Chasing Fireflies

Spring Day

Saturday was a glorious spring day.  Michael mentioned what a perfect day it would be to go for a picnic and hike.  So I put to the side all I had envisioned to accomplish in order that I could spend the day with my family.  And around 11 we set out for a day out in nature. 

We hit the road with the windows rolled down and Michael tuned our radio to a station that played 80s music.  "We are the Champions" by Queen, "Jenny" or "867-5309" by Tommy Tutone, and "Jessie's Girl" by Rick Springfield serenaded us to the state park.   

We found a perfect picnic spot and dined in the sunshine.

After lunch, we fished briefly, but found it to be too windy.  So we took off on a hike, down a hill, over the bridge, up a hill, and over more bridges.

The kids found an old tree to cross over

and then we turned back

to walk down a hill, across the bridge, and up another hill.

It was a perfect spring time family day.

And on the way home we introduced the kids to "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen.  :)

Easter Sunday 2013

Easter Weekend 2013

Our AMAZING Easter weekend involved:

Hot cross buns and going to see a passion play on Good Friday,

Mom and Dad coming to town to celebrate with us,

dying eggs and egg hunts in rain sprinkling down upon us,

Easter baskets,

Sunday morning church,

our traditional Easter lunch,

banana pudding, and

a fish fry, Peeps s'mores, our 2nd annual glow-in-the-dark egg hunt with friends.

Anna Belle

One week ago today I was faced with a hard and difficult decision. 

On June 10, 1997, I witnessed an amazing event.  My neighbor's cocker spaniel delivered four puppies in my room at home.  We tried to move her outside to the screened-in porch, but she would not have it.  She insisted that she deliver indoors where it was cool and alongside my mom, sister, and I which she knew would take good care of her newborn pups.  After covering the floor thickly with old towels, my mom, sister, and I watched as 4 puppies entered the world.  Puppy #1 was a big healthy boy.  Puppy #2 was also a boy.  Then puppy #3 was born.  She was a sweet little girl.  Then when we thought it was all over, puppy #4 was delivered.  It was another little boy.  He was the runt of the litter and was half the size of his biggest brother.  After the deliveries we watched and assisted Clara Belle remove the sacks from all the sweet puppies and watched as they each took their first breaths. 

It was an event that I was grateful to be a part of.  Michael and I were wed 2 1/2 weeks later and we kidded that Clara Belle wanted to give us a wedding present of a puppy.  And that she did!  Two weeks after Michael and I returned from our honeymoon my sister and mom brought us our "first baby." 

I had requested the baby girl of the litter and our neighbors gave her to us.  We were so happy to be "parents" and named her Anna Belle (Belle after her sweet Momma). 

Me with Anna Belle about 1 week after her birth

Anna Belle about 12 weeks old

Little did we know how Anna Belle would bless our family.  She was our "first baby" and became the subject of many "firsts" pictures. 

First snow

Our First Christmas

Little did Anna Belle also know what her birthday would behold every year.  How many doggies are forced encouraged to wear a party hat for their celebration?

Anna Belle's first birthday - We even made homemade calzones for her.  :)

So we ended up with the little girl of the litter.  My mom, dad, and sister ended up with the runt who they named Jack.  A year later our neighbors gave the "big boy," Woody, to my mom and dad. And then within another year they gave Clara Belle to mom and dad since they couldn't care for her after having a new baby.  (We aren't sure who got the other little boy.)  From this point our lives almost always involved 4 sweet doggies. 

Jack, Woody, Anna Belle, Clara Belle

Anna Belle fit perfectly in our family and was a sweet big sister to each of her siblings which she helped me mother.

Anna Belle with Olivia

Anna Belle with Isaac

Anna Belle with Joshua

Anna Belle, Isaac, and Olivia watching for Michael to get home

My two June birthday girls

Christmas 2009

Every Christmas we take a picture of Anna Belle retrieving her biscuits out of her stocking.

Christmas 2012

And every year on June 10 we have pictures of Anna Belle dressed in her party hat celebrating her birthday.

12th Birthday

14th Birthday

15th Birthday

Anna Belle and Woody

Family trip to Hilton Head Island 2010

Christmas 2010

Last Monday, March 18, I was faced with a difficult and heart breaking decision and in another way I was given a true blessing.  I was privileged to be with and hold Anna Belle as she took her final breath. 

Anna Belle was my first pet and I had the amazing and unusual experience of being with her as she was born and as she passed.  What a truly special gift God gave me!

