A Truly Wonderful Day.....

 Well, after months and months of training, service work, and prayer, Jesse received the Sacrament of Confirmation last night, with family friend and neighbor Scott as his sponsor at the Church of the Immaculate Conception! First of all, I haven't been to the cathedral in years, and it was more beautiful than I remembered. There was something to look at in every corner of that church.....

 

 Scott's wife, and my dear friend Amy, took most of these wonderful pictures....I was able to enjoy Jesse's moment while she flashed away!

 A suddenly very nervous Jesse!  Awaiting his turn to receive the sacrament from Bishop Steib.

 The Bishop took time with each Confirmandi and spoke to each before anointing them....I had a hard time keeping it together, I'm not going to lie!

 A very happy family and a very tired Claire at the reception.  She would have slept on one of the chairs if I had let her!

 Jesse with his Nana and Paw Paw after the ceremony.

 Claire and her 8th grade prayer partner Gabby, who was also confirmed last night.  

Jesse working that bow tie and pocket square before leaving for the Cathedral.

Parenting is without a doubt the hardest job I've ever had, but moments like these really make it all worthwhile. I'm a very blessed mom, daughter, and wife......


A certain 8year old is about to turn 9 Saturday, so I promise to post again real soon!!

Love, Gretchen

19 Years...what?????/

Well, Lance and I celebrated our 19th Anniversary this weekend with a lovely day!  Can't believe how time has truly flown by....I'm such a lucky girl.....

Picture Day!

Spring Picture Day!!

It's been too long!!!!

v

Well, my many apologies for how long it's been since I've last posted...life has gotten in the way.....We've been crazy busy....We decided, as a family, to pull up our downstairs hardwood flooring and replace it with the same walnut flooring throughout....we even took a class!  Well.......never again!! We can say we did it...but YIKES that was a lot of hard work and 3 weekends of non stop laboring...including Jesse and Claire.  I've never seen 2 kids work so hard...very proud!!

 By the end of the first day, Jesse new how to cut and score tile, and Claire was the best spacer layer ever!

 in the midst of all the chaos in our home, we were thrilled to learn that Jesse won Christian Witness and we were just so so proud!

 Weekend 2 was pulling up the hardwood in the entryway and dining room.  Turned out it was glued down by the hardest glue on planet Earth.  So we rented a mastic stripper and Lance and my brother Tommy got that glue up after 6 hours of hard hard work!

 Almost done.....

 Finally done!!!! The next time out floors need redone, there will be a for sale sign in our yard!!

 Finished product in the living area...

 and the dining room......

 Dying easter eggs with cousins George and Gracie was a blast!!! Even Jesse enjoyed it (he'll never admit it!)

 Our Easter was spend, as we do yearly, in Jackson, MS for several family reunions and the Hollingsworth Annual Golf Tourney.  Jesse, Lance, and team had a blast and won 2nd place!

 In addition to our whirlwind of a weekend, Jesse turned 14!!!!  I can't believe it, but am so proud of how he's turned out thus far.....

 Easter Egg hunting!

 Yes, she uis fast, and yes, she did win the money egg!

Well, we have TONS of wonderful things coming up soon (hint...confirmations and graduation to name a few), so I promise to post again soon!!!  Love, Gretchen