Happy Easter!

We are heading to Florida to spend the weekend with the in-laws, but I do want to wish you a Happy Easter!

I am so grateful for Christ who died for me and of his resurrection which gives me the blessed gift of heaven one day.  I hope each of you remember on this holy day of the great gift that we have all been given by our God.

Thanks Heidi for another Gratitude Wednesday!

Silly girl

I  just wanted to write down a few silly things that my child has been saying to us lately.  I really want to use this blog as a journal for myself to share with here so bear with me!

We have two very pregnant ladies on the street.  I mean really pregnant /due in May and June/ there is a cute beach ball in their bellies pregnant.  So of course, Jemma asks about it.  I tell her how the baby lives in the mommy's belly and gets their food from the mommy.  We talked about how the doctor just helps the baby come out.  I figured that was a topic for a few years from now!  So Jemma starts telling us how she remembers being in my tummy.  This isn't one conversation that we had, but she has been telling us tidbits about it for weeks now!  Hilarious!

**She hung pictures up to make it look pretty and decorate.  (That's my girl!)

**It appears that she would travel through my blood to sleep on my brain because it is softer.  Is that a compliment?  I don't think so!

**She is not allowed to drink Coke nearly as often as she would like to so she informed me that she got to drink all the Diet Pepsi and Fresca that I drank when she was in my tummy, but if she wasn't thirsty, she would just put it in her blood freezer and save it!!!

Where does she get this stuff?!?

She also threw a GINORMOUS fit tonight when she didn't get her way.  She is an only child.  She is spoiled.  I blame Daddy.

Anyhoo... she didn't follow directions so I warned her that I would take away her story time.  Well, she lost one book.  Didn't phase her so she lost her second book.  Well then the FIT began.  The screaming, crying and throwing things.  I just put her in her room and shut the door.  She opened it, came out,  and started screaming at us (but really me as I am the bad guy!) I picked her up, put her back in her room, and shut the door.  Now do that scene about 4 more times and you are getting the picture.  On round feels like 456 she says so sweetly, "Mama, I just (snuffle, snuffle) want a real person (snuffle, snuffle) to lay with me.  I gladly snuggle up.  She snuffles some more and rolls over and tells me that she wishes "Daddy were rich and didn't have to work and we could have servanents"(translation - servants).  Keep in mind we have been watching the Princess and the Frog A LOT and we have talked about his butler.  For you Arthur fans, Muffy has a butler.  Carlotta is a servant in The Little Mermaid, and so on...  My child makes connections like you wouldn't believe.  So I tell her that we are rich.  We are rich in love, health, and happiness and that is what is really important.  "We may be rich, but we don't have servanents, " she replies.
     "What would we do with servanents, honey," I ask.
    "They would do whatever I want and read me books."

Crafty... the kid is crafty!

Spring is in the Deep South when...

Everyone has beautiful posts on how spring is coming to their town.  

You are all delighted over your daffodils.

Awed by your azaleas.

Beaming over your buds.

But your know that spring has really come to the Deep South when the gators come out!!  We have several ponds in our lovely neighborhood and you know it is getting warmer when the gators start sunning themselves.  There are three definite guys that we know of.  Here they are for your viewing pleasure!  

This first guy is in the pond closest to our house.  He has grown a lot this year!  He is easily 3 to 4 feet.  We call him the medium guy.  Isn't he beautiful?  

This little guy lives a little further down the road.  He is around 3 feet and super fast!  BTW... I am not that close.  I have a really big zoom lens!  Even though I was probably a little closer than I should have been!

This is the big boy of the neighborhood and at the front!  No where near my house!  He is easily 7 1/2 to 8 feet.  He is amazingly large to be living near so many houses!  

I know they can eat people and animals and I know to stay away, but I do think they are amazingly beautiful creatures!  

Happy Spring Ya'll!

My Angel - Wednesday Gratitude

If you haven't figured it out by now... I adore my daughter.  Oh she does drive me crazy sometimes, but I love this baby more than words can ever say.  She is our special gift from God and I am grateful everyday that she is here.

