Category Archives: Family

This is why I need to live in new houses, because 10 years goes by before I realize I’m not keeping up with the cleaning!!

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12-9-12 Walk 004

Yes…

I convinced my husband…

To let me get the floor tiles in my house…

Professionally cleaned…

As I begged Santa in an earlier post called…

Dear Santa…I want!!

We’ve been in FL…

In this house…

That we had built…

For 10 years!

And I just realized I’m not keeping up!!

Ten years of dog hair…

Dirt…

Grime…

Cooking grease…

Powder…

And just plain GUNK and YUK!

So, my husband found Bob, the handyman in our neighborhood…

Who has been doing odd jobs around our house for several years!

He came yesterday…

Put down some bleach, used a broom-like thing…

And within an hour…

Our Master bathroom floor was sparkling clean!

Like it was 10 years ago!!

The fumes were bad for my allergies…

But I sat outside on my lanai with my puppy…

Then wore a mask all day while inside…

We turned on all the ceiling fans…

And my husband set up extra fans…

We’ll get the rest of the house done on Tuesday!!

Yipee!!

What a great Christmas gift!!

But, woe is me!!

How will I keep it like that??

Tell everyone not to walk on it???

Ever again???

Shave off all my Crazy Siberian’s hair???

Never cook again???

Don’t use powder in the shower???

My problem???

While I am a neat freak…

Since I can’t think in clutter…

And I do love to keep the house organized…

And decorated nicely…

And I’m good at keeping up with the paperwork…

That my husband refuses to look at…

Because it drives him crazy…

As far as the…

Deep…

“Get myself dirty-bend down-mop-move things-go behind-reach up, get a step stool to clean top shelves, wipe ceiling fans, and dust all my trinkets…”

Kind of cleaning…

I’d rather WRITE than do that kind of cleaning!!

Hey…I’d rather RELAX than do that kind of cleaning!

Hey…I rather do ANYTHING ELSE than  do that kind of cleaning!

Too much to do…

Too little time…

Too much effort…

Too much back-breaking work!!!

Where does the time go???

Let’s see…God & family & dog, teaching, drama team stuff, reading, writing, Dr.’s apts., hair and nails apts.,etc., etc.!

DUh!

Deep cleaning doesn’t seem to be on this list…

Or…

Even on my radar…

Unless you’re coming to visit!

Ha!

Then I’m frantic!

Oh…

If I’d only keep up!!

Lord, please help me!

Or else…

It just might be time to move to another brand new house!!

12-9-12 Walk 011

P.S.   Yes, along with my new squeaky clean floors…

I got a new Nikon Coolpix L610 camera for Christmas!!

  And tickets to see my friend’s daughter in “Sister Act” in Tampa on Saturday!!

Okay, Santa, I’m going to hold off on the losing weight request…

And just pray to maintain during Christmas!

Ha!  Let’s be realistic!

Thank you, Santa!!

Get prepared…

I’m going to ask for a cleaning lady next Christmas!

Lord, I need you to…

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”

Psalm 51:10 (E S V)

And help me keep it that way!

Amen!

Is This Asking Too Much!?!?

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Photos by JC

We had a great, calm, fun-filled Thanksgiving Dinner at our friend’s house this year…

But I’m remembering other Holidays, Vacations, and Special Occasions of ours in the past…

So, in anticipation of the upcoming Merry Christmas get-togethers…

I feel the need to vent!!

I like “NICE” on Holidays,  Vacations, and Special Occasions!!!

I want EVERYONE to be NICE…

Talk NICE!

And to be on their BEST Behavior!!

Why get together if everyone is going to “air their dirty laundry…”

Be grouchy…

Judgmental…

Snotty…

Impatient…

Intolerant of others’ routines…

Negative…

Condescending…

Arrive late…

Or leave early…

Mope around…

Be moody…

Create tension…

For goodness sake…

Don’t make me thank God every day..

That I don’t have to live with you…

And, if I do live with you…

Don’t make me thank God every day…

That I have you to go to places with…

But, that I can go by myself,  if I want to…

Please everyone…

Make me want to spend time with you…

Make me happy to see you!

