2009 Recap

Wow, it's true what they say. Time does fly by the older you get. This year seems to have really flown... didn't we just ring in 2009?

Here's a recap of our year, since I haven't been the most consistent blogger. 2009, in pictures:Miles turned 6 in January! (here he is with birthday pancakes) ... and he lost his first tooth in March!

We visited North Carolina and played kickball (Go Nannie!!) ... that was a fun day!

The boys each had a special part in the CHBC Young Voice Childrens' Musical at church:

We finished one more year of homeschooling... Reed was happy to be doing his end-of-the-year test!! We took a few day trips to some really fun places... Maymont Park:

Carter Mountain Orchard for a fun day of apple picking:

Ocean Breeze Waterpark in Virginia Beach:

We learned a new game, thanks to a fellow blogger, and played it. A LOT. Here we are with NC family at Shelley's house playing it... Reed turned TEN this year! Wow, what a handsome ten year old!

We also celebrated our 14th Anniversary on September 9th with a special dinner out with some sweet friends...This year also brought some devastating news about our dear friend, Steve. He was diagnosed in early 2009 with cancer, underwent surgery, only to discover that the cancer had returned in September. We were able to be part of two really neat fundraising events for Steve and his family. In September, we helped out with the first annual Steve Freeman Ministries Golf Tournament. It was a great day, and we were so glad that Steve felt well enough to come out.
In late October, I organized a fundraiser at our local Chick-fil-A for Steve. It was a huge success, and again, we were thrilled that Steve was able to attend. There were so many more memories, happy and sad... these were just a few highlights. I realize now since I've been uploading pictures for this post (for the past three days) that it might take me all of 2010 to recap '09 at this rate! So, we'll call it a year. Last night we rang in the new year with Steve and Lisa. We are hoping and praying for a happier, healthier 2010. Happy New Year!

White Christmas

Ok, so it isn't Christmas yet, but I can't remember the last time it snowed so close to the big day! And, they're calling for snow on Christmas Eve too!

Try this!

If you need an easy (REALLY easy), and inexpensive gift to give this year, try these cute monogram ornaments.

I found the idea on Kelly's blog and tweaked it according to what I could find at Wal-Mart this week. I debated going across town to Michael's, but I think they turned out adorable, and so do the ladies I gave them to as gifts! (I gave them to each of our staff wives... just a little something that says "Merry Christmas" without spending a fortune! It can get expensive buying for 12!) If you want to try making them, just buy some silver glass ornaments (Kelly uses clear, but WM didn't have any). Use a sticker for the monogram and add some cute Christmas ribbon... there you go! How easy could it be, yet so cute? I made one for myself, too and just love it on my tree!

This is Blog GOLD... a must-read!!!

If you don't read Boomama yet, you just must. Here is a recent post that she did, and it's a perfect introduction to her kind of funny. I just love her... hope you do, too!

http://boomama.net/2009/09/02/needing-some-closure/#comments

By the way, you'll want to read through the comments too... they are just as funny!!!

Evercleanse Is Dead To me

I'm just sayin'.

Don't waste your money.

Beth Moore @ CHBC!

Our church hosted the Beth Moore simulcast this weekend, and as always, she delivered a GOOD WORD! (Actually, several!) Here are some pics:

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

On turning ten

Oh my goodness, I just kissed my 9 year old goodnight for the last time. Wow, 10 years old. Already??

Ten years ago tonight, Jay and I had been to dinner with friends (Captain Tom's), and then to see a movie (Runaway Bride). I couldn't concentrate on the movie because my contractions were coming almost one right after the other. Braxton-Hicks contractions, as I had been having regularly almost my entire pregnancy, but something about these were different. My first mother's intuition. It was going to happen soon.

And here we are ten years later.

I don't always get the mothering thing down right, so believe me when I say it is only by God's grace that we've been blessed with him. With the kind of kid that he is. We point him to Him, and even with all of our faults, he sees Him. He sees Jesus in us. That is grace. I read just the other day that "Mercy is when we don't get what we deserve, but grace is when we get what we don't deserve." I don't deserve this gift, but God saw fit to allow me to be his mother. Wow, what a thought.

Reed, in you we see a kind heart, a dependable friend, a forgiving spirit, an eagerness to do right. We see Jesus in you, too. We love you so much and we are so proud that you belong to us. Happy tenth birthday...

Love,

Mama

Day Two

Surprisingly, not much to report on day two. If anything, I'd say this stuff works more like a diuretic. Not sure if it's supposed to, but that's how it seems to me.

At this rate, there's no way I'll be able to do a daily update. Pretty boring. But, if I happen to wake up 10 pounds lighter, I'll be SURE to let you know!

Day One

Have you ever heard this commercial?

"Do you have 10-20 pounds to lose? Ladies, do you ever feel bloated? Do you ever say 'I feel fat today'?"

Actually ~ yes, yes, and YES!

I hear this almost every morning on the radio. The commercial is for a product called Ever Cleanse. The company promises weight loss, along with increased energy and beautiful skin. That's all I need to hear ~ sign me up! I always consider it for a few seconds when I hear the ad, and then never think about it again during the course of my day.

