Decoration

Andrew and I went to Albertville for Decoration.  Since we just lost Grandaddy back in March, I wanted to be there for Mom and Granny.  We weren't expecting his marker to be ready, but when we got to the cemetery, there it was!  The VA did a very nice job with it.  

 Andrew was standing there looking at the marker and the flowers, talking about Grandaddy.  I told him to let me take a picture of him.  He said, "Just take a picture of me looking at it."  My sweet boy.  He misses his Granddaddy everyday.  He has a picture of him on his dresser and every so often, he'll bring me the picture and talk about how much he misses him.  Me too, Buddy!

Just on the other side of the cemetery, we stopped by Papa's grave.  We lost him in Feb. of 2011.  It doesn't seem like it has been that long.

 Right next to Papa's grave, are my Great-Grandparents.  (Granny Nita's parents).  I was fortunate enough to have my PaPaw for 15 years!  Another great man!

 It was a nice day of remembrance with the family, but there were too many graves to visit, in my opinion.  Death is hard.  They say, "Time heals all wounds."  I disagree.  Time may ease the wound, but the hole is still there.

WW: 10,000 Reasons!

Sometimes we wake up in a GREAT mood; ready to take on the day.  Other days not so much.  But we should wake up every day praising our Lord.  After all He has done great things for us and we have much to be thankful for.  Last night in Andrew's devotional, we talked about how everyday is a special day.  We should celebrate Jesus everyday.  "Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.  They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness!" (Lamentations 3:22-23)

So today, I woke up in a GREAT mood.  I sing praises to the Lord!  Read Psalm 103...it's a good one!

1Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.    2Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:    3Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;    4Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;    5Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.    6The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.    7He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.    8The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.    9He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.    10He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.    11For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.    12As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.    13Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.    14For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.    15As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.    16For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.    17But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;    18To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.    19The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.    20Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.    21Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.    22Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.

Bless the Lord, O my soul indeed!

Ashley's Grandview Wedding

My super busy weekend continued by driving to Chattanooga, TN for a wedding at Grandview, atop lookout mountain.  

 My sister's friend since the age of 2, Ashley, got married in a beautiful outdoor ceremony. 

 Lil Sis was a bridesmaid.  (This was the first time I had seen her in 2 1/2 months!)

 The beautiful bride walking down the aisle.

 You may kiss the bride.

 Mr. and Mrs. Erik Wells

 Their beautiful cake

 Annah and Jefforey

 Making their way to the reception

 First dance

 Father daughter dance...

 ...with a twist!

To see the video of this AWESOME & HILARIOUS dance, check out my facebook wall!

 Me and the Lil Sis

 Lil Sis and her besties

 Annah and Jamie

 Me, the Mom, and the Lil Sis

It was a beautiful ceremony and fun reception.  We danced the night away. (Ok, so this old lady only did the cupid shuffle...what can I say?  I have a bad back.)  But the rest of the crowd danced the night away.  Congratulations Ashley and Erik!

AHS Class of 2012

I hurried to Alabama when I picked Andrew up today because we had to go to Albertville's Graduation.  But, I had an errand to run before that.  I had to go to Erin's house and meet sweet lil Emory.  (She's over a month old and I hadn't seen her yet!)  And I had to give Miss Maggie her very long overdue birthday present.  

When I gave her the Aurora Minnie, she had to go change into all her Minnie gear!

 Sweet lil Emory.  I didn't get to stay very long, hence only one picture!  Isn't she precious??

 Then it was hurry hurry...off to graduation.  I was there to see my cousin Emily walk across that stage.

 That was one of the largest senior classes I have seen in a long time.  I think I counted 247-ish names on the program!  I knew both the Valedictorian and Salutatorian.   Both speeches were fabulous.  What Godly young men!  

 After the ceremony, we braved the crowd to go take pictures.  We found Emily right away!

 A Hug from her Momma

 Emily and her parents: Sonny and Donna

 Here's all the family that came out to support Em. (minus a couple that disappeared before this picture)

 While I was walking around looking for a few others that I knew, I ran into one of the Marine Corps newest 2nd Lieutenants.  Will is just about to start his first official duty station in North Carolina.  

I missed out on seeing several others that graduated.  They must have left before I could find them.  Congratulations Emily (and the rest of the class of 2012).  I'm so proud of you!

Mother's Day Tea

Andrew's class had a Mother's Day tea.  Mom and Granny were in town and they got to attend as well.  The principal took some pictures of us, but I don't have those.  The kids were cute.  They served us coffee or tea and we had a no bake cheesecake, "baked" by the kids the day before.  They sang a song and gave us a present.  
Then they posed for a picture with Ms. Delores.

 And then I noticed how snuggled up to Zya he was.  

Ms. Delored said, "Be sure to send me the wedding invitation."

Video Dump

Well it has been a while since I put a home video on the blog.  (Ok, truthfully I always forget to upload them, but I was browsing my youtube account and came across a couple that I haven't shared yet.)

This one was before Christmas.  You can see there are still boxes from the move in the background.  Andrew is sharing some of his favorite Bible verses that he knows.




And here's one from last September.  Andrew is trying to speak Spanish.  It's a quote from Toy Story 3 when Buzz is in Spanish mode.  Senorita, donde estas?  (ok forgive the lack of accents, but seriously I haven't figured that one out on the mac yet :(  )  Instead, Andrew says "Golde esta"


Poor kid...you'd think his Mama was a Spanish teacher or something?!  (FAIL)  And what's more....today he tells me:  "Mama, I know all about cinco de mayo."
ME:  Oh you do?  Well tell me...what is cinco de mayo?
Andrew:  It's when people speak Spanish and eat tacos.  (EPIC FAIL)
Needless to say this summer we'll be working on some language acquisition.

ok one more....for now
Here's one of Andrew feeding the seagulls LAST summer.  (What?!  I said I was behind)