To BE with you!

“Put yourself under…”

As one of my family members used to say…

When I was a young adult…

Meaning…

THINK OF OTHERS FIRST!!!!

Above yourself!!

Before yourself!

This equals:

JOY!

Jesus…Others…You!

In that order!

A Holiday, Vacation, or Special Occasion…

Is supposed to be NICE…

FUN!!!

HAPPY!

LOVING!

LIVELY!

FESTIVE!

It’s not a time for “BLAH” as usual…

Mundane…

Boring…

Or, your opportunity to bark at people…

 And, not the time for ranting about your least favorite things…

But, it IS about being with your most favorite people!!

In this special way…

At this special time…

To enjoy this special moment…

Together!

Laughing, loving, and sharing…

Talk about controversial issues over coffee on a normal day…

Rehash heated family issues with a trusted counselor…

Not at the dinner table!

It makes me nauseous…

Or makes me have “agita” as we Italians say!  Ha!

Interesting fact from “The Word Detective”…

thehttp://www.word-detective.com/121800.html

“‘Agita’ is not a standard Italian word, and linguists are not certain where came it from.  One possible source is the Italian word “agitare’ (‘to agitate’ or “‘to trouble”‘, which in turn came from the Latin ‘agitare,’ which meant ‘to stir up.’  To be ‘agitato’ in Italy is to be very excited, and a musical score marked ‘agitato’ is intended to be played at a frenzied pace.  But it’s also possible that the source is ‘acido’ (pronounced ‘AH-chee-do’), Italian for ‘stomach acid,’ which then possibly became ‘agita’ (‘AH-jih-ta’) over time. Whatever the source, ‘agita’ seems to have arrived in New York with Italian immigrants around the turn of the century, and has been in constant use, especially in places like New York City, ever since.”

See what I mean??

Be NICE while driving to see family and friends…

Or, while spending time with others…

Compromise!

Relax!

Enjoy the quality time together….

Life is so short!!

Too short to be hostile…

Let it go!!

BE Nice!

I don’t want “AGITA!!”

With my Holidays!

Is This Asking Too Much??

My Beloved Jersey Shore, No More???

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I receive a daily email from…

Focus On The Family

Today’s e-mail was titled…

“An Attitude Of Gratitude”

Here is the e-mail…

We Floridians can certainly relate!!

“Dear Friend,

Yesterday we celebrated Thanksgiving, a time to gather with family and friends to specifically thank God for the many blessings we enjoy each and every day. But there are also people who don’t see a lot to be thankful for because of their circumstances: Maybe they’ve lost loved ones, homes or property—possibly even all those things at once. As many people on the East Coast who have been struggling in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy can tell you, it’s a difficult thing to see the good amid difficult circumstances.

My friend Len Deo, executive director of the New Jersey Family Policy Council, spoke with Stuart Shepard recently about this on the latest CitizenLink Report.

Sandy was nothing short of horrific. Residents of New York and New Jersey spent weeks trying to get back to some sense of “normal” afterward. Food and gas were running low, the power was out, trees were uprooted and schedules were awry.

Despite those circumstances, some chose to have an attitude of gratitude for the little things they did have. In fact, Len Deo and his team paraphrased the 23rd Psalm to keep their perspective right. Their version reads:

‘The LORD is my shepherd, and shepherds have it rough right now. He has no place to make me lie down but muddy pastures; He leads me beside troubled waters. He is giving my soul a lot of unusual work. He leads me in the paths of perseverance for a purpose I really don’t see. Yea, I am walking through the aftermath of a hurricane and You are still prodding me; Your rod and Your staff, they are uncomfortable. You have filled my house with my children all day long; You anoint my head with cold showers; my impatience runneth over. Surely the good times went out with the lights, and I will dwell in my dim house for yet another day that feels like forever.’

Of course, we know that’s not what the Psalm really says—but the New Jersey team knows that the Word of God is powerful to provide comfort and solace. The point is simply this:  A sense of humor is a gift, and gratitude is a choice that we can always make, regardless of our circumstances. God does not stop being good just because our circumstances become difficult; we can trust Him through everything. And can’t we all be grateful for that?

