Warriner Family Update

Grandma Thomas turns 87!

2010-12-12T14:27:00.001-05:00

The Thomas family met on Saturday to celebrate Grandma Thomas turning 87! It's always nice to catch up with family!

Woolridge Wildcats............grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

2010-10-03T18:30:00.009-04:00

Just wanted to post a few pictures of what we've been up to lately.......John is playing football and Joylyn is cheering. Practices are 3-4 nights a week and games are on Saturday, so this keeps us pretty busy lately.

John wanted to be a receiver or running back, but he was chosen as quarterback because of his "head" for the game and athletic ability. He throws a mean spiral! Thank goodness he gets his athletic ability from his dad! We are half way through the season and John is absolutely eat, sleeping, and breathing football! He has memorized the offensive plays and is a great leader of his team. He also plays safety on defense!

Joylyn was indecisive about cheering and when she found out her best friend was cheering.....she decided to go for it. She was sick to her stomach the first 3 weeks of practice (nervousness), but she has overcome that now that she is cheering at games. She loves it. Her favorites are the hello cheer and the half time dance. We are so proud of her!

Labor Day Beach Trip

2010-09-07T17:15:00.003-04:00

We haven't really taken a family vacation this summer (just several weekend trips).....so we decided to head to the beach for the weekend. Since Hurricane Earl was headed toward the Outer Banks......we decided against Myrtle Beach and Nags Head and opted for Virginia Beach. The weather was perfect and we had a great time!

Dragon Boat Races

2010-08-07T16:57:00.000-04:00

A dragon boat is a human-powered 40 foot boat traditionally made of teak wood to various designs and sizes. Led by the rhythmic beat of a drum, a team consists of 20 synchroized paddlers, one drummer, and one steersperson race the canoes 500 meters down the river. While competition has taken place annually for more than 20 centuries as part of folk ritual, it emerged in modern times as an international sport in Hong Kong in 1976. For competition events, dragon boats are generally rigged with decorative Chinese dragon heads and tails. Dragon Boat Races in Richmond............you betcha!!

The First Annual Dragon Boat Festival took place at Rocketts Landing on July 31st. It was a hot day, but it was exciting to watch!

Thomas Family Reunion 2010: Olympics

2010-07-20T21:05:00.003-04:00

The Thomas Family Reunion was great fun as always with an Olympic Theme this year. We were Team France (not by choice) and we sported our shirts with pride. We competed in different events against Team Germany, Team Australia, Team Ireland, and Team England! The kids were all given medals in the closing ceremonies. Joylyn and John enjoyed meeting several cousins they had never met before. It was good to see my cousin Kristen, who has been in Idaho for over 10 years. It was also good to see my cousin Russell, who has been in Washington state for over 10 years. We enjoyed the pool, kickball, a taste of nations, and of course our family tradition............blue crabs! Yummy!

Woodlake Warriors

2010-05-01T13:38:00.004-04:00

John decided he wanted to play baseball this spring, so we signed him up to play for the Woodlake Warriors. He attended baseball evaluations in February and was the only 7 year old chosen to play Kid Pitch baseball. We were impressed by John's ability to hit, field, and catch with no practice or experience. He definitely gets his athletic ability from his dad (thank God!!).

John is playing mostly at 3rd base because the coach said he's the only one who can stop the ball and get it to 1st. We are so pleased and look for John to have a great baseball season!

Date Night at the Kickers Game:)

2010-04-22T13:12:00.000-04:00

John and I try and go out ALONE at least once a week, but with a busy schedule that doesn't always happen. This week the Mexico Olympic National Team was in town to play the Richmond Kickers and we got a sweet hook-up to go to the game. We had no idea there would be so many supporters of the Mexican team.

Richmond Kickers vs Mexico U-21 National Team 4/21/2010 from Mediapond on Vimeo.

Easter 2010

2010-04-05T12:57:00.000-04:00

We had a wonderful Easter Service at church and then went to my parents house for Easter Lunch and an egghunt. We enjoyed the day and are thankful that our Saviour IS Risen!!

Birthday Weekend

2010-03-25T12:37:00.000-04:00

It is tradition that John takes me somewhere out of town for my birthday and this year he took me to Williamsburg. We had a great time at Colonial Williamsburg, Shopping, and just spending time together. I am so glad that God has allowed me to spend my life with my best friend!

Birthdays!!

2010-02-20T12:08:00.000-05:00

John turned 7 on Feburary 5th and Joylyn turned 8 on February 20th. It seems like just yesterday we were bringing them home from the hospital. We sure do feel blessed to have such good children in our family. We took them to a Japenese Steak House for their birthday dinner:

John Joseph certainly looks like his dad, but I think he has my personality. He is reserved, tender-hearted, unselfish, curious, always thinking, tidy, obedient, and for sure a people pleaser. He loves to ask questions (all of the time), but that is how they learn! He keeps his room clean, does his chores, and even goes the extra mile without being asked. I love to watch him play. He can play with anything anywhere and be happy. He takes correction well, is mannerly, and very loving. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect boy for our family! God sure is good!! I asked John Joseph a few questions and here are his answers:
1-What is your favorite color: green
2-What is your favorite thing to play: baseball
3-What is your favorite thing to do: play video games or baseball
4-Where is your favorite place to go: Busch Gardens
5-Where is your favorite vacation place to go: Disney World
6-What is your favorite food: Chicken nuggets
7-Who is your best friend: Jacob
8-Who is your hero: Dad and Mom
9-What do you want to be when you grow up: Police Officer
10-What is your favorite Bible story: Jesus dying on the cross

