4 Generations, 2 Birthday Parties, and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

A couple of week-ends ago, we traveled back home to celebrate two amazing women in our lives, Eric's great-aunt Vergie and my grandmother. Vergie is turning 90 in August, but we wanted to go ahead and celebrate while most of the family was down to visit. Eric's brother, nephews and great nieces, Aunts and Uncles, Vergie, and his cousin, her husband and their 8 children came from North Carolina, Missouri, and California. We spent the day at John Tanner State Park, where the kids all had a ball. I could say so much about Vergie. She is an incredible woman of God. At almost 90, she still lives by herself. She has the sweetest spirit of just about anyone I have ever met. She always thinks of others first. In fact, she still drives others to Dr. appointments, and other errands, takes her neighbors food among other things. She ALWAYS asks me about my parents and sister and how they are doing. And, she LOVES babies. In fact, while we were at the park, she went over to talk to a mother with a small baby. They were middle eastern and didn't speak much english, but she didn't care. Eric's aunt Sharon said everybody speaks Vergie's language - the language of love. Vergie is a wonderful example to us all of how Christ wants us to be. Here are a couple of pictures from the day. In true Vergie fashion, she is the one on the front, in the middle consoling a child.

Here is Vergie eating birthday cake with the kids.

That same evening, we had a surprise 80th birthday party for my grandmother. She is quite a woman herself. She has been through quite a lot in her 80 years on this earth. I think what amazes me most is the family that follows her. Including my mother, she had 6 children. Whew! That amazes me. Some days, I struggle to keep up with 2! Only 5 are left now. She has 14 grandchildren. We call her granny. Then the most amazing part to me is that she has 20 great-grandchildren! Wow! My girls call her great-granny. I think that is fitting. We didn't have the entire crew there, but all her children were there and even a majority of the grand-children and great-grandchildren. My cousin Joe was even in from Washington state! I hadn't seen him since before Eric and I had even met, so it was great to see him and meet his lovely wife and son!

Maddie and Ella giving great-granny a birthday card

Getting ready to sing "Happy Birthday"

Granny and her "children"

We didn't get a group shot of everyone, but this shows a big part of us. Of course, we couldn't all fit around one table. We took up the entire back part of the restaurant!

Happy Birthday Granny and Vergie - We love you!!!

Please pray for Christian recording artist Steven Curtis Chapman and his family. His youngest daughter was killed last night in a very tragic accident. You can see his beautiful family here. And a blog has been set up if you would like to leave your condolences.

Happy Birthday Ella!

Happy birthday my sweet Ella! I can't believe you are already 4. You have brought such joy and laughter to our lives. Life is never boring with you around! I am so thankful that I am your Mommy!

We celebrated with the cow at Chic-fil-a yesterday. Ella wanted to have her party there, and I have to say, I was very happy about that! After the princess party last year, it was nice to keep it low key this year. :) Plus, I'm thinking it is pretty memorable to eat cake with a cow!

















Aunt Jen filled Ella's room up with balloons last night while she was sleeping, so that she would wake up with a big surprise this morning. How fun is that!? She is such an awesome aunt!!

Ella has Earrings

Ella is turning 4 next Sunday. I can't believe it. It seems like just yesterday that we brought her home from the hospital. Almost from day one, she has been her own person with her own ideas. She is truly a miniature version of Eric! Which solidifies the fact that God has a sense of humor! Several weeks ago, out of the blue, Ella said, "I want to get my ears pierced." I have never said anything about it to either one of my girls. It's not that I was against it, I just wanted it to be a decision that they made on their own. Well, Ella was ready, and I told her we would do it for her birthday. Maddie on the other hand said, "I will wait til I'm a grown-up to get mine pierced." I love that about her. She doesn't care who is doing what, if she's not ready, she's not going to do it, and there is NO talking her into it!

So, yesterday we spent the day in Chattanooga for Mother's day. It really was the best Mother's day ever. I enjoyed being with my family so much! We decided that we would go ahead and get Ella's ears pierced since we were in there and her birthday is next weekend anyway. Just like always, miss independent jumped up in that chair, ready to go, with not a worry in the world.

Have I ever mentioned how completely opposite Maddie and Ella are?? Ella, the one who was actually having her ears pierced, wasn't the least bit concerned. Maddie was worried enough for the both of them. She couldn't stand the thought of her little sister being in any pain. Eric and I had to keep reassuring her that everything would be fine.

Ella sat very patiently while they got everything ready. Thankfully they can do both ears at the same time, otherwise there might be a lot of girls walking around with just one ear pierced. :)

Ella cried for just a minute and then she was "good to go"

Ella loves her new look, but I'm not sure Eric does. He says it makes his baby look too old. And, Maddie has now decided that she is never having her ears pierced! :)

"Props" to God

Many of you know the journey that we have been on. Many of you just know bits and pieces. I promise this will be my last post on this particular season, but I felt like I HAD to give "props" to God. Let me back up just a bit and say that for over a year now, I have had some severe "stress" in my back. You could rub my neck and shoulders and feel knot after knot in my muscles. I was in a fairly consistent state of pain. Only Eric knew how I was feeling, because bless him, he heard me complain about it a lot.

Now to jump ahead in the story - when we came to the decision to give Ethan back to his grandmother, our wonderful pastor suggested that we come to the kneeler at church and lay our "sacrifice" of the last two years at Christ's feet. Has anyone mentioned how incredibly awesome he is??? Just in case you haven't read that on other blogs recently, let me just say I am forever grateful for Dewey Fleming. He has really been there for my entire family in so many different ways. He is an amazing pastor, and I am proud to call him my friend. He has certainly helped to guide us through this last season. He has prayed for us, sent us encouraging emails, called us, and my parents to check on us, and most recently, came to my rescue when I momentarily lost it, and my sweet husband was out of town. I will forever be indebted to him.

Back to the story, for several reasons, we had not been able to go the alter yet. This last Sunday, Eric and I just looked at each other and without words knew that it was time. Dewey prayed the most incredible prayer of thanksgiving, of sacrifice, of praise, and he prayed specifically that I would be renewed and refreshed. Now, let me remind you that he knew nothing about the pain in my neck. But, GOD DID! I haven't felt one thing in my neck since Sunday. NOT ONE THING! To God be the glory!!! And, that was just one little part of the service last week. Like Tammy Howard said in her post, (which btw is a must read!) I don't know why, but I am always amazed at how God shows up. He moved in our church body in the most amazing way. I think we will be hearing about different "pockets" of the spirit moving on that particular Sunday morning for some time.

Lord, thank you for who You are. Thank you for what You do. Thank you for bringing EMC out of the pit. Thank you that Your ways are not our ways. You are an awesome God!