For faith and family,

Tom Minnery
Senior Vice President, Government & Public Policy”

We’re from NJ…

My sister lives in Brooklyn…

Aunts, Uncles, & Cousins live in South Jersey…

And at the Jersey Shore…

Many of my cherished summertime memories…

Include the Jersey Shore…

Loved the Boardwalks!!

And the rides!

Family vacations in Wildwood and Cape May when I was young…

Trips with friend’s families to Long Branch…

Teenage drives to Seaside Heights, Asbury Park, Point Pleasant, Lavallette, Sea Girt, and Brielle…

Yearly vacations to a Bed & Breakfast in Spring Lake…

Later, when I taught, Teachers Convention at Convention Hall in Atlantic City…

Walking and shopping on the pier…

We have friends living in Pennsylvania, Maryland, North and South Carolina…

Everyone was affected…

I’m praying for the entire East Coast!

We, in FL know recovery is a long haul…

We also know that God is faithful!!

It will take time, but folks on the East Coast are resilient!

They’re survivors!

They will rally…

They will unite!

And this email gives me Hope…

That they know God is with them!!

My beloved Jersey Shore will rise again!!

Amen!

“Let There Be Light!”

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Okay!

See those shutters on our windows to the left in the photo???

I’m so grateful for them!!

They’ve been up since June!

And when the winds start blowing, the rain starts falling, and the storm surge starts threatening…

They are a beautiful thing!

When we first moved here…

We didn’t order them for our house…

Hadn’t had a major hurricane in forty years…

 The locals said!!!

“You’ll be fine!”

Of course, Hurricane Charlie proved them wrong!

And three more major hurricanes right after that…

That infamous year!

We were shell shocked!

We “survived!”

Thank God!

But, we were not “fine!”

Sooo, we have shutters now!

They’re an ugly silvery gray color…

But, when needed for our protection…

I love them!

Now, at the first inkling of a tropical storm brewing in the Atlantic…

Around June/July…

My husband, retired cop that he is…

Goes into “there’s a crisis” mode!

And now we all know the drill!

Board up, get supplies and cash, and hunker down…

We did that once this hurricane season…

But, the storm passed us by…

Praise God!

Lots of work…

But, we must be prudent for our safety!

Unfortunately, this year (and two years ago) our East Coast family and friends…

Know the drill, too!

We’re still praying for them!!!

And all of you that were affected!

Well, it’s November…

Happy Thanksgiving!

So, my husband took down our storm shutters TODAY!

It is officially (at our house, anyway!) the end of hurricane season!!

Yipee!

Amen and Hallelujah!

“Let There Be Light!”

I can see sunshine again!

I’m free of our dark “dungeon-effect!”  Ha!

I can see Palm Trees blowing in the mild breeze!

And the beautiful view out back!

Psalm 4:6

“…Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD.”

Psalm 18:28

“You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning…

My God turns my darkness into light.”

John 12:36

Believe in the light

That you may be the Children of Light!

Amen!

Okay, This Is NOT On “My Bucket List!”

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Skydiving…

Wearing thongs…

Running for political office…

Living in the past, or on past glories…

Backpacking around the country…

BASE jumping…

Being a groupie of a famous person…

Walking a tightrope, like our friend, Bello the Clown…

Being stuck in an air-conditioning vent…

Falling into a mine shaft…

Working again for my least favorite principal…

Being made to eat anything slimy…

Oh, I’m sure I could go on and on…

But, I love that many of you do want to do these things!

And I’ll pray for your “Bucket List” to be fulfilled…

But, I refuse to live without JOY everyday…

So, I do have a Prayer List…

And here’s what’s on it:

I do want to…

Write a book…

And have it published…

See my son successful in life, especially in God’s eyes…

See him married to a Godly girl, and have a family that serves the Lord…

To live healthy, so I can see my grandchildren…

And teach them to love God…

Live a peaceful life with the Lord…

But, know how to battle spiritual warfare when necessary!

