“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”—Oliver Wendell Holmes

Bye Buddy.....

Hope you all had a heartwarming and cherished Thanksgiving. We did I suppose. Of coarse it was bittersweet but we made it through. I still have birthday pictures to post but I'm at mom's and don't have access to my pics right now however, I do want to share with you all one of my family's favorite scenes from one of our favorite Christmas movies. We love ELF and laugh at it all the time. You may have to stop my music playlist in order to hear it. Although part of me is dreading the Holiday season for obvious reasons it is also such a festive time that I'm thankful for the lightheartedness of it all. I do look forward to that part. So, I would like to think I will try to post more often in December (maybe everyday but don't hold your breath) even if for just a quick note or cute saying. Remember, Santa Claus is watching you. Have you been nice??

I love you all and have a great weekend!

Happy Turkey Day To You

Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone!

Be safe and don't eat too much!!

I know it's a day early but ya never know what's going to happen b/w now and then so just wanted to share my wishes with you now. I hope you all remember what you are truly thankful for this year. There are so many much more important things in life other than the petty things we worry over each day. Be sure to remember the Maker and be thankful for his sacrifice for us so we can enjoy such holidays as these. Now, buckle up your seat belts b/c Christmas is right around the corner. God bless you all and continue to remember us and the Lawson's in your prayers this holiday season!!

PS-we did get our computer back so there will be bday party pictures soon!

My Babies are 4!

My little girls are not little anymore. Today they turned 4 years old and I am amazed at how time has flown by. My original intention was to do a slide show with some touching and precious baby pictures of my angels but it seems our home computer has taken a long dive off a short pier so it is in the computer hospital right now. I'm actually posting this from Al's work computer so I guess I'll show what I already have ready. Enjoy and remember that each day is a blessing and mine are filled with 3 of the sweetest blessings God ever sent to Earth! Mommy and Daddy love you Gracie and Maggie to the moon and back!!

Party for two please

As I stated yesterday, tomorrow is a big day for my babies. They have been planning this shindig for a LOONNGG time. At one point they wanted multiple birthday parties with multiple themes: High School Musical, Tinkerbell, Hannah Montana........ So the executive party planner (ME) decided that Tinkerbell it is. You might have already seen this cutie patootie picture but I added a few bells and whistles (thanks Rach for the website)! There are trully a lot of things going on and a lot of hurt to go around these days for so many around me but my girls deserve a special day with lots of smiles and hugs and love! So that is what they are going to get darn it!! I'll be sure to post pics from the party but again my computer is scheduled for a much needed visit to the computer doctor soon so bare with me on that.

Also, I will continue to give you updates on Kim's mom and today she is having more surgery. More prayers are needed for sure. I know they need healing but also peace and comfort and understanding for what they are going through.

I thought I would just put a cute and happy picture on this post for everyone since things have been so down and serious lately. I can tell you I'm tired of being sad and worried and scared and all those things. I mean I'm not that way all the time but I think everyone could use a great boost every once in a while so it might be a little early but HAPPY THANKSGIVING to ya! Although we will be missing someone very prominent in our family gatherings this holiday season I can reassure you that I am more grateful than I have ever been in my life for the ones that I am blessed to know and love. I don't want to waste another minute without everyone one in my life knowing how much they mean to me and how loved they are!!

Ok with that being said, I thought I'd share a few things and get everyone caught up.

• Please see Kim's Blog for an update on her mom. Things seem to be at the most less critical but her mom has a long way to go to be better. Prayers all around for them: Kim, Brady, the kidos, her mom and her dad!!!
• My precious twinkies will have their 4th birthday party this weekend. I have lots to get done before Saturday for that. Their actual birthday is on the 24th and I can't believe that
  they will be 4 years old. Seriously, where did all the time go?? Oh yeah, chasing twins!!
• Next week is Thanksgiving and it will be hard for us no doubt so keep us in your thoughts if ya don't mind.

That's all I can think of right now. I have lots and lots of thoughts going through my head constantly now so again just bare with me if I go on rambling about a thought or a feeling or whatever hits my head that day!!

Quick Request Please

I have a prayer request for everyone. My cousin Brady's family needs our prayers. His wife Kim's mother, Diane, is in the ICU in Tuscaloosa with a severe infection. You probably have visited their blog site before, lawsonpartyoffive, as it's linked on my page . They are all very dear to us and are loved beyond measure. If there was anything I have felt through my time of sorrow it is the power of prayer. Blogs can be fun, entertaining, informative and even sometimes harmful I'm sure but they can also help spread the power of God.

Love you all!!

Gotta get back to work!

We're just Squitting!

So, my computer is acting up so if I go missing for a while it might just be b/c we're having some "work" done. However, this weekend we all went down to Auburn to just kinda get away and go to the GA game. Yes, we lost but I was still proud of the valiant effort in the midst of a rocky season.
We stayed with Mr. James while we were in AU. So, on Saturday morning the girls were running around in his back yard yelling, squealing and playing. They decided to play "Ring Around the Rosie." Al and I warn them not to sit down at the end of their little game b/c the grass was wet. So when they got to the "All fall down" part we called out again not to sit in the yard. SO, Miss Precocious Clara Paige sweetly yells back, "We're just Squitting!" ????? What? What the heck is squitting?? We cracked up. I think it must be the new catch phrase for a cross between squatting and sitting. You'll have to get her to demonstrate next time you see her.

Yard Art at it's Finest!

