Christmas 2013

 It was wonderful to be  home this Christmas and enjoy family time. We  realized we had not   taken a "Grandkids" picture in a very long time and since we were all together we decided we better take advantage.

So many changes since our last picture. Lacey got married and Kinlee will be here in Feb :)

 The Malones hadnt had a group picture in years! So we fixed that today also.

 So we took a new picture with my parents too!

 My mom is not a dog person but Nala loves my mom!

 We had a great Christmas and are so blessed and are so thankful for all God has done for us this year.
(and every year)

 I am thankful for a wonderful husband who knows just what I need and just when I need it.

We hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!!!! I know I sure did :)

Merry Christmas from The Malones Jeremy, Stephanie, and Nala!!!!!!!!!!

My 2013 Christmas Present :)

      Today was a awesome day although it did not start out  that way. I woke up upset I cannot tell you why because I still to this moment don’t have the slightest clue.  Not long after I spilt my milk at breakfast ( did not help at all) the tears started flowing.

     Let me back track for a few weeks now I have had puppy fever. I wont say I spend tons of time alone but once Jacob leaves each day I am alone a few hours before Jeremy gets home, and don’t get me wrong im not one of those people who has to be surrounded by folks all the time actually im the exact opposite I LOVE my alone time. However I began thinking a lot about Jeremy starting night shift and well even loners need company. Anyway everywhere I turn there have been puppies or dogs to free homes. On facebook, newspaper, everywhere I look. So I kept telling Jeremy I wanted a dog for Christmas knowing I couldn’t get my one wish because we aren’t allowed to have pets where we live.

   Ok so just as I have a good cry over spilt milk (literally)What comes on the news but dogs that need adopted. Ugh really so next thing I know tears are flowing again and I hear myself sobbing this day is turning out awful ( I realize I TOTALLY overreact a lot) at some point during this Jeremy comes over and hugs me and I say I cant handle seeing the dogs today. That’s when I hear him almost whisper your getting a dog for Christmas. I pull back out of his arms so I can see his face and He says I have already talked to Lee ( our landlord). He says its fine.  

          I know what your thinking my tears dried up and I begin to cheer, but that’s not what happen. Instead I begin sobbing even harder than before and Jeremy looks at me and says whats wrong and I say im so thankful ( sob sob) Im getting a dog for Christmas.

    Jeremy and I are all about rescuing and we knew tons of sweet dogs are at our local animal shelter needing homes. So we went today to check them out. No harm in getting my Christmas present early. Especially since Jeremy starts night shift soon. I knew in my heart I wanted a puppy for so many different reasons one I have puppy fever and two I knew the dog had to love kids. Sure they probably had older dogs who like kids but I was so worried about getting them home and they didn’t. Jacob is a huge part of my life and he will be crawling before we know it and I cannot have him in the floor with a dog who don’t like him. So I wanted a puppy so they could grow up around each other.  So We looked and looked and I held so many different dogs. It seriously took my 30 solid minutes of holding dogs to decide. It finally got narrowed between 3 ( only one of which Jeremy liked lol He was not into the puppy idea) So I held them all and thought and thought. Finally just when I thought I had picked the head lady came in and said the puppy in my arms actually wasn’t available. L No big deal so I held the other  two and picked but as we were about to head out of the room into the paperwork room the lady came back and said the one your holding is actually spoken for. In the girl who was helping us defense she was literally still holding her purse and had just walked into work when they asked her to help us. She felt awful and we told her it was absolutely not her fault.  So then I held that same puppies sister and although she was not my first pick I knew she was mine ( when I finally held her).

    The rest of the day was name picking day. Its always a running joke because every dog I have ever named has had a persons name. Katie, Brittany, Missy, Molly you get the picture I wanted something different. So I did not make a hasty decision. I thought and thought and thought. Every name I picked Jeremy quickly shot down. Finally He said out of all the names you said what is your favorite, your top pick.  I thought for a moment and said the name and He said ok. She is 3 pounds and very feisty with her brothers and sisters, but shy with us. She will grow up being around Jacob and hopefully be a kid lover like me J She will fill up my time and I know she will bring so much joy. Although she wasn’t my first pick , she was meant to be mine. She is my baby, She is Nala 

Nala with her Mom and brothers and sisters.

