First day jitters

So today, August 6, 2012, was the first day of school! Look at this picture...can you tell who's NOT excited about going to school.

So for Ellie it was the first day of sixth grade and she moved to the middle school this year.  No more little kid stuff we are a preteen now.  We straightened her hair, picked out a cute outfit and wore jewelry today.  She was very excited about all the new things to come.  She hopped out of the car and went in the school all by herself.  She had to get her schedule and find out her homeroom class with no help from mom.  She did want me to come with her and although I would have gone I felt that it was best for her to learn how to do these things on her own. It's hard for mom's to let go but sometimes we have to loosen our grip. Of course, everything turned out just fine.  She liked her teachers and was happy with her schedule.  She was mostly excited that she gets a locker this year and she wants to decorate the inside. Oh, what a care free life!  Tomorrow she starts band, she says she wants to play percussion but I'm not sure her family genes will provide her with enough coordination for that job.  We will continue to update you on future sixth grade adventures.

Ethan began second grade this year.  His teacher's name is Mrs. Page.  Ethan was not excited about anything to do with school this morning.  As a matter of fact he complained with a stomach ache and asked to stay home. After we dropped Ellie off we moved on to the Elementary school to take the boys.  Dad and I walked Ethan to his class first. He was very hesitant as he walked in but I knew he would be fine so we continued on to the kindergarten hallway.  Of course, I find out later that things weren't all that great once I left.  He said he missed me a little and I think he got just a little upset.  Ethan is 7 and I am learning that this must be the transition age from being a baby boy to being a big boy.  There are still some tears shed and sometimes a cuddle from mom is needed but he fights the tears AND the cuddles from mom for the most part. Raising a young man is hard.  By the end of the day he accepted that another year of school is inevitable so he's content.  He did find out that he was accepted into spotlight which is an honors program and he was really pumped about that. Mom and Dad are pretty proud of that accomplishment also!

Eli has a big year ahead of him! He began kindergarten this year.  Yes, he's my baby.  There are no more kiddos at home with mom... sniff, sniff.  Eli was PUMPED about kindergarten.  He was up at 4:30 A.M. but I made him go back to bed.  Finally, a couple of hours later it was time to get up and get ready.  Eli was ready to go. He had his camo backpack and Batman lunchbox and he was ready.  After dropping Ethan off we headed to the red kindergarten hallway to go to Mrs. Davenport's room.  He marched in and found his cubby.  He proudly put away his things and said where do I sit?  After taking a couple of pics with his teacher he plopped down in a seat and was ready to conquer the world of kindergarten. No tears or sad goodbyes.  He just simply said "Bye, Mom" and I left fighting back the tears. 

After that 3 o' clock couldn't get here fast enough.  I wanted to hear about the first day and all that happened.  I got good reports from everyone and there was no major homework today. I'm so excited to see how the school year unfolds.  I pray for happy, healthy kids and soooo thankful that my God's name is Immanuel, "God with us" so that I know that when I can't be with my children He will always be by their side.  What a comfort that is to me! I love you, Ellie, Ethan and Eli and I am sooo proud of all of you!



Catching up...

Destin, FL July 2012 

Okay, I know it's been a whole year since I have written something on this blog.  My friend, Amanda, is super blogger and she documents her family's adventures everyday and often includes my family in her blogs.  She so kindly reminded me that I had a blog of my own and implied that I should start writing something on it.  Incidently, she is the one that snapped the lovely photo above. So I will briefly catch you up on the Potts' family and what has happened over the past year. 

Ellie and Ethan completed another school year successfully both making straight A's all year.  Way to go kiddos! Mom and Dad are so very proud of your hard work at school. Ellie is now moving up to the middle school and going into the 6th grade, Ethan will be starting 2nd grade AND Eli will be starting kindergarten, sniff sniff.  Monday, August 6, 2012 will be the day that all 3 of my children will be starting school.  I wouldn't trade the past 4 years that I was able to spend as a stay at home mom.  So, you ask...what are you going to do now, Mary Beth?  Well, I'm going to continue to stay at home.  Brandon is blessed to have a job he loves, but he travels a lot so it works sooo much better if I stay at home so I can hold down the fort.  Besides my hubby said he likes having me at home and didn't really want me to get a job right now.  I will gladly oblige:)  I'm already making a list of projects in my mind and maybe I will add blogging to that list seeing that I will be alone in the day time. 