I am constantly asking these kinds of questions to make my kids think. I love hearing their answers and getting inside thier minds. As I reflect on the past year of his life, there is so much to thank God for! Thank you, Lord, for good health!! John has no allergies and has been healthy all this year. He mentions aching in his legs sometimes, but we are sure these are growing pains. He has learned to tie his shoes, ride a bicycle without training wheels, skateboard, and play lots of different sports. His favorite right now is baseball. John Joseph entered the Math Hall of Fame in record time and he enjoys and excells at Math. John has learned to read and even though it's not one of his favorite things to do, he does it well. His favorite resource is PE and he loves to play outside. His chocolate habit has calmed down some as we try and encourage healthy snacks. He still gets a Reese's Peanutbutter Cup any chance we offer! John's teacher tells us often that he is very well liked at school by both the boys and girls and everyone wants to be his friend. She says he is kind to everyone and shares whatever he has. Thank you, Lord, for a wonderful little boy whom you have entrusted to us!

Joylyn looks more like me, but she definitely has her dad's personality. She is a social butterfly, outspoken, a leader, intelligent, creative, and has a genuine concern for others. She likes to be in control or in charge (don't we all) and she doesn't mind you knowing it. She struggles with keeping her stuff together (just like Daddy) and has to be reminded daily to clean up after herself. We have been working really hard at keeping her room both clean and organized and putting things back in their proper place. She does well, but just needs some reminding. She is all girl and loves being around other girls of any age. She loves animals and insects (not scary ones) and enjoys taking care of them. She is what some call "high maintenance" as she likes you to play with her. Joylyn is extremely affectionate as she loves to be held. I love to play with her, whether it is with barbies, polly pockets, or making some kind of craft. She is always busy and as with John Joseph, I couldn't have asked for a more perfect girl for our family! God sure is good!! I asked Joylyn the same questions and here are her answers:
1-What is your favorite color: light blue
2-What is your favorite toy to play with: barbies
3-What is your favorite thing to do: play with friends
4-Where is your favorite place to go: Grandma's House
5-Where is your favorite vacation place to go: Disney World
6-What is your favorite food: tacos
7-Who is your best friend: Hazel
8-Who is your hero: Dad and Mom
9-What do you want to be when you grow up: Vet
10-What is your favorite Bible story: Birth of Jesus

As I reflect on the past year of Joylyn's life, there is so much to thank God for! Thank you, Lord, for good health!! Joylyn may have some allergies in the future as she was bothered by the pollen, mold, etc. some this year. Nothing too major though so we will see what this year brings. She loves gymnastics and shows no real desire to play organized sports. We may get her into cheerleading this year if she shows interest. I think she would swim everyday if we had a pool and thanks to some stays in vacation homes, she has become a great swimmer above and below the water. Joylyn has become an excellent reader, reading well above her grade level. She actually loves to read which is a blessing. We go to the library often so she can pick out books to read at night. She is liking the "scary" books right now. Joylyn's teacher has told us (and her) that her writing skills are very advanced and she encourages her to write stories and poetry all of the time. We are still working on her handwriting which has also been much improved. Joylyn loves to sing and she has a beautiful little voice. She has developed some very special friendships and we are so please with her and her ability to adapt. Thank you, Lord, for a wonderful little girl whom you have entrusted to us!

Great Grandma Thomas' 87th Birthday

2010-01-15T12:02:00.000-05:00

Great Grandma Thomas celebrated her 87th birthday with lots of family. We met with cousins, aunts, and uncles to celebrate her birthday!
I love this picture of the four generations!

Christmas Town at Busch Gardens Pictures

2009-12-30T12:01:00.000-05:00

Christmas Town at Busch Gardens

2009-12-29T11:39:00.000-05:00

The day after Christmas we decided to check out Busch Garden's Christmas Town, something new they did this year for the holiday season. Joylyn brought her best friend, Hazel, along for the fun!

Christmas Town: A Christmas Celebration transformed Busch Gardens into a Christmas wonderland with holiday shopping, dining, all-new holiday shows, and a spectacular light-dancing Christmas tree. Some highlights of Christmas Town at Busch Gardens
were strolling through bustling European town squares (England, France, Ireland, Scotland and Germany) complete with carolers set amid traditional greenery, classic red bows, holiday lights and candles glowing in every shop and restaurant window.
*Smelling the aroma of holiday treats and enjoy hearty soups, smoked meats, freshbaked holiday cookies and peppermint hot chocolate.
*Visiting the Abbey Stone Theatre for an all-new Christmas show with moving imagery, choral harmonies, and a full live orchestra.
*Exploring an ice-themed world with dazzling lights, falling snow and an up-close encounter with live penguins at the Royal Palace Theatre.
*Visiting Santa’s workshop at the North Pole to meet St. Nick himself before heading to Oktoberfest to view Virginia’s tallest lighted Christmas tree. This 45-foot LED tree stands taller than Das Festhaus and features computerized lights that dance and change color during special evening light shows.
*Shopping for stocking stuffers and one of- a-kind handmade creations at dozens of unique stores and gift shops
*Enjoying a spectacular lightshow “O Tannenbaum,” featuring a 45-foot, light-animated Christmas tree and be immersed by the dazzling sights and sounds of the booming symphonic score destined to become a Christmas Town tradition.

