Still Trying to Catch Up...

We finished up football season recently by claiming the GCAA State Championship on a cold, rainy Friday night. Go Eagles!

We're #1

my daughter, Kate and Natalie

our dedicated H2O Specialists for the team

Birthdays

We've had the privilege of celebrating 3 birthdays in the past two months, well actually 5 in both sides of our family, but only 3 that we were directly involved in celebrating :).

In October, my dh celebrated his 43rd...

out to eat lunch on his birthday

Little Boys

Remember the little boys we had in foster care back in July? We still keep in touch with their new family via facebook and when they come for court visits they come by the house and share pictures with us. And last week we had our first-ever video call  on Skype with them :-), and then last night they came to our house for supper and a visit! We all enjoyed the visit so much! The boys are growing and changing (as is to be expected, of course). They are so sweet, and so is their new mommy and daddy. I am so thrilled for them! To all my prayer warrior friends, please continue to keep them in your prayers as the adoption isn't final yet.

getting sugar from Lizzie

Looking Forward to Thanksgiving

I can't believe November is almost over and this is the first post I've written this whole month! I've been keeping up with family and friends on facebook, but that's about the extent of my computer time. We've been busy around here, but who hasn't?

Tomorrow morning we leave for a few days' visit with our family in a neighboring state. We're looking forward to the trip. I love spending Thanksgiving with our family! Visiting with extended family members that we only see once or twice a year, eating (too much) good food, watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, watching football, the girls getting together for our annual Black Friday shopping trip -- I just look forward to all of it!

Family Trip to St. Augustine

Remember back in July, when my husband and I went to St. Augustine for our anniversary? Remember how I said we both loved that place so much that we felt like we simply must take our kids there some time? Well, last Thursday and Friday Kate was out of school, and even though Ryan was not (his college holidays don't really match up with Kate's school holidays, except for Thanksgiving and Christmas) we decided to go for a couple of days.

We had a really fun time. Our plans didn't really work out like we originally planned (sometimes they don't), but we still had a great time together. I wish Ryan could have been with us. Maybe we'll go back again another time :)

Here are some pictures from our trip:

More Fall Pictures

a crisp 65 degree fall morning

Butterflies and Fall

The weather here has definitely begun to feel fall-ish. The temperature this week has been just perfect for getting outside. We have such hot summers here, that unless you have a pool, you pretty much stay indoors with air conditioning. So this week has been a nice respite from the hot temps.

Today we were able to enjoy one of my favorite pastimes... nature study. I think that has to be one of my favorite things about homeschooling. I love just being able to take as much time as we want to enjoy God's marvelous creation, especially on days like today! Today we chose to watch the butterflies. After lunch we spent some time just watching them fluttering around the yard. I have Lantana planted in flower beds in my front and back yards, and this flowering plant is a haven for the butterflies. Will brought out his net and decided to capture one to study up close.

Getting Ready for a Wedding

My friend's daughter is getting married this Saturday and I am the wedding director. This is my first time directing a wedding :O. We've been really busy today, setting up tables and decorating the fellowship hall for the reception. The bride's family is doing most everything themselves, with the help of friends, as opposed to hiring out everything. I am honored to be included in the planning and the implementation of all the details! I decided to take today and tomorrow off school so I can devote the full day to helping them.

The bride prefers a simple, yet very tasteful style and she is decorating with lots of live plants and pots of mums wrapped in white tulle. Simply gorgeous! Everything is coming together nicely, and it is going to be really beautiful.

This is actually the third wedding in which I've been privileged to help with all the decorating, etc. I have learned much, so hopefully by the time my Kate gets married (many years from now, as she is only 15) I will have mastered the art of wedding construction right down to the tiniest of details!

Maybe I will have some pictures to post tomorrow.

A Love Story

On this day 21 years ago, I took his name and I gave him my heart. Sometimes it seems like only yesterday that I walked down the aisle, took his hand and said "I do." And sometimes it seems like it's been forever!

It is a small, simple ceremony held in the chapel. 

Music from the piano is softly drifting through the

sanctuary, marking the time. She stands at the entrance,
poised on the threshold between two worlds.