This summer, the summer of 2012, has been busy with baseball, camp, vbs, cookouts and swimming.  We just returned from a family vacation at the beach which we shared with the Lemonds family.  We had a lot of fun in the sun and sand. All the kids surprised me at how they fearlessly conquered the waves of the ocean (or technically the Gulf of Mexico).  They loved diving into the waves and trying their hands at boogie boarding.  I would post more pics but my internet is very sluggish and it takes FOREVER just to upload one photo. There are more pics on facebook if you are that interested in seeing them. 

Lets see, what else should I share...
Right now I am completely absorbed in the Olympics.  I get sooo caught up in the gymnastics and the swimming.  I am having a hard time concentrating on typing because I am watching the womens all around gymnastics right now cheering for USA to win a gold, thinking that I am old enough to be some of these girls mom. Eeek!  Okay well I will leave you for now.  I will have plenty to share next week when I am on an emotional roller coaster watching my oldest starting middle school and saying good bye to the baby as he starts kindergarten. Box of tissues, please!

I Rejoice in Thy Salvation

On September 13, 2011 around 8:30 p.m. I had the privilege to kneel beside my daughter as she prayed for Jesus Christ to become her Lord and Savior.  She prayed a simple prayer repenting of her sin asking for God to make her white and clean on the inside.  I then prayed and thanked God for her asking that His beauty would be upon her.  I often pray for my children to love the Lord with all their heart, soul, and might.  I want them to have a deep understanding of God's word and to understand the kind of relationship that God wants to have with them.  Romans 10:1 says "Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation."  On September 6th I really started to pray that for people including Ellie.  I also began thanking God for saving them because I knew it was His will and I knew that He has already completed His work. 

I close with a verse from Hannah's song of thanksgiving.
"Then Hannah prayed and said, My heart exults in the Lord; My horn is exalted in the Lord, My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies, Because I rejoice in Thy salvation."  Father, I rejoice in Thy salvation! Rejoice and praise God with Brandon and me for saving our daughter!!

The Kid Wash!!

Okay, I love summers now since I am a stay at home mom because I get to spend time with the kiddos and I don't have a set schedule to keep.  However, my children were born May, June, and July so the summers are full of birthdays for us.  We have tried having separate parties but we wear our friends out coming to parties all summer so I usually try to have one big party in the middle of the summer.  This year I had just decided to have kids over to swim and Eli had requested a visit from the firetruck.  Of course Eli saw Cars 2 last week and decided he wanted a Lightning  Mcqueen party at the last minute.  There ended up being Cars cupcakes, a fire truck, and swimming, UH wait no swimming... yeah the swimming, well, there would have been swimming except our pool turned out looking like a green swamp the day before the party.  So plan B went into effect.  Plan B is always fly by the seat of my pants and see what my brain dreams up at the last minute.  I had been on the internet one day and saw a cute idea of making a sprinkler thing out of PVC pipe and then saw an even better idea of a sprinkler that you could run through like a car wash.  So hence comes the "Kid Wash".  Of course I had showed it to Brandon weeks ago and said isn't this cool and all I got was a uh huh and he kept watching T.V.  but on the morning of the party I showed it to him and he said I could make that in 30 minutes. I said "So why don't ya get started, otherwise the kids are going to be really hot and really bored.  He went to the store got what he needed and in about 30 minutes the "KID WASH" was born.  Yay!! It turned out to be a hit, the kids had fun and they didn't have to swim in the green swamp.  Thanks to all our friends that came out to play and endure the hot day with us.  My kids have the party bug like Brandon and I do.  The Potts all love a good party and we all love to have a house full of guests.  So now the kids are all a year older... Ellie is 10, Ethan is 6 and Eli is 4.  We have enjoyed another summer and school will be starting back in a few weeks.  I'm sooo blessed to have this time with my kiddos because these birthdays keep coming, and mine keep coming too. Mama loves you, Ellie, Ethan and Eli. You will always be my babies!!

