Our Baby Girl

Mandy Jane was born in 1982!

She was our last baby!

What an absolute joy she has been!

We already had 3 babies when she came along!

The day I went in to labor, we went to the doctor and

they sent us home to wait a little longer!

The only thing was, we had a farm about an hour away from the hospital!

So Sweet Hunter dropped me off at my Mom's house so he could run and feed our cows!

It being our fourth baby I was so worried he would not get back in time.

The weather was bad. It was icy and it was snowing!

Bless his heart.

He hurried.  By the time he came and picked me up

in our little Toyota Station wagon,

I was sitting on ready!

And I do mean ready!

Once we got to the hospital Mandy Jane was born in 2 hours!

When Mandy was a teenager,
she always thought we were old!

I wonder what she thinks now!

(SMILE)

We have a lot of stories we could share about our baby!

For example:

*The time she got in her brothers tackle box and

got a fish hook in her mouth!

*We always tell her she can
thank her sister for her being here!

*Mandy Jane hates her baby pictures.
She says I used a bowl to cut her hair!

We always kid her saying that the cows had to be fed before she could be born.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MANDY JANE!

We love you,

Mom & Dad

Blessings

I love these cookbooks and this gift was from Tina!!
Thank you so much!

I told Sherry about my hands and how I wanted to give my
girls dishcloths for Christmas so she just whipped some up for me!
Have you ever heard of anything so sweet?
Thank you!!!

I didn't get a picture of me and my Mom but we had lunch together
at the Olive Garden on my birthday.  It was so yummy!
Thanks Mom!

My BFF gave me something very special. 
Thumb supports and some Freeze it spray!
I was so excited for this.  Not only do I have  broken toe, and arthritic thumbs....
Now I have a messed up shoulder!!!!
The spray has saved my life. Seriously.
Vicki also sent me 2 of the sweetest cards!
Thanks Vicki Lou!

My Dad brought me this goodie basket today filled with
all kinds of veges and a sweet card.
Thanks Dad!

My 3 daughters knew exactly what I needed.
They knew that I don't want "stuff".
They gave me the bestest gift...a gift certificate for a massage!
Oh it was great!
Thank you girls!

My "Sweet Hunter" brought in these to me today!!!
(I had just decided today that I was going to cut back. I guess I will cut back after these are gone!!!)
I think he is trying to fatten me up or get on my good side!!!
He knows that I love Blueberry filled powdered sugar doughnuts!!!
Thanks honey!!!
On my birthday he gave me the money to buy a Kindle Fire but I think I am
going to save my money and get a Ipad 2 when I can.
What do you think?  Kindle Fire or Ipad 2?

I also had some friends that took us out on my birthday.
I also got several cards in the mail and in person!
I forgot to take a pictures of them!
***************
I know there are things that I am forgetting.
I am so blessed!!!
Thank you to my family and friends!
********
I have several prayer requests.
My friend J.
A family in need.
My son.
My BFF
My BFF's dad
My Mother In Law
And me!!!!
****************
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
James 5:16

Fun Times

I truly believe that if my Grands could, they would
 own at least one of every pet there is!

One of the fun things we do every summer
is go and visit a pet store just for fun!

It was time for the animals to eat so they were all turned toward the back!

My Grands have as much fun doing this as if
we were somewhere spending a lot of money!

We take our time and just enjoy!

It is almost as good as going to the zoo!

Uh Oh "Sweet Teen" found the one she wanted!

Yep, thats it!
What ya think Dad???

Oh I think "Angel" is in love.

Look at all of these birds!

A rabbit.
This Grand loves animals!

"Brother" loves the fish!!!
It doesn't take much to make my Grands happy
as long as they are with some of the family.
They are so sweet even if I say so myself. 
Wish "Little D" could have been with us!

TODAY I AM THANKFUL FOR......precious memories.

Happy Birthday to my son Nathan!!!

I'm Late!!! Fertilizer Friday & Flaunt Your Flowers

Our Wisteria

This is a hydranga bush that my BFF gave me last year in honor of Granny!

And this is my milkweed that they also gave me!

More Milkweed!
Oops!  I see my shoe! lol

We have honeysuckles everywhere on our fence!

