A season of grieving...

 I remember reading a children's book "Let me Hold You Longer" by Karen Kingsbury.  Essentially it says that while we celebrate all the 'firsts' in our children's lives, we often don't realize when the 'lasts' happen until it's already gone...and had we known it was the last, we would have held on a little longer.  This summer I feel as though I am in a season of grieving Caroline's last real summer with us.  This year, Mags and I have been planning our day around Caroline's trips to the gym with friends, going here and there and needing a ride to this event or that...gone are the days where we wake up, complete the summer checklist and get ready for the pool.  It's no longer about my plans for our day but how to incorporate her plans into my plans.  And it's all good stuff.  It's just another example of her becoming more and more independent.  I know that it's natural and honestly, I want that for her.  However, sometimes it's hard to realize how quickly they are growing up.  I had no idea that last summer would be the end of our 'typical' summers together.

So I'll hold tight to this summer...the last summer before she has a drivers license.  Next summer will be different too. She will have her own wheels to take her where she wants to go and won't need me to do it for her...so I'll complain, make her think she's making me crazy with her scheduling while deep down giving thanks that she still needs her momma, even if it is just for a taxi driver!!

Swim meet

 Tonight was the 10 and under meet.  Maggie swam, Caroline timed, I was clerk of course and Andy was in charge of pictures. While we weren't together, we were thankful to all be together in one place.  It was a good night!

My kitchen table

 This messy, scratched, paint splattered table has seen close to 17 years of early morning Bible study, coffee and prayers with my dear friend Charissa.  Often times a little one would slip in for a good morning hug or to sit quietly in my lap.  We made it work.  I couldn't help but relate my life to this table.  It's messy, got a few imperfections and yet the Lord will still use me if I'm willing!  Thank you Lord for not giving up on us...

VBS

 Maggie was invited to VBS with her friend Ava.  There were lots of friends there that Maggie knew.  She had a wonderful time!!  It brought back memories from my childhood attending VBS with my cousins.  My granny would load us up in the back of the S-10 and take us each week.  We went in the morning to one and in the evening to the other.  Cookies and Kool Aid!

So pretty...

 Getting in the van about to pull out of the driveway.

Mags: Momma, look at me again...you look SO pretty, with makeup on! 

I guess my summer look isn't doing me any favors...

Fun with Mrs. Kennedy

We absolutely loved Maggie's 1st and 2nd grade teacher Mrs. Kennedy!!  She was amazing and just what Maggie needed.  She initiated wanting to see Maggie this summer so we made it happen.  We invited her and her boys over to swim at Tomi Jean's.  Maggie said it was the best day of her summer.  Rollins wasn't too interested in swimming but he sure did enjoy the playground, the dogs and feeding the fish!

 

The Little Mermaid

The girls have been asking to see "The Little Mermaid" in theaters.  However, Caroline also wanted to work around McCall and Amelia's schedule as well.  Nobody was able to see the movie without the other two.  So we finally found a time that they could go and that we could take them.  It was a cute movie.  I thought it was well done.  The girls had fun and of course, didn't want to sit with us.  They may have spent $90 between tickets and food between the three of them.  Lots of life lessons from their parents about buying the large popcorn that comes with free refills instead of buying two rounds of drink and popcorn...

 

Maggie Cooks

 Earlier this week Maggie asked if she could cook breakfast.  Of course she wanted to cook pancakes...don't most kids start with eggs or pancakes?  She did a fabulous job and was so proud of herself!!  Her pancakes were pretty yummy too!

Pool fun with friends at the Country Club

 McCall invited Caroline to the pool with her.  They are members at the Country Club where the girls use to go with Ruth and Helen and also for swim team.  I thought to myself when she sent me this picture...we have come full circle.  From being their with her mom babysitter to hanging out with friends without mom...time is flying by!

