Kaitlin, You are a blessing!

Kaitlin and Aunt Elaine in Gappy's library

Kaitlin is 27 today.  What a wonderful time we have had and I am sure we will have many more good times.

Kaitlin and Gappy at Gappy's library

helping Papa get to work 

Carolina Beach

sorry I can't turn this picture-  Kaitlin and me just before her 1st birthday

at 6 months

10 days old

sweet Kaitlin and sweet Gappy

30 years and lots of fun!

Andrew and my mother-his Gappy

30 years ago today I had a baby!  It seems like yesterday and it seems like forever. Andrew was born with meconium aspiration.  His apgar scores were 1 and 2.  The doctor didn't think he would make it.  I am so thankful for Andrew and all that he adds to my life.  Enjoy a few pictures that I could find in the wreck room.

Andrew and I have few fun things planned to celebrate his 30 years.  Pictures to follow.

Andrew at Vicki's house with a Halloween mask on

Carolina Beach

our backyard in Metarie

Uncle John in our house in Metarie

our backyard in White Hall

Andrew and Gappy in her library in Cobb County

Andrew and Papa at the World Series when the Bosox won

Andrew-6 days old

Andrew and Taylor Christmas 2011

A poem, A blog and My Mama

 Eleventary  is blog that I enjoy.  The blogger gives lists of 11 things- anything from food to books to favorite cities.  In the above post he writes about poetry.  He listed poems and authors he believes are a good place to start.

I copied his list.  Some of his poems I knew but many I didn't. I went to find my poetry books.  I paid a friend of mine (Thanks, Hannah) to put all my books in order, what a luxury, so I knew just where to find them.

Aside- When my sweet mama died, my brothers let me have most of her books.  They bring me great comfort.  I love reading words that I know she read.

I found Louis Untermeyer's book.  I don't recall ever looking at this before but I knew it was my mama's.  I opened to find this cartoon.

 And several articles about poets and even a cross made from a Palm Sunday palm that she saved.  I went back to the blog and found many of the poems he mentioned in this book.  What a sweet time I had reading them.  I wonder if my mother read those same poems?  I am choosing to believe she did.

What a wonderful legacy my mama left me.  I plan to read from this book on Mother's Day and savory and enjoy the gifts that she gave me.  I thank God for the wonderful mama he gave me.  When I get sad that I didn't have her longer, I am thankful for all the fun we crammed into the 38 years I had her, some folks don't even have half the fun we did in twice the years.  I am blest.

Phones vs real face time

Are you addicted to your smartphone?   We all need to follow this no matter how old your children are or even if you have children.  We need to be present with those around us.

Crystal Bridges with the Funroes

 The Funroes took a trip to Crystal Bridges.  There were 9 in our party.  I got my pictures mixed up so we will start with my photos from Day 2!

We had a wonderful breakfast at Bob Evans.  Breakfast is my favorite meal.  It was wonderful.

 Robert and his shadow.

 The museum is in a neighborhood and the entrance is very unobtrusive so be sure you have the address.

Alice Walton, as did her mother, Helen, loves flowers.  The wildflower display was amazing.  We hope to go again in the fall and see what flowers or plants they have out then.  BettyH told us that the Walmarts in NW AR have the best garden centers in the state.

 Barb enjoying the flowers.

This is the most expensive piece in the museum-Kindred Spirits.  It is beautiful.  Please don't look at the back of my hair.  I need to remember to comb the back of my hair. The front looks good.  Did you look?

 The vastness of the rooms was amazing.

 This a metal statue.  It is not eating Robert!

 Here is a miniature of the museum and a self portrait of Kaitlin.

 The museum is free for the time being but they bring in other exhibits too.  We paid 5.00 a person to go to The Hudson River School exhibit.  It was OUTSTANDING. We couldn't take any pictures inside so we took one of the door.  It will be here til September 3 and I highly recommend that you go.

