As I said in a earlier post, it's been an extremely busy 4 weeks and I have been "on the road" a lot! I've enjoyed every minute of it and just so thankful that I have the freedom to go with Jeff and/or go to NWA and help take care of my granddaughters. This posting is just to try to summarize with some pictures and comments as to what all has been going on in our lives lately!
First I want to say something about our Women's Ministry Bible Studies at First Baptist, Galena. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to study God's word with our wonderful women here. The first of April, we finished up Beth Moore's study on "James." Another powerful study. So, so good! I facilatated a morning group as well as an evening group. The morning group met in my home. Here are a few pictures of that group, although not everyone was present the day I took these pictures. I didn't ever get any pics of the evening group this session. I love all the ladies, in both groups!
Beth Moore on the TV teaching us........
The middle of April, Paul & Mary Mooney and Jeff & I traveled to Jackson, Mississippi for our annual National Meeting of the Baptist Missionary Association of America that our church is a part of. It's always great to see many friends there including Aaron and Jenae Polok (sitting by Paul) and Fred Vogel and Jesse Hales (in the chairs behind them).
We ate at a delicious catfish restuarant with more friends including Rick & Angela Russell, Ray & Barb Adams, Danny McGee and.....
Justin & Christi Rhodes, Marvin Lloyd, Philip Atterbery,
Thom South and Gary Brewer
It was a very harmonious and progressive meeting.
We arrived home late on Thursday evening and then on Saturday morning, we headed to NWA for Lainey-Bug's second birthday party! This is some of her little friends that attended (there were others there, that didn't pose for the picture).
We arrived home late on Thursday evening and then on Saturday morning, we headed to NWA for Lainey-Bug's second birthday party! This is some of her little friends that attended (there were others there, that didn't pose for the picture).
She got lots of wonderful gifts. Jeff and I gave her a tricycle
or "bikle" as she calls it.
Papa playing Mr. Potato Head with her that Uncle Jonathan got her
Laine loves cupcakes, so that is what she got this year (we also had a delicious brunch earlier that Carman prepared for all the guests). After singing to her, she blew out her candle with a little help from Momma.
A pic of our family....Josh was out of town working.....this was 2 days before Ellie was born.
A pic of the birthday girl with Papa and DeDe outside after the party
We traveled home later that evening; enjoyed a good Sunday with our church family and then on Monday, we got the call that it was time for Ellie to be born! It was perfect timing, as we feared she would come when we were in Mississippi or when Josh wasn't home. So back to NWA we headed. Rachel and Jonathan stayed with Laine at the house until Jeff got there (he had dropped me off at the hospital). So here are a few pictures of that day (the posting of Ellie's birth is below this posting).
Courtney (Carman's sister), was the first to arrive to sit with the kids. It was so neat she got to be here this time as she was living out of state when Laine was born and missed the excitement. Rachel & Jonathan joined Courtney & I soon.
Courtney (Carman's sister), was the first to arrive to sit with the kids. It was so neat she got to be here this time as she was living out of state when Laine was born and missed the excitement. Rachel & Jonathan joined Courtney & I soon.
Then Josh arrived (he too was out of state when Laine was born, so we were excited he was home for Ellie's birth)
When Laine woke from her nap, she and Papa arrived
She went into the room to say hi to Momma and Daddy
Uncle Jonathan keeping her entertained
Aunt CoCo putting her wild hair in a ponytail
Thankfully, Carman's mom and sister arrived before Ellie was born
(they live 4 hours away)
Carman's dad (holding Laine) also made it
And so did Erika (holding the phone below)!
So all the family (except for Coleman who did arrive a few hours later because of work) was in the waiting room when we got the text that Ellie had arrived - yeah!!
Newborn Ellie with her Momma and Daddy
DeDe, Laine, and Ellie (in the nursery in the background)
Just precious!!
Just an "added" picture of Laine that I thought was pretty precious too!
We stayed a couple of days in NWA in order to be at the kids' house for a couple of hours when the family came home from the hospital. Carman's mom was staying with them the rest of the week to help out. So it was back to Galena for Jeff to minister, teach and study for Wed. night and Sunday and for me to do get many neglected tasks done. All during the time in Mississippi and in Arkansas, we had people at the house remodeling the bathroom (posting below). So it was good in that respect, that we were gone a lot during this time.
Then on the following Monday, Jeff took me back to NWA on his day off, so he could see the girls and to leave me for the week to help out as needed. As he has said, "Double fun, double love." Yep, that's right!
He even got a nap with little Ellie on his day off
Sweet girl!
I enjoyed every minute of my time with the kids. At times, it was very quiet as the picture below indicates, but more often, it was fairly busy with a newborn and a 2 year old!
