Ripple of One

Today I started what may be a new adventure. My good friend, Stephanie has founded an organization called Ripple of One. (be sure to visit her website at www.rippleofone.org ) I have decided to help out some so I am going to be working with a precious girl (mid-20s) with 4 children who has lost her job and has no family. I spent the afternoon with her and was overwhelmed with her situation. I don't know how she has the strength to get out of bed in the mornings. While I want to just take her and her kids home with me & take care of them, that's not the way ripple works. I have to help her learn how to get back on her feet: emotionally, financially, spiritually, physically (she's skin & bones). Sounds like a lot, but this group helps me help her every step of the way. Please keep her and her kids in your prayers and me too that I'll lead her in the right direction, and hopefully help her find Jesus in the process.

Surprise! We're going to Florida

Thursday morning we picked Nate & Henry up from school around 10:30 and surprised them with a airplane trip to Florida to visit Silas & stay at the Nickelodeon Hotel. It took a few minutes for it to really register with them that we were going. Once we hit I-85, they were very excited!

Luke pulling his own carry-on!

Checking in with Allegiant Air. Flights direct from GSP to many Florida destinations!

Waiting patiently in the airport. Security is reason enough not to fly any more than you have to.

Finally! We see cousin Silas. These boys were so silly. They always have a blast together.

We went to the most wonderful restaurant in Deland for dinner. Perfect Spot was not only good food, but also very entertaining. Sky divers, playground and a wagon!

Luke & Silas waiting for more skydivers. Check out how much taller Silas is than Luke. They are only 3 months apart!

Here are the boys in their hotel room. Nate & Henry had bunk beds and Luke slept with Mom & Dad, of course! It's really Sponge Bob!!

Luke was really amazed to see all the characters at breakfast. It was quite a celebration!

We love Patrick almost as much as we love Sponge Bob!

Nate & Henry spending fun times with Robin's children Trace & Tara who live in Punta Gorda, FL. She drove up to spend the night in the hotel with us.

Subway for lunch with 7 kids was exciting. Everyone eat so we can see Silas & go to Downtown Disney!

Downtown Disney was lots of fun! This is Mark & Silas, Bryan & Luke, Tara, Nate & Trace before dinner at the Rainforest Cafe!

BUZZ LIGHTYEAR!!! Luke is "Toy Story Crazy" and can spot Buzz a mile away.

Luke & Silas rode the carousel & train together. They missed Marlowe though (they thought she would love the carousel)!

Outside the Rainforest Cafe, aren't these guys handsome!

7 am flight means wake up at 4am...yikes! Vacation is fun, but it's always nice to come home.

Silas, Nate & Henry

I'm so behind on blogging and promise to catch up. I'll kick it off with this video of Henry, Silas & Nate being boys!

Bleach

I did a crazy thing with my hair. I asked for bleach on scalp.

Do I regret it? No, it's just hair. But will I do it again? Probably not. I think I glow in the dark.

February Fun!

Nate's tornado poster for tornado safety week. Even though he was a little under the weather, the poster was super!

Thanks Shannon for going with me to Erika's CD release party in Greenville at the Lazy Goat Restaurant. We had a blast eating lots of exotic food & listening to Erika sing.

Playing with brothers is so much fun! Check out this Batman & Robin dynamic duo!

A visit to Great Wolf Lodge in Charlotte to celebrate Bennett's 8th birthday.

Waiting not so patiently to go into the waterpark Sunday morning....

At Craig & Camille's very awesome Pediatric Dentist office in Seneca! Nate & Henry watched movies above their chairs while they had their teeth cleaned.

Who knew going to the dentist could be so much fun? Ms pacman, Galaga & Pole position, free!

Playing basketball is the latest craze. Nate & Henry are out there every spare minute they have shooting hoops.

Here's Nate & Henry at this years Blue & Gold banquet. They Father/Son cake decorating contest is always fun. This year, Nate's cake won. Penny=vote and he had $67!

The Catapult

Playing war with Cliff

Uncle Cliff is so much fun. He plays war with the boys and really gets into it. They love it! Here's the latest battle.

Good books

These are 3 books that are really speaking to me now. Check them out asap!

What gives?

October, November running was going great: 25-30 miles a week, 7 miles just about every run. November 20: broke foot~ no exercise at all for 6 weeks! What happens? I lose about 8 pounds. I know some of that was muscle, but not 8 pounds!!! Then, 2 weeks ago I started running again. Guess what? Gained all that weight back. I'm so frustrated. So for now I'm hanging up my running shoes and pulling out the dvd player. I'm gonna try p90x and see what happens.

Counterfeit!

Henry is so proud. He photocopied both sides of a $2, cut them out and glued them together. Nate told him he would probably go to prison for doing this and I could too for taking a picture of it. Henry didn't care.

Happy 90th birthday Granny!

Today was Granny's 90th birthday and we celebrated with a party in the church fellowship hall.

We missed Mark, Denise & Silas and Adam, but we did enjoy some yummy punch (just ask Marlowe!)

Talking to Adam, doesn't she look pretty!

Happy Birthday Granny! We love you!

First run of 2011 Pinewood Derby

Florida vacation!

I have a secret and I have to tell someone! Bryan and I

have planned a surprise Florida vacation for Nate, Henry & Luke for the middle of March. We are going to visit Mark & Denise & Silas and stay at the Nickelodeon Hotel. We decided to wait until the morning of the trip to tell the boys. They will be so excited to fly on an airplane and to get to see their cousin Silas!

Grand Bohemian Hotel

Bryan get to go to a planning session every January with a team of managers from Duke (and he gets to take his wife)! This year it was in Asheville at the Grand Bohemian Hotel just outside the gates of the Biltmore House. We had a great time! All 4 grandparents worked together and took excellent care of the boys. The hotel was so beautiful and we had the most delicious food! Last nights dinner was Sea Bass for me while Bryan had beef aged for 38 days. This morning I ordered room service for breakfast and watched the entire Today Show without interruption! It was nice, but I miss these guys so much when I'm gone.
Thanks MeMa & Papa and DeeDee & JohnDaddy for watching after our boys while we were away. They enjoyed being with all 4 of you!

8 Years Ago Today....

8 Years ago today, after 40 1/2 weeks of pregnancy, 13 hours of unproductive, induced labor and an emergency c-section, I met this precious boy. He has brought me so much joy! Happy Birthday Nate! I love you!