Christmas 2009

2009-12-27T11:21:00.000-05:00

We had a beautiful WHITE Christmas this year! We enjoyed being with family as always and celebrating the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ! Our family puts on a "recreation" of the Christmas story with little actors and actresses. Joylyn was Mary this year:) Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Cruise-favorite pictures

2009-12-20T19:50:00.000-05:00

Here are some of my favorite pictures from our cruise..........in no particular order!

Joylyn and John in front of our ship: Carnival Valor.

Joylyn and John with a Mariachi Band on a street corner.

John with some guy dressed as Davy Jones (They'll do anything to get customers in the store!)

The one item we search all over for.....

Up close and personal with monkeys in Honduras.

Visiting with some orphans at a Children's Home in Honduras.

Our waiters in the Lincoln Dining Room.......they were AWESOME!

I'm trying to get my scrapbook completed, so will blog the details about our cruise later (maybe)! It sure was an great cruise and it was neat to see Joylyn and John experience third world countries and have a better appreciation for what a great country we live in and how blessed we are!

Pre-Cruise

2009-12-10T11:01:00.000-05:00

We decided to take advantage of some extra days off of work and we headed to Orlando for a few days before our cruise. We went to Sea World and Busch Gardens for some pre-cruise fun! It was exciting to have my parents with us as my dad was visiting Busch Gardens for the first time! We rode some of our favorite rides: Rhino Ralley, Montu, Gwazi, Sheikra, and of course the train that takes you on safari. It was neat to see all of the Christmas decorations, African style, and the extra shows were great. Joylyn and I especially enjoyed the Christmas ice show.

At Sea World we got to enjoy the shows as usual, but we did have a new experience:) It was on the Atlantis ride, which is a roller coaster/water ride. Now usually we get a little splash.......but Joylyn and I decided to ride in the front and we got SOAKED head to toe.

We also went to Downtown Disney and enjoyed the Christmas festivities there. This was another first for my dad. After a few days of fun in Orlando, we headed toward Miami on Saturday..........

Tiger Scouts

2009-11-19T10:16:00.000-05:00

John & Daddy at a Den Meeting (He had just earned some awards)
John, Micah, and Wesley at a Den Hike

Space Derby........John's rocket did pretty well!

Making cards for Veterans

John earning some more awards

John begged us to let him join Boy Scouts and we thought we would give it a try......At the informational meeting, John was asked to be the Den Leader and so....it began! It seems like John has a knack for leading things and he works so well with youth. It has been a joy to watch them bond even more in this new adventure! John was the first boy in his den to earn the Bobcat badge and now he is working toward his Tiger scout badge. Here are some pictures from various activities from the past couple of months.

Halloween 2009

2009-11-01T15:11:00.002-05:00

Just a quick post about halloween this year. Nothing terribly exciting.....We have grown to love church Trunk-or-Treats which are safe and enjoyable options for our kids. Joylyn couldn't decide on what she wanted to be this year and at the last minute wanted to be an angel. We went costume shopping Thursday night and were not able to find something she wanted, so she settled for a hardly worn kitty cat costume we got last year on clearance. John has talked about being a stormtrooper for weeks and so we searched Thursday evening, but couldn't find one in his size. He had a Harry Potter costume from our Harry Potter themed family reunion, so that settled that. Costumes are so expensive and I am thankful we did not spend any money on them this year!!

Howl-O-Scream......not so scary but fun!

2009-10-30T20:01:00.000-04:00

Howl-O-Scream is one of my favorite times to visit Busch Gardens because there is so much to do! John and I love the scare zones and mazes. We have been 6 times in the last month or so and we have become howl-o-scream experts! Here's our take on it....

The first scare zone in the park, The Moors, is between England and Ireland, and is inhabited by large gentlemen in kilts, with wooden shields and swords, prepared to chase you out of Heatherdowns and into Ireland. The second scare zone, Mischief and Mayhem, is located in Jack Hannah’s Wild Reserve, between Ireland and France. It features scareactors in ghillie suits, who jump out of the bushes to startle passers-by. They also added some scary folks walking around this area talking in weird voices. In New France, the Watchers has a scareactor on bungee cords, which let him jump out at people walking by and scare them. A few roving ghouls help to hurry people along towards the bridge to Germany. At the entrance to Octoberfest, the Werewolves scare zone features, what else, werewolves. Harvest Hollow is the scariest advertised scare zone, and it is located after the two mazes in Festhaus Park. It feels like you are walking through the movie Children of the Corn, with scarecrows around every turn. Finally, as you exit Festhaus Park, you encounter Strangers Beware, which gives a final group of scareactors one last chance to scare you before your final escape from the area. The scare zone Spell Bound, along the path from Festa Italia to Pompeii, had witches jumping out from behind curtians held up by the trees.

