Welcome Back!

Where do I even begin? I know it's been such a long time and I've probably lost a lot of my readers because of it. Sorry, but blogging can't always take priority. We have had tons going on in our family since about the beginning of October, and it hasn't really stopped until just yesterday. So I guess I will try to pin point some of the specific areas and get you all caught up on what is going on.


Yesterday was a bittersweet day. We all joined together in Abilene to celebrate the amazing life of my precious grandfather and friend Johnny Billingsley who went "home" on Friday. He truly was a faithful servant of the Lord his entire life. There were countless stories shared yesterday reflecting on the acts,gifts, talents, and giving spirit, the he exemplified throughout his life. He has most definitely left behind a legacy that will serve as an example to my children and my children's children. Praise God for the rich heritage that my grandfather came from and the many generations that benefit from him continuing to raise those to know and call on the name of the Lord.

I celebrated my 30th birthday! Yes, I'm no longer in my twenties, so why does it still feel as though I started highschool just the other day? I'm fully ready to embrace this phase of my life in full force. I know who I am at this point, and I am so much more confident with the woman that I've grown to be. I really don't see this as getting old but beginning the best years of my life. Oh yeah, Jason threw me the most amazing party. Amazing! I knew that it was going to happen, but I didn't know any of the details or who was going to be there. It was just Jason and me and about 60 of our closest family and friends. It was so wonderful and quite humbling to. Everything was absolutely beautiful and had been thought out to the greatest detail. I think one of the greatest surprises was the piano player. Jason got our worship minister Robin Smith to play the piano during the party and we even had some time to do a sing along! I know, that is so up my alley! We sang some of my favorite songs and then I was put on the spot to sing Over The Rainbow for everyone. Yikes! It was pitched rather high but I pulled through...I hope. Thank You to my wonderful husband who never ceases to make me feel like the most important and loved woman on this earth. You did much more than I deserve, but thankyou for all of your time and effort. I had so much fun! I love you with all of my heart.

We had such a memorable Christmas. For Jacobs first Christmas we traveled to Ozark Missouri where my brother Mark and his family live. It was a lot of fun. We got a condo in Branson for a few days and spent one day at Silver Dollar City. It was a blast. Jacob got some really wonderful presents, but he seemed more interested in the paper and bows. He loves tissue paper!!! I think the biggest hit was his beautiful rocking horse made by Paw Paw O'Quinn. It's a piece of art and something that will be passed down for years to come. Jason and I rung in the New Year by going out on a much needed date. We spent the evening at our favorite Italian restaurant and went to see The Pursuit Of Happyness (spelled incorrectly on purpose). It was so great. Mother and daddy stayed home with Jacob and invited some of their friends over. We got home after the movie and just about 15 minutes shy of midnight so we could celebrate with all of them.


Jacob is growing and changing like crazy. Jacob will be 9 months on the 25th, and it's so hard to watch him get so much older. I spend most of my days trying to keep Jacob out of things. He was pulling up before he was crawling and about the time he started crawling he figured out he could cruise. Our two couches in the living room make an L so I've made a little course for him that allows him to cruise from his exersaucer all they way around the couches. Also, if you read my last post you saw that he has said his first words. What a cutie he is... He gives the cutest looks and grins that would melt anyone's heart. He finally cut his first tooth a few weeks ago and his second one is right behind it. We go to the doctor for his 9 month appointment next week. I think he weighs 17 lbs. but closer to 18 really now that I think of it. He's still a little guy, and is just now starting to fit into his 6-9 month clothes. He's got his daddy beat though. Jason and I were both tiny babies. When Jason was 12 months old he weighed 17 lbs. and I was somewhere around that as well. Jacob still loves music and I'm already seeing some artistic tendencies in him. I'm not just saying that because I'm his mother either. The kid really prefers Mozart over Justin Timberlake or Snow Patrol.

Well, before I bore you guys with anymore stories I better save something for my next post. I hope I haven't lost a lot of you from checking in with the O'Quinn's. We have really been swamped. Anyway, thanks for checking in. Also, I love it when people leave comments since I continually find out I've got some lurkers on this blog. I hope you are all having a great New Year.

Blessings.


P.S.

Pictures coming soon!

P.P.S
Way to go Jennifer Hudson on winning the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress. If you haven't seen her in Dreamgirls yet, I highly recommend it. She is the star of the movie.