New Years Eve 2012.....almost 2013

Tony rented movies for the night. We are together but doing different things. I'm semi watching slash semi studying. I have med tech class this Thursday. So, I'm digging into medication administration and drug dosages math. Fun! Fun!

I say that but I mean it. Studying is hard but well worth it in the end. I'm truly living my dreams. They are coming true.

Today as I walked through the house I had such a sense of thankfulness. Thankfulness for my husband, for being a wife. It truly is a role that I enjoy. Thankful for my girls and being a mother, another role that brings me great joy. Thankfulness for our home, it brings us such safety and security. All of it together represents my lifetime dreams. Dreams that have come true.

2012 has been a good year for us. A time for growing closer. All of us. I feel that every relationship and every member of our family can say that this year we've considered each other more and that we've grown tighter, closer, and even more loyal to one another.

It's the year that all of my preparing and hard work began to pay off with my acceptance into the ADN program at DCC. It's the year I passed my dreaded first semester. I was so afraid of failing.

It's the year of great beginnings.

I pray that our feet stay on the path the Lord prepareth for us. I pray that He keep His loving, safe, secure hands around us. I know that He will get us through another year. Another great year. Together.

Bring on 2013!

Breakfast Bar Sundays

We set the clock and got up early this morning. My daddy, Heaven, Matt and Trey all met us here at our house around 8:30. We all went to Mt. Airy to Golden Corral for the breakfast bar. Breakfast is Tony's favorite food. He'd been wanting to go for a long long time. It was good. I'm more of a fancy restaurant girl. I prefer Carabas, Outback, Long Horn or little country places like Dixie Pig. I'm not much on buffets but I had a wonderful time and thoroughly enjoyed my morning with my family.

It's the fellowship that makes the experience. I'm so blessed to have to the love and support from such a tight knit family. The spirit of love that dwells amoung us is beautiful. It's soothing to the soul. Refreshing to the bones. It lifts you up.

My Jesus is love.

He is my Savior.

He is my courage and my strength.

Do you know Him?

He's my very best friend.

My confidant.

He guides my foot steps and leads me along the path He created for me.

He's faithful.

In honor of Him we decided to ride out to one of my favorite places on earth (I have several). We rode out to Kibbler Valley. We rolled down the windows (in spite of Heaven's complaints of the cold) and we listened.

What a beautiful sound the river makes as it runs. The air was so fresh and crisp. It made me feel alive and rejuvenated.

We took a few pictures.

It had changed some since my last visit. New cabins, remodels, gazebos, decks, new fishing holes, camping spots. One day Tony and I plan to have a small piece of land there. Even if just to place a camper there right next to the river. I can't wait.

Down in that deep valley, in the deep crevice of those mountains, it's beautiful. It makes it hard to relate the comparison you always hear about being on the mountain top or being in a valley. The mountain top is suppose the greatest moment while the valley is suppose to be the lowest. For me, their beauty is the same. The presence of Christ is so real you can feel Him just as strongly in either place. Maybe that is the point, He never leaves us.

I love the Mountains.

I love the Valley just as much.

These scriptures are so beautiful.......

Deuteronomy 8:7  For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills;

Isaiah 41:18  I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.

Seek Him, for He is seeking you. 

Here is a glimpse of the homes in the valley and some of the river, but these do not do the river justice. I'll take better ones soon.

I love how the parents set this slide up right next to the steps. What a neat idea.

 The water is so beautiful and my pictures-these pictures-do not do Kibbler Valley any justice.

 A privately owned picnic area.

 A beautiful cabin. I love this design.

 An older cabin.

 This is a neat little camp site. It's for sale. It's small but it's right next to the river. Tony and I have seriously discussed this as a future venture for us. We plan on getting a nice camper when I graduate from RN school and a place like this would be perfect for set up.

 The water again.

 Another private owned sweet spot.

 again.

 beautiful

 Cute cabin

 Neat rock, it hangs way over. The picture doesn't bring it to life at all. It's breathtaking in person.

 This is me standing under the rock and looking up to take the picture.

