Christmas has come and gone but I thought I better post a few pics. It was an exciting and very busy Christmas as usual. I hope you all had a great one too!
As many of you know my Dad has built a new barn. He always said that he wanted a barn with a basketball court so his grandkids could grow up playing ball. His wish has finally come true. It is a GREAT barn! I call it the Johnson Family Life Center! This barn is so great we had part of our Thanksgiving out there. After lunch the boys played basketball while the girls sipped cider and hot chocolate. In my opinion...that is southern living at its finest!!!! Move over Waltons....here come the Johnsons. It was a great day! Dad finished it off with a hayride the kids absolutely LOVED! It was a Thanksgiving we will all remember.
Last week my Dad was awarded the Marshall County Heart of Hospice Award. When the presentation was made they compared him to Johnny Appleseed going about spreading a little bit of good everywhere he goes. If you know my Dad you know how true that statement is. He works so hard and has the biggest heart of anyone I know. He was shocked when the award was given to him but I can't think of anyone more deserving. I am very proud of the man he is and the example he is to me and my family. I love you Daddy!
Mother and Daddy took their motor home to Auburn and left it for the season. The girls were so excited when I told them we were going to the Auburn vs. Tennessee game. They have a ball going to the plains and tailgating. You can tell from the pics they hada great time! It was a relaxing weekend that we all needed...even if this isn't Auburn's best year! My blood is just orange and blue....there isn't much I can do about that! War Eagle anyway!
A few weeks ago the kids sang in the morning worship service and Children's Church awards were presented. The kids work so hard to learn a new bible verse each week and they give out trophies each year. It is sometimes difficult for us and the kids to learn them but it is very rewarding. The bible says "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.". They may not understand now why they are learning all this scripture but they will one day. God's word is the one thing they can ALWAYS count on! Drew, Ella Kate, and Cale all got trophies. Drew was 3 years, Ella Kate was 2 years, and this was Cale's first year. Allie Grace is in children's church now too so next year she will get rewarded for her first year of verse memorization. I was very proud of all of them!
A couple of weeks ago we made the annual pictures of the grandkids in the apple orchard. We had a small window of opportunity but I believe we got alot of great shots. The apple orchard has been beautiful this year. Granddaddy has had sooooo many apples in the trees. The kids absolutely love to climb in the trees and pick the apples. We tell them to get apples off the ground but they don't listen. It is much more fun to climb the tree to get the apple. After all, it is our human nature to do what we are told not to do.....especially when it comes to apples.
I am a Reading Specialist / Speech Therapist in Etowah County. I am also wife to Wade and Mommy to Ella Kate(6) and Reagan(3). I love spending time with my family, working with children, photography, and traveling. I hope this blog will help to keep everyone updated on the exciting adventures and day to day drama of the Handley family!