Overwhelmed With Thankfulness

I have many emotions today as I think of all the men and women who have served, and are presently serving our country!  Yesterday morning, as we were preparing for church, I received a group text from our oldest granddaughter, Savanna. "Happy Sunday to you!!!" It made me happy to hear from her. I responded, then Alayna, our second granddaughter wrote, "Happy Sunday to you!!!  I love y'all and I'm going to pray for papa and you mimi.  Tell papa I love him."  My heart melted, and as I read these sweet words to Papa we both felt the tears!  I answered her and told her how deeply we were touched, then, Savanna wrote,  "Love you too Layna!!!  I am also praying for y'all...I can't wait for thanksgiving!!!"

I was overwhelmed with the fact that I was talking to two of our granddaughters who love church, prayer, and the things of God!  Oh yes, my heart couldn't hold much more thankfulness, it was about to explode! As we traveled to get to service I thought about the weekend and what Monday, Nov. 11 was commemorating... Veterans Day.  That was all it took, I overwhelmed with thankfulness! The men and women who have served and are now serving, are giving of themselves to keep our beautiful America FREE!  I was getting to go to church to worship the way I wanted to worship.  I was getting to enjoy a text with my granddaughters that talked openly about prayer.  In just a few days, I will be enjoying Thanksgiving Day with a table full of food, and time with our precious family where we will offer "special thanks" to God, the One who makes all of this possible.  So, this morning on this beautiful Veterans Day '13, I want to say THANK YOU to all the veterans of America for your love and loyalty for our country!  If it wasn't for you, we wouldn't have the beautiful life we have!  We are blessed beyond measure!  We enjoy life, because...you sacrificed.

Our Birthday Girl

HAPPY 8th BIRTHDAY SAVANNA!

WE LOVE YOU S-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O MUCH!!!

HAVE A FUN-FILLED BIRTHDAY!

Savanna, you are growing up way too fast! You were born EIGHT YEARS AGO today, and changed our lives! It's been a wonderful change...you made us Papa and Mimi!

It seems it was just a few days ago that I held your "tiny little body" in my arms. I remember sitting down and rocking you when you were less than two weeks old, and I started praying for you. When I said, "Jesus" I felt your little head turn and you looked straight into my eyes. I knew then you had already heard your Mother and Daddy pray, before you were born, and you recognized the same "feeling" you felt when they prayed. I know you didn't know what I was saying, but I will always believe you recognized Jesus' presence. You have a great "heritage" (let Dad and Mom explain that to you) and I know you will live for Jesus the rest of your life. You are very tender to His presence and He will use you greatly in His Kingdom!

Love you so much....we can't stand it!
Mimi and Papa

Savanna's "Celebration Week"

This week has been a lot of fun. We have celebrated Savanna's birthday for the last three days! :) On her birthday, July 16, we went to the mall to let her jump on the "Bungee Jump". Scarlet was going to join her, but got scared at the last minute. Savanna knew she was going to celebrate her birthday on Friday with friends, so she's enjoyed her "week". Yesterday, we went to Build-a-Bear. That was my gift to her. It took us quite a while to finish there, but when we got home she was happy with her new "kitty cat". She named her "Amelia". Then, today was her party! We had a nice time and she had a lot of FUN being with her friends. She also got to have a "girls sleep-over" at Rachel's house. They were all excited!

One day while we were out eating, Savanna was talking to a lady about her birthday, and the lady gave her $20! When Savanna got back to the table and told us about it we got excited with her, then Jonathan asked, "Savanna, what is the first thing you're suppose to do with your money?" She thought for a minute then asked, "Save it?" She had several more "guesses", then Jonathan spent a little time explaining to her the concept of "tithing". He then walked away from the table. Savanna sat there in deep thought with a very serious, questioning look on her face, then she looked at me and said, "I still don't understand!" I assured her we would explain it to her some more and she would understand. Then she said, "Mimi, I don't want to learn it when I'm SEVEN! I want to learn it when I'm EIGHTEEN!" I couldn't help but laugh!!! LOL! What a classic!

I wonder how many of us have said something like this when we knew God was dealing with us about something, yet we didn't WANT to do what He was telling us we needed to do? "But, God....I really don't want to "learn" about this NOW! I'm not quite READY to do what you've asked me to do!"

I think we might be a better person if we would STOP and LISTEN to what a child has to say. We just might learn something about ourselves!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAVANNA!

It's hard to believe the years have flown by and you are now SEVEN years old! The day you were born was one of the happiest days of my life. I didn't think I could be happier than I was that day. You are growing up so quickly and as I rocked you to sleep last night my mind started remembering the first few days of when you came to us.

Grandma Layne, your great-grandmother, was very, very sick in hospice, and we didn't know how much longer she would live. Your Daddy wanted her to see you before she went to heaven, so he brought you to her and let her hold you. I will never forget her words when she saw you. She said, "Oh....she's beautiful, Jonathan." As she was holding you, Uncle Jimmy (Shoemake) stepped to the bedside and started talking about Grandma Layne's "sweet spirit", her Godly living, and her walk with the Lord through the years. Then, he said, "Sis. Layne, I want you to bless Savanna." All those in the room came around and started praying, and as we prayed Grandma Layne "worshipped"!!! The presence of God was in the room that day, and Uncle Jimmy then put one hand on Grandma's head and the other hand on your little body, and began to pray for "the spirit of Sis. Layne to be transferred to this precious baby, Savanna."

Savanna, God blessed you that day and put a special touch in your life. You are very precious to me and Papa. Everyone who knows you, loves you! We have all watched you growing up to be a beautiful and loving girl. Keep loving Jesus with all your heart, and keep loving people. They feel your love and it heals their spirits.

Have a wonderful birthday! I am so glad I get to be here with you. Never forget....
"I love you so much I can't stand it!"

The Weekend

We are getting ready to leave for Beaumont to be with our family, and for the Ladies Tea tonight. We are looking forward to being with Jonathan, Brenda and the girls! Wendell said this morning that he can't wait to get there so he can hear Scarlett talk! LOL! She has such a cute, little voice, and the way she says her words is so CUTE! We also can't wait to feel Savanna's arms giving us hugs. She is growing up so FAST, so we enjoy every hug and kiss we can get! We will be staying over the weekend and attending church at The Apostolic Church. We will be back home Monday to have dinner with a friend who is coming for the Board Meetings next week. Then, work begins on Tuesday! :) I am going to enjoy being with the wives who come with their husbands who are on the board, and helping Sis. Russo with anything she needs me to do.

Ya'll have a great weekend!