Lena Rae

I would like to introduce my brand new niece...

Lena Rae was born this morning at 5:30, 8 days before her due date! She weighs 9 pounds and 4 ounces and is 21 inches long.Our family has a girl at last!

They brought her home today around 2:30, and we took the boys back home to meet her.

Jace and Jackson have been here before, but it's all new to Tanner and he absolutely loves his little sister.

....and so do the rest of us!

Welcome to our family, Lena! We are so excited to meet you!

Give Me Jesus

He is so good. Sometimes when I'm still and I'm alone, when it's all quiet and and I focus, it's as if I can feel Him sitting beside me. I close my eyes and inhale peace.

He is my rock. The foundation I lean on when the world around me is shaking and trying to hurt me. When what was so good has been broken forever, He is my comfort and my unchanging One. I slow down and inhale strength.

He is my happiness. When everything goes awry, when my dreams and plans are shattered and I don't know where I'm going anymore, He shows me His love. He reminds me my main goal and focus is pleasing Him, and as long as I follow His direction, He'll lead me to His will. I smile and inhale joy.

He is my protector. The One who bears my burdens. When sickness weakens my family, when my friends are far away, when someone I love is straying from the flock, He shows me He's in control of it all. I rest in Him and inhale security.

He blesses me. More than I deserve and more than I could ever repay. He fills my life with joy and light, I'm not afraid of the future for He is teaching me to trust. He allows me life and gives me breath. I inhale and exhale Him because without His goodness and grace neither would be possible.

So you can have this world, but give me Jesus.

I did not write the song below, and I can't find out who did. I think it has beautiful words and as I listened to it today I sat down and wrote this. The words are simple, but I love them.

"Give Me Jesus"

In the morning, when I rise,

Give me Jesus.

Give me Jesus.
You can have all this world,
Just give me Jesus.

When I am alone,
Give me Jesus.

Give me Jesus.
You can have all this world,
Just give me Jesus.

When I come to die,
Give me Jesus.

Give me Jesus.
You can have all this world,
Just give me Jesus

2013

As I sit here trying to think of a post that doesn't sound full of excuses for lack of content, something that doesn't sound over the top with cliches about what a wonderful year this has been, I think about all the things that have happened this year. On December 31 of every year, we all review the past twelve months. The good, the bad, the difficult, the emotional, and every year I say "I learned so much" and "It was an amazing year".

The secrets of life are hidden behind the word "cliche". No one likes to use them because they're overused and just so, well...cliche. Things like "never give up", "just believe in yourself", etc... And so as I joyfully welcome in the new year, I'm going to be cliche. Because you know what? It's a wonderful life, and I don't care how many people have already said it!

My Cliche 2013...

A year of difficult changes.

A year of learning to be alone, and "on my own" more than I ever have been before.

A year of making new-ish friends.

A year of stretching myself.

A year of growing up.

A year of realizing just how small we are.

A year of contemplation. 

A year of smiles.

A year of even more tears.

A year of beautiful changes.

A year of stepping outside my comfort zone, inch by little inch.

A year of finding a peace that can only come from God.

A year of getting comfortable in my new shoes.

A year that went by way too fast.

This year was wonderful. It was incredible. I missed people. I cried a lot of tears. But I learned. I got tired of being alone and sought out friendship from people willing to give it, I just hadn't looked before. It was amazing. 

As I went through changes, I was afraid. No one enjoys the unknown bleakness of the future. But as I stepped into it, I realized that God is already there. I'm always nervous entering a new year because we don't know what it holds for us, but as I listen to the fireworks going off outside, I know... He's already here, too. The unchangeable. The steady. My rock and comfort.

2013 was a wonderful year. It's a wonderful life. May each of us resolve to make 2014 even better.

Happy new year, dear readers! :)

Merry Christmas!

We wish you a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!

Hello.

My name is Kelley and I haven't been blogging a lot lately.

I'll get around to it soon, please be patient with me!

Thanksgiving 2013

Phew! I sat down to write this post a week ago. I was going to list all of the things I was thankful for, and things kept popping up and I ran out of time. Then I was going to do a recap of our Thanksgiving day(s), and once again, something else popped up for me to do. I realized today while I was out Christmas shopping that I need to do a November recap, but I'll get around to that sooner or later!