Here is the view on our way home.  It reminded me of the pictures we saw in The Hudson River School.

We ate lunch here.  This is in Alma.  Check it out on your way home.  We all enjoyed it.

Here is our party group!

This is the portrait of George that was used for the dollar bill.

Kaitlin and I got the audio tour on our second day.  It is a free download.  We learned many interesting things.  In this picture of George, he is looking down to show his preeminence and how large he was in the founding of our country.  The clouds beyond him are dark but there is some blue skies headed his way.  This shows the darkness of the Revolution but when it is over there will be bright skies for everyone.  There is more but I can't remember it.  

 The art is beautiful and the buildings are amazing.

These are the types of pictures you get when an artist has your camera.

The elevator

We ate supper in the restaurant-Eleven-.  Like everything else it was outstanding.  If you eat supper there, reservations are recommended.  We saw people turned away.

ceiling in the restaurant

Bruschetta - oh my goodness- be sure and get it.

Carl's mac and cheese was wonderful.

I highly recommend a visit to Crystal Bridges.  Go Soon!!

small group, Darlene and TED videos

This is a picture of the gifts before they were opened, as you can see from the picture we are a laid back group!

 A few weeks ago I attended a MOPS meeting with my friends, LauraL and Jill VE.  They had a game/activity/ ice breaker that I loved.  I wanted to do it with my small group at church.  It is a great way to get to know each other better and that is how we can pray for each other more effectively and help each other in life.

I shared this with my small group when DarleneJ, one of our missionaries, was visiting our church.  She was very curious about what gifts folks would bring.  She said that she would bring Reeses Peanut Butter Cups!  Darlene, maybe we can play this the next time you are in town!

We had a great time.  We missed all those who couldn't join us!!

Here is the activity-each person brings something that tell us a little more about them.  We set a limit of $5.00.  The examples I gave from the MOPS meeting were someone brought a package of double stuff oreos, favorite brownie mix, candle, scarf, bookmark, tea cup and the list went on.  Numbers were put on the gifts and then we each drew a number.  You got the gift with your number.  As each person opened their gifts, the giver explained why he or she gave it.

Here are the gifts that our group brought.  Very, very clever folks and it was cool to see how God picked out certain gifts for certain people.  We exchanged guys with guys and girls with girls.  Top left from Carl to Craig- black notebook with a 5.00 bill and the info about the TED video (info and the video below), from Carolyn to Sonya- beautiful necklace ( Carolyn loves to make jewelry, it perfectly matched Sonya's outfit and looked just like something she would wear), from Julie to Mary Jean- beautiful bag and the fake faux bird (Julie loves to have fake faux animals around her house, she also said that they-the animals- move around her house, this somewhat freaked me out thinking that they move around her house but she clarified that SHE moves them around her house, whew, then Julie told us that her best friend growing up's father told Julie and best friend when they were spending the night at best friend's house, that all her dolls wake up at midnight so go to sleep! YIKES! Wonder if I would have stayed there?!?), me to Cheryl- The May Joy Dare by Ann Voskamp and some of my favorite lotions samples, Chris to Bob- a wonderful spatula with a manly handle, Mary Jean to Julie- a piece of burlap and a picture of her family ( MJ says that at Hobby Lobby, where she works,  they sell yards and yards of the brown burlap- she knew how much per day and it was a lot), Craig to Chris a flash light that lights up three ways, Sonya to Carolyn- Greek Seasoning (she and her husband were beyond thrilled, their favorite meat is lamb and were excited to try it), Bob to Carl- a slice of his favorite cake from a bakery in Birmingham, Sonya brought it back for him recently, and Cheryl to me- her favorite gum and she can only find it one store now, Walmart doesn't carry it anymore.  I have never seen it and I love gum!

What a great time we had.  There were more stories with the gifts but I can't remember them all.


Here is the link that Carl gave Craig.  It will inspire you.
How to buy happiness