Friends

As you know I haven't blogged in a great while. I got out of the habit for one and for another thing I was convinced that no one was reading what I was writing. I have recently been encouraged that I did have readers. (Thanks J.L.) So just to get back into the practice I have a blog about something I've been thinking about today.
Friends... We're doing a study in Sunday School on Philippians. In the opening of the first chapter Paul writes to the Philippians about how they are in his heart. (v.7) And because of this he says, "I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for you I always pray with joy," (v.3 and 4) As I understand at this time Paul is under house arrest in Rome. He could not be with the ones he loved. They were miles apart and still they had ties to each other. I have people like that in my life. Whether because of circumstance or distance we can't be together. Yet they still have a piece of my heart. I think of everyone who use to attend Vineyard Christian Fellowship. Some of them I don't see for years at a time yet when we see each other, for me, it's as if no time has passed. I think this may be the kind of bond that Paul was talking about with the Philippians. The study guide says " When you love someone, that person tends to get inside of you. Your heart blends with that person's heart. There is something about the bond friends in Christ share that remains strong even when time a distance separate them." I think that pretty much sums it up for me.
This goes out to all the old Vineyard crowd. With a special emphases on Matt and Kathy. I was looking through some old pictures the other day. They were from when Emma was born. I have pictures of Matt and Kathy and the boys with our family. And I realized that even though we aren't in each others day to day life anymore the family ties our families have shared are still as strong as ever. Love you guys and hope to see you soon!

This is 14 of my 16 first cousins. Were a cute bunch, if a little dorkie. We had a family reunion today in Ga. It was so cool to see everyone. Most of us have kids now. We figured it out on the way home. As far as my Grandfather is concerned he has 5 kids, 17 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. If you lost count that equals 41. WOW that is quite a legacy! My grandfather also turned 80 on January 2nd.

Summer wrap-up!

We have had a great summer. We went to Charleston for a week in June. We usually go to visit our dear friends the Beam's, however they were out of town (and graciously allowed us to stay in their house) so we did all the touristy stuff. Which was not cheep but I had my Mom with me who was determined to make it an "educational and cultural" trip so she helped out a lot. We saw Cypress Gardens where they filmed a scene from The Notebook. It was cool. We also went to Magnolia Plantation, there we did a swamp tour, a tour of the house, a trolley ride and walked in the gardens. My brother said the only way to see more of the plantation was to fly over it or tunnel under it. My brother moved to Charleston a few years ago and we don't see him often, we saw him everyday we were there. We also saw Transformers at the Hipadrome. We had so much fun, however next time we go I'm looking forward to seeing our real favorite attraction, The Beam Bunch.
We have also went hiking at South Mountain twice, Picnicked in the mountains, under the Peach in Gaffney and various other places, we have been to Kid Senses museum, rode our bikes in the driveway, Swam in various pools, played in sprinklers, and done yard work.
We have been sunburned, tanned, bug bitten, skinned knees, bit by a cat (ME), tortured our siblings (them), bit by ticks (EW!), caught frogs, spent the night everywhere (Katie and Emma), had people over to spend the night, watched movies, stayed up late, slept late, and learned one bible verse REALLY well. I'm exhausted!
As far as my summer goals. The kids did do their chores everyday, however reluctantly. Some days it took threats, and teeth pulling, but it did get done. We did not sit and eat breakfast together ever morning while having a devotion. However we did learn a bible verse Philippians 1:6 being confident of this that he who began a good work in me will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. I hope it is hidden in their hearts. Katie finished a few chapter books and wrote me a few book reports, but she had to be threatened to not have anymore sleepovers until she finished Judy Moody saves the world. We did do a lot of free things but we also spent more money that I would have liked, mostly at Wal Mart. That place is dangerous for people on a budget.
I hope you have all had great summers and will enjoy your last two weeks of free time. We plan to do some fun things this week if they can remember how to act. Then next week getting back on school time sleep schedules. It is easier to be a zombie when they don't have school to deal with too. Wish me luck.

Let the games begin!

School is out. I feel at once excited and terrified by the idea. I hope to keep the house in order, have the kids exercise and not forget everything they have learned this school year. The kids and I will all have chores and bible study every day. They are also required to put on "day cloths" everyday. I have grand plans of doing a lot of free things with the kids this summer like hiking, picnics and the like. I must also maintain a very strict budget (thank you very much State of North Carolina). So all in all it is stacking up to be a pretty busy summer. I hope I can acomplish at least some of these things whilst not screaming at my kids or scaring them for life. *sigh* I better get busy. Hope you all have plans for wonderful summers. If any of you have any suggestions on the free stuff let me know.

My Little Man the Race fan.

Here are some pictures of Nathan enjoying his very first NASCAR race. We got really great tickets for the Sunday Coca-cola 600, thanks to Greg's girlfriend (thank you Krissy). Dad, Andy, Frank and I went on Sunday. We had so much fun, we had pit passes and they gave us cool free stuff, drinks and great food. Anyway the race was rained out on Sunday. Which was a bummer. So we scrambled around and tried to take days off to see the re-race on Monday. I was sick, so Andy decided to take Nathan. He was SO excited! He loves Cars and this was like Cars in real life. I showed him a video of Jeff Gordon winning Taladega on YouTube and he was jazzed. He had a wonderful time and was thoroughly tired out (as you can see). However when he got home I asked him how he liked the race, he said "It was bad" I was like "Why Son I thought you had a great time." He said "Well we had fun but we heard on the radio on the way home that some other guy than Jeff Gordon won the race, so it was a BAD race!" My dad is thrilled, we are not die hard race fans, and Dad loves Jeff Gordon so we were pulling for him by default. I guess Nate has taken it seriously.

Tired

Hello people. I hope you are all well and well rested. Nathan and Ian finished their last day of school yesterday. It was major busy last week and this with all the last minute things to do. Remember to bring apple slices for 35 for the end of the year party, don't forget carrots and goldfish for the graduation reception, bring home all changes of cloths, and art work. The kitchen table looks like I could start my OWN preschool. So today I'm here with two wild boys, and I just don't want to do anything. I'm hoping to muster some motivation and try to dig out from under the debris of the last week of school. Ian had an asthma attack the other night. It was so random and came out of nowhere. He is OK now but we are both kind of tired from middle of the night breathing treatments.

New Life.

Yesterday, Andy and I helped my Sister-in-law and her family move into their New/Old house. Emily has breathed new life into Grandma Gardner's old house. For those of you who don't know Andy's grandmother went into a nursing home a few months ago. Her house is a historic house in Shelby. It was built in 1886 and has been in the Gardner family that long. Once Grandma went into the nursing home and it was pretty clear she wouldn't be able to care for herself at home again, we started going through the house. It was sorely neglected, due to the fact that She just wasn't able to care for it in the last few years. Emily had a vision for it though and she started to work. She was the ONLY one of us who had the desire to revive this old place just because of the amount of work that would need to be put into it. She and my Mother-in-law have pretty much done it all. We cleared out as much as we could and its been re-carpeted, a/c installed, and painted. The counters have been changed all with the most careful attention to it's historic standing not just inside but outside as well. You wouldn't believe the difference in the house. It looks amazing! Emily and David have great taste. The antique furniture that remains will not look out of place in this new setting. The old door knobs are being restored and used. As well as the old doors. I admire Emily for having the vision and seeing it through. GOOD JOB!