Happy Birthday Amy!

It’s a funny feeling when your baby is turning 30. Not funny Ha-Ha, funny “How-Could-That-Happen?” It’s not like I’ve had my head in a hole, it’s just that when I look at her she’s still that little rosy-cheeked baby that we brought home 30 years ago today!

Mary Englebreit’s artwork has always spoke to me. I love her whimsical drawings and the children she draws might as well be portraits of my daughters. Even the attitude the characters evoke are so much like Amy and Stephanie. The little red-haired girl that Mary depicts as “Queen of Everything” is a statement of Amy’s determination. She has overcome many struggles in her 30 short years. She’s now wife and mother in addition to daughter, granddaughter and aunt. We are lucky to have each other to share our joys and our heartaches. That’s just what families do. It doesn’t matter how modern we get or how much technology advances, the most important thing in our lives is our relationship with God and staying within the arms of family.

Amy was a little girl who “Twirled.” That’s a new word to my vocabulary, brought to my attention by Libby Murphy at Twirl and Taste. Libby's Dad said, “She was a good baby, sleeping & cooing, and crawled contentedly until she was confident enough to walk across the room without falling. From there she twirled and hasn’t stopped since!”

We are proud of our little rosy-cheeked baby as she continues to “Twirl” through her life! Happy Birthday Sweetie!

Thanks Libby!

Attitude of Gratitude Award

Thank you Libby at Twirl and Taste for honoring me with my very first award! Libby is so genuine and she loves to share with all of us exciting events, beautiful people and delicious recipes. For a trip you won't forget visit Libby at http://twirlandtaste.blogspot.com/

Rules of Accepting and Sharing this Award

1.Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs that show an attitude of gratitude.

3. Link to your nominees within your post.

4.Comment on their blogs to let them know they've received this award.

5.Share the love and link to this post and the person who nominated you for the award. Tell us how you've come to have an attitude of gratitude.

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.~ Melody Beattie

~I think this says it all, our outlook forms our life. It's all in how you see the glass, half full or half empty. Mine has always been running over the top! Joy C.~

I hope you will take the time to visit each of these blogs and take a look around!

1. Roberta Anne http://booposo.blogspot.com/
2. Jo Jo http://jojos-joys.blogspot.com/
3. Shanda http://frontporches-sweet-tea.blogspot.com/
4. Teresa http://eclecticpinkrose.blogspot.com/
5. Diane http://fourpawsco.blogspot.com/
6. Shelly http://birdinginmichigan.blogspot.com/
7. Debra http://texasdaiseygarden.blogspot.com/

8. Deena http://sweetannee.blogspot.com/
9. Kim http://deardaisycottage.typepad.com/
10. Shirley http://plumbushcottage.blogspot.com/

Aunt Joy

From childhood to adulthood, every week without fail, Aunt Joy sent long letters written on lined tablet paper, full of hometown news…family news, community news and even gardening news. She never failed to pass along the good news to celebrate and the bad news too, so that we could pray for family or friends. In the summer several paragraphs would be dedicated to what was growing in the garden and what she had “put up” that week. Holidays were a special time at her house full of memories to last a lifetime. She was the one in our family who listened and prayed, the one who advised and encouraged. I close my eyes now and I can she her whirling around her kitchen, apron tied around her waist. Until next time, she would sign her name. And next week another long letter would come with more news, more love. I’ll miss those letters and you will remain in my heart forever, dear Aunt Joy.

Joy Avon Fountain
April 15, 1924-April 17, 2009

Ben the King

At least he thinks he's King of Granny Mountain! Ben was a rescue dog, our daughter Amy took him into her heart at a time she needed unconditional love...the kind that only comes from a pet. We welcomed him with open arms; the first meeting was a planned "get to know you" and see if we liked him. We had seen his picture posted on the CockerPaws website and read his story. He was found in an ice storm running loose, brought to a vets office and treated for frostbite on his paws. The owners were notified and they picked him up. When he got out again his owners didn't want him back. There are many reasons that a pet ends up in situations like that, a move to a new apartment with a no pet policy, a new baby or different priorities...or even a dog bite that may or may not have been provoked. Whatever the reason, I'm just glad Ben found his way into our lives. He was Amy's dog who became our dog when her job took her to a new life. That should be added to the reasons why a dog finds a new home.

This is Ben and our oldest Grandson Jackson, aren't they both handsome?

Ben is master of the nap, the all out-total relaxed-walk around me kind of nap.

This was taken when we were in the middle of an ice storm this winter.No electricity, no phone, no way to get help if we needed it...but he doesn't look too worried does he??

Another winter day, he's looking for that rawhide bone he buried the day before the snow!

Our daughter calls this Ben's boat. He does love to go crusin' with us!Funny little guy goes to the gate and scratches to tell us he needs to go "potty!"

So, life is good for Ben.

My husband often says as he leaves for work and Ben is asleep on the sofa,

"I wish I could be Ben!"