 It was cold, see the Icicles?

 Now this is a nice place.

 You see the mountains behind it. This place is beautiful.

 This is an older home being remodeled.

 This place is across the river. Very hard to get pictures of, but this is my dream place. I love this home. It has been remodeled but kept so original. I love the 'Little House on the Prairie' feel to this.

 Another Shot

 Again.

 This is beautiful but way to fancy for my taste.

 Another private owned site

 Again, another private owned site. I love the old cement table and seats.

 One of many bridges.

I hope to go back to Kibbler Valley soon. The next time will be planned and I will be sure to take my good camera, my Nikon D7000 and my zoom lense. These pictures were taken with my small point and shoot Olympus that I keep in my purse. It's a nice little camera but it doesn't capture the detail my Nikon does.

So, that's a wrap to my breakfast bar Sunday.

It's time for me to go and start studying, I see lots of medication administration in my future.......

Sleepy Saturdays

This semester my escape has been Dawson's Creek. We've never had cable television and never watched a lot of T.V. We do however have Netflix. So, I decided to find a old show that was complete that I could watch alone and on my time. The one draw back that I found with this was that I would often escape to Dawson's Creek when I could have been studying more. I knew that I really needed to finish the seasons before school went back next week.

 I stayed up until 4 a.m. finishing it last night. The last three episodes of their last season, season 6, were so good. I cried for over an hour while watching. It was so bittersweet because once I'd finished the show there was like a piece of me was gone. I was happy with the ending though. Very satisfied.

I slept in today and Tony being such a sweet man came to wake me around 12. My sleeping schedule over the holidays reminds me of my homeschooling schedule. I always revert back to my night owl lifestyle when left to my own free will. It has its pros and cons. Tony fixed me chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast. Savannah had her friends spend the night last night. Her boyfriend came over today and we all watched movies together. I fell asleep in the floor, under my heating blanket, and just woke up. It's 7 pm. Talk about a wonderful nap. I slept hard.

Lazy, sleepy Saturdays.

I love them.

Laid back, nothing to do, surrounded by family and friends.

Hmmmm and now I'm hungry.

Starving in fact.

I think I need to send the kiddos out for more take out.

:)

Thank-God for Sleepy Saturdays.

It's Friday Night, I Guess that Makes Alright.....

You're daggone right it does! Friday night. We had dinner date plans to go to Mexican and then on to Honduras to hear our sweet friend Marcie sing. But, as the time drew near for me to get ready and I sat here on my comfy couch, under my soft, warm, heating blanket-a gift from my dear hubby-the chill in the air convinced me that we needed to stay in tonight. Thankfully, Tony felt the same way. So here we sit at home together in our nice warm den watching T.V, me blogging and waiting on our take out from Mexican. Now that's a dinner date. Kiddos are out and about and the house is quiet. That is something you really come to appreciate when your youngest-3rd child- is 11.

Winter time.

Christmas break.

Relaxation.

Warmth.

Togetherness.

Peace.

God is so good to me.

Thank-You Father. Thank-You for Friday nights. Alone at home with the hubby.

I don't think there could be a better date night, in the cold winter.......

Christmas 2012

We had an awesome Christmas. Wonderful family time. This year we had a new appreciation for each other. It's hard without Nannie and Papa West. It's so different. But I looked around the room and seen their legacy. Such a huge legacy. Then I looked at sweet Landri and my heart was overwhelmed with thankfulness for the Lord's healing touch. I'm so thankful for every member of our family, and every spouse, and every friend. I'm thankful for every moment, every memory. I cherish my time with them.

Yes, Christmas was awesome this year.

I've enjoyed my off time thoroughly. It took me a few days to wind down. I was so stressed coming out of last semester. I have a lot of peace going into this one. I do have a lot of studying to do which will commence on Saturday.

2012 held many events for us.

I was accepted to nursing school. Savannah Sky spent a month in Ethiopia and a month in Uganda. She also graduated. A whole year early. Who would have ever dreamed? Landri was diagnosed with a brain tumor and then healed, never having to go through radiation. Tony and I enjoyed our 19th Anniversary. Heaven turned 22, Savannah Sky turned 17, Meadow turned 11 and my sweet Treyton turned 2.

