Happy Fourth of July

After visiting with the May's and enjoying the Highland Circle Parade and brunch we decided to attend the All American Picnic in the Park at Ballard Park.  We were there for several hours enjoying talking and visiting and listening to the music before Makenna decided she wanted to go home.  Even though it was well past her bedtime, I thought I would be able to talk her into staying a few more minutes to watch the fire works.  This time there was no talking her into anything she was so tired.  By the time we had her buckled in her car seat she was already asleep.  I have to remind Annacarmie and myself Makenna is a very scheduled child and does not do well to try to alter her schedule no matter how much we would like to.

Happy Birthday America, God Bless the country I love so!

Christmas Day and history is made

This morning when I woke up this is what Iwas greeted with. I do not ever remember it snowing much here in Mississippi especially on Christmas. God has given us a wonderful gift this Christmas, the most important gift; Jesus, so that we might have eternal life. The snow is another little gift from God in heaven above that makes me smile as I watch me sweet baby run in the snow. She was not sure what to do with the snow. These are pictures taken from my front door. The snow was absolutely beautiful even if it did not last long.

Christmas with the Culhanes

We do not have the traditional meal for Christmas at Mimi and Daddy Bill's. The menu consists of hot biscuits, eggs, bacon, ham, sausage, and jelly along with a full menu of Christmas desserts. I love that menu for Christmas and cannot think of anything else I would rather eat. That brings back sweet memories of my childhood Christmases as that is what we had then also. UGH, Stephen hates putting toys together and he had numerous things to put together tonight. Just think Stephen, this is not all, you have a full night ahead of you later with other things to put together.

Annacarmie has to help with the instructions after Mamma Kim and Stephen did not see eye to eye about how things needed to be done.

Drew liked his new toys if Makenna Kate would leave then alone so he could play with them.

Mamma Kim and my sweet baby girl, Makenna KateChristmas at Mimi and Daddy Bill's is always chaos, loud and crazy. This year was even louder and crazier as we added a 2 year old and an 8 month old to the mix. My it has been a while since we have had children that young there for Christmas. Makenna Kate is full of life and energy as well as a typical only child who wants to be the center of attention. I am so glad she feels good because it is at those times I know and am thankful she is not sick but the squealing and dragging everything out of the cabinets drives Mimi crazy when she is trying to cook.

This year has been a really fun year for Makenna Kate. She has enjoyed opening all of her own presents as well as the presents for everyone else.

Drew got all the good toys for Christmas, at least according to Makenna Kate. We are really going to have to work a lot more on sharing and playing with other children.

Stephen aka Earl, the gift must be really good with that goofy grin on your face.

The girls gift of the year this year was Chamilla bracelets for those who did not have them and new charms for the ones that did. Annacarmie wanted birthstone charms for her bracelet. Not only did she get those she got other charms that represent something in her life; a charm to represent her birthday, Makenna Kate's birthday, a cross to represent her faith in God, a little girl charm to represent her precious little girl. That filled her bracelet now she can look at it and remember all those things the charms represent and remember to thank God every day for those blessings. Gillian did not have a bracelet so she got one this year with several charms; a little boy representing Drew, a birthstone charm for Will and Drew's birthday, a nutcracker for Will because he has a large collection of them, and a heart to represent the love she and Will have for each other. Even Mimi got some birthstone charms for the grandchildren that she did not have.

Annacarmie, Stephen, Will and Gilliam got Mimi and Daddy Bill a frame with pictures from this year of Makenna Kate and Drew. Now the thousand dollar question is where the frame will go. There is hardly one inch in Mimi's house that is not cluttered with her "stuff".

Makenna Kate loves to feed Man-Man whether he is hungry or not. Guess what, he has his daddy's appetite and is always hungry. Those Cheerios sure do taste good. He even ate his dinner really well tonight when Aunt Camie fed him. She gives him big enough bites that he can taste the food and he liked that.

July 4 a reason to celebrate

My two little pryomanicas. Will, why do you teach her such things she knows enough as it is.

More, more, more Makenna kept hollering at Will. That child loves the water.

We all have so much to be thankful for and I was reminded of that recently. Not only do we live in a country that has more freedom than any other country in the world, I also live daily with the freedom knowing that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. That is the ultimate freedom, being a child of the King of Kings. Praise God He knocked on the door of my heart no matter how vile and rotten I was.

