silly with her good fixins'.

And these girls are just the best of friends. They share cookies and clothes. We are just so very thankful that now Melissa and her family live close enough to be apart of everyday living!

YUMMY

to my


TUMMY

We do double batches . . .

And some of us (which shall remain nameless. . . but she might just be a mama and she might just wear high heels and she might just put the priss in pot). . . however, I'm not naming any names. Some of us. . . may just have to be be humbled. . . After all, before these cookies came out of the oven she was just telling her beautiful, younger, "domestic diva" cousin. . . in her very BEST "Steel Magnolia" voice that "all Soouuutterrrrnnnn (that's Southern for all you non-southerners out there) women must know how to cook cookies". The beautiful, younger, "domestic diva" cousin had a cookie mix, not from scratch. The one who shall remain nameless. . . her cookies were falling apart because she didn't use a muffin tin like her "made from scratch" recipe stated. Pride cometh before the downfall!!!!!!

We do real butter . . . .

Oh yeah baby!!!!!!!!!!

We do flour fights . . .

Well, it all started with these 2 . . . the oldest and thhuuuu baby. See the oldest was helping the baby by mixing her cookie batter. Then the oldest spoke up and said, "You know that plate over there says 'we do flour fights'. Enough said for thuuu babbbyy. She stuck her hand into the bowl and smeared flour over the oldest child's face. W-H-A-T???? Baby, that is all she wrote. . . that is when is all started to break loose. . .

Nanna about had a fit because she said the flour was making her itch!

If you're going to fight . . . fight HARD!

These 3 got doused BIG TIME!!! We all know when you have flour ALL over your face you MUST lick the cookie batter! Otherwise you feel incomplete!

Look at thuuu baabbyy. . .

Now, this one. . . the middle one. . . the one who has a chant with her Aunt Melissa and now her cousin, Caitlyn (who just both happen to be middle children as well). . . she's up to something!!!! What could she possibly be thinking up in that head of hers?

You guessed it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That child was ELATED with JOY!!!!!!!!!!! (my picture is blurry because she was jumping up and down)

Next, it was time to wait on Caitlyn. Noelle and Hanna watched intently out the window for her to drive up.

Next, everyone got armed with their ammo (flour in this case)

READY?

AIM!!

FIRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you will notice in this picture the ones who are doing "The Chelsey". We stick our necks out and brighten our eyes. Most of us are just amateurs (as you can clearly see). We will be perfecting it though -hee!hee!

Oh yeah. . . in this family we are nondiscrimatory. . . which means. . . doesn't matter your age.. . . You WILL get doused with flour!

We do holidays . . .

We do love . . . (this one is my very favorite)

246. For Melissa and her homemade vegetable soup and her making me laugh ALL the time.

247. For Johanna and her getting this wonderful day together, her thoughtfulness and her heart of LOVE and mercy. For her opening up her heart and her home and making us ALL feel so incredibly loved and special.

248. For Mama and her heart of service and because there is just no one in the world like your Mama.

249. For Kristen and her fun-loving self.

250. For Caitlyn because she is the very definition of sweet.

251. For Chelsey because she is the most beautiful and BEST 'domestic diva' I've ever encountered. For her graciousness when 'the one who shall remain nameless' had to swallow up her pride when it comes to be a sooouuutthherrrn woman.

252. For Lynn because she is just a pure joy and delight.

253. For Steven because he's a hoot and makes you and your girls feel like a million bucks!

254. For days with family that although it's been SUCH a long time since you last saw one another, you feel as if no time has lapsed at all. . . as if this is something you do all the time.

255. For the next time we all get together, hoping it will be SOON!!!