Anna Belle blessed our family for 15 years and 9 months.  My life hasn't been the same this last week.  Different from any other time in my married life.  As a family we laid Anna Belle to rest on the outskirts of our woods underneath a huge pine tree, paid our respects, and decorated her grave with beautiful roses.  Many tears were shed and Isaac drew a picture of Anna Belle complete with her heart in heaven.

Although I still have a huge hole left in my heart today, I have been comforted in knowing that my Anna Belle is in heaven feeling good again with her little brother, Jack, and her Momma, Clara Belle again .... probably chasing squirrels.  :) 

March 18, 2013

Anna Belle Lee

June 10, 1997 - March 18, 2013

Thank you for being a part of our family Anna Belle.  We love you and will always miss you.

Our House is Built with LOVE

My inspiration for our Valentine's Day table came to me in early January one day while all of my kids were playing with the Legos they received as Christmas gifts.  Isaac and Joshua with their primary colors and Olivia with her pink set.  I enlisted each of them to help me dig out red bricks and together we built our centerpiece house with LOVE.

We were privileged to have my mom and dad in town for Valentine's and enjoyed a dinner of steak and heart shaped biscuits, lemon butter asparagus, and a heart shaped potato chive pancake.  Heart shaped boxes of chocolates were opened afterwards and the flavor guide was closely inspected for our top favorite flavors.

My favorite is the caramels.  What is your favorite?

A Balloon Release on 12-12-12

On the eve of 12-12-12 I brainstormed with ideas of things we could do for the upcoming monumental day.

I came up with an idea that would involve even more 12's on the day of 12's.  We began by going to the store and purchasing 12 balloon in rainbow colors.  Then headed home to discuss what a unique monumental day it was and how it would never occur again within our lifetimes.  I then began a discussion with my children of "words of hope" that we have as requests for God our Father.  We began a word list of prayer requests for God.  Our list included:

1.  Love

2.  Friendship

3.  Health

4.  Wisdom

5.  Purpose

6.  Character

7.  Inspiration

8.  Purity

9.  Money

10.  Spiritual Growth

11.  Discernment

12.  Peace 

I then wrote each of the words on individual balloons.  Afterwards, we took our balloons out in the field beside our house and had a time of prayer asking God to guide us in each of our future lives and bless us with the items we requested on our balloons.  Then one by one the kids released the balloons.  We each lay down in the grass and followed our balloons in the beautiful blue sky for 13 minutes until we no longer could see them.

It was a beautiful way for me to spend time teaching my children on 12-12-12.  I pray that each of them will forever remember this special day and "Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God."  Philippians 4:6

Fall Afternoon Hike

A Day of Thanksgiving

Our day of Thanksgiving began with watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.  The table was set with an interactive tablecloth and several other Thanksgiving activites.

Thanksgiving Day Brunch Menu:

Sweet Potato Biscuits

Chicken and Sage Sausage

Turkey Bacon

Stuffed Omelet

Parfaits of Apple and Cranberry Crisp served over vanilla yogurt

Fruit Gobbler

Sparkling Apple Cider

After spending time out in the yard (and an unexpected emergency visit to the ophthalmologist) Thanksgiving Dinner was served and eaten on my paternal grandmother's Harmony House Golden Wheat china (and in the presence of antique Tom Turkey).

Thanksgiving Day Dinner Menu:

Roasted Turkey

Dressing with fresh sage and cranberries

Sweet Potato Casserole

Mashed Potatoes

Green Beans

English Peas

Cranberry Chutney

Gravy

Rolls

Iced Tea

Later, after the sun set we enjoyed dessert.

Thanksgiving Day Dessert Menu:

Caramel Walnut Tart

Chocolate Pie with whipped cream and chocolate shavings

I am so thankful for my precious family, Mom and Dad, extended family, friends, and most importantly, my Savior.

October 31

~ Morning ~

~ Noon ~

~ Night ~

Enjoyed Pear Crumble over yogurt for breakfast

Ate lunch around a beautiful fall bouquet Michael presented to me

Feasted on gingerbread and hot chocolate for our after dinner treat as we snuggled up together as a family to watch the 1968 version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Happy Sister's Day Sis!

Happy Sister's Day to my sister who I eagerly helped welcome to the world, who I cherished helping mother as a youngster, who I adored having stand by my side as my maid of honor, who I have seen a great portion of the US beside, who I enjoy sharing recipes with and work alongside with in the kitchen, who I now look up to, and most of all who I love having fun with and just being downright silly with at times.  I love you Sis!

