Waiting on my Daddy...

Lilli enjoys walking with me to the mailbox. I'm happy to say that Lilli knows that there is a stopping point for her in the yard, a barrier... one where she can not go further. At that point, she'll drop my hand so I can retrieve the mail & then we typically walk back together, hand in hand. Lately, we have been exploring the front yard in the afternoons while we anxiouly wait for Daddy to come home.... Believe me, Lilli's good about dragging her exploration out until Danny pulls in the driveway. While we wait, Lilli constantly glances down the street, pointing and saying "Da-Da". Danny hung the moon in Lilli's eyes... he's her favorite person in the whole world... and I'm okay with that (gulp!) as long as she gives me a few of her sweet kisses from time to time! ;o)

Hope everyone has a blessed Tuesday!

His,

Jen

Happy Monday!

Hope everyone had a fantastic weekend. Danny and I were very productive... and actually constructed the frame for a "lean-to" off the side of our barn. Our niece Liesel helped with Lilli and we worked for 6 hours on the construction. It is nowhere near completion, but we are well on our way. The next hurricane that rolls thru eastern NC might knock it down, but perhaps not... at least it looks good!

I wanted to share a few photos from our weekend. My digital camera's batteries were dead this weekend, so I used an disposable camera... an old one!! My apologies for the clarity on the pictures. The restaurant was a little dark and I'm sure the age of the disposable camera didn't help either. Lilli loved disecting this little cream puff.

After about 5 minutes of playing with it, she decided that it tasted goooo-ooood... It took 6 baby wipes & a trip to the bathroom to get her cleaned up.

Have a wonderful day. ((HUGS)) to all!

His,

Jen

Film Strip Friday!

Hope everyone has a blessed weekend!
xoxo

His,

Jen

Thankful Thursday!

I have 2 WONDEFUL reasons

to be really THANKFUL today.

Two of my very dear friends,

& Lilli's honorary aunts...

Auntie Jane & Aunt Julie,

are both celebrating their birthday's TODAY!!!

Jane & Jenny in their Relay for Life "gear", June 08'

Julie & her daughter Anna Parker at Lilli's 1st Birthday partyHappy Birthday girls!

I love you both very much...

& so does Lillibug!

xoxoxo,

Jen

Eating G.R.I.T.S. (Southern Style)

Miss Lilli is working so hard on making the spoon meet her mouth... unfortunately, half of what is on her spoon never makes it there! Her favorite breakfast food is GRITS w/ RED-EYE GRAVY! What Southern Belle doesn't love a good bowl?? Say it with me.... Yummm-mmmmy!!!
We are trying to teach Miss Priss how to be polite in the middle of it all. No throwing food, no screaming or high-pitched squealing as Mommy fumbles with the pack of crackers, no purposely tossing her tippy cup on the floor, followed by "uhhhh-ooooooh!". Just a few of the mountains we must climb... and I'll take em' all!! It's the hardest work... I've ever loved!!

Danny and I are raising Lilli to be a Christian... to love the Lord, but we also desire Lilli to be raised up as a true "G.R.I.T.S" (Girl's Raised In The South) "G.R.I.T.S." know the fine art of saying please, pardon me and you're most welcome. They say "yes ma'am" and "yes sir". They promptly write thank you notes. "G.R.I.T.S." know the true meaning of hospitality... keep their elbows OFF the table & place their napkins in their laps. "G.R.I.T.S." also believe that the mark of a gentleman is chivalrous behavior. "G.R.I.T.S." are polite... they have good manners!!! They know the value of a good friendship. "G.R.I.T.S." have integrity, never compromising their morals & beliefs!

Just for fun, I have attached Paula Deen's recipe for "Shrimp-n-Grits"... It's my favorite meal!!! Never had it? You're missing out... Enjoy!!