I'm really looking forward to 2013.

I have some Christmas pictures but Meadow's camera is missing in action. Hopefully it'll turn up soon.

Looking forward to the New Year!

Mimi's Little Man

I sure do love this little guy......

and he sure was happy with his no sew Mickey Mouse blanket his Mimi made him and his Mickey Mouse sippy cups his Mimi bought him.

Fall Semester is OVER!

Woohoo! How relieved I am to have a little (very little) time off. I passed! I finished my first semester of RN nursing school. I never ever dreamed it would be so hard. It was truly, only by the grace of my Lord and Savior and His merciful favor upon me that got me through this. I keep reminding myself of His great plan for me. I know that one day I will finally step my feet onto foreign soil as a medical missionary to spread His word and to help heal physically and spiritually. I know I am in His will.

I also know that as hard as I studied and as much as I tried this past semester I have to give more of me. I have to study harder and I have to try harder. This second semester is going to much more involved and much more intense than last semester. There are days I wonder if I have it in me. I miss my lazy days sometimes, I miss being able to do only what I feel like. Yet, I know, deep down inside that I was getting no where then. That I was being passive. Life was passing me by. I was being of no use to my Lord. Hard as this may be, every day that goes by I am closer to the place the Lord called me to go. I'm pressing forward.

I'm 1/4 nurse!

If you are reading this, please keep me in your prayers. Pray that I retain and understand all that I am being taught.

They have already posted next semesters schedule and assignments. I have more than enough to keep me busy during my break. I'm definitely going to make time for my family and take some me time during my short break. Balance. That's what I've got to do. Balance everything! :)

Philippians 4:11 " Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content." 

Can't Wait to Try This!

Doesn't this look divine. I hope try this around Christmas, if somehow I run short on time or better yet.... energy-I will definitely put this on the list for Tony's birthday in January.

INGREDIENTS:

• One box of strawberry cake mix (plus oil, water and eggs as directed on box)
• 2- 8oz. packages of Philadelphia Cream Cheese (softened to room temp.)
• 1 packet (0.23oz.) of Kool-Aid Lemonade
• Yellow food coloring  (if desired for color)
• 1- 7oz. container Jet-Puffed Marshmallow Creme
• 1/3 c. powdered sugar
• 8 oz. Cool Whip Topping
• Rainbow sugar crystals

DIRECTIONS:

• Make cake according to box and bake in 2- 9 inch round cake pans as directed.  Turn finished cakes over on cake racks and allow to cool completely.
• Cream together cream cheese, lemonade and yellow food coloring until smooth.
• Beat marshmallow creme and powdered sugar in and then fold in Cool Whip until completely smooth.  
• Cut each cake layer in half.
• Alternating layers of cake with layers of frosting, assemble cake.  
• Cover top and sides with frosting and sprinkle with rainbow sugar.
• Refrigerate and serve chilled.

Thank-you Easy Baked

Happy 17th Birthday My Sweet V

My middle girl Savannah Sky. My 'V' is growing up. 

 She is so beautiful.

I love you my V. 

Christmas 2012 Family Photos

Just a few.....

The Bowman and Dalton family. 

Meadow, Matt, Heaven, Jenileigh, Roxy, Tony, Treyton, Sky

My man Tony and I on the couch. 

 Pappy, Treyton and Mimi.

The joy of my soul. My grandson. 

Landri Walking!

Little miss Landri has come such a long way in such a short time. We all know that God's healing hands are on her, even now. She is coming home on the 5th of December. Praise God for answered prayer! Thank you prayer warriors for staying on your knees during this difficult trial that the Jones's family is going through. Below are pictures of sweet Landri Dee walking with her walker and then holding her momma's hand and walking. Such a strong determined little girl!

Mark 5:41 "Taking her by the hand He said to her, 'Talitha Kumi' which means "Little girl, I say to you ARISE!"