About 7 years ago, we decided it was time to have a baby.  We got pregnant the first time we tried.  We were elated! The BHW and I  ate, drank, slept, and talked about this baby. You could not have found two people who were happier.  At 12 weeks the spotting began and when we went in for an ultrasound, there was no baby.  Complete and utter devastation is the only way I can describe it.  There was no reason.  It was what is called a blighted ovum.  The baby probably hadn't made it past 8 weeks and my body just didn't realize it yet.  I was so sad, but we knew we wanted to try again.  And so we did... for a year and a half.  We continued to pray and began the fertility drug Chlomid. After one round, we were pregnant.  I was happy, but was terrified.  I didn't want to jinx myself, but I just couldn't be as happy as before.  I was too scared.  My doctor knew my fears and scheduled an ultrasound at 8 weeks.  I was petrified to go in and they tell me there was no baby there, but we went in and the first thing we saw was a precious, perfect heartbeat and little peanut there.  I cried...like a baby... tears of joy.  I was still scared, but I knew that there was something.  I had hope and I continued to pray like a mad woman.  I took at least 2 pregnancy tests a week until I was almost 5 months pregnant.  I just couldn't help it.  I needed to know that it was o.k. and in my mind when that stick read positive, it was all o.k.

                                                                    29 weeks

40 weeks

I was the happiest pregnant person you have ever seen.  I LOVED being pregnant.  People told me how I glowed and how beautiful I looked.  I was never sick a day, and just felt fantastic.  My doctor would always say he wished he could bottle up my pregnancy happiness and give it to others.  I just felt so blessed to be carrying this little creature that would soon be ours!  At 24 weeks, we found out that we were having a baby girl!  We weren't going to find out and that is a post for a whole different time but we were overjoyed!!!!  The pink started rolling in and we loved every ruffle, flounce and frill.  We had always said we would name a daughter Elinor after both grandmothers (how convenient is that?!?) and call her Ella.  Well, it seemed everyone had that idea and after an Ella moved in across the street, three Ella's in the grade I was teaching and another pregnant teacher announced she was naming her daughter Ella  out  our name of Ella went.  As I sat one night looking through the Book of 10 Zillion Baby Names.  I came across Jemma.  I asked the BHW about it and he really liked it.  It was Italian so it went with our last name and it is the feminine form of James which is my father's name.  It was perfect and we never looked for another name.  She became Jemma Linor.  The BHW bought the first gift with her name on it and I have never seen him so giddy over giving me something as he was that diaper bad with Jemma on it.

I was due on December 16th, but then it was pushed back to Dec. 23 as I measured small every visit.  Well, Miss Jemma had her way and joined us on December 17th.  I will never ever forget the BHW face when I was in labor and he looked up with his face glowing and said, "She has hair!"  From the minute our daughter arrived, he was smitten beyond belief.  I have never seen a man as wonderful with a baby as he was.  She was the prettiest thing with full cheeks and sweet lips.  I just looked at her for hours and couldn't get over that God blessed me with this tiny creature.  She was perfect and we were a family.  We have tried to have more babies, but suffered another miscarriage and many more rounds of drugs.  I would love to have another baby, but we are a perfect family.  If God blesses us with another child, I will be so happy, but if not, he gave me the most wonderful gift of all.  My Jemma.  And for that I am grateful everyday.

Thanks Heidi for hosting Wednesday Gratitude at Heart and Home and helping us to think about and write down what we are grateful for.  It means a lot and I am so happy to take part.

Flying High: i heart faces entry

I would like to thank Amy at Playing Sublimely for introducing me to i heart faces blog!  It is wonderful! I am entering their photo challenge this week using interesting angles.

