Merry Christmas!!

(Lori and Santa - 1974)

I came across the most humbling video today. Click here to go watch it! You will be amazed at how much you are loved!

This picture was taken at the Fall festival at church Wednesday night. Mason had such a great time!

This morning at church, my little brother, Bernie gave his testimony. So powerful!! He graduated Monday night from Teen Challenge of Alabama. He got home on Wednesday so I have been able to see first hand that he is on fire for Christ. He has struggled with drug addiction for about 15 years. He has allowed God to take hold of his life and transform him into a new creation. What a mighty God we serve! He is going to Bible college in January. I am so proud of him!!

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Here are the shirts that we selling for $15.00 each. Please support adoption and buy one or two! The art work on the back was created by our son, Mason. He is extremely proud that it is now going to help raise money for his baby sister. If you would like to buy a shirt, email me at loriw@hargray.com.

I know that everyone experiences difficult situations in life. Things that make us want to scream and just give up. Losing a loved one. Financial difficulties. Sacrifices. Misunderstandings. Uncertainties. As a Christian, how should we respond? What's the good of our faith is we become angry at God? There has to be some way to be joyful in the middle of a crisis, right? It's so easy to say those words but so difficult to actually do it. It's so easy to give advice to someone who is going through a trial but it is so hard to look at your own circumstances and use the same advice. It's amazing how quickly doubt creeps into our lives. At the drop of a dime, things can change and we start rethinking things that seemed so simple and sure.

After spending time reading my Bible this morning, I have come to this realization. I have to believe that God will do what He says. No matter how things look or how discouraged I feel. Every problem that I have has to be given to Him. I have to take God at His Word. I have to believe.

For a year, Brett has been working on a huge project at work. This past week he was rarely home, going to work at 5:30am and working late. He hated not being home much and Mason and I missed him like crazy. Even though Brett was not home much, he found little ways to let us know that he loved us. Of course, I complained to him none stop that we wanted him home with us. In the past week, I woke up to find a dozen red roses and cards, even a card for Mason. Little notes written on the dry erase board and early morning wake up calls. His project is done now and he will be home again but I definitely have a new respect for the families that live like that all year long. We enjoy our family time in the afternoons and evenings.

Mason had the dreaded stomach bug that began Friday night and continued all night. ALL NIGHT! I felt so sorry for him. He begged me to do something to make it stop but there was nothing that I could do for him. If you know me then you know how I feel about the stomach bug. I can't handle it. Not only do I have a weak stomach when it comes to the bug but I can't stand being so helpless to make him feel better. He slept most of Saturday and woke up this morning still feeling yucky. My poor little fella!!

Update: Since we share everything in our family, Mason so kindly shared his stomach bug with me and now Brett is in bed with it! Thank goodness, we will be done with it soon!

Art Class #2

I have been following a blog called "Confessions of a CF Husband" for long time. This family has been through many, many trials. They are currently facing a huge trial and need prayer! Take a few minutes and go to their blog. Read a little bit and pray for this family.

This is Mason's first painting from art class. Gorgeous, huh?
After days of rain, Mason went four wheelin' in every mud puddle he could find! I had to throw his socks in the trash!

Soccer and Pumpkins

Mason did so great this morning during his soccer game. He scored a goal that was just perfect! He was so excited. He put both arms in the air and screamed. Of course, I was screaming, too! Yah Mason!!
After soccer we went to the pumpkin patch and picked out three pumpkins...small, medium and large. Happy Fall!!

Mason has his first art lesson this afternoon. Mason LOVES art and is very excited about being in an art studio and learning different things. He told me that when he grows up he wanted to be like Keith Haring. Very cool!

Here are two of his paintings. The palm and moon is my favorite. It is hanging in our guest bathroom. The other one he painted before he could even write his own name. Do you see the tractor in the top left corner? I think it's amazing! Of course, I am a little partial to the artist.

Mason loves to bake brownies. He waits patiently until it's time to lick the bowl and spoon.
Look at my handsome boy! He bobbed for apples on our front porch tonight. He told me that I was the best mommy ever. He had so much fun!

Pictures of Mason

"Mason go clean your room." "But Mommy, my stomach hurts." This is the face that followed that short conversation.
No one scored on him Saturday! Yeah Mason!!

