These boots

We've been cleaning out a little at a time around here.  Andy found these boots and no longer needs them.  They worked many a night on third shift during our early days of marriage.  These boots were also used during our Harley days.  Do you see the little shinny part on the toe of one of the boots?  That little sliver of silver reminds me of the Lord's protection over Andy.  We had gone to a bike rally in Charleston.  We were on the way home, about 20 minutes from home actually.  We were stopped at a red light.  I was driving our blazer with all our camping items while he was on the bike.  As Andy started moving, I see him begin to sway, something flies over his head and his foot goes down.  As I typically do, I panicked, thinking I was about to watch my husband get hurt.  Thankfully he was able to safely move the bike to the median.  I jumped out to check on him.  The area where he rests his foot while riding came off as he was shifting gears.  Freak accident, he did nothing wrong. However, had it not been for these steel toe boots, things would have looked a lot different. I AM so thankful that we always wore protective gear, even when we didn't look 'cool.'  I'm sad to see these go but I hope somebody else can use them and benefit from the protection of the steel toe!
 

Same place, same thing, different day

We laugh...every single year on the way to the beach to start summer vacation, these girls fall asleep. While on vacation, if we go anywhere in the car, they fall asleep!  Today, on the way home, it got super quiet and sure enough, both were hard and fast asleep!

 

I did it!

Last night, I realized that I had 1.3 miles left to complete my 40 mile challenge for the American Cancer Society.  So I asked my family if they would join me for a walk on the beach before we came home.  We didn't have far to go and honestly I could have kept walking if we didn't have to leave our villa...but I did it and I am so thankful to honor my dad in this way.  Oh how I pray that ONE DAY there will be a cure for this awful disease.  

 

Saturday Sunrise

My internal alarm clock is still set for 5 AM.  I so wanted to sleep in this morning but I also remembered it was my last day to enjoy the sunrise and so the sunrise won!  I got on the balcony a little before  6.  There is something about seeing this beauty that leaves me in awe of God!  I also know that this trip, this villa, this time with family is such a gift!  The Lord has greatly blessed me and my family and I don't take it for granted!  Thanks Aunt Tomi Jean and Uncle Greg for this gift once again!

 

Friday...why does the week go so fast?

This morning, I left before the sun was up to head to school for our final day of this school year!  The last day of school is always bittersweet for me.  This year especially, I am relieved that we made it to the end!!!  However, it is always hard for me to say goodbye...I missed my traveling partner this morning as she didn't have to go back with me.  So thankful she got to enjoy a full day at the beach with everyone. Just in case you are wondering, I had a severe case of FOMO this week...fear of missing out while I was gone.  I look forward to this week so much.  We laugh, we play games, we sit around the pool, lounge on the beach, it truly is a special time.  I'm sad I wasn't able to fully enjoy it this week but OH SO grateful for the time I did have.  It was fabulous!  I made it back today by 1:30 and was on the beach by 2.

Maggie made friends with 2 little girls on Saturday.  We have seen them on the beach a few times.  Today, they played for hours.  It was sweet to watch.  She will certainly sleep well tonight!

Big kids being big kids!  If you click on the picture, you can see a wave forming behind them.  Seconds after I took this picture, that wave took them out!!

Beach baby, beach baby, we're having fun in the sun from July to September! Well actually May to September in our case...

After being closed for 2 days and no work happening, they finally started on the pool yesterday.  I have a feeling there will be some sad folks coming in on Saturday when they realize the pool is unavailable.  Can't wait to see what it looks like next year.

The girls enjoyed the lending library this week.  We will definitely bring some extra books with us next year to add to the collection.

Everybody has gone home except us.  I didn't feel like going out to eat and I certainly didn't feel like messing up the clean kitchen.  So we decided to take the recycling, get gas and stop by the grocery store to pick up something easy for dinner.  Maggie feel asleep before we got to the recycling center (which is only about 5 minutes from the lending library) and Caroline was asleep before we left the main gate.

The deli department at Lowes' foods is amazing!  We each found something that we like.  Maggie had fried chicken and potato wedges while the rest of us enjoyed potato salad and sandwiches.  Definitely an easy, go to that I would get again!  I had a turkey, thin sliced pears and goat cheese sandwich!  OH MY! The sandwiches were so big, we could actually split them the next time.  We sat on the balcony.  There was a great breeze blowing!

After dinner, we continued outside with several rounds of UNO!

Our final sunset...such a beautiful end to a beautiful week!

 

Thursday

It was a gorgeous start to the day today.  Sadly we weren't able to stay long enough to see the FULL sunrise.  We also got to enjoy the full moon as we were leaving.

Caroline and I made it back by 1:30.  We quickly changed and headed to the beach before anything could stop us!  Thankfully Jack and Grace were able to join us.  Grace makes amazing drip castles!!

Tomi Jean, Andy, Caroline, Maggie and I went to visit a cousin that lives here at the beach.  After the visit, we went to eat seafood.  It was delicious! On the way back, Tomi Jean spotted this gorgeous sunset!  Breathtaking!

We came home, changed clothes and began family vacation olympics.  Grace was the official torch carrier and Christine was the announcer.  We had so much fun and laughed OH SO HARD!  

After family olympics, we enjoyed a few rounds of UNO.  It's the game of the week!

Caroline and Joy completed our only puzzle for the week.  They were rather proud of themselves!

The girls are sleeping in the loft.  This is the first year they have been able to have their own bedroom and they were SO excited!

 

My last full day!

Today was my last full day of vacation.  I will take C for state testing on Thursday and I have my last day of school on Friday.  Uncle Greg and I enjoyed our morning walk together!  I love starting my day this way and I love my Uncle Greg!

I found this picture on my phone...I am assuming they played UNO while Uncle Greg and I went walking.

With today being my last full day of vacation, I had big plans for today...until Maggie called me into the bathroom.  She said "I think my UTI is back...it hurts."  And she had visible blood in her urine. So Andy took her to the urgent care while we went to the pool.  Thankfully the visit was super easy and they were back within 2 hours.  Looking at her, you would never know anything was wrong.  She made a friend and enjoying playing with Aunt Tomi Jean in the pool.  We found out Monday that the pool here at the villa was closed and would be the remainder of our trip.  They are making a few repairs to the pool...boo!  But thankfully the club pool wasn't too busy at all!

I promised Caroline I would take her to the beach.  Mags was tired and didn't want to go.  I sat with my book at the waters edge and loved every single minute of the 2 hours I had.  It was heavenly!!

More starfish...

There were hundreds of claims...it was the craziest thing I had ever seen!

Every year on vacation, Tomi Jean and Greg plan a meal at Frank's.  In the beginning, Andy and I also went.  Then once children came along, sometimes we had a babysitter and sometimes we didn't.  So the last few years we have stayed home.  This year, when they asked, Andy mentioned Caroline and I going.  Caroline was thrilled.  She LOVED being there.  It was a fun experience for her.  Uncle Greg said everyone needed to pick an appetizer to try.  She chose a carolina roll, which included collards and black eyed peas.  She and Grace shared a chicken dinner which she enjoyed.  For dessert she chose creme brulee.  I had beef tenderloin for dinner and chocolate creme brulee!  It was delicious!!!!!!  Such a fun night for us!

The full moon was breathtaking!  I am SO very thankful for this ocean front view!

Tomorrow night is family Olympics.  We are practicing...we will be ready!