Eli "Firetruck" Potts

Eli is growing up.  He still loves anything with wheels and loves to ride his tractor, as a matter of fact one of his favorite things to do is "cut the grass" on his tractor while following his dad who is on the actual lawn mower.  He gets so nasty and covered with dirt that all you can see is his little eyes shining through the blanket of dust covering him (Mom gets to bathe him).  Being the baby he always seems to fall in line behind Ellie and Ethan and just go along with whatever they are doing but this summer he has gotten to be on his very own t-ball team with no help from big bro or big sis.  He has done better than I thought, at first I didn't think he would participate because I couldn't go out there with him, but he has done it with no problem except for one incident where he wanted a hot dog and refused to take his turn at bat until he got one (I stuck to my guns, he never got the hot dog, of course he never went to bat either).    Here in the past few days he has surprised me by learning to swim.  Last summer I could not get him off the ladder of the pool but this year I put his arm floaties on, put him in the center of the pool, and told him if he wanted me he had to swim to me.  After 15 minutes of screaming he finally did it and then two days later he is jumping off the side of the pool and going under water, go figure!!  A few weeks ago he told me that he has changed his name to "firetruck", I wonder why? His daddy kind of likes those big red trucks with the sirens too.  Oh and his favorite catch phrases these days are "is that cool?" and "how bout that!".  Just wanted to catch ya'll up on the baby, who will be 4 in just a few weeks.  I can't believe how time goes by so fast.

This little light of mine...

When I woke up this morning the song "This Little Light of Mine" was playing through my mind.  This little light of mine I'm gonna let it shine...how many times did I sing this as a child?  Well in just a few days I will take my light to India.  I hate to be dramatic and I know that the trip will only be two weeks but I still find myself pondering over my life as I prepare and pack.  This isn't just a trip to me but it's being obedient to God and letting him chip a little bit more of "myself" away. You see I am not the adventurous type and my home is a comfort zone.  I like what I know and I tend to stay away from things that I don't know but that's not the definition of faith is it?  Faith is not knowing, not seeing, not touching, not being cautious but running as fast as you can, jumping without looking and falling into God's arms. 

I ask my family and friends that you will pray for lives to be touched.  Pray this 1Thessalonians 2:13 "that when you received from us the word of God's message, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is , the word of God , which also performs its work in you who believe."  My light that is shining is Jesus Christ.

Thankful!!!!

Yeah, I know it's April 3rd and my last blog was on January 1st. I'm on top of things!! Well it hasn't been boring around here at all. Brandon has changed jobs (answered prayer), we are going to INDIA in 20 days (another answered prayer), Ellie and Ethan are about to finish up a school year, Eli claims he is no longer a baby but a big boy:( and so on and so forth. I have entered that phase in my life where I am chaufering kiddos around to their different activities and my calendar is filled with guitar lessons, ball practice, birthday parties, school trips... fun times! I spend my days folding clothes, sweeping, and sneaking some time to dip my paint brush in a little paint (that is only after all children are delivered to the proper places). I can say that I am very content and thank God for this opportunity to be a full time mom. I'm thankful for a husband that bears the full load of providing for our family. The other day tears welled up in my eyes and I was overwhelmed by the fact that I was simply able to take Ethan's lunch box to school because he had left it in the back seat. That might seem silly but there was a day and time when I could not have done that, and I am just so thankful that I don't have to juggle too many hats like a lot of moms do. Can I say the word THANKFUL enough?! You know what else I'm thankful for... a smoke free husband. I have been praying for him to quit for, well, the whole time I have been with him (started dating him in 1996). He hasn't smoked in 2 months now. How did he do it, you ask? Well open your Bibles to James 5:16. All he did was confess his sin to our church small group then he was showered with prayer and scripture, God did the rest. AMAZING! ...His praise will be continually on my lips Ps. 34:1

Princess Mommy

I have to tell you that whenever Eli sees a picture of me in my wedding gown he calls me a princess. Tonight he grabs my face with his little hands and says I want to kiss you and then says "you're a princess". AWWW!! If he does that to a young lady in about 11 or 12 years its gonna be trouble... my little casanova.
I like to share these things because I don't want to forget plus I don't want Eli to forget that at one point in his life he thought his mommy was a princess.

