Up from the ground He rose...For I am His and He is mine!

For the first time in years, we were all together for Easter. We went to church with mom and dad, then came home to a delicious lunch and some egg hunting. Lily loved all her Easter baskets and was so excited to tell everyone what the Easter bunny did...'That Easter Bunny hid all the eggs I died!"

Here's Lily looking at her basket from Nonna and Poppa before Church. Lily does so well in Church, she knows she has to sit still, listen about Jesus and if she has to talk, she must 'whisper'!

Yes, ridding her new scooter in her French hand sown dress!

Lily was so good and finding all the eggs...her basket just got heavy, so she had to call her Poppa to hold it!

Day 2 with no picture...

but I had to share this story. I got home from work after a rather rough day and turn on the TV to catch the weather. I was cold, so I pulled my favorite Tennessee quilt from under the side table only to get stung by a yellow jacket...seriously, it's not ever summer yet! I have no idea how it go in the house, but yellow jackets and I do not mesh...even with a baking powder/vinegar paste and ice for over 30 minutes, my arm is HOT, SWOLLEN and BRIGHT RED! Seriously!

Proud!

Have I told you how much I enjoy being at the Lester Community Center? I didn't know what to expect when they asked me to lead the inaugural Thursday Night Supper Club this year; however, it has become the highlight of my week and I'm so proud of how my fellow Jr Leaguers have embraced this project (not to mention how honored I am to be asked to lead all 3 GROW projects next year...yes another year of GROW posts!). Anyway, I was so touched by the thank you notes from the director of the community center and a representative from the city of Memphis regarding the planting project that I posted about yesterday...I wanted to post how proud I am of these girls and post the comments on my blog for my own records (yes, I reread my blog all the time). You know I have so much and it is very hard for me to accept a 'thank you' (and I never expect one), but it just makes my heart sing to know that we are making a difference on this community.

I am profoundly happy and pleased with the number of volunteers that we had here this Saturday for the planning and beautification around Lester Community Center. I felt overjoyed that we had so many ladies here and that they worked so well together. This made me feel extremely blessed to be the recipient of so much love and commitment for helping this neighborhood and community center look extremely beautiful. I was so excited Sunday when I woke up to see what we had accomplished on Saturday that I drove to the center. The center looked so good that I decided to water the plants and just clean up the parking lot. Again, I just want to express my deep appreciation to the Junior League of Memphis and their accomplishment of the beautification of Lester Community Center.
-Walter C. Casey

This is an example of partnership at its best supporting the community of Binghampton through Lester CC. Junior league of Memphis is a shining star that produces light during these tough economic times for families in need.

-Charles Fung, City of Memphis

Seriously...

it was 52 degrees, cloudy, windy and down right cold this past Saturday, but it didn't stop me! While Ray took another part of the CPA...I started the day with dad at 'Bark In the Park', which is a fundraiser for the Greyhound Adoption Option. It was at the Levitt Shell and Joyce Cobb performed.

Then I headed to the Community Center for the final Saturday GROW event and the Provisional planting project. The provisionals did an impressive job on the landscaping! It's amazing what a little fresh mulch can do for a cement building!

The older kids loved helping out...

and they were so proud of their work!

After planting and some chick-fil-a, we made paper with the Botanic Gardens...

and the preschoolers decorated flower pots and made wind chimes!

It was a fantastic Saturday!

April 15...

Tax day or no tax day... April 15 is always a sad day for me. Tonight, I watched Country Strong and the entire way through I thought about my Grandma Mullen (who died 12 years ago today)...not because of anything in the movie, but because it was a Country Movie. Grandma Mullen loved country and western movies, books and music. I remember like it was yesterday, talking on the phone to my her while she was in Alabama at her oldest son's house in 1992 after my Grandpa Mullen had died, she told me that they took a break from writing Thank you notes to go to the theatre and see that new country movie, Pure Country. She told me I needed to go see it because it was real good.

Me and Grandma at my 18th Birthday in 1996 at Southland Grayhound Park

Stop, Drop and Roll...

Tonight was all about fire safety at the community center. The preschoolers loved seeing all the 'treasures' that a fire truck holds...

They especially loved getting to sit up front...

The school age children got a lesson before they got their turn on the hook and ladder...

Some of the boys posing with a fire fighter!

Thanks to the MFD for sending 2 trucks and 8 firemen...you made some 60 kids very excited!

My new title and the laugh I needed today...

Too bad no more money came with my new title!

Oldies, but goodies...

A few weeks ago, we went and spent the night with Caleb, Emily and Lily...we had a big time playing outside before hitting up Cajun Express!

Seriously???

It's the beginning of April for goodness sakes...
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Spring has sprung...

at the community center...the cutest 'preschool' flower garden around!

Catching up...

This is what happens when your Nonna, your Aunt Molly and your Aunt Brooke takes you to Sesame Street Live...lots of cotton candy...

And an Elmo hat and your first pair of binoculars...

It was so fun to watch how much you enjoyed the show!

Molly 'borrowed' Lily's new Elmo hat for a picture with Nonna and Lily! Fun Night!

How times have changed...

This weekend we got together with 4 of my closest college friends and their families. Sarah and Mike hosted us at their fantastic house in College Grove...a good time was had by all and instant friendships were formed between the 6 kids!

The 'older' girls loved playing on the playground...

Adeline smiles in her sunglasses...what beautiful weather we had!

Really...this is the closest picture we got with everyone...next time we need to remember to do that when we first get together! However, much of Saturday was spent outside with our favorite corn dip and beverages!

A kids photo was attempted...not sure where Jack is... Here he is... Really, Adeline took care of all the 'littles'...here she is making sure Savannah has her passy.

And making sure Jack got his dinner! Such a big helper!

Ray enjoyed showing everyone how to properly blow bubbles and

swing the golf club...

Ryan enjoyed watching everyone...

Kate made sure the 'girls' get to dinner safely!

Savannah and Ryan shared some quality time on the play mat!

Looking forward to our next time together!

Enjoying dinner...

With some of the Family at Dinos! Yum!
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Tonight...

I had the best time at GNO with the JLM at The Garden District. It was all about floral design and I was on cloud 9! Greg is a fantastic designer and I loved every minute of the class.

I LOVE how my arrangement looks on my table! Oh, how I miss the floral business!

Finishing the night...

At The Giving Tree Gala for Shelby County Books from Birth...what a fantastic day!
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Then I went to...

The Community Center for Zoo Day! Despite the rain we had a HUGE turnout! The kids loved the 70# snake, but the parents were a different story!
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