Easter Sunday

  We had a wonderful day today. I had breakfast ready at 7:30AM. WOW! It was delicious, if I do say so myself! Sausage gravy and biscuits. Mmm, Mmm!
 We actually managed getting a family picture done before we went to church AND made it to church ON TIME!!! Miracles DO happen! LOL

Our Family 

 Church service was great. The Choir Contata was wonderful. The songs and narration had me in tears several times. I love singing the Easter songs! We actually got to sing a hymn today! ;-) The kids left church with WAY too much candy. We (Michael & I) were raiding their candy supply before we got out of the church parking lot. LOL David was not as happy to share with us as Alahna was. I'm thinking the candy supply will come in handy for our vacation that is coming up soon.

  We spent the afternoon at Mom's house. Her little apartment was pretty full, and it was pretty hectic for a while, but the time together was very enjoyable. I had a short sister time with Carla while we watched the kids play out on the sidewalk.

Carla, Ronni, Me

        I love spending time with my little sisters!!! but I sure do miss my two older sisters!!!!!!!
                                                        I love you Joy & Lisa!

 I really enjoyed the hour or so that I snuggled with my youngest niece Chloe.  She is 3 months old and I think I was starting to feel some baby fever. LOL I'm sure it will be gone tomorrow. :-)

Chloe - my brother Jason's first child

  The most memorable moment of the day though was when I looked over and noticed that my little baby boy (who has seemed to age so much lately) was no longer with the youngest group of kids in the family. He was standing right in the midst of the "guys" (his daddy and uncles) talking about a video game they all like to play.

 It was just one of those very brief moments in time that grab your attention and burn an imprint in your mind. That moment in itself was like a transition in my mind of who he is growing to be and that he really is not just a little boy any more. I know he is still a little boy, but not a preschool little boy. He is inching closer and closer to that big "A" word..... Adolescence! Again, I realize he just turned 10, but I see so many ways that he is maturing and changing. Life just keeps changing and I am trying to keep up. 

  Alahna spent the whole afternoon playing with Kynzie. They are so sweet to watch when they are together.

Kynzie & Alahna (just 6 months apart in age)

 I love that my children have cousins so close in age to them. I hope and pray they will always stay close. I remember playing with our cousins when we were children, but we have not stayed close over the years. I want my children to know their aunts, uncles and cousins and be close to them. We did not have that as children and now we really don't "know" our aunts & uncles or cousins. Well, except for a couple cousins who make it easy to get to know them online! ;-) I'm loving that! I'm finding that they are some fantastic young women. I can't believe I actually babysat them at one time and now they are all grown up, married and have children!

   Somehow I ended up the family photographer today. Got some great photos of my siblings and their families and my mama! Here's some of my family:

Jessica & Justin

My little Brothers
"The Boys" - Jesse, Jason, Joshua, Justin

Jesse, Ronni, Jason, Justin, Joshua

Carla, Brent, Warren, Kynzie

The Boys and Ronni

What a gift these lives have been to our family! God does all things for a reason. He had a purpose for building our family the way He did. Let me tell you, there is never a dull moment when these guys are together.  I try to refer to the boys as the "guys" or the "men", but it just always ends up being "the boys". 

Looks like they really love their baby sister! LOL She adores her big brothers! Well... most of the time!

Melissa, Chloe, Jason
Tyler, Kylie

Ronni & Mom

As I look at these photos I am reminded how very blessed my life has been. Some people never know the joy of having siblings. I am so glad that my parents listened to God's calling in their life to be foster parents. I admire my mom for all that she has given of herself over the years. Our home was always open to anyone who needed a place to call home. It was not always peachy; many times were quite trying and downright ugly. But God blesses our efforts and always provides. He definitely has blessed our family and has always been faithful. Even when things were so dark, the blessings were hard to see, He has blessed our family with His presence. I love to remember back to the first time I saw the faces of my brothers and sisters. I can remember each time with each child distinctly. With  most of them I can remember where we were and how I felt meeting each one for the first time. They were all so little. Maybe I'll make a post about all that sometime.

This post has become long enough. I must get to sleep. We have an incredibly long and busy day tomorrow. David and Alahna will be in "The Wizard of Oz" tomorrow evening. David will be playing the part of the Wizard. Alahna will be a munchkin and a flying monkey! :) 

Follow the yellow brick road. Follow the yellow brick road. Ready? We're off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz!