Exciting News!

Missing in Action? No, not really - just very busy!!! My camera died a few weeks ago (after we got back from our Florida trip), and I feel totally lost!!

However, we do have some wonderful news! The Lord has given us the awesome opportunity and responsibility of being the parents to Jackson Riley for the last three years. He is the delight and joy of our lives. Every day holds new adventures and new paths that we must cross, but we wouldn't trade him anything in the world! We are so very excited to announce that we have another little blessing on the way!!! This is a big answer to prayer for us! I have had a few complications, but the Lord has helped and everything is looking great! We are expecting our little bundle of joy in May! Please keep praying for us as we prepare for this new chapter in our lives!!!!

Wonderful World of Disney

We just returned from a wonderful week in Florida. We were providing the music for a staff retreat that Dr. David Gibbs, Jr. and the Christian Law Association team was having. While we were there, we were able to spend a day at the Magic Kingdom. We had a blast!!!


This is the entrance to Disney World - it was absolutely beautiful!


Jackson wasn't sure what to think about the real Cinderella, although he loves to watch her movie to see "Guss Guss". We had to ask Cinderella if Guss Guss was staying out of trouble! :)


I think this was probably one of Jackson's favorite things! He drove a Go-Cart (with Daddy's help, of course).


This was Mommy's favorite part. We visited Minnie's country house. I loved all the pink and purple.


This was Minnie's mailbox.


Jackson sitting in Minnie's Sunroom


This is in Minnie's kitchen - we were watching popcorn popping in the microwave.


Minnie's Oven - she was baking a birthday cake for Mickey.


My cousin, Lindsay, showing Jackson around in Minnie's tea room. Those cookies sure did look yummy!


Next door to Minnie's country house was Mickey's country house.


Here is Mickey's bedroom.


Look at all those shoes!


Mickey's couch where he watches football :)!



Here is Mickey's kitchen - he really needs Minnie's help in there because Donald made a HUGE mess! :)


Jackson and Mommy riding the Dumbo ride






What a fun day!!!

Be Thankful

This is something I came across the other day. It's a letter that a lady submitted to Ann Landers to be published. It's pretty convicting!



Dear Ann Landers: I hope you will print something a friend in Australia sent me.
I think it's perfect to run on Thanksgiving. -- Bee in Fairfax, Va.


Dear Bee: Please send my best wishes and warm thanks to your friend in
Australia. Here's the thoughtful piece she sent:

Things to Be Thankful For:

·Be thankful for the clothes that fit a little too snug, because it means you have enough to eat.

·Be thankful for the mess you clean up after a party, because it means you have been surrounded by friends.

·Be thankful for the taxes you pay, because it means you're employed.

·Be thankful that your lawn needs mowing and your windows need fixing, because it means you have a home.

·Be thankful for your heating bill, because it means you are warm.

·Be thankful for the laundry, because it means you have clothes to wear.

·Be thankful for the space you find at the far end of the parking lot, because it means you can walk.

·Be thankful for the lady who sings off-key behind you in church, because it means you can hear.

·Be thankful when people complain about the government, because it means we have freedom of speech.

·Be thankful for the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours, because it means you're alive.

Happy 50th Birthday, Mom

Breakfast In Bed

There are very few pleasures in life that are more enjoyable than having a nice breakfast in bed (I personally LOVE to have coffee in bed). Jackson loves to be with us in our bed. He'll say, "Mommy, can we just go cuddle for a little while in your bed?" Now, when it is time to actually go to sleep, he would much rather be in his bed. He will have it no other way. Jackson absolutely LOVES his bed!!!

He is at such a sweet age, and it is so fun to watch him enjoy the simple pleasures of life. I can't believe that he will be turning THREE next week!!!! Time flies when you are having fun.

We love you all! Hope you have a wonderful week....

P.S. And for all of you who are wondering - yes, it is cereal, but no - there is no milk :) I'm not THAT crazy!!!!

Sweet Family Time

In July, we went to Murfreesboro to be with Jonathan's family. It is very unusual for us all to be together because we all live so far apart now. My in-laws and Justin and Kim live live in Murfreesboro, TN, we live in Alabama, Jason and Rebecca live in California, and Jeri Lynn and Matt live in Kansas. We had a blast, but I am sure of one thing - Paw Paw and Mammy's house will never be the same :)! Any time that we are able to be together is always so sweet! We love you all!

Four Wonderful Years

Yesterday, Jonathan and I celebrated our fourth anniversary. I found myself reflecting over the last four years and wondering, where all the time has gone. So much has taken place over the last four years - finishing our degrees, working together in Tennessee, the birth of our precious little boy, Jackson, the big emotional move to Alabama...the list is so long, but it has been wonderful. When I think back on how Jonathan and I met, I realize how much the Lord really cares about every detail of our life! I stand so amazed!

Our first meeting was when I was in high school and Jonathan was travelling with the quartet from Crown College. My mom is a musician and has a special appreciation for beautiful music, so when Jonathan started playing the piano, she tapped me on the leg and said, "that boy can play the piano!!!!!" Well, we had a great time that evening. He played the piano and I sang, we went out to eat with the whole group, but needless to say, we were in very different phases of our life. I was planning on attending Bob Jones University to major in Music. It was one of those - he is a very nice guy, but our paths will probably never cross again situations.

Well, the summer after my senior year of high school, I had already packed up all of my things, paid the first payments at Bob Jones University, and was preparing to move, when my mom became very sick. It was a long hard decision, but my family and I decided that it would be best for me to stay home and work and go to school - at least until we knew all that was involved with my mom's illness. I prayed long and hard about it, and decided to take a Music Scholarship at the University of Alabama. The University was just a few blocks from our church, so I was able to be as active in our church as I had always been and still go to school. The first semester went great, but by the time the second semester rolled around, I was becoming restless. I knew there had to be more - the Lord had something bigger planned.

My dad sat down with me one day and said, "Leah, I think I know the perfect place for you". He was going to Crown College to speak at something and he asked me to go with him. It was really quite amazing because the moment we drove up on the campus, I knew that this was where I was supposed to be. I quickly became involved in the music ministry and my path led me to Jonathan. We began to arrange music together, plan the music out for the ministries of the Temple Baptist Church and Crown College, and play for many weddings, funerals, and other events. What a fun time we had!!

It wasn't always pleasant, trials came. We broke up for a season, to make sure that our relationship was the Lord's leading, and not something that we had orchestrated ourselves or felt pressured to do. The Lord was faithful, and he led us back to each other.

The other day I was reading through some old journals and found a list of things I wanted to find in a guy (written before I even went to college), and I was so amazed at how the Lord had given them all to me - and more! In Jonathan, I have found my soul mate - a godly man who leads our family as he feels the Lord's leading, I have found my partner in comedy - we absolutely love to laugh, I have found a man who is extremely sensitive to the needs of our family and wants us to have the best that he can provide, I have found a man who loves beautiful things, a man who shares my love for music, a man who is a wonderful daddy and who shares the same desires I have for our children......The list goes on and on.

What a journey we have been on, but honey, I am so thankful that we have taken every step of it together. Jonathan, I love you, and I thank the Lord for giving me the most wonderful gift in the world - You! Happy Anniversary!