CELEBRATE!

Southern women are said to really only need two things...a deviled egg plate and a nice iced-tea pitcher.  Sunday, both were pulled out for a celebratory lunch.

Our family had MUCH to give thanks for on this Mothers Day!

The holiday brings sentimental thoughts.  My mother would have loved to have been at this table to enjoy Matt and Beth's moment.

Our new baby Will was dedicated at church on Mother's Day.  He had never been around that many people and lights.  He just blinked in wonder.

Would you like to check out the 46-second video below?

Sixteen people came to Will's party and his big brother had the most fun.  Nate always loves playing with his cousins...but Sunday he was sparkling like it was Christmas Eve.  His excitement was because he had kept several secrets and EVERYONE knows keeping secrets is hard work!  Nate had made his Mama gifts that he was antsy to give her.  What would Mother's Day be without the handmade prizes?

This morning I am smiling as I think back on Sunday.  It reminds me of when the Lord's mother was startled by those shepherds @the nativity.  Mary and Joseph listened as the sheep-keepers excitedly told of a sky full of angels proclaiming her son's birth.  Scripture says Mary treasured all those words and pondered them in her heart.

I'm pondering/treasuring, too.  Don't you think all mothers hold high the privilege to cooperate with the Almighty in "making" a life?  And of course they ponder, too, the future potential for their children.

Papa and I are blessed and we know it.  We pray daily for our Fayetteville grandboys and the Little Rock grandgirls and ask the Lord to help them come to Him at an early age.  I know Nate and Hanna are thinking big thoughts already.  Last week Nate and his Daddy were going to a Naturals (baseball) game.  In the parking lot, Nate asked..."So why would the Lord put us here just to go to ballgames?"  Good thinking, Buddy!

All the grands will have to make their own decisions, but they're each getting homeschooled in the love of God.

That makes us say with 3John 1:4 "I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children live in the truth."