Whole Lotta Love Day 11

Good evening friends. It's a dreary rainy day. I am tired of the rain!
I have fallen behind on my posts. No excuse. I am not going to try and catch up, I am just going to pick back up.
Today, I am sharing my love of my blog books. Ever since I have been blogging, I have been ordering blog books. At the end of November each year, I order a blog book that includes all of my posts from the entire year. I then order another one just of Christmas. I have a growing collection.



I use a site called Blog 2 Print. I have never had any trouble ordering and have been well pleased.
Today, my newest one came. I couldn't wait to get it out of the box.



Darbee and I snuggled up together and had to look thru it. This one is 340 pages. Such special memories that Darbee will treasure one day.
That's my love. My treasured books.

I've also been busy all afternoon putting finishing touches on the Valentine's for Darbee's class. I love how they turned out.



They are small shovels with M&M's in the bag. The tag says "I dig you." Darbee Rae signed her name on the back. Thanks Pinterest.

For her teachers, she is giving them this.







I love these.

We are getting excited about our trip to the mountains later this week. I still have lots to do to get ready.

I hope all of you have had a great day!

Until next time.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Whole lotta love day 7&8- My cousins

As many of you know, our family is small. With my grandmother, mom and myself being only children, that doesn't leave a large family! But that's okay. My dad's side is a bit larger but unfortunately other than Maudie whom my mom did a post on earlier, we are not as close and don't see each other except usually at Christmas.

You all read my mom's blog about her "sister" Kathy. Kathy has two sons, Jeremy and Tyler.
Meet Jeremy.



Jeremy is 11 months older than me. We grew up pretty much like my mom and Kathy did. We were always together. We played and played. We had our childish arguments but overall, we got along well.



Look at this picture. Can't you see the love? Ha!

I have always teased him in October when I have my birthday that we are the same age. To this day, on my birthday, I always call him first to remind him that for a month, we will be the same age. Ha!
Jeremy is a hard worker and can be so much fun to be around. He can grill the best steaks. He can make me laugh till I cry. He is married to a sweet girl and has an 11 year old son.

Then there is Tyler.



Tyler is Jeremy's brother. There is a 9 year age difference in Tyler and I but we are still close. Tyler is a miracle. He was born weighing only 1 lb. and wasn't given much hope. After many months in the hospital, he came home and is a perfectly healthy 21 year old now. He works every day and is a good boy. He is a home body and a HUGE Florida Gator Fan. He would do anything for you.

I am so glad to have these two in my life. They are my loves for day 7&8.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Whole Lotta Love Day 6-My Dream

Good evening friends. We have all been asked the question, "if you could do one thing and be assured you would not fail, what would you do?" I have sat and pondered the answer to this question many times. I would love to own a primitive store. I guess I could sit and think of a million things. But there is one thing that I really would love to do. I have a passion for photography. It would be my dream to have my own photography business. How fun to get to know a lot of people and share in special times in their lives. I have more than 5 cameras and three video cameras. You will never catch me without a camera whether it be my cell phone or the small one I keep in my purse. I want to always be ready to capture that special thing Darbee does or a special time I want to remember. Right before Darbee was born, we invested in a nice camera and I love it. I have since purchased several different lenses for it and lots of accessories.


I take all of Darbee's pictures. We hardly ever go to a portrait studio. I am by no means a professional, but absolutely love taking pictures. You wouldn't believe the pictures I have!

So that's my love for today.

Until next time....

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Whole Lotta Love-Day 5 A Girl's Necessities

Hi Friends.  As I sat down to think about what to share today, my mind came to several things.  Several memories came to mind and I knew what I had to share.

Years ago when I was in middle school, there was a group of "preppy" girls who after gym class would lather themselves in the best smelling perfumes.  I can still smell the fresh scent from the locker room.  I was shy and always too chicken to ask them what it was.  One day after class, I overheard their conversation and it included the mention of the raspberry body spray they had purchased in a nearby mall.  The next time I went there with my mom, we searched every store for "that smell."  I found something similar but not quite it.  Not too long after that, I heard them mention Bath and Body Works.  That was my answer and where my obsession began.  Luckily, there was one opening in that same mall very soon and I too soon had that good smelling Sun Ripened Raspberry body spray.  

