Cannot believe she's 16!

Well...my little tiny 4lb 12 oz little preemie turned 16 yesterday! Where has the time gone? I am so proud of the young woman she is growing into. She is full of fun and joy, lots of stories and a song and a dance thrown in there too! Her love for God and her desire to grow in her relationship with Jesus is incredible! She once told me that she wished she could go to church every day!!! What sixteen year old says that? She brings lots of energy into our household and although at times she thinks she is a Princess (LOL) - I am so grateful for the character that she is developing and the way that she takes life head on and meets her challenges and uses all circumstances to grow her and make her stronger. Her life verse is Jeremiah 29:11 and I pray that she will cling to that promise as she goes throughout her journey. She has been a fighter since the day she was born...even on Valentine's Day 1993 when we were told she may not make it through the night...well - she fought and here she is 16, getting ready to drive and looking to her future. I love this picture i posted of her...this captures her essense - she loves to make people smile, I smile when i look at this picture! :D

Megan, I love you so much! I am proud of you and honored to call you my daughter. You make my heart swell with pride. You are a joy!I thank God for you and for giving me such a sweet blessing. Happy sweet sixteen!

...until later then...Lynnie

10 Commandments ...Red Neck Style...

Was sent this email...love it!

Ten Commandments Some people have trouble with all those 'shall's' and 'shallnot's' in the Ten Commandments. Folks just aren't used to talking in those terms.

So, in middle Tennessee they translated the 'King James' into'Jackson County' language.....no joke (posted on the wallat Cross Trails Church in Gainesboro , TN).

(1)Just one God
(2)Put nothin' before God
(3)Watch yer mouth
(4)Git yourself to Sunday meetin'
(5)Honor yer Ma & Pa
(6)No killin'
(7)No foolin' around with another fellow's gal
(8)Don't take what ain't yers
(9)No tellin' tales or gossipin'
(10)Don't be hankerin' for yer buddy's stuff

Now that's plain an' simple. Y'allhave a nice day!

Picture tag....Erika & Victoria you are it!

Okay...so this picture was taken of Megan when she was 3 (she's now 15yrs 10mths)...I was just taking random shots of her why'll she was watching "Barney" ...look at those big eyes! We used to say she looked like a "Precious Moment"

And I have know idea how to "tag" someone...so hopefully Victoria and Erika you take a look at my blog sometime soon...'cos you guys are "it!"

Until later then...Lynnie

p.s. okay so what you have to do: go to your picture files, pick your 4th folder and the 4th picture in the folder...no cropping, no adjusting, no nothing...then you explain the picture! Have fun! :o)

Christmas is coming...so is my Christmas letter!

So here is a recent conversation I had with my hubby Dan:

Lynn: do i have to write the Christmas letter this year? (what a whiner huh?!)

Dan: Yes!

Lynn: do i have to put the pictures on the back? (still whining)

Dan: Yes!

Lynn: why? I'm gonna spend over $100 to print them, stuff them and mail them...all that for people to throw them out!

Dan: they like to get them.

Lynn: can I just send a picture of us and write "Merry Chrismtas" on it?

Dan: no!

Lynn: staring blankly at her husband...

Dan: i'll do it then...

Lynn: forget it, I'll do it, it's fine. (control freak that i am!)

Dan: are you sure?

Lynn: yes...(smiling) - but you can lick the envelopes.

Dan: whatever Lynnie!

So there you have it....you should be receiving our letter soon - Please at least READ it and look over the pictures, let it sit on your kitchen counter for a couple of hours, then throw it out!! (ha ha)

I truly do love this time of year!! It's my favorite!

Until later then....Lynnie

50 years...wow!

Recently we had a 50 years of marriage celebration for my in-laws. It was so fun to celebrate this milestone with them. We had over 60 people here...some from New York and Florida came to surprise them - friendships that go back as far as elementary school. That amazes me, to still keep in touch with friends for that long. Mom & Dad started dating when they were 14 & 18. When mom turned 18 they got married. Dad surprised mom with a re-newing of their vows, it was quite emotional & so special. They have left quite a legacy for their children...today marriage is not taken as seriously as this. Yes, they have had difficult times in their life, heartache, struggles, yet they took their vows very seriously and through "good times & bad..." they chose to stay together.

