2011 Recap

Since I've only posted about three times this year I thought I would let y'all know what went on in 2011 for me and my family.

It wasn't a horrible year but it wasn't a great one either. The Lord has blessed me tremendously this year. He has provided for us on so many different occasions when I didn't know how we were going to get by. And I mean in every sense. Like emotionally, financially, spiritually and our safety! He always has provided for us. (read Philippians 4:19)

The year started off normal enough. I was just enjoying life and my family. We had started planning for my step-father's 80th birthday party in May. We were having family coming from out of state and we were excited about seeing them. But what really excited us the most was my nephew coming from Michigan. It was what I was looking forward to most of all. It was great to see him and all our other family members that came to the party.

In April there was a tornado that wrecked havoc in our state. I was watching the news when it actually showed it touching down in Tuscaloosa. Immediately I started worrying about and praying for my nephew who works there and lives by the university. It was an F5 while it was on the ground. Thankfully it didn't come near his apartment, it did kill a lot of people and it did destroy a lot of others' homes and businesses'. We continued watching it not realizing it was heading right towards us!

The weather man kept saying it was going to hit metro Birmingham. Well we are about 8-10 miles north of the city, thought we were in the clear. About 6 o'clock that night I looked out the window, I was looking to see if my neighbors were home. That's when I noticed debris on our cars. At that time we heard on the news that the tornado was in Smithfield. Now Smithfield is right across the highway and usually if a tornado touches down there it will hit my neighborhood next. We started heading down to the basement, my phone rang and I was on it when my husband yelled for me to hang it up and come on. It was my sister asking if we were in our basement. I was trying to juggle the phone, a flashlight and my chihuahua all the while heading downstairs. Oh with my motorcycle helmet on too!

We were in our safe spot only a little bit when it hit. My town was struck by an F4 tornado. We were very blessed as we had almost no damage. Just trees basically.  Other neighbors lost their homes and businesses. Our town was hit pretty bad but no deaths which was a miracle. Below is an actual video of the tornado going through our neighborhood.



This video was taken from an apartment building across from my neighborhood (across a 4 lane highway and I65). While I was in the basement with my husband, hearing the roaring and just by the sound of it you knew it was big. I told my husband this is how we're going to die. Strangely enough I had no fear of dying. As I said we were very blessed that day.

Even now there are still lots of reminders of that day. Our trees behind our house are just all broken. There has been a lot of repairing of our town but there are still signs of the tornado. I think the emotional scars have a long way to go before they are completely healed though.

My grand babies turned 4 and 2 this year they are getting so big. The best parts of the year were times spent with my daughter's family. They have brought us so much joy. They are really at the ages where we have a ton of fun. They like to wrestle and let me tell you this Grammy gets worn out! I am so tired after spending the afternoon with them. But there are also a lot of climbing on my lap and snuggling. I will have one on one leg and the other on the other leaning up against me reading stories or watching videos on the iPhone. I love these times with them.

October brought sadness. My father passed away on the 25th. We went to California for his funeral. It was a beautiful service, he was a great person and the best father ever!

Alfredo "Fred" - my dad

After I got home it was about three weeks before we lost my husband's mother. She passed away on November 20th. She had been sick with her heart and on this day her kidneys failed. As we were getting ready to leave the hospital it was about 9:30 when my husband seen all the doctors running into her room. About 20 minutes later they came out and told us she had passed. 

 Kathryn - my mother in law

My husband was her only schild. His father has passed so he feels really alone now. Please remember him in your prayers. Kathryn had remarried about 7 years ago. Her new husband was real good to her. One thing I disliked was that one of her step-children's wife had posted on Facebook that Kathryn had passed before we even got to notify all of her family. I hadn't even told my daughter and it was already on Facebook. I just think that people ought to consider a person's family before they start posting their deaths.

We stayed home during Thanksgiving just didn't feel like going any where. For the first time I had my daughter and her family over and made my very first Turkey. I must say it was really delicious!