One of the rare times, Ellie had her eyes open
This DeDe likes "photo" shoots.....although these little girls are not too crazy about them. If you could have seen all the pics we took to just get one good one - ha.
Still did not accomplish one with smiles.....
DeDe and her girls.....the matching outfits came from my friend, Leigh Ryan and the matching bows that said "little sis" and "big sis" were from my friend, Janet Gant.
Aunt Ray Ray came for a visit one night, so we could wish her a Happy Birthday which was May 1st.
One morning, we all went for a walk in the double stroller: Carman, Laine, Ellie, DeDe and Hondo!! We got a mile in, but it was unseasonably warm and we got hot!
My plans was to stay till Friday, but one of our church families' little 6 month old twin son was having a serious surgery on Friday in Kansas City which meant Jeff could not come get me, so he came Thursday evening instead. Laine was glad to see her Papa.
Andy, Carman and Ellie went out that evening to their favorite resturant for a date, so Jeff, Laine & I got fast food and went to the park to eat and play. She absolutely loves the slide!
Silly girl......
So once again, we headed back to Galena, only to get up early the next morning and head to Kansas City. Thankfully, little Jentry's surgery went well. On our way home from KC that day, we decided to take a little detour thru the small community of Garland, Kansas. Jeff pastored Mt. Zion Baptist Church there in the 70's. Josh, our first son, was born while living there. We have many wonderful memories of our time there and some great friendships!
The next week, we headed to Central Arkansas. Jeff was speaking on Thursday, so we went down Wednesday afternoon, spending the night with my sister and brother-in-law and attending their Home Group that evening. We have many sweet friends that attend this Bible Study, from our living in Conway for several years, so it was great to see them. The pic below is of Kaye, Rob, me and our good friends Paul & Glo Jensen. Paul is the facilatator of the group. I also took some pictures of others during the study time, but they were all blurry (much to my dismay!)
Jeff spoke Thursday to the Senior Adults at Antioch Baptist Church in Conway (where we were members for 8 years and Jeff was on staff). It was a very special time for us to be with these fine folks. Thanks Randy for inviting us, and to all those there for your love, hugs and kind words!
After the luncheon, we headed back to NWA, where we were spending the night (it's been so busy this year that Jeff hasn't had an opportunity to use hardly any of his vacation time, so we were taking advantage of an invite to spend the night at the lakehouse). We stopped at Andy & Carman's as Laine was also going to stay with us at the lakehouse. Rob & Kaye met us there to meet Ellie and bring gifts.....
Jeff then went with Rob to meet our good friends Keith and Wilda Head at a Hogs baseball game. Kaye, Laine and I went to eat, then headed to Bella Vista. I really like this picture and as I said on Facebook: "Two of my favorite things: Lainey-Bug and the lakehouse." I sure think her pigtails are cute!
Having a snack (crackers and cheese)
We had a great visit with Rob & Kaye and Keith & Wilda till late in the evening. Thanks guys for sharing your beautiful home with us. On Friday, we had a leisurely morning, then headed to Rogers to meet Andy & Carman for lunch.
While waiting on them, we went to the Promenade to let Laine play:
Inside the food court there
We then met Andy, Carman and Ellie at Fireside Subs.
Precious sleeping baby.....
Precious sleeping baby.....
Laine wearing her Fireman Hat
We were back in Galena mid afternoon and a couple of hours later, Rachel Ann arrived to spend the Mother's Day weekend with us. Always love having my first baby girl visit! Saturday, Mom came down and we went to Sandstone Gardens for a delicious lunch and then went to about 6 or 7 flea markets looking for items that Rach is going to use to decorate at her reception (which is less than 2 months away!)
That evening was our annual FBC Mother's Day Banquet, which was absolutely wonderful!! Jeff was one of our servers, so he got a picture with us. As you can see, butterflies were our theme...and no, Jeff doesn't have wings, just a butterfly behind his head :-)
The hubby and I (can't believe we will be celebrating 40 years in December--WOW)
Rachel and her Momma
It was a wonderful Mother's Day weekend. Both the boys called me, as well as cards and Facebook messages from them and their wives and to top off the day, I got a "FaceTime" call on my Ipad from Lainey-Bug (and Ellie too).
Thank you, Lord, for the blessed, blessed privilege of being
wife, mother, and grandmother!!
wife, mother, and grandmother!!
Whew.....I think that catches me up! Hope it didn't bore you to tears! The blog is much more for my benefit, than anyone elses. It's a way for me to "journal" our lives with pictures and memories. But thank you for being my blog reader. Love to all!