2010 Recap

Let's see what has changed over the past year...
Eli definitely wins the award for the most changed in our family!! He began the year in diapers and now wears underwear. Potty training was a bumpy road for him but we are doing well now. He is also a lot more verbal now than at the beginning of 2010. He got a big boy haircut and he had his 3rd birthday in 2010.

Ethan has had a good year too. He was five in May so his big event in 2010 was starting kindergarten. He has begun to read a little. He has made new friends at school. This was also his first year to try his hand at athletics. He played T-ball (the Braves) and football (the Steelers) this year.

Ellie began 4th grade this year. She turned 9 years old and suddenly became too old for pink pretty princess things. Her main hobby this year was reading and she got her first library card. She got her first experience with babysitting the boys while I went for a walk on a road back behind the house. It was only about 20 or 30 minutes but it's good training. She has begun to cook a little (muffins, mac and cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches, canned soups, etc.) and she also has began to do some chores around the house. I'm most excited about her unloading the dishwasher.

Events that might sound trivial in the grand scheme of things are actually huge to us as a family or at least to mommy. I had the revelation in 2010 that I don't have any babies anymore just big kids. No more bottles, no more diapers, no more rocking just watching my kids grow up and experiencing life for themselves. Letting go of them one finger at a time so they can learn and be independent. I'm so glad we have a God whose name is Immanuel (God is with us). I know I have to let go one day but I take comfort in knowing that God never lets go!!! Happy New Year to everyone and I pray that 2011 is blessed.

But 'Mary Beth' treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.

A birthday party for Jesus!

A host of terracotta "potts" angels

Decorating our tree.

Zoo Lights

Every Christmas it was a tradition to read Luke 2:1-20 as a family on Christmas morning before we opened our gifts. I have continued this tradition with my children but this year I wanted to do much more so starting at the beginning of this month we began the journey with Zacharias, Elizabeth, Mary and Joseph. I wanted my children to focus on the true meaning of Christmas and to really understand why we are celebrating. The title of this blog post is actually from Luke 2:19 replacing Mary's name with my name or actually just adding Beth in the verse. This verse is a special verse to me now that I'm a mom. Before when I read it I never got the significance of it but now that I have children of my own I understand Mary's point of view. Motherhood alone is a HUGE responsibility but being the mother of Jesus Christ... WOW! So as I take this journey of Advent with my children I'm constantly aware of these moments and I cherish them. Thank you Jesus for coming to earth and saving us, thank you for my children, help me never to take for granted the time I have with them and I pray that Ellie, Ethan, and Eli will learn early in their lives the kind of relationship you desire to have with them and Your will for their lives. AMEN

Halloween 2010

Ellie and I have started a Halloween tradition. Ellie tries to come up with the most original costume she can think of and we make it! Ellie and I love arts and crafts so this is a great challenge for us. The first few years of her life she chose to be some sort of princess... a ballerina princess, a fairy princess, a disney princess, and so on but one year I managed to talk her out of that and the crafting began. It all started with an ice cream cone in 2007 then we had to do a golden fairy creation in 2008, in 2009 she was a cupcake and this year was a red lego. The past two years she has won first prize at the school fall festival in her category.

The boys are not as big into the arts and crafts part but they do enjoy coming up with a costume. This was the first year Eli participated wholeheartedly, in the past he was not to keen on putting anything on his head or over his face but now he wants to do whatever Ethan does. That worked out great this year because Ethan wanted to be the Super Mario Brothers so Eli was Mario and Ethan was Luigi. Last year Ethan was Indiana Jones (very cute) and he also won first prize at the school fall festival in the preschool category.

This year we went trick or treating in Hernando with some friends. We all rode on a big trailor and hopped on and off (not as much fun for mom and dad). The pictures above show costumes from this year, the trick or treating trailor ride, and carving pumpkins with Dad.