We really did have a great Christmas. We enjoyed shopping and then watching our grandchildren opening their presents. Hubs got a kick out of putting Roary the race car together with our oldest grand son Ray. Little Bruce played with his toys for a bit then got on his old airplane toy that he likes to ride on. All the new ones and he was on the one toy he plays with every time he comes over here. Oh and the marshmallow suckers I got them tasted like "turkey and cheese!" I don't even know where that came from. lol

Well that's about takes us through the year. I am sure I have forgot a few things. There were losses but also lots of love and good times. But now that's life. Prayers and a relationship with God will always get you through the bad times and the good times. Just so thankful He is in my life.

Have a blessed day!

When A Child Is Born

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

This is my favorite time of year! I love everything about Christmas. But one thing that bother's me is the real reason of Christmas gets overlooked. So I thought this video is appropriate. I hope you watch the whole thing. 

When a child is born

A ray of hope flickers in the sky
A tiny star lights up way up high
All across the land dawns a brand new morn'
This comes to pass when a child is born.

A silent wish sails the seven seas
The winds of change whisper in the trees
And the walls of doubt crumble, tossed and torn
This comes to pass when a child is born.

A rosy hue settles all around
You got the feel, you're on solid ground
For a spell or two no-one seems forlorn
This comes to pass when a child is born.

And all of this happens because the world is waiting
Waiting for one child, black, white, yellow - no one knows
But a child that will grow up and turn tears to laughter
Hate to love, war to peace and everyone to everyone's neighbour
And misery and suffering will be words to be forgotten, forever.

It's all a dream, an illusion now
It must come true sometime soon somehow
All across the land dawns a brand new morn'
This comes to pass when a child is born.

This comes to pass when a child is born.
Is born.
Is born...

I love Christ! I love the fact that my Father thought that I was worthy enough that he sent his only son to save me. Can you imagine? Who would give up their child to save a sinner? He is worthy of our praise. He is worthy of our Love. He is worthy!!! For those that know me personally you know the difficulties I have faced in my life. For all of my wonderful bloggy friends I have shared with you some of them. If you are here for the first time I want to tell you that I have been blessed way beyond what I deserve. My Father has spared my life so many times and blessed me so many times that I just can't see why He thinks that I am so deserving of His blessings, love and mercy. Or why I was ever worthy enough for Him to give his only son to save me.

My God is a wonderful God!! If you don't know Him why not say the following prayer and make Him your Savior. I promise you it will be the best decision you have ever made!!!

Heavenly Father, I know that I have sinned against you and that my sins separate me from you. I am truly sorry. I now want to turn away from my sinful past and turn to you for forgiveness. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your Son, Jesus Christ, died for my sins, that He was raised from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become my Savior and the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You and to convict me when I sin. I pledge to grow in grace and knowledge of you. My greatest purpose in life is to follow your example and do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

God Bless You!!!

Your Merry Christmas may depend on what others do for you. But your Happy New Year depends on what you do for others.

Have a blessed day!

Spiritual Sundays

Hello Everyone,



Spiritual Sundays is where you can write a little something spiritual, a favorite scripture, poem, song or even a prayer. It is hosted by Charlotte and Ginger. Click on the picture to join or to read other Spiritual Sundays posts.

I asked God to take away my pain.
God said, No.
It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.
God said, No.
Her spirit was whole, her body was only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience.
God said, No.
Patience is a by-product of tribulations; it isn't granted, it is learned.

I asked God to give me happiness.
God said, No.
I give you blessings. Happiness is up to you.

I asked God to spare me pain.
God said, No.
Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me.

I asked God to make my spirit grow.
God said, No.
You must grow on your own, but I will prune you to make you fruitful.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.
God said, No.
I will give you life so that you may enjoy all things.

I asked God to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me.
God said . . . Ahhhh, finally you have the idea.

--Author Unknown--

I like this poem it is a reminder to me that some of the things that we ask God for are things that we can obtain on our own. It really is up to us on whether we decide to be happy or sad. If we are angered by people it is up to us to decide whether or not we are going to let those people take our joy from us. Like we may ask God for something, but we can't just sit at home and wait for it to happen. It is up to us to get out there and try to get it if we have done all that we can then go to God and tell him you need His help. We as Christians have to be active, we can't expect God to obtain or do everything for us.