My Sisters

Lori, Angie and Amy

These girls are my sisters. Aren't they beautiful? I am very blessed to have them both in my life. Angie kept Mason for me when he was a baby so I could go to the office part time. She loves him as if he were her own child and he loves her. If I have a problem or a good idea, I call Angie. She is my best friend.

Amy is my silly sister who makes me laugh. She is my lunch date at least once a week. I call her every Friday and ask, "What are we doing tonight?" I love spending time with her. We were roommates for a year and it was so fun.... most of the time. :) She is also my best friend.

I just wanted to share these beauties with you today. Tonight Mason is spending the night with Angie so I can go to a banquet with Amy. Love you girls!

My Johnny Appleseed

The Hula Hoop Champion

This is a video I took of Mason hula hooping last night. I have watched it over and over and laughed a little bit harder every time. Notice that he says something about all the "hot chicks in the audience" and then something about "get on my nerves now". Too funny! At the end he gets carried away and hits himself in the nose. The tears were super short lived so don't worry. Enjoy!!

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My Little Artist

Mason has become such a great artist. I have several of his paintings framed and hanging in our house. Here is one example of what his six year old mind can come up with. Every night before bed, he gets out his paper and creates everything from spooky forests to Sponge Bob chasing jellyfish. Sometimes he scribbles all over the paper in different colors and tells me that it's abstract art. I think it's all perfect!!

New Outfit!!

How do ya'll like my new look?! I am really excited about it. I feel like I went out and bought a new outfit that I can't wait to show off!! If you are looking for a new look go to Serendipity Designs. Jenna was so great to work with. I feel like I made a new friend! Thanks Jenna!!

Happy 6th Birthday Mason!

Today Mason is 6 years old. Time flies by so fast. One minute I am changing his diaper and the next minute he is in kindergarten and asking to go eat wings for his birthday. I can't even begin to tell you how incredibly blessed we are to have Mason. He is truly one of a kind!

We had such a great time on our cruise. Mason's expression as we approached the ship was priceless! He actually took his seat belt off and started jumping and screaming. In his mind I guess he had pictured a much smaller ship.

We swam with string rays, met Captain Jack Sparrow, ate, snorkeled, parasailed, ate, went to three Broadway shows, watched Disney movies that aren't released yet, ate, lounged on the beach and so much more. It was an amazing family vacation.

Our Cruise

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Hurricane Hanna

Okay, we have to pack up the pictures, the camera, the dogs and cat.... we have to board up the windows and secure everything in the yard. Stock up on water, canned food and batteries just in case.... oh, the joy of hurricane season!! Ughhhhh! Living on the coast certainly has it's advantages but hurricane season stinks big time. To top it all off, we are suppose to leave for a Disney cruise next Thursday and there are two more storms floating around out there. What a bummer!!

My Little Monkey

Today is a happy/sad kind of day. Mason started kindergarten this morning. He was SO excited! Brett and I both took him but I had to drop and go because the tears were brewin'. By the way, I was the crazy mom with a camera at the first day of school!
He picked out his clothes for today over the weekend and I must say that he looked so handsome. He is growing up too fast!
This is Mason and his teacher, Mrs. Mitchell. There are a few kids in Mason's class that he already knows so he should be fine.... right? Sniff-Sniff!

I came across a blog that was asking people "If you were brave, what would you do?" Well, what would you do?

Got Shark Teeth?

Remember This Mason Original???

