Day 4....If I could only Skype Kenzie to her aunt!

 Yes, I'm late posting this...you'll get Day 5 later today. That is... if the 3 year old who won't sleep so I can get these posted on time...will give me a few minutes. Now to figure out how to Skype her to her aunt!

Day 4 of thankfulness....

Today I am thankful for Skype! This really amazing tool has allowed my children to connect with their cousins who live thousands of miles away in Honduras. Today for over 2 hours they talked,laughed and played games...yes we should have been doing school...I'll just call it Spanish  and communication class!

Growing up we always spent time with our cousins. Those memories are what childhood is all about. Summers and weekends spent gathering at our grandmother's house...staying out till way after dark catching fire flies and making our grandaddy fuss because we were too loud! He was watching the ball game! LOL!


 Our children are the youngest cousins in my husband's family. He's the 8th of 9 kids.Our older kids have cousin memories...but the younger ones have missed out. Kenzie is the 30th and youngest grandchild in the Holcombe family. Her cousin memories will be with an occasional playtime with the great-grand children. Yes...I am not much older than some of the nieces and nephews....even younger than some of them!

My family is a whole other story! I'm the oldest of 3 girls and the 4th of 7 children. My two related sisters have always lived at least 2 or more hours away. Their kids are around the ages of my younger 3. I so wish they lived closer so our kids could have the cousin time to build those fun memories! My step-sister...We didn't become sisters until our mid-teens(I hate using step sister...I just am for clarity) I usually refer to her as my sister...She has 3 children. Her two daughters have grown up with my older girls and they all have cousin memories to which they can look back and smile...I hope! They too have had the summers and weekends at grandma's and each other's homes...oh the stories I could tell !

Family to me is very important...being close in distance is what I long for. Today... Skype has relieved me from those unmet desires! To see my kids laugh and play games with my nieces and nephews was a delight to my soul !  I so wish I had Skype when I lived out of state...maybe California wouldn't have been so lonely! To be able to have coffee with my sister has been another plus to this awesome connection called Skype!

Skype can never replace that in the room connection...but it sure helps when the miles between you are just too long!

I would encourage you to look through thankful eyes...It's amazing how it changes your whole perspective on life!


Thanks for reading my post. I pray you are blessed and encouraged!

Thankfulness...Not just for the last Thursday in November

Thankfulness...Day3

Reference Credit

Main Entry:	thankfulness
Part of Speech:	noun
Definition:	appreciation
Synonyms:	admiration, aesthetic sense, affection, appraisal, assessment, attraction, awareness, cognizance, commendation, comprehension, enjoyment, esteem, estimation, grasp, gratefulness, gratitude, high regard, knowledge, liking, love, perception, realization, recognition, regard, relish, respect, responsiveness, sensibility, sensitiveness, sensitivity, sympathy, thanks, understanding, valuation

So many words for such an expression of gratitude.I remember as a small child having difficulty expressing these words. I see that same hesitation in my children at times and have even walked away embarrassed from their lack of words. As an adult I see many other adults struggle with this expression of thankfulness. Is it pride...shyness...what is their reason for not expressing a simple thank you?

It's funny how that on this one day out of the year we all seem to pull those thank yous out of the air. What is it about the last Thursday of November that makes us more thankful than any other day? Should a holiday on the calender dictate to us when to be thankful? We all like to receive a thank you when we give of ourselves! But how are we at returning the acknowledgement?

We as humans have gotten away from being polite. We rush here and rush there! To busy to acknowledge those that give of themselves. Saying thank you is an affirmation that someone other than yourself gave a moment of their time to you. Pride? It really doesn't matter why. It's amazing how the simple words ...Thank you...can turn someone's day around !


Today I am very thankful for my mom. On her 18th birthday she gave me life. Several years later she introduced me to eternal life...Jesus!

I love you mom!