Birthdays and Wisdom

Another year older, another year wiser? Hmm... Maybe so. I turned 42 on August 26th. I've never really had a fear of growing older. In fact, I look forward to growing old with my husband. You know -- gray hair and rocking chairs kind of old. I don't think he feels the same way though. Not about growing old along with me, just growing old in general :).

My birthday fell on a Friday this year. Which means we spent my special day traveling to north Georgia to watch our Appling Christian Academy Eagles play football. It's a good thing I love watching football! We don't have a cheer squad this year. Only four girls showed an interest in cheering and the cheer coach decided that four was not enough to have a proper squad. So instead of standing on the sidelines, cheering the boys on, this year Kate stands on the sidelines serving the boys as "water girl."

Maybe He Should've Just Turned Around...

I wrote about both Kate and Will's first day back to school, so I thought I would share about Ryan's first day back to college.

His first day of classes was August 22nd, a Monday. So he decided to go back to Statesboro on the preceding Thursday, so as to have a couple of days to get everything in order. His apartment complex decided to implement a parking permit policy over the summer. They seem to be having trouble with what you might call "riff-raff" there, you know, break-ins and thievery, drug deals, and some other unsavory goings-on that I won't mention specifically. So they are making some changes to try and "clean up" the place. They would like to be a college students only apartment complex.

So, anyway...

Journey Toward Learning

Yesterday was Will's first day of school. I waited a week after Kate started back before starting with him. This year I wanted to give myself a little time to adjust slowly, rather than starting them back at the same time like I did last year. The extra week helped some. I know it wouldn't be a big deal if they were both at home, but getting back into the routine of getting Kate off to school needs some getting used to around here.

2011-2012 School Year

Kate started school on Monday, August 8th. She is in 10th grade this year! She has been learning to drive this summer, and has been working on the Joshua Law requirements. I can't believe she will be 16 in February! My little girl is not so little any more. She still attends ACA, and I still tell her (often) that she can always come back home if she wants to. She always tells me, with a smile in her voice, that she really loves it at this small Christian school. They have 2 new students in her grade this year, for a total of 18 in the sophomore class. This is the biggest class yet at ACA!

Here is her class schedule:

Closing Out Summer

Wow! Where did the summer go? I know it is actually still summer, but for us, summer vacation has come to an end :(

Here's a recap of our summer in pictures ~ in no particular order :)

Our Weekend Trip

DH and I took a little road trip this past weekend. We needed some time for just the two of us. We RARELY (meaning almost never!) go anywhere without our kids. Seriously, in our 21 years of marriage I can count on one hand the number of times we've gone away without them. So DH booked this early anniversary trip over a month ago.

We went to St. Augustine, FL... the oldest city in the US. We only stayed for the weekend. DH's plans involved sight-seeing on Friday, and relaxing at the resort on Saturday before returning home on Sunday. But apparently he forgot about what a history buff I am! There was no way to experience everything in one day! So... the relaxing around the resort on Saturday? Yeah, that kind of didn't happen. We spent two whole days walking all around historic Old Town, St. Augustine (we did ride the trolley some of the time) learning about lots of history that you never read in your textbook education at school. And even two days wasn't enough time to see it all. I told dh that we definitely have to plan a vacation here now so the kids can experience all that we did!

Learning Places

My emotions are raw, and riding high right now... We didn't keep the babies. We chose to allow another, younger, child-less couple to take them into their foster home. It was harder than I thought it would be. Not foster-parenting. But parenting babies -- a 2 year old and a 9 month old. We had them for only 13 days and I was utterly worn out. Exhausted. Completely spent. And I had help!

What made me think I could do this? Starting over with a baby who doesn't sleep through the night. At my age -- I'll be 42 next month. When we completed our training and certification to become adoptive parents, we specified the age range of the children we felt like we could take into our home. And that range did not span the infant-toddler age group. But we received a call from our RD explaining that these babies needed a foster home in our county. She made it clear that she realized we didn't really want to foster-parent, and that these children were not in our preferred age range and we did not have to take them. But knowing how eagerly we've been waiting to adopt, would we be interested in fostering them, with the probability that they would be free for adoption within a few months?

