Neta Gary: 1933-2010

Papa gave Jill, my sister, Murr's wedding ring. She is the oldest granddaughter.

Sister Jill and my Mom

Papa loves to get "sugar" from the little ones!!

Cousins Paxton and Caven

Grandpa Ron and Cousin Nick

Cousin Heidi and Aunt Gale

Cousins Cassidy and Alyssium

Cousins Ben and Shawna

These are cousins JJ and Johnny. They are family from my Dad's side. Aunt Jenny and Uncle Jon Ben, thank you for coming! It really meant a lot to me that you could be there!!

These ladies worked hard in the kitchen and fed our family a fabulous lunch!!

All of the grandsons were the pallbearers

Britt and Carrie Beth

Cousin Jeremy with wife Jamie and sister Heidi

More family...my Grandpa and Grandma have 5 children and over 50 grandchildren and great grandchildren.

It was a good and hard day.

Lots of Texas Family!

Cousin Amber with husband Kyle and son Cape

Murr and Papa

Brandi with husband Kieth and son Graham

Aunt Twyla and Uncle Greg

Cousin Kai with her daughters Jade and Sage

Cousin Amber with great grands Kayla, Sage, Kaili, Jake and Kacie

Lots of family...I will help Kacie on her DS for awhile

Aunt Twyla with great grands Alysium and Kacie

Jake with cousin Caleb

Uncle Billy and Aunt Janie

Cousins Ben and Jeremy

Cousin Brandi, Sister Jill and Cousin Amber

Cousin Cameron, Cousin Brittaney, Niece Kayla and Sister Jill

Niece Kaili, Jake, Kacie, Second cousin Levi

Cousin Fun!!

Murr getting a pedicure and manicure.

I Miss Her...

This is one of our last family pictures with Murr

This was two days before our Murr went home to be with her Father. She was so cute because she was trying to fix her hair for the picture. We told her she looked beautiful. And look at her smile...a reminder of her hanging on to Christ (you could still see her joy). He truly is sufficient when life is deficient!

Many of you know that on July 5th of this year, my mom's mom, Murr, passed away. Last spring she was feeling pain and the Dr.'s thought it was gall stones. They did some tests and they revealed that she had cancer all over her body. She first underwent brain surgery and she did very well. But the cancer was too much.

It was a gift, a blessing to be able to spend a long weekend with Murr before she died. We had a 4th of July celebration and most all of the family was there. That is what our Murr loved most besides her God...she wanted the door open to the bedroom so she could hear all of the commotion. The boys were lighting fireworks right outside her window. Many would think to be quiet. No, the more Murr heard her family in her home the more at peace she was.

On July 4th, Ben the kids and me said our final good-bye to Murr. I have never in my life experienced such a connection to heaven...OK so this may sound weird to some but others of you may understand. I went to Murr and told her that I was leaving and we embraced one another knowing that would be our final hug on this side of heaven. She squeezed me with all her might and hung on. We both were crying and she was wailing. As hard as that moment was it is one that I will cherish.

I later realized as I was hugging Murr for the last time that it would be a moment before she was with Jesus. I told her in my child likeness to tell Jesus that I said hello. Eternity, forever and ever...I was that close to heaven as I hugged her. The Lord was still using her even in her last hours of life.

Thank you Jesus for the gift of our Murr!

"I Can Tie My Shoe!"

Looks Good On You, Buddy!

A couple of weekends ago Jake's baseball team was warming up for their first district game. Usually the coach has the first player in line take a pop fly. Well, this game the coach had two pop flies going at one time. And the coach yells, "Jake!Jake!Jake!" Jake looks up and wham! The ball lands right on Jake's eye. Ben said he was tough and kept playing. A friend of ours kept telling Jake how good the black eye looked. I think Jake thought it was pretty cool too...

Moving Day!

On June 26th we moved into our new home. We feel incredibly blessed!! It is a 3 bedroom ranch with a finished basement that includes a 4th bedroom. The home needs some updating so of course Ben and I have been dreaming about things we want to do over the next few years.

To our family and friends...always know that we have an open invitation for anyone of you who want to drop in or even come and stay for a few days!!

The weekend that we moved was very busy! By the way thank you guys for helping us move all of the big stuff...you blessed us more than you know!! After we moved we had to go back to the rental and clean. This is Kacie at the end of the day. She had fallen asleep on the vacuum cord...she was TIRED!!

Rose Hill Gunners 2010

This year in baseball Jake is playing kid pitch. It has been quite an adjustment for our little man. We were glad to see him mature throughout the season! These are a couple of pictures from his last game and probably the most exciting. The Gunners won in 2 extra innings...it was a late night but well worth staying up for.

We are finished with our regular season. This weekend we play in the 9 year old district tournament to see if we make it to state.

Kacie always was finding ways to occupy herself. This year the games had a 2 hour time limit instead of 1.

Jake up to bat. In this game he got one hit, one walk and popped out to third base.

Jake at short stop.