The Crabb Family - "That's No Mountain" - 2001

I like this song, but I can't watch him to long! :o)

Anyone have the music to it?

Nichole & G-ma Frankie

Nichole and Grandma having an apple together! Nichole was where ever grandma was this afternoon, if Natalie was taking grandma to the bathroom Nichole was holding her arm walking with her too!

We went to the farm Thursday and Friday so I could help Natalie get some laundry done and we did some cleaning/organizing. Guess she has the nesting thing going on, 3 more weeks and she will have her baby...I am guessing a boy!

I was telling Grandma to smile, Nichole was making sure she was!

Sometimes we wake up grumpy, sometimes we let her sleep!
Isn't she adorable while she is asleep!? I love to just watch my kids while they are sleeping! There is something peaceful about it! LOL! In a few ways!
Nichole fell a week ago at church and scraped her nose and cheek up as well as bite her lip pretty bad, it looks alot better now. (Just so you know she doesn't have anything hanging out her nose!)

Odds & Ends

One morning while the boys were doing their chores before school, I went to the kitchen to find this written on the patio door! Made my day!

Apparently my kids got a hold of the camera!


We had Tryke for a day! He loved playing with the girls and getting all kinds of attention!

One of the girls took this! Cute and hilarious!


My sister came and spent the day with us! Too bad she had to go back to work. :o(

~Karter David~

He is about as big as she is!

Nichole took this picture-guess you can tell how proud Courtney is! :o)

~Tyra Goins-Smith~

Friends may think we have forgotten

When at times they see us smile,

Little do they know the heartache

That our minds work to reconcile,

Beautiful memories are wonderful

They get us through the toughest days,

They never wear out nor do they dim

And they can never be given away,

To some you may be forgotten

To others a part of their past

But to your family that dearly loves you

Your memory will always last!

When the kids asked why they were getting ready and where we were going I told them, "a balloon launch for Aunt Tyra!" Courtney said excitedly, "we get to have a birthday party for Aunt Tyra!!?" I said "no, remember, she went to Heaven!" she was a little confused, still stuck on not a having a party since they had the balloons??? I said, "you know what, it is kind of a celebration because she beat us all to Heaven and is having a party there with Jesus!" She was content with that, so we left it there!

I have never seen so many people at a viewing in my life....almost 700 people! That spoke in itself! It was/is amazing to me the amount of people that showed up for support, whether it was something like the Balloon Launch or people wanting to help with things or bring food and or supplies to help during this time. I saw God's people pull together and be supportive. It was encouraging to see!

This is a song I have wanted to learn for Mother's Day at church since I first heard it! Now there is all the more reason too! When they played this at Tyra's funeral, I thought it was the perfect song! Her kids were definitely her top priority! I think that is a big reason why my kids absolutely loved their "Aunt Tyra"! She always hugged them, told them she loved them, invited them over, asked how their day was going, and took time for them, that is a big thing for little ones, because everyone is too busy and then a tragedy like this puts it all into focus. She was never too busy for my kids! She was the most patient woman I had ever seen with kids. I always thought she would be an awesome grandma! It broke my heart telling my kids that Aunt Tyra was gone. I explained to them, with all four wrapped around me and tears running down our cheeks,that she was in Heaven with Jesus and that having Jesus in our hearts was important,etc. I wished there was some way I wouldn't have to tell them, but given the fact that we live about 2 blocks from their house and every Sunday on the way to church they are arguing over who is gonna sit with her, let alone asking almost daily to go to Tyra's house to play or to go swim with her again or want to have them over for supper again, etc. There was no way around it. It was the hardest thing I think I have had to tell my kids, and I can honestly say this has been the hardest thing I have gone through/dealt with myself. I have been an absolute mess, very emotional, confused and irritable, much to my husbands dismay! :o) But He has been so understanding and loving as he is dealing with it his own way, not quite like females do! :o)

The last thing I did with Tyra was sit on her couch and fold laundry with her and talk about life, doing the right thing and making it to Heaven. That was 2 days before she went to be with Jesus. And I have no doubt that she, spiritually speaking, was ready to go!

On a humorous note, when we have hot dogs for anything and I insist that they have to be beef and nothing but beef....I got that from her!

She is the reason I spend $3.50 0r more on a little package of beef hot dogs! And if I have to I will bring my own package to a hot dog roast! :o)

Nichole told us on the way home from church last Sunday night that she missed Aunt Tyra. I assured her that we would be able to see her again someday in Heaven!

A smile I needed!!

I have had a very rough week so far, today being the worst I think. My meds don't even seem to be doing their job. With my mind on the last few weeks (every day, all day) and it seems there is no place to go to get away from it all. And absolutely no way to humanly process it. It is an enormous, overwhelming mess of mixed emotions, confusion and what-ifs. You can only hide/cover it for a while.

Honestly, all I know to do is try to give my hurts, pain, etc to God and thank the Lord for my family. I love my husband(I have the best one ever) and my kids! I am thankful for every smile I get to see! I came across this and it made me smile! It is just what I needed today!

Our drama queen!

Courtney's nose was hurting...she was whining about it, of course there isn't much I can do when it is the inside of her nose that hurts!?
Next thing I knew she had a bandage on it! I couldn't help but laugh! She is too funny sometimes!

Guess who turned 7 today!?!!

Aimee and Calissa(Darrin & Maria's baby)

John jumping with the boys!

We had a birthday party for Landyn last night, Labor Day since they went back to school today. We also had cupcakes and juice at school for his birthday today as well!

Ryan, holding his niece for the first time.

Opening gifts!

Hunter thought he needed ice cream and cupcakes too!

~Tryke~

I can't say the three stooges since there are four!?! :o)

It is better to be in a storm with Jesus than to be on still waters without him.

He guides us in the calm...He will not leave us in the storm.

No storm can wreck the program of God!

"Peace, Be Still!"

It's A Girl!!

Calissa Paige Goins

September 3rd

5 lbs 7 oz

Look at those tiny little feet!

Pastor Joe

And his wife, Susan stopped by to see the baby while we were there.

Aunt Alicia, with her big smile! :o) I forgot what it was like holding a tiny baby, my nephew was almost twice the size 3 weeks ago when he was born!

Nichole wasn't real sure about Calissa, she didn't want to have anything to do with holding her.

While Devon was holding his cousin she decided to loudly fill her diaper. Devon was slightly embarrassed! :o)

Courtney, a proud cousin, she is gonna make a good mama someday, a bossy one, but a good one!

Landyn was all grins, he asked right away to hold her!

~Great Grandma Clifton~

Don't That Sound Like Heaven - Palmetto State Quartet

Baby Karter

Karter with his mommy!

Karter tooted on Courtney's lap, that is the reason for the look...it was hilarious!

~Grandma Frankie~

Cheri Benfield has been helping with grandma for the last week, it has been a huge help and she has done a good job!

I told grandma that she was taking a picture with one handsome man, she proudly said "I know I am!" Ryan replied,"well, I get to take a picture with one pretty woman!" Grandma said,"Ohhh, there isn't anything pretty about me no more." Of course Ryan argued with her!

Not such a good picture, the kids had been playing outside and I looked like a raccoon, I haven't been sleeping well and have been totally exhausted.

Grandma talking to Uncle Deland

The kids wanted to do a silly picture! Excuse this one!