Adoption Update, (Pt. 5)

We get to bring home our newest treasures tomorrow afternoon...

Those words evoke so many emotions. There are so many thoughts racing through my mind as I stare at this screen, trying to compose those thoughts.

I can't sleep. I went to bed at 10:30, but sleep has eluded me. My mind can't seem to slow down long enough to allow my body the rest it needs. We've been in a whirlwind here at my house for the past two days. Trying to get everything ready, to bring them into their forever home.

Beach Vacation and Father's Day

~ Beach Vacation ~

This year we vacationed in Miami, Florida ~ actually Surfside Beach, one of Miami's beaches.

This and That and Mother's Day

If you recall, I found out recently that I have a heart murmur. And just to be on the safe side my doctor wanted me to see a cardiologist and have some further testing. So I had an appointment last week and had an echo-cardiogram performed. Next week I have an appointment with the cardiologist to discuss the results.

So my oldest son is out of college for the summer, and is working as a summer intern at the power plant where my husband works. He just finished his first week of work. Not really work, per se, training this week. I overheard my youngest son asking him if he was glad to be out on summer break. His reply made me smile. It might be summer but it's not a break for me! I think he'll feel pleasantly compensated for the loss of his "summer break" when he receives his first paycheck.

Baby Dove

Kate, my sensitive child with a big heart for God's creatures, found a baby dove in a friend's yard this week, and decided it needed to be rescued. Of course I told her that just because it was on the ground did not mean that it needed to be rescued by humans. But this one was in danger of being eaten by the friend's dogs. Kate tried to put it in a nearby bush, but it couldn't grasp the limbs with its feet and hold on, so it fell to the ground again. She couldn't find a nest anywhere, so she asked if she could bring it home and take care of it. Me being the softy that I am, said yes.

Easter

Easter... What does this holiday mean to you? What traditions do you associate with this day?

When I was a little girl Easter meant a basket filled with chocolates and treats. A new dress, sometimes with a little bonnet. Sometimes with a little purse and gloves. It meant decorating eggs, and finding them, hidden in the yard. It meant getting together with family and sharing a special meal.

The Jelly Bean Flowers... this is a tradition that my children and I share at Easter. We make this simple flower arrangement and place it on our kitchen table.

Tornadoes and Torn Lives

Our spring break is coming to a close. Will went to the beach with a friend's family for a few days. Kate and I were able to accompany Mike on a business trip to Birmingham, Alabama on Monday and Tuesday. Ryan was at college, as his spring break was a few weeks ago.

But my heart is heavy as I ponder the destruction, the devastation, the loss of lives from the day of twisters through the state of Alabama.

This I Know

Just thinking back over the past months of the sickness and surgeries and suffering that seem to have kept coming, one on top of another, we've dealt with in this house...  My God has been gracious. Gracious enough to not allow me to dwell on it, to not linger over it. Gracious enough to sustain me through all of it.

Throw Out My Homemade Laundry Detergent?

School finished by 12:30 today. Two loads of laundry finished. Lunch done. One of Will's friends (who is in the local school system which is out on spring break this week) is over to spend the afternoon with us. So that means that I am free to write on my blog earlier than usual.

So much for using the homemade laundry detergent that I recently experimented with. Not long after beginning to use this detergent, Kate came to me one day with a full body rash. She was covered with a bright red rash from her head to her feet. I don't mean a few splotches here and there. I mean totally covered with a raised red rash. Not. Even. Kidding. And me, the Queen of the Camera, did not take a single picture.

What's On My Mind

I know, it's been kind of quiet here. Not in my house per se, but on the blog front. I've been sick this past week. Imagine that! Didn't I wonder recently if life could somehow possibly slow down a bit around here? God sure has a sense of humor.

I've spent most of my time between doctor visits, and the hospital for tests, and in the recliner nursing a fever and pain. For about two weeks now, I have had a fever off and on, and pain on my left side (front and back), as well as a general pain throughout my whole body. You know, kind of like stiff and aching body parts. I wondered if maybe I am developing arthritis. I wondered if the pain in my side might be appendicitis, but the pain never really was excruciating enough to convince me. I also wondered if it might be kidney stones, but again, the pain level never reached an unbearable zenith.