Click on the picture above and hop over to see others' Spiritual Sundays. Until next time

Have a blessed day!

Update! I FOUND HIM!!

Hello Everyone,

It just totally AMAZES me how God is so good to my family!! So I left off telling you that I had sent my nephew a Myspace message asking how he and his mother were. Sunday he responded by saying that he and his mother were good. He then friended me on Myspace. I was ecstatic then he sent me a message saying "if you are Paul's sister that makes you my aunt, right?"



I was in the car having just left my family after having lunch with them. I was so happy!! My concern was that he didn't know who we were and I wasn't sure how to tell him. The fact that he knew plus friended me, well it was overwhelming. I sent him back a message saying Yes!!! and that I couldn't really talk right then as I was driving but that I would get online as soon as I can to talk to him. I told him that he would probably be getting a lot of messages from his other three aunties.



Well I had Ray on Sunday and didn't have time to get on the computer until around 6:30. In the meantime two of my sister's were talking to him. The subject of my brother came up. So my brother's computer hasn't worked in quite a while. My sister told him that but when my brother found out she was talking to him he went to her house. Stephen gave his number to my sister and told her Paul could call him. My brother sent him a message saying he would try to get in touch with him in a couple of days. My brother I think was a little emotional. Well I am proud that my brother was able to call him that night!



They only got to talk for a little while and I'm not sure what was all said but I do know that he is wanting to have us in his life. He told me he was excited that we found him. We are all just so excited at how everything has worked out. We hope that this is only the beginning.



I never pray to God about material things I just don't feel right about it, he always meets my needs. I always pray for my family, friends, people I don't even know (my internet friends) and people who are in need of God in their lives. I always pray and thank him for his blessings. I believe that after asking him for the safety, healing, and blessings for my loved ones that it is enough to ask for. Stephen has always been in my prayers even though I didn't even know what he looked like. I still loved him and he has always been a part of my family. When I found him I remember praying to God to let this work out. God is so GOOD!!!! I am a living walking testimony to that.

AND NEVER FORGET IT!!!

Have a blessed day!

A Little Scripture Story

Hello Everyone,

Aaargh!!! Another busy day here at work today. I don't have time to blog blog so I'm going to share with you an email I received. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.


Malachi 3:3 says:

'He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.'

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.

That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining Silver.

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says:

'He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.'

She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, 'How do you know when the silver is fully refined?'

He smiled at her and answered, 'Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it.'

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you. Feel free to pass this on. Everyone needs to know that God is watching over them. And, whatever they're going through, they'll be a better person in the end.

Love that story! Hope your day is going good.

Have a blessed day!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Hello Everyone,

This is a post from Grandma K at A Bit of the Blarney someone sent it to her in an email and she told everyone to feel free to share it. So I thought I would.

IMPORTANT RECALL NOTICE


The Maker of all human beings is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to a serious defect in the primary and central component of the heart.

This is due to a malfunction in the original prototype units code named Adam and Eve, resulting in the reproduction of the same defect in all subsequent units.

This defect has been technically termed:"Subsequential Internal Non-Morality", or more commonly known as S.I.N., as it is primarily expressed.

Some other symptoms include:

1. Loss of direction
2. Foul vocal emissions
3. Amnesia of origin
4. Lack of peace and joy
5. Selfish or violent behavior
6. Depression or confusion in the mental component
7. Fearfulness
8. Idolatry
9. Rebellion

The Manufacturer, who is neither liable nor at fault for this defect, is providing factory-authorized repair and service free of charge to correct this SIN defect. The Repair Technician, Jesus, has most generously offered to bear the entire burden of the staggering cost of these repairs. There is no additional fee required. The number to call for repair in all areas is:
P-R-A-Y-E-R.

Once connected, please upload your burden of SIN through the REPENTANCE procedure. Next, download ATONEMENT from the Repair Technician, Jesus, into the heart component.
No matter how big or small the SIN defect is, Jesus will replace it with:

1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Faithfulness
8. Gentleness
9. Self control

Please see the operating manual, the B.I.B.L.E. (Believers' Instructions Before Leaving Earth) for further details on the use of these fixes.

