NEWS FLASH................

Billy and I are SuPeR excited! Casey and Brooke gave us the most wonderful Valentine's gift a parent could ask for.... We are going to be grandparents!!! Can you believe it? I can't!  I'm still trying to wrap my mind around it! I can't wait to love this little person (he/she) with all my heart! I'm so grateful that they will allow us the honor of being a part of this child's life. This is exactly what dreams are made of!!! I can't wait to be a Gigi :)
I know they will make great parents and they will raise this child up for the Lord. It's SO exciting! I hope I can contain myself these next 7.5 months and not cause myself to go bankrupt wanting to buy everything I see!!!!
Well, I'll keep y'all posted!
Until Then,
Gigi

Our Dad's ~ William P. Benedict Sr. & James David Yearwood

WOW! Where to begin. This year has been FULL and BUSY with Dr's appointments and Hospital visits. As many of you that keep up with me through facebook are already aware of what it's been like with our dads...

In October of 2009 my FIL was diagnosed with lung cancer. This picture was taken on November 12, 2009  as we sat in  Northside Hospital waiting room, awaiting Papaws lung surgery. While the removal of the cancer was a success, he has never been the same. He's been on oxygen 24/7 and at times has severe difficulty breathing. This has been an on going thing. 911 has been called upon many times, following a trip to the ER which has lead to hospitalization numerous times...I think I've lost count. It's so very hard watching him suffer. He has severe emphysema and hardening of the lungs, as well as Pulmonary Hypertension. This is a disease that will not get better but will continue to worsen. This breaks my heart!

And...then there's my daddy...My sweet, precious daddy who is at Eastside Medical Hospital in Snellville, Georgia, as I write this, fighting for life. He may still have quantity of life, just not sure of the quality. He's always been a fighter. Personally and as a family we've been calling upon the ONLY name that can make a difference, The Lord, Jesus Christ. My daddy has lived a testimony before others that assures us that to be absent from this body is to be present with the Lord. He's a winner either way!  I'm not ready to give him up!!!! However, in saying all that, I do want the Lords will for what is best for him. God knows all, sees all, and controls all! His way is ALWAYS best! I love my daddy with every beat of my heart and NO MATTER WHAT I'm comforted that I have all of eternity with him.

I LOVE YOU PAPAW BEN....
I LOVE YOU DADDY aka PAPAW YEARWOOD...

I ask that you help me pray for both of these fine men that God has so richly blessed my life with! I'll  try to be more faithful updating, but I make NO promises! :)

Love to all who read!

Gwen

p.s. Also, could you please say a prayer for my sweet, loving and beautiful mother, Diana Weatherby. God has miraclously healed her this year from breast cancer but she's facing some other health issues that need Gods healing touch. He did it once and He'll do it again! Thanks!

Valentine's "SWEETHEART" Banquet

Hello Friends.... It has once again been a while since I've wrote to my blog. I've had alot going on.... But, I did want to take a few minutes and say that I hope everyone had a special Valentine's Day. One of the reasons that I chose this holiday as my personal favorite is because it represents love.  I'm so thankful for the day that I fell in love with my husband  nearly 21 years ago but even greater  than that love was the day I fell in love with Jesus! I love HIM because He first LOVED me! I'm so grateful that He loved sinful man (woman) and gave us the Greatest display of love when He gave his life for us, willingly.

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.


I sure hope you've experience this love. If not, you can!

Remember: GOD IS LOVE!!!

Love,
Gwen

Reuniting with "OLD" friends

Had a wonderful time hanging out with some old friends.

This is Misty Bennett my best friend from Beauty College. She is such a blessing to me! God has given us a special friendship for which I'm very grateful.

Also, had the honor of meeting an old friend from highschool, Terisa Moore Womack. We enjoyed some Mexican food and just reminised about old times and talked about things going on in our present lives. I was able to share Gods goodness in my own life and how His hand of mercy and grace is still working today!