He's No Longer a Teenager

20 years ago yesterday, I journeyed into that realm of life known as motherhood. I do love strolling down memory lane, reminiscing, recalling, remembering. Care to join me?

It really isn't even my due date yet. My doctor has plans to be out of town the following week, on my actual due date, and he recommends labor induction. I am young, naive. I don't know better. I am ready to meet my baby.

Homemade Laundry Detergent = Domestic Diva?

Yes, you read the title correctly. I have been reading alot about homesteading, living simply, being frugal, thriving on one income (you get the picture) for quite some time now. I've been slowly making changes around here. You know... using coupons, only buying if it's on sale, shopping thrift stores, making do, using it up, finding new uses for old items... those sorts of changes.

Travel Ball

This is how we spent our Saturday... watching our daughter play in a softball tournament.

Adoption Approval Granted!

We received the letter in the mail yesterday... we're officially approved as an adoptive family!!! Woo-Hoo!!

We began this journey (officially) on May 3, 2010 and now almost one year later, (WOW!) we are approved and ready to begin searching for the child our God has already chosen for us!

We are excited beyond measure, and can hardly wait to meet him or her!

Praising the Lord for His goodness and faithfulness...

God sets the lonely in families. Psalm 68:6

Family and Auburn University

We had an opportunity last weekend to visit with our families. If you remember, Mike's dad is somewhat handicapped and lives with Mike's sister. Debbie (that's Mike's sister) and her family were on a spring break vacation, so we spent the weekend with him. We were also able to visit my parents and one of my brothers, as well. It seems the older our kids get, the busier our lives become, and the fewer our visits with family.

Jelly Bean Flowers

One of the "crafts" we incorporate into our Easter celebration...

One lesson I am continually learning -- never underestimate the importance of family traditions to your children. Case in point: this simple little flower arrangement. My kids are older (my youngest is 12) and I always think that they won't want to continue some of the things that we've done in the past as part of our holiday celebrations. They always prove me wrong :)

Mourning

It is with a heavy heart that I write this post. Today we lost a friend, a coach, a mentor. Much beloved, he will be missed by so many.

I was going to write about our weekend trip, but in light of this loss, our trip seems so insignificant. Everything else seems so insignificant...

Milestones

The second of our children to reach this rite of passage on the "road" to adulthood.

All I have to say is, "Look out world... there's a new driver on the road."

Adoption Update (Pt. 4)

The "adoption lady" came by yesterday. She had to take pictures of our house, and verify that we have made the necessary changes in and around our house to bring it into conformity with state guidelines. Who knew there could be so many guidelines??

All Things New

Spring has sprung! Here in my small town in the South, anyway. I know it's not officially spring yet, but at least it feels like it is. What wonderful weather we're having (finally!). I think it's supposed to be in the 70's all week. Warm weather = capri pants and flip flops... Yay for warm weather!

I love this time of year. Signs of new life everywhere you look ...behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Bits and Pieces

Mike's knee is healing well after the surgery. He is continuing with physical therapy. He is still having some issues with swelling, and there is some fluid build-up on the knee. The doctor said this is normal and he can come back into the office to have the fluid drawn off. So far, he is waiting on that; he said the last time he had a needle in that knee it was excruciatingly painful.

Fifteen Candles

Fifteen years ago, on February 24th at precisely 11:24 am, the Lord saw fit to bless our family with a beautiful, healthy baby girl. She weighed 8 pounds, 8 ounces and she captured my heart immediately. She has brought me so much joy (and some anguish, of course) and my life has been so much the richer because of her. I thank the Lord every day for the joy and privilege of being her mom. I love you Kate!

Through the years...

A Phone Call

I received a phone call today.

From our adoption resource developer. We call her "the adoption lady."

It seems we are getting closer! She said she has to finish writing our home study and turn it in to her supervisor. She has to take a few pictures of our family. She said by mid-March we should be able to start the process of choosing our child (or children).

Choosing our child.

