AN AMAZINGLY BLESSED CHRISTMAS

Can't believe just how blessed I am! I have the most wonderful family. My sweet brother opened his home for us once again for the Christmas lunch and "new grand baby enjoyment"! This family has faced trials and happiness with prayers forward and paying it forward! The example is beyond words.

This past week has been a bit in fast forward.. Wednesday was super blessed to be apart of Kim & Steve Wolf's baby boy Kellen's baby shower. Was so fabulous to see her and ALL the family, including extended.

Friday went to have lunch with my hubby and some last minute crowd surfing, lunch was fabulous... traffic and crowd surfing weren't entirely terrible.. but RUDE the ones I did encounter..

Brings us to CHRISTmas day Saturday, I brought the Apple pie and ice cream, pecan pie and mashed potatoes.. so fun to cook for my family!! My kids and hubby exchanged our gifts to one another Friday, my sweet husband and beautiful daughter got me bead for my pandora bracelet which I love to show off and share the stores behind each one! My awesome son takes care of mom by getting me a mani-pedi.. Along with the beads my WONDERFUL MAN, loaded my favorite VERA, Whirly Bird pink patterned for the Breast Cancer support, with a great pair of Toms black sparkly shoes ( sooo stink'n cute), and Bath and Body works of my favorite scents.. OOO WAIT DID I FORGET TO MENTION, WE WOKE UP TO A WHITE CHRISTMAS!! First one I can truly recall.. Made our way through the falling snow to the Rains family house to spend a few very meaningful hours with, Brock, Terri, Chris, BIG Dave Baker, David, Amber and Ava... So amazed by them all!!

I can't imagine being someone in this world not getting to experience the love and blessings of a close knit family .. I pray for them to be reached somehow..

HOW BLESSED AM I

TO BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THE

MILESTONES!!

LET ME INTRODUCE YOU, THIS IS MY WONDERFUL NEPHEW, DAVID AND HIS AMAZING WIFE, AMBER.. 11/18/10 DECIDED TO BRING US A BABY GIRL!!!! Ava Elyse Rains, 7lbs 9 oz and 21" long!!

WELCOME BABY GIRL!

My family is such a blessing to me!! At this giving thanks this time of year, I want to take the time to stop and praise my Savior Jesus Christ, for all he has aloud to me experience!!

A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO I GOT TO SPEND THE AFTERNOON WITH MY WONDERFUL DAUGHTER CHRISSY, AND WE TOOK SOME PHOTOS HERE ARE A COUPLE...

THIS PAST FALL , I ALSO GOT THE PRIVILEGE TO "PLAY FOOTBALL MOM"!! MY SON, DUSTY IS THE KICKER FOR HIS HIGH SCHOOL, AND IS A SENIOR.. HERE ARE A COUPLE OF PHOTOS FROM HIS SEASON... CAPTAIN #24

DON'T TAKE A SECOND OF YOUR LIFE FOR GRANTED

PRAY AND PRAISE FOR EACH

VALLEY AND MOUNTAIN TOP

YOU GET THE PRIVILEGE

TO EXPERIENCE!!

A blog I follow Thru a friend's.. please pray

This is Brayden.. I don't personally know his family.. But he needs our prayers.. This little fellow was born at 28 weeks gestation. He is really sick.. Please pray for he and his beautiful family!!

The Good Lord has blessed me with 39 years!

In approx 11 hours I can declare being on this planet for 39 years!!

These 39 yrs have been filled with lots of joy and pain, loss and gain, but to look back over these years all I can see is blessings beyond my own belief!!

I been through technically two divorces, mom & dad, and my own, but all in all, through it all, Christ has gone before me and I can clearly see him .. Loosing my mom to breast cancer 23yrs ago, at a critical time in my youth, yet seeing the experience through eyes now, would have never imagined how far I would have come..

The past 18 years have been a pure blurrrr, I lost the finest man 2004, my D.D., I have the most amazing daughter that will be twenty soon, I have the most extraordinary son that'll be eighteen next month and a senior in high school.. have been married to the LOVE of my life, have gotten to experience milestones that I'd never thought these many years ago..

