Family Pics are always fun

It sure has been a while since we have had family pics made.  My good friend, Marianne, said she would take some for us.  We had a blast while having them taken.

Emily, our daughter, enjoys playing the piano.  She was on the Varsity girls soccer team at her school this year.

Andrew, our oldest son, enjoys playing soccer as well, and would spend all day outside if he could.

Matthew, our middle son, enjoys playing computer games and he also played soccer for his school's elementary program this spring.

Gideon, our youngest, loves to play with cars.  

God was never surprised....

I am so glad that I serve a God that is never surprised, One who makes no mistakes. Leonard and I have learned soo much about leaning on HIM in the past month. On January 10, Leonard was unexpectedly and "unfairly" dismissed from Market America. Boy, how the emotions fell. We NEVER expected this to happen to us, but God knew! The first two days were terrible and I begged God to give us just ONE SMALL glimmer of hope. Well, in that same day, he did not give us one, but THREE! God's first sign of showing us he was still in control! Everyday after that for about 2 weeks, Leonard received phone calls from people who had seen his resume online. The job offers he got were all over the States....VA, CA, Raleigh and Charlotte and Cary, NC to name a few. There were two job openings in W-S, but that was all. Well, to make a long story short, those two job offers from W-S both wanted Leonard to work for them. God knew that the job Leonard was going to have next was going to be soo much better than the one at MA. I am proud to say that Leonard starts working on Feb. 21, at his NEW job! God has taught Leonard and myself soo much in the past month. We have so much to be thankful for. We truly know that GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME, ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD!!!!

Grandpa Greeson

He was not actually my blood Grandpa, but has been my Grandpa for over 11 years. Grandpa Greeson is Leonard's Grandpa and he has had such a special place in my heart. Grandpa Greeson has always made me feel a part of the family. He has treated me as if I had always been one of his "blood grandaughters".

Well, on November 10, 2011, Grandpa Greeson completed his life here on earth, and went HOME to his Heavenly Father. What a sight it must have been when he finally got to see his Savior face to face. The One who he preached sooo much about. To be able to finally sit down at His feet and worship Him! What a sight it also must have been to see the many souls who had gone on before him that he help lead to His Savior. What a reunion that was!

Those of us left here on this earth truly miss him. It is different to go to Grandpa's house and not see him there. It is difficult to sit there knowing that he is no longer with us....but OH THE JOY of remembering WHERE he is, and that we WILL see him again. What a JOY it is to know that he no longer has to have that oxygen anymore to breathe.

Grandpa, we love and miss you, but are sooo looking forward to the day when we will see you again!

11 years and counting

It is hard for me to believe that 11 years have past since I married Leonard. It is also amazing to see how God brought the two of us together.

It seems hard for me to believe that I can fall more in love each day with somebody I have spent the last 11 years with, but it is so true. I guess I always knew that, but it became so clear to me the last time that I visited my Grandpa in the hospital. Leonard showed so much love and care to MY Grandpa, that my love for him just swelled. Not only that, but Leonard knows exactly how to bring me out of my comfort zone and even though I am very uncomfortable about it, after it is over, I truly feel blessed for it.

To celebrate our 11 year anniversary, Leonard and I were able to go out to eat together without any of our children. My parents and sister watched our kids so we were able to go out and enjoy or time together. We went to eat at a Japanese steakhouse together (a place Leonard and I both enjoy going to) and had a great time. Leonard found time out of his busy weekend from a work convention for us to go out and eat together ALONE!!! It was nice and we had a great time.

I am truly grateful that God has given me Leonard to be my husband. He truly is the man of my dreams....and the best thing of all, is that he loves His Lord more than anything and has such a desire to serve Him. He is a great Dad to his kids, and does funny things for them even though he really doesn't want to.

I love you so much, Leonard! Can't wait to see what else God has waiting for us!

A Skinner kids first....

I regret that I have no picture for this post, but you will understand that once you hear that special noise coming down the street, there is no time to grab that camera, only time to grab your money.

Last Friday, as the kids and I were bringing in the groceries, we heard it....the sound that brightens the hearts of young kids everywhere....the ICE CREAM TRUCK!!!! I quickly corralled the kids together and told them to wait for the truck at the end of the driveway while I frantically searched for the money in my purse while holding Gideon. Finally, as the truck came around the corner, the kids were jumping up and down at the end of the driveway, I got my money out and they were each able to get their first "ice cream truck" ice cream. Andrew got a Batman one, Emily got a Pink Panther one, and Matthew got a Turtle one. They all enjoyed them greatly, but I believe Matthew enjoyed his the most since he still had green from his ice cream on him the next day. This is one memory I doubt they will soon forget, and one that probably won't happen again for a LONG time (ice cream truck ice cream is EXPENSIVE!!!)

A Special Homegoing

On Sunday, July 31, 2011, God saw it fit to end my Grandpa Hollifield's suffering here on this earth, and called him HOME to Him. It is sad to think that he is not with us anymore, but I know that the Bible says in 2 Cor. 5:8 says, " to be absent from the body, (is) to be present with the Lord." My Grandpa lived his life for God. The memorial service for him was so sweet. My Grandpa fought for our country in the WWII. Because of this, there was the added military honors at the graveside service. How neat it was, to hear the 21 gun salute and Taps being played in honor of MY Grandpa. I am also very thankful that the Sunday before he passed away, God gave me a special moment with my Grandpa. Leonard and I went to visit him, and I took his hand as I walked in. I said Grandpa, "It's me, Nikki. Do you remember me?" and he shook his head yes. He had such a tight grasp to my hand that as I tried several times to pull away, he tightened his grip. I, at one point, took my hand away in which he reached out for it again. I am so glad that God gave me that special moment. I will forever treasure it in my heart.

As I grew up, my Grandma and Grandpa Hollifield were always there for me. We lived right behind them, sharing the same driveway. I will never forget the many times I would go over to his house when it stormed and sit on his front porch with him and Grandma and listen to it rain. I never felt afraid of being out in the storm, because my Grandpa and Grandma were with me. I remember going to church and sitting with them and Grandpa giving me a Lifesaver to suck on. I remember the many times that we "worked" in the garden together. I also remember the times that I would go over to his house and he would say, "there are Hoagie fixin's in the fridge, go make yourself a sandwich", and even though I had just eaten at home, I would go in there and make me one, because Grandpa told me to. I remember the green Buick he used to drive, and can still smell the inside of it to this day. I remember after Grandma died, Grandpa would take me out to eat at the Omega House, and I always got Chicken 'n Dumplings and fried okra.

I have soo many great memories of Grandpa and truly do miss him very much, but it thrills my heart that he is up in Heaven at our Savior's feet. I can almost see him hand and hand with my Grandma right now...finally together at last. As Pastor Harris said yesterday, as we focus on the "never's" that we did not get to do with him, I can remind myself of the "FOREVER'S" I am going to get to do with him in eternity.

I love you soooo much, Grandpa! Can't wait to see you again some day!

Four Generations....out to eat

While the older kids were out with Haddon, I took the advantage of the free time to go out and eat with my Mom and Grandma. Naturally, I had my littlest man with me, but we still had fun. Gideon behaved well, so that was an added blessing. How fun it was eating and fellowshipping with my Mom and Grandma. We are even all so much alike, that we even ordered the same thing to eat. This is the beginning of many fun times together while my kids are in school.