1949....

~dad always has a grandchild in his lap...anna-joy, royce, and presley~
~presley and dad...easter 2006..presley's favorite place...his lap~
~jordan's graduation 2009~
~presley once again finds her way to his lap~
~dad and his baby girl (me!) on her wedding day...1998~

June 16th, 1949 a 7lb. 11oz. baby was born...Tommy Wayne Allgood.


This post is a day late and a dollar short...go figure. It's me were talking about! I just want to wish my very special Daddy a Happy 60th Birthday!!

We had a birthday party in honor of his 60th at Turner Lake Pavilion. Many of our family members and Dad's closest friends joined us to celebrate his wonderful life. As I looked around at all the faces, and thought of all of the faces that could not make it to the party, but wanted to be there, I thought of how loved he is. Not just by his wife and his children, but by his extended family members, workers, co-workers, riding buddies, even ex-employees came to honor my Dad. He makes quite an impression on anyone and everyone that is blessed to grace his presence.

These are just a few of the million things that I love about my Daddy:

~his wicked sense of humor

~his even more wicked wittiness...my goodness..the man is brilliant with his wit.

~his wisdom

~his flawless character

~his love for his grandchildren

~his love for me

~the sparkle in his eyes when my little Presley is in his lap

~his forgive and forget heart

~his positive outlook

~his loyalty to his friends and to his family

~his support

~he can fix anything...yes ANY thing! (poor Lem...)

~his ability to laugh even when there seems nothing to laugh about

~his faith in the Lord..( when he was having a heart cath. done a few years back, I was worried sick about him. i remember so well what he said.."Jill, I am going to be fine. I will either wake up and be with Jesus OR I will wake up and be with y'all...either way, I'm a happy man". I will NEVER forget that. it brings me peace still today.)

~his sacrifices for our family

~eating lunch with him at Chili's..not his favorite place, but he knows it's mine.
~his protectiveness over my Mom...it's so endearing.

I love you, Daddy. I know my life is filled with small children, busy days, loud lunches, messy dinners at your house, toys falling out of my car when you try to get in it....but I want you to know that I never miss an opportunity to thank the Lord for you. I hope that God will continue to bless you, just as he has through your grandchildren. I can see that they are the light of your life. You will never know what that does to this little heart of mine.

Psalm 103:17: But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children.

Stepping stones with my bare feet....

~Joseph's last day of school..our morning hangout on the front porch waiting for the bus~
~He's just a little excited~
~His wonderful teacher...Mrs. Chapman~
~His best buddy..Alex~
~His buddies.. R.J., Jacob, and Alex~
~Graduation Day.. May 28, 2009~
~The kids presented Mrs. Chapman with an album with their artwork and pictures from the year..created by me!~
~The last day of school on the playground, right after the ice cream party!~

Joseph just ended his first week being of out of school. He finished 2nd grade with flying colors last week, and now he will be heading to the "Elementary School". In Madison, there is a Primary school which has Pre-K through 2nd, and then the children go to the elementary school 3rd-5th.

This is bittersweet to say the least. The primary school has been like an extension of our family since Joseph started Kindergarten there in 2006. Most of the teachers and office staff know us and they all love Joseph to pieces. Who wouldn't, right? :)

My boy is growing up and it is so hard to watch. Every stepping stone is new and exciting, yet gut wrenching at the same time. The stones are blistering my feet. There are days when I want to skip back a few stones, or to be honest many stones. I want to take a seat on one of those stones and hold him in my arms and never let him go.

I must keep moving on though. Each stone is perfectly laid in place by our Father in Heaven. He created us to evolve, to grow, to get closer to Him with each stone. Blisters, none the least.

Joseph is my first born, my love.

Oh, and before it is completely erased from my memory..I want to share something funny about Joseph's visit to the elementary school with his class. When they got to the school, they each had a 3rd grader show them around the school and tell them what 3rd grade would be like. Well, Joseph's little 3rd grade partner was described by Joseph to be a nice and funny "brown boy". As he was showing Joseph the "ropes", so to speak, he confidently stated this to Joseph......" You ain't gonna have no problems with the girls here at the elementary school with a head of hair like that!"

Joseph couldn't wait to tell me when he got home from school that day. In fact, he has been obsessing over his blond locks ever since. God bless him. Lem was so proud when he heard what this little boy had told Joseph. He grinned from ear to ear and said..."That's my boy!!!" God bless 'em both.

Ready or not, here we come elementary school!

I love you, Buddy!!

trying not to slip on these stones,

Jill