Eli loves his bath time......

Eli loves to get a bath! When Jim and I are talking about giving him one, we actually spell out the word b-a-t-h, because if Eli just hears the word, he heads to the tub. Yesterday afternoon, we had no intentions of giving Eli a bath. However, Jim had gotten in the tub earlier and after getting out, Eli went into the bathroom and put his front paws up on the side of the tub and laid his head there as if to be saying, "I wish I could take a bath." It was just too sweet, so Jim and I both gave him a bath and trimmed his nails afterward. (these are some pictures taken earlier, but you can see how much he enjoys it!)

Our Family at Easter......

Jim and I put on our fresh, new Easter clothes for church on Sunday, but we forgot to take any pictures!!! We usually go to Cracker Barrel after service, but we decided we didn't want to fight the crowds, so we came home and cooked. We fixed bacon, eggs, biscuits and gravy. It was a great treat, for us and Eli! We finished just in time for a long afternoon nap!


Dan and Krisha spent Easter with Dan's family at his grandparents house in Berry.



Mother went to church with Wayne, Anita, Stefen, Paige and Chloe in Tuscaloosa.


Although we are all going different directions, we still love each other and miss being together on the holidays.

Isn't she precious (the little redhead)......

This is Chloe, my great-niece. (My sister's step-granddaughter) Naturally, I think she looks alot like me because of her beautiful red hair! Since the last baby in our family (Paige) is now 17 years old, Chloe has been a breath of fresh air to all of us. She started playing a game with Jim when we were home for Christmas, telling him to "Get" and trying to push him away. Now when we talk to her on the phone she'll tell him, "Get". Hopefully she never tells her Daddy that!!!!

I'm not sure what she is saying, but she looks very serious about the situation!

Chloe giving Jim kisses


Isn't she precious, she doesn't realize that Santa is really "Granddaddy"!




I wonder if she realizes that her new "Doll" will be melting soon! God love her.



Paige and Chloe

From long, long ago.......

I opened an email from Allan, (thinking that it was more pictures from the twin's birthday party),but it was this! I'm not sure how many years ago this was taken, but it had to be from long, long ago.

Allan, Jim and Gary (Allan's brother)

Reanna & Savanna's 1st Birthday Party

Jim and I had a wonderful Saturday afternoon at the home of Allan and Darla McClure to celebrate the first birthday of their twin girls, Reanna and Savanna. Since this was our first time to meet the twins, we learned to tell them apart by their hair styles; Savanna's is flat, while Reanna has a "mohawk" look. However, after being around them for only a short time, it was clear to see that these girls have totally different personalities. Reanna gets her looks from her Mommy and older brothers. She is very calm, attentive to what is happening around her and more like a little princess. Savanna, on the other hand, looks just like Allan. She doesn't care as much about what is happening around her as she does having a good time herself, because she is constantly singing and dancing! She will probably be the "rock star" of the family.

We enjoyed a fantastic crawfish and shrimp boil!! It was SO good. Afterwards we had birthday cake and watched the girls open their presents.


We have volunteered to be babysitters anytime we are needed, (hopefully it will be before they become teenagers!).






Notice that Savanna has decided the best way
to enjoy her cake is to just dive in, head first...
While Reanna is using her spoon!







Savanna





Reanna



Jim and Savanna

















Allan and Jim with the girls














Darla and the girls (Reanna loved sharing her cake with everyone!)

Savanna clapping and singing, while Reanna just watches.

Me and the girls (Both tried to share their cake with me!)



BELOW:

Ok, Eli was a little disappointed that he did not get to attend the birthday party, (He WAS invited, we just didn't let him go) and had to stay home alone today......so, we let him open his Easter basket tonight!

"Letter from my Father"

This is a

beautiful

"Letter

from my

Father".

With Easter approaching it has a way of telling us what being a child of God really means. Each verse encompasses an incredible truth and every one is a promise to you and me from our Heavenly Father. Take some sweet time to reflect on each of the ways that the Lord loves us, protects us, treasures us, redeems us, comforts us, watches over us, saves us and calls us His own. Absolutely amazing!


My Child,
I know everything about you…Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up…Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all of your ways…Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered…Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image…Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being…Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring…Acts 17:28

I chose you when I planned creation…Ephesians 1:11-12

I knew you even before you were conceived…Jeremiah 1:4-5

I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live…Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made…Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother’s womb…Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born…Psalm 71:6

You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book... Psalm 139:15-16

I have been misrepresented by those who don’t know me…John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love…1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you…1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child and I am your father…Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father…Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand…James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs…Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope…Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love…Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore. Ps. 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing…Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you…Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession…Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul…Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things…Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me…Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart…Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires…Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine…Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager…2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles…2Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you…Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart…Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes…Revelation 21:3-4

And I’ll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth…Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus…John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed…John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being…Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you…Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins…2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled…2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you… 1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love…Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me…1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you from my love again…Romans 8:38-39

I have always been Father, and will always be Father…Ephesians 3:14-15

Come home and I’ll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen…Luke 15:7

Love, Your Abba, Almighty God

Jed has his Master's Degree!

The weekend of March 1, Dan and Krisha joined us in Ruston, La. for Jed's graduation ceremony and dinner. It also gave Krisha and I an opportunity to do some shopping for the wedding and finish some menu details. After the dinner, we went to "Uncle Ben's" house in Arcadia to see his goats. However, Eli did NOT like meeting the goats. On Sunday we took Dan back to the campus to look around and take some pictures. Congratulations JED!

Dan, Jim and Eli at La. Tech Campus

Jim and Eli on "The Walk" at La. Tech 2008

This is Jim and Eli on "The Walk" in 2003!!