Celebrating Father's Day with Family

 We spent our 20th wedding anniversary with my side of the family celebrating Aunt Lill's visit and fathers day for all the men in our family.  Daniel cooked a wonderful dinner.  As always the food and laughs were plenty!!

Happy 20th Anniversary!!!

On this day, 20 years ago on the most beautiful summer day, with our family and friends gathered together, we said "I do."  I've said it before and I will say it again, those two young kids had NO clue what we were committing to.  We thought love and money was all you needed to have a successful marriage.  We didn't realize it took so much more to honor the vows we said.  We assumed, life would have more better than worse, more good times than bad and more health than sickness.  It didn't take long to realize marriage didn't work out the way Hollywood presented it.  It meant dying to ones self.  It meant putting others needs before your own.  It meant asking for forgiveness AND giving forgiveness even when it hurt.  It meant honoring the commitment to each other and God even when we didn't want to.  There were times we haven't liked each other.  Times when we didn't think we would make it to the next year.  Times when we wondered why in the world we thought we were good for each other.  BUT GOD always pulled us through.  God always reminded us that we were worth fighting for.  God showed us what true forgiveness looks like.  Today we can thank God for the beautiful gift He has given us in marriage!!

Andy was persistent that we needed to do something for our anniversary. Something to celebrate and enjoy us.  So we decided to head up a day early to pick Caroline up from camp.  We stayed in a super cute Airbnb and enjoyed Hendersonville, NC.  We enjoyed delicious meals, yummy bakeries, uninterrupted conversations and beautiful mountain views.  My heart is so full of thanksgiving for this trip!  We are so thankful for everyone who made it possible!!  Here's to the next 20 Andy!!  I love you more today than yesterday but not as much as I will tomorrow! 

Our cute Airbnb. The little sign said "Welcome Andy!" After checking in, Andy took a nap and I watched "Where the Crawdad Sing."  It was on my summer bucket list.  I loved laying in bed, watching it, not thinking about everything that I needed to do!  It was lovely!

Saturday morning we stopped for coffee on our way out of town to pick up our girl.  It was the cutest little shop!!  Wish we had more time to sit and chat but we couldn't wait to get our girl!!

 

Lunch with friends

 My sweet friends Robin and Sharon both took amazing trips this spring/summer.  Robin went on a Viking Cruise in April and Sharon just returned from a European tour.  We gathered for lunch to hear all about their travels.  I am so thankful that the Lord brought us all to Calvary...what a joy it is to do life with them. 

Neptune Island

Neptune Island offered "Splashing Good Grades" for the month of June.  Students are allowed to bring their report card with good grades for free admission to the waterpark.  I am the only one who has to pay.  The girls enjoy time with friends and the moms get to enjoy hanging out.  Sadly our trip got cut short due to weather but we still had a great time!!  Sadly I didn't get any pictures of Caroline and McCall was they were too busy doing their own thing. 

 

DAD frame

 We started this fun tradition when Caroline was 3 or 4.  It's so fun to watch the girls get older in these pictures.  We store the previous years behind the new one.  The pictures got to thick a few years ago so we started an album behind the frame to keep the pictures together!

Mags having fun with family and friends

 According to Maggie, she was going to live her very best life while we were away!  She the day Friday with Aunt Tomi Jean doing all the fun things, lunch, shopping, running errands, etc.  Then Aunt Tomi Jean took her to her friends Meir Ruth and Hadden's house for a sleepover.  She had a blast watching movie, doing arts and crafts and doing all things girlie!  So thankful for family and friends who love our girls while we are away!

Camp Ridge Haven, year 4!

