She's Growing UP

My little girl is growing up! She started school today. I have never seen her more excited! She rambled non-stop all the way to the school today about how good she was going to be and what all she was going to learn today! I sure hope it meets her expectations, because she's got some pretty high ones! Here's a couple pictures of her first day of school. As the old saying goes, "she's happy as a coon-dog!"

The Newest Member of Our Family

This is a photo of the newest member of the Miles Family (although you can barely see him - he's in the top right hand corner of the tank). It's so peaceful and quiet. No getting up to take it outside to potty or anything else that goes along with pets that stay inside. Needless to say, the little talkative rascal that lives at my house already, thinks that we have handed her the moon with her new pet.

The truth is, it was an actual bribe game. In hopes to overcome her fears of standing in the front of the church to sing in the kid choir, we promised her a pet fish if she would go. She went and the moment she returned burst into tears......but she went.....and that was the goal. So now, she has a new pet beta fish named "Lightening." He's red with purple highlights on his sides and seems as happy to be in his new larger "cage" than in the little can he came in. This picture isn't great, but it's all I had. I'll have to get a better one soon.

Do You Remember Brother Claude?

My brother in law, Gregg, recently posted a post on his blog. I find it to be one of the most interesting and intriguing pieces I've read and heard in a while. What makes it so interesting is that it was actually recorded by NPR (National Public Radio) on the program "All Things Considered."

Since my reading audience consists of different readers than his blog, I wanted to share it as well. The entire piece takes approximately 13 minutes to listen to and is also written in a transcript - however - if listening is possible, the music is available to help give a more dramatic effect of the story.

I highly recommend that you read / listen to this piece. Because of the interest in the history of our faith - I find this very intriguing. Hopefully you will as well.

You can LISTEN HERE (click)

Easter Sunday

Here's Addison's favorite picture of herself. Taken Easter Sunday. She thought she was ALL that!!

Addison's First Go Cart Ride

GeoTagged, [N32.11090, E81.31345]

During our vacation, the kids got to ride go carts for the very first time. They loved it. Here's Addison buckled up looking half scared to death for the ride of her life! :)

Update.....

Well, it's been well over a month since I even opened up the blogger account - such a shame. It's been the craziest month......there's just so much that has happened, I'm not sure I can even tell it all.

To give you an update on our lives, here's what's happening.....

The first week of April, the choir was invited to sing again at the Pentecostal Youth Fire Conference. We went - and it was amazing. It's always great, but I thought this year was really awesome. The "classes" of the days were spent exploring the fundamental beliefs of the independent Pentecostal church and explaining why we believe what we believe. It was some great teaching.

In the middle of the month of April, Mama and Papa decided that for the moment they wanted to move back to their house in Sevierville - so that has been a great choice in our opinion. Mom has worked herself to no end to make that happen. After moving to Sevierville, they decided to take a little vacation to Atlanta with Mama's sister and the last I checked, they were still on "vacation" there. They seem to be having a ball. I saw them last Saturday along with my aunt and her son and Mama and Papa look happier and healthier than I have seen them in quite a few years. That's a nice change.

The week of the 24th (my anniversary) we took a trip up to the mountains with Jeremy's family. That turned out to be a great vacation. We had a blast with three eager little beavers who could hardly sleep because the next morning usually promised Dollywood! They had a blast. And by the end of the week - we were all completely and utterly exhausted. I really felt I needed another week of vacation to recover from that week. I think I'm still recovering! lol

While we were there, we stayed up on one of the highest mountains and Jeremy and his brave soul stayed out on the balcony a good portion of the night to watch the horrific storms that destroyed some areas around the Knoxville area come through. One evening before heading out to eat with his family, he called me out to show me the "wall cloud" that was forming into the tornado that would flatten the high school and destroy quite a bit of property in the nearby town of Newport - approximately 20 miles away from where we were staying. I was definitely thankful for the protection during that week. We were very blessed during our stay to not experience the most horrific parts of that storm. This particular night we had made a promise to the kids and with very watchful eyes, we kept that promise for a little bit of entertainment for them - and during our outing - we were evacuated to a safe block gym to be protected from a tornado that was approximately 5 miles away. We joked that of all the pleasant things they got to do on vacation - this particular evening of evacuation - sitting in a row next to a stable block wall on our laps - half scared out of their minds, would be the vacation moment that would dominate their memories. To be honest, they weren't alone. When we talk about vacation now, usually the biggest thing we talk about is the storms....