Catching Up on Other Things

We recently participated in our local AWANA Grand Prix. This is a very anticipated event in our AWANA schedule! The kids get very excited about making their cars and racing them. Even the adult and youth leaders get in on the action!

TNT clubbers' (3rd - 6th graders) cars

Will placing his car on the track

Mike, ready to release the cars in the TNT races

Will was SO excited to place 1st in Design! He's been trying to win 1st Place Design for a couple of years now. He made a submarine this year. He christened it the USS AWANA. If you look closely to the left side of the submarine, you can see that he even made a little propeller (by taking apart one of his dad's fishing lures) and attached it to the rear of the sub.

Kate (participating in the leaders category) builds her car for speed. But she always manages to come up with a pretty cool design as well.

Kate ~ the double winner ~ won 1st Place in both Speed and Design!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How do you celebrate Valentine's Day in your home? I certainly don't like the way it is such a commercialized holiday (like all holidays). I don't like for my husband to feel undue pressure to run out and spend money buying things just to convince me of his love for me. 

On the other hand, I don't think it's a bad idea to set aside a day to focus on showing our love for each other. So... in our house, we meet somewhere in the middle. We do give gifts, just little expressions of our love. And we try to focus on becoming more loving to others, as well as trying to develop characteristics that make us more lovable.

This year we gave our daughter a beautiful red rose, to tell her that like the rose, she too is beautiful all year long and not just on this one day. My husband and I want her to know that she is special, that she is created in the image of Almighty God. And that she is a treasure to us. This is a turbulent time for her--those teenage years--when she is forming in her mind an idea of what true beauty looks like. We want her to know that it is so important to focus on being beautiful on the inside... of being conformed to Christ's image. We want her to find her beauty and her worth in Christ alone.

Don't we all need to know that? That what this world says about us doesn't matter. That despite what the media tells us, beauty and worth are not measured by our dress size, or by whether we are wearing the latest fashions. That we are created in the image of God, and that we are to reflect His glory... that's what true beauty is. If you are a daughter of the Most High King, then you are the apple of His eye! And that is beautiful. 

Basketball Play-offs and Championships

The girls' JV and Varsity Basketball teams at Appling Christian Academy (Kate plays on both teams) made it to the State Tournament. The JV team won the Region Championship, as well as the State Championship! The Varsity team was runner-up for State Champions!

We traveled to north Georgia for the second round of play-offs and for the "big dance." The games were very exciting! We played ball games Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Friday morning at the Assembly to recognize the Region winners

JV Girls Region Champions!

JV Girls State Champions!

The seniors accepting the 2nd place trophy for the Varsity team

As you can see, we had an exciting basketball season! Unfortunately the boys' Varsity team didn't make it to the play-offs, but our boys' JV team made it to the second round of play-offs. However, all the teams worked hard and are to be commended.  

Update on Mike

Mike started physical therapy for his knee on Friday. Now he is feeling the pain! They said he would.

He has to go to therapy twice a week, and he has to do several exercises at home several times a day. He also has to continue the ice therapy three times a day. (And yes, my poor family does a great job of tolerating me following them around with a camera ready at all times!)

As you can see, he is never alone. (Ha Ha) Lizzie jumped up onto Mike and decided to lie there with him while he was using the ice therapy brace.

This is what his knee looked like when we took off the bandaging. Ick! Of course it looked much better after we cleaned the wounds with peroxide. He doesn't have to wear the bulky bandaging now. We just have to keep the wounds clean and covered with steri-strips. Bathing is an issue because he hasn't yet been released to get the wounds wet (other than dabbing them with peroxide).

He goes back to the doctor for his post-operative check-up on Wednesday when he will be given a brace to wear.

Mike's Knee Surgery

We arrived at the hospital at 6:45 this morning. We left the hospital at 10:20 this morning. In and out pretty quickly. Fairly uncomplicated procedure. God is good.

He has spent most of the day in the recliner, as to be expected. Surprisingly, his pain has been tolerable. So much so that he has chosen not to take the pain medicine the doctor prescribed, but Tylenol instead. Hmm.

