11 years

 I'm running a little behind. I'm not sure exactly where this weekend went... the grocery and the garage. Our favorite places! That is sort of sad really.

 Saturday was our 11th anniversary. We didn't have access to a babysitter on Sat, but our friends down the street were willing to watch the boys for us on Thursday.
 So, we celebrated early!
 There is a place down the street that has the most delectable fried pickles. I don't eat a lot of fried food, but those pickles are totally worth it! We sat and ate in peace, talked about everything from politics to college memories, and tried to remember where we were on Thursday, 11 years ago. It was two days before the wedding and the countdown was on. Several of the out of town guests had come already. I can promise you that my mom was in a panic.
 We had totally different memories. Amazing, the things that stuck out in his mind and the ones that were important to me. Although, I don't know that any of the memories he shared were really "important" to him. Just random facts that he remembered!

 Pictures, anyone?

I was 22. He was still 21. 

So many people would call that too young. But look at us now! 

I don't regret one minute. Not even the hard ones.

 The boys and I.

 Andy "Bond" and my sisters

 Abbey Road

Truly, this is a miraculous shot. In Rome today you would never find a pause in traffic. But 11 years ago it was quieter. Andy Andy wanted it bad enough to wait.

This is probably my favorite picture. Isn't he just precious? 

He isn't precious any more. He is handsome and protective. Honorable and dependable. Faithful and considerate. An amazing husband, father, follower of God and leader of his troops.  

But precious I think he might have outgrown! 

What he will never outgrow, (or escape) is my undying love for him. 

He is my best friend and the holder of my heart. 

I love you Andrew Ian.

Forever,

Imagination for sale

I was on Craigslist a few days ago, looking up yard sales. I love a good deal, and thought I would scout out what was going to be happening in the local area the next day. When I told the boys what I was doing, they decided they needed to create their own yard sale. 

See the guy in the red helmet? He is selling his stuff so he can afford to buy a new motorcycle. 

 Bobba Fett is planning to buy that entire rack of clothing. I think the boys said it was $500 dollars. Wow, what a deal!

This little cutie has discovered treasure in the box.

 A teddy bear! 

His grandfather, the man with the staff, bought it for him. One story said that he also bought the skeleton, so he could teach him about bones. Another version in this Lego world of yard sale-ing says that the skeleton simply walked away, never to be seen again.

 Either way, the man in the helmet made enough to buy his new motorcycle. I am fairly certain he and Bobba Fett have remained friends also, up in the (taking over their entire room) world of Legos.

 I ended up sleeping in on Sat. You never get the cool stuff if you sleep in. I never even left our subdivision. Of course, 5, all in our subdivision, I certainly can't complain!

Blessings, 

A few things I love

 Our wireless transmitter died. Again. I kept trying to breath new life into it. But we had to finally accept defeat and let it rest in peace.
 I am pretty sure this is the third one we have had in my blogging history.

 After just a few days without "full" internet I am always so glad to get it back. But I am always so far behind too. I already have a hard time keeping up with the blogs I want to read and comment on. And the blogs I haven't had a chance to write- well, those are lost forever. Because my brain only holds a thought for so long. Then it is gone. That is why I write a blog in the first place! So that those crazy thoughts can be corralled and organized. When I don't get a chance to write them down...

 Ah well.

 But, a few things I love:

1) That when we got home yesterday the first thing my boys did with our purchases from the thrift store was lay on their stomachs in the middle of the kitchen floor and play with them. Immediately. Anyone want to know what our purchases were?

 Books!

 2) Thrift stores in general! Large parts of our "curriculum" come from them!

3) When I open the peanutbutter, Daisy automatically thinks it is for her. That is both a love and a hate. We give her PB to cover the taste of her meds, which are a constant need, and will be always. But the fact that as soon as she smells PB she comes running: that cracks me up.

4) The fact that, although I am not sure where the money is going to come from, braces do exist and Canaan will be able to have them. There was a time when teeth that were so crowded that they wouldn't even descend were a humongous problem. Now the dentist simply gives a recommendation that you go visit their friend down the street. (or perhaps shop around and see who is cheapest?)

5) Cherry Tomatos straight from our garden. One of the few successes, making them even more delicious.

6) That beautiful art that can come from trash. Beauty is all around, as long as your seek it. My friend Casey has started using his amazing talent for more then just playing with his kids and decorating his own home. He is creating art for others and I can't help but pass him along to others. He takes paper, shredded and expected to have no further use, and turns it into beauty.  His art is amazing and it stands for one of the things I believe in most. Appreciating EVERYTHING around you and finding Joy in it.

 Please my friends, seek the beauty.

Blessings, 

A memorable Memorial Day

Memorial Day weekend is full.

 Full of memories.

 Full of honor.

 Full of family and fun; parades and bands; grills and watermelon.

 For military families I think it is especially poignant. Always.

 But this Memorial Day weekend was special to me for a different reason.

 Sister #3, Kelsey, and her husband Travis decided to move to Puerto Rico. They leave June 18. They told me May 20.

 We had other plans for Memorial Day. "Home" is 7 hours away, and we were just there for Mary Faith's wedding. But when they said they were leaving, I begged Andy to take me home. And he did, because he is wonderful.

 While we were there...

 Canaan had talked about wanting to be baptized. He asked Jesus to live in his heart, well, I think it was several years ago now. But between the moving, and wanting family to be there - and wanting my Dad to be the one who baptized him, it just kept getting delayed.

 We personally believe that water baptism is a beautiful statement of your faith, announcing to others that you are a follower of Jesus. It is not a requirement of salvation, but is something that you should desire.

 And I suddenly realized that if Kelsey and Travis were going to be there, the whole family together, this was the last opportunity. So I asked Canaan if he was ready. He was.

 Buried in sin...

 Risen again in new life!!

Andy's parents are elders in the Presbyterian church. They both laid hands on and prayed for him also. 

And we celebrated! 

 My friend Amanda (since college!), her military man and adorable Emily.

He is withdrawing his commission and heading to Seminary soon. You never know where God is going to send you!

Four sisters, four husbands. 

First time we have taken a picture that way, with Josh as a husband, not a boyfriend. 

And of course, with six shots to sort through, this is the best one - and Andy is blocked by my hair. Sigh. 

I think he does it on purpose. 

 Z found this camo umbrella at a yard sale the day before and was fascinated by it. 

 Canaan's friend Noah, with the adorable missing teeth.

Even Daisy came! 

(has anyone ever seen Andy's face on here?)

 Two photographers, looking at the world through a lens, but seeing it as much as possible through the eyes of God. 

Although at that exact moment, we were simply looking at a sister and sharing a laugh.  

There was a very cool old merry go round and everyone got in on the action at some point in time.

 Canaan showing off.

 Noah and Zion pushed all the girls for a while...

 Then Papaw came and gave a super strong whirl.

 Isn't he amazing? Hardly even broke a sweat!

Zion sat on the sidelines for that one. 

He actually fell off a little earlier and got a goose egg the size of TX. No more twirling for him! 

Then it was watermelon time!

 Look at those eyes- studying it so seriously.

 You can almost see his face!

Water melon clears up tears after a long, exhausting, day of playing.

This was a Memorial Day that will be remembered. 

Blessings,