Anyway.....it's been a crazy ride the last month and now - as always - I'm so ready for life to slow down. Somehow I don't think that's going to happen. The next month promises to be just as busy as the last one was.

Hope everyone is well.......just wanted to drop by and say hello to everyone. Between the floods and storms that have occurred everywhere in the last few weeks, as far as I know, everyone that reads this has been pretty safe. For that I am grateful. Don't forget to count your blessing because there are a bunch of homeless and hurting people right now who need our prayers and our thoughts.

The Grandkids

Laura sent me a couple snapshots from Saturday night, which she took with her phone. For those of the family who take a gander - please take note.....I cannot recall anywhere in history where a child looked so much like her mother as dear Abby does!! Do you not agree?? You can just see the mischief in her eyes!

Mama and Papa seem to be doing well. I talked to Mama yesterday evening and she says that she and Abby had a "ball" yesterday. Abby fixed her hair and everything else Mama did, she wanted to be involved in. I hear that Abby is very dramatic with her tales......and I know exactly where she gets that from.

Papa, Dad, and Zach took a fishing trip yesterday after school as well. I haven't heard reports first hand on that, but what's not to enjoy.......well, maybe other than the cow pile that Zach stepped in. I only know about that because they were attempting to figure out how to deal with it on the shoe when the conversation ended. lol

Update from the South

I talked with Mom, Laura, and Mama this morning. Everyone is doing well. Mama spent the evening yesterday, reading books to Zach and Abby, while Papa spent his evening attempting to gain Abby's confidence. I hear that at the last minute, Abby decided to give Papa a goodbye hug.....

Papa and Dad have spent the morning outside pruning trees - Dad working while Papa directed. Mama and Mom were sitting on the front porch enjoying 70 degree weather a little while ago.

Everyone seems happy.....Papa has even mentioned selling the farm this morning. So, hopefully that will come to fruition.....sooner than later.

Mama has a doctor's appointment on Monday the 21st with a GI specialist that Laura used to work with. We are happy about this.

Right now, plans on what to do from here are going to be taken a day at the time....Mom keeps saying that Mama has to decide whether she likes her well enough to stay or not. lol

Laura and I keep reinterating the fact to Mama that having her here makes it so much easier for us because we know Mom isn't half the United States away worrying. Hopefully they will like the south enough that they want to stay forever! That would be a prayer answered.

Her Mother's Child

On Wednesday night, Addison was invited to her first slumber party - scheduled for Friday night. She was beside herself excited. The truth of the matter of is, the only clue she has about a slumber party is what knowledge she has gleaned from the Berenstain Bear's version of slumber parties. She smiles at the mention of them and has visions of the pictures of feathers flying everywhere with pillow fights and popcorn strewn all over the floor! That's the extent of her knowledge of a slumber party.

Anyway for the past 3 days, that's all she's talked about. As a matter of fact, she sat straight up in the bed on Friday morning with her eyes half closed and said, "I'm supposed to be at a slumber party!" I reminded her that was not until later in the day. She smiled, said "OK," and snuggled back into her pillow and passed back out for another hour and a half.

After she finally crawled out of bed, she was full speed ahead, trying to figure what needed to packed, and everything else there is to think about......

En Route to drop her off, she asked me the question....."Mommy, do you like slumber parties?" I was instantly taken back to my memories of slumber parties and had a very ready answer of "absolutely not - truth is - I hate them?" She replied with, "oh, I LOVE slumber parties!" I just smiled knowing that she hadn't a clue what she was in for. I especially knew that she didn't have a clue when she became completely and literally speechless when she walked into the meeting place and there was complete chaos and yelling and screaming going on by approximately 9 other little girls. She slid to the side of the wall and crawled up on the lap of an older girl and just sat watching wide-eyed, not sure if she wanted in on this or not.

