Labor Day 2009

Recently we went to the Smoky Mountains to spend a long, relaxing weekend with some very dear friends. We all had such a great time together. We met our friends Matt and Cecile and their son, Michael. Our cabin was perfect and the kids played so nicely with each other. It was just a wonderful little getaway.

While Jason and his friend Matt were at the UT game, Cecile and I stayed at the cabin with the kids. Of course, this is when Jackson decided to lock our bedroom door. Ordinarily, this wouldn't be a big deal. The only problem is that the cabin didn't have any room keys above the doorpost to use to unlock the door in situations like this. So we had to call maintenance to come unlock it. After waiting for a few hours for the help to arrive, we finally found a bobby pin that we used to open the door. Fortunately there were diapers and wipes to be shared and not one child was locked in the room. I don't know what we would have done if that had happened!

We went to Pigeon Forge one night and we went to The Track and rode go-carts. At the cabin, we had access to a swimming pool and a small putt-putt golf course. As the pictures show, I think that we will stick with baseball. No Tiger Woods in our family!

She'll Be Comin' Round The Mountain...

Today, the kids enjoyed music class at school. My kids have always LOVED music and that passion is still there for them. I work right across the hallway from the music teacher and she shared with me her "story of the day" about my child.

The class was learning and talking about the song, "She'll Be Comin' Round The Mountain..." in preparation for Grandparents' Day. They talked about the clothes that she might have been wearing, the six wide horses, the mountains, etc. One thing that the music teacher pointed out was that they didn't really have a name for the "grandmother". They just sang about "she".

Abby Kate then proceeded to tell our music teacher that SHE knew the name of the "grandmother". I thought that she might have mentioned my mom's or grandmother's name, but no she came up with her own name choice for this "grandmother".

Her name - Shelby!

"She'll Be" Comin' Round the Mountain = "Shelby" Comin' Round the Mountain

Rocky Top

Last year, I took Joshua to his first UT football game! We had so much fun and are looking forward to another trip sometime soon.

This year was Abby Kate's turn to go to Knoxville with Jason and see her first UT game! She was so excited about their special trip together and has been counting down the days since Joshua came back last year from the game. Joshua let Abby Kate wear his jersey with our last name on the back. She has a really cute pink "Tennessee" shirt, but she insisted that she look like her daddy.

They both had the best time together. I loved talking with them about their time together. Jason was very sweet to her and bought her a "T" necklace that she wears daily! I am glad that the two of them were able to go to Tennessee to see the Vols play. Here are a few pictures of their day!







And I...


I got to spend the day with my two favorite little boys!

Our Little Jack Jack

Some of the faces of our little Jack Jack...

Just My Thoughts...

This is just me...

This week has been one of those weeks that you don't ever forget...

This week has put everything back into perspective...

I am so very thankful for my family...for my children...for my husband....

I am thankful that I have incredible women in my life that love the Lord and that I can lean on...

God has blessed my life by surrounding me with some great friendships that I treasure and hold dearly, and for that I am thankful...

I feel so blessed to be a child of God...

It is my prayer that I can be the kind of wife that Jason needs me to be...

It is my prayer that I can be the kind of mother that Abby Kate, Joshua, and Jackson need me to be...

It is my prayer that I can be the kind of friend that others need me to be...

It is my prayer that my life can be a living sacrifice of praise to HIM!