Tuesday, July 27, 2010

This about sums up our time in NC

The Tuckaseegee River held our interest for a few days. The girls loved this rock and we could even tube a little. Friends of ours live right on this river. The Smith's house where we stay is about ten minutes up the mountain. Good times!


Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Busy fun times!

Ormond Beach

We went for a little get away. It was perfect weather. The Atlantic Ocean was amazing for riding a boogey board. The pools were super great for a little fun! The room was just right for six girls to hang out and relax. Thanks Ms. Doris, you really are a great Nana!






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Mission Possible CAMP for the Big Sisters, fun times for the little sisters!
It was a hot busy four days for the older girls to get away for the annual Church camp offered through First Baptist of Wildwood. Pastor Nick was super great again. He shared truths and put a "spy" edge on all of the teachings. The younger girls were kept busy by spending the night at friends, bowling, skating and shopping.




Parents and siblings were invited to the last night's worship time and teachings. Then they opened up camp for a Water fun time. The slides were a blast and the snack shack was a hit! Look at the lake that bordered the camp. It was one of my kid's fondest memories in life. She filled up her little independent tank, and it is nice to trust her to such a great group of people.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Trust,valleys and clay

I had the utmost pleasure of attending a women's meeting last night where a dear friend whom I have known for over twenty years spoke. It was not the kind of "know" like her birthday, even her address and phone number....but the "know" many of us have of people we go to church with. How unfortunate. I knew her as a young teen and I had not seen her for years. Many. She and her husband now are attending The Vineyard and I am happy to say I "know" her differently now. Okay, introductions aside. Her story (just the chapter I heard) was outstanding. She had us laughing, crying, nodding in agreement, sighing with understanding, raising our hand in agreement and captivated. I must share a few nuggets.

Trust. Do I fully trust God? I want to believe I do. Deeply. Immensely. Life abandoningly. Will my feelings be hurt when a day will come and I will be in a valley and I "think", "I should be saved from this?"
Valleys. We are told time and time again in God's word that this is where God's power is shown. Most battles are fought and won there. Even David and Goliath fought in one. Victory is accomplished there. We are proven there.
Clay. It is the tools, and the effort of the Potter that produce the desired vessel. Some tools etch, smooth even wetten. Constant motion keeps us centered. The grip and pressure of the hands are what molds it.
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD : "Go down to the potter's house, and there I will give you my message." So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Jeremiah 18:1-4

Sue, my friend, recently experienced breast cancer. Her valley has been wrought with battles of trust. She has been reformed into a vessel that was filled last night with wisdom. Then she was emptied out for a room full of women to receive encouragement and hope.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

4th of July

We had a blowin' up-blastin'-time on the fourth. It was a day full of hot muggy mosquito fun!

The girls even were able to enjoy some wet fun with the "rigged" up sprinkler on the trampoline. You can barely see it...look behind the vine in the bottom right corner.

The girls and I had made an old fashioned jello drip cake and it was good, but we were so full from the hamburgers and fries that the chef cooked.

This is just the beginnings of the rounds of gunpowder we had in our hot little hands. It was a serious amount.

These are called MIGRAINES!
The twirlly whirls in the box (with the black propellers) were the favorites. There were also some screamers that I thought my ear drum had burst it was so loud.
Had to still have some sparklers.
There was just a burn or two... but we survived.
This is a roll of nothing but fire crackers. The guys unrolled it about four times and would let it blow up across the yard. It sure made Aaron do a dance. The last round burned and popped for a minute forty nine seconds. Whew, the smoke and noise.
I guess the fireworks and the smoke, fire and blasts get adrenalin pumpin' and testosterone flowin'!
This was the only shot I got of the actual sky. They were very beautiful. I am one of those oohher's and auhher's and even give a wahoo when it is one of those really big ones that fill the sky. Right on guys, you did a great job.

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Through the eyes of a child

Movie night this weekend was a moment around here.... we reread the book over dinner and talked about dreams. This was a preventative measure because my youngest has been struggling with dreams and being scared. I thought this would help her see another perspective of imagination. We are got settled in for the movie, had popcorn popped, pillows and blankets gathered and I kept the remote handy for the moments to push the pause button.

It was a good movie. We stopped and talked a lot. The director should have recorded us for the commentary. Geesh. But it was all good. Olivia at one point shed tears. Real ones. Sorta sobbing. I did not think it would affect her this way. I think the ideal life that Max wanted is how Olivia thinks too. We really liked how the characters were associated with the Wild Things. We liked how powerful a dream could be. We liked how everyone searches for a King. We liked how the "big sister" protected Max. We liked how the Momma shows she cares, no matter what.

I did not expect to see my kids play "Where the Wild Things Are" the next day!