Shrimp-n-Grits
INGREDIENTS
1 cup stone-ground grits

Salt and pepper (to taste)

1/4 cup REAL butter

2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined, left whole if small/chopped if medium or large

6 slices bacon, chopped into tiny pieces

4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1 cup thinly sliced green onions, white and green parts

1 large clove garlic, minced

DIRECTIONS
1. In a medium saucepan, bring 4 cups water to a boil. Add the grits and salt and pepper to taste. Stir well with a whisk. Reduce the heat to the lowest possible setting and cook the grits until all the water is absorbed, about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the butter and cheese. Keep covered until ready to serve.
2. Rinse the shrimp and pat dry. Fry the bacon in a large skillet until browned and crisp, then drain on a paper towel. Add the shrimp to the bacon grease in the skillet and sauté over medium heat just until they turn pink, about 3 minutes. Do not overcook! Immediately add the lemon juice, parsley, green onions, and garlic. Remove the skillet from the heat.
3. Pour the grits into a serving bowl. Pour the shrimp mixture over the grits. Garnish with the bacon bits.
Note: If you are serving this as an appetizer, spoon 1/4 cup grits onto a bread or salad plate. Top with 1/4 cup of the shrimp mixture. Garnish with a sprinkling of crisp bacon bits and serve immediately.

Have a wonderful Wednesday y'all!
His,
Jen

The BIG NC State/ECU Game

Okay... I tried to be impartial, truely I did... but Danny is such a huge NC State fan, Lilli had to get all dolled up for the big game on Saturday between 15th ranked East Carolina University & NC State Wolfpack!!! You see, I am a bit of an ECU fan. The game didn't exactly go as expected for my dear Pirates! There was NO "Painting it Purple"!!! Danny was howling like a wolf... and well, Lilli likes to imitate... Lilli enjoyed the game for the most part, but I think she really loved to watch Danny's reactions to all the plays. She was really getting into it... but overall, I think she was in shock (as we all were) that NC State Wolfpack pulled off the overtime victory... 30-24!! OUCH! Please humor me on the Fight Song playing in the background... I did this just for Danny!!

Have a blessed Monday everyone... & ((hugs)) to all my ECU fan friends out there... you know who you are! :o) xoxo

His,

Jen

Thankful Thursday

Introducing... the "Sandbox Queen" - and ooohhh, what a ROYAL MESS she makes!! Having a "normal bath" after playing in the sandbox, just doesn't cut it! Lilli had a 20 minute bath last night & I still found sand on her...Today, I am very thankful for the happy life I have with my daughter & husband! It simply doesn't get any better than this... Life is so beautiful!!! Pardon me for getting a bit sappy and quoting Jerry Maguire... Danny and Lilli "complete me!"

"I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your cup of joy will overflow!" --John 15:11

Enjoy your Thursday everyone... give someone that you love a ((HUG))! xo

His,

Jen

Film Strip Friday!

Have a wonderful weekend everybody!
((hugs))
His,
Jen

You've come a long way, baby...

Happy, Happy 6 Month Gotcha Day Anniversary to US! Just 6 short months ago, on March 17th (Saint Paddy's Day 2008), Lilli was place forever in our arms and born in our hearts! Not one tear fell from Lilli's precious almond-shaped, brown eyes when they passed her to us... although Mommy and Daddy cried bunches!! Lilli patted our faces with her little hand and gave us a funny look, as if to say... "What took you so long to get here?" Our lives were forever changed by this Child of God... I don't remember what my life was like without Lilli, and I don't want to! All the stress from the wait vanished instantly. "He has made everything beautiful in it's time..." - Ecclesiastes 3:11

On the airplane, flying from Beijing to Nanchang, Jiangxi... to get our girl!

The hand off!

Look at those rosey cheeks & not a single tear!!Danny and I have had the time of our lives over the last 6 months with our little Miss. God picked her out just for us and we sing HIS praises everyday!!! GOD IS SOOOO GOOD!!!!
I am my Mommy and Daddy's perfect jewel! God picked me out, just for them!!What a difference 6 months makes... Lilli's getting sooooo big, smarter and prettier with each day that passes. I never knew that I could love anyone so much!!! Have a blessed day everybody! xoxo
His,
Jen

If You're Happy & You Know It... SAY AMEN!

