My Blessing Ring

Most of you know the difficulty that I've had since losing our baby. I no longer feel the need to apologize for having bad moments (I'm human and my heart still aches) and luckily I have amazing family members and wonderful friends that don't expect me to. I will say that I have more good days than bad ones lately and for that I am happy! A few weeks back a woman that I look up to who is much wiser and stronger than I am told me to expect bumps in the road with my grieving process and she was absolutely right. It may be a song at church, something someone says, holding a baby or even running into someone that doesn't know what happened and mistakenly congratulates me and I'm crying hysterically...but those are moments in my day and bumps in the road. I will be alright.

One of the reasons that I will be alright is because of the amazing family and wonderful friends that I mentioned earlier. Our family and friends have been so sweet to me, Trey and the girls and I am so thankful for them. We have had food brought to our house, food sent to our house, received the sweetest cards, the best books and messages that still come consistently even when I haven't been quick to respond (thank you friends for not giving up on me). 

Just last Wednesday I got a text from my friend Julie (we met through church) saying that she needed to drop off something for me at the house. We missed each other during the drop off, but when I got home, I was excited to see what was in the pink bag on my doorstep. It's the little things lately that mean the most! 

When I opened the bag and saw what was in it, I was instantly in tears. That little pink bag held one of the most precious gifts that I have ever been given. 

My gift was a Blessing Ring. 

My Blessing Ring was full of pictures of families and individuals from church that love me, support me, are there for me always & are walking this road with me. And not only were there pictures, but beneath each one was a Bible verse that they picked out for me. After looking at and reading each one I didn't have the words to express my feelings, but below is my quick message sent to Julie.

Julie, thank you so much for the sweet gift you left me. I cannot begin to tell you how special it is. I'm in tears over the kindness of each family/individual that is a part of this blessing ring. It truly makes my heart feel good to look at their pictures and read their verses. My family and I are so lucky to have each of you in our lives and we are very thankful to be a part of such a close knit group. Love, Cassie 

Trey and I (and the girls) are so lucky to be a part of such a wonderful church family. None of us are perfect, but we are believers & we are there for each other. And I couldn't ask for anything else.     

Thank you Julie so much for helping put this together for me. It is something that I will treasure forever and will always turn to when I encounter a bump in the road. Your thoughtfulness means more than you will ever know and I am grateful to have you as my friend!

Julie's Family

  Thank you too Rachel for helping put this together. When I met you a few years ago, you were one of the first ladies to talk to me at Bible study. I knew immediately what a great person you were and getting to know you even better has only proven that. Seeing your strength gives me hope and I think you are amazing!

Rachel's Family

Me and my Blessing Ring...

Thank you to everyone that was a part of my special gift! I will cherish it forever.

Love, Cassie

Trick Or Treat - 2013

We continued the tradition of trick or treating at the Vernon's house again this year. We had so much fun last year and this year was no different. It's always nice getting together with great friends and letting the kids have fun.

I knew I needed to get a few pictures of the girls before with left the house...and thank goodness I did. Once we got to the party, things were too crazy to get a shot of them together.

This year Kaylyn was Hermione from Harry Potter and Ashton was a pirate. They were both adorable!

These two have become the best of friends and they are too cute together. Ginger was a rainbow.
(and Kaylyn has on Ginger's shirt...and Buckley's tie)

They're too cool for us!

Wren

The Austin's
(Kaine, Danielle and Collins)

 

Hermione getting ready to leave to go trick or treating...

My sweet little pirate.

Taking a group shot with this many kids is a hard thing to do. Hopefully I got at least one good picture of everyone.

Look close and you can see Kaylyn in the back row.

Poor Collins wasn't happy in this one...

Collins was too cute trying to get Ashton.

Sweet Savannah

And we're off to trick or treat...

My other favorite Savannah.
This one kept her daddy on the move! She ran from house to house with so much excitement and it was hilarious.

Ashton getting some candy.

I had to get a picture of the cutest brother/sister duo!
Wyatt and Wren

That look...

Collins had the best way to get around.

Kaylyn and Ginger were allowed to go by themselves this year (they had a phone, the neighbor hood is small and there were more than enough of us that at least someone would see them constantly). When we finally caught up with them to get this picture (the one and only picture) they had found Layla.

Ginger, Kaylyn and Layla

Finally back to the Vernon's and getting some candy from Mr. Bob and Mrs. Cynthia...our favorites!

Happy Halloween from our family to yours!

One More Pumpkin Added To The Patch...

The years seem to be flying by faster and faster. It seems like just yesterday Tia and I were taking the kids to the Pumpkin Patch for the second year and now we've taken them for the third year in a row. This year however, we added a new pumpkin to the patch...little Miss Violet Tate.

We took the kids on Monday to the pumpkin patch at Tekesta Road and had a blast! Though they get harder and harder to take pictures of each year, it makes my heart happy to watch them all have fun together while Tia and I say "cheese" a million times! 

Since this was our third year going, I have to show all of the previous years pictures too! It's amazing to see how much they've all grown.

Sisters - 2010

2011

2012

2013

Ashton and Sam - 2011

2012

2013

All of the kids - 2011

2012

2013

With Violet...our newest little pumpkin.

Since we've taken a trip down memory lane, here's the rest of the fun we had!

Precious girls!

One of my favorites of Sam and Ashton.

Fun on the farm.

Look at that cute little face!

At least Kaylyn likes to take pictures. And she takes beautiful ones too!

I LOVE this family (Nick too)!

Sam and Ashton loved this bumpy pumpkin...and I don't know why!?!

Precious baby girl!

I laughed so hard when I saw this picture and even though it's not their best smiles, it was too funny and I had to share. The looks on Ashton and Sam are hilarious and then there's Kaylyn with the perfect smile!

Silly faces.

Me and my sweet girls.

So sweet!

Sam had to try on the scarecrow's hat.

Sam was too cute trying to pull the girls.

 I'm such a lucky mama and friend to be able to watch these precious children grow each year! Their smiles and laughter make me the happiest person in the world and I am so glad to have those moments in pictures.

Happy Fall Y'all!