One of the newest mazes, the Cavern of Darkness, is located in and through the Corkscrew Hill attraction. The maze actually takes you across the ride, through the pre-show area, and out the entry queue. The Catacombs is located below the stage of the Royal Palace Theater in France. This maze had the best set design of all the mazes in the park, with corridors that really made you feel like you were in the sewers under Paris. Scareactors lurk around every corner, and potentially may pop out of any hole that you might see in the walls. We think this one is the scariest, but not worthy of 5 pumpkins. A pair of mazes awaits in Festhaus park, with Bitten coming first, followed by the Hunted. Bitten, as expected, is themed around bloodsucking vampires, while the Hunted is themed around werewolves. Bitten features an interesting element I’ve never seen before – namely, the ending hallway floor covered in sand. This promotes a feeling of fear, since you feel that you can’t run away from the vampires fast enough. The Hunted has another interesting element, consisting of floor boards that tilted as you walked on them. This caused a feeling of insecurity, like trick track on a rollercoaster. As soon as you feel like you have a secure footing, a scareactor is waiting around the next corner to scare your pants off. These two are our favorites and the kids favorites too. Cursed is another new maze, located behind Roman Rapids (not in the queue area as in previous years). This location provides one of the largest areas for any of the mazes, and felt more like three mazes in one, with a number of indoor and outdoor sections. Witches inhabit this maze, cackling and startling maze goers.

And then there's the shows. Jack is Back is little changed from its first appearance at Howl-O-Scream. This is an outdoor singing and dancing show, featuring the famous Jack of the Lantern himself. Jack acts as your emcee through a show of popular dance hits of the 70s and 80s. Scarecrow stilt walkers and pumpkin dancers boogie down to the music and get the crowd involved. The show has a street party vibe and is family friendly. Frankenrock in Da Haus. This is a big departure from previous shows that have been in the Festhaus, with a live band backing Frankenstein and his gang of guys and ghouls. While the show includes seasonal favorites like the Monster Mash, Thriller and Time Warp, it also includes some strange selections from the 90s and early 2000s, like Britney Spears’ “Baby One More Time”, Spice Girls “Wannabe’, Ricky Martin’s “Living la Vida Loca”, and Aqua’s “Barbie Girl”. The cast is strong in singing and dancing, but it’s difficult to perform in the round, as is required by the setup of the stage in the Festhaus. Monster Stomp Revamped is our favorite and it features a large troupe of dancers, singers and percussionists. This is hands-down the best show in the park, as evidenced by the long line outside 45 minutes prior to the show. Both the male and female lead singers were very impressive, belting out difficult rock songs like Heart’s “Barracuda” and Guns and Roses “Welcome to the Jungle”. There are numerous dance numbers, including a really impressive black light skeleton dance, and the best tap-dancing werewolves I’ve ever seen. However, the stars of the show by far are the incredible percussionists. From standard marching-band drums to high tech percussion sets to cleavers and knives on boards, these guys put on one great show.

So, that's our take on Busch Garden's Howl-O-Scream.....not too scary, but lots of fun!

Joylyn: Our Star Student!

2009-10-24T08:27:00.003-04:00

We are so proud of Joylyn, who was chosen as the Star Student for the Second Grade this week! There are over 100 children in Second Grade, so it is quite an honor to be chosen. She was chosen because of her good attitude, respect for others, showing responsibility, being honest, and being responsible. Way to go girl!

Pumpkin Day

2009-10-24T08:18:00.003-04:00

John's first grade class had a special "Pumpkin Day" in which they magically transformed ordinary pumpkins into extraordinary characters. First graders were encouraged to select a character from a favorite story and make their pumpkin come alive! John chose "Lancelot" for his pumpkin. Yes, he's such a famous story book character! We suggested the Cat in the Hat, the Grinch, Arthur, and some other characters...but they were too kiddy for John. So, Lancelot it was! There were some really cute pumpkins!

Henricus Park

2009-09-27T19:36:00.002-04:00

Henricus Historical Park was the second successful English settlement in the New World and it's just around the corner! Actually it's within a couple of miles of where I grew up, but most people don't know what a treasure it is. Did you know that four hundred years ago the opportunity of property ownership by the common man was a unique concept in the world? Did you know that the development of the first English hospital, the chartering of the first college in the New World, the English home of Pocahontas, and the establishment of tobacco as the first cash crop in the New World all occurred at Henricus?

Last Saturday Joylyn and John had a blast going back in time to 1611.... the Godspeed – a reproduction of one of three of the ships that docked in Jamestown four centuries ago made a triumphant return to Henricus and Joylyn and John were excited to step aboard. They have been on it before at Jamestown, but it was special getting on it in Henricus. There was also an Indian village with Arrohattoc warriors; an indentured servant that showed some of the English domestic skills; a cape (tobacco) merchant; workers at Mount Malady, the Henricus hospital that was built by Sir Thomas Dale for new colonists; and demonstrations by an ironsmith, lace makers, and a barber.

Next time you get a chance, check out Henricus Historical Park!!