Since then, I have always loved perfume.  It is part of my morning routine along with putting on my makeup.  I must have on my perfume.  I love it.

You can see from my collection, I love it.  I have a few bottles of "expensive" stuff but I like the body sprays mostly.  

The next part of my "getting ready routine" is my jewelry.  I love my jewelry.  No, I am not loaded with lots of fancy diamonds or gold, but rather my cheap costume jewelry.  I must have a necklace and bracelet to go with each outfit.  There is a new store that just opened in town not too long ago that has an entire wall of jewelry like this including bracelets, necklaces and earrings all for $1!  Needless to say, I love that store too!

Here is my bracelet collection.

My mom bought me this box to store them all in several years ago and it is now bulging.  The lid will not fit down on it.  I am now on the hunt for a larger prim box.

And the necklaces....

I'm ashamed to say that's not all of them. (SMILE)

So that you have it is my loves for today.  My girly necessities.

Until next time....

Whole Lotta Love Day 4

Good afternoon friends.  It's been a quiet day here.  I am excited to be planning a family get away for next week so I have spent quite a bit of time on the internet today "planning."  

In keeping up with the "Whole Lotta Love" posts, I must share my love for day 4.

My love for today is Darbee's school.

We had it all planned out.  I would still be teaching at the pre-k where I had been the last six years and Darbee Rae would attend pre-k there.  It would be perfect.  She would be in a classroom down the hall from me and life would be good.  Guess that was the first mistake huh?  God laughed at us and had other plans.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the place went into foreclosure and I am no longer employed.  

So....we were faced with the big decision about pre-k.  It is not mandatory in our state, but I wanted Darbee to go.  But where?  The elementary school we are in district for does not have pre-k.  They bus them to another school and bus them back for pick up in the afternoon.  NO WAY!  

We discussed several options and finally chose a private school in a church just up the road from our house.  I had heard nothing but good about it and knew several people who had children that attended there.  After touring and talking to the teachers and praying about it, we made our decision.  We just crossed our fingers there would be an opening come registration.

There was and she got in!  We couldn't have been happier.

Darbee absolutely adores school.  She loves her teachers and looks forward to going every day.

This morning, she had a rough cough and the sniffles.  I offered for her to stay home with me but she wasn't having it.  Today was science lab and she was not going to miss it.  This makes my heart so happy.  I am confident my girl has had a wonderful educational foundation set and will continue to have a love for learning.  

Fortunately, they also have a private kindergarten which Lord willing she will attend next year.  

We are again crossing our fingers that she gets a spot.  

So there you have it.  My love for today.

Until next time....

Whole Lotta Love Day 3

Good evening friends.  I hope all of you have had a great Sunday.  We enjoyed a great church service this morning and for that I am thankful.  We have truly had a good day. 

I am glad I decided to join in on the Whole Lotta Love posts.  I am looking forward to sharing my loves with you all.  Thanks Cindi.

Tonight, I want to share with you one of my loves.  It is hands. Sounds crazy huh?  No, I do not have a hand fetish or anything crazy, but I have a love for the hands that have touched my life.

I must say first that I am thankful for the hands of Jesus.

I am thankful that I am kept safely in these hands everyday. These hands guide me.  I am thankful that these hands were pierced on the cross so that I could forever be forgiven.  

My Nanny's hands.

This is the precious hands of my "nanny."  If only these hands could talk.  Oh the stories they would tell.  The things they have seen.  The sick ones they have helped.  The meals they have prepared.  The times they have been folded in prayer. These hands were the ones that took care of my mama.  These are the hands that cooked my favorite hash for me as a child.  I will never forget these hands raised to our Lord during a worship service at the nursing home not too long before she passed away.  I held this hand many times in the last few years.  For these hands I am thankful.

My mama's hands.

I can't say enough about these hands.  These hands rocked me as a baby.  They have taken care of me when I was sick.  They have played with me.  They have held my hand when I was scared.  Just a simple squeeze of her hand can be so comforting.  These hands have been folded in prayer for loved ones many times.  They have played the piano so many times when I would sit and listen to her sing.  They have been intertwined with my daddy's hands many times showing their love for each other.  They have taught me how to craft.  They have disciplined me. They hug.  They comfort.  I cherish these hands.

