You've Got Mail!

Greetings on this beautiful Christmas Eve day! We have some very mild weather here today. The temperature is around 65 degrees and the sun is shining brightly.
Because I was swamped this past month, I failed to get my Christmas cards mailed out. I decided to send you a digital Christmas card this year! I realized that 95% of my friends and family have high speed or dial up Internet access, so why not make use of it.

Please click on the image to enlarge.




We will be spending the Christmas holiday at home tomorrow. No guests, no traveling, just us.
Because it will be kinda lonely for me this year, I would deeply appreciate your saying hello in the comments or in my chat box. It would be a special blessing to hear from you during this very special holiday. It would be comforting to know that I'm not just talking to myself. :)

Thank you so much!

Vacation Journal: Part Four

We had survived the broken leg that my poor nephew, Stephen, got on the Saturday we were in North Carolina. We had survived a busy Sunday morning getting everyone ready and out the door for church on Sunday. We had thoroughly enjoyed hearing the preaching of Bro. Bobby Roberson in the morning, and Shelton Smith in the evening. All went pretty smoothly at Gospel Light that day...all except when I left my Bible in the bathroom and didn't realize it until I was quite a distance away. I then ran (when no one was looking) back to the bathroom to retrieve it. My dress shoes clop-clopped along the floor, and I was sweating profusely in my Sunday dress. I managed to find the right bathroom (there must be 40 bathrooms in that place) but couldn't recall the stall. I looked in all of them, but found no Bible. GASP!! Fear struck my heart! Had I lost it?? Surely no one would steal a Bible. Would they? Then, I remembered that the little shelf-thingy that I placed it on was behind the door!! Yes! I got it! I then swiftly scooted by (while smiling of course! I didn't want to appear rude!) two deacons with programs in hand to get back out to Terry and Melanie and get to Sunday School. We made our grand entrance fifteen minutes late. I know! Who woulda thought that getting your Bible could make you so late?!
Anyway, we made it through all of that. And now, thanks to my describing it all play by play, you have too! Whew. Now, we could go site seeing! Our first stop: Mt. Airy!!! What? Know ye not what fine attraction is located in Mt. Airy, North Carolina? Surely you jest! Well, just in case you aren't jesting, allow me to explain. It's Mayberry!!! Andy Griffith's hometown! Yes! And let me tell you, the photos below do not do my excitement justice! As we drove into Mt. Airy, the water tower has a silhouette of Andy and Opie with their fishin' poles walking hand in hand. *sigh* Doesn't it sound perfectly wonderful? I know, I'm a bit too idealistic. I admit it. I wasn't able to get a good photo of the water tower so you could share in my idealistc pleasures. :[ However, if any of you dear North Carolinians have one that you'd like to email me, I'd love to see it!!
We also got to see Mt. Pilot..I mean Pilot Mountain! It was gorgeous! Okay. Enough. I'll stop gabbing and let you take a look at our photos! I hope you like them!

The day started out calmly enough. The cousins were hangin' out. For a minute I worried that they were discussing a devious plot to take away my camera. But then, I remembered I'm not only idealistic...I'm paranoid too. So I let the whole thing go.
But I kept watching from the basement window. Where no one knew I was secretly snapping photo after photo.
Oh no!! They may have spotted me!! That was close! Luckily, they are now swinging from trees. That's much better than sitting around plotting...I mean talking.

Soon after I snapped these photos, we headed out to the promised land! (Don't worry. I'm only kidding. I don't really think that Mt. Airy is the promised land. I read my Bible. Please don't write me and line me out, okay? Please?)

Drum roll please......

Here it is!! Here I am with Andy and Opie!! I was so excited!! I'm grinning just a little too broadly, aren't I? Wait! Don't answer that!! I couldn't help myself!
Lauren and Opie!!
Here's the plaque beneath the statue. It says: The Andy Griffith Show

a simpler time- a sweeter place-a lesson- a laugh - a father and a son

That sums it up perfectly. That is exactly what I love about Andy!!

LOOK! They have guided tours of Mt. Airy in the squad car! Okay, it's not the squad car, but it sure is close! We weren't able to that, but maybe we can the next time we go! Anyone know of a place that gives away all inclusive trips to Mt. Airy?? If you do, please let me know! I want to enter! :]

There's Otis!

Here's the Snappy Lunch, which is mentioned on two Andy episodes. We were unable to eat there because this place is the world's most successful restaurant. I know because they stay open exactly two hours and fifteen minutes. Isn't that amazing? We ate at Wendy's instead. Maybe we can eat there next time.

After our quick trip to Mt. Airy, we headed back toward Winston-Salem, stopping at Pilot Mountain on the way. It was so nice. Even the heat (low 90's) didn't seem too bad up there. It has a beautiful view. Just thinking about it all makes me miss Melanie, Walter, David Allen, Andrew and Stephen...yeah, I really need to win a trip back out there people.

Here's one view...
Here's "the knob".
Here are some of the kids. (Left to right: Andrew, Lauren, Mitchell, David Allen and Leslie) See that girl in the front with the yellow shirt on? Watch out for her! She's trouble! I can say this because she's just like me!
Cousins enjoying the view!!