He begins physical therapy on Friday. They actually want him using his leg as soon as possible. In the meantime, he has to use ice therapy for the swelling and inflammation. It's a pretty neat contraption they sent us home with, a machine kind of like a small cooler that holds ice water which is pumped through circulatory tubes connected to a brace wrapped around his knee. Pretty cool. Except that I have to keep adding ice, because he has to wear it continuously, night and day for the next 3 days.

He is not one who enjoys sitting very much either. He's a fairly active type, so he has already become quite bored. Lord, help us over the next few days :)

Polar Ice Therapy

This is a picture of the inside of Mike's knee. The arthroscopic surgery is really cool, as it allows you to watch the procedure being performed. This image is one of the lesser gross-looking ones. Not sure just what is happening here... I know the doctor had to remove a bone fragment that had broken off the knee, as well as the tissue build-up around the fragment. He also had to remove part of a certain band from the side of the knee.



Plantar Fasciitis, Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome, oh yeah, and Knee Surgery Too!

I've been having heel pain in my right foot for over a month now. I'm not one to complain much with pain, so I've been taking ibuprofen and just hoping it would eventually go away. Not so.

I finally decided to go to the doctor last Friday. I was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis. What in the world?? Apparently I have somehow injured my plantar fascia.

So the doctor set up a treatment plan involving stretching exercises, ice therapy, an anti-inflammatory drug, and wearing this hideous night splint.

Sleeping in this contraption is not much fun. The first night I woke up what seemed like every hour, it was so uncomfortable! The next morning, as I was telling my husband about it, he laughed when he realized that I had not readjusted those long straps that run along the outer edges. I had them pulled too tight and my foot was pulled too far up! Good grief!

The next night I loosened the straps a little, but still I wasn't taking any chances. I took Tylenol PM before going to bed and I only woke up twice. Now it doesn't hurt my foot to wear it, but it is cumbersome and I have to sleep with my foot out from under the covers.

I have to admit that wearing this splint has helped a great deal. And I'm doing my exercises and taking my medicine. So I hope the recovery time won't be too long. And I hope that I don't have to take the cortisone shot that the doctor mentioned. Ouch!

I was supposed to have a follow-up appointment with the doctor in two weeks to see how much progress I am making, but I ended up having to go back today because I've started having some numbness in my toes. When I called the doctor about it, he told me that numbness was definitely not a symptom of plantar fasciitis, so I had to go back to see him today.

He said it could be a couple of different things, but he thinks it is tarsal tunnel syndrome, and that wearing the night splint is aggravating the nerve. So... he said I won't be wearing the night splint as long as he would have liked. And it really seems to be helping the most :(.

Fortunately, the initial treatment plan for tarsal tunnel syndrome is basically the same as for plantar fasciitis (except for wearing the night splint), so I will continue the same exercises. And starting next week I will begin sleeping in the splint every other night, gradually leaving it off altogether. Then I will have a follow-up appointment with the doctor in one month. If I still have the numbness in my toes, he will do a nerve study to see exactly what's going on.

I'm supposed to be staying off my foot and resting it as much as possible. Ha Ha! When a doctor tells a woman to stay off her foot, he may as well put a cast on the foot if he actually expects that to happen! Seriously, as a busy wife and homeschooling mother, I'm not so sure I'm allowed to stay off my feet :) Especially considering the fact that my husband is having knee surgery next week, and he won't be allowed to walk or put any pressure on that leg at all for one week following the surgery.

So, actually he'll be the one laying around staying off his feet, and I'll be up and about, taking care of him. But that's ok. I'm not complaining about that. It is my privilege to take care of him and pamper him a little. I am so grateful that he works hard to provide for our family, and that he allows me to be a stay-at-home mom! And he really is helping me in the evenings with cooking supper while I prop up in the recliner and try to rest it a little. I'm just glad that I'm not having surgery too (the doctor did say that surgery was a last resort if the other treatment options didn't work). Now that would be something, wouldn't it, if we both had surgery and had to be laid up recovering at the same time! Thank goodness our all wise heavenly Father has not allowed that to be!

