Because my blogging hiatus has gone on too long, because so much has happened in the past month that I just may forget it all, because these memories are priceless—if I don’t post them RIGHT NOW the moment may pass me by. . .

Here are a few things that bring me great joy and a few very important prayer requests.

Mother’s Day. I LOVE MY MOM! Her birthday is May 9 and often falls on Mother’s Day. Like THIS YEAR! This year Courtney and Sophie had their dance recital on May 9—Mother’s Day. Imagine my yearly self-induced stress over insuring Mom doesn’t get cheated being compounded by the sharing of my daughters’ dance recital. Sophie’s first dance recital.

Graceful as always, Mom didn’t mind. She and Dad met us at the River Center after church.  Here she is with my niece, Lauren. She had just opened our gifts. Because Mom’s cross with the family birthstones was getting slap full, Cammie and I decided to get her a charm bracelet to add the birthstones of the great-grandchildren. Cammie added a little boy with Gavin’s birthstone and an I Love My Grandchildren charm. I added an engraved charm with baby feet.  The back says Nana’ Babies.

Please pray for her. She was recently bitten by a brown recluse on her finger.  As she’s stood firmly on the Word while we continued to pray her finger has improved a little more each day.  The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. ~ James 5:16

Please pray for Lauren. Pray for her mom, Jamie.  The past month has been a series of overwhelming circumstances involving Jamie.  We’ve seen the Lord move in these circumstances and are praying for His continued work in her life.  He is faithful!

This year Cammie celebrated her first Mother’s Day. I’m so proud of her!  Like her Nana, she embraced the day with grace in spite of the fact that her husband is in Iraq and her big day would be shared with her sisters at their dance recital.  Joe, Courtney, Sophie and I did not make it to church with her that morning.  Costumes and curls and early arrival for dancers kept us from joining her.  Still, she and Gavin met her friend, Hannah, and made it to the House of the Lord.

Please pray for her.  It’s tough on a new family adjusting to deployment.  As the enemy has attacked in unsuspecting ways, she and Trey have grown closer and are stronger than ever. Still, it’s easy to become battle weary when fighting on foreign soil while dealing with other distractions.  Your prayers are coveted. God is faithful! Let’s be faithful, too.

The Dancing Queen and Princess.

I had prayed so earnestly that the Lord would take over the day with all of it’s busy-ness and happenings.  My heart could not contain the joy of watching my two little dancers.  Sophie danced in spite of the large crowd staring at her. She was behind a step or twenty.  But hey, she has to stand out somehow.  And that she did.

Courtney won this year’s Scholarship Queen award.  I thought my heart would burst!  She has worked so hard this year not only in her own class but as an assistant to the instructor in Sophie’s class.  A special thanks to Ms. Jen at The Dance Connection for honoring Courtney and for sharing her Mother’s Day with all of us. Because I know you’re wondering—she did NOT plan this particular date.  It was assigned last year. You’re welcome for clearing that up. Now you don’t have to ask in the comments.   Do comment, though.

I don’t know why I don’t have pictures with my Mom or my firstborn on her very first Mother’s Day.  I think I’ll blame the men for not taking charge.

I do, however, have pictures of Sophie opening her recital gift.  I find them quite humorous. It appears she totally took on the Mommy role with her new gift. So fitting on Mother’s Day. Please note that there are no pictures of Courtney opening her recital gifts. She didn’t get to eat with us after the recital because she stayed and helped at the next recital.  Well, that and she opened her gifts the night before because seventeen-year-old young ladies have no patience for opening the gift of clothing.

Sophie’s recital gift.

OH LOOK!  It’s a very large dancing doll with straps on her feet so she can dance with me!


I think I’ll call her Lauren. I just totally thought of that! (Cousin Lauren in background)

I LOVE HER!!! Lauren, what do you think of my doll’s name?

Look, kid, you’re gonna’ need to eat if you wanna’ be a dancer.


She’s so funny. Kids say the darndest things, don’t they Mommy?

Lauren you can open the rest of my gifts but you CANNOT have my Lauren doll.

Moms have to re-fuel.

WATCH IT! I’ve got a kid, here!

Look, I didn’t want to pull your hair but you need to listen!

Of course I love you, kid. I’m dancing with you on peanut shells.