First day of school

2009-09-04T19:44:00.003-04:00

Well, it's that time of year again and Joylyn and John were excited today....their first day of school. Joylyn is officially a 2nd Grader and she loves her young and pretty teacher, Mrs. Reynolds. John is a 1st Grader and he likes his teacher, Mrs. Barker. Joylyn was excited that her friend, Hazel, is in her class. John made some new friends today, his best friend Jacob is in another class. I guess the exciting thing of the day was that John was put on the wrong bus to go home. During the day each class was given arm bands that indicated the bus that they were riding on. John didn't really pay attention to his because they were putting route numbers instead of bus numbers and he didn't know his route number.....Well, to make a long story short....John ended up on the wrong bus. The bus he was on dropped him off at Hunter's Chase Apartments. Not knowing what to do, John got off the bus and recognized that he was across the street from where we live. So.....he crossed 8 lanes of traffic (yes, Hull Street Road) and got home safely. No panic here!! OMG!! We are so thankful that God kept him safe and that he is a brave little boy! Our first reactions was-Why in the world would you do that? But before we let that come out of our mouths....we thought what would we do if we were a scared little boy on the wrong bus and seemingly so close to home? Lesson learned!

Beach and Eastern Shore Trip

2009-09-04T19:20:00.005-04:00

Since we haven't really taken a vacation this summer, we decided to head to the beach and throw in a trip to the Eastern Shore as well. Joylyn and John love the beach even though it's not John and I's favorite vacation spot. We opted for Virginia Beach and the kids had a blast in the water and in the sand! The great thing was, there was hardly anyone there!

Joylyn and I have been reading Misty of Chincoteague, so we thought heading to the Eastern Shore would be fun too. John and the kids have never been to the Eastern Shore, so I was excited for them to go. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel is an amazing sight without going to land! I watched "Modern Marvels" about a year ago on the history behind the building of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel and it is just amazing! It was amazing to see how close to the ceiling of the tunnel the trucks were....scary! We stayed at a beautiful campground called Cherrystone in a "glorified tent," which was basically a one-room cabin. No bathroom, no chairs....just a place to sleep. The campground had 4 pools, mini-golf, paddleboats, fishing pears, and lots of activities. It was probably the nicest campground I've been to. During our stay, we went to Chincoteage and Assateague Islands to see the ponies. We finished our book (Misty of Chincoteague) before we got there! Joylyn was so excited when we saw the wild ponies and she pointed out what she thought was Misty and Phantom! Too cool!

We also went to Antique shops and just explored the area. In John's words......"Not much to do here!" Sometimes it is nice to sit back and enjoy God's creation and not feel like you have to rush off to an amusement park or museum. (I can't convince John of that though!) We had talked about taking a boat tour/dolphin sighting tour while we were there, but they are just too expensive. On our way home, crossing the bridge....John spotted about 6 or so dolphins jumping out of the water as if they were saying goodbye to us...and that was free! God is good!

Family Reunion-Quick Review

2009-08-19T21:06:00.000-04:00

Little Harry Potters

Our attempts at wands...Daddy's, Mommy's, Joylyn's, and John's.

The cake, made by my very talented Aunt Betty!

The Thomas Family Reunion is something we always look forward to and the 2 1/2 day gathering always seems to fly by. Since I have 23 first cousins and we are all grown and having children of our own (there are 40 great grandchildren as of now)...it is always a blast catching up and seeing little ones grow! The theme this year was "Harry Potter" and it was fun playing games, making crafts, and celebrating Harry's birthday.....Thomas style. Joylyn really enjoyed making a wand. John enjoyed playing the water balloon (dragon egg) game and broomstick race. I enjoyed catching up with my many wonderful cousins and seeing Joylyn and John make friends with their family! It was also nice being with Grandma Thomas as she is 85 and getting slower and slower it seems. We pray that she will make it to many more family reunions!

Softball Season is officially over!

2009-08-17T21:04:00.000-04:00

Well, tonight officially ended Softball Season! John has really enjoyed playing ball again and fellowshiping with his teammates. John played short stop all year and made some amazing plays. He also hit well with at least a homerun a night and sometimes several. He added leadership and experience to the team and it was a blast to watch. They came in third place for the season and second place in the tournament. Until next year....

God is sooooooooooo GOOD!

2009-08-09T20:16:00.002-04:00

WOW! Time sure does fly and all I have to say is, "God is soooooooo GOOD!" It was one year ago today that life as we knew it was literally turned upside down. We lost everything that we thought was important to us and still today do not know why this happened. In just a matter of hours-we lost our jobs, our friends, our family, our trust, our respect, and everything we were passionate about. It still hurts to even think about the friendships that we lost and the people who were lied to. We have asked ourselves time after time, why did this happen to us? The only answer we can come up with is that God has something special planned for us and he is preparing us for that. We will probably never fully recover, but God's grace is sufficient and we know that God allows everything to happen for a reason.

Life goes on and John, Joylyn, John Joseph, and I are happier and closer to God than ever! Just today in church, we were reminded about the reality of both Heaven and Hell and how important it is for us to reach all the lost that we can. It's not about how often you go to church or how often you witness to others....we should be in constant fellowship with God and always presenting ourselves that we might lead others to Christ.

For those who have stood by us this past year, we thank you. True friends and even family memebers are hard to find! I know God has something great planned for us and I no longer want to feel hurt and betrayed.....I am excited about what God is doing in our lives!
God is sooooooooooooo GOOD!