I finally left and became instantly interested to see if her view of slumber parties had changed yet when I would pick her up the next morning. As I drove home, I began to recall the actual ONLY slumber party I ever went to. I fell asleep at 10 p.m. of complete exhaustion and was awakened multiple times during the night from noise and would be prank players. It was the most MISERABLE night of my life. I seriously vowed I'd never attend another.....and I didn't. Those reasons are also the same reasons that I absolutely hated every youth camp I ever attended. I try to be a pleasant personality most of the time, but when I am sleep -deprived, it is not going to be good!! I MUST have sleep - or else........!! lol

So.....I picked Addison up this morning. According to the present adult who hosted the party - God love her, she's a better one than me - she said they settled down at approximately 12:30 am this morning. I picked Addison back up at 10 just as I had planned.

I knew the minute I picked her up, it was going to be an interesting. She didn't speak, was in no wise pleasant - and only wanted to be put in her car seat with her pillow. Knowing that life would be no good if I didn't oblige, I gave in. On the way home, I ran into Wal-Mart. She cried......she was sleepy. So, I just put her sleeping bag in the bottom of the buggy with a little pillow she had carried with her and I was no more in the door and she was out cold! I picked up my few little things, headed out and picked her up like a lead balloon and put her in the car seat. She adjusted her pillow a little, and was out again. Less than 10 minutes later, I transferred her to my bed....again like a lead balloon. It's 12:40 p.m. in the afternoon on Saturday and she has yet to open her eyes.........She's been asleep almost 3 hours.

And I have yet to hear an opinion on slumber parties..........LOL

They Have Arrived

I don't have any details...as everyone is too caught up in the bustle to update me. Bitter...party of one! Lol.

Anyway, Mom, Mama, and Papa have arrived at home in Millry. From updates during the trip, it appears that it was a good one.

I'll let you know what I hear next. If anyone wants to join in and add information that I leave out, please feel free to share. I'll be more than thrilled.

Until later....

To Make You Smile

I shared this with my Aunt Linda this morning and she recommended that I share it with the rest of you to make you smile!

Her Favorite Game

Being that "Mama GG" was the topic of the last post, I thought I'd post it in her honor. For those who know her, you know that this is something that she loves! I think she slept with a fly swatter in her hands at times. lol

GG in the name is representative of great-grandmother - in case you are curious. Mama came up with it when Zach came to see her at one point.

Another Page Turned

Yesterday I was reminded that my blog would soon be "hot" again.... And she don't know just how right she is......

So, here we go.....it's been a crazy month and a half since I wrote anything, and every time I think about getting on to write, I think of something else more important I need to be doing. I can still come up with a list, but life is changing soon for all of us, hopefully, and maybe will cause the uprisings in our personal lives to all calm down.

When chaos is happening in the lives of my immediate family members, it affects me and my ability to concentrate well, and to be flat out honest, I don't have a great recollection of what all has transpired in the last few months....I just know it's been chaotic. Between the effects of every "blooming" thing (literally) there is in Georgia, and the chaos surrounding the dramatic lives of my mom's parents, it's just too much to think on. :-)

So, I'll start at the easiest point there is to bring us up to speed as quickly as possible. As most of you know, Mom has spent many weeks of the past year in Ohio seeing to the tending of her parents. Her siblings have offered her great moral and mental support and as much physical support as possible....and for this Dad, Laura and I are grateful. It's not been our favorite moments in life knowing she was up there with no surrounding support - because of the location of where my grandparents live. It has taken a little over a year.....as a matter of fact it's been since August of 2009....but after multiple uprisings, differing opinions, multiple medical events, Mom has finally insisted that my grandparents come south with her. They are not totally prepared mentally to give up their lives in Ohio just yet, but we're hoping to change that in the next few weeks. And then there's the subject of what to do with Ohio, but that's another subject for another moment!

