I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! We did! It was one of the best I've had in a long time. We are finally settled in the new house. Our renovations aren't complete yet but I didn't want to spend our holidays working on the house. So, we got it livable and moved in! I will post before and after pics before long. I have to warn you this post will be photo heavy, so be prepared! Since I haven't updated in two months, I have a lot to share!
I got a huge part of my Christmas on December 17th. I was at Jason's place talking to his sister on the phone. We were getting ready to go Christmas shopping and I had called her for gift ideas. Jason had went back to his room and had been there for a while. When I got off the phone with Deb, I hollered back to him and asked it he was okay. He told me he had gotten himself into a predicament, so I took off back to his room. Him being in a wheelchair, I had no clue what might be wrong. When I got back to his room, I found him sitting on the floor. I was a little upset cause I couldn't believe he had fallen out of his chair and I didn't hear him. I asked if he was okay and if he needed me to help him. He said, "Probably so, but I need to ask you something first." He lifted up my ring and asked me to marry him. He had gotten done on the floor to ask me! Of course, I said yes! My sister took this picture of us when we came by to see her and his mom at work after he asked me!

We are planning a March 4th wedding! He has made me one happy girl!
During the holidays, I am always a day late and a dollar short, as my mother says. I didn't get around to taking pictures for our Christmas card til the Monday night before Christmas. Here are some the pics we took. We decided on the one with Sadie to use for our Christmas cards.




I was really dreading this Christmas because Carley and Gavin were suppose to be with their dad all day. We were going to have Christmas with Jason's family at lunch and my family that night and I was heart broke that the kids wouldn't be there. It ended up that he only kept them for a couple of hours so they got to be at both places. Here they are opening their presents Christmas morning and getting ready for our Christmas Day festivities:





We also woke up Christmas morning to a beautiful surprise...SNOW!!! We haven't had snow on Christmas in years. I can't even tell you the last time we have had snow on Christmas. We've only gotten a dusting of snow in January or February the passed two years, so this was a wonderful surprise. Everyone was so excited! It just seemed to make the whole day perfect to me!








I've also been creating again! I haven't done much in the passed year so it was nice to get out all my scrapbooking supplies and play. I uploaded tons of pictures yesterday to be printed so I see more scrapping in my future...this week, while I'm off work, to be exact!
Here is a pencil box I made for Carley to take to school:

This is a menu/to do dry erase board I made for my kitchen.

I made this photo/recipe card wooden frame for Ms. Linda, Jason's mom, for Christmas!

This is a hanging canvas I made for MawMaw Brenda for Christmas!

Sorry the pictures aren't the greatest. Some of these I took with my cell. I will take better pics and post later!
I just want to wish you all a Happy New Year! I'm praying for peace, happiness, and prosperity for each and every one of you! May God be more real to you this year than ever before!!!!

It's been 5 years ago today since Daddy moved to Heaven. There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about him. His dinners under the tent, getting all of us together to do the twist in the living room, slow dancing with Momma, how he loved to cut up and play jokes and wasn't afraid to act silly to get a laugh, I miss him so much. I can just imagine him under his tent of gold having a dinner celebration with all of his friends and family in Heaven cause today was his Homecoming. I love you, Daddy! I'll see you again one day!

Today, my little man, Gavin turned 5 years old. Time goes my so fast. It doesn't seem like it's been that long since I brought him home for the hospital.
Happy Birthday, my Little Man. I hope you have a wonderful day. I am so blessed that God chose me to be your mommy!

Finally... a lay-out to share! This one was for the Summer Lay-out Tag done at noelmignon.com. These are Carley and Gavin pictures I had made just before Christmas last year. Yes, we are in need of new pictures! They have grown so much. This one is entitled "My Love Knows No End." Going through a divorce is hard and it's been a tough year, but I always hope that Carley and Gavin will always know that I love them more than anything in this world.