Impact for Christ, all kids, young adults, and adults…

Minister and speak where God leads…

Encourage our drama team to outreach far and wide with God’s direction…

Travel to Italy to see relatives still living there…

Go to Israel to see where Jesus walked…

Serve the Lord on Earth, ’til I get to Heaven to hear…

“…well done, good and faithful servant…”

Mathew 25:23

Leave a legacy of love and encouragement…

To all those…

I’ve been blessed to come into contact with in my life on Earth…

In Jesus Name I pray…

Amen!

Train Up!

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“Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

Proverbs 22:6

Train Up:

To teach and form by practice; to educate; to exercise; to discipline; to form by instruction; to bring up…

Hey, wait a minute that sounds like hard work…

Day in and day out work…

Lifetime work…

No wonder we’re all tired!

Raising kids is tough!

Hey, God…

We need some help here!!

Parents…

Are you ready for this?

Are you prepared for all this training up???

Better get ready fast!

I always tell new Parents, or Parents-To-Be…

Being a parent is great…

As long as you know…

The ONLY thing you get done after you have kids is taking care of the kids…

And sometimes, not even that very well!!

If you start out thinking that…
Then when you actually start having time for yourselves again…
You’ll feel really blessed!  Ha!!
I’ve always believed that raising a kid you like to be around, is the best reward there is!

Take the time needed to do it God’s way…
It’s worth it!
I just read this great article on Christian Growth Network, by Pierre Eade, called “In The Way They Should Go.”
Here’s what he said in the article:  “Train Up, if translated literally means:  Narrow the way in which your kids go.  The idea here is that you are bringing your child down a narrow path of life, not letting them go off to be wild and reckless on a path of destruction.  This concept is very similar to the teachings of Jesus.
 
Enter in by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter in by it. How narrow is the gate, and restricted is the way that leads to life! Few are those who find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)
 
It is our obligation as parents to guide our children in ways that are right, true, noble and good.  We are at the same time to keep our children from ways that are destructive, harmful, false and evil.  We cannot delegate this responsibility to the Sunday school teacher, church or any other institution.  God calls us as parents to perform this function.  We also cannot expect our children to know the way to go or figure it out on their own.  Children must be taught and even trained to live a godly lifestyle.
The word “child” in the Hebrew covers the ages of infancy to adolescence.  The training and molding of our children begins at a young age.  In the youngest years children are most impressionable providing us as parents a prime opportunity for developing their ways of thinking and behavior.  Obviously, the training and development of our children does not stop after their toddler years, but the idea here is that we are to start young and continue on throughout their adolescence.
 
Some Bible scholars have suggested that training a child in ‘the way he should go’ implies that each child has been given by God a unique set of gifts, talents, traits, abilities and personality that we as parents must be sensitive to guide them in following individually.  Any parent with more than one child understands that no two children are alike in temperament or skills, so it would only make sense to guide and encourage our children to flourish in their God-given abilities.
 
The word ‘way’ in the Hebrew means a road, and figuratively means ‘a course of life or mode of action.’ We are teaching our children the way in which they are to live, how they are to treat others, how they are to love God and interact with Him, how they are to be in character and conduct.  And what is ‘the way’ that we need to train our kids?  In the New Testament, Jesus teaches us that He is the way.
 
I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)
If we begin to get confused about the model or style of parenting we should follow, it’s always wise to default back to Jesus.  When facing a dilemma in parenting, it would be helpful to ask questions like, ‘What would Jesus think of my child’s attitude?’  ‘How would He respond?’ ‘What would it look like for my son or daughter to be more like Jesus?’ And most importantly, we need to pray to the Lord on our children’s behalf and for His guidance, help and wisdom for us as parents.
As we guide our children in the ways of Jesus, we are hopeful that they will one day choose for themselves to follow Him.   This proverb does say that ‘when (our child) is old, he will not depart from (the way)”’which at times has been used to guarantee parents of their child’s salvation or future as a Christian.  It is true that as we train and disciple our children in God’s ways, we lay the foundation for them to make the choice to follow Christ when they grow older.
 