First things first: Thanksgiving Day and the day after. What did we do?

I slept in! (YES!) And then we put up the tree...

Then we ate, and we didn't stop for a good long while. Jacob smoked a turkey and it was the best turkey I've ever eaten - super moist and flavorful! Christine brought a pumpkin pie - hers is my favorite - and my mom provided all the rest! Mmmm...

After lunch Jacob and Christine took the boys home for a nap and we put up the rest of the Christmas decorations and our outside lights.

They came back over that evening for leftover turkey sandwiches and chips, and the boys got a bath in jacuzzi and put on their pajamas. They love the tree with all the "pretty lights". :)

 

Friday was spend in McMinnville with both sides of our extended family.  First was Mama's side for lunch at noon (aka 1:00). Full blown Thanksgiving meal for lots of hungry people! Grandma's dressing and rolls, Mama's hash brown casserole, Heather's cranberry salad....and I can't even remember what all else because I ate it so fast, but it was all so delicious!

For supper at 5:00 we got together with my dad's side of the family and filled our stomachs to their capacity with more turkey, dressing, corn, and dessert. Before we pray over the food, we all get in a circle and count ourselves, then we join hands and pray together. I wish I had a picture of it, but it's not a good time and my hands are being held anyway. We counted 65 or so, and several more showed up later. Out of the ten original children, only two weren't able to make it!

And then we went home, drank some 7-Up, and went to bed. ;) Just kidding. We went to WalMart and got some more icicle lights for the house, skipped all the Black Friday deals, and went home to bed.

Saturday was a day of catch-up around the house, but we called it an early evening and watched our first Christmas movie of the season, Holiday Inn - one of my personal favorites!! Every year around this time Bing Crosby comes on the radio and melts my heart all over again. His Thanksgiving song in the movie is "I've Got Plenty to be Thankful For" and I sure have plenty to be thankful for! An amazing, loving family, and all of you. Thank you for reading!!

hello, fall ♥ october recap

I know it's been awhile since I posted, I apologize, and I'll leave it at that. ;)

October 1 - 5 we were still in Arizona. Those last few days were spent relaxing, going to Hoover Dam, visiting Sedona (no pictures from that), eating at Chipotle, conquering Flagstaff X-treme (all of those pictures are on my dad's phone and he's out of town right now), going to Bearizona - a drive-through wildlife park, and then we flew home on the sixth. My personal favorite restaurant we went to was called the Lumberyard, and that's why I have the collage of food. Plus I love food and I wanted to make a whole collage of just food pictures. My dish was the hot wings...shoowhee! So GOOD!

 

Between Pumpkin Spice Lattes and Caillou, adults and children alike were able to while away the airport hours!

October 6 was our annual church picnic. Well, it's usually a picnic, but it rained this year so we had it inside the gym. It's just a lot of fun to get together and hang out with our church family. Everyone brings a covered dish - potluck! - and we just eat together and enjoy the fellowship!

 

October 10 was Tanner's birthday - the "baby" is two years old now! And by the end of January, he won't be the baby anymore. Where did the last two years go? While I was downloading these pictures I ran across one from last year and I almost started crying! Two year old's are the most excitable creatures in the world, and Tanner is no exception. He has one of the best personalities, too - always overly animated whether happy or sad, and this day, he was very happy! He kept saying "Dant-oo!" (thank you) over and over, making sure we all heard. "Mama, dant-oo!" "Lolley, dant-oo!" "Onewall, dant-oo!" (translations on the last two names - Kelley, and Stonewall - aka, Jackson)

 

October 11 was Amie's 19th birthday. I made her feel so good about it too, reminding her this was her last year as a teenager... ;) We aren't as good at taking pictures of nineteen-year-old's as we are two-year-old's, so that's why there aren't as many. She asked for Mississippi Mud - a family favorite - for her birthday dessert, and by the end of it Jackson had "Missy-Missy Mud" all over his face. :) 

If you're wondering why she's crying in one picture, it's because my dad had written her a poem, and she was crying before she even started reading it. She handed it to me to read out loud to everyone, and I had to try very hard not to laugh while doing so. We respond very differently to our emotions. My mom snapped a picture to remind us of that, I guess.

