I remember........

Loving someone for 27 years is amazing in itself ! The day we said "I do" my grandparents were married 60 years. Lord willing we will celebrate our 60 year mark one day! Marriage isn't easy and it takes a lot of work. A lot of effort! We have walked many difficult roads these past 27 years. But we have walked some very great ones too! Each day brings new and exciting adventures...if you know Kelley you will understand what I am saying. Throw 9 other lives in there and my day can be exhaustingly exciting! I will never regret this life I have been given. I love the man whom I share this journey and my life with!


Our life together for 27 years.........
I remember falling for you and you for me. Even though some said it wouldn't work...you still chose to see.
You chose to see what God had planned. You promised to cherish and always hold my hand!
I remember the bee and that first kiss. I remember asking God "Are you sure about this?"
 I remember all the hard times and how we got through. I remember the good times and laughing with you.
I remember all the job promotions...you moved up so quick!. Each one brought us a new home and a blue line on the pregnancy stick.
9 little lives have brought us joy and pride. Each day they bring chaos with a little insanity on the side.
Look at all the memories...some good and some bad.We have done life together...that makes me so very glad.
I'll never regret saying "I do" to you that day. I'm looking forward to the future and planning our next getaway!
Tomorrow we plan to celebrate 27 years. Spending time alone with you has been music to my ears!
                                                               I love you!

                                                             
 Happy Anniversary my love!
27 years of life, love and adventure....Kelley Holcombe you are the greatest gift I have ever been given! Walking this journey of life with you has made me who I am....and you still love me anyway!  As we step into the next 27 years....I pray they are even more adventurous than the last.With you I can love, laugh and live life to the fullest as we journey this life God had planned. I love you and the life we have built together!

Time alone in a big city...Holy Batman!

Well I'm here....in the big city. Monday came way too early. I was up at 4:30 am after sleeping only a couple of hours. I guess I was excited about my big trip to the city....and spending time with my hubby. It was all I could do to keep my eyes open all day. We arrived early enough to grab some lunch and walk a couple of miles around the city before Kelley had his late afternoon meetings. These 100 degree temps added to my fatigue or maybe it's the lack of exercise I have let consume my body. I have no more excuses....time to get this old lady up and motivated!

Today I have had so much alone time and it's only 2 pm. Not sure if I like this or not. However, I know it's good and much needed. But how does a mom of many learn to sit still and relax? Other than throwing them at my little ones, those two words haven't been in my vocabulary in a very long while. Today I took off on my own and ventured into the city. Mostly because I needed nourishment. I found this great little cafe...thistle while you work.  I felt like such a country girl walking the streets of this big city. Maybe by the time we fly home, I'll have tried many more sweet little resturants and walked many more miles in this heat. Look out Rachael Ray...I could bring back your $40 a day show!

Our hotel is set back across the lake from the city next to the Bat bridge. It's a bridge where millions of bats emerge from under the bridge at dusk to blanket the night sky. Bat Bridge Here you can get a glimpse of what I'm talking about. I knew I should have brought my cape!

It's time to go lounge by the pool ! Maybe I'll just take a nap.... Oh the life of a mom of many! I guess I should be careful...I wouldn't want to get too use to this....would I?!

Here it is.......

Finally time with my man! I'm not complaining, but he travels so much I feel like we have been living in two different worlds for the past several months. I am very thankful for his great job! He has worked very hard to get where he is today while raising a very large family. Then throw the kids summer activities in there and all we have become is part time roommates. Wives....make time for your husbands! Even if it's for just a few minutes!

So in 3 days I will fly with my hubby for a week of  resting on a deserted island him in daily meetings and me sitting by the pool. We will have evenings for some much needed time together!

Five whole days of no dishes...no laundry....no cooking....no driving.....sleeping ....resting .....I might actually feel like a human for the first time in my life again!

Yes....just me and my man! Can you tell I have needed some time away with him?!

I am so looking forward to celebrating 27 years of being loved by one of the greatest gifts I have ever received!

Pulling this getaway off is no small endeavor. Making sure everyone is taken care of...packing the younger 3 for grandma's house. A wedding and a soccer tournament several hours away. All this in two days! My plate is full and overflowing!  Is it Monday yet?!

Then there is the battle of the mom mind... the guilt! I know the enemy is at work trying to distract me from investing in my marriage. Keeping me from my much needed time away. I will NOT be defeated! I will miss my kiddos...they are my life! But having one on one time with the man I have lived with for 27 years ....without interruptions....priceless!