This verse does not say that by simply being a Christian ourselves, our children will also become believers in Jesus.  Parenting is a process.  It happens day after day, night after night, year after year.  Over time, if you are consistent in living out your faith, your children will learn the way to go.
 
If we desire to maximize the impact we have on our children, we need to start by examining our own walk with God and ask the question, ‘How well am I modeling Christianity to my children in my attitude, actions and words on a daily basis?’  And when we fall short, which we inevitably and frequently do, are we willing to admit our shortcomings to our kids and ask their forgiveness.
 
The clearest commandment in the Old Testament on parenting may just about sum up all we need to do and be as parents who raise God loving children.
 
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:5-8
Our ultimate goal as parents is first to love the Lord our God.  We are to be examples to our children of what it means to live a life of loving and following God.  We are to model that love to our children everywhere we go with them.  We are to be consistent in teaching, instructing, and training our children in the love of God.   And as they observe and learn the ways of God through our lives and witness the faithfulness of God to us, they will be convinced that there is no better way to live.”

How And When Did You Meet Jesus???

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This is your post today!!

Your Comments will tell the story and witness to others…go for it!!

Was it anything like this???

Listen to “When Mercy Found Me”

by Rhett Walker Band

Here are the lyrics:

“Something had to give, something had to give…

‘Cause living my life so wild and free, finally caught up…

Oh, it left me broken, left me hopeless…

But that’s where I met Jesus…

In one moment everything changed…
Who I was got washed away…
When mercy found me…
My Savior’s arms were open wide…
And I felt love for the very first time…
When mercy found me…
All those days, all those doubts…
They don’t seem to matter now…
His Grace is all I need…
And the chains that I was in before…
They don’t hold me anymore…
His love has rescued me…
His love has set me free…
In one moment everything changed…
Who I was got washed away…
When mercy found me…
My Savior’s arms were open wide…
And I felt love for the very first time…
When mercy found me…
My mind found peace…
My soul found hope…
My heart found a home…
In one moment everything changed…
Who I was got washed away…
When mercy found me…
My Savior’s arms were open wide…
And I felt love for the very first time…
When mercy found me…”
Yes, it felt exactly like this!!  Amen!

Hey, Where Ya Going?

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Stop what you’re doing and…

Check out MY new blog Page…

Called “Siberian Craziness!”

See what I’ve been up to…

Hear what I have to say!!

Also, see more photos of me…

That the Mom put under the…

  “My Precious Little Girl” Page…

Yes, it IS all about Me!!

AHH OOOO!!

Please leave me comments!!  Woof!  Woof!!

Love Came Down…

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We love you!

Your birth was the greatest moment in our lives!

We wouldn’t have ever wanted to miss this experience in life!

We’re so happy!

We’re glad we never gave up…

That we had faith that God would give us a miracle!

Before you were born, after we’d set up your crib in our guest room, we’d say, “Hey, there’s a crib in there!”

We weren’t used to it.

It was just the two of us for so long.

But, we were ready!

Afterwards, when you had to stay in the hospital a while longer, we’d say, “Where is our baby?”

We’d see your empty crib…and long to have you finally come home!

Why did you come into this world so early?

I guess you saw us setting up your room and decided it was time.

At least we know you’re all right!

We saw your heartbeat at five weeks.  I had some surgery at 13 weeks and ultrasounds all along the way.

We found out you were a boy, and had a fetal echocardiogram at 20 weeks.  You’re fine!

This pregnancy was the best experience for us!

We worried and prayed and it was hard work, but it was all worth it in the end.

We’ve waited 10 years for you!  We prayed every night for Jesus to give us a precious baby.  We went to many doctors and hospital appointments, and you were worth every effort.

Our IVF egg retrieval procedure was on Valentine’s Day!  The nurses brought me a cupcake after dinner with a plastic Valentine heart on it…I still have it!

The transfer was done on Feb. 16th, and I had to lay on the table for three hours.

