Happy Faces... Happy Hearts

Last week, I had a few vacation hours that needed to be used... soooo I headed down to Atlanta to see some of my favorite people. My Sis, my bun-in-the-oven neice... affectionately called "Baby Bump" and this little face right here, my nephew Tayo!

Always the comedian, I had to share this pic which was pretty much the state of our faces the entire time. Smiles, smiles and more smiles!

Leaving lots of details out... for time's sake, I will suffice to say that after such a great weekend we all were left with happy faces and happy hearts!
I am so grateful... for the precious time we were given.

Dear Daddy,
Thanks!
For being YOU... and for being able to cheer away the chill of Winter in both the natural and within my heart. The Love of family and the joy of children so filled with Light, Life and incredible imagination has a way of bringing sunshine that fills us up so beautifully!
Renewal happened...and I feel the anticipation of Spring. Newness!
I welcome all that is in store, knowing you have reviewed it all and smiled upon it.
My heart is happy, because of Your plan and your provision.
Bless my precious family. May they remain joyful throughout the week, even as I will. May we always remember to smile up at You, as You smile upon us.
Lord, let the Light of Your face shine on us.
You are radiantly lovely and we long for You...
In Jesus' Name.
amen.

Smiley Saturday...

Happy Saturday All!

Upon my quest to be a better blogger (say that 7 times... haha), I have come to enjoy memes.

What is a meme, you ask? Well, for a longer explaination, you can visit TheDailyMeme. But from what I've seen they are one of two things:

* A weekly question, list of questions or request that an author will post to their blog. Others will read it, copy and past the questions to their own blog and link back to the original authors blog so that others can read their answer too.* Or the 2nd way I have seen them used is that an auther will answer a list of questions on their blog and then TAG others by going to their blog and leaving them a comment that they have been tagged to participate.

So, if you're like me... a ponderer... things like this are fun cause I like to give my opinion very much! Haha! And I also like to know what you're thinking too.

Today, I found this cute meme... Smiley Saturday on Lightening Online, and the objective is to post about something that makes you smile! Of course... smiling is one of my favorite things to do... so I snatched this one up quickly.

One of the little someone's who makes me smile the most is my very silly and fun nephew, Tayo. He is just dang adorable. So I thought I'd share his pic... which will probably do the trick with making you smile.

Happy Saturday Everybody... Hope you're smiling :0)

Tray

Festive!

It's that time of year again... I love it! The grumpiest of people, suddenly come alive... and instead of a scowl, they dawn a bright, shiny smirk!

Even the harshest of smiles is beautiful.... at Christmas time! LOL!

Wow, what a morning. I want to take off of work and smather my house with white lights and red bows... the smell of hot cocoa and cranberry candles aglow. (Sorry about the random rhyming... I just can't help it sometimes).

What a wonderful way to finish this year.... with great joy and happy, happy times!

I think my favorite saying is "Let's be festive together"!!!

And THAT is what I want for Christmas... my every joy enclosed within that request. To share joy and laughter with those that I love... is the greatest gift to my heart.

I am reminded in this moment of all the beautiful things about this life. News of sweet bundles of joy, wrapped in swaddling clothes... (well little London is probably in Baby Gap... so excuse my creative interpretations)... and my other little one... Baby D... so affectionately named "Kid" by mommy and daddy... is still baking! But Auntie Tracye is already excited for you too. She's been asking for you to come for a looooong time... with visions of playing at the park, then heading for ice cream... dancing in her head!!!

I'm just so excited.

Children are such a joy... oh yes, and remember that sweet little nephew of mine that stole my heart and won't let go... Here he is at 2 years old!






Sooo silly... and so much fun!!!
Christmas reminds us to be child-like... and well festive!!!

Have a great day :0)
tray

Happy 6 Months Tayo :0)

Hi there All...
Today... my sweet baby nephew is 6 months old!!

Here's Tayo!


Where does the time go???

It's amazing to think that it was 6 months ago today... that this beautiful little one came along to change all of our lives in such a wonderful way. He is truly a precious gift to our family..
There is not a more special moment in the day, then when I receive a new bundle of photos from my sister. How proud she must be! I surely am :0)

And to think today... that our Father in heaven loves us in the same way? So deeply.. so proudly.. you know? So much greater than we could ever grasp.