At the present moment, we are hoping to find a place where Mama and Papa can be completely supported in every way, yet continue to maintain their independence for as long as possible, while everyone around them gets to continue to be active in the lives of their family and friends and continue with their obligations of life. We are looking into some exciting possibilities and this is where we will keep the blog "hot" with updates and hopefully a few pictures in the process of the progress. But first we have to convince them that this is what will be the best for them and give them a quality to their lives that they have been missing for quite some time.

So, at the moment, Mom and her two followers are enroute to the sticks of Red Creek and all it promises for them. Hopefully it holds great promise. And I am hoping that tomorrow offers even MORE promise. I know Zach and Abby will be tickled pink to have someone around that has nothing better to do than watch all of their little bicycle tricks and silly antics.....and Addison is itching to get in on the fun. I can just hear it now, "Hey Mama GG - watch me!" "Hey Papa Way (that's Abby and Addison) - watch this!" It just makes me smile thinking of their little eyes lighting up with excitement at the constant attention.

So, our journey goes from here.....hopefully it will be a better journey than anyone even anticipates. Whatever happens, I promise to keep you updated! As one of my favorite artists (Annie Chapman) would sing......."the pages turn, and the chapters close.....line by line, the story goes.....how quick it reads....as the candle burns.....the years go by and the pages turn......"

What's MY attitude today??

SCULPTOR'S ATTITUDE
- Author Unknown

I woke up early today, excited over all I get to do before the clock strikes midnight. I have responsibilities to fulfill today. I am important. My job is to choose what kind of day I am going to have.

Today I can complain because the weather is rainy or I can be thankful that the grass is getting watered for free.

Today I can feel sad that I don't have more money or I can be glad that my finances encourage me to plan my purchases wisely and guide me away from waste.

Today I can grumble about my health or I can rejoice that I am alive.

Today I can lament over all that my parents didn't give me when I was growing up or I can feel grateful that they allowed me to be born.

Today I can cry because roses have thorns or I can celebrate that thorns have roses.

Today I can mourn my lack of friends or I can excitedly embark upon a quest to discover new
relationships.

Today I can whine because I have to go to work or I can shout for joy because I have a job to do.

Today I can complain because I have to go to school or eagerly open my mind and fill it with rich new tidbits of knowledge.

Today I can murmur dejectedly because I have to do housework or I can feel honored because the Lord has provided shelter for my mind, body and soul.

Today stretches ahead of me, waiting to be shaped. And here I am, the sculptor who gets to do the shaping.

What today will be like is up to me. I get to choose what kind of day I will have!

Have a GREAT DAY! Unless you have other plans.

A New Day by Dr. Heartsill Wilson

This is the beginning of a new day.

I have been given this day to use as I will.

I can waste it, or use it.

I can make it a day long to be remembered for its joy, its beauty and its achievements, or it can be filled with pettiness.

What I do today is important because I am exchanging a day of my life for it.

When tomorrow comes this day will be gone forever, but I shall hold something which I have
traded for it.

It may be no more than a memory, but if it is a worthy one I shall not regret the price.

I want it to be gain not loss, good not evil, success not failure.

Life Is......by Mother Theresa

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.

Life is beauty, admire it.

Life is a dream, realize it.

Life is a challenge, meet it.

Life is a duty, complete it.

Life is a game, play it.

Life is a promise, fulfill it.

Life is sorrow, overcome it.

Life is a song, sing it.

Life is a struggle, accept it.

Life is a tragedy, confront it.

Life is an adventure, dare it.

Life is luck, make it.

Life is too precious, do not destroy it.

Life is life, fight for it.

Success

For many years, I have had a square magnet hanging on my refrigerator. It serves as a reminder to me that the small things count. It contains a quote from the literary author, Ralph Waldo Emerson. I would have to say this is one of my favorite quotes of all time. Sometimes we get so caught up in the big stuff, we forget about the small things. And I'm at the top of the list of the guilty. Every time I walk past my refrigerator and read this, I smile because it reminds me of all the small things that I really love!

Success:

"To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty,
To find the best in others,
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.This is to have succeeded."

Special Dedication

On Saturday, the 22nd of January, my beautiful mother turned _ _ yrs old. :-) I'll let you guess!