Jason and I are all the time taking pics on our cell phones. This one Jason snapped yesterday in between church services at his apartment. He made me lunch! :) I am so blessed to have him in my life.
Now for a house update: The renters will be out on Thursday, so I will finally be able to get in the house and start renovations. I am really excited but dreading the work. I just keep reminding myself that it will all be worth it! I know it is part of God's plan. I guess since it is getting closer, I am feeling a little overwhelmed, but still very excited. I know it will all come together. I just have to keep reminding myself to slow down and realize it's not all going to come together in one day, no matter how much I want it to.
Last night after church, Jason and I were talking to a dear friend of ours, named Rebecca. She was visiting our church, which she does from time to time, and sings with the Praise and Worship Team. She shared with me a song called "You are not alone" by Meredith Andrews. She said that while she was listening to it God brought me to her mind. She told me she had hoped they would get to sing it last night but didn't get to. She had the words and notes written down on paper and she let me read it. I was immediately touched by the lyrics and wanted to share it here. Thank you, Rebecca, for being obedient and for being a woman after God's own heart. I got the chance to listen to it today. It is beautiful! God is so good and He is so faithful! Over and over, I have found myself in worship or prayer just repeating the words, God, You are faithful! He is so faithful and so good to me. There have been so many times I wondered how I would ever make it through, but God always made a way. He has blessed me so much in my life and especially in the passed 6 or 7 months. I don't know where I would be without Him and I don't want to ever be without Him to find out.


I also heard another group this weekend sing a song called Did I Mention by The Perry's. The chorus to this song really speaks my heart right now.
Did I mention that I love him,
how I worship and adore him?
When I can see no way
He makes a way.
And did I mention he's been faithful
to every promise he ever made me?
I love him that's all I want to say.

Yes, I do love Him and that's all I want to say!
Until next time....

After posting this week, I realized I never posted first day of school pictures. Carley entered the third grade this year and Gavin is enrolled at First Babtist for their 3 day pre-school program. I incorporate pre-school into my daycare program but I like to give them time away from me before they start school. Carley graduated from their pre-school program, too, so I wanted the same for Gavin. I love these first day pictures. It made me a little sad to see Gavin watching his big sister out the front door. He loves her so much!


Look at this kitchen I found! Doesn't it look Heavenly! I don't really think I would do this in my own house but this is so pretty. I am thinking of an all cream kitchen and distressing the cabinets to make them look old. This kitchen is courtesy of kitchensbykrengal.com. What do you think?

Isn't this the most beautiful picture of Fall? I get so excited when the leaves start to turn and began to fall to the ground and I start to feel the crisp cool air first thing in the morning and at night when the sun goes down. Unfortunately, we haven't felt very much of that with 101 degree weather two days in a row. But, I am so ready for Fall. I crave it! This is my favorite time of year. It just makes me feel so good deep down inside.
We got a lot accomplished on the yard this weekend. It was such a mess. It made me really sad because it never looked that way when we lived there and Daddy was alive. You would think renters would have more respect for other people's property. Jason's dad came and bush hogged. Pee Wee came over with his lawn mower and mowed around the house. Colby and I picked up the yard and got everything in piles to be disposed of. The back hoe should be here this week to tear down a storage building that can't be saved. It looked so much better. You can actually see the house from the end of the drive. Jason and I rode the 4-wheeler and sprayed to kill the under brush we will need to clean out next to the tree line. I ended up getting one picture...Jason and Mom on the 4-wheeler.

If there was only one picture I could get, I'm glad it was this one. I was surprised she got on there. She said she realized he wouldn't want to do anything to hurt himself so she figured she was safe.
I am just so thankful for friends and family that are willing to help me. It's going to be a big project for sure but it is so worth all the time, energy, and money it will take to make it beautiful again.
I've been blog hopping to get decorating ideas. I haven't made it past Virginia Tillery's blog


I love this wreath! One thing I really enjoy about scrapbooking, other than making pages and preserving memories are the home decor items you can make for your home. This wreath is courtesy of capturejoy.tublr.com. Isn't it beautiful? I love the colors and the photo idea is so cute! I can't wait to make one for my front door.

When I saw this bench, courtesy of Funky Junk Interior, I knew it would be perfect for my entry way. I have a landing that stands about 4 to 6 inches taller than the rest of the living room floor and runs the length of the wall. Thank goodness I have a BIL that is good at making things with wood. I can't wait to show this to him and see if he can make it for me!

Check out this shower curtain! Isn't it beautiful? I love all the ruffles and how the colors fade one to another giving it such a soft feel! I'm sorry I didn't write down where this photo came from. I always like to give credit where credit is due. I'll see if I can find it and post the info.

I have a thing for turquoise lately. This room is sooooo sweet! I have plans to make some of these Pom Poms for Carley's room. This photo is courtesy of the-jessica-numbers.tumblr.com.
These are just a few ideas of inspiration I've picked up so far. I'll be back to share more. Let me know what you think!