My daddy's hands.

Firm but gentle.  These are the hands of my daddy.  Nothing like a little girl placing her small hand into her daddy's.  I remember that as a child.  They seemed so big.  These hands tickled me until I lost my breath.  These hands built our home.  These hands planted our garden.  These hands led our church choir.  These hands worked to provide an income for our family.  These hands build.  These hands fix it all.  These hands love.

My husband's hands

The hands I held as butterflies danced in my tummy.  These hands that offered a pat on the back or a quick hug.   I held these hands nervously as I repeated our marriage vows and became his wife. These hands have hugged and comforted me many times.  These hands were the first hands my daughter's fingers wrapped around as soon as she was born.  These hands have wiped away my tears.  These hands work.  I still like to hold these hands after 10 years.

My daughter's hands

Nothing is more precious than the hands of my child.  I have felt these little hands wrap around mine while the same time wrapping around my heart.  Nothing makes my heart smile more than seeing these little hands folded in prayer to Jesus.  So innocent.  These hands are creative.  These hands  love to hug.  These hands draw me  pictures.  These hands love on me.  These hands like to tickle.  These hands explore.  These hands are precious.  

My aunt's hands

These hands like to cook.   These hands love on Darbee. These hands play the piano also.  These hands have seen trouble and happiness.  These hands have taken care of a sick husband.  These hands have seen struggles.  These hands work.  These hands love.  These hands care.

My own hands.

My hands were forever changed when they were intertwined with those of my child.  I only hope one day my hands can tell a story that these hands listed before me can tell.  These hands are full of love.  For hands I am thankful.

Until next time.....

A little late...

Good evening friends.  I hope all of you are having a happy weekend so far.  Once again the northern part of GA is enjoying snow and yet again we have NOTHING.  I need to have a talk with old man winter.  This girl wants to see some snow!

I had never visited Cindi's blog over at Cindi's Country Corner. When I saw several of you blogging buddies mention her "Whole Lotta Love" series, it sounded like fun.  February creeped up on me and I got a day behind.  So...better late than never huh?  I am joining in on the fun.  I look forward to posting  and reading all of your posts as well.

So...tonight I have to share with you two of the loves of my life.  These two people haven't been in my life forever, but I don't know what I would do without either of them.  Those two are my hubby and my daughter.

Tonight our Chick-fil-a hosted a daddy/daughter date night.  I was so excited to sign them up.  I think Darbee Rae was more excited about this than Christmas!  Ha.  She was thrilled to get all dressed up and go on a real date with her daddy.  My heart couldn't have been happier. They had 6:30 reservations.  We had to get ready. She couldn't be late for her first date.

She had to wear a fancy dress, fix her hair all pretty, put on makeup and wear her diamond jewelry.  She was a true princess.

First was the hair.  We decided to roll it with hot curlers.  Good choice.  She rocked those curls.

I love this one.  She had to see how her head looked with all of those curlers.  She had to primp in front of the mirror a while. SMILE

She couldn't wait to have curly hair.  

Just look at these curls.

It was beautiful.

The dress was a frilly red satin with a velvet sweater.  

That was next.

One day when she is dressing for prom or perhaps her wedding, I will look back at these pictures and cry.  Such precious times.

Then the shoes.  My idea was black patent leather. She had other plans.  After all, she was going to be a princess tonight and what princess complete without her sparkly shoes?

Although they were not a perfect match and this mama wanted otherwise, she went off with her prince with her sparkly shoes thinking she was beautiful.

We completed the outfit with a matching velvet hair bow, her real diamond necklace and a little eye shadow, powder and lipstick.

Here are my two loves.  

With a quick high five, they were ready to head out the door.

How special and what wonderful memories they made.

Her first love.

They had the best time.

She called me on the way home all excited.  There was a photo booth complete with a princess mask and a king's crown for them to wear.  They provided pink carnations for the daddies to give their girls. She also got a sparkly tiara and pink ice cream.  Oh yes....a special night that will not be forgotten.

So that my friends is my love for today.  Two of them.  My hubby and my daughter.

Until next time....