I am a fickle "season" person. I spend some thought time, just a little, each season trying to decide which one I enjoy the most. I go back and forth between Spring and Fall as to which one is my all time favorite. When Fall gets here it is my favorite and when Spring rolls around again next March/April I'm sure it will be my favorite. But for now it's Fall in Georgia. The bright sunshiny days with the temps. in the low 70's, no humidity (Yeah!!) and the cool evenings and mornings are wonderful. The leaves are starting to change and we are still on day light savings time so there is still daylight until about 7:00pm. A very refreshing time of year. Also with Fall comes a few traditions we have done throughout the years. So, today we went to the Smith House in Dahlonega. There you eat family style all the fried chicken, roast, ham, black eye peas, fried okra, cream corn, collard greens, mashed potatoes and gravy, slaw, green beans, rolls, corn bread, and strawberry short cake you can hold. Definately a heart attack meal waiting to happen but we figure once a year is not so bad. After our meal we then walk around the Dahlonega square and browse, and enjoy the scenery.
Stan and I out side the Dahlonega court house Mark and Michelle at the Smith House
After our time in Dahlonega we are off to Burt's Pumpkin Farm. Now mind you, when we started going about 20 years ago it was nothing like it is now. It was crazy busy. But, it was still a lot of fun and we got two great pumpkins to carve later. ..
What a crazy few months and I/we have loved every moment that has been given us. We started out in April going to Panama City with David, Debbie, Amber and her friend Taylor. We stayed in a condo on the 16th floor and the view was amazing. Not to mention having time with our best friends in the world (30+ years) it was a nice break that we needed.
Then it was off to NYC with my girls and Debbie, April and Amy. We had a fabulous time and I am still smiling just thinking about the time together.
The first of May found us in Arizona with Destin and April. This was a really special time for us to see God's wonderful creation, get some rest, and hang out with my amazing niece and her husband.
We just returned from visiting Matthew and Emily. We went to the beach in Wilmington, NC on Saturday. While there we rode a ferry over to South Port and ate at one of those "mom and pop" places that has been around forever. I can truly say I have had the best crab cakes, ever.
The fun part about this picture was watching them climb up in the tree. Cute couple.....
This is on the ferry over to South Port. I just love this girl and I am so proud of her. She works hard and whatever she pursues, loves to have a good time, and she takes really good care of our son. Plus, she is a great shopper, which is what we did on Sunday...
I just feel really blessed. God has done exceedingly, abundantly, above and beyond all that I could ever ask or think.... Thank you Lord for my health and for putting so many people around me that love me.
What's next???? June 1st it's back to WACHOVIA BANK for me. I will be the Teller Manager at the Kennestone office which is right by the hospital. God has made it very clear that this is His will for me. I'm acting out of obiedience and trusting Him for the future. He knows how important my family is to me because He put the love that I have for my family in my heart. So, I'll trust Him to make me available when I'm needed or called upon to help.
LaurieAnn is coming in June for her birthday, Yeah!!!! and we will see most of the family again in June at the beach.
This past weekend at Destin and April's home was truly a memory that we will treasure for a long time. We got to see some amazing sights but best of all we were able to spend a lot of time with Destin and April. Destin and April both had all day Saturday and Sunday off which is a rare event for them. Saturday we slept, shopped, ate, slept some more, went to a D-backs game, and had some really good pizza after the game. Sunday was church, grilling out, hanging out by the pool, napping, hiking, and some really good mexican after the hike.
sundown over Phoenix...good times!
Monday we traveled to the Grand Canyon and came back through Sedona to see the red rocks. We ate at a really cool restaurant on their outside deck where we could watch the sun go down.
There are not enough words to express the beauty of this awesome sight....
All of this was very special but what blessed us the most was just spending time with Destin and April. We are very blessed to have 4 great children and the Lord has given very special mates to 3 of them. But we are "triplely" blessed to have nieces and nephews who love the Lord and are serving him each and every day!!! We love Destin and April as if they were our very own. Granted, we did get live around April as a child, which was very interesting at times :) So, to get to be around her as an adult and see and talk about what God is doing in her life was a real treasure.
Memories...........they are what last. Let's keep making them........................
he's done. Mark played his last football game last night at JSU. Stan and I were able to go and we had a great time. It was a bright sunny day with a few clouds in the sky and a cool breeze blowing. Mark started the whole game on the 2nd string team and they won 34-17. It was the perfect ending to a wonderful time in his life and ours. Playing college ball at any level and for any sport is not easy. The first year if the toughest and he succeeded in many ways. He has always been fun to watch because he was such a passionate player. But no matter where he was playing he always managed to find us in the stands and acknowledge that we were there. He was even able to find us at GA Tech last year, not an easy thing to do. He played hard and worked hard even when he was asked to play defense in high school which is not his strong suit. Mark has been our "hobby" for the last few years since all of his siblings have moved out and started their own lives. What a fun "hobby". His goal was to play college football and the Lord allowed him to do that. Starting spring practice as a red shirt freshman in the 2nd string position was a huge accomplishment. But his passion is gone for playing the game. After much council he has decided to, come home, work on getting his gpa up, lose 50 lbs., and earn/save some money. Please keep this big "teddy bear" in your prayers as he seeks God's new plan for his life.