Bottom right - what we call the "Tanner face". It's hard to catch on camera but it's one of my favorites. He makes it a lot!

We were going our separate ways on her birthday and I wouldn't see her until that late afternoon, so I sent her this the night before to see when she got online that morning.

October 12 was our annual Fall Festival at church. Also known as "Old Fashioned Day" because we wear old fashioned clothes and play old fashioned games and it's a lot of old fashioned fun!

As you can tell, we are very modest about being from the South.

October 24-26 was Antioch Baptist Church's missions conference. I only went the first two night because I was getting progressively sicker and by the last night couldn't make it. It went so well though, and they doubled their Faith Promise giving! Please pray for this church as they continue to grow and be a blessing to others!

October 27 we had all of the teens from church over to our house after the night service. We ate soup and played games and it was a lot of fun and I have no idea how we all fit in three rooms but we did! For almost three hours with minimal complaining! :)

My parents got involved in the Taboo game!

Good job, girls!

And at the end of the night, we said hello to Faith...

I feel like I'm really leaving something out, but I can't think of what it is! I think October just went by so fast I wasn't able to properly take it all in. ;) Are y'all ready for the holidays? They've really snuck up on me this year, but I've been feeling very festive for several weeks now...resisting the urge to listen to Christmas music! I don't start that until Thanksgiving Day!!

I hope each of you have a wonderful and safe November!

wait, what? ♥ september recap

Recapping nine days late, I know, but I was out of town for a week at the beginning of the month and left my laptop behind. I barely even knew September was here before it was gone, but this is the month recapped as best as I can remember! :)

September 1 - 4 was our annual Labor Day Meeting, which I oddly have no pictures of. Bro. Travis Alltop was our guest preacher and the meeting was tremendous!

September 6 was the wedding of Tom and Hannah. My sister was a bridesmaid and I did her hair (hence the hair picture). It was a beautiful and special wedding - they've been together since she was fifteen! She was one of the first to go straight from our teen group into marriage, so everyone was very involved in either the ceremony or the reception. The ceremony was very moving and the reception was lighthearted and fun. (Also I caught the bouquet! ;))

Me fixing A's hair, Hannah D. fixing Grace's, and the two of them getting ready to be beautiful bridesmaids!

 

We Skyped Faith in PNG during the ceremony :)

The snapchat I sent Faith when I got home that evening :)

September 7 our family gathered at Grandma and PawPaw's for a cookout.

My uncle, Nathan, my mom, Aunt Carolyn and Aunt Janice

Jackson climbing the same trees us older grandchildren used to climb. They have shrunken substantially. ;)

Taylor, Amie, Aunt Carolyn, Jordan, Bethany, Will, and me

Amie with our cousin Will and his girlfriend Taylor

Me and Tanner doing what we do best :)

September 11 - 15 we kept four children while their parents were out of town. The only pictures we have are on my mom's iPad using the photo booth app. I suppose I should start taking more pictures...

September 21 Stephen and Tara flew down and we met them for supper at Cheddar's. We didn't have much time because my dad was preaching that night and we were all singing at the church. They were only in for 3 days because Tara's beginning to have interviews at hospitals in this wonderful state of Tennessee - just a few more months and they'll get to move back for good! Her residency will be over sometime next June.

Well, I was obviously distracted :P

 September 28 my parents, Amie, me, Jacob and Christine and Jace, Jackson, and Tanner flew out to Arizona for a week long vacation - the first family vacation we've had in I don't know how long. Stephen and Tara weren't able to join us because of her work schedule and we missed them, but we had a wonderful time regardless! I'll post some pictures soon, but here's one of all of us at the Grand Canyon.

Don't you just love being the only adult not doing what you're supposed to be doing? Tanner and I, we can't get it together.

SEPTEMBER SNAPS:

1. What is known around here as "Prayer Letter Week".

2. Practicing braids and updos for the wedding.

3. Amie and Jace - aunt and nephew, piano teacher and student.

4. The day I got to hold someone's baby for an hour and it was part of my job. Best job ever? I think so! ;) (This baby's mother was saved that day which makes it especially nice!)