2009-07-16T19:37:00.001-04:00

Always something new and exciting: A quick trip to DC

2009-07-16T19:36:00.001-04:00

We always seem to find something new and exciting on our trips to Washington D.C.! I love just being in DC and could drive around all day and be happy. John goes for the food (hahaha) but seriously, he enjoys the museums. On our most recent trip, we stayed in Old Towne Alexandria (which we had never done before) and explored this little place. There are shops, resturants, parks, and areas by the river. It was beautiful! We also did several things in DC that we had never done before, one of which was going to Ford's Theater. Joylyn and John Joseph were entrigued and we learned so much about one of our greatest presidents, Abraham Lincoln. We also visited the Peterson Boarding House where Lincoln died. We kept saying, I can't beleive we've never done this before! For many years now, we stop by the old post office building and eat lunch and stop by the shops....but yet another first for us this time, we went up to the top of the building where there is an observatory area. I venture to say this may be better than the long lines and ticket games for the Washington Monument. As always the Metro was one of the kids favorite things and we enjoyed the Natural History Museum and the American History Museum. We had fun searching for the exhibits that were featured in the new Night at the Museum movie too! What a blast!

John and his "mini me!"

2009-07-16T19:07:00.003-04:00

It doesn't take but a second or two to see that John Joseph is the miniature version of John, but their personalities are totally different. I am so thankful that John Joseph is all boy though and he definitely has his father's athletic ability (thank goodness)!! Here are a couple of pictures of them at the driving range.

2009-07-05T20:06:00.001-04:00

Happy Birthday USA!!

2009-07-04T19:11:00.001-04:00

I sure do love our country and count it a blessing to have been born in the land of the free. Freedom -- a single overused word that binds us as a nation. A word used in many different forms, a word that means something different to every person who can speak, read or hear it. A word so many shout at the top of their collective voices -- about its importance, our right to it, our due as Americans, or simply put -- ours. A single word that is so important to what makes America, well ... America. A word found in our Constitution allowing me to say what I want, wear what I want, watch or listen to whatever I want, smile, frown or shout out loud when I want, and entertain whatever religion I want -- even when my fellow Americans don't agree. Freedom is choice -- my choice, either good or bad. My choice to tell you why I love America. And, one word says it all: freedom.

Thank you to all of our military who allow us to have freedom in the greatest country in the world! Happy Birthday USA!!!

We went to the Brandermill 4th of July Parade for the first time this year and then went to Sunday Park for fireworks!

John's first tooth! Finally!

2009-06-13T13:18:00.002-04:00

John has been waiting and waiting and waiting to lose his first tooth. Since Joylyn lost her first tooth a couple of months before turning 6, John expected to do the same. When he turned 6 in February, he was sorely disappointed that he didn't even have a "wiggler" as we call them. Well, the time has come! John finally lost his first tooth last night and he has another "wiggler" that will soon be out too!

Shawn & Melissa's wedding

2009-05-11T16:01:00.000-04:00

John's cousin, Shawn, got married Saturday. John was one of the groomsmen, John Joseph was the ringbearer, and Joylyn was a flower girl.....hey, why am I the only one not in the wedding? That's okay, I certainly don't mind sitting back and watching! Joylyn had quite a task as she had to get her cousin, Lauren, to walk down the aisle with her. (Keep in mind that Lauren is not yet 3!)
It turned out to be a beautiful outside wedding even with strong storms and hail predicted. The setting was on the James River, actually on the property of the Grubbs (related to deceased racecar driver,Kevin Grubb....I think their dads are cousins).

A trip to the Zoo

2009-05-07T15:36:00.006-04:00

John's class took a trip to the Richmond Metro Zoo yesterday. Even though the day started out with rain (thus the wet hair!) it turned out to be a great day.

All wet!

I'm not a big fan of camels because they just look so mean and I always think they are going to spit on me. This one is trying to eat his way out of the zoo!

This peacock was just wondering around and decided to pose for me!

Giraffes-my favorite.

The group that I chaperoned around the zoo! I love this one!

Quick Canal Walk

2009-05-05T15:21:00.003-04:00

With the weather so nice, we decided to check out the Canal Walk.

It's funny that John and I were born and raised in the Richmond area and yet we very rarely "explore" all that Richmond has. Here's what I learned:
The Canal Walk is actually the James River and Kanawha Canal and it was built to facilitate shipments of passengers and freight by water between the western counties of Virginia and the coast. Personally surveyed and planned by George Washington himself, the canal construction was begun in 1785.

In March of 1865, the Army of Northern Virginia was entrenched at Petersburg in a desperate attempt to stop Union advances. By April 2nd, however, their lines were breached and General Lee sent messages to Jefferson Davis in Richmond that the city would have to be abandoned. Davis was attending the Sunday morning service at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church when word arrived that Richmond must be abandoned. Leaving the service, Davis returned to his executive mansion as the Confederate bureaucracy began to burn documents. Soon the city would be engulfed in flames!
At the Canal Walk-we found the entrance (as in the picture) that commemorates the burning of Richmond in April 1865. There were quotes along the bridge and John and I picked our our favorites.

Soccer Clinic with the Richmond Kickers

2009-05-02T15:02:00.001-04:00

John participated in a soccer clinic at University of Richmond Stadium with the Richmond Kickers on Saturday. He had fun meeting some "real" soccer players. After the clinic we watched the Kickers game.

Soccer Update

2009-04-25T12:24:00.004-04:00

John is really having a blast playing soccer this season. He has really improved and shows great coordination. He is definitely taking after his dad. He plays awesome offense and dribbles the ball well. He scored six goals today. He also shows good deffensive skills and is able to outrun opponents and get in front of the ball to guard against the opposing team scoring goals!

