FUN RANDOM PICTURE

We went to the beach a couple of weekends ago and I was able to capture this pic when Seth was not chasing the sea gulls....

What's Cookin'?

Congratulations to David Cook, winner of this year's American Idol. I am very happy that someone I have been pulling for won a reality show this year! Okay, Kristi Yamaguchi won Dancing With the Stars last night--I was pulling for her too. I am happy for them both.

HAPPY MOTHERS' DAY!

Happy Mothers' Day to all mothers. When I say all mothers, I mean mothers, grandmothers, great grandmothers, mothers-in law, sisters-in law, aunts, sisters, cousins, mothers who are no longer with us, and mothers who do not have living children. What a wonderful sisterhood to be a part of. A friend of mine recently sent the following to me and it doesn't necessarily center around mothers, but females themselves. I think it is very appropriate for Mothers' Day. Here is an excerpt:

Sisters

 A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day, drinking iced tea and visiting with her
Mother.  As they talked about life, about marriage, about the responsibilities of life and
the obligations of  adulthood, the mother clinked the ice cubes in her glass thoughtfully
 and turned a clear, sober glance upon her daughter. 
 
'Don't forget your Sisters,' she advised, swirling the tea leaves to the bottom of her glass.
'They'll be more important as you get older. No matter how much you love your husband,
no matter how much you love the children you may have, you are still going to need
Sisters.

Remember to go places with them now  and then; do things with them.' 
 
 'Remember that 'Sisters' means ALL the women... your girlfriends, your daughters, and
all your other women relatives too. 'You'll need other women. Women always do.' 

 What a funny piece of advice!' the young woman thought. Haven't I just gotten married? 
Haven't I just joined the couple-world? I'm now a married woman, for goodness sake!
A grownup! Surely  my husband and the family we may start will be all I need to make
 my life worthwhile!' 
 
 But she listened to her Mother. She kept contact with her Sisters and made more
 women friends each year. As the years tumbled by, one after another, she gradually
 came to understand that her Mom really  knew what she was talking about.

As time and nature work their changes and their mysteries upon a woman,  Sisters are
the mainstays of her life. After more than 50 years of living in this world, here is what
I've learned: 
 
 THIS SAYS IT ALL: 
 
 Time passes. 
 Life happens. 
 Distance separates. 
 Children grow up. 
 Jobs come and go. 
 Love waxes and wanes. 
 Men don't do what they're supposed to do. 
 Hearts break. 
 Parents die. 
 Colleagues forget favors. 
 Careers end. 
 BUT......... 
 
 Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you.
A girl friend is never farther away than needing her can reach. 
 
 When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you have to walk it by yourself,
the women in your life will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on, praying for you,
pulling for you, intervening on  your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley's
 end. 
 
 Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you...Or come in and carry
 you out. 
 
 Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters, daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law,
Mothers, Grandmothers, aunties, nieces,  cousins, and extended family, all bless our life! 
 
 The world wouldn't be the same without women, and neither would I. When we began
 this adventure called  womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that
lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we  would need each other. 

Heartache and Prayer

Two of our close friends have suffered tremendously during the past week. They had to deliver their baby boy at 37 weeks gestation, knowing he was not going to be alive. We have been through the trauma of miscarriage but cannot fathom what they have gone through. They are very strong in their faith and know their little one is in heaven with God, which is "way cooler than here with us." But it still hurts. It will not stop hurting, but as time goes by, it will become easier to cope. Please pray for them and their strength to get through this. We love you guys! ((HUGS))!!

Party Time at the Gym!

Last Saturday, Seth was invited to a birthday party at Rose's Gymnastics. The kids participated in a variety of activities prior to the birthday celebration. When we arrived, Seth got to get into a bounce house with a slide. Then we journeyed to the PIT, which is full of foam pieces. Rob enjoyed being in the pit and catching Seth as he jumped in. After playing in the pit, the kids were led on two obstacle courses that had trampolines and balance beams on them. Needless to say, Seth slept good that night! It was a lot of fun and an interesting way to celebrate a birthday!

PirateFest

A few weekends ago, we attended Piratefest. Piratefest is actually a combination of Greenville's International Festival and the Purple & Gold Pigskin Pigout Party. I think there is also an art show. We thought that Seth would get alot out of it considering that pirates are one of his current fascinations. The organizers had closed down Evans street from 5th Street to the Town Commons and the street was lined with vendors.

Pirates were strolling throughout the street and they would stop and talk to you and pose for pictures. We watched a bagpipe led parade of pirates and many folks were showing up dressed as pirates. Seth would only bring his feathersword and his American flag.

The city of Greenville unveiled the painted Pirates that will adorn businesses throughout the city. Different artists and organizations painted these pirate statues. I had a vested interest in this because Greene Central High School's art classes designed one of these pirates. It is the mosaic tile one in the center of picture that has "Arrrrrt!!" on the hat. The pirates were really pretty and they will look good around the city.

Busy Times

This has been a very busy week for me. Sunday I helped give a baby shower in Washington. Monday, we went out to eat with our Young Adult group. Tuesday was parent-teacher night, Wednesday I helped give another baby shower at school, Thursday I took kids to the Battle of the Books competition in Kinston and Seth had a followup ENT appointment (good report), and today Seth had an asthma reevaluation. No asthma diagnosis--yay! I know that was a huge run on sentence but I feel like a dog with his tongue hanging out after chasing something. Whew! Tomorrow we are heading to the Piratefest since Seth is fascinated with pirates. Hopefully we will have some good pictures to post--I am sure he will have fun saying, "Argggghhh!!" Thanks to everyone who has been thinking about Seth during the past two weeks. His surgery was a success although he spiked a fever and developed a deeper cough 2 days after surgery. We had to go back to the pediatrician for that--he was actually on two high powered antibiotics at one time! Speaking of pediatricians, ours is leaving--he and his family are moving to Winston Salem (where his wife is from) so that they can be closer to her family. There is nothing like having family nearby to help out with your kids, so we can't blame him there. But we will be losing a great doctor who had a special place in his heart for Seth. Maybe you and Matt will run into him, Patrice; or maybe you and Kim will run into him, Leigh. His name is Dr. Rhyne and he looks like Jeff Burton, the race car driver and WoJo who used to play basketball for Duke. He is a great pediatrician and we will miss him dearly!