Last night during a Wal-Mart run, I saw some Ever Cleanse on the shelf and decided to give it a try. Today is Day One. So far, so good. (It has only been 2 hours or so... I may change my mind later!) At the risk of TMI, (who really reads this besides my mom and Lisa anyway?? Oh yeah, and Jen; I'm ok with her knowing about this!) I plan to blog about my experience and hopefully by the end of the program will have some fabulous results to share. Did I mention "belly fat" is supposed to disappear?!?

Here's to a healthy colon!

(Sorry, I couldn't resist...)

Our Summer So Far, in Pictures

Celebrated Father's Day by the pool...

Enjoyed a mini-vacation to Nags Head... Miles caught his first fish... saw the wild horses at Corolla for the first time... lazy days fishing on the beach...

... and hanging out in the hammock... ahhh, summer!

A must-try recipe

If you love banana bread like I do, this recipe is a must-try. I found it from another blogger, who had found it in a magazine. Supposedly it's Amy Grant's Grandma's recipe.

Grandma Grant's Banana Bread
1 cup sugar
1 stick softened butter
2 eggs
3 bananas, sliced
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt

Cream sugar and butter. Mix in remaining ingredients, and pour into a greased loaf pan. Place pan in a cold oven. Set oven to 300*F and bake 1 1/2 hours or until toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean. Cool in pan 5 minutes then remove from pan and cool completely.

Easy, easy, easy, and soooo good! I should have taken a picture, but honestly, it didn't last very long! Reed loved it as much as I did. We both agree that next time we'll have to add chocolate chips. Enjoy!

What We've Been Up to

I haven't written lately, but that doesn't mean we haven't been doing anything worth sharing. Here's a sample of what we've been doing:

• Our neighborhood had a yard sale... Reed and Miles had both chosen some toys to sell, so they both made a little money. Since it was immediately burning a hole in their pockets (they don't get that from me!), they walked down the street to check out some other yard sales. Miles bought a super cool metal detector! He has had lots of fun with this... and is looking forward to taking it to the beach!
  

• Had lunch with my friend Corliss and her daughter Codi, and my mom. I had mentioned to Corliss recently that I wanted an old school desk for my front porch. She loves yard sales & antique stores, and I knew if I mentioned it, she'd deliver. Her neighbor just happened to call and ask if she needed an old school desk that was just taking up space at her house! Corliss snatched that thing up and brought it to me - all the way from the rivah - so she literally did deliver! Miles thought it was so cool, and just had to "do school" in it the first day. Then I made it into what I had in mind all along. What do you think? I happen to love it! (so don't answer that if you think it's tacky!)
  

• Made this yummy lunch! Yes, taking a picture of my lunch is weird - but I couldn't resist. It was so pretty! Spinach, strawberries, chicken, and poppy seed dressing, wrapped up in a whole wheat tortilla... yummy almost-summer lunch! It's so good, I make it almost every day now!

• Went on a field trip with some fellow homeschool friends to the river walk canal in Richmond. Learned lots of interesting Richond history, and enjoyed the company. Look at all of those kids! And there are the moms... I don't think we look like homeschool moms, do you? You won't find any ankle- length denim skirts in this group :)

And now we're almost done with school... planning on doing our end of the year testing tomorrow and then we're all finished! Woohoo! Look for pictures to come celebrating that summer is here!

Best.Game.Ever

My family loves to play games together. When my Mema and Aunt Laura come up to visit, or when we head down to Kinston, one of our very favorite things to do is sit down for a good game of cards or a fun new board game. I read about this new game recently on Heth's blog and knew we had to try it. I won't even attempt to explain it... Heth does a good job explaining it on her original post. Basically, it's like a game of "telephone" (you know, everyone sits in a circle and passes a secret to the next person until it reaches the original person and it ends up nothing like it started as) but with sentences and drawing. We played it this weekend when Mema, Papa, and Aunt Laura came up to visit. So much fun! And just like Heth, I am showing you a couple of examples that had us either laughing 'til we cried or on the verge of wetting our pants. These are from the Friday night games. Enjoy...

This was my original sentence. I passed it to the left to Reed and this is what he drew:

Reed then passed it left to my mom, who wrote this sentence.

"The eighth boy put something in the mailbox." Alrighty then. So, she passed it to Mema who drew this. Brace yourself.

Ok, so we aren't a family of artists. Mema passed it to Aunt Laura who wrote this sentence:

And that was the end of that round. Funny, huh? Check this one out...

Original sentence, written by me and passed to Reed on my left, who drew this:

Who then passed it to my mom, and - again, brace yourself, people - she wrote this:

Who then passed it to Mema and, let me just say right here... everyone should play with my Mema at least once in their lifetime. Here is her interpretation of above sentence:

And of course, Aunt Laura wrote this:

Well, of course it was. Makes perfect sense.

Did I say already how much I love this game? Round up some of your favorite people and play it today! And if you do, let me know how fun your game was!