He watches over us during our day... and as we slumber at night. He waits to hold us and He longs to enjoy us. What a magnificent Father.

Sweet Jesus... Thank you for this precious life that you've given us. Tayo is a joy and treasure from heaven. You are so loving and so kind to grant us the honor of holding him close on this journey. I pray that he will remain safe and always know that he is loved deeply!

Daddy, thank you for revealing so many "hands-on" lessons about your love for us... by allowing us to feel the way we do for him. You're amazing! And I stand in awe of your creation!!!

May today.. .be a happy, gurgly, playful and silly day for him.... filled with all that bring great delight to his little heart and causes his beautiful eyes to look in wonder the way he does :)

I love you Daddy... and I love you Tayo!!

Amen
Auntie Tracye

Be Mine

Here's my little Valentine!
Isn't he precious?!!
This is my sweet nephew.....Tayo is his name.... and he has captured my heart.


I hope that today is a joyful one for you!

This morning has started earlier than usual for me. My eyes popped open at about 130 am.... (okay so I went to bed extremely early too. Yes, it was only 745p.... but I was sleepy... and now it will definitely be a Starbucks morning)!!

Waking up early is one of my favorite things about this life. When everything is quiet, peaceful and still, I feel most right with the world. I don't know about you... but my thoughts are loud and my mind is noisy... so it's in the Quiet Hours of the morning... that my soul can stop shouting over the volume of distractions and responsibilites of each day.
Here.. I find true rest.
Here... I find real peace.
And most of all, Love.

As I was catching up on some emails this morning.... I came across a beautiful expression of this Love.... and it is the first of the many precious gifts that the Lord shall give to me this Valentine's Day. I want to give this gift to you.... praying that it will bless you too.

Fill my cup, Lord.
I hold it up to you with outstretched hands,
My heart parched and thirsty for your living water.
Fill my cup with your love, Lord.
Help me to feel your hands holding mine,
feel your arms around me, feel your love empowering me.
Fill me with quietness and encouragement and trust.
Help me to live for you when trials, difficulties,
and storms hit me and those I love so deeply.
Help me not to give up when giving up seems easier.
Help me to trust you when I don't feel like trusting anymore.
When I know pain, fill my cup with prayer.
Teach me the secrets of service and surrender.

Fill my cup, Lord. I lift it up to you.
Lift me up to do your will with love and sacrifice,
Never forgetting what you sacrificed for me-
Your Son.
My Messiah.
My Lord Jesus Christ.
Help me, Lord, to accept where I am now.
Help me to know I'm not stuck forever in my circumstances.
Help me remember that the windows do open
and that fresh breezes do blow in
and that living water forever flows
and that those who ask receive.
I'm asking, now, Lord.
I'm holding my cup in my hands,
And I'm asking you to fill it . . . with you.
. . . .
And when my cup springs a leak,
As earthen vessels are prone to do.
Then I'll just have to ask again,
Trusting in your love
To fill me again . . .
Amen

Happy Valentine's Day to you..... My prayer today is that you not be found empty.... but that you would know the depth of His Great Love for you! That above all the other voices... you would hear His the loudest.... gently asking you to "Come... and be mine"!

With an overflowing heart!
Tracye

Precious Gifts!

My amazing sister Trina... and my beautiful new nephew Tayo... having fun washing the do!



Isn't this a fun shot!
For all who have never met her... I have a really amazing woman that I am privileged to call my sister. Her name is Trina Dukes....whoops,... I mean Trina Ashadele!
She's my upclose Oprah!
laughing....

Well for those of you who know how much I love Oprah.. that's a reallll big compliment!
Anyway... I love my big sister dearly.... and although we were not the best of friends growing up... I am truly enjoying this new and wonderful chapter in the story of our sisterhood!

It was only two very short months ago that Trina gave birth to the little one who has stolen my heart! He is so very precious to me.... a true gift from God.

There are many more pics to come.... I just thought this one was so adorable... I wanted to share it right away!

Today... be blessed! Embrace Who and What you have... enjoy them completely. They are a precious gift to you!

Love you all,
Tracye