*OH HAPPY DAY*

...WHEN HE WASHED MY SINS AWAY!!!!!

Happy Easter!!

We are so blessed and so humbled by God's great and overwhelming love! We had an awesome morning at church, as we worshipped the ONE who has given us life! I am so thankful for the cross and for the price that was paid by Christ. BUT, it does not end there. He arose, he triumphed over death, and we are more than conquerors through Him!

A quilt times 2!!

My Mama is so full of love and sweetness!

Do you hear me?!?!

For Christmas, my sister and I had one present under the tree. The same size box, each adorned with some tulle and a fresh cotton boll; and that got me to thinking! What could it be?!?!

Mama always has projects she's working on: clothes for the kiddos, quilts, table-runners, scarves (to name a few)...I always say that these things are "made with love." 11 years ago, she and I picked out some fabric so that she could make a quilt for me, we decided on a blue and white collection. A couple of years ago, my sister picked out some black and white fabric. All this to say, I knew that Mama had been working on the quilts, very diligently over the last year. She had been on a couple of retreats, where she did nothing but quilt! The more I thought about it, the more excited I got when it was time to open presents, I just knew it had to be our quilts!

Thank you, MAMA!!! I know these were made with lots and lots of LOVE!!!

PS, this is one of my most favorite adult Christmas presents...just sayin!

Jammin' Out

When we lived in Spokane, WA, a lady at our church named Judy took me under her wing and taught me how to make jam. We went to one of her friends house, picked the berries and made the jam! If you have ever had the home made stuff, you know that it beats the store bought stuff, hands-down! I have made jam through the years, but not in the last few. I was eager to make some, and after having some tonight...I'm so glad I did, and so were the kiddos :)

It's only good when the fruit is picked off the vine; and thanks to my pickers, we had enough to make two batches!

Getting everything prepped

This is how the fruit looks when it's cooking, it smells soooo good

And here's me...at midnight holding one of my beauties :)

Oh yes...I am proud of these!

Would you like one? Leave a comment and you might just win one... there will be a random drawing!!!

memories from GEORGIA

Georgia, sweet Georgia! We took a trip to see our family over Easter, which was SB for the older two J's. My, oh my...what a wonderful time we had. There was a lot going on and we stayed super busy, no-one wanted to leave...there were a lot of tears this time :(

On a much happier note, let me give a shout-out to Michele!!! She went above and beyond the call of friendship, let me tell you about her sweetness! Just weeks ago, she called me and told me she had a crazy idea. After telling me her idea, I told her she was, indeed, crazy. She flew down here, from WA and drove to and from GA with me! Did ya'll here that? She is a dear and true friend to subject herself to traveling for 15 hours with us!!! Greg is tdy (aka: gone) in Virginia, for a military course. So, it was me, Michele and the three J's. She stayed with us for two weeks and we had so, so, so much FUN! Love ya, my friend!

It's hard to pick from so many pictures. I picked my faves, and tried to give a little caption for most of them. There will be some more posts later...of more fun times; but for tonight, I must go to bed!

Jordy with G and G...how bout' them dawgs?!?! They gave him this new hat...he looks so dag-gum cute!

Ms. Michele giving Jannah and Carley a little pedi and mani!

Look at this good-lookin bunch! Gamma made the dresses and bow ties; she always outdoes herself, thank you Mama! We actually wore our Easter frocks one week early...don't tell anyone!

How cute!

Gampa and his boys

Gamma and her girls

Love me some Mama and Lori!

What would a trip to GA be without a little dirt bike, Georgia Boots and shootin' a gun?

***Thanks Jonathan***

Good times at Grandma's house!

Easter morning...they were so cute and so full of sugar a few minutes after this picture!

Jonathan and Aunt Melinda...Let me just tell you a little something about Jonathan. I was 17 when he was born, and I can promise you that he stole my heart, along with everyone else's! He really doesn't know how much I adore him :)

Jannah with Great Granny

Lori and Aunt Melinda

*they make me smile*

Oh, I almost forgot about Jordan's pet...thanks Aunt Lori for catching the lizard! He brought him back to IL with us, he lasted for a week...oops!

Jamison had been waiting for a while to bite into the bunny- looks like it was rewarding!

Jannah showing off her sugar cookie creation

One word sums up the trip: WONDERFUL!!!