I'm very thankful for friendships that have lasted through the years!  But, I'm most thankful for a  friend that sticketh closer than a brother/sister and His name is Jesus!
God Bless,
Gwen

A friend loveth at all times!

The Benedict/Mason Wedding

Well, our baby girl walked down the isle to her Prince Charming on October 9, 2010. What a beautiful bride she made. The day was PERFECT in every way! What an honor as a mother to have raised (and to God be the Glory) such a wonderful, godly young lady. We watched them over the course of three years, in their courtship, draw closer to the Lord as they drew closer to one another. She has always been a JOY so I can tell you in all sincerity that it was a bittersweet day. To see her happy filled my own heart with happiness! Because she always tried to submit to her authorities, kept herself pure for her husband and strived to please the Lord, we've watched her blossom into a beautiful young lady. We can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for Casey & Brooke and we know that as long as they keep Him as front and center it will be something wonderful!

God has blessed me with three beautiful children and has now given me a new son-in-law!

Blake ~ Brooke ~ Brandon

My Loves!!

Thanks to family and friends who shared in this joyous ceremony. We ask that you pray for them as they begin their journey together as husband and wife. Also, pray for me in these months ahead as I adjust to having my "only" baby girl gone from the nest! I'm not going to lie, it's not easy but I know God will be all that I need in those moments that I miss her most!
We've always had a close relationship and I don't look for that to change. Changes? Yes! But, we are still Mother and Daughter and I look for our bond to grow even closer in the years to come.

OH YEAH! Can't forget ~ Today, I am 44 years YOUNG!!! Happy Birthday to ME!!! :)

Lots of Love,
Gwen

FOREVER MY BABY GIRL!!

It's been a while since I've blogged.....

I guess I just haven't felt much like writing down what I've been feeling even though I've been told it's good therapy! As you all know we are in the midst of planning our daughter, Brooke's wedding. This is a very exciting time as well as emotional. She will be marrying the man of her dreams (her words) on October 9th 2010. We aren't losing a daughter but gaining another son. We love Casey and He will be a wonderful addition to our family. Since my last post I've taken a trip to the North Georgia Mountains and had a really wonderful time.

I'll try to be more faithful to posting on my blog. I've just had to take some time to take all these changes in. Mercy, who ever knew that I'd be so emotional in my 40's. If this is any indication of what's to come in my 50's  Lord, please prepare my family :) :) in advance!

The Lord has been so good to me and my family. I don't know why He blesses us so much but I'm so thankful for His Love, Mercy and Kindness but most of all His Longsuffering and Forgiveness!

Until Next time,

Gwen

Just Another Day of Blessings....

Hello to all my blogger friends. I sure hope today is a beautiful day to all who are reading. I woke up this morning and I could breathe, I could walk and I could talk (even though some might wish that weren't so...lol) and I realized just how blessed I am. God has once again chosen to show mercy upon me and let me breathe HIS air another day. THANK YOU, LORD!

Last night 05/16/2010 was our ladies meeting at Calvary Baptist Church and we had a wonderful time. The ladies of our church are so sweet. They gave Brooke as surprise household shower and she got a lot of really nice items for their new home.  I am so THANKFUL for WONDERFUL ladies that love her so much!

This year has been a real roller coaster ride for me. I'm walking through territory that I've never yet been through before. I'm having a lot of mixed emotions about my only baby girl getting married. Not about WHO she is marrying. It's hard for a mother to watch her children grow up and begin to leave the nest one by one. Yet, this is the very thing we've raised them to do and this is the will of God for children to spread their wings and some day fly but He didn't ever say that it would be easy. I wish her and Casey a lifetime of happiness! I don't just want her to be married, I want her to experience a love that will be fulfilling and bring her years of happiness. Life is too short!

Well, God is good and He's good ALL the time! I've been blessed beyond my wildest dreams! One day at a time sweet Jesus! Thank you for Your longsuffering, Your Gentleness, Your Kindness and Your Mercy that you bestow upon me DAILY!

Have a GREAT day!

Hugs,

Gwen