My funny and sweet friend Cindi at Wishing For My Turn gave me an award that defies explanation. I'm humbled! And hey, I wouldn't want any of you to be pecked to death by Zombie Chickens, so I'm hoping that by posting this award here you will all be safe forevermore!!

"The blogger who receives this award believes in the Tao of the zombie chicken-- excellence, grace, and persistence in all situations, even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. These amazing bloggers regularly produce content so remarkable that their readers would brave a raving pack of zombie chickens just to be able to read their inspiring words. As a recipient of this world-renowned award, you now have the task of passing it on to at least 5 other worthy bloggers. Do not risk the wrath of the zombie chickens by choosing unwisely or not choosing at all."

I cannot possibly pick just five people to share the honor with so if you're game (pun intended) grab it and protect yourself and your readers.

Thanks, Cindi, you are the best!!

Engagements and more engagements!

Later I'm going to post Patrick and Amber's engagement pictures and post about their upcoming wedding, but first I want to announce (if I haven't already) that Emily and Wendell are engaged and are going to be married in May. While they were here for Amber's bridal shower last month they went to the park and had their engagement photo's taken. I love them! They are so happy, and to see Emily so happy after what she's been through in the past several years is absolute balm for my soul. Wendell is an answer to prayer and we look forward to having him as a son in law. The love between them is evident to anyone who sees them and I think these pictures capture that.

I FIXED IT! I FIXED IT!

My laptop has been out of commission allll summer. The desktop is so unreliable that I barely even check email on it. Besides, it's been a busy summer and I kind of figured that maybe not being on the computer so much was a good thing for me. But gosh, I've missed it. Anyway, after coming home from Sarah and Bennie's tonight, I discovered that the cable was out so I started reading. Then for some strange reason (I prefer to call it Divine Intervention) I decided to grab the laptop and see if it would suddenly work. I decided to do this because yesterday I asked the Universe to send me a new computer, and as I was reading I just felt "nudged" to try the laptop. I finally got it to turn on in safe mode and decided, "what the heck, see if system restore will fix it". Sooo, that's what I did and eureka! It works. I also asked my helper angels to show me what to do. And now I say....Thank you God and my helper angels that I have my laptop back.

Maybe I can now get back to checking blogs and finding out what's been going on with everyone all summer.

As for me, I'm so smitten with a certain little baby that it's ridiculous. All those things they say about grandchildren are true. He, quite simply, has stolen my heart. He's the best little thing and some people have had the nerve to accuse me of being a "baby hog"!! Hmmmph! As if!!!

And so, it's only fitting that my first entry back should contain pictures of Brooks, right? So here they are!

Here he is wearing his Daddy's hat. It's not often that it comes off of Bennie's head. He looks so much like Bennie anyway and with his hat on....well, can you say clone?


Here he is in one of his many Bengal outfits. And speaking of the Bengals, WOW! Football is fun again!! I've been a die-hard Bengal fan since 1980 and they've broken our hearts so many times. I cheered for them when they didn't win a game and always held out hope for "the next game", or "next season". So believe you me, I'm celebrating and having a ball watching these games. Having Brooks there with us is just icing on the cake. (Cindy, I know you'll love this picture! lol)

The next two pictures are just darn cute! I tell ya, I could just eat him with a spoon!

Patrick and Amber are getting married next weekend. I can't believe the day is finally almost upon us. Stay tuned for thoughts from the mother of the groom this week. It's hard on a Mom!

Want to see some adorable pictures????

I'm really hoping this link will work. This is the website with Brooks' newborn pictures. Make sure you click on all the little pictures at the bottom of the page. My favorite one is the one with all of his Bengal's gear. ( I know Cindi just threw up!).


http://www.our365.com/newbornportraits/babydetail.aspx?birthid=76d4fbbc-65d5-483b-8ea1-d82cd7c0fa35&babyid=dc519e17-91c7-4d0d-bb26-d0c0a2a5181f

Austin and I are still at Sarah and Bennie's doing the cooking, laundry and cleaning. Oh and we're also getting in a lot of cuddle time with Brooks. I tell ya, this Grandmother stuff is the BEST!.