Thanksgiving 2013

Thanksgiving is here and I am wondering where time has went.   21 weeks now!!! Times are still tough sometimes and we miss Montana so much, but God has blessed us hugely in Tennessee and we are thankful.  In years past I have always done a BIG what I'm thankful post, but this year I'm just gonna hit a few highlights. If I leave you out I am so sorry and please know that I am thankful for everyone of you God has placed in my life. I just don’t feel I need to ramble on and practically post the same thing each year. So go back in my older post if you would like to read them.  Ok here goes this years J

·         I am thankful that for the first time in two years I will be with my family for Thanksgiving.

I mean this in no way disrespectful to our Montana family. You all made our two Thanksgivings in Montana wonderful, but you always miss your family. I remember cooking a BIG community thanksgiving meal with Lee and Joy each year at Canyon Baptist Church. We always dreaded all that cooking, but ended up being so blessed by the fellowship with one another.  On Thanksgiving Day Jeremy and I were always overwhelmed by all the invitations we got from families welcoming us to come to their homes to have thanksgiving with their families. We were always so grateful, but each year we always ended up at Lee and Joys. I think during the holidays we gravitated to each other because we all felt the same. We understood the heartache and the sadness that came with Thanksgiving. We always talked about what and when our families got together and” what they are doing right now back home” and yes Joy and I almost always cried. The day was always filled with tears and laughter and although I am home this year and there should be no reason for tears my heart aches once again because although our hearts longed to be with our families doing “our traditions” without knowing we had made our own tradition and as crazy as it sounds we will miss it.  We are so thankful for Lee and Joy and everything they have done for us.

·         I am thankful for Hungry Horse, Montana. I cannot even begin without tears rolling down my face I cannot put into words what God did for me there. I grew so much and although im no where near where I need to be as far as a Christian woman but I am no where near who I was when we arrived in Hungry Horse. I grew so much there spiritually. I am so thankful for our time there and the opportunity to have called it home for two years.

·         Montana Family  I hope you know who you are  I am thankful for you! You were there every thanksgiving and Christmas making sure we didn't spend it alone. You were all the hugs I got on Mothers and Fathers day when all I wanted was to hug my Mom and Dad. You were the going away party we received. You were a mom who allowed me to babysit your baby girl.  You were those sobbed when we announced God was calling us back home. You were the reasons we laughed and smiled even though we missed our family. You invited us to your daughters 2^nd birthday even though we had just arrived and didn’t know you or anyone else yet. You are the reason we had a place to live.  You made our lives better because you were there.  You loved us and welcomed us from the beginning. You are not one specific family, you are not just Canyon Baptist Church, You are everyone who encouraged us,  was there for us and loved us. You  are my Montana Family.

·         I am thankful that I have been blessed with Jeremy Lee Malone. He is my rock. I could talk from now until the end of time and never tell you all He means to me and all the times He has been there for me. After being hurt so many times I had built a wall and I didn’t let anyone in. One night I sobbed and asked God to send me a good man. When Jeremy came into my life I didn’t realize that He was the answer to my prayers. Finally the wall came down and I am thankful that God sent me a good man. I am thankful for my marriage and that I found my soul mate at 18. I am thankful that we have literally grown up together throughout our marriage. Has it been hard? Yes  Have we had rocky times? Yes Has every step been worth it? Yes  5 years later here we are happy and together.

·         I am thankful for babysitting. I love children and while im waiting for my own I see no reason not to love everyone elses J As a woman in this day and age I cannot even fathom trusting someone enough to leave your child with them while you work. I wanna be that peaceful feeling when your walking to your car and have just left your baby in my arms knowing that they will be protected and loved while your gone. I am thankful that Jeremy has a job that provides so I can do what I love. I have been blessed with 3 wonderful mothers who have chosen me to care for their children. I am thankful for Amanda, Mandi, and Jennifer. Thank you for your faith in me. I am thankful for Alaina, Emilyn, Alayah, and Jacob.

  Alaina and Emmy you were the first kids I ever babysat. I remember Alaina always wanted to play State Farm and would always try to get me to prop Emmys bottle up so I wouldn’t have to stop playing to feed her. Then when Alaina was in school and I just kept Emmy we loved Jeremys day off and always begged him to go to the playground at the park ( We usually got to J). So many precious memories with those girls.