I have always loved this picture that I took of Jemma in 2008.  I was reading a fantastic book in the Photo Workshop series called Photographing Children.  You read a chapter and it gives you an assignment.  I was going for angles and light and captured Jemma swinging on the swing.  I was laying on my back on the ground, but sitting halfway up so I could hold the camera.  Talk about a massive abdominal crunch!  I absolutely adore this picture of her.  This was her first year of swinging on the "big girl swing".  She would just sing and yell as she whizzed through the air.   What a joy and privilege it has been to have this beautiful little creature in our life to show us the beauty and pleasure in the most simple things in life.

Have a wonderful week!

Pure and Simple

Hello everyone!  I am joining Harriet for Shadow Shot Sunday.  I love all her pictures of the beautiful shadows that sometimes we take for granted. 


The last two days here have been beautiful.  The temps have been in the mid to high 70's, blue skies, sunshine... you get the picture.  I think spring has arrived!  I picked Jemma up from school on Friday and after a picnic on the table in her new swing set, she wanted to swing.  I gladly pushed her as long as she wanted so we could just enjoy this beautiful day and each other.  She began singing.  This is not new and she is quite the master at making up her own songs.  This song went something like this...   


 I believe in God. I believe in Jesus.  I believe in space and everything God made.  I believe in him and in my house and in my family. I believe in my friends and my swing.  I love God.  I love God.  I love God and everything he made.  

Belief in our Lord and Creator.  Pure and simple.

Show Me Your Shoes!

I decided to join the Virtual Slumber Party a little late (gotta be me!).  Thanks Beth at The Stories of A to Z for hosting such a fun party!

I have a lot of shoes.  I don't wear them all and they sometimes pine for me, but hey, I have to have them!  Here are some of my favorites!

Hello mi tesoro!!  I bought these beauties in Italy while on a Greek cruise.  They called out to me from the store and for only $50, I couldn't leave them behind!  I don't wear them as often as I would like because they kill my feet.  One time, I even carried them out to a pub that we went to and only put them on because we were able to get parking right across the street and I knew I could change them quickly and easily if I needed to.  Aren't they so pretty though????

Spring is here and I love these colorful shoes!!  They just scream SPRINGTIME!!!!

These are my sassy girls when I am going out on the town!

These are my go-to girls.  I adore these boots and bought them in Germany in 2000!!!  I just had them resoled because I can't part with them!

Isn't she just the sweetest thing??  She misses her mate and maybe one day when I forge into the land of mystery (aka my closet!) I will find her mate!

Cheerio my lovely ladies!!!  Aren't these adorable?  My best friend sent them to me years ago from England.  I have always worn them and people used to make fun of me.  Now everyone wants to borrow them!  Back off, people!  They are mine and I was hip and cool before you knew it!

These are absolutely one of my most favorite pair of flip flops.  Your toes go between each little strap!  How uncomfortable, you say!  On the contrary!  They are the most comfortable flip flop I have ever worn!

My shoe basket in the hall closet.  So many flip flops for the good ol' summertime!  Yes, that is a pair of orthodic black shoes there, but hey, my feet hurt sometimes and these got me through Europe!

Now to keep it real...

My babies I wear all the time!  They just feel so darn good!

Thanks again, Beth!  What fun!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

I am going to link up with Heidi at Heart and Home for Wednesday Gratitude!  Thanks for hosting, Heidi!

I am grateful that I have a husband who loves to have adventures with me!  We lived in Germany for 2 1/2 years and when he got home on a Thursday or Friday, he never knew exactly where we were going that weekend.  I was a travel planning guru.  We have been lost so many times in Europe and had so much fun finding our way through unfamiliar places with unfamiliar languages!  One of our most memorable trips was our 8th wedding anniversary trip to Ireland.  This was our third visit there, and I have to say...we love it there.  I would move there in a heartbeat.  The scenery is beautiful and the people are the kindest, funniest, most helpful that you will ever meet.  It all started like this...

