Memorized Moments In Time ...

At church yesterday ... LeAnna seemed a bit clingy ... I know it was because she was tired ... it was a full weekend ... so I expected her to be that way -

- just knowing she's at that "in-between" stage ... where she still wants to sit in my lap at times and let me hold her, but ... she also wants to appear a "big girl" and sit on her own and maybe slightly lean over on me ... ha!

anyhoo - yesterday in particular, she sat in my lap, wrapped her arms around me and held on tight ... I immediately stopped paying attention (sorry pastor) and got lost in that moment ... and I told myself (as I have before) to freeze this moment and remember it always ... and I closed my eyes and did just that ...

I have done this before ...

I'll never forget ... LeAnna was just a few months old ... she had fallen asleep in my arms in the living room - so I got up and was walking towards her bedroom to lay her down and "our reflection" caught my eye in the large mirror at the end of the hall ... I stopped and stood there ... noting my arms around her, how small she seemed in my arms and remembering how long I had waited to finally be able to hold my very own baby like this ...and as tears started flowing, I promised myself that I would memorize that moment and remember it always ...

... and I have ... I still remember that feeling ... it's embedded in my mind ... and I think of it often when I'm missing my "baby girl" and holding her at that age ...

So ... yesterday, once again ... time seemed to stand still as I "memorized the moment" ... and what it felt like for her to be "7" and me holding her ... although much larger and my arms stretched much wider just to hold all of her ... but ... I thought ... I MUST memorize this moment ... because VERY soon, she will be WAY too big for me to hold like this... or for that matter would even want me to hold her like this and I NEED to remember how this feels ...

So ... as I sit here typing this and "remembering" ... tears flow ... and it was JUST YESTERDAY!!! ha! oh well ...

however ... it's extremely important for "me" to have these moments and even more important for me to remember them ... because more days than not, they've helped me get through that day ...

thank God for memories ...

and Thank You God for my sweet LeAnna ... a gentle reminder that on days when I think "I Can't" ... I'm reminded that "I Can" ...

So ... here's to "memorized moments" ... Cheers!

happy day ... tammy

A Wedding ... A Bride ... A Princess ... all wrapped up in one ...

Today ...

Heather got married ...

WoW!!!! Heather was the flower girl in our wedding 17 1/2 years ago!!!

... and LeAnna walked down the isle as her miniature bride today ...

it was a beautiful wedding ... and was bittersweet somewhat ... very sweet seeing Heather as a princess on "her day", but also knowing how OLD I'm getting! (ha) ... and seeing LeAnna as pretty as a princess today, but also seeing a slight glimpse into the future of "what is to come" ... a bit hard to swallow ... and (tears) ...

LeAnna was not afraid at all ... however, she had Dawson by her side and she is a bit partial to him!!! She will never marry Dawson, but I just know that Dawson will always be there to take care of her ... AND will probably have a LOT to say about who stands in as her REAL groom in many years from now when her day comes! They love each other so much, are very close and will probably always will be ...

LeAnna was so happy in her wedding dress and tiara ... she didn't want to take it off after the wedding ... however, the clock eventually strikes midnight and the carriage becomes a pumpkin again!

It was a beautiful day ...

happy day and happy life to Heather and Stephen ... tammy

Reunion 29 ...

We had a great time at our 29th Neely Family Reunion ... I love being with my family and am so happy that we have followed through with doing this annually for 29 years! We talked about it when we left there on Labor Day - that since Mama Neely passed away, I'm so glad that everyone still wants to get together and faithfully keep our "annual" trip in place!

My cousin Nena had tape recorded Mama Neely telling stories about her childhood, back in 1985 ... and I found out about it and had her send it to me ... I made the tape into a CD, made copies for everyone in the family, put them in nice silver tins, packaged them up and surprised everyone at the Reunion with a "Storytime with Mama Neely" CD, in honor of her ... everyone seemed really pleased ... I was SO sick the week before the reunion and I laid in bed and listened to Mama Neely talk and tell stories ... it was the first time I had heard her voice in 4 years ... it was so peaceful and soothing to lay there and listen to her "once again" ... Wow! She was a special lady! I miss her ...

LeAnna enjoyed herself, as usual, at the reunion ... and this time it was warm enough to get in the pool "one more time" before the pools close for the year! She was SO excited!!! I did not pack a bathing suit ... so I ran to one of the outlet stores and found one for $4.19! Can't beat that for a couple hours of fun!!! She was happy!

It was a nice get-away weekend ... next year is our 30th and we're making big plans for it! Going to do some extra special things at that one! We've got to get planning now! ha!

Not everyone made it into the picture ... it's hard getting everyone together at once sometimes ... ;0)

I love my family ...

happy day ... tammy

From Feeling Bad to Feeling Better ...

Wow! Crazy week! I starting feeling bad last Friday and was full blown sick by Sunday! Monday I ended up in the bed and stayed there until yesterday! It's been a LONG time since I did that!

However, today - I feel like a different person! My sweet baby came in and laid her little hand on my head last night and said the sweetest prayer before she went to bed! I'm convinced that I'm better because of it! Yesterday, could barely get out of bed ... today- I got up, did housework for 2 hours, changed bed sheets, packed and have been working at my job this morning!!!

We should NEVER take for granted the childlike faith of a child ... matter of fact, us adults, if we could ever get it "simple enough" to have that childlike faith - no telling what we could believe for!

I'm so very thankful this morning ...

Our 29th Neely Family Reunion happens this weekend and I was so afraid I would miss it! We leave this evening and I'm very excited!

I made something special in honor of our Mama Neely to give everyone at the reunion and I can't wait to give it to them ... I would share - but not yet, because most of my family reads this! They will have to see this weekend! =0)

Hope everyone has a happy weekend and that it is "labor free" ... I'm sure going to try and relax and enjoy it myself!

happy day ... tammy