We ate, danced, laughed & listened to stories all night long - it was so great. Yet my favorite part was near the end of the night and the DJ played once again "Earth Angel" and I stood and watched as two now older lovers danced to their song, I was so touched as they seemed completely lost in their own little world, staring into each other's eyes, seeing true love & commitment on the dance floor...i felt like I was invading a moment that should have only been shared with them, however I am thrilled to have been a part of it, to have been able to watch them. They are truly an inspiration to me.

Until later then....Lynnie

Wow! Do I feel old...

So last weekend Dan and I travelled to Toronto for a wedding. I first met Michael (the groom) when he was 6 months old, I was 14 or 15 at the time. I started babysitting him and did so till he was around 12. Two sisters came along, Jenilyn and Kristy. Two cousins, Ryan and Lauren...I changed all their diapers, rocked them all to sleep, spent weekends with them, went on vacation with them, played with them, influenced them (and oh by the way - i'm also told I made the best mac and cheese!!) and played a pretty significant role in their lives. It was Michael who started calling me "Lynnie" and from then on...that was who I was to all of them (still to this day). So we get to the wedding and I'm filled with such emotion...seeing these five kiddos, all grown up and now men and women, it's so strange. I then discover that one of the groomsmen is Jonathan. He was the very first child I ever babysat, I was 10 or 11 and I would go over and watch him (he was around 10 months or so) while his mommy did work around the house, etc. I babysat him and his 3 siblings for a long time. So there I was sitting in the hall watching "little Michael" get married and seeing all the others standing up there with him - it was the first time I have actually felt OLD. I totally believe in the African proverb: "it takes a village to raise a child." I spent a LOT of time with these kids, I watched them grow up, I like to think that I did help their parents raise their sons and daughters, that I had an influence on them. As I think back to people in my life (other than my parents)that truly made a difference, I know that the role they played in my growing up was significant. It was so great to see them and visit with them and chat with them now as adults, so surreal! One by one they will all get married and eventually have kids of their own, and just maybe when they tell their little ones that the babysitter is coming over they will be reminded of a young girl that loved them dearly and always wanted the best for them...and just maybe they will realize that they lack the knowledge of knowing how to make really great mac & cheese!! :D

p.s. the picture from left to right: Jenilyn,Jon,Mike,Me,Kristy,Ryan&Lauren

...until later then...Lynnie

Homecoming

Last night Caitlyn and Megan attended their first Homecoming dance. Eight of their girlfriends came over and around 4:30 they began the looonnngggg process :) of getting ready...there were curling irons and flat irons EVERYWHERE! Make up and sparkly stuff all over the place! And of course LOTS of laughter and LOTS of noise!! All ten of them sat down around 5:30 to have dinner and then they got their dresses on...it really is too bad that they are all SO ugly!!! ha! ha! Oh my gosh they were all so pretty! Of course I am a just a little bit bias about two certain young ladies! Dan was funny - he couldn't believe how long it takes girls to get ready...men just don't understand do they?! hee! hee! It was so fun to see them getting ready and hearing all the fun and laughter; they really do have an awesome group of girlfriends! Around 11pm they came home and told us all the funny stories from the dance...wow! the two of them together, plus a few added friends...guess what? it was LOUD again!! Dan keeps telling me that it's my fault our children are so loud...i don't like to think of them as loud...but more as joyfully exhuberant and filled with passionfor the moment! They left and went to spend the night at their friend's house...peace and quiet once again resonated around our home. I am proud of these two girls, they work hard at making good decisions and they want to always do the right thing...it's not easy being a teenager these days, and I'm thankful that they have each other and that they are willing to come talk to me about life. They love each other, they love their family, they love their friends, they love Jesus...makes a mama proud.

..until later then, Lynnie