Jim got me on this one!

I have always wanted a pencil drawing/portrait of Eli. When Coahlton Whitehead, an up and coming local artist, personally presented it to me on Saturday I was speechless.........and very, very tearful! It was part of my Valentine's Day present from Jim!

This is the photo used for the drawing. It is also Eli's favorite spot to nap....and to be sure that he is protecting me too!

Eli has enjoyed looking at the drawing almost as much as I have!

As stated, Jim really got me on this one, I was NOT expecting this. However, I must add that lately he is getting good at giving me big surprises - on my birthday he presented me with a NEW Pandora bracelet! (If you have followed the blog, you know that he just completed one for me during hurricane season).

The new one has two baby carriages and two baby booties with pink crystals! Yes, this bracelet will be completely devoted to Aubrey and Lainey. I am looking forward to getting many new charms as they enter the world and I reach new milestones as Moma D!

PS........Thanks Krisha for coaching him on the bracelet purchase!

Visiting Reanna and Savanna

We went to visit Reanna and Savanna on Saturday. It is amazing how much these two little beauties have grown since last year!

This is Savanna trying her best to ride a scooter. She is going to be the engineer of the family one day. She is constantly trying to put things together and figure out how to work things!

Below is Reanna, she is the "I want it, and I want it now" girl. ha. She had rather be entertaining herself in a mud puddle (and occasionally taking a bite of her mud pies)

Jim and I spent time "riding" the girls in their strollers in the yard. At one point I looked over to Jim and said, "Can you believe that we are going to have two of these in 4 months!"

Thanks so much to Allan, Darla, Reanna and Savanna for a wonderful Saturday on the lake with them. Also, a HUGE thanks for all the great "hand-me-downs" for our girls. They will get so much use out of all of it.

Looking forward to seeing you again in March for the girl's 2nd birthday party!

Thanks, Mary Grace!

I received a very beautiful surprise today via UPS from our niece, Mary Grace.

It is a cake plate w/pedestal, hand painted by Mary Grace!

However, so that it can be used more and seen by everyone, I placed the plate on an easel stand on the counter.

Thanks so much, Mary Grace! I just LOVE it. You did a fantastic job too.

Eli was also very curious as to what might be in the box too. When I opened the box and all we could see was the little "white peanuts" used in the packaging.........he went nose first into the box! I had to pull him out until I got the gift out. As much as he loves playing with boxes, I took the time to remove all the peanuts into a garbage bag so that he could have it. But, he stuck his noise up into the air as if to say, "Without those peanuts, I'm not interested anymore."

Thanks again, Mary Grace for giving us such a wonderful surprise!

We love you.

Babies that need our prayers..............

Please add these precious families to your prayers. Kelly and Scott and Jenna and Chris, who I believe are "Blog" friends, both gave birth to long-awaited and much desired little bundles of joy this week, and both babies have been in critical care. We can only imagine all they are going through, being separated from their babies and handling all of the unexpected turns that have occurred since their births. Please God hold them in your hands and give them and their babies comfort and healing and a peace that surpasses all understanding. Thank you for praying for them along with me.

Our granddaughters have names.................

Our little girls will no longer be referred to as Baby A and Baby B. Dan and Krisha have come up with two beautiful names.

Baby A - will be named after Krisha, Aubrey Kathryn. (Krisha's name is Kathryn LaKrisha) She will be called Aubrey.

Baby B - will be named after Dan, Lainey Ryan. (Dan's name is Daniel Ryan) She will be called Lainey.

It sounds so "up close and personal" to be able to say "Lainey kept putting her foot in Aubrey's face during the ultrasound, rather than saying "Baby B's foot kept getting in Baby A's face."

For those of you wondering.............Jim will be called Popa Jim and I will be called Momma D. (at least until the girls can talk, then they can call us whatever they desire!)

Please keep Aubrey and Lainey in your prayers!!!

Shopping for the Girls.............

I had a very exciting day! I spent almost all day shopping for my two granddaughters. Yes, Dan and Krisha found out this morning that God has blessed us with two little girls! We are thrilled!!! I don't think that I purchased enough to get the country out of the recession, but I helped! Ha.

Received a good report from the doctor. Both girls are weighing in at about a 1/2 pound each, heart chambers look great, and so do all their other parts.

Please continue to keep our little girls in your prayers!!!!

Looking back at 2008

The year 2008 was full of exciting moments, life-changing experiences, and sadness.
January - February were spent attending wedding parties, showers, and doing our last minute details for Dan and Krisha's wedding.
In March, we took time away from wedding preparations to attend Jed's graduation in Ruston, La. He received his Master's Degree!
April - we were all wrapped up in Dan and Krisha's beautiful wedding. Krisha was the most beautiful bride I've ever (or will ever) see! God blessed us with a wonderful son-in-law too.
In May, Paige graduated high school.
The summer months, June, July and August were hot summer days. We got to spend some fun times at Crystal Beach. Eli and Beau turned 5 years old, and of course, the Neshoba County Fair!!!!
However, in September - November we spent our time fleeing from hurricanes, repairing hurricane damage, and regretting that we did not spend more time on Crystal Beach before it was destroyed by Ike! It was also during this time that Jim's mother became ill. Her lung cancer returned and she started treatments again. However, during all this destruction and sadness, we received the greatest news parents can receive.........we are going to be grandparents!! Grandparents to TWINS! God is good! Also, the ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE returned! ROLL TIDE.
We had planned a quite December Christmas in Texas. We were not able to go home to Alabama because of Jim's work. However, Jim's mother took a turn for the worst and past away on the 22nd. We really didn't feel as if we had a Christmas celebration, not only because of Mrs. Dance's death, but also because it was my first Christmas away from Krisha.

We are so looking forward to great and wonderful things happening for us in 2009. Please keep our family in your prayers, especially for the twins and Krisha's health.
We hope you and yours have a wonderful 2009!!

Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.

(3 John 1:2)