As promised here is a picture of the lovely yard art my creative young nephew, Jackson, placed in their front yard last week. According to his mom, Wendy, he was so proud of his accomplishment. I'm not sure mom and dad were so thrilled but hey they definitely have instilled the Alabama pride in their son. And might I add that this might just be the only form of Alabama pride you will see on this blog. I may have other things on my mind and my priorities may have shifted recently but do not doubt my love of Auburn. Yes, even in the midst of failure I am still proud to be a tiger! Only the love for family could make me post this well, that and I thought it was just so funny!!

Note to self: Hide all spray paint next time Jackson comes to visit!!

My Music

Ok, I'm sorry there are no pictures with this one. I was going to post a cute picture of my nephew but couldn't get the picture to pull up so I'll work on that one tomorrow for you. I warned you earlier that this blog has now become a kind of therapy for me so beware that you might have to weed through more ramblings and emotional outbursts than ever before but I think you can understand and allow me this vice. It won't hurt my feeling if you wish to just skip through these if you just want to see cute pictures of my girlies. I completely understand being addicted to that also.

However, I also use music as a kind of release for me. If I can relate to a song then it touches me deeply. (I think my dad would understand that too. He loved music.) So I don't know if you've noticed or not but the songs I put as background music to this blog are special to me in someway or another. Sometimes it might just be for a theme or time of year (yes be ready for some Holiday tunes soon) but I don't just throw them on here. They have meaning and I take time in picking them and get annoyed when I can't find the one I'm looking for. So, to some of you who might just turn it down, I respect that. Some don't find music that important. That's cool. I get it. BUT I found this song and it kinda explains how I'm feeling right now. Well actually all of them do that are on here but this one hit me hard tonight for some reason. Tomorrow might be different but in general it's my state of mind. Below are the lyrics and it is on my playlist so you might hear it one day as you are browsing the blog. It's amazing and by one of my newest favorite bands; Lifehouse. They are played on mainstream stations but I've read they are also considered Christian so read it with that i mind. Enjoy or skip through but I think everyone can find healing and peace through something and this might be mine, at least for now:

The Broken clock is a comfort It helps me sleep tonight

Maybe it can stop tomorrow From stealing all my time

And I am here still waiting Though I still have my doubts

I am damaged at best Like you've already figured out

I'm falling apart I'm barely breathing

With a broken heart That's still beating

In the pain There is healing

In Your name I find meaning So I'm holding on

I'm barely holding on to You

The broken locks were a warning You got inside my head

I tried my best to be guarded I'm an open book instead

And I still see your reflection Inside of my eyes

That are looking for purpose They're still looking for life

I'm falling apart I'm barely breathing

With a broken heart That's still beating

In the pain Is there healing

In Your name I find meaning

So I'm holding on I'm barely holding on to You

I'm hanging on another day Just to see what, you will throw my way

And I'm hanging on, to the words you say

You said that I will, will be okay

The broken light on the freeway Left me here alone

I may have lost my way now But I haven't forgotten my way home

I'm falling apart I'm barely breathing

With a broken heart That's still beating

In the pain There is healing

In Your name I find meaning

So I'm holding on

Barely holding on to You Barely holdin on to You

More Pumpkin Patching

I know I'm back pedaling here but I've felt that way a lot lately. I did want to share these pictures with you though. We went to the Pumpkin Patch before Halloween with our dear friends the Millers and Dodsons. We had a very good time and I couldn't let these pictures not get posted.

Here's a sweet one of all the girlies. I have one like this from a couple of years ago and it is one of my favorites. Its amazing how much they have all grown.

Me and my Honey. Don't know what I'd do without him.

Me and my bestest girl friend, Rachel. Don't know what I'd do without her either.

The girlies again. Aren't they something else?


Here are the twinlings, Nate & Josh. Don't know which is which. Sorry folks!

My adorable family if I do say so myself!!

Here is one that was taken at our Church Hayride that same weekend. That was lots of fun too. We had a bonfire, somewhat cooked hot dogs and a cool but creepy hayride. I also burned the mess out of my tongue with some piping hot cider. Note to self: do not do that again, dork!!

Well ok maybe that takes care of the Halloweenish stuff for you. My dad was with us on both of these excursions and these will be some of the last moments I will treasure with him. These were the kinds of things he was always there for.

On to the Holidays I suppose. I'm not sure I'm ready for them. Not sure if they will help or hurt but just keep us in those prayers of yours!!

Have a great week!!

The 1st Field Trip

Clara Paige's first school field trip was to the Old Baker Farm for a Pumpkin Patch experience a couple of weeks ago. Of coarse I went along b/c I was not going to miss this with my girl. It was a really great day but boy was it colder than I thought it was going to be that day.
This is her teacher and all the girls in her class. A pretty good group of kidos and a very sweet teacher.
Here we are riding on the hayride back from picking out our pumpkins! Good thing I can keep some of these pumpkins around through Thanksgiving b/c we've got a bunch of them around the house from all the pumpkin patches we visited this year. That was a hint that I've got more pictures from another patch from another day and time. So hang in there with me.

And here's the crew. CP, Abby, Kaylee and Emily. Its amazing what you learn about your child and her friends from a simple trip to the farm (pumpkin patch). From what I'm gathering CP and Miss Abby are quite the twosome and are hilarious together. I think we have a new little buddy in our future. Her mom is adorable too! I look forward to more experiences with Mrs. Cunningham's Kindergarten class!