2009-04-19T15:17:00.001-04:00

The Thai Room

2009-04-18T06:53:00.000-04:00

Okay-If you know me, you know that I'm not much on trying new foods. I know what I like and I stick to that! Well my sister is really into Thai food and she convinced us to try it....so we went to the Thai Room. I forgot to take a picture of my food and I have no idea what I ordered. I read the descriptions on the menu....but really didn't see anything that I KNEW I would like. I told the waitress (who was from Thailand and spoke very little English) that I wanted vegetables like brocolli, onions, and mushrooms with chicken and not spicy. She said okay...we can do something like that. I wasn't sure what they were going to bring out...but my food was pretty good. John ordered Pad Thai, which according to my sister is very basic. Well you can see from the picture that is is mostly noodles with this orange sauce on it. John said it smelled like barf! He could barely eat it. He put some peanuts and bean sprouts on it, which made it edible. Needless to say.....we probably won't be eating Thai again! Oh well!

2009-04-12T22:25:00.000-04:00

Easter Pictures

2009-04-12T18:48:00.002-04:00

I love Easter....It is one of my favorite holidays to celebrate! Now that we have children, it is so fun to share the story of our risen Saviour with them. Saturday night we sat down and all colored some eggs. We put funny faces on them and had fun mixing different colors. Sunday morning at church, John's class put flowers on a cross and Joylyn's class made a stepping stone. We were reminded the Jesus is Alive and that we can begin anew! After church we went to my parents house for a nice Easter lunch and an egg hunt. Praise the Lord for a Saviour who lives!

2009-04-06T22:09:00.000-04:00

John's first Soccer Game

2009-04-05T18:21:00.001-04:00

Okay, so I am a little behind on posting.....but wanted to share a few pictures from John's first soccer game. He is the best player on the team-hands down and is really starting to show some athletic ability. He gets ALL of that from his dad-thank the Lord! We asked John before the game how many goals he thought he would score and he said 4. We thought that was a little ambitious of him.....but that's exactly what he scored. He is both good at defense and offense and really loves playing. He wants to play baseball next, followed by basketball in the Fall! John took him to the batting cage for the first time ever last week and he said he couldn't believe how good his reflexes are! I will post some video of that later. Thank the Lord for an athletic boy!

Salt Shaker minus a thumb!

2009-04-03T20:36:00.001-04:00

John and I were a part of our church's "Salt Shaker," which is when 3 couples meet at 4th couple's house for dinner. Each couple brings something and we were asked to bring a vegetable....so we made mashed potatoes and gravy. John is the all-time best mashed potato maker because he always gets them tasting so good! Well, we had just bought a new knife (like the ones you see Rachel Ray or Emeril use) and to say it was sharp is an understatement! Well-long story short...John cut the tip of his thumb off while cutting the potatoes with our new very sharp knife! Yikes! The bad part was that we couldn't get it to stop bleeding. We had all of this gauze on it and it looked so silly. We still made it to the dinner and he was the talk of the night. No more knives for him!

2009-03-31T21:58:00.000-04:00

Busch Gardens with Jack Hanna

2009-03-31T20:23:00.000-04:00

Jach Hanna was at Busch Gardens for opening day this year and we were excited to be able to go and see him. Of course we were in the AbbeyStone Theater and the lighting was really bad. Joylyn loved the baby kangaroo they brought out. There were lots of people in the park, but we were still able to make it around the whole park and ride everything we liked!

Quick Birthday Getaway

2009-03-25T21:22:00.006-04:00

To say I was excited to spend my birthday with my best friend would be a huge understatement! This is the first time in at least 8 years John has been able to celebrate my birthday with me! We decided to go away for the weekend and made our "escape" on my birthday, Friday. We didn't want to go too far, so we decided to try Virginia Beach since we haven't ever been there together. We sure did have a blast! We walked the boardwalk and went in some shops. We went to Fort Story where there are 2 very old lighthouses. Actually the uglier colorless one was the first official public works project of the United States Government. We also noticed that the city had beautifully painted dolphins all over the place. It became a game to us to find more and more. We got a couples massage and ate at a nice resturant. We found a little theater and went to see "Zombie Prom." It was a little chilly, but that made it all the more fun. Thank you, John, for making me feel so special on my birthday and always!!

2009-03-25T20:46:00.000-04:00

Winter Wonderland in March!

2009-03-02T18:53:00.006-05:00

Yeah!! Finally a beautiful snow has come and the kids are loving it! We always seem to miss the snow "line" and end up with a dusting or just rain......Well, not this time. God really poured it on yesterday and we now have a WINTER WONDERLAND to enjoy! Joylyn kept saying over and over, "Mommy, it's so beautiful." She described the snow as a "feathery soft powder." John Joseph described the snow as "creamy." Well, okay.....how ever you describe it....I am so glad we finally got some good snow that you can play in and also looks beautiful!

We ventured downtown today and the state Capital building looked beautiful too! People were sledding down the sides....wish we would have thought of that. We hope to enjoy it while we can as we may not get another of these for several years!
Here are some pictures I took in black in white! I just love the contrast!