Then I had to rest for 13 days before a blood test was done,  and then wait for the results.  I took a lot of days off from work that year!  Grandma and Grandma were cautiously happy, as was everyone else who was waiting anxiously for the news with us.

We were told to call the Fertility Center at University Hospital to get the results of our pregnancy test.  But, there had been a fire, and the computers were down, so we couldn’t get the results ’til the next morning…it was very hard to wait.

When we got the news that the pregnancy test was positive, both Daddy & I cried…we were so thankful…it must have been the love connection with Valentine’s Day, we thought!  Ha!

At our big BBQ, before you were born, friends came from Wisconsin, and other friends from work,  & one friend said, “You’re fat & your feet are so swollen.”  Though everyone else thought I looked great…maybe he knew you were coming early.

I had tried to keep to the Diet Center diet as much as I could (since I had just lost 30 lbs. the year before).  But I gained 10 of those back because of the Pergonal fertility drug I had to take.

We decided on your name early, and called you that as soon as we knew you were a boy!

My water broke and you were born 9 weeks early, at 3 lbs.-4 oz., but perfect in every way!

You were so tiny, all of your five little tooth-pick sized fingers fit inside Daddy’s wedding band!

We were expecting a miracle & got one!  Amen!

Daddy, Mommy, & Baby makes three!  Yipee!

We didn’t know you were coming so soon, so Daddy had to go back and forth from the hospital to home to get everything we needed.

He’ll be a great Daddy…

We sent out announcements, “He’s here and he’s all ours!!

When I came home, you had to stay in the neonatal ward for about 6 more weeks.  Everyone called and brought presents .  Daddy, or friends and family, took me every day to see you at the hospital, since I wasn’t allowed to drive for a while.

You were so precious…you tried to open your eyes when you heard our voices.  You could hold onto our fingers, and  you loved for us to touch your “toesies.”   Dad and I called the hospital about you every day.

Then, one day, the neonatal nurses (who are real angels!), let me take you out of the incubator to fed you through a tube, and then change your diaper.  We bought you a wind-up musical  toy that played “Lullaby,” and also put a picture of us in your incubator.  You loved to be rocked and patted.  Dad said he went to see you one night after work, and you turned over to look at him!  You were born with a lot of dark hair and looked like my Dad & my cousin Tommy.

We have a lot of photos of your birth, so we can look back and remember how ecstatic we were at that moment of your birth.

We cried…

I don’t think we believed we would ever really have you until that exact moment!

People who saw you as a preemie, later told us you looked like an alien…Thank God they didn’t tell us that at the time!  Ha!

We thought you were beautiful.

Love came down…

And embraced our lives…

The moment God gave us this miracle, this gift, this answer to our prayers of 10 years.

A healthy, happy baby…

We pray every day for Jesus to keep you healthy and  happy…and close to His heart.

We love you so much.

And did from the very moment of your conception.

We pray you’ll always loves us and God.

We’ll try to be the best parents for you,  and always tell you how very loved you are!

The peaceful, calm feeling you created in me will last forever!

We love you!  Mom and Dad

Do you think God felt this way about the birth of His Son?

I think He did!

Isaiah 9:6 NIV   “For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given…”

Dear Family, Why I Write…

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In an Italian family it’s a way of talking without being constantly interrupted!  Ha!

These photos were taken at my Mom’s 90th Birthday Celebration!!

I miss her now that she’s celebrating all her days in Heaven with Jesus…

I love my BIG, crazy Italian Family…

Everyone should have one…

Adopt one if necessary!

Me, Mom, and my Sister…

My Son, my younger Brother, and his Wife…

My Husband and my Cousin’s Husband (who’s from Oklahoma, and he says we say, “SAAAAAUCE!”)

Everyone’s talking and taking photos of each other…at the same time!

Family photo, but my older Brother couldn’t make the trip to FL 😦

My Mom and her precious Grandson!

Family photo with my dear Cousin (My super prayer partner!)

Our family’s really close, we all grew up going to church together…

My Mom loved to talk!!!!

Ha!

Everyone does in our family!

We miss you, Mommy!