2010 Highlights

January

Kate's small group, with their leader, at DiscipleNow

Australia Co-op with the home school group

Ryan moved back home and decided to commute to college for the 2nd semester, so on some days I had all 3 doing school work at the same time. It felt like the old days :)

February

Enjoying the snow. Very unusual for the deep south.

Upward Basketball

Kate's 14th birthday party with friends

March

Awana Grand Prix

Will's car placed 3rd in speed. He was going for design with the wii remote :)

Granddaddy and Uncle Billy's visit

Rick and Christie's farewell reception

We had to say good-bye to our Youth Pastor (of 7 years!) and his family. They left our church in order to to do a church plant in Orlando, FL.

Spring Pictures

Will - 5th grade, Kate - 8th grade

April

Easter morning

"He has risen; He has risen indeed."

We make the Easter Story Cookies every year. Each year, I think they have outgrown this tradition and will not want to do these, but they always surprise me!

Newly certified scuba divers in our family: Ryan is behind the instructor (the man in the red suit), and Will is to the right of the instructor.

celebrating Ryan's 19th birthday

Birds Co-op with the home school group

May

Will, receiving his 3rd Book Award during the Awana Awards Ceremony

our vacation to Panama City Beach, Florida

What started out as a wonderful time with friends ended so sadly, as our friends experienced a terrible tragedy in their family. If you missed that post you can read about it here.

All-Stars Softball

And this is how we spent most of our summer, traveling to games. Kate played shortstop most of the time, but she also played 3rd base, pitcher and catcher.

June

Vacation Bible School ~ Saddle Ridge Ranch

Even the youth helpers and adult workers enjoyed playing games.

We had an opportunity to host in our home two young men from a church youth choir on tour this summer. Playing Guitar Hero with my sons. 

July

Our church's annual July 4th picnic at Lake Mayer

Lazy summer days playing in the pool

St. Simons Island, Georgia

August

August brought a transition to our house. Kate began 9th grade at a small Christian school. The first few weeks were bumpy, but she has adjusted very well and is doing wonderfully, both academically and athletically. We just miss her very much at home.

August also saw Ryan moving out again. He transferred to another college, and this time he and his friend are renting an apartment, rather than living in the dorm.

Kate was part of the Eagle Cheer Squad, and cheered for the Eagle Football Team.

September

Jekyll Island Field Trip to the Georgia Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center and the Tidelands 4H Center

We got a puppy! Her name is Lizzie and she is a Dashalier (a miniature Daschund/Cavalier Spaniel mix). This is our first inside dog :0 House-breaking and training have been an adventure for sure!

October

at the Georgia National Fair in Perry, Georgia

We don't show any animals, nor did we enter anything in the exhibits, but we had a wonderful time watching the livestock shows, seeing all the exhibits, enjoying the entertainment, and eating all the great food!

the Eagle Cheer Squad

The Eagle Football team played for the Georgia Christian Athletic Association AA State Championship. We didn't win the game :( so we are the runner-up, but we had an exciting season!

Mike and his daddy ~ celebrating birthdays

Mr. Vinson is 84, Mike is 42

November

Daddy - Daughter time

at the Auburn vs Georgia game, in Auburn Alabama

The beginning of Will's on-going saga of sickness, which turned out to be Mononucleosis and it lasted for weeks.

Kate played basketball for the Lady Eagles. She is number 4. Mike is one of the coaches.

Will's 12th birthday. He was still sick on his birthday, and didn't get to have a party with his friends. So we plan to have something for him this summer instead.

Thanksgiving means getting together with family. But in our family, it also means "the Iron Bowl." The show-down in college football in the state of Alabama. Auburn Tigers vs Alabama Crimson Tide. Growing up, you pick your team, and in some cases it's a house divided, as with my daddy and me.

December

the Christmas card picture

The Accident. This has been an on-going incident that God is using to teach me to trust in Him.

our trip to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Many memories have been made through this year. Many lessons have been learned. God has blessed our 2010 in ways I couldn't have ever imagined. He has taught me so much. That He is all I really need. That apart from Him, my family is the greatest blessing He has given me. That life is short, so cherish the moments. That life is not always fair, so cling to Him, trust Him. Live, Laugh, Love. But most of all, love.

1 John 4:19