We were on a Greek cruise and an American couple were on board.  She had a Cosmopolitan magazine.  We were all lying by the pool and she finished it up.  Before she could put it down, I asked if I may read it.  You see, living in Germany doesn't afford a lot of opportunity to read American magazines!  Of course, I had my Southern Living sent over, but that was it.  She told me to take it, so I started to eagerly read!  It was an October issue and there was an article about haunted places that stars stayed at.  It was great and she even let me have the magazine!  About a month later, the BHW tells me that he has booked our anniversary trip!  I have no idea what he has done and he can't wait to tell me (he can't keep secrets!).  He said, "I booked the hotel, but I need you to do your magic and book the rest of the trip!"  I was more than happy to oblige especially after he told me we were staying at Castle Leslie in Ireland!  This is the hotel where Paul McCartney married Heather Mills.  We stayed in the "haunted" red room that Paul stayed in the night before his wedding.  I slept in the same bed as Paul!!!  So by proxy, I guess you can say that I have slept with Paul McCartney!  Moving on...

I booked our flight through Ryanair.  Can you say "CHEAP"!!!  I love Ryanair and was able to get tickets for both of us roundtrip for $35!  That's right folks!  $35!!!  We need a Ryanair in America!!!

We arrived and had the most wonderful visit!  Ireland is a magical place and Dublin is a lovely city to visit.  If you want to really experience Ireland though, go to out into the country.  It is what Ireland is all about!  We flew into Shannon and toured the Cliffs of Moher.  Amazing!!!

Cliffs of Moher

O'Brien's Tower by the Cliffs of Moher

The next day we headed north to the Sligo area.   We stopped in the village where the filmed The Quiet Man with John Wayne.  This is a favorite of ours!  This town didn't even get electricity until the early 1950's when they decided to film the movie there!  We stayed at a lovely B&B there and headed to the castle the next day.

As we are driving we see so much beautiful scenery through the areas known as The Burren.

We passed the Poulnabrone Dolmen which is a portal tomb dating back to 2500 to 2000 BC.  I made the BHW go back as I couldn't pass up the opportunity to touch something that was 5, 000 years old!!!  The Irish heritage hasn't roped it all off yet so we went right up to it.  Ok. We sat on it for a picture.  I don't think it was quite what we should have done, but we were so excited!

As we were getting closer to the castle, I noticed a sign that said Belleek.  Well next thing you know, we came upon the factory!  This was a definite stop and I purchased a few items!  Embarassing moment here.  The lady rang up the goods and told me the price in pounds.  I asked her why and she informed me that we were in Northern Ireland.  Without even thinking, I looked at the BHW and said, "We aren't supposed to have the rental car in Northern Ireland!"  What was I thinking??????  Oh well, they still took my money and we drove off happy that the rental dealership didn't know about this!!  

We made it to the castle and were greeted by the granddaughter of Sir John Leslie.  He owns the castle and she runs the place.  She showed us around and took us to our room where Tom had champagne and flowers waiting for me!  We had a wonderful anniversary dinner in the dining room.   You sat in the drawing room, ordered and when your food was ready, they escorted you to your table.  So lovely!

The next day, we ventured to Northern Ireland (please don't tell the rental car agency!) and visited the Giant's Causeway.  This is where my family is from and what a spectacular visit!  

Tom's in Finn McCool's wishing chair

                                                
                                             This is the wave that almost took me out to sea!

We toured around a few more days and enjoyed the beautiful sights and scenery that I will share with you.

Our last day there was spent taking a tour of the house given by Sir John Leslie.  He is in his 90's now, I believe and such a delightful storyteller.  What a life he has lived and how wonderful to live in a home filled with so many bits of history.  I will share those another time!  Here is Sir John going to feed his geese.  Isn't he dapper with his feather in his hat?

 If you look closely in the house shot, you can see me sitting in the window of our room!

We saw more rainbows on this trip than you could imagine!  I kept listening for the hammering sounds of leprechauns so we could catch one, but unfortunately we didn't!  We did search for the pot of gold, but couldn't find the ends of the rainbows!

So, after all that...sorry everyone... I got carried away!  I am so grateful for my darling husband who knows me and loves me.  He takes care of me and my daughter and loves us.  We love him even more.