Congratulations to three lucky winners! Thanks for playing along everybody and visiting my blog! These giveaway’s are really fun! People from all over come looking for something fun to win and as a bonus get to see some sweet blogs. Can’t wait to give something else away!
WINNERS
Dee– www.tweety0166@aol.com 
Debbie– www.fourkidsgreat@gmail.com 
Jesica– pixiemarierose@gmail.com 
I can remember the day I found out I was pregnant with her. I had a baby on my hip and another holding my hand (it was a surprise!). We weren’t planning on another baby, but God was. That one decision has changed my life for the better. Thank you God for knowing just what I needed. Gates was meant to be in my family and for that I am eternally grateful.
Here are 14 things I love about Gates. Of course there are at least a million more things to love about her…but I thought today would be a good start since she is 14!!! Born on November 9th, 1994. She weighed 8lbs.10oz. and was 20 1/2 inches long. We love to tease her that she looked like a spanish baby when we first saw her….since none of us look spanish…we wondered “where’d” we get her? She was a beautiful baby and is even more lovely today.
1. I love how Gates has a servant’s heart! She will do anything for you. She will work and work to make your load easy. And never complains!
2. I love that Gates is so funny. She is hilarious! Even when she was a baby, she could crack us up. She is naturally a happy person and it just oozes out of her. If you know Gates…..you have laughed at something thanks to her.
3. I love that Gates looks similar to me. I remember what it was like growing up with a face full of freckles. Everyone always commented on them (I hated them) and now I see that happen to Gates. She is adorable!
4. I love that Gates completely loves God. She chooses to follow Christ….and loves him with her whole heart. I prayed that she would love him like I do….and I see that she really does.
5. I love that Gates has such great hair. She has beautiful hair and everywhere she goes someone always asks if it’s natural. It’s hard to take care of and not everyone loves curly hair….but she looks gorgeous.
6. I love when Gates hugs me. Her hugs cause my heart to go pitter-patter. I love to feel her in my arms and smell her pretty hair and skin. She’s delicious to all my senses. I really could squeeze her to pieces!
7. I love how Gates cares for her family. Her loyalty is incredible. She loves all of us….even knowing all she knows about us. We can see a true picture of forgiveness through the eyes of Gates. She’s a pro!
8. I love to see Gates perform. She can sing like an angel. Her voice is beautiful and pure. I have listened to her make up songs her whole life. When she was little, every school assignment she would write about becoming a singer someday.
9. I love when Gates wants to cook. She is passionate in the kitchen. Every little detail is important to her. She will spend hours in the kitchen (I think she gets this from her mama….we love to feed people). And she cooks great! I look forward to eating at her house someday in the future.
10. I love how Gates enjoys being home. She is so wild and spunky, but home is where her heart is. She loves being home with family and relaxing. She loves to sleep and be warm & cozy. She will make a great mama someday.
11. I love that Gates is taller than me. She is growing into a beautiful young lady. Every time I stand beside her, I’m reminded that she has grown not only in size but in her wisdom and in her heart. And I got to be a part of all of that. Thank you LORD!
12. I love it that Gates has fashion passion! She is a style diva! Her cute outfits totally reveal who she is. A classy chic little lady. Her love of clothes and shoes is something we have in common. We love lookin good! People do judge you by how you look. Whether you want them to or not. And, Gates….you look GOOD!
13. I love how Gates loves to shop! Yea, this is a biggie. We are shop-a-holics! This is the best way to bond, right Gater?
14. I love that Gates has a tender heart. This is another connection that we have. We both tend to cry easily over little things. Our hearts aren’t as tough as other people’s. Maybe we are just softies, Gates. But I really like that about you. You’re a tender and loving girl…..and you make my heart melt! Plus you look all red & puffy like me too when you cry. Some may call it the ugly cry…..I like to call it the freckle-face girl cry.
Fourteen isn’t enough ways to tell how I love you. I love you because God picked you just for me. I love you because you’re so easy to love. I love you because you love me. I love you because you’re so awesome! You’re so sweet! You make me laugh and you make me proud. I hope you have a wonderful birthday today. You deserve it. I’m happy that you asked for a camera. You take great pictures too. 🙂
If you weren’t there last night….you missed it! But that’s ok, cause tonight is the last night of the show. You can still buy tickets at the door. Oh, and there is a silent auction going on as well. The students are still working to earn their way to New York City and every penny from this auction goes to the student. I have to say I was a bit disappointed with the bids. The baskets were full of great items and not one of them went for the value that was spent on them. Which is sad. The money spent on the basket could’ve gone directly to the students NYC account instead they took a loss. Bummer, ya’ll!
These kids work so hard and you can see that they actually have fun performing. Great job to Touch of Class and to Mrs. Wildey who leads these cool cats. All your efforts paid off….the show was fabulous! Thanks also to Mrs. Douglas who assists Mrs. Wildey (she’s new to the team..but works like she’s been there all along). Super work by all.
Gavin & Weswee (Leslie) tearing up Love Potion #9 🙂 from Wanda Galloway on Vimeo.
Do You Love Me? from Wanda Galloway on Vimeo.
Untitled from Wanda Galloway on Vimeo.
Everything solo by Gavin & Heather Branum
I know…..everyone loves to make fun of Curves! I’ve heard it over and over. Curves is where the old ladies work-out exercise at 5am. Alright, first things first. I do NOT work out at ungodly hours of the day. Yes, 5am qualifies as ungodly to me. So I guess you could say….that time slot was decided by some old lady somewhere (cause they like to get up early….you know to milk the chickens and fry the eggs for breakfast). I am still horizontal in the most fabulous sheets known to man and atop the world’s greatest mattress…..snoozing at 5am! Where I belong, ya’ll!
