Baby Updates

The summer weeks have been passing by so quickly and hopefully so is the heat.  As I have stated before I don't care for high temperatures and this summer has been pushing the limits.  One of the best part of our summer has been watching our grand babies growing in their mama's bellies.  Both mama's are doing great and enjoying their new little miracles.

Ivy is now in her second trimester and feeling great.  She is getting a cute little belly and has such a lovely glow.  She and Alex had their first look at the baby in an ultrasound and we even got a picture. In just a few weeks they will have another ultrasound and hopefully we'll be finding out the gender.  Fun times ahead.

Latisha is reaching the end of her first trimester.  Things have been going well.  She has occasional nausea but is excited to see her belly starting to shape as the new life in her is growing.  She has had to find a new provider as her doctor no longer delivers.  Next week is her first appointment and they are very excited to hear the baby's heartbeat.

We look on with amazement as our children are increasing our family and blessing us with grand babies.  Will it be two boys, two girls or one of each?  Guess we will have to wait and see.  God has been good and we look forward to the future.  As time passes so quickly, very soon we will hold these new babies and then watch them learn to walk, talk, run, learn their a,b,c's and 1, 2, 3's, drive a car, fall in love, and come to know the Lord as there Lord and Savior.  We look on with great excitement to these two little ones.  They are going to be the best of friends.  God bless you all and have a great day.

Alicia

Ivy at 15 weeks

Latisha at 11 weeks.  Take note of that adorable little hand reaching up to Mama

Weddings, Weddings, Weddings

Don't you just love a good wedding?   What makes a good wedding is up to the viewer, but watching two people commit to live together in holy matrimony till death do they part is a good thing.  We have been blessed by being invited to several weddings this year, each with their own flare, beauty and mishaps.  As women, many of us tend to start planning our wedding at a young age.  We think about the colors, the dress, the line, the ceremony, the groom, the venue etc...  I love big weddings but I also enjoy small weddings.  It is a celebration of love and hopefully a love based on shared faith and love in God.  We have been to outside weddings and inside weddings this year.  Inside weddings are wonderful because you can control the weather, but outside wedding are generally so beautiful.  So much time and effort goes into most weddings and with it is, a helping of stress and maybe a little drama to dot the path.  The outcome of all the preparation is hopefully a beautiful wedding.  The wedding is only the start, the marriage lasts a lifetime.  I look at these lovely couples embracing the mystery of marriage and pray that God will bless and direct their marriage.  The wedding is but a day the marriage is for life.

 May the joy for all of us who are married not end on the day we say "I do" but continue to the "death do us part."  Today is another wedding for us to attend and this past week we have two new engagements.  There is still love in this world.  God is good, have a great day.

Alicia

I finally got to use my birthday present quilting frame to make a quilt for one of the bride and grooms.

the finished product.

Happy Fourth of July

I hope everyone had a wonderful Fourth of July.  We are truly blessed to live in this country and I enjoy celebrating the birthday of this nation.  This year we decided to go camping for the holiday.  The weather was wonderful, the scenery beautiful, and we had a great time.  Going up to the mountains is a great get away.

We really enjoy going to the lake, walking around the city, and getting some amazing ice cream.  On the fourth we went and played at the beach.  It was very busy at the beach and apparently many others had the same idea.  There were lots of activities and the kids were having a great time.  We had found a nice quite area where there weren't many people.  Unfortunately, there was a group of ladies that had decided to have a photo shoot.  These ladies in their red, white, and blue very tiny "swim suits" thought this same area that we were at would be perfect for their not so child friendly (or adult for that matter) photo shoot.  They were very proud of their outfits and used the flag they had with them for some very inappropriate photographs.  I personally felt it quite disrespectful to our nations flag and I was saddened to see the display they put on in front of my family.  We packed up and headed back to camp.

Our Fourth of July was still a great day.  We went back to camp, had naps, then a barbecue, followed by a trip back to the lake to watch the amazing firework display.  This has to be up there with one of the best firework displays I have seen.  They shot the fireworks off from a platform out in the lake and the fireworks felt like they were cascading around us.  The park had some patriotic music in the background and all felt well in the world.  I can't express how thankful I am to all who have served in our military and have fought for our freedoms.  Thank you, Lord, for blessing our nation and please keep your hand of protection over our country.  Psalms 33:12 says "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord!" Dear God, please be the Lord of this nation. Here are a couple pictures, enjoy and God Bless America!
Alicia

We did our own fireworks before we went camping

first day at the beach

Ice Cream Ally definitely one of the kids favorite places

August enjoying some red (strawberries), white (the pancake), and blue
(blue berries) pancakes Fourth of July breakfast 

The sun setting over the lake, getting ready for the fireworks

our group ready for the show. Sorry, I was too busy enjoying the show,
I didn't get any pictures of the actual fireworks.