Picture Perfect...

Besides Kyle having to return to work on Monday, life around our home front has been quite enjoyable lately. Last week after we returned home from our three-day-getaway with Mom~Dad/Grandpa~Grandma, we spent the week relaxing, watching movies, playing games and enjoying being together without somewhere we had to go or something we had to do. We slept in and stayed up late. We had yummy breakfasts of waffles and biscuits and gravy. We laughed...we shared...we loved. It was satisfying and fulfilling.

(The Wii makes people...Kyle...do crazy things...)

We finished up our last Christmas celebration on Sunday which was with my side of the family. My dad is a pastor at a small country church where Kyle used to lead worship and since we hadn't been there to visit for longer than I can believe, we decided to make celebrating with my family an all day event. Returning to Gentry was special for several reasons. First,this is the church home/church family that both MaKayla and Mallary spent the early years of their life...second, the four of us were able to reconnect and catch-up with many that we grew to love and appreciate in the fourteen years that we spent there...third, all three of us kids (Troy, Marci and I) were there. After church, we gathered at Mom and Dad's for lunch, gifts and fellowship. It was wonderful...more than wonderful. Everyone got along without any squabbles and at one point throughout the day all of us kids/grandkids (22 total) were present with the exception of Troy's oldest daughter. Our Grandma Jean who will be 89 in April, and is our mom's mom came for the afternoon which brought together five generations.

(Kyle, attempting to make Dad MU happy...)

(Cousins...friends...the older they get,
the more in common they become and the more fun they have...)

(10 of the 11 grandkids...)

(Five generations...)


(Precious Tucker...)


(My brother Troy with Mom and Savannah...)


(My Sister-In-Law Debi and T.J....)


(Gettin' Tucker ready to go home...boo-hoo)


(Lee & Danielle...)


(Bri and her daddy...)


(Ciera and her daddy...)


(MaKayla and her daddy...)


(Mark and Marci LOVE Tucker...)

It was a fantastic day that in my heart is nearly unexplainable...nearly picture perfect...nearly miraculous...a definite answer to prayer!

As I have reflected so far this week on our Christmas gatherings/celebrations/vacation, my heart is humbled and grateful that Christmas isn't "over" for me. Because of Jesus and His continual presence in my heart, mind and soul, I get to enjoy the gift of JOY every day of my life that some people only experience for less than a month each year. For so many that JOY is only present from after Thanksgiving until their last Christmas celebration of the year is attended...the reality of that breaks my heart. So many without JOY, PEACE, GLADNESS, HOPE, PURPOSE...

As I begin 2011, my heart is overflowing with thankfulness for the miraculous blessings God has showered on my life over the past few weeks and I am indebted to the grace that He lavishes over me every day that I live.