Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Eva "Ilene" Cardwell Dunnington

My Grandma
Eva "Ilene" Cardwell Dunnington
November 13, 1927- November 29, 2015

She had a genuine 

way of meeting the needs of others. 
She took excellent care of her
 family and close friends. She would 
always go over and beyond
 and have a smile on her face. 
She had a generous, giving heart
 that overflowed for others. 
Making those around her feel 
loved and welcome was her specialty. 
She never met a stranger and
 always had a hug to give. 
She would give every last ounce
 of herself for those she loved.
Milla and I had the honor of being 



by her side the moment she took her
last breath.  She had a strong, strong
heart that fought through multiple
heart attacks in the past couple of
months...but this time she finally let go
as God reached down his hand
and pulled her home. I am thankful that
I got precious time with her and that
she simply told me that she believes that Jesus
died on the cross for her sins and she
had asked him in her heart as her Savior.
That means there is a place for her in
heaven.  Her name is in the book of
LIFE.  She gets to spend eternity there!
That is what makes this a celebration!
I am so thankful that Brandon got
to know her and she got to know him.
 I am so thankful that each one of
my children got to know her and
experience the LOVE she had
for them and feel HOW PROUD she
was of them. I am thankful that
Milla,Faith, and Cole had the opportunity
to each give her a goodbye kiss
on the forehead on Thanksgiving day.
I am thankful that she had a loving
son that cared for her and was by
her side.  She adored him and loved
him so well his whole life.  She was his
biggest fan...it truly was the real
life version of  the children's book
"I'll Love You Forever"....the Mom
holds her baby boy for so many years
and at the end the boy/man holds
his elderly mother.
My Grandma wasn't just on the
sidelines....she was involved.  She
knew all my favorites and never forgot.
She knew all my friends and the names of
their husbands and babies.  She was so petite
and adorable..you just wanted to squeeze
her! Even in her final days she looked cute.
She wrote me a letter every single week
for pretty much my whole life...and
then passed that gift on to my
children who got monthly letters.  She always had
 time for me.  She always had a listening ear.
 She made me feel like a million bucks!
She always said "I love you a bushel and a
peck and a hug around the neck".
When she played "ring around the
rosie" with my kids...(even in her late 80's)
she fell all the way to the ground at the end..
every time! I am going to miss her. I already
am...a lot.  By her bedside the last few
days we played the hymn "Known Only
To Him" and it says, "I know not what the
future holds, but I know who holds the future-
It's a secret known only to him"....so, the
fact that all of those secrets are being
revealed to her know is what gives us
all peace and comfort.
I am thankful that I got to be her
granddaughter.

http://www.western-wayne-news.com/Obituaries/CvNObituaries.htm

Thanksgiving

"There is always, always something
to be thankful for"

*Thanksgiving at my Mom's*

Happy 64th Birthday Gran Mum!

The girls made her a video of the
Beatles song she taught them..
"When I get older, losing my hair
many years from now....
Will you still be sending me a valentine,
Birthday greeting, bottle of wine?
If I get home at a quarter till 3
will you unlock the door?
Will you still need me,
will you still feed me
when I'm 64?"

YES WE WILL!

(Papa Ray, Mimi & the grandkids)
Thanksgiving with Mimi and Papa Ray
at Brian and Kelli's

COUSINS
Lydia, Milla, Cole and Faith

The girls with GREAT Granddaddy Rogers

Thanksgiving at Dad and Grandma's
with cousin Rick

She LOVES her great grand kiddos

Thanksgiving meal at Milla's school

 Kindergarten Thanksgiving

classmates

Faith's Thanksgiving meal

Faith at the very top for her
performance

Faith and her friend Hadley from
her class

GEORGIA vs. AUBURN game

Fun at Gran Mum's

Milla helping Gran Mum with
some yardwork

Faithy girl

My Mom!
Kale is so pretty!

A Cowgirl, Princess and Lumberjack


First Halloween in our new neighborhood

a RODEO COWGIRL

a PRINCESS

a LUMBERJACK

Carving Pumpkins


Faith's Preschool Class...
Georgia Cheerleader

Milla's Gymnastics class

Faith and Emily dressed up
at Ms. White's

Crazy Sock Day

Happy Birthday to
BRANDON!!!

Happy 88th Birthday Granny Girl

sweet kisses for their great Grandma

Jesse's work baby shower...
for her baby girls twins on the way...
Ella & Reece

Milla getting the "Principal Pal" award
at school!

"whose hair is longer Mommy?"

Milla's school fun run....
she ran 35 LAPS!!

A fun visit from the Adams Family..
Anne, Elizabeth and Philip

Elizabeth and Milla singing

Philip and Faith

Hank keeping an eye on
Cole and his buddy Hudson

Faith, Lily and Milla

Becky with Lauren
me with Cole at Christian's bday party

happy!

(Maggie, me, Kristen, Katie)
some of the girls in my Bible Study had a
college friend whose brother is in a band...
we got to go hear them at Eddie's Attic..
they are called "Striking Matches"...
they wrote a bunch of songs on the
show Nashville. My favorite song they
sand was "When the Right One Comes Along"
The opening band was really
.good too..
"Fairground Saints"...they had a
song we all liked called "Ain't Much for Lyin"

Sunday, October 25, 2015

The Great Outdoors

"Let's Just GO, and not come back
for awhile!"

They were calling for cold weather...
in the 30's in the morning!
...but these ladies were ready for camping!

Cole's was excited too!!

Heading out...to
"Take a walk in the forest and
smell the wild air"

Found a great camping site at
Dockery Lake outside of Dahlonega.
*Cole, Ethan, Milla, Faith and Emily*

Sunbeams and Canoe rides

Brandon impressed us all with what tasted
like a gourmet meal in the middle of the
woods... "silver turtles".... ground beef,
potatoes, carrots, onions, salt and
pepper wrapped up in aluminum foil
and cooked for 30 min in the hot coals
of the fire! Yum!

*Getting Colder! Red noses!*
"Camping is more than just getting away.
It's the thing we need to rekindle
the spirit of a simpler time,
refresh our hearts with nature's beauty
and remind us that life doesn't need to
be quite so complicated after all"

One of my favorite parts of the trip was
sitting by the camp fire and listening to
all the stories and  the sweet kiddos with
great imaginations!

cuddled with our babes!

Cole was the coziest of all...bundled in about
5 layers--he slept 12 hours
in his pack and play in the tent.  Hank slept right
next to him all night!

THE SULKAS
Jeffery, Katie, Ethan & Emily

THE CRIMS

WOW!

Walking down to take a look at the
lake and the reflection of the Fall leaves

*A ride in the Canoe*
Jeffery, Ethan, Milla and Brandon

On an Adventure through the forest

*Cole and Ethan protecting camp*
"Of all the paths you take in life,
make sure a few of them are dirt"