Engagement Announcement

Dan and Krisha's engagement announcement appeared in the Tuscaloosa News today! This makes it seem so much more real now. She also had her bridal portraits done last week. It seems only yesterday that Dan was asking us for her hand in marriage. I remember the look on Dan's face when Jim told him, "Her mother will have to give you the final yes, but.......you see that smile on Krisha's mother's face? I do everything I can to make sure it stays there. As long as you keep Krisha smiling, I'll be happy. BUT, if you ever cause Krisha to lose that smile.....you'll answer to me!" (I think Krisha threatens Dan that she has Jim's phone number on speed dial!) In all honesty, I think God hand picked Dan for Krisha, because she does smile much bigger now.

Eli's angel in Heaven, Mango.

Eli has a Myspace page. Of the 200+ friends, a very large majority of them are other bulldogs and their families. We love to communicate with them and share our stories of day to day life being loved by a bullie. We became very close friends with a little French bulldog named Mango. Her story is so heartwarming......and heartbreaking. Her mommy recently started a memorial page for her, the link is below in our favorite link section for those of you that would like to read it. (There is also a link to our Myspace page if you would like to request to be friends).
Below is a blog that Eli wrote about Mango and some of her pictures that we wanted to share with everyone.

Sunday, December 30, 2007

My special friend, Mango.
I lost a very special friend before the holidays. I had prayed every night that God would heal her of her suffering, but if that was not his plan, that she would go peacefully. Even though she is gone, I still find myself praying each night that she is at peace and that her family will be able to bear the pain of losing her.
Although I love all my friends on Myspace, it was Mango that caused me to sign on every morning. I always wanted to see if new bulletins had been posted and how she was feeling. Some days the news made my Mommy and I cry with happiness because Mango was feeling better, other days we cried because she had a restless night.
I realize that I am only one of hundreds of doggies (and cats, birds, maybe a few frogs..and alot of humans) that fell in love with Mango. Her story was one of abuse, rescue and second chances. She suffered at the hands of abusers in the beginning of her life, but after being rescued by her current family she began to thrive and feel loved. She was given a second chance and she became the "spokesperson" on Myspace to all her friends about how each of us should try to help others and reach out to those in need.
Cancer took Mango from us. It did not allow her a third chance at a wonderful life. However, because of her illness and suffering, I became a better doggie. Mango showed me what it means to love a friend, a real friend. I will never let myself become as attached to another friend as I did Mango - there will never be but one Mango in my life.
Some may believe that animals do not have souls, but Mango has proven that to be false. I feel too much pain from losing her, I feel too much pain because of the loneliness that her family is feeling without her.
Watch over us my dear friend. I will continue to pray for your family and all the other friends that have holes in their hearts because you are gone.
Eli Bama

This picture is Eli with several of the items being sold to help pay Mango's medical bills.

This is precious Mango after one of her chemo treatments. (notice her little bandage).

"A" Day and A "Wedding" Day....

For all of you that know us, (and for those of you that don't) we are 110% Alabama Crimson Tide fans. Our daughter, Krisha, is the biggest Alabama football fan alive. Ok, maybe she ties with her cousin, Sherry. (you will see later in this posting that they share several characteristics). Krisha became engaged during the summer of 2007. After several discussions, we decided on planning the wedding for April 12, 2008 in Tuscaloosa at the beautiful NorthRiver Yacht Club overlooking Lake Tuscaloosa. After having the invitations printed, the DJ booked and everything that goes along with planning a wedding..............the University of Alabama announces that this year's A Day game will be played on April 12, 2008!!!! As shocked as we were, Krisha decided not to cancel the wedding in favor of attending A Day (that's a little humor). Maybe it is because of another characteristic she shares with Sherry.....the man she is engaged to is 110% Auburn fan! (WHAT? What is wrong with these girls? They were raised better! I suppose it is true, when you meet your soulmate, the team they pull for just isn't that important. WHATEVER! Before I would marry Jim, he had to believe in two things 1. God and 2. Bear Bryant. It really wasn't that difficult to convert Jim to an Alabama fan (he graduated from La. Tech...that little team that beat us in 1999) after he attended a few tailgating parties at the Quad and saw how deeply everyone believes in the Tide.) Back to Krisha's story...it will be difficult for us to keep track of Krisha that Saturday to make sure she is getting her hair done, her make-up done, etc. instead of sitting in the stands singing along to Sweet Home Alabama!!! However, as much as she is in love with Dan, we are sure she will be 110% devoted to her wedding day.....BUT, come football season it will be two newlyweds in a house-divided!!!

By the way....A Day starts at 1:00 and the wedding starts at 6:00, so all our friends and family will still be able to attend both! (We are planning to do the Saban Cupid Shuffle Dance.)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXIJgaa0MJw

Leaving there, to get to here....

We began our dance together in Southeast Oklahoma. We spent most of our time here working and going to nursing school, but we did have some great times at the lake in Broken Bow. We also got to play in the snow at least once a year!

Our next stop on our dance took us to Mobile, Alabama. (There is no place like home, there is no place like home!) Although this was only a temporary stop, it was a wonderful time because we got to be closer to our families and we made some lifelong friends while there.

Our current location is in Southeast Texas! Dad is now employed with Temple-Inland in Buna, Texas. Although Mommy has graduated nursing school she is currently staying at home with me. In October of 2006, I gave everyone a scare when I was diagnosed with hemorrhagic gastroenteritis. This is a bleeding disorder, mainly caused from stress. So now, Mommy feels her place is to be with me and see to it that I have as little stress as possible!