More pictures from Grandmotherville!!!!

This is the sight we've all been praying for...Sarah Kate with her baby in her arms. It just doesn't get any better than this!

Great Grandmother and Emily trying to help wake up Brooks so he will nurse.


I'm tellin' ya, I could kiss those cheeks off. In fact, I have tried!

Our dear friend, Connie personalized his very own Bengals outfit for him. I wish you could have seen Bennie's face when he saw this!!

Pictures from Grandmotherville!!

Before Emily hits the road with her laptop this morning I wanted to get some pictures up for you all to see.

Here is Aunt Em getting her turn...

Here I am playing with that precious little mouth. He has very sensitive skin and is covered in a rash that has us all horrified. It looks like it would be so itchy but he doesn't seem to be bothered with it. They say it will just disappear over the next couple of days.


On Mommy's lap. She is a natural mother!



Brooks just being precious!



Sweet Bennie holding his boy....I tell you guys, it would melt your heart!

My Heart Is Full With The Joy of Being GRAND!!!

He's here!!!! And wouldn't you know it, my computer issues of the moment won't allow me to post a picture of him right now. However, you can take my word for it that he is the most beautiful baby I've ever seen in my life!

Sarah has had placenta previa for the entire pregnancy and although it did move a little bit in the last couple of weeks, it didn't move enough to allow her to have a normal delivery. She was scheduled for a C-section for 10:00 this morning. They were to be there at 8:00 and we were going to get there about 9:00. I talked to her at 7:30 this morning and she was ready and waiting for Bennie to finish getting ready so they could leave. Ten minutes later she called me back in a panic. She was putting the baby's bag in the car and she felt a gush of fluid. She thought her water had broken but it was bright red blood. I told her to call an ambulance immediately and we hung up and I started moving fast. They didn't call an ambulance (the hospital is a 10 minute drive) they left all their "stuff" at home and Bennie drove her to the hospital. When I got there they had her back in a room with the fetal monitor on her. The birthing center was packed and BUSY! They started prepping her for surgery and since I'm a nurse and I work at that hospital, she asked if I could go in with them and they said YES!! I got myself garbed and masked and off we went.

I cannot describe the emotion I felt seeing my baby girl on that OR table It was just surreal. I tried to keep the fear out of my voice and tears out of my eyes and I managed it all okay until that precious baby was out of her and I heard him cry. At that point, all bets were off and I was just a blubbering Grandmother. I've asked so many of my friends what it feels like when you see your first grandchild and it seemed that no one could really put it into words that I could grasp and understand. Now I know why. It's just not something that there are words for. The closest I can come to explaining what I felt would be to say that an enormous love bomb burst inside of me and I know for certain that I will never be the same. It's love squared and then some! MY BABY HAD A BABY!!!! And he was PERFECT! And she was SAFE!. I just kept saying, "Thank you, God, thank you!"

To see Sarah and Bennie finally have the baby they've prayed for for so long was so wonderful.
Have I mentioned that he's beautiful??!!! He was born on 8/7 and weighed 8 lbs 7 ozs at 11:07. Sarah has always said that her lucky number is 7 and after today, we all believe her.

I work tomorrow night (but guess where I'll be on all my breaks!!!) and then I start a week of vacation on Sunday when they will probably come home. I'll be staying at Sarah's next week to help take care of her and be the chief cook and bottle washer ( even though she's nursing!). I promise to post A LOT of pictures from her house.

When we called Emily in Florida to tell her he was here today she decided on the spur of the moment to drive up here and as I type this, she is somewhere on this side of Atlanta headed home to get her hands on him. Some of you understand what a miracle that is in itself!!! My cup runneth over.

Let the Grandmothering begin.....I'm in heaven.

For every one of you who offered up prayers for my sweet girl and her husband I thank you from the bottom of my heart. God is so very good.