Tuesday, June 22, 2010

holy experience

26. Safe trips
27. Tape players, Hardy Boys tapes and well behaved grandchildren
28. Ryan's delicious cooking
29. Hugs from Parker
30. Kisses from Sydney
31. Updates from Sara
32. Calls from Summer
33. My sister-who listens to me, prays with me and for me, and understands without me having to give an explanation
34. ALL MY NIECES AND NEPHEWS!!!(Especially Chesed-because she always reminds me of what I have forgotten to be thankful for!!!)
35. Computers
36. Tom's Bayou - any time of day!!!!
37. Florida Park
38. My Aunt Sarah
39. My brother-in-law - for his crazy forwards
40. Chickens and baby rabbits
41. My cousin Cheri who inspires and encourages me daily
42. Air-Conditioning in Valdosta
43. Rain
44. A bed
45. A husband who calls me to see how I am doing when he is away
46. My Bible
47. That God accepts(and understands why they were not posted on Monday) my thank yous on Tuesday
48. Sand in my shoes
49. The beautiful beaches in Destin
50. For this day

Friday, June 18, 2010

A Summer to Remember










Bryce, Landon, Parker and Sydney camping with Gran at Deep Creek



Sydney was quite the little mother hen with her friend and cousin Estella



Sydney with just some of the things we took to Deep Creek. We had Norman's
truck and the trailer full.



Fishing in Auntie's pond



Behind the Crab Trap @ Beautiful Destin with some of the family



Madeline and Bryce at Florida Park



Landon with his fish that he caught on his homemade fishing pole. The lure was bigger than the fish.



Big Kahunas



Papa with his John Deere lawn mower - just one more to add to his collection (I think that makes #5)

This summer I have the wonderful privilege of keeping my grands for a period of time and of course I came to my mom and dad's for re-enforcement. My mother can run circles around me when it comes to keeping up with the kids. We left on Tuesday to drive to Destin where I met my sister and 22 other relatives at Big Kahunas (a HUGH water park). We arrived @ 11 and stayed until 5 - to say my tail was dragging at the end of the day is an understatement. We took a few pictures but mostly our eyes were on the 13 children (which were 13 and under). And yes, by the grace of God we left with the same 13 with which we had arrived. Fun was had by ALL (the children, that is). Yesterday Ma, Aunt Sarah and I took my four down to Florida Park where Landon caught a fish on his homemade fishing pole. The lure was almost as big as the fish. We couldn't believe it and did not think you would either so we took a picture for proof. We then visited with the cousins again at my sister's house, where the kids enjoyed paddling in the canoe and kayak, playing in the wash tub, killing a snake, basketball, a video game, Lego's and running and screaming through the house. When we loaded up the kids to come home, I thought it was at least 8 o'clock, it was 6. When we got back over to Ma's we got ice cream from Aunt Sarah's, rode bikes and the golf cart to Florida Park, played in the water, got baths and then played a game of Rook with Papa, Ma, Parker and Bryce. Parker and Papa won. What a great day we had!! Everyone enjoyed a good nights sleep. This morning we made a trip to Turkey Creek where we were met by Kimberly, Estella and soon to be baby Luna. We swan, talked about Deep Creek, got chased by the squirrels and watched the turtles.

Ou next trip was to Deep Creek, our family camping trip we make every year in Bryson City,NC. The grands and I went up a little earlier to secure the campsites. We had such a good time even though we had rain the very first night-had to change tents in the middle of the night but I don't think the kids will forget that for a long time -that is everyone except Parker who slept through the entire move. He woke up the next morning and said, "How did we get in this tent?"

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Dillard House with my Husband





I love summer vacation time! Norman and I recently took a spontaneous trip to the Dillard House. It was so nice to get away and enjoy some rest and relaxation time. They had a petting area, delicious food, free carriage rides and bluegrass music.

Learning to be THANKFUL in ALL THINGS

holy experience

Being thankful should come naturally, but sometimes I get so busy in asking for this and that I forget to be thankful. So I am going to join this group and start my list...and yes, I know it is not Monday and yes, as a somewhat recovering OCD person it is very hard to begin on Tuesday since it is suppose to be the Multitude Monday 1000 gifts group but I am going out on a limb and starting today!!
1. My God who loves me.
2. My mother and Daddy who brought me into this world and loved me unconditionally.
3. My mother and father-in-law - and the only reason I have added the "in-law" is to distinguished between the two sets of parents. But they, too, have loved me, unconditionally. They have loved my children and they taught their son, my husband, to be the a loving, considerate, respectful, hardworking man.
4. My husband and father of our precious children.
5. Sara & Ryan
6. Summer & Josh
7. Luke
8. Samuel
9. Bryce, Landon, Parker and Sydney
10. Rosemary and Jim - not only have I been blessed with a Christian husband for my daughter Sara but loving friends and fellow Prayer Warriors in Ryan's parents.
11. Tom and Melanine - the same is true of Josh's parents. Doubly blessed
12. Health
13. Our visit with old friends at a recent wedding
14. All my aunts and uncles that have surrounded me with love and encouragement all my life.
15. My job
16. Summer vacation
17 Time with my grandchildren
18. Hot weather-that makes me appreciate fall
19. Winter that makes me really enjoy spring
20. Being able to see, hear, smell, taste and feel
21. Being able to laugh
22. Hearts of Hope
23. Skype
24. The beach
25. Quiet mornings