Stopping To Smell The Flowers

I want to show y'all a place where my friend Missy and I went for lunch a few days before my wedding. We wanted to go somewhere special. It's such a pretty place. And it's only 15 minutes from my house. The houses are very old and they were all brought here from New Orleans a few years ago. Some of them are shotgun houses. I love the old tin roof on this one.

I was starting to get a little stressed with the wedding coming up in a few days. Missy thought that I needed a little time to relax....and smell the flowers along the way. :)

Missy's top matched the flowers. I loved the gardens...so inspiring. Made me want to go home and plant more in my courtyard. The red and white building behind her is the cafe.

Yummy dessert. Didn't eat mine though. Had to make sure I could still fit in my wedding dress. :)

Inside the cafe.

Our delicious food. Mine was called "Crawfish Renee". I can't remember the name of her food. We both enjoyed our meals. Loved the dishes too. I sold them to the owner a few years ago from the store that I work for.

I just love these little houses. They turned them into shops. An antique shop, a bakery, a variety store, and a couple are empty. Oh, how I would love to rent one for a shabby chic shop one day. I would love this pink one.

The cafe. See the little bowls and saucers on the porch? They are for the little kittens that come by daily. :)

This yellow one is pretty too. I love the bright color. Looks like a beach house.

This is the little variety shop. It was closed....we'll have to go back soon.

Me....trying the door anyway. I really wanted to go in there. I bet they have some neat things.

Thank you Missy for always being there for me.

My best friend.


Hugs,

Finding happiness...

I have been away from my blog for a while now due to some personal family issues. I have missed talking to my 'bloggie' friends so much. Things have just been really hard for our family and they have really taken their toll on me. It took a while for me to see through the difficulties that were and are still surrounding our family. This is a very hard time for us all but I know that with God's help, we can and will get through it all. I know that he will see us through this storm and lift us up and keep us safe.

On the other hand...I have some really 'happy' news to share with all of you.

This coming Friday night....July 22, 2011.....

I will marry my best friend. The man I love with all of my heart. The man that has been beside me through these last 5 years through many ups and downs. The man who laughs with me and cries with me. The man who wants to grow old with me and who I want to grow old with.

Easter with my children

I hope you all had a beautiful Easter. I was able to share Easter Sunday with two of my children and one of my grandsons. This is me and Garrett right after church. He had already changed into play clothes but I made him run put his shirt back on for pictures. lol

He is growing up so fast. He will be 10 years old next week.

As you can see we still have old "Bear". He has been the best dog. I am so glad that he adopted us.

My little boy....almost as tall as me.

Me and my sweet daughter, Christy.

Just wanted to show a few pictures of my Spring and Easter dishes. This is my favorite time of year. Everything so fresh and new.

My Easter centerpiece. Just kind-of thrown together at the last minute. I had worked so much the week before. I'm so glad that Belk closes on Easter.

My Swan vase and teapot. I've always loved swans. They were even in my favorite movie..."The Notebook".

I have collected them for years.

The little eggs are salt and pepper shakers.


My Spring dishes are Paula Dean. So pretty. I love changing out this hutch for different holidays.

My daughter and my sweet grandson, Jason. He is so precious.

Isn't he adorable? He is almost 3 years old now.

After church we went to a friend's house for an Easter egg hunt. This is Garrett all hot and sweaty. He had so much fun.

We had a really good time together.

Hard to believe that Garrett will be 10 in a few days. Isn't he a doll? He is such a good boy too.

I love sharing special times with my children. The only thing that could have made it better would have been to have my other son, Cole and my other grandson, Gabriel there.

I haven't blogged in a long time. Just been so busy. Hope to get by my favorite blogs soon.

Hugs,

Garrett's room is getting a make-over!

This is me and my youngest son Garrett taken last year on one of his field trips at school. He is such a precious little boy. He is a blessing to me everyday.

Garrett is so thoughtful and 'looks after me' everyday. He always asks me how I'm feeling and also how my day at work went. He is very mature for his age. He will turn 10 years old in May.

I am so proud of him. He loves school and has made straight A's all year. This picture was in our local newspaper of him and his friends after getting some awards.

We recently went to visit my youngest grandson in north Mississippi. My son Cole's baby. This is Gabriel. He is 13 months old. He has grow so much and so fast.

Garrett playing with Gabriel. He loves being "Uncle Garrett".

Garrett and Gabriel. He is so protective of his nephews.

Gabriel bit a hunk out of Garrett's new Nerf ball. Garrett wasn't even upset about it. I thought that was so sweet of him.

Garrett with his little nephew, Jason. My daughter Christy's son. I am so proud of him for playing with his little nephews and watching out for them. I just wanted to post about how proud I am of him and let y'all know that I am giving his room a make-over this week. He deserves it and it really needs it. I spent most of the morning just 'cleaning' it. That was a job! He is getting new 'old' furniture that use to be in his older brother's room. Just gonna give each piece a new paint job to make it look new. Garrett even picked out the colors. Can't wait to show y'all.

All grown up

Last month was my daughter's birthday. Her 28th. Christina Danielle. Amazing how fast these years have flown by. This post is for her. This was the first picture ever taken of us together. She was only a few hours old. One of the happiest days of my life.Here we are still in the hospital. She was 1 day old. I was almost 17.

Here she is with her daddy. We were both so young. He was 18.

First day at home with my beautiful daughter. She was 3 days old.

One of our Christmases at her grandparent's house. I remember it like yesterday.

My sweet little girl. Here she was at 2 years old.

Here she is at 3 years old.

I loved this outfit on her. All dressed for pre-school with her baby doll.

'Licking the bowl' at MaMaw's house. That's what we always called it.

Beautiful little girl.

Another Christmas...

So talented. She always loved to draw and color.

Christy and her little kitty. She always loved animals and still does.

One of her birthday parties that I had for her at McDonald's. I told her that she could only invite a few kids from school....and she invited about 30 or 40! She didn't want to leave anyone out.

Another birthday that we celebrated at home. She turned 9 that year.

She loved her barbies!

Here as a pre-teen with her same little friend.

Here as a teenager.

Growing up so fast.

One of our fun times together. We were at a casino in the restroom. We thought it was so pretty that we had a lady take our picture in there.

So glad that we were always close and continue to get closer everyday.

Christy and her friends after trying out for the talent show at the fair.

Here she is with her little brothers.

Sweet Teenager.

She has always been such a loving daughter.

My sweet little girl in her Senior portrait.

She fell in love....

With a good man....


Married him....

Started a family.... Her mother-in-law and me with her at one of her baby showers.

My sweet daughter and my extra sweet grandson. She is the best little mommy. I am so proud of her.

We met for lunch on her birthday because I had to work. I gave her gifts to her at a restaurant in the mall.

She loved her "Daughter" bracelet.

Me and my little girl....all grown up.

I have so enjoyed our life together. My only little girl.

Thank you for being such a blessing to my life. I love you so much. Thank you for always being there for me. I'll always be here for you too. Pinky-promise.