  Alayah  I don’t even know where to start. You brought Jeremy and I so much joy. You were our first baby that if we had somewhere to go we just strapped you in the carseat and went. (thanks to your mom for not minding J) We watched you grow and  learn new things. I still remember the first time you stood up ( at our house). Then next thing we knew you were walking and then talking came. I still remember trying to get you to count and the first time you counted 123 with me. I was so proud that I had taught you something. I remember the one and only time Jeremy put you in time out and you had the pouty lip and tears pouring. I cannot put into words how much we love you. We miss you so much it hurts and cannot wait until we can come visit you.

   Jacob you are the first boy I ever kept. You have brought joy back to my life. I spent so much time sad and depressed missing Alayah and although you cant fill her void you have shown me its ok to love again. You are such a happy boy and I am thankful for every grin and laugh. I love that you crack up when I get on the threadmil and how you sing with me when I try to sing you to sleep. I love our AHHH conversations. I am thankful that I am getting to watch you grow and change. You have come so far from the tiny boy I held for the first time and I cannot wait for your  first steps and words and all the other milestones.

·         I am thankful for my friend Mandi. We may be far apart, but she is still the first person I go to when I have a problem. I know I can always count on her to tell me the truth  and be there for me. I hope that we do not let the distance make us grow apart. Thank you for always being there for me I am so thankful for you and miss you so much!

·         I am thankful for answered prayers. I keep a prayer journal and as I went back through the pages I was amazed at how God has worked everything out. So many of the prayers in that book have been answered. I prayed for a couple who longed for a baby and they are due next month. I prayed for a couple who were waited to being their boys they adopted home and they are home and rambunctious as ever J I prayed for another couple who wanted a family and after the family had suffered a tragedy I prayed and asked God for a miracle because they needed it then more than ever and I was amazed when God gave them 3 miracles. I am not bragging on myself, but on God and his goodness. I am thankful for that.

Ok so much for not making this long, but hey I have A LOT to be thankful for and this is no where near everything. I could never thank God enough for all he has done for me. We have a roof over our head, food to eat, a church family, and our families and we are thankful for it all. God has been so good  and we don’t deserve any of it.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving. Stay warm and safe.

The latestest in our lives and an answer to something I get asked constantly :)

   Hello all. Things have been so crazy lately. Last weekend my cousin got married and I got my first experience at being a bridesmaid :) It was awesome but a BUSY weekend. Then we find out Jeremys Cousin who is due in December is actually having a BOY not a girl. :) Gotta love surprises!! So that has been a shocker, but all anyone wants is a healthy baby so no one is disappointed or sad. So anyway that's just a few of the latest headlines in out life ;)
            Jeremy started his job last week and seems like a different man. He is so happy and just stress free. I never even realized how irritable he had become. I am so glad that he is happier now.
          Jacob and I have had a great week. He is learning new things daily and is such a happy boy.The question I get asked most often is  Am I taking on more to babysit?  I have had others ask about me babysitting  for them and the greedy side of me and the "I never say no to anyone" side of me almost tells everyone yes. However, that is not always the smartest thing. The last thing I wanna do is get in over my head. I have prayed and prayed and prayed and each time God says Be still and know that I am God, and although more money would help us tremendously I just feel that another full timer is too much right now. So that's why my babysitting is not up and booming. It is a choice I have made and that does not mean that later I wont take more or that I would say no to occasionally babysitting for someone. Just right now this is whats best. 
      Other than that now much going on in our lives. Things have been pretty quiet in our neighborhood. We are watching God move and are excited to see what He has planned next for us. :)

Update!!

           I wanted to let everyone know where I have been lately. We no longer have internet at our house so times a few and far between for me to post.  But that does not mean that great things arent happening!!! Jeremy got a new job and we are so excited and thankful!!! I am still babysitting and am finally feeling normal again.
      TFC had a awesome outreach on Halloween giving out  2413 cups of candy. Things are going well and God is really blessing our church.
   I dont have much time to write, but just wanted to let everyone know we are doing good. God blesses us everyday even when we dont take notice, His blessings are all around. 

Need something to look forward to on Mondays????????

      For those who live near us  we now have bible study at our house every Monday. For the next few weeks we are having a winnie roast starting at 6:30 the bible study starts at 7. Just a good time of fellowship and digging into The Word. Finally something good about Mondays :)    If your interested and are not sure where we live click here and message me for directions!!! Hope to see you there. For those who dont live local please pray for our Monday night bible studies. Thanks!

50th Wedding Anniversary Party

    My Mamaw and Papaw Harmon celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary October 19th (2013). So proud of them and their dedication to one another. These are pictures from their party.