We had a great weekend, although I have battled a terrible sinus infection. Our niece Liesel did some babysitting for us on Friday night and then again on Saturday afternoon while we attended a wedding. Liesel is so good with Lilli! Thank you Liesel... we love you bunches!
Just a few video clips & photos from Sunday's afternoon activities with Lilli. She's so silly and truly so much fun! Such a happy toddler! God has indeed blessed our socks right off!!! Make sure you pause the music at the bottom of the screen before you play the videos.
Lilli has learned many of the actions to the song "If You're Happy & You Know It, Clap Your Hands"... but has her own rendition for the "Amen" portion of the song... ENJOY! What a SCREAM... literally!!

Ya'll have a blessed Monday! ((Hugs)) all around...

His,

Jen

Eeeek - I've been tagged!

I was tagged on Friday, by my dear friend, Shelley at "...a Wok on the the Wild Side..." http://www.wildnoodles.blogspot.com/ She asked me to name 6 things that are unspectacular about me. This should be pretty easy, as I'm one of the dullest gals I know! Soooo, here goes nothing...

1- I am the youngest of 4 children. The baby... some might say spoiled. Hand-me-downs galore and tortured (in a very loving way) by my 2 older sisters and brother. I promise, they'll claim otherwise!

2- Danny and I met on the internet at the age of 28 and were married at 29. We are both from the same small town, but somehow never met each other...Wait, that might qualify as spectacular?
3- I have a Type A personality... I have been compared to Kate from "Jon & Kate, Plus Eight". I assure you, I'm not THAT bad... and I don't shout at Danny, like Kate does at Jon... and well, we also don't have 8 kids, only the one. Unfortunately, I have passed a bit of Type A trait on to my daughter, who at 15 months old is already showing signs of a "controller". Sad, I know!!

4- I can't cook... PERIOD. I love the thought of being able to cook and love to watch the Food Network. My Type A personality has actually caused me to have dreams of private cooking lessons with Paula Deen and Giada... Really!!! And strangely, I own these cookbooks???!! I can "bake" easy things like cookies - from the cookie dough roll... and I am the "Microwave Goddess", but that's about it. Bless Danny's heart... at this point in our marriage, I think his taste buds are severely damaged from years of my bad dishes. And poor, poor Lilli! She's just doomed!

5- I have lived in the same town MY WHOLE LIFE, with exception to college. I moved back home after college... established my roots and family here. My Mom and Dad still live in the same house. The pencil marks are still on the back of the kitchen door from where my Mother measured my height. Any time I'd like... I can "pay my respects" to all 27 of my childhood pets in my parent's backyard. (lol)

6- I love NASCAR! I don't know why, but I do? All of it... either attending a race "live" or watching a race from the comforts of our home.Oh my goodness, a Sunday afternoon nap on the couch, while the cars are zipping around the track... there's nothing better!!! Lilli likes to watch races too. She's a Tony Stewart fan... I love my little redneck!That's it... impressive, huh?! I will be passing the torch along to my travel buddy, Stephanie at "One World, One Love" http://oneworld--onelove.blogspot.com/ Okay Steph, it's all yours ...let's hear all about you and your amazing "unspectacular"life!!!

Hope everyone had a wonderful... amazing... SPECTACULAR weekend!
His,

Jen

Jesus Loves Me!

Jesus loves me! This I know, for the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong; they are weak, but He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.

Jesus loves me! This I know, as He loved so long ago,
Taking children on His knee, saying, “Let them come to Me.”

Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so. Jesus loves me when I'm good, when I do the things I should,
Jesus loves me when I'm bad, though it makes Him very sad.

Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so. Jesus loves me still today, walking with me on my way,
Wanting as a friend to give, light and love to all who live.

Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.

Have a blessed weekend everyone!! My love to all...
His,
Jen

Wordless Wednesday...