WARNING: Continuing to operate the human being unit without correction voids any manufacturer warranties, exposing the unit to dangers and problems too numerous to list and will result in the human unit being permanently impounded.

DANGER: The human being units not responding to this recall action will have to be scrapped in the furnace. The SIN defect will not be permitted to enter Heaven so as to prevent contamination of that facility.

Thank you for your attention!

God

Please assist where possible by notifying others of this important recall notice and you may contact the Father any time by "kneemail".

MERRY CHRISTMAS
Christ is 'The Reason' for the Christ-mas Season!

I hope you all have a safe, wonderful and Merry Merry Christmas!! May God bless you and your family.

Have a blessed day!

Out Of The Mouth Of Babes!

Hello everyone,

Had to share, couldn't keep it to myself. They call him Sky Angel Cowboy. Please take the time to watch, oh and have tissue ready!




Have a blessed day!

A Brady Kind Of Dream

Hello Everyone,

I am the type of person that can just go to sleep as soon as my head hits the pillow. My husband can't. He will lay in the bed a good hour or so before he wakes me up with his snoring. I usually sleep extremely well, until he wakes ME up for snoring. Now I never wake him up when he is snoring. It really agitates me when he does this. He will also wake me up if I am muttering or making noises in my sleep. When I do those things I am usually dreaming.

Last night he woke me up because I was screaming. Now usually if I am screaming I am having a nightmare. But last night when he woke me I was dreaming of Greg and Peter Brady. They looked like they did in the tv series, not like they look today. I don't remember what they did to me but I was screaming at them.

They were both standing there looking at me like this:


I'm thinking that maybe I was thinking of them because a couple of days ago my husband was telling me about Maureen McCormick's book, "Here’s the Story”. Apparently she was having sex for drugs, she also wrote about her depression, and her eating disorder. Well you know what my husband zoomed in on. My husband has always loved Maureen McCormick so when he read this in the paper that's what he came home talking about. "Maureen McCormick had sex for drugs". "If I had known that back then". "What? What if you had known it back then?" "I would have been right there every time she ran out!" Men!

Moving on - I am about to finish the book Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert here's the cover.



It is a good book. She takes a year off and travels to Italy, India and Indonesia. She goes to each place for a different reason. But she tells how she is also looking for a higher spritual experience and to find herself. You know it got me to thinking. I have always known who I am. I find it kind of hard to understand people who have to go "find themself". I also feel lucky that I have never had to look for a higher spiritual experience. I have always known God. I have experienced the Holy Ghost. He's just always been a part of my life. I have never felt like I had to find myself. Have any of you?

I guess that's it for today. I need to finish up some work and hopefully leave a little early to start my weekend. I have quite a busy one. I hope everyone has a good weekend. Oh and Roll Tide Roll!!!!

Have a blessed day!

Wonderful Friday!

Hello Everyone,

I am so happy that it is Friday. I have the weekend off and Alabama will be playing tomorrow. Also this is my weekend with my darling Ray. What don't I like about it being Friday? Larry is off on Fridays and I just don't think it's right that he should be off. Granted he works 4 - 10's but I hate when he is off and I am at work. It just doesn't seem right. That, my friends, is what you call envy.

So on Friday mornings I am the slowest person in the world. I take my time doing everything. He sits there and tells me I am awful begrudging him his Fridays. I am. But I can't help it. Sigh...

Remember the power point presentation I blogged about yesterday? Well two of our agents have sent in their materials. Let me just say that you know some people are just plain stupid. I don't mean to be ugly but have a little sense. The company that we work for and that we are doing the presentation for sent all the agents an example of what they want. You know a bullet guide for them to go by. Well they used "Aerospace Opportunities in Your Area" as an example. One of the agents has actually just emailed me his list of "Aerospace" clients. Here's your sign!

I know that sounded ugly but I am a work in progress. Every day a lesson is learned. Every day a bible verse is understood. Have you ever not "got" a bible verse? To me it is so funny that I'll read something and don't quite get it. I'll re-read it . . nope still don't get it. So I pray that I do and then I read on. A week goes by and then BAM! I got it. Like the V8 commercials. God just slaps you on the head and saids "Duh!". I have to laugh when that happens.