Today we finished up things that needs to be done around the house. You know there is always something that has to be done. Then we enjoyed the rest of the day playing in the pool, grilling, eating and visiting with family. No better way to end a lovely holiday before hitting the ground running again in the morning.

Mamma Kim

Will I ever learn?

I am not sure yet what it is I am suppose to be learning but I sure do wish I would learn it quickly. The last four years have been by far the most difficult days I have ever lived. Just as I think I have come out of the valley something else pops up out of nowhere, usually blindsiding me. I would like a little reprieve from all the stress; however, I am reminded that God is in control and He has a plan in all that is happening, no matter whether it fits into my schedule and plan or not. Jeremiah 29:11 says He has a purpose and a plan for me, not to harm me but to give me hope and a future. It is so hard at times to keep my eyes on Him and not on my own difficulties.

Just tonight as Will and I were talking, he said he was not sure what else could happen. Just this week his best tractor truck was wrecked while in route to Colorado and probably totaled. To do what was right he had his drivers go ahead and deliver the freight to Colorado. So the run would not be such a loss with everything that has happened, he got them a back haul. Now we find out the trailer had much more damage than we originally knew and are not sure if the trailer will make it back to Mississippi much less North Carolina to deliver the load. I totally understand what he is saying with all that has happened over the last 2 months with the trucks and drivers. Giving up is not the answer. When the going gets tough the tough get going and that is what he is trying to do. With the guidance of the Lord, Will will remain tough in the face of adversity. Will's statement to me tonight was if the trailer makes it to Mississippi it will be by the grace of God and an answer to prayer. My God is still in the business of answering prayers, that I do know. Praise God for His favor upon His children of which I am one. Blessings are bountiful in my life every day. Why is it that cannot see many of these blessings every day as they occur. Oh God, give me eyes to see.

Graduation

Yeah, Neil graduated from ICC today and now he just has to finish his course work at Ole Miss to receive his BS in homeland security. Good job Neil, keep up the good work. Now Annacarmie it is your turn.

Mamma Kim

One Blessed Mamma

As we celebrated Mother's Day I was reminded of how blessed I am. Not only do I have four beautiful children that all live within 20 miles of me, I also have a daughter in law and five precious grand children. I also count it a blessing each day that the Lord has allowed me to have my own mother still with me.

This year for Mother's Day, Annacarmie wanted to have dinner at her new house and that is just what we did. Some of the children were not able to be there but we still enjoyed a wonderful meal and the fellowship of family.

I am often reminded of the scripture which tells us "children are a heritage from the Lord." I count each one of them as a heritage and a blessing that I do not deserve. However, God chose to give them to me anyway. Thank you Lord for giving me these precious gifts to love and enjoy. I pray that I have done all I could do to raise them to be the Christians and mighty warriors for you that you have called them to be.

This year was also Annacarmie's first Mother's Day. My sweet Annacarmie, I pray your Mother's Day was all you had hoped it would be. Keep your eyes on your Lord and seek His guidance as you raise Makenna Kate in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. She has been called and set apart for a special purpose. Teach her to seek that special calling from the Lord just as you have been taught.

Mamma Kim

Family Friday

Fresh as a flower after a night's sleep

Amazing what a night's sleep will do for the body and soul when it is uninterrupted sleep. Praise the Lord Makenna slept all night last night and so did I. I can really tell the difference in her today also. She is not near as fussy and clingy. I sure hope and pray we can quickly get her to the point that she sleeps through the night every night.
Makenna and I have had a busy morning with an early morning run to the grocery store to buy what we needed to cook dinner tonight. We are celebrating Will's birthday tonight and he was very specific about what he wanted to eat: cheese nip chicken, peas, corn, mac and cheese, rolls and some kind of good dessert. For Will that means chocolate. Makenna was so good this morning that we had all the preparations of food done before 11:30. What an accomplishment. Then she went down for a nap and I was able to mop the floors.
Everyone should be here about 6 to eat what Will wanted whether anyone else likes it or not. That is all you get to eat here tonight.

Mamma Kim

Family Friday

Mamma Kim