Funny Things Mason Has Said Over The Years

1... Mason spotted a roach outside and screamed like crazy. He is terrified of bugs but this was beyond terrified. When I asked him what was wrong, he said, "Mommy, did you see the eyelashes on that bug?"
2... The other day I dressed Mason in a sleeveless shirt. He looked at me and said, "Mommy, I love this shirt. This is my armpit shirt."
3... I told him that he looked really cute. He told me, "I don't look cute. I look awesome!"
4... He told me that I looked like Miss America. (Now that's funny!)
5... He told me that when he gets big that he is going to marry Miss America. He said that she was going to walk down the "hallway" at church and marry him with a skirt on her head.
6... Mason asked, "Mommy, who is God's Father?" I told him that God was the Father. He said, "No, Mommy, I know who His father is. It's the Creacher." When I asked him who the "creacher" was he said, "You know, the creacher who talks at church."
7... We saw a dead lizard in the road while we were walking. The next day it was gone. I asked Mason where he thought the lizard went. He told me, "The angels came down last night and threw it in the woods."
8... Instead of saying tomorrow, Mason has always said tomorning.
9... When kids are bothering Mason he says, "Those kids are begging on me."
10... I took Mason to get a haircut. When we got there he looked at the barber and said, "Please cut my hair. It's all jacked up!"
11... Mason is having a Luau at Preschool. He told me that he was really excited about going to his "hoot owl" at school.
12... When Mason was 2 we had to put one of our dogs to sleep. Right after that Mason told me that when he gets old like me that he was going to go to Heaven to see Buster.
13... Mason went to the dentist yesterday. I told him that if he didn't stop eating so much candy that his teeth would rot out. He told me that it was okay if his teeth fell out because then the tooth fairy would come and leave him money. He also told me that his cousin Jackson, 5, must eat a lot of candy because all his teeth are falling out.

I am happy to report that I am having a new header designed!! I must say that I will not miss the small white box with the red X!

Our New Favorite Thing

We have found a "new favorite thing to do"...... hunt for sharks teeth at the Port Royal sands. We go as a family or Brett and I take turns going with Mason but we love it! There are always sharks teeth laying around. Mason has so much fun looking for them.....and if I'm being totally honest....I love it, too! This picture is just a small amount that we have found so far. Want to hear something funny? Yesterday Mason and I went in the boat with Billy and Amy. Will caught a shark and Mason REALLY wanted to pull all his teeth out before they threw him back. We have created a monster!

A Few Of My Favorite Pictures From July

My handsome Mason
We found a Roses in Blue Ridge, Ga. and I had to take a picture! My MaMa used to take me to Roses all the time!

Isn't my honey so handsome? I think so!

Happy 4th!

My dad and Mason on the 4th of July

Good Grief!

Tonight Layla had some kind of seizure. I have never seen anything like it so I totally freaked out. I ended up taking her to the vet. Her blood sugar was low. I am hoping that Ripley ate all their food at dinner and she just needed to eat. My poor little Layla girl!

Look At My Handsome Boy!

This weekend we went out in the boat. Mason loves it out there but I must say that this the first time that he has played in the mud. He doesn't really like dirt. He's more into frog and lizards. This wasn't just any mud... this was the stickest mud ever. But even though he was covered in mud..... He was still so handsome!

Such A Boy!

Mason is such a boy! I have taken him to the doctor a hand full of times over the last few months. Infected bug bites, rashes and bike wrecks have been the reason for our trips to the doc. I am ready to have a baby girl.... someone to join me in all my prissiness!

I started an adoption blog. Check it out! http://www.journeytoellison.blogspot.com/

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I am signing off for about a week. We will be out of town until Thursday night. I hope you all have a great week!

Happy 4th of July!!!

We are naming our boat the "Miss Ruby". Here are two images that we had drawn up. What do y'all think? I need some opinions.

Happy 7th Anniversary Brett!!

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I wanted to share this picture with y'all of Mason and a little brown stuffed dog that belonged to my grandmother. Yesterday my aunt gave it me and I gave it to Mason. Of course, he wanted to know what the dogs name was. He said, "Her name is written on the tag." I looked on the tag and written was the name Ruby Graves, my grandmothers name. So, now Mason thinks that this little dogs name is Ruby Graves... not just Ruby but Ruby Graves. Last night I was letting our real dogs out to go potty and from the bedroom Mason yelled, "Mom! Don't forget about Ruby Graves! She might need to go out and pee!" This morning I heard him say, "Ruby Graves, after I eat my food, I'll feed you." "Okay, Ruby Graves, you sit right here while I go to the bathroom." "Hold on Ruby Graves... I'm going to turn the ceiling fan on while you are on it!" Yikes!! It makes me smile to hear my grandmother's name used so often by Mason. Just a little comic relief that MaMa would have loved!

Stronger!!

This past week has been a really hard one for my family. But I can honestly say that we have come out of it stronger. We have all grown closer and have learned to value each other even more. Extended family members have been able to get to know each other again. My prayer is that those relationships will continue to grow.