This past Monday, Momma and I took Caroline to Camp Ridge Haven for Year 4, week 4.  She, Abby and Josie couldn't get there fast enough!!  They couldn't wait for us to get there and then be on our way.  I laughingly told them that if we didn't see pictures of them, we would contact camp and have them announced during dinner to get their picture taken!  We got lots of pictures.  According to Caroline, by day 2 anytime the photographer saw them, they knew to get their picture!! :-)  When we picked her up today, she was ALL smiles!!  On the way to the car, she started telling us stories.  She talked non stop for at least 10 minutes!!  According to her, it was the best week ever at camp!  She had the best girls in her cabin as well as the very best counselor.  She even handed me her notebook with notes from the session each day.  What a gift!  Her counselor wrote her the sweetest note and reminded her to glorify God every where she goes...that the Lord has placed her in this season for a reason.  She commented on Caroline's sweet character and how she includes everyone.  Her bible verse for Caroline was John 15: 4-5.  

I am so thankful for the Lord's faithfulness in her life and so thankful for the generous folks who made this week possible for her!!  

 

Missing Sissy

 It only took two days for Maggie to say "I miss sissy!"  Maybe they will be nicer to each other once she returns!! 

My little blueberry bush

 My family and I love blueberries.  We have been blessed over the years to have friends and family share their blueberries with us.  This April at the Plant and Flower show, my cousin Teresa bought me two beautiful trees.  I planted them a little late.  One bush lost all of its blueberries in the process.  However, this small bush, has a good 20-30 blueberries on it.  Today I picked my first ripe ones.  They were soo good!  I know this will be a small year this year but I look forward to future harvest! I'm so excited!!!

Maggie's first summer swim meet

Mags had her first swim meet tonight.  I was so sad to miss...it started before I got back from taking Caroline.  Andy took videos and lots of pictures for me.  Andy said she swam so hard and never once complained.  We are so proud of her and how far she has come with swimming.  It definitely isn't her favorite 'sport' but she is doing great.  We haven't gotten one complaint yet this season!!!!
 

Fun with Aunt Jill

Today I took Caroline to camp!  Jill so very kindly offered to keep Maggie so that she didn't spend all day riding in the car.  We dropped her off around 8:30 and Jill dropped her off with Andy around 3:00.  She had the best day ever!!  She and Nori watched a movie, did crafts and played at the pool!  What more could a girl ask for?????

 

17 years without daddy!

This morning while working on my bible study outside, this sweet little guy hung around for quite some time.  He would fly from the fence to the tree and back again.  I've always heard that when you see a cardinal, it's considered a visit from heaven.  A friend said "when a cardinal appears, angels are near!"  Love that too!  So I guess Daddy was coming for a morning visit on the 17th anniversary of his passing.  I am SO THANKFUL, through the power of the cross, that we have hope that we WILL see him again!!

So I picked up a cup of Krispy Kreme coffee and raised my cup in a cheers...here's to you daddy and all the early morning KK coffee's we shared during your illness!  I wish I was taking you a cup today!

 

Small Group Social

Several weeks ago, we began texting dates to try to gather this summer with our former small group.  As typical summer schedules go, nobody was in town all on the same weekend.  SO we decided to go with our original date and gather with whoever was in town.  We missed Chris and Charissa as well as Rhett and Farrah but we still had a wonderful time!  The weather was gorgeous so of course my little fish stayed in the water the entire time with the exception of eating dinner.  Her older sister on the other hand was "too cold" and bundled to get in the heated pool mind you!  Eventually she joined Griffin, Gray and Maggie.  The men solved the worlds problems and then went for a ride on Jack's new side by side.  The ladies enjoyed chatting and catching up on life. 

Life looks so different that it did when we started this group over 17 years ago...only 3 of the 6 couples are still at First Pres and our children are now teenagers instead of tiny wee ones in a pack in play.  But this group was a wonderful support during that season of life and I know that we can still count on each and every one of them in this season as well!

 

Fun Friday

 Today was an extra special pool day because all 4 of our kiddo's were in the pool like old times!!  It was so sweet to see them all together!  While the younger two enjoy the pool, the older two are more interested in working out and joining for a little while afterwards.  So in this season where they are constantly growing up in so many ways, it's fun to see them be kids too!