Now a couple of pictures of my Grammyson just because he makes me laugh! I love you little man.



The lamb picture (see my Halloween post). lol He didn't even like wearing it.



He just truly brightens my day.

When someone in your family dies you know how you and your family are reacting but you really don't know how it affects people outside of your family. When my brother died he had a lot of close friends. They came around for a while but eventually they move on. Which is what they should do. First I need to say that it does still hurt to see his friends. I get a pain in my heart when I see them. I ran into one of my brother's best friends the other night.

I guess I've known him since he was in kindergarten. He was telling me that he has had a bad time with drugs since my brother died. He told me that he finally went to an NA meeting and the first person he seen there was my other brother. He took it as a sign that he was right in going to the meeting. Then he said on the way home a song came on, "Tuesday's Gone", he said that since Ray had his accident on a Tuesday he has never been able to listen to that song since he died. He took that as another sign and that he just started crying. Then he ran into me. He was teary eyed while he was telling me his story. He said I know now that I am doing the right thing and that I need to straighten out. I guess God had me in the right place at the right time. I told him that I loved him and that if he needed anything to call me. I also said that he is doing the right thing for him and his family and that I was very proud of him. I hadn't realized that after twenty years he was still hurting too.

So I guess that wraps it up today. I need to finish up my part of that presentation and hope the others have their's in here by 5 o'clock. Cause it's Friday and I am so ready to go home. Have a great weekend everyone.

Have a blessed day!

Valerie

My Musings

Hello Everyone,

I woke up to a cool brisk beautiful day. I always get up and say a little prayer for making it through the night. I also know that starting the day off with prayer makes for a better day. I woke up in a much better mood than I was in last night. I had a great day yesterday. I was happy all day long. Between leaving my office and getting to my driveway it changed. Three vehicles at three different places just pulled right out in front of me. I had to actually slam on my brakes to miss them. So I guess that is what aggravated me.

Then when I get home it is so dark outside I have to feel to get the mail. I had forgot to leave the front porch light on. I forget that it's getting dark by 5 o'clock. I hate that. I like getting home with the sun still in the sky. I just don't understand why we need Daylight Savings Time now. I realize why we needed it in the past, but it just doesn't make sense to me now.

So when I get in the house it is hot as all get out. Right away I turn on the air. Then I noticed my tv was off in the living room. I always leave it on when I leave so that my Chico baby won't be in a silent house all day by himself. Right away I am wondering why my tv is off. So then I start to search my house. I'm not a paranoid person. But the other day when I got home my back fence was closed. The next morning when I went to leave for work, it was open. So I have been a little jumpy as to why it was open. At any rate, I guess the power went off and that's why my tv was off. That's all I could figure anyway.

My sister and I had been worrying about my father. So she called my aunt and he has pneumonia. He usually gets it once a year. I hate that we're not closer so that we will know these things. He had a grand mal stroke back in 1999. The night before he had it I was woke up. I was woke up by a voice telling me to start praying for my father. So that is what I did. Later the next day I got the call about his stroke. I am a believer in dreams, spirits and premonitions. I know that a lot of people don't believe in them, but some of the females in my family have always had dreams or premonitions.

My oldest sister use to have dreams that would come true. She dreamed my father had a rifle thrust through his arm one time and the next day he came over with his arm in a sling. He had fell and broke it while riding a bike. She has dreamed of a co-worker that had knives thrust in her belly. The co-worker hadn't been at work, when she returned my sister told her about her dream. Her co-worker started crying because she had had a miscarriage. She hadn't even told anyone she was pregnant yet.

The Christmas before my brother died she had dreamed and told us all that one of us wouldn't be there the next Christmas. We all laughed because my younger sister was living in Missouri at the time. Her husband kept telling her they were moving back here. We were laughing and telling her he wasn't going to move her back and that it was her that wasn't going to be with us. Her husband did keep his word though and they've lived here ever since.

I don't have dreams. I have feelings when things aren't going to go right. I have feelings about people. If I have bad feelings about you when I meet you, that is it for me. I know you are not suppose to judge but there is a reason I have feelings about people. Some things you just can't ignore. We all have some form of warning that our minds give us. Well that's what I believe anyway. I have just learned that you can't always ignore your feelings. Whether you believe in them or believe in God you have to heed to the danger you may sense.