I want to take this time to PRAISE MY GOD for everything he... hang on, got to compose myself.... ok.. has given me, A brother that has stood beyond his promises, a grand mother whose taught me, that a good name is rather chosen than great riches, a grand father that taught me boldness through meekness and humility, mother that made me see life is too short, and lastly be most ALL not least, the husband that has stood with me through ALL the storms life could throw our way!!

Look out WORLD here I come!!!

O MY LORD HAS IT BEEN TWENTY YEARS!!!

This weekend marks my 20 yrs outta school!! O MY STARS!!!! To have been a CHS Dragon was an experience in and of itself..

My freshman year was a year of change, leaving Louisiana, where I had lived since 5th grade to come home to loose my mom to breast cancer.. to com to attend Clinton Jr High, which is now the middle school.. seeing people that I had gone to elementary school with the at I had not seen in those many years.. especially Kim Cooper (Woolfe), who ended up later being my maid of honor in my wedding in 1995.. Prom with Erich Schneider and getting lost on the way home.. but made it home before curfew 1am..

My Sophomore year was when the color guard adventure began, having never been in band before that was an experience, band camp, winning the spirit stick with my "team" mates at UT and competitions were amazing!! Participated in FFA, as secretary, LOL!! Prom date, Jason Crowley

Junior year was kinda of shocking, Sherril West lost her mom on a band practice night, our trip to London for the Lord Mayor's new years parade..friend with Theresa Queener through band, I was shortest, she was tallest, (ending up marrying my ex-husband, sadly) Prom date: Darren Highfill

Senior year, well was an interesting year to say the least.. had computer tech calss with Mrs. Moore , Melissa Moore's mom, great class for puters back then! Wow how they have changed!!!! Marketing DECA President, Vicki Burns teacher, I end preggers with my beautiful daughter Chrissy and married to Rick Manning, family was very supportive through it!! Prom Date: Rick Manning my, Husband.. HMMM

Twenty years passed, this, I am now a mom of two amazing kids Chrissy, almost 20, in Dec. Dusty, almost 18 in Aug, and have been, dating/ married to my GOD send Greg Wallace, for (18) 15 years now, and have never been happier!!

Chrissy is a CHS graduate , Dusty will graduate, CHS this year, my how time flies...

ANOTHER NEW ADVENTURE, JUST OUT OUR BACK DOOR

All I can say is wow!! I am soo thankful to be married to a man ready to go adventuring with me! My husband, Greg and I have just passed our 15th anniversary a little bit ago, the gift was incredible, a brand new camera!!! Kodak Easy Share z981, HIGHLY recommend it.. We have had soo much fun playing arround with it..

Last weekend we went to Bald River falls up in Tellico Plains, TN, absolutely amazing pics. Today I declared it, See a bear day... We ventured just up the Road about a hour from our house to Townsend , TN to Cades Cove and the eleven mile loop you can choose to hike, or drive.

We Chose to drive due to time issues, however, still an extraordinary trip!!! The mountains were breath taking, a little rain show here and there, yet little historic home places and cabins to see and take great pics of.. o, yeah did I mention the wild life.. Today we saw turkey, dear and yes, I declared to see a bear, and boy did I ever, umm, 5 of them! Thank God our camera has a 26x zoom on it for great pics..

The first little one was wondering by a beautiful meadow, the other Momma and her two cubs, beyond a cabin and barn and meadow.. How amazing was that!!! The other was like it was telling us bye, we saw it in the distance and could not get a pic but non the less...

Now on to our next adventure can wait to see where it take us...

First Blog, let's see now...

Thought I would love to start a blog.. try my hand at it for once.

I have a lot on my mind at times and thought it might be kewl to start sharing through a blog..

I have a wonderful family, I have been married to a wonderful man for fifteen years now, Two great kids, Chrissy and Dusty, Chrissy is almost 20 and Dusty, affectionately call D is almost 18, man I am not old enough, LOL!

My Husband Greg, is the most wonderful man, he is a thoughtful, lovable guy, and inspires me daily, God has truly blessed me.