THANKFUL TREE

I recently saw another blog post where someone made their own "Giving Tree".  Their's was a little bit more fancy than ours, but I like art projects to look homemade.  The kids had a blast and we talked about all the things that we are thankful for.

The kids used their best handwriting to write on their leaves the things they are most thankful for.

Arranging the limbs of our tree.

Just a fun, creative way to express how grateful and thankful our family is for everything God has given us.

XOXO- The Billings

Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown

Today was such a bittersweet day for my family. Today we laid my sweet great-Grandma to rest. This lady leaves a legacy. Webster's dictionary describes the word "matriarch" as: a woman who rules or dominates a family, group, or state;specifically : a mother who is head and ruler of her family and descendants. Let me just tell you...this woman was the epitome of matriarch. After all, she is my namesake, as well as my mother's and my daughter's. My great-great Grandmother's name was Laura Elizabeth Tillitt, my Great-Grandma was Letha Elizabeth Milton, my mom is Laura Elizabeth Sparks, I am Amanda Elizabeth Billings, and my daughter is Anna Elizabeth Billings. Five generations. I think I have very perfect reason to be proud.


The title of this post is "Will There Be Any Stars in My Crown". This was the song played today. I had never heard this song before my Meemaw said it was Grandma's favorite song and she knew she would want it played. I did a little researching. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 9:25 that we will get a crown that will last forever. No doubt my Grandma is proudly wearing her crown in Heaven right this very moment. I have failed to mention something extremely important. Grandma was only 3 weeks and 1 day shy of her 101st birthday. Yes, that is right..101!!!! That is no small feat. Think of all you could accomplish in 101 years! I will tell you something she accomplished. She instilled the love of Lord in our family. My namesake took my Meemaw church, who in turn took my mom as well as her three sisters to church, who in turn take their families to church. Going to church is all well and good, but I'm telling you...THIS FAMILY LOVES THE LORD! We have Grandma to thank for that! So, no doubt, Grandma has MANY stars in her crown.


After the funeral we went to Grandma's old farm. The farmhouse has been turned into an office for a roofing company, but the lady in the office was so gracious and let us come in and look around. Mom and Judy were over the moon to look around and show us all the memories there.

These are all pictures of the land around the house






This is the farm house where my Great-Grandma and Grandpa lived and where my Meemaw grew up.





















These are some pictures of some of the barns on what was once my great-grandparent's dairy farm.









This was inside the "milking barn". Not sure why I'm getting a look from Robin. Snapped a pic at the wrong time! LOL














more from inside the barn













Mom, Judy, Robin and Diane in front of the house.




It was a sad day, but also a very sweet day. It is always so much easier saying good-bye to someone when you know for sure they will spend eternity in Heaven. You may ask if I really believe that--if I really believe there is a God and a heaven and eternity. Absolutely. With every ounce of my being. 

 I am having some technical difficulties uploading a video of Grandma's great nieces and great nephew singing How Great Thou Art.  Please check back- I will figure out!

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Easter!!!

We dyed a few Easter eggs on Saturday....

Waiting....

Did you know regular crayons will show up on eggs after they have been dyed?

All done!!
We had a great service Easter morning, wonderful music and wonderful sermon.  Then we went to Aunt Diane's for yummy Easter dinner and egg hunting!!!

This one really should have been at the beginning, oh well...

And of course, no holiday is complete without a "sister picture".

Hope everyone had a blessed Easter!!




~XOXOXO The Billings

Long Time No See "Blog Neglecter"

So, maybe I'm not cut out to be a blogger.  Christmas was a long time ago.  We've had Anna Beth and Sammy's birthday, New Year's, Valentines Day, a mini Nashville vacation, lots of fun stuff and not so fun stuff, and now we are up-to-date with Spring Break.  What better way to spend Spring Break than a day at the zoo.  I took two days off at the end of the kids' Spring Break.  We chose Thursday for our zoo day.  Good thing, cause it rained on Friday.  We headed out with our first stop at Chick Fil A for chicken minis.  The drive to the zoo was filled with conversation and teaching the kids about Holy Week.  I went through the days starting with Palm Sunday.  The kids know the story well of Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey and the crowd waving palm branches and saying "Hosanna, Hosanna, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord"!  I explained Maundy Thursday and the Last Supper as well as Jesus praying in the garden.  Then on to Good Friday and the crucifixion and then the Resurrection.  Nothing thrills me more than telling my children about Jesus, even more when they are able to tell the story back to me and know that it is truth and not just a story.  I've prayed like a mad woman for their salvation and will be one proud Mommy (and a blubbering mess) the day they walk the aisle to experience salvation for themselves.

Now, on to the zoo!!!

This picture makes me laugh!!!

Spring is taking its sweet time this year!

                                                                                                                     

She wanted to know if she looked like a teenager.  I chose not to answer.

Rece has a love for maps...we usually stop at every single map at the zoo.  :) 

I love this kid.  This is what I get when I ask him to "say cheese".  I'm thinking he looks a tad bit like his Daddy.

And...last but not least, the squirrel in the garbage can.  We watched him dive in and out of there.  Must have gotten some good picnic leftovers!

We also saw the new Sting Ray Bay exhibit.  All of those pics are on my iPhone (I'm sure I'll end up putting them on Facebook).  It was very wet and splashy in there and I was just a little leery of my camera getting wet or ending up on the back of a sting ray!

Easter is Sunday.  I love reflecting on what God did for us in sending His Son and reflecting on Jesus so willingly sacrificing His life.  I'd like to say I will have an Easter post with lots of pics coming soon.  Don't hold your breath!!

XOXOXO~ The Billings