GOOD TIMES!!! WE LOVE YOU SON AND ARE VERY PROUD OF YOU :)
I got the privilege of going to Jennifer's doctor appointment yesterday. There are not words to describe how I felt when we heard the little one's heartbeat. It brings back lots of warm and good memories of my own. Hearing that little heartbeat starts an attachment with a little someone that continues for the rest of your life. God is so good.... Now, let's vote on what you think that little someone will be. Boy or Girl?? I will confess that I agree with Jenn in that the heartbeat did sound a little slower than it did with Savannah. Does that mean Boy? I know that it truly doesn't matter but it's fun to guess. You have until April 24th to vote. After then it won't matter because that is when Jennifer's next appt. is and they will find out if it is a Boy or Girl. What if they kept it a secret? I think I would go crazy.....
For those of you privileged to own one of these precious pups, you know that there day exist only to find warmth. This existence often requires traveling. I was able to capture Ginger's route to warmth the other day and I thought I would share it with you.
First stop....the back patio
Second stop...her bed, under my shoes, only because the sun spots had temporarily disappeared
Well, I will be a 1/2 of a century old on Friday. As i leave my 40's and head into my 50's i thought i would go out with a grand memory.....I fell and fractured a bone in my wrist today. And to top it all off it's my right hand. Oh well, it could be worse, right? Thanks April for being my very own nurse and council this week. We needed it.
Well the Dining Room is done and I love it!!! Hope you do too. As My Style stated, warm woods with color, that's me. I will be adding a rug, changing out the window treatment, and finding a spot for an antique table from my grandmother but you should be able to get the idea. We have taken a week off from painting, sanding, caulking, and patching now it's onto the Family Room. The Family Room should be done by the end of March so I can then do my most favorite hobby....planting flowers and working in my new yard.
Tuscan sun, here we come! The Wine Country style reflects the feelings evoked by the seaside regions of Europe such as the South of France, Spain, Italy and Greece. The style manages to be both refined and casual, such that you can mix beautiful antiques with more rustic wrought iron or wood and the result is both sophisticated and cozy.
Furniture is large and comfortable, colors are bright and cheery, and regardless of the color palette the spaces almost always feel warm. You can easily translate the style into the perfect family environment but you can just as easily emphasize the more formal pieces and make your room the perfect adult getaway.
Ok, I think this is pretty much me. I like warm, cozy, antiques mixed with formal, and color.
I love making Chocolate Chip cookies!!! I have such fond memories of when I was a child and my mother making them for us. I made them for my kids and now I make them just for my BIG kid. The good part about being "empty nesters" is that you don't have to share the cookie dough with anybody. What is your favorite cookie to make???
...today I promised God to love one man in sickness and in health, rich or poor, until death do us part. I have always viewed my vows to Stan as a vow to God which I do not take lightly. In 31 years there have been MANY ups and downs, changes, arguments, apologizing, laughing, holding of hands (through happy and sad times), hugs and kisses. Last year, on out 30th anniversary, our wonderful children surprised us by coming to town, taking us to dinner, and giving us a night out on our own, then time with them again the next day before they all had to leave to go home. We were blown away by their generosity and love. Then in April, God provided a marriage cruise for us to go on. The time together and the scenery was amazing. Both events are imprinted on our hearts and will be talked about as great memories for years to come. Fast forward..........today, our 31st anniversary, we will go and pick up Mark's truck from being repaired (new transmission, not one of the happy times) and go to the Trackside Grill for a nice quite dinner. But, it doesn't matter as long as we are with each other. I know this sounds a little sappy but it's my anniversary and I'm feeling sappy :) For you bottom line people, here's the point...... How did we get here? Three things to remember, 1) Love God MORE than you love your mate, 2) Grow yourself in the Lord and let the Lord grow your mate, and 3) Forgive, Forgive, Forgive and Forgive again. What's next? On to year #32 :)
I know this has been a long time in coming but I kept waiting until we got a lot done. The kitchen is 98% finished. We still need to paint the window over the kitchen sink, and finish up some shoe molding but other than that we are done. Now on to the Dining Room. Hopefully this room won't take very long. Just need to paint and get a rug made. All in all, we LOVE all the changes and are so grateful we had the opportunity to do this. Thanks for your patience, enjoy the pictures....
breakfast nook
new cabinet for breakfast nook
view of kitchen from family room
new canisters my "decorator" found, thanks Debbie, they are perfect :)
view from hallway to family room, Ginger enjoying the fire....
Ginger in front of the fire...she is sooooo happy.....
I know I haven't blogged in quite some time so please forgive me. I will try to do better in '09. I did want to share some fun photos I got of Savannah. She spent the night with Grandmama and I got to feed her dinner. Now mind you, I don't have much on hand to eat these days since all my children are not at home anymore so she got what I did have. Homemade macaroni and cheese and chocolate pudding........yum, yum. Plus, I let her feed herself as she likes to do. She is so much fun and a real joy to my life. Enjoy the pic's.......
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