My baby is ready!!!

Introducing my Valentine Present from my dear husband

Mr. Talen Drake

born on January 11, 2009 to Doodle Bug & Billy Jack

I just love his little face & how he follows me around. His little nose twitches like a bunny rabbits. He is just oh so adorable!!!

OMG!!

I got home from work tonight and look what my sweet-sweet husband had waiting for me on my pillow!!! SURPRISE!!! Peep Ducks & Whopper Robin Eggs.... 2 of my very favorites --- a sign that spring is getting closer not to mention how good they are!!! He is such a sweetheart - Thank you Heavenly Father for the blessing of my husband, his gentle loving nature & the love that he shows me. It truly is the little things that make it all worth while!! :)

I need Your HELP...

Hey Ladies,

I need your help - please! A really sweet friend of mine, Glenda M. is just getting started as a consultant with Mary Kay - she has ask me to help her by booking a class - she is in a contest of 30 faces in 30 days where she does make overs on 30 people.

I am SO excited for her and told her I would love to help her get started!!!

My class to help her will be on Thursday, March 5th at 6:30 at my house.

There is NO obligation to buy anything - just please come, enjoy some snacks, get a free mini make over & she will be off to a running good start. There will be catalogs and products to order IF you are interested but that is strickly up to you --- this is just a class to help her get started and WIN THE CONTEST!!!

PLEASE - PLEASE Post a comment AND LET ME KNOW IF YOU WILL or WON'T BE ABLE TO COME!!!

If you can't come but would like to see a catalog or book a class from her - I know she would appreciate it.

Us ladies have to stick together!!! Can't wait to hear from you!!!!

HE PASSED!!!!

Chance took his drivers permit test almost 2 weeks ago and failed by a 72% - Jeff & I both told him that he needed to spend more time studying but I guess there is just something about being a teenage boy & cool.... that he just couldn't quite get it into his routine.... well after he "failed" he was heart broken - how I wanted to take that hurt from him but a life lesson learnt & I did notice that this time around the drivers book was almost like his new best friend!!! We went again this past Tuesday and HE PASSED WITH AN 84%.... WHOOT...WHOOT... We went to Granny's Kitchen in Huntsville to celebrate. I am happy for him but the momma part of my heart is sad.... my baby is growing up and with that comes less of a need for me. On a lighter note -Anyone that wants advance warning when he is going to be driving on the road -- let me know.. hehe

Cancer Changes Everything

As most of you know my precious momma was diagnoised with small cell lung cancer almost 4 years ago - it has now spread to her liver. Hospice has been called in - my entire family is struggling with what we know is coming that will forever change our life. Sometimes I have to remind myself to breath and than when I do - it is a gut punch... I had no earthly ideal that one person could cry so much. My momma has put up a strong and courages fight and I am so proud of her but I can tell that her little body is getting weaker. She said that she doesn't want to die but either way she will be okay - you see I take GREAT comfort in that because my momma is a very devoted Christan - she has been all of her life. I have no doubt that when she passes from this earth she will be with our Heavenly Father. Some days are harder than others for us - I am finding that the days I can't be especially strong - than someone else in the family is and they lift me up or visa versa... God is good that way - we have no doubt that thru all of this he is there gently holding us up. Please remember my momma and daddy in your prayers thru out the day - & evening if we are learning one thing right now --- take the time to be with the ones you love, tell them you love them and cherish each and every moment. God Bless You

Happy Birthday Bren - "DAWG"

Today Bren-"DAWG" turns 12 --- it is hard to believe that this is the same little boy that came to live with us when he was just 2 years old... We have seen alot of changes in him in the 10 year period. He still struggles with many things but he has a true heart of gold. He is an inspiration to many to not ever give up - HAPPY HAPPY Birthday to you - our "Tex", "Grandpa", " Lil Man", "Booger" & most importantly "D-A-W-G" - you rock our world!!!