Finally time with.....

In 3 days I'll be................
5 days of.............
Just me and............

I am so looking forward to..................

more later!

Grief...it's not always good

This morning a sweet friend breathed his last breath here on this earth. Sunday afternoon, leaving  church on his way to have lunch with his family, this man's heart beat out of rhythm and changed the lives of his wife and daughter for a very long time. Leaving those who loved him dearly to experience that unpleasant feeling of grief.

Often times it's so hard to know what to say or do when faced with such a loss of a friend. Being available to listen and to serve as the family walks through their grief is probably where we are needed the most.

As I read the many words of condolences, one in a particular stood out. This was written by a young man who hasn't even left his teen years behind.....Rest in peace sounds like it's from a worldly perspective. You don't have time to rest when you're in the presence of Jesus for all eternity! Welcome home Mr. Jeff Farr. And Lord, bring peace and assurance to Beth and Breeanne.

We have all experienced grief at some point in our earthly lives. Reading this young man's message to this wife and daughter made me realize how often I look at a tragedy from a worldly perspective. Our ways are not God's ways. We will never understand why this side of heaven. Yes, we will miss Jeff and yes it will be a different journey without this husband,father and friend in our lives. But this world is not our home! One day all those who have surrendered their lives to Jesus will see Jeff once again.  We too will live in the presence of our saviour. We will rejoice, sing and celebrate our home coming.

Welcome home Mr.Jeff ..This week we will celebrate your homecoming and time here on this earth!

Urgent prayer for our friends....

Update from their daughter.....Update on my Dad: Please be praying for an upcoming surgery on either Monday or Tuesday. They will be doing a skin graft on his face, and reconstructive surgery on his eye lids and tear ducts. They have to wait for the swelling to go down, but the ultra sounds revealed that the eye ball is intact and okay. They will know more once they can open it.
Thank you for all the prayers♥



I have just received a message on Facebook. One of our friends was badly burned from a low voltage wire this afternoon. Please join us in praying for Scott and his family. Here is the FB message...

Dear Friends, I am posting for Teresa...Please pray for Scott as he had a accident while working today with a low-voltage wire. Scott's face is badly burned and they don't yet know the extent of damage to one of his eyes. He will require surgery most likely this weekend at Grady. Teresa is asking for urgent prayer. They are SO thankful that Lord protected him and spared his life. Thanks for praying.

Weekend with the girls...Friends

I don't remember the last time I abandon my family for a weekend of time for just me. Juggling a household with 9 kids and a traveling husband...time is of the essence.One thing I struggle with is making time for my own friendships. I really don't have an over abundance of time.  However....I truly believe we make time for things we want to do. It has taken me a while but I'm learning some things can just wait. The kids will do fine without me!

This past weekend I took that step and made the time. Planning a Ladies weekend away from my husband and children. A weekend of quietness and time before the Lord with new and old friendships. A time to just be me. Most of us are friends because of our children...5 of us have daughters who are close friends. Some times we as women get so busy being everything for everyone else we forget to take the time to nurture our own selves. Forgetting who we are. So after I got past the "mommy" quilt for abandoning my family for the weekend, I was really blessed! Blessed to know I have a group of friends who love and support through prayer. Friends who are willing to give of themselves. Blessed to know in spite of our past...we can find encouragement and love.

As my children get older I realize how important it is for me to have friendships. If I don't take care of me how can I take care of them? I pray I learn how to better manage my time as I step out of my comfort zone and learn to be a friend to others. Balancing my time between all those that I love.  Taking time to refresh and renew my energy so I can do a better job at serving my family.

I just want to thank our husbands for all they did to help us get away for the weekend. You guys have really blessed us. Your encouragement is what got us out the door. I know my husband had been out of town all week . He came home to me running out the door, leaving him to shuffle the girls to birthday parties and youth events. I came home to dinner on the stove, the kids all survived without me and the house was still standing! I love that man!

If you're a husband....make a way for your wife to get away. Even if it's just for a few hours. You will bless her more than you know. If you are a wife who needs time away...let your husband know! He doesn't read your mind. It has taken me 26 years to figure this out.

Now onto my next adventure.... planning a weekend away with my man! It's been a while...I can't remember the last time we had a weekend away without a kid or two or three or......


This is for our girls....a common picture pose they do! I must say....we did have fun!