Covid Christmas 2020

It might be different, but we managed to have the best Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.....all of our family gathered round - a candlelight service, even though online, Angie got candles and we had probably one of the sweetest times ever.  I loved how everyone listened and the service was phenomenal as always. It was just a sweet time.  The stockings this hear....or should I say sack...well, SACKS, were over the top....Christmas Eve night found me and Angie tip toeing through her office because they filled that office up.....yummy appetizers that night and so many sweets - but the sweetest was our family, all in the same room.  My best gift.

Christmas Day was full....opening gifts was scattered through the morning and early afternoon.  We had a wonderful brunch and then lots of games played.....make your own pizzas that night.  ALL of our immediate family, 4 dogs, lots of yummy food, gifts out the kazoo.....blessed so big.  Thank You Jesus for the gift of this family....for the love we share and for what You will do to us and through us in 2021.  I pray it's the year every single heart opens to YOU Lord.

BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE!!  Missing so much my daddy, carrying in his sweet potatoes and cranberry sauce, Pepa Corley in his blue jumpsuit, mema Corley's written prayers, my sweet momma and the way she loved Christmas so much.  Heaven holds them and oh the celebration they are having this day.  I am so thankful for the bits and pieces in me that carry the characteristics of them and the impression they made on my life....Thank You Jesus for my beginning.  

Looking forward to 2021....and all You will write for us Lord.  Cover us and guide us.  Shine Your light so brightly in our lives and grow so big in our hearts.  

Happy Birthday Ian Chase Corley

 We gathered as a family on the 16th to celebrate you.....I went to great lengths every single year of your youth to make your day special.  Sometimes hard to do amidst the Christmas holidays....but oh that sweet December day 44 years ago when you came into our lives.  Sweetest day - and on my momma's birthday!  Since then, we have so enjoyed watching you grow and become the man you are today.  Jesus has always been so big in your life....from the time when you were three....and ran away....to Becky Mannings house and you saw Him in the lamplight there, telling you to hurry back home.....to the time when you were 8 and "God told you it was time to be saved, but you were afraid".....to the time at UNT when you told me He sat on the edge of your bed and talked with You, to the time He restored your heart after the betrayal that knocked you deeper into the deepest hurt I have ever seen, to the answer of His promise in Angie and the girls, to the prayer you prayed with Addison, asking Jesus to be her Savior.....Jesus has been SO big in your life and nothing....I mean NOTHING brings this momma more joy than that.  Chase, you will always be my little boy....you and Shawn both will.  Goodness we are so blessed with the men you have become.  Each and every single day I pray.....I pray for God to be so much bigger in your life, for His love, protection, guidance to be so evident to you.  I will always pray Chase....always love you beyond measure.  I am so very blessed to be your mommasita.  Thank you for loving us and for that giving heart of yours.  When I hear your friends talk about you....this momma's heart swells....because their words ring truth....your heart is so good, your love so genuine, your gift is giving to others.....always making sure everyone is taken care of SO well....as my daddy always said, he loved to see you "work the room" - doesn't matter the age....young or old, you are there.  Caring, giving, loving.  I will always remember when we were out to eat with the family.....it was a crowded room.....and another family sitting right next to us.  The elder grandmother spilled her tea - the glass dropped on the floor and WHO was the first one to her aid?  Yep, even before the person sitting right next to her could react, you were there, asking her "are you okay?" and calling over the waiter.  That's YOU Chase....ive seen that hundreds of times....opening doors, grabbing groceries, helping wherever you are.....and doesn't matter if it's a family member, friend, or stranger.....You are there to help.  I remember the sweet gifts from your heart....my diamond earrings and pin that you bought with your allowance at a nearby garage sale.....the little Christmas village you gave me at Christmas.....the coffee mugs you and Chase gave us for Christmas (we still drink out of those today) the coffee mugs you bought at a garage sale....I still have them....and then there's all you do for us these days....always so giving....always so generous.  I am so glad God has blessed you with prosperity....and you live with open heart and open hands....giving to others.  Blessed Chase....by the gift of You.  Happy Birthday sweet boy.  You are loved by so many.....but none as much as this momma loves you.  I am so thankful you are ours!!