My girl took this photo. It was supposed to have the entire sign in it. You know what I'm gonna say. Maybe next time! :]


Here's Mitchell pushing Laci in the stroller. One second after I took this, he fell and subsequently let go of the stroller. She sped down this sidewalk and crashed at the bottom. She wasn't injured, in fact, she didn't even cry! Mitchell did scrape his knee a little though. There's never a dull moment around our crew! :]
Here I am! I was really there, enjoying the view!! I still can't believe it's over. I waited so long, and now it's already over. It was a blast!
Here's David Allen. I thought this pose was great! I said "Give me fear" and he nailed it! (just kidding)
Here's some of the gang taking a rest in the shade. I think I'll go take a rest too.

It's been great telling you all about my wonderful dream vacation. I have still more to share. I have to tell you about the Sword Conference, about meeting Bro. Clarence Sexton, about seeing our friends, the Collins's, and about not seeing the Tylers, oh and about seeing Helen Keller's home in Alabama! Thanks for staying with me. If you didn't visit me here in cyberspace, I would be of all ladies most miserable. Thanks so much for stopping by.

In the Good Ol' Summertime

Ah, the sights and sounds of summer! The honeysuckle scent in the night air, the sound of crickets, tree frogs and cicadas singing in unison and, of course, the watermelon! What more could you ask of summer? She brings her beauty - green grass and trees, gorgeous flowers and glowing sunsets - with grace and then just as gracefully, she fades into fall. Her carefree (or school-free!) days become just a memory as the rhythm of autumn sets in.

While we are still enjoying summer, I wanted to share these photos of the kids on a sweltering summer day last week. Yes, along with all the beauty and serenity of summer comes the heat. But the heat is bearable with a little water from the slip 'n slide, and a little watermelon in the hand!

Here are some photos of Lauren, Mitchell and their friend, Maria, enjoying some tasty Hope watermelon. They had been having some fun playing on the slip 'n slide and then drying off on the swing with a slice of watermelon to quench their thirst.

Hope's motto is "a slice of the good life".

The good life indeed! Here's the proof:

We'll be heading out in the morning for our summer vacation! We have been so blessed this summer already, I almost feel guilty taking a wonderful vacation on top of everything else! We would appreciate your prayers as we travel. We are excited about seeing my family in North Carolina, but we will miss our church family here.
As Christians, we can celebrate our "good life" in Christ 365 days a year!
Praise the Lord!

Happy summer, everyone! :o)

Some of My Favorite Photos

Hello, Friends, neighbors and countrymen! Lend me your ear...uh, I mean eyes! I am very behind on sharing photos, so here is a run down of some of my favorite shots from this summer. I do hope they don't bore you.

Oh! And Laci is doing better, thanks for the prayers. She goes for a re-check of her ears on Thursday, and I'm not sure when we'll see the ENT yet. I'll keep you posted.

Have a great day, and thanks for your friendship!!

Laci covered herself up and snuggled up with her baby when I put her down for her nap recently. She stayed this way long enough for me to snap a photo! :]


Hamming it up for the camera!
I love Leslie's rosy cheeks in this photo.
Here's little Laci trying to look busy!Lauren built a house of books! So, when you're done reading them, don't put them away, build!!

On June 21st we all got to go swimming at the Powell's house. We had such a good time! Here are my favorite pictures!
Nice goggles!! We didn't know Mitch knew Obama! Here's Terry with Barack Obama!! Wow! Okay, it's not the real thing, but a great likeness, don't you think??
Mrs. Joyce Powell has gorgeous petunias!!

Here's Lauren and her Dad in a self-portrait
On our date a few weeks ago, Terry stopped by KFC to get us drink on the way home. He told the drive thru lady, "Give me a Mega Dr. Pepper" Well, we had no idea how big "Mega" was...now we know! (half a gallon?? No, we didn't finish it...not even close!)
Leslie thought Dad's brief case needed a remodel
Here's Laci in her cutsie (did I just say "cutsie"? Whoa. That's a little too...sweet for me. I mean darling)little swim outfit that Mrs. Joyce had at her house. I just love this photo!
"Look at me, Mom! Isn't this fun??"

Playing dress up!
"Boo!"
Two sweet girls just hangin' out together.
Laci is feeding her baby! And she's sharing her own drink! Now that's love! :]
I tried to get a photo of Mitch's missing tooth, and then he lost another one, so I'll have to get a better photo! You can kinda see the hole in the lower right side in the middle...does that make sense??

Having Fun in the Water and Sun!

We have two sweet kiddos living right across the street from us. I know that they're sweet because I go to church with them! Nicholas and Maria have been a blessing to my kids. They ride bikes together, play at the "big tree" together, and jump on the trampoline together. One day about a week ago, they joined us for some fun in the sun on our slip and slide. It was such a joy to see my children enjoying the friendship of others kids their age. What a wonderful blessing!
In Texas, we were never able to use our slip and slide for a couple of reasons. #1. The grass had too many burrs and thorns for them to run barefoot on it. #2. Fire Ants were literally on every spot on our lawn. Every time we used the water hose, they came out of the ground in troops. We have not taken for granted the lovely green (and burr free) grass that we enjoy here in God's Country ;], or the fact that the fire ants are fewer!
I thought you might enjoy these photos!

Laci's first time in. She's getting some help from her sweet big sister.

Terry had fun spraying them with the water hose!! (He got pretty soaked as well!)

Laci enjoyed her first foray in the the world of water fun! In fact, she kept getting in the way of the kids wanting to slide! She just wanted to sit and splash. I need to get her a kiddie pool, I guess!

Here's Laci drying off in the hot sun, boy did they all have fun!!