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/The-Frangrance-of-our-Lives.html?soid=1101120263365&aid=L1Itbt4yPfc

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/The-Frangrance-of-our-Lives.html?soid=1101120263365&aid=L1Itbt4yPfc

Pack it Down Tight!!!

The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; Thou dost support my lot. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me. Psalms 16:5-6

for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. Hebrews 11:10

For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But let each man be careful how he builds upon it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:11

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. Ephesians 2: 19-22

I remember when my house was being built. I was so excited that I use to bring the kids and we would have picnics in the yard before there was even a house. I would watch as they began preparing for the foundation of our home. As a lot of you know my husband, Brandon, is in that line of work and I asked why they drive over and over the dirt as they build it up. He said it was because they needed to pack it down good and tight. This is the beginning of preparing a firm foundation. I love how God uses examples from everyday life to help us understand His Word. When I read the verses above I think of my own spiritual foundation. Many people have paved the way for me to reach this point in my life. Every person that crosses my path and invests time in me has packed down the foundation a little tighter and made it more firm.

"The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places" and Jesus Christ is my cornerstone. I am so glad that God chose to place me among others that share Christ's love with me. When I am sitting in church, or going on a ladies night out, or spending time with friends that have a "stay at home mom" schedule, or my small group arrives at my home and walk in without having to knock and they know where to find cups and forks in my kitchen, I know that I am a part of a new city being built. I am with my fellow workers, and we are growing into a holy temple in the Lord. This excites me and I want everyone to experience it. I love that we are being fitted together and we are sharing life.

Just wanted to share with my friends and family that I love them and as they meet new people and begin new friendships to be careful how you build upon those new relationships. We are there for a purpose, God's purpose. Let's pray for one another to have wisdom and love as we continue to build.

Well it's the beginning of Fall and we have a couple of months of school under our belts. Ellie is adjusting to 4th grade and Ethan has decided he likes kindergarten. Eli has decided he likes having mommy to himself during the day and sometimes asks if we can leave ellie-ethan at school. I have gone on two field trips so far this school year and have enjoyed watching the kids interact with the other kids in their class.

Ellie's field trip was to the Pink Palace and I got to ride the school bus with the group. It made me think back to when I was in 4th grade. It's funny how things haven't changed much. There is still the boy that likes to flip his eyelids out and that one person that says present instead of here when the teacher calls roll, one girl was slightly creative and said "I exist". The boys were telling "YO Mama" jokes while the girls were playing silly games and giggling. When I was in school it was called "cooties" but for some reason now it is "cheese touch" (wierd I know, the way you avoid getting it is by crossing your fingers). My personal favorite Yo Mama joke was "Yo Mama is sooo ugly she looks like you!" I wonder why there are no Yo Daddy jokes? Anyway it was an interesting trip and I realized that 4th graders are 4th graders whether it is 1988 or 2010.

Ethan's field trip was to the zoo. Ethan, his friend Luke and I spent the afternoon walking around the zoo. I enjoyed the boys and their enthusiasm over animal poop. Luke was a very energetic child and tried to join the animals by attempting to climb over the fences a couple of times. Ethan has been dubbed Potts because there is more than one Ethan in their class. So I kept hearing "Hey Potts" or "Wassup Potts", it was cute!

You can see from the pictures above that Ethan is playing football. He hasn't quite got the hang of it yet. There is a lot to remember and he ends up just running around on the field and if he gets lucky he finds a pile of boys to jump on. They look like little bobbleheads out there trying to hold up those big helmets. It's fun to watch but I don't think we will be getting offers from the NFL any time soon.

No babies for me anymore. I'm past the days of bottles and diapers. I have two in school and one on the verge. Ellie is a young lady now. Ethan is learning to read and write. Eli goes to the potty by himself (most of the time, anyway). The time goes by quickly. They each have their own personality and interests. I love watching them grow and learn. I am thankful that I am getting to stay home and be there for them during this time in their lives. I was reflecting on the simplicity of my daily life and I just thank God for this time. Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice!!

Smile by Uncle Kracker - Lyrics

This song makes me think of my kiddos. Mama loves you!!