Wishing Their Daddy a Happy Birthday

Easter Sunday

After church pictures

 

Easter lunch table

Easter lunch - Turkey, Dressing, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Homemade Marinated Beets, Cranberry Chutney, Homemade Cranberry Sauce, Gravy

Traditional Easter Dessert - Banana Pudding

Egg Dying

Ready to hunt eggs

Hunting

Our first annual glow-in-the-dark egg hunt

Thanksgiving 2011

 

11.11.11

Morning

(soon before) Noon

Afternoon

Evening

Night

The Last Evening of October

This last evening of October we spent quietly at home together as a family.
Dinner:  Pear Gorgonzola Pizza
Dessert:  Apple Crumble
Movie:  The 1956 version of Around the World in 80 Days

Annual Apple Picking Adventure

Last Friday morning we set out on our Annual Apple Picking Adventure.  It was a beautiful day as we walked the rows of Arkansas Black, Stayman Winesap, and Pink Ladys.  Unbelievably, we were the only ones in the orchard that day and it was very quiet, for the exception of the creaking of the ladder, the honeybees buzzing by, the occasional thump of an apple hitting the ground, the grass under the wagon wheels, and the conversation amongst ourselves.  It was a grand adventure! 

 

 

Now...what to do with that whole bushel of apples?  :)

One Year

One year ago today we closed a chapter in our lives and drove away from Georgia - the state we had been temporarily transplanted in for 8 wonderful years.  It was a very emotional day for me and, quite frankly, painful.

The last year has been a ride which has forced me to grow.  I've learned to live with less:  restaurants, entertainment, shopping, local grocers, and did I mention shopping and restaurants!!  I've missed my dear friends in Georgia as well as the house which we called "Home" for so long.  The search for our current Home enabled me the opportunity to learn patience, since we spent 7 months in a rental house with barely any of our own personal possessions.  Oh...and the experience of m.o.v.i.n.g. a.g.a.i.n (into "our house") was, well, not as fascinating as you might think. 

But you know what?  Finding our place back in Mississippi has turned out to be quite enjoyable.  I can say with sincerity today that "I'm back home."  

We've come home to:

Civil War Reinactments

 

New friends

The Natchez Trace Parkway

Elvis Presley's Birth State

Hospitality

Wild Blackberry Brambles

Bottle Trees

Antebellum homes

Trains

Cotton Fields

Corn Fields

Two-Lane Country Roads

Our Alma Mater

A Church Family

Family

It's good to be home!

A Good Day in the Garden

When we all have our Crocs on, you can be assured that we are headed straight out the door to our garden--a place we all have been a part of.

Today we were welcomed by the beautiful hue of bright red from our ripened tomatoes. 

Honestly, I had to contain myself from not picking the red beauties.  For I wanted my children to have the joy of having a part of the process from planting to watching grow to harvesting.  Much to my delight, they were as excited as their mom.

One little gardener was so proud of the tomatoes that he insisted on toting them all the way from the garden into the house.  What good helpers I've been blessed with.

And can you guess what we had for dinner tonight?  That's right.  BLT's from our first harvest of the summer.  Freshly made from our 5 ripe tomatoes.  They were absolutely divine and the true taste of summer along with fresh radish chips.

Here's to hoping we have many, many more tomatoes to harvest (and BLT's to eat) this summer in our new garden.

Happy 14th Anniversary!

Fourteen years ago I wed my high school sweetheart.  God has blessed us with three amazing children and a wonderful life together.  Happy 14th Anniversary Michael!  I love you!

Fathers Day 2011

I had the wonderful opportunity to spend Father's Day this year with both my dad and the father of my children.  We had a grand day full of activity and making memories.

The morning began with my mom, Isaac, and I teaming up to prepare a hot homemade breakfast of biscuits, bacon, sausage, gravy, spinach and mushroom omelet, and fresh fruit.

After breakfast the kids presented their dad and granddad with handmade fish cards that they had decorated.  Along with the fish came fishing poles and a tackle box and messages of "Happy Father's Day!  Will you please take me fishing?"

By midmorning my dad and I had dressed in appropriate attire and headed to the back of our property to the wild blackberry brambles.  We reflected on many memories from my childhood when we would go blackberry picking each summer.  Although many berries didn't make it into our bucket, before we knew it our bucket was full of sweet ripe wild blackberries.

Our afternoon was spent in Shiloh National Park viewing a bald eagle that has made his home there and driving around the park.

From Shiloh National Park we headed to the historical "Catfish Hotel" for dinner where we dined on catfish, sweet potatoes, hushpuppies, and slaw.

And then to top off the day, we returned home to our homemade dessert of Blackberry Cobbler made from the freshly picked blackberries Dad and I had picked earlier. 

I had a grand day celebrating two of the most special fathers in my life.  I am grateful to God for the role they play in my life and the lives of my children.  Happy Father's Day Dad and Michael!  I love you!