July 4th

We travelled home to spend a few days with and to celebrate Independence Day with our family. We grilled -- the menu consisted of smoked Boston butt, grilled hamburgers, hotdogs and chicken, layered salad, potato salad, pasta salad, coleslaw, baked beans, deviled eggs, hash brown casserole, macaroni and cheese, and rolls. For dessert there were brownies, cookies, cakes and homemade ice cream... There were alot of us.

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

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.

Vacation

We were on vacation from May 21st until May 28th... we went to Panama City Beach, Florida. It was just beautiful! There are no other beaches, imo, that can compare with those in the Gulf of Mexico! And I'm so thankful that there was no oil from the BP catastrophe there. The beach and the water were just perfect! We went with some friends. This was a first for us; we usually either go alone or sometimes with family.

Ryan (on the right) with his friends, Christina and Truss

Kate with her friend Lauren

Will and his friend Bennie

We enjoyed playing miniature golf. We went to the movies together. Some of us saw Shrek 4, and others saw How To Train Your Dragon. I saw Shrek, and I thought it was a really good movie. It had a really good moral to teach.

We tried a few new restaurants while there, one of them being Five Guys Burgers and Fries. We don't have one of those near where I live, and I thought the food was pretty good. They have an outdoor mall with lots of stores, restaurants, and even a small amusement park type place at Panama City Beach, called Pier Park. That's where we ate at Five Guys. Kate climbed the Rock Climbing Wall and Will jumped on the Super Bungee there.

Mike and Kate decided to try parasailing while we were there. Another first! They enjoyed it, but Mike said it wasn't worth the price they charged!

Mike and Kate way up there!

view from our balcony

me and my sweet hubby

We saw so much more sea life than we have ever seen before!

From our balcony, we watched these dolphins jumping and playing.

It was so cool!

sting rays

Ryan found more than just sea shells while snorkeling.

a rainbow at Pier Park

We spent one afternoon at St. Andrews State Park. Mike wanted to take the kids snorkeling on the jetties there. We saw lots of different types of fish there. We even saw some jellyfish. And I was able to get some great shots of my kids on those rocks.

seahorse we found

We had fun on vacation, but on Sunday night, the family we were on vacation with received heartbreaking news. My friend's sister's daughter was killed in a car accident. She was only 16. She and another friend were on their way home from a high school graduation when an oncoming car swerved into their lane and hit them head-on. So our friends left early Monday morning. The next few days for us were blue. It was hard (and still is) to believe this actually happened. We know the family very well; they were members of our church for years. Our kids have grown up together. They moved away a few years ago, so we haven't seen them much except for the occasional visit when they are back in town to see their family.  I know these next weeks and months are going to be very difficult for them, so I ask you to join me in lifting them up to our heavenly Father.

"My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Cor. 12:9

This is what I am praying for them.

A Dear Friend

I had the opportunity this weekend to visit with an old friend... actually, she was more than a friend.

My former pastor's wife was my Sunday school teacher, my bible study teacher, my mentor and my friend for more than 12 years. I often refer to her as my spiritual mother, because my own dear mother went to be with Jesus when I was just 19 years old and when the Lord moved me to south Georgia when I was 24, she just sort of took me under her wing, so to speak.

My heavenly Father drew me to Himself under Mrs. Faye's teaching and ministry, and she challenged me to grow in my relationship with Him. She inspired me to study God's Word and to seek Him diligently. She encouraged me in my role of wife and mother. I will be forever grateful for her influence and guidance in my life.

I will admit that I was saddened when the Lord led Dr. Pete and Mrs. Faye away from our church approximately 7 years ago. God used their ministry to accomplish His will in so many ways. Mrs. Faye was a "Titus 2" role model and she delighted to know that the ladies under her tutelage were walking with the Lord, and just as pertinent, she admonished us when we weren't :).

In case she looks somewhat familiar to you, she had a role in the movie, Fireproof. In addition to teaching a weekly bible study at her current church, she also speaks at women's events. If you are interested in scheduling her to speak at an event, let me know and I will be glad to give you her contact information. My, the wisdom you can glean from this lady!

I am so thankful that I was able to have such a delightful visit with her!

Party Scenes

the girls on Friday night

scenes from Saturday

They've decided to play King of the Hill, with my oldest being King; but if you'll look to the left of the photo, you'll notice my dh is on his way up to challenge the King.

Everybody knows you can't have two Kings!

I suppose you'd have to call it a tie.

They decided to try something different...kind of like pole-vaulting,

without the pole.

I don't think anybody actually cleared the wall.

Girls, Girls, Girls

My house is overflowing with girls! Literally. Last week was my daughter's 14th birthday and she wanted to have a few friends over for a spend the night party, but we were unable to have the party until this weekend. So, here they are...

All loud and giggling...talking their girl talk and their funny girl-language...six of them, ranging in age from 12 to 14. They are having a good time. It's hard for me to believe how grown up they are. They used to play dress-up and play with dolls. Now they sit around comparing songs on their ipods, and giggling at the pictures on their cameras. Cue the song, Butterfly Kisses by Bob Carlisle.

They had pizza for supper and they are filling themselves full of Mountain Dew and chocolate chip cookies. They probably won't get much sleep tonight. As a matter of fact, I wonder if I'll get much sleep tonight.

We rented one of those BIG inflatable slides for the weekend and they are outside on it right now at 9:00 pm. They keep coming in every once in a while though because it is cold out there.

I am glad that she is having fun, and that she is making memories. I am glad that God has blessed her with good friends (and I thank Him that they are not the drama queen sort!).

Celebrating Another Year

We had the privilege of celebrating another year with our dear daughter yesterday; she turned 14. We are so blessed to have her in our lives. What joy she brings to my heart (of course there are many times when she brings feelings other than joy into my heart, but for the most part, it is with joy that I look upon my dd...insert smiley face here).

her little brother gave her these cute flip-flops she saw and liked in Wal-Mart

some clothes we gave her

a new camera

$ from Granddaddy

her big brother gave her iTunes $

We went out to eat pizza with some friends after church last night. She made cupcakes to share with everyone. The only sad part was little brother was sick and daddy stayed home with him. :( But we will try to do something to celebrate as a family this weekend, when he is feeling better.

Kate, with friends Alyssa and Bethany

Kate, with our youth pastor's wife and their daughter

(He is in the background, on the left)

They have played such an integral role in her walk with Jesus

and have been a HUGE blessing to our family!

 She was a little embarrassed  that we were singing

happy birthday loudly enough to draw the

attention of everyone in the restaurant!

I thank God for the privilege of watching her grow into a beautiful young lady. I am so very thankful that He saved her and is working in her life right now. Watching her grow in her relationship with Him has been awesome, to say the least! I thank Him for the joy and privilege of being a mother, and I pray that He will allow me to celebrate many more birthdays with my children!