Wordless Wednesday

9, 6, 3, 2-they are here!

Sooooooo excited they came for a visit!  

Is there happiness all around or what?!?!

Welcome Dulans-minus Uncle Silas who stayed home for work...Uncle Silas, thanks for working so they could come and play!

Good Morning!

 Not. one. bit. of. editing.

Epic.
Breathtaking.
Awe inspiring.

Grandpa & Mimi (were here in April :)

WE LOVE when family comes to visit!  And this visit was just as exciting and fun as all the other ones.  Strawberry picking, Tupulo Honey eating, newspaper reading, Uno playing, water fighting, craft making and re-painting...everything was great!

Thanks Mimi and Grandpa for coming-we LOVE you both!!!

 Sold it to the highest bidder for $50. This table was our project while Mimi was here. :)

Summertime!

My Date

And here is my favorite six year old date!  We had fun riding our bikes while Katie did Vball camp!  Owen, you are awesome on your bike.  You switch gears like a pro and rode six miles with me on the River Trail. Love you!

Her New Favorite Sport

Katie, seriously, you LOVE volleyball.  You finished your week of volleyball camp at New Life Camp and came home thrilled and ready to practice each day, every week for the rest of your life! You ordered a volleyball from some birthday money and since it has arrived its basically be a daily exercise.  We are super excited you loved it so much!  And your coaches, were awesome-loving you, pushing you hard and pointing you towards the King.  Hope you, "bump, set, spike it...that's the way we like it" and Volley 4 Christ for many years to come!

*friends are Jo Burton, Jimma, Kat, Julianna

Lots of this

We've had so many opportunities these last few months to work on forgiveness and loving well! Thank you, Katie for working on something that is so necessary in life. The Scriptures are not silent on this topic as it calls us to forgive 70 times seven...which means we forgive over and over again!  I pray our family can always be quick to ask for forgiveness and quick to forgive each other! Love you sweet girl! And yes, I do forgive you!

Him

I saw him walking down the street towards the grocery store.  He walked slowly and his pants were pulled up so that he socks showed his crocs and if a flood came he would be ok. He was silent as he walked just looking straight ahead. I passed him in our truck as he turned the corner seemingly to go into the store. I parked and quickly walked in, greeting the associate who was grilling hot dogs for the troops and charging two dollars for chips and a dog. They smelled good...the atmosphere was filled with delicious smells and people were friendly with Memorial Day upon us. I did my shopping, grabbing items for homemade ice cream and salsa and came back out. I walked with purpose back to our truck. I passed again the gentleman who had walked to the store, sitting. He was sitting in some adorandic chairs they had for sale and I wished him a happy Memorial Day. He said nothing, barely acknowledging me. I paused ever so slightly hearing the Lord nudge me. "Why don't you buy him lunch?" ..It's two dollars and he seems hungry. I wrestled with doing this. I'm not comfortable with helping or serving a guy I don't know and want to walk in wisdom. But I wanted to obey, I wanted to love well. He definitely wasn't asking for food, he was simply staring off at some unknown object across the parking lot. I placed my items in the car, then marching back into the store, I took take out $5. Walking back outside I asked if he would like a hot dog. He looked at me and shook his head, yes. He didn't speak, but shuffled over to the grill.  I'm not sure what his name was, he didn't understand me when I asked, he might have said Nicholas. I paid for the small meal wished him again a happy Memorial Day and then left as the associate asked and re-asked what kind of chips he would like.  As I pulled away from the store I found myself asking, who is taking care of that gentleman? He seemed alittle slow and was probably in his 60's or so. But I heard again that nudging, "I used you, today".  I'm sure many others to take care of him because he is precious to the Saviour. Today, I listened to the Creator. I don't always know how to do that, but today I'm thankful I served that man. sich a simple two minute act of kindness...Love is kind we often say at our home. Happy Memorial Day, may we each listen and love much.

And kids I'm posting this today so that you know it's good and hard and difficult to hear the Holy Spirit. Your Daddy and I want to do it better. But I've seen you Katie, buy on a whim a Barbie doll for the young girl behind us just because you felt God wanted you too. You spent your own money to love her.  You encourage me, sweet girl! And Owen I've seen you jump up and make Katie's bed just because you wanted to serve and be kind to her, knowing she doesn't like the chore.

Kids work hard to notice people they are God workmanship. Smile at them, give them a compliment, say hi, look them in the eye, thank them for working... These acts don't come easy, but with more and more practice we can love much to any of those around us, family, friends or strangers. 

My view this morning

Last night, Justin went out it town to do an open house and model hours in Washington NC. No one ever likes Daddy traveling, but you kids do a great job being thankful that he has a good job- working hard to provide and then anticipating his return with joy! Everyone is excited when Daddy gets home!

Sometime in the middle of the night, you Pippers, came in and gave me Snuggles the stuffed puppy to snuggle with...sweet girl, thank you for thinking of me, since I was sleeping alone and loving well in your own way! I did snuggle with her the rest of the night! I love you! love, Momma

PS...Katie we got to talk after you woke up and your stuffy, Libby the bunny, will always be with you! Love this view too!

Pop up art @ NC Museum of Art

Impressionism!

Just hangn' out!

Please, won't you get us a pool, please?!?!?