I am Thankful...Day 1 and 2

Today I had a Facebook challenge from my sister...Post one gratitude of thankfulness everyday now until Thanksgiving. The challenge is to remind us how blessed we are and how much we have to be thankful for. I have to admit I fail miserably at being thankful most days. A good reminder to help me to focus on the good and not the bad is just what I needed! We in America are spoiled! We live in a country where we can freely worship...vote and challenge others to be a better person! We search for more when what we really need is less! It's time to make this heart a thankful one!

Since it's after midnight here...I really should be asleep...Here is Day1 and Day 2...

Photo credit

Today...I am thankful for the privilege to vote.

Today...I will express that right!

Today...It's time to stand and be counted.

Today...No matter the outcome...I still serve a great and mighty God to whom I am thankful !


If your a U.S. citizen DON'T forget to vote! Your vote matters!

What is it really like to have just two kids?

Early this morning my hubby and I... along with two of our nine kiddos... hit the road for Savannah Georgia! Don't get two excited for me...we'll be back home tomorrow night! Our daughter plays for a traveling  soccer team and had originally had two games scheduled. However our Saturday game had to be cancelled ...leaving Sunday's game outside of Savannah. So...Saturday was free for Lady and Sons and the beach! Lady and Sons had no seating available until 10 pm tonight...I'll have to catch you later Paula Deen! Maybe next trip we can sit and chat!

Arriving early today we took a little trip to Tybee Island for some beach time. I really hate that we had to leave the other girls home. I just couldn't figure out a way to get four more into the Honda Civic. Our van...the one that the deer ate...is just not up to a six hour trip and back . Although I enjoyed our beach time with the two girls...I felt extremely guilty that the others weren't there to enjoy the sun and sand with us.

Traveling with just two kids ...let's just say is so different! Not a whole lot of competing going on with a 3 year old and a 14 year old!  It was kind of nice to not get all those weird looks we get when I bring the whole clan out in public. I guess seven blonde haired  girls getting out of one vehicle could be considered a circus attraction  reason to stare!

Tomorrow is game day and the end of  my two day trip with just two kids! I think I'll keep my Nine..two is just not enough for this mom!

Teen Statistics In 2 Hours

Religious complacency...wake up churches!

A few weeks ago I came across this website...CPYU  In my searching to see what others were saying about our youth who are abandoning their faith... This is the article I found  http://www.cpyu.org/Page.aspx?id=361896  The founder of CPYU ...Walt Mueller also has a blog and posted this video ...Teen statistics in 2 hours... you should watch it! If you don't know how to pray for our youth or those who minister to them ...watch the video!

We are loosing our kids....it's time for us to wake up. The youth of today are our next generation's leaders...what investments are we making in tomorrow's leaders?

#5 hits the road !!!

My days as chauffeur are gradually becoming less. Our fifth child is now gracing the roads with her driving skills! Yes...Georgia residents...the Holcombe's have another driver and another Honda in our driveway. Thank you Phil Hughs Honda in Athens...and Jimmy Griffeth (aka... The very best car salesman we know!)This is our fourth car we have bought from them...they are in Athens if you are on the hunt for a good car! Tell him we sent you!

With each new driver in our family I go through a period of nervousness. It's not easy to think of my little girl or boy out on the road all by themselves...or with a sibling! Let's face it...Teen drivers can scare you to death! I try not to think about it too much...but praying a WHOLE lot helps! Especially the very first time they pull out of the driveway alone.

  It's so hard to watch them fly!( Not in the car! ) As with anything in life...our job as parents is to teach our children to become adults. Helping them make wise choices! With age comes responsibility and learning a new skill takes time,energy and encouragement...from the smallest to the largest of new adventures. With our kids we gradually let the leash apron strings loose. Yes, they are growing up...only four more to teach how to drive! I sure hope Jimmy stays at least 12 more years! It will take that long to squeeze out what little nerves I have left!

So...if you drive by my house...seeing all the cars and wonder if we are having a party? We're not...well maybe! It's a party anytime we are all home at the same time! Just know another one of my kiddo's are driving...so give them plenty of room!