My sister knows of this cemetary in Missouri where witches are buried. They have had themselves buried facing the West because they're reasoning is that they don't want to see God. First off if that isn't an acknowlegement of him I don't know what is. Secondly, "Every Eye Shall See" Rev 1:7 I don't care if you are at the bottom of the sea, you are gonna see Him when he comes.

I was just informed that I have to make a 30 minute power point presentation by tomorrow evening. I love power point that will be easy enough. What's not going to be easy is I have to wait on 4 of our agents to send in their information. That will be the hard part. It takes them forever to do anything and they are always late in getting me the material I need. So I gotta run.

Have a blessed day!

Valerie

One Nation Under God

Hello Everyone,

First I want to say Happy Birthday to my sister Angie!! Angie is the sister that gave me her kidney back in 2001. I hope you have a great one and see you at lunch.

I had a busy day yesterday. It started out going to my lawyers. I went to vote after that. Then I went home and my baby was waiting for me. Summer and Josh were done voting so we went to the museum like I had posted about and had a good time. It was a good and interesting exhibit. Of course we walked around to look at some of the other collections. We then went to Styx for lunch. Ray was so cute. He watched the fire and kept looking up thinking it was up in the ceiling. Then when the teppanyaki chef would do a trick Ray would clap. He is just too cute.

So we have a new president. President Obama to be exact. I have got emails and MySpace messages about praying for our country. Last night my sister text me worried God was going to turn his back on our country. Well you know first off we should've all been praying for our country to start with. Secondly, I don't care what country you are in, you will turn your back on God before he will turn his back on you. Obama is not responsible for my soul, I AM. If he declares this country Muslim then I will stand up for my beliefs. I feel the email and messages show what little faith this country has. I hope I am wrong.

About Obama being a non-Christian. Well he claims he is a Christian, a lot of people do. I am not going to debate on whether Obama is a Christian or not. Bush said he is a Christian too but look at the turmoil our country is in today because of him. I believe our nation is a nation under God. I believe that we will continue to be. If you believe that Jesus died for your sins and you are saved because of him, what are you worried about? Pray for your loved ones that aren't saved, pray for your friends that aren't. Pray for your enemies that don't know the Lord. But pray most of all for the ones that claim they do but are false Christians.

"Christianity is not about hatred, judgment, bigotry or self-righteousness. Christianity is about loving one another. It is about compassion and forgiveness. Accepting Christ is a pre-requisite for becoming a Christian. Showing your love for others through your works and deeds is what makes you a true Christian. Don't be a false Christian by spreading accusations, lies, being self righteous, calling other people non-Christians. False Christians commit the ultimate sin that of turning people away from Christ."

There you have it. Of course this is my opinion which I have the right to express since this is my blog. lol

Have a blessed day!

Valerie

Ray's 1st Birthday!!

Hello Everyone,

Well Ray's 1st birthday party was GREAT! Ray was just adorable! Every one loved watching him play with his cousins, digging into his cake and opening his presents.

Here he is enjoying his cake:


He was so excited. He got so many gifts I'm not even sure what all he got. I got him the Smart Bounce and Spin Pony. Here's a picture of him opening a present (he got plenty of help from cousins, lol):


There are a lot more pictures on my myspace page if you want to go look at them. It was a hectic day but a happy one. Our basic color was blue and then we just decorated with all kinds of bright streamers and baloons. We had over 50 people there and there was nothing left of my meal. I promised everyone they would love it and they did. I have spent a lot of this week giving people my recipe for it. Ray's Nana, Josh's mother Angela, made her nacho dip and it was delicious too. Summer got clown ice cream cones for the kids. We got to see friends we haven't seen in a while. We all just had a great time.

The next day Summer said he kept going from toy to toy playing a little with each one. He wore his self out and napped for like two hours afterwards. He is just a happy baby. My family continues to be blessed by God. He is so good to us.

Well that's about all I have right now. I hope everyone has a good weekend.

Have a blessed day!

Valerie