Miss Gates announced to me last week that we had to go to Jazzercize with Mrs. Thompson on Thursday nights. It was very important and she was counting on us. Well, I forgot! On Friday, a co-worker mentioned to me that I wasn’t at Jazzercize…..they had lots of fun….so don’t forget to come next time. Got it! Definitely plan to go next time.
Tonight….was next time. We went and busted a move at Curves. It was a great work-out and actually had me huffin & puffin! Oh and yes…there was some burning and stinging too. This body is 42 years old, really! The one move that put me in a bit of a tizzy was called “attitude”. Hrmph, you know that one had to be created just for me. Well, by the time we were halfway through the song while doing “attitude’s”, my legs felt like they had concrete in them. I could barely lift them. I’m not even kiddin ya’ll! Burn baby burn!
I will forever defend the name of Curves! Don’t nobody call Curves the old lady place when I’m around. It’ll be a throw-down! If you are someone like me (a little out of shape) it’s a great place to do your thang and get in shape. I really had a great time and the other ladies were terrific fun. Chelsey (Mrs. T) led the group and we worked cardio as well as abdominals…..all to some sweet tunes. I told you she was awesome!
Thanks Chelsey & Cathy. I really liked the class and I hope to make it a regular deal. Just don’t count on my showing up after I milk the chickens and fry the eggs. I won’t be able to make it then, I have a previous engagement at that time. Called SLEEP!
Curves Rocks!
Here’s the class! See, we’re not old!
Really, you are! Thanks for hijacking my blog….AGAIN!! That was nice of you to blab to the world my weaknesses! Don’t you know I want the world to think I’M SUPERGIRL? Dude, really! Ahhh I forgive you! I’ll blame it on the crazy allergies you’ve been having!
You know on Sunday when I told you Pastor Bob’s challenge…..you didn’t have to go all “hogwild” on me. The last few days have been superb…..meaning…YOU DA MAN! Thanks for finding MANY ways to show me your love. I have really felt it! You’ve gone above and beyond the call to do so. I am seriously crazy about you. So…..here’s a little recap of the sweet things you’ve done for me (the stuff that speaks LOVE to me) since then.
Monday–when you came home from work you slipped a little surprise in my dinner chair. When we sat down to eat, I pulled out my chair to find a kickin STARBUCKS giftcard with my name on it! Oh yea! I can go get my frappi on, thanks to you…Mr. Creative! I think you know I spent hours on the Bloggy giveaway signing up on blog after blog…..just wanting to win one. Bless your heart, you really do love me…don’t you?
Tuesday–oh the sadness of election day! I was so exhausted from it all and I was hurting like mad all day with that stinking supergirl disease…that I went on to bed. You came in and rubbed that aching arm while keeping an eye on the poll results on FoxNews. Then went in and hijacked my blog…..sharing with everybody how you love me and how they should too. Now that’s confidence in someone…that you would invite the rest of the world to love me too. Gosh, I love you! I feel the same about you. You are well worth spending time with. Hint: remember one of my love languages is quality time?!
Wednesday–this is a crazy good one! If anybody reads this wacky blog o’ mine…you know I have been searching for my face soap in the stores for months. Everyone has stopped carrying it. Phisoderm was created just for me. I love it. I’ve tried everything else while waiting for someone to have it again. I despise them all. Blak! But tonight, before you left for church….you handed me a folded up paper. I opened it up to see that you had ordered me 4 bottles of the most wonderful face soap in the world! You went online and searched for it…..not only did you find it….but you were able to get 2 free bottles! Major score!
So, see. I really think you’ve gone “hogwild” with showing me love. You are on your game….and I want to say THANK YOU! I hope you know every little thing has made my heart go pitter-patter!
I L O V E Y O U !! 
I just wanted to post a note, while my wife is sleeping, to all of you out there who take the time to visit her blog. I want to thank you for spending some of your valuable time reading her musings. I have been encouraging her to do this for quite some time. However, my vision of her sending her wonderful, biblically inspired insights out into the blog-o-sphere did not include some of the more embarrassing aspects of my new-found peanut allergies! I guess if my desire was for her to share her heart, I should be glad that I am an important part of that heart! (I just wish she had not included pictures!) To hear her excited recitations of the comments so many of you have posted has made it all worth while. It is a joy to know that others can be blessed by sharing in who God has created my wife to be. I love and cherish her and look forward to her being used by God in ways that only He knows.
I ask you all to pray for her. She is very often in pain from various health issues she faces. (No, I am not talking about the pain in her neck that goes by the name Don.) Her right arm was aching tonight and I could feel some of the swollen spots that are a sign her fibromyalgia is acting up. Then again it could be her over use of her “mouse arm” during that Bloggy Giveaway comment fest!
Thanks again for coming here and reading the current thoughts running through my wife’s mind, and about the exciting life we lead trying our best to stay smack-dab in the center of God’s will! In spite of our failing in that endevor we all know we have been blessed beyond measure by a wonderful God!
Don
PS: Look for more of Wanda’s devotional writing that is soon to be posted in a seperate section of the blog. The link will be in the sidebar in the near future. (As soon as I remember to get them posted correctly!)
(Love Ya, Honey!)
You Are Even More Beautiful on the Inside!
QueeniesLittleKingdom.com