Smile by Uncle Kracker - Lyrics

This song makes me think of my kiddos. Mama loves you!!

What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong

I heard this song this morning on the radio while taking the kids to school and then I read something my aunt had written including the lyrics to this song so I decided to post it on my blog. Ellie, Ethan and Eli, this was the song that Pop and I danced to at my wedding.

Grandmother's Bible

I started this blog for my children. I thought it would be something great for them to have from me. As they get older they can read it and learn more about me and the things I thought and said as I was raising them. My grandmother puckett, my mom's mom, passed away in 1989 before there was such a thing as internet but she also left me something that has helped me get to know her better through the years, her Bible. I read this Bible on the daily basis and I carry it with me to church. I love to flip through the pages and see what she wrote, what she studied and what she prayed.
At first I set this special book on a shelf and didn't want to touch it. I wanted everything to be as it was the last time she had opened the book herself. It stayed like that for years... sitting on a shelf or in a box collecting dust, untouched. I went through my preteen years, junior high, high school and then college. I packed the Bible and took it with me to college. By this time I did open it but I didn't want to move the ribbons in it where she had marked the pages. I'm sure I read it at different times but didn't really pay attention to the things she had written in the margins until the past few years. Then one day something caught my eye... it was my name written in the margin in her handwriting! Actually as I looked closer it said "read to Nikki and Mary Beth", Nikki and I are her oldest granddaughters born just a month apart from eachother and I know she prayed for us often. It sends chills through me to know that years later I can share something with her that she read, pondered, and prayed over. Here is the passage... "Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will guard you; Love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, get understanding. Prize her, and she will exalt you; She will honor you if you embrace her. She will place on your head a garland of grace; She will present you with a crown of beauty." Proverbs 4:5-9 This passage speaks of wisdom and I believe Grandmother prayed for us to acquire wisdom. I also believe that she particularly liked the words I have highlighted in red. Those are beautiful words... I believe these words personify wisdom and my grandmother was praying that one day we would be examples of this. I don't remember her ever getting a chance to read this passage to Nikki and I but when I had the chance to read these words on my own and realize that my grandmother wanted us to read and learn from this passage I think of another verse... "So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:11 I think it is amazing how God uses us. More than 20 years ago my grandmother was sitting in her vinyl covered chair in the den off the kitchen reading God's word and praying for her grandchildren, pondering over specific words and then at the perfect moment many years down the road I open this book and see the words she wrote and read what she read and these words begin to accomplish what God desired, and this will continue. How amazing!!

I have heard that others have read my blog and people have shared that it has touched them or meant something to them and I give God the glory for using me. I will continue to mingle God's word with the stories I write because I want it to do exactly what Isaiah 55:11 says. These words will succeed in the matter for which He sent it. Pray that I will acquire wisdom and that I will allow the Holy Spirit to lead me as I write.

Eli-isms

Eli has really started talking a lot lately and he has come up with some unique ways to express himself...

My Ellie-ethan which means his sister and brother.

The Che-ater = the refridgerator.

Shark spoon= sharp spoon which translates as fork.

Pop's cheep= Pop's jeep which we are driving while we have no car.

Jemmers= our friend Jennifer

Wokay= okay

I wanna hold you= hold me, mommy

It's a lot of fun to listen to him. He is 3 years old now and he insists that he is not a baby. We have almost mastered going to the potty... thank goodness! Now he is adjusting to being by himself now that Ellie and Ethan are both in school. The one thing that does entertain him is anything with wheels like tractors, trucks, racecars, oh and he has a real passion for trailers that hook up to things, uh yeah this must be a man thing. He also loves tools and tries to fix things. I try to write these things down so I don't forget. It seems to all go sooo fast. I might blink my eyes and he will be driving a real truck and pulling a real trailer and my whole head will be full of gray hairs.

Happy Birthday, Daddy!! Ironically, I believe I am about Ellie's age in this picture and you are probably about 32 or 33 which is how old I am now. So life has come full circle. The dress I have on in the picture was one of my favorites it was white with little blue flowers. We were dressed and ready to go to church and I guess Mom must have thought this was a Kodak moment.