They are so pretty and smells so good too!

This is a dahlia plant that my Mom gave me!
It had gorgeous blooms last year.

And this is my very first strawberry!!!

And this is my "GRANNY" plant! 
This is right out of Granny's yard.
I would not take anything for this.
Several have asked me what this is called.
It is "Sweet Williams".

Today I am thankful for........Big Sis's birthday!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BIG SIS!

What Can We Say?

"SWEET TEEN"
is
Sweet Sixteen
today!

We can't help ourselves. Isn't she gorgeous?

I remember the day that our daughter "Trouble",
 told us that we were gonna have our first Grand!

"Big Sis" & "May May" loves them some "Sweet Teen"!

"Angel" loves" Sweet Teen" Too!
Sweet Sisters!

"Brother" really loves "Sweet Teen" kisses
even though he doesn't look like it!
He is all boy!

"Sweet Teen" & her parents.
Thank goodness I am not the one that had to teach her to drive!
I would be a nervous wreck.
And yes!
They bought her a car!!!!

We took her to the Station House in Chattanooga Tennesee
to celebrate her birthday.
We had so much fun. 
The waiters sing oldies the whole time you are there!

We are so proud of our Granddaughter.
She is a good girl!
We wish the best in life for her.

Sweet Sixteen

She is our little rose!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR VERY FIRST GRANDBABY!

WE LOVE YOU!

******************

Today I am thankful for..........my "Sweet Teen"!

Friendship

This is our once a month VPHS girls luncheon.
VPHS stands for our High school.

There was so much laughter and fun.

There were 10 of us this time. 
Some of us haven't saw each other since high school!

We went around the table and shared a brief summary of our lives.
It was really neat hearing about the lives of others.
This luncheon is a great thing for us all.
It's fun to be with "girlfriends".  Even though some of us haven't saw each other in years,
it was just like yesterday. 

***************

My birthday started with a breakfast with my friend Gayle.

Then lunch with the VPHS Girls!

Outback Steak house with my family.

Lots of cards and gifts from blogging friends, friends, & family.

Lots of phone calls & songs, & texts, emails & comments on my blog!

And over 150 Happy Birthday messages on facebook!

Thank you all for making my birthday special!

Today I am thankful for.......my friends!

Party Planner

Yesterday was my birthday but I had a special party planner that
planned this party last Saturday night! 
My little "Angel"!!!

 

Angel called everyone in my immediate family and told them what time, what to bring
and got it all together.  She is amazing!
We had taco salads and lots of desserts!

This is "Big Sis", Brother & Little D in the massage chair!
Anytime we have anything at my house with my family
we always wear p.j.'s so we will be comfy!

This is "Sweet Teen"!
Sweet Teen made the Butter finger cake!

And it was delicious!!!

"Big Sis" made her famous ultimate strawberry short cake!
Oh my goodness!!!

"Angel" is on the far left holding "Little D"!
See daddy's quilts stacked up?
All the girls and the little ones are in the "nobody's room" playing
Wheel of Fortune on the Wii!
They laughed and laughed and had so much fun.
I will have to do a blog on the "nobody's room" one day.
Do you name your rooms?

The guys were in the "big room" watching the ball game and eating!
The room is a mess but the kids had fun!
See that quilt in the basket? 
"Trouble" saw that one that my daddy made and bought it!!!

My name is Val and I am addicted.
Addicted to crocheting.
While everyone was doing their thing, me and the girls
started crocheting again!

I didn't take a picture of my little party planner that night so I used this picture
when she was learning to crochet.
I have to tell you that this little "Angel" is 10 years old and is so smart!
She made about 50 phone calls to plan this party with my family.
She figured out when everyone could come, she planned the menu and decided the time! 
Did she do good or what?
She made my family birthday party very special. 
Thank you to my family & a special thank you to my "Angel"!.

Today I am thankful for......gifts of love.
******************
Random Acts Of Kindness
Here is the other 2 links to see the others that are enjoying their RAK quilts.
Click Here to read about Pam & Here to read about Krista's quilt!
Thank you for blessing me.
**********
Blog pick of the week.....click Here!