I was running like crazy on Saturday and failed to sit down and write a beautiful post about her, etc.... I figured since I didn't, I would dedicate this little clip to her - since this is what makes her happiest! Not the injuries! Just the humor in them!

Mom, this is for you!! And Happy Belated Birthday! You know I love you!

Priscilla Memorial

Since the previous post had some information regarding the McGruders, I would like to provide a link to all of the people who read this blog who might be interested in seeing a new Tribute video that is currently available for the fans of Priscilla McGruder. This video is currently available on a website that I've never embedded from, and to be frankly honest, I really like it and don't want to do anything that might get it pulled off of the internet. I'm not sure it's posted with permission, so I'm not going to take any chances of getting in trouble along with whoever else may.....however, for the moment, the memorial can currently be seen in it's entirety HERE! It appears it was posted 12 days ago and has not had many hits, so if you want to see it, you better watch it while it is available.

Be prepared, it's 30 minutes of the songs that were some of the signature songs that Priscilla sang. The first one they kick it off with happens to be one of my dad's favorites, "Since He Gave My Life A New Start."

From My Hobby

As you've probably noticed, the link to the other blog that I moderate is listed here on my site. I've told you all about my hobby over on the other site and my passion about the late, great Lady McGruder. I recently wrote a post for that blog that prompted me to write this post. Being the fan of their music that I am, I always a little apprehensive to hear someone else sing their songs. I am always worried that something someone else does with their songs may injure what I consider to be the sacredness of it - as corny as that sounds.

Not very long ago, some friends from Alabama, (the Newberrys) stopped by our church while visiting some family members. The wife of this couple was asked to sing, and began the lines of one of my all time favorites of the McGruders, "I Can Go to the Master." I found it interesting that after church, I had two or three of my close confidants who asked me how I handled it that she sang that song. I got a good laugh out of it, and the truth of the matter was, I am confident that I probably enjoyed it more than anyone in the building.

For DAYS after she sang that song, it got stuck in my head and wouldn't go away. On a whim, I ran across this interesting video of someone across the world singing that same song. I immediately fell in love with this version. Although, I will be quick to admit, Priscilla will always be close to my heart in every way possible - no one can sing it like she could - but the others have definitely hit the mark in their versions of it.

If you're interested, this is a video of that same song, being sung by a group from Solomon Islands in Africa from a Seventh Day Adventist Church. Their names are "Echoes of Innocence." And my goodness - they are superb! The harmony is phenomenal and just makes you need to stare and listen to it again and again. If you get time, this is for your listening pleasure. I promise you, it is worth the few minutes it takes to watch it.

Christmas in Alabama

Christmas in Alabama pictures

My little girl is 4!

Pictures from Addison's 4th birthday!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Well it's only been approximately 2 months since I've even said hello on this site. I really do apologize. I hope to do much better in the next little while. It's been a crazy ride since the last of November, when I last posted, but I'm back, so hopefully life will slow down a bit.

I could rant about all the happenings since then, but it would probably bore you, so I'll spare you. However, I hope everyone is kicking off the new year in a good way and are finding ways to be less busy! I'm trying. I'm actually making myself sit down this morning and catch up on a few things. I have a list a mile long I need to be working on. And will begin it shortly.

I didn't even write a list for new year resolutions.....first I just want to recover my house from the last month of chaos. I'm working on it, but it's a work in progress. I'm loading stuff for the Goodwill as I go along, so it's taking a little longer than normal, but I really hate clutter and it's been bothering me long enough, so I'm trying to shed it as I clean up. Once I get my house in order, maybe I'll have time to sit down and catch up on my posting. Fortunately, I got a new computer for Christmas, so I can finally once again have decent internet access without having to sit down and it take me a week to get one post accomplished. It's such a beautiful thing when the computer works right!!

Like I said, I won't get sidetracked by the events of the past month and a half, but for those of you who keep up with me (whether it be family or friends) from various sections of the United States, I'll show you a few pics taken in the last few weeks. Because of the way this computer works, I'll have to post the pictures in a separate post, so they will actually appear before this post. By the time you read this, you'll already have seen them!! Oh Well!!!