Valentine KING

King Carl Hutchins

First off let me begin by saying that my grandfather is a 86 year old patient at a local nursing home. He was married to my sweet-sweet grandmother for 55 years until she went to be with the Lord on 6/20/00 - my daddy is an only child - he married my precious momma almost 48 years ago and they had my brother & myself... Being the ONLY grand-daughter I was very-very close to my grandmother - I say with pride that she spoiled me rotten! Every single time I go to see my grandfather - I am a rememberance of Grandma & he cries.... he had a stroke almost 5 years ago and is not able to talk & does not have the use of his right arm or leg. My grandpa is the only grandparent that I have left on this earth - he is very special to me. I feel guilty that with my busy life I don't spend as much time with him as I should - this week I vowed to change that. When I arrive he cries, while I am there he cries & when I leave he cries... the whole time saying "day - oh - day" which he means "Stay All Day" It breaks my heart - but grandpa I am going to start "Day Oh Day" with you several times a month in addition to other little mini visits.

The nursing home called yesterday and said that grandpa was chosen "Mr. Valentine King" -- he won this by receiving the most votes from the nursing staff and patients. When they called his name - he just grinned - & of course started to cry. It was just to adorable. Before his stroke he was very much a "Manly Man" & as tough and grough as they come -- He was very honored by this award today - and I am so proud of my "Grandpa the King"

23 years...

On February 6, 1986 I became Mrs. Jeff Graves.... Jeff was in the Army stationed in Germany - he arrived back in the states on Feb. 5th,1986 & we were married the next day at Baptist Ford Church in Greenland, Ar... we left on 2/7 headed to Augusta, Georgia where he was staioned at Ft. Gordon. We lived there for 3 years until he got out of the Army. I totally love looking at this photo - I thought I couldn't love him anymore but I look at it now and realize just how young we really were... [23 & 25] if someone would have told me I was wrong that I would love him more - in fact everyday and that we would be the parents of 8 kids [5 adopted] I think we both would have cracked up laughing! I had so much fun planning our wedding & reception - he could only call me on Saturday mornings so I tried to cram all I could in those phone conversations....I wrote him daily. The letters we have saved from the 9 months he was in Germany are boxeand put away.... Priceless and precious are these

Flash forward 23 years later - Mr. & Mrs. Jeff Graves.... older, a little chunkier and still just as in LOVE... the parents of 8, pap-paw & Gigi to a 6 year old... We are so blessed. When I woke up this morning I told Jeff I really didn't "feel that old"

This is what was waiting for us when we checked into our room -- the chocolate chip cookies were on our bed!!! YUM-YUM!!!

Jeff waiting on me to get ready before he takes me to dinner!!

This bed was super comfortable -- Jeff has promised to build me a headboard like this! The room was TOTALLY GORGEOUS!!! The amr. is another favorite in the room!

This is the breakfast we had delivered to our room this morning ---ohmygosh ... the chocolate cros. were to die for!!!

I got Jeff 3 gifts...a pair of tennis shoes he had been wanting, the E.S.V Bible & I made him this little can - on the top of it - it says "23 Things I Love" .... - in the inside I listed 23 reasons I love him sooooo very much!! I think it was his favorite. He bought me a GORGEOUS ring w/ 6 heart shaped diamonds in it --- It is being sized and when I get it back - you can bet I will post a photo of it.

This wraps up our 23 year anniversary - it was such a precious day we spent -- we took the day off from work, went Flea Marketing all day, ate at Denny's, Mamma Z's, Lone Star.... The memories will be priceless..... I am now working on planning our 25th.... it will be a blow out as we are planning on re-newing our vows.... than off to Cancun!!! :)

Random Things...

Today has been one of those days --- it was over before it started and I am sitting here wondering just WHERE did the day go - WHAT did people see in me today? WAS - I an example for Christ?? I don't deal well with change - I like a routine, my feathers not ruffled... School has not been in session since last Monday and I liked the routine of sleeping until 9, working on my arts/crafts, hanging out with my family - TOMORROW we go back to school - along with that comes the busy, hecktic pace... I realize that I truly do have so many things to be thankful for!~
Thank you Jesus!

Here are 4 more notebooks I made!!!


Chance cooking on the front porch during the Ice-Storm!!! Yummy!!!


Lemon Sugar Cookies w/ Royal Icing!!! Super YUMMY!!!!