Friends Are A Blessing

Opening up my Bible earlier, I read a note from a good friend of mine. She had written me a note several months ago but I had not revisited it until recently. The note was written a few days after our 2nd miscarriage and it could not have come at a better time in my life. At that time I was hurting and she knew that. Her note was simple but it remains inside my Bible for those moments when I want to reflect...

In her note, she quoted Romans 5:1-5 which reads "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."

Friends are definitely a blessing, that's for sure.

Thanks again, Country Mouse for being such a great friend.

We love you! *wink*

Just something to think about...

*God won't ask you what kind of car you drove. He'll ask you how many people you drove who didn't have transportation.

*God won't ask the square footage of your house. He'll ask you how many people you welcomed into your home.

*God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet. He'll ask you how many you helped to clothe.

*God won't ask what your highest salary was. He'll ask you if you compromised your character to obtain it.

*God won't ask you what your job title was. He'll ask you if you performed your job to the best of your ability.

*God won't ask you how many friends you had. He'll ask you how many people to whom you were a friend.

*God won't ask you in what neighborhood you lived. He'll ask you how you treated your neighbors.

Say what??!!???

Another one of those things that I never thought I would say...

"PQ and I need to go to the tattoo shop after lunch."

*Don't worry...we're not getting matching Mom/Son tattoo's. *wink* I had to go meet with someone who offers tattoo removal services at the local tattoo shop.*

I Love My Family!

Got Water??

While at a baseball game in the big city on Thursday night with Miss England and her husband, the following interaction took place. I thought about posting it as a SAY WHAT but thought that it deserved a little more explanation than a typical one liner...I'll let you see why.

Papa H (watching PQ sit on my lap with a water bottle): "Is that your water bottle?"

Mama H: "No, it's PQ's. Why?"

Papa H: "Uuuuh, we got rid of it already."

Mama H: "Are you sure?"....(taking the water bottle out of PQ's mouth, I asked Miss England if it might have been hers. After learning that it was not her water bottle, I leaned over and asked the man to the right of me if it was his...)

Random Man Next To Me: "Yeah, it's mine...it only had a little left in it though. It's okay."

PQ (who was obviously embarassed): "I'm sorry, Mama...I thought it was your water bottle."

Inside My Brain: "Oh my word! Are you kidding me?? Eeeeeeeeew!"

Mama H: "It's okay, sweetie. I know it was an accident."

Say what??!!???

"PQ, please get down. I don't want Maple Syrup on the walls."

*Another one of those things that you never thought you would have to say...*

From New England To Tennessee

Sending hugs from PQ to Meme...

...and sending something "silly' in today's mail too.

(Please tell Bean that she's getting some too.)

*WINK*

Why We Love Summer Vacation

There are so many reasons why we love summer vacation but this evening I was reminded that EATING ICE CREAM FOR DINNER is one of my favorite things to do during the summer.

~We are heading out tomorrow afternoon for a weeks worth of camping. Call me crazy but after making food to take with us for the week, I thought eating ice cream at the local ice cream shop made more sense than making another meal at home. Today's ice cream dinner was the 3rd time that we've done this since school let out. Just in case anyone was counting. *Wink*

What about you? What do you love about the summer months?

Today's Harvest: Beet Greens

Yum, yum, yummy! This evening we had fresh beet greens from our garden. They were absolutely delicious! Maybe we can grow our own vegetables!!

Red, White, & Blue

From Day One...

Where do I even begin?

My initial idea behind today's post was to merely share some photos from a recent campfire over at Auntie & Uncle's house. After downloading the pictures and recalling many memories, I can't help but change the reason for my post.

From the moment that PQ was born, Beaner has always had a very special bond with him. She has loved PQ since day one and that love continues to be evident. Within weeks of meeting her new baby cousin, we were calling her "Mother Hen" because she could not get enough of our little guy. They spent their days together over at Grammy's house while L&L and Papa H & I worked to provide for our families. Beaner loved to snuggle with PQ anytime of day. She had to be next to him at every crossroad. She had to know that he was okay at all times.

Not much has changed over the past few years. Although their schedules are different from what they used to be, they still remain the best of friends. She continues to look out for PQ. She continues to entertain him. She continues to make him laugh. She continues to snuggle with him. She continues to love him. She continues to be the best cousin anyone could ask for.

Beaner~ We love you so much! We want to THANK YOU for always being such a loveable young lady. Thank you for always looking out for PQ. Thank you for making him laugh. Thank you for making us laugh too! Thank you for standing beside him whenever he's been curious about something new. Thank you for loving him....but most importantly, thank you for being you!!!

You can see the twinkle in her eye.

Mother Hen at work.

*SQUEEZE!*

(She loves to love him!)

She's the only one having fun.

(D-Dawg can't be bothered.)

She didn't get enough the first 10 times!

7 years later...




They're still up to no good.

(YAY! Uncle got the frisbee out of the tree for them.)

Jack fell down and broke his crown...

...and Jill came tumbling after!





They were told to find sticks for the campfire.

(Apparently they got a little confused when Uncle handed them branch cutters!)



They still love hanging out.

She still has to be right next to him.

She still loves to SQUEEZE him!

She loves him...she always has.

She still likes to make him laugh.

She still likes to be wherever he is.

And we are SO grateful for all of these things!