2009-03-01T12:58:00.001-05:00

John's Birthday at Chuck E. Cheese

2009-03-01T12:25:00.003-05:00

John wanted a Chuck E. Cheese birthday party again this year...but he wanted a Star Wars theme. So we compromised and had a Star Wars party at Chuck E. Cheese. John and I attempted to make a R2-D2 birthday cake. We didn't tell John Joseph and he was so surprised to see his "special" cake. His favorite games are the fireman game and the one where you put this helmet thing on. He had a blast as usual!

2009-02-22T16:21:00.001-05:00

All about Joylyn!

2009-02-22T07:56:00.003-05:00

I can't believe that our little girl is 7!! It seems like it was just yesterday when we brought her home from the hospital. Where does the time go? We are likewise blessed to have such a wonderful little girl in our family. Joylyn looks more like me, but she definitely has her dad's personality. She is a social butterfly, outspoken, a leader, intelligent, creative, and has a genuine concern for others. She likes to be in control or in charge (don't we all) and she doesn't mind you knowing it. She struggles with keeping her stuff together (just like Daddy) and has to be reminded daily to clean up after herself. She is all girl and loves being around other girls of any age. She loves animals and insects (not scary ones) and enjoys taking care of them. She is what some call "high maintenance" as she likes you to play with her. Joylyn is extremely affectionate as she loves to be held. I love to play with her, whether it is with baby dolls or making some kind of craft. She is always busy and as with John Joseph, I couldn't have asked for a more perfect girl for our family! God sure is good!! I asked Joylyn the same questions and here are her answers:
1-What is your favorite color: light blue
2-What is your favorite toy to play with: trampoline
3-What is your favorite thing to do: swim
4-Where is your favorite place to go: home
5-Where is your favorite vacation place to go: Disney World
6-What is your favorite food: pizza
7-Who is your best friend: Hazel
8-Who is your hero: Mom
9-What do you want to be when you grow up: Vet
10-What is your favorite Bible story: Birth of Jesus

As I reflect on the past year of Joylyn's life, there is so much to thank God for! We convinced her to play soccer with her brother last spring and we were so proud of her efforts. I think she would swim everyday if we had a pool and thanks to some stays in vacation homes, she has become a great swimmer above and below the water. She has been reading for over a year now, but her reading has really improved the last few months. She now enjoys reading chapter books and is among the best readers in her class. We are still working on her handwriting which has also been much improved. Joylyn loves to sing and she has a beautiful little voice. She has developed some very special friendships and we are so please with her and her ability to adapt. Thank you, Lord, for a wonderful little girl whom you have entrusted to us!

Happy 7th Birthday-Joylyn!!

2009-02-20T07:52:00.003-05:00

I can't believe it!! Our precious little girl is 7!!! For two weeks John Joseph has been beaming because he and his sister have been the same age. Well, that didn't last long....Joylyn is back on top as the oldest. Joylyn has changed quite a bit in just one year. She is quickly becoming a little woman! She loves to sing and dance, but her favorite thing to do is create. She is our little craft girl and almost everyday she makes something new. Thankfully I have tons of supplies to keep her busy. Where does the time go??? John Joseph has been so excited about finally turning 6.
We asked Joylyn what she wanted for her birthday and the only thing she could think of was a princess tv for her room. Um, NO! Joyyn doesn't really watch much tv, maybe an hour a day tops. But I have always been a stickler about the kids not having tvs in their rooms, and I'm not giving in. Joylyn was okay with my answer, but she couldn’t think of anything else. WOW! God is so good because I found an adorable junior sewing machine at Once Upon a Child for just a few dollars. Joylyn was thrilled and I can't wait to set her up right beside my sewing machine. I guess that means we will be in the sewing mode for a while! I will have to post our "creations" as I am definitely not a sewer! I have made a few things that didn't turn out too bad, but sewing is not my thing, for sure! Happy Birthday, my girl!

2009-02-07T18:27:00.001-05:00

All about John

2009-02-07T17:30:00.000-05:00

I was looking through some pictures taken over the past year and came across some favorites that I have posted below. I can't believe that John Joseph is 6! It seems like just yesterday we were bringing him home from the hospital. We sure do feel blessed to have such a good little boy in our family. John Joseph certainly looks like his dad, but I think he has my personality. He is reserved, tender-hearted, unselfish, curious, always thinking, tidy, obedient, and for sure a people pleaser. He loves to ask questions (all of the time), but that is how they learn! He keeps his room clean, does his chores, and even goes the extra mile without being asked. I love to watch him play. He can play with anything anywhere and be happy. He takes correction well, is mannerly, and very loving. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect boy for our family! God sure is good!! I asked John Joseph a few questions and here are his answers:
1-What is your favorite color: green
2-What is your favorite toy to play with: Star Wars figures
3-What is your favorite thing to do: play video games or swim
4-Where is your favorite place to go: Chuck E. Cheese
5-Where is your favorite vacation place to go: Disney World
6-What is your favorite food: Chicken sandwich
7-Who is your best friend: Jason and Jacob
8-Who is your hero: Daddy
9-What do you want to be when you grow up: Soldier
10-What is your favorite Bible story: Joshua and the battle of Jerico

I am constantly asking these kinds of questions to make my kids think. I love hearing their answers and getting inside thier minds. As I reflect on the past year of his life, there is so much to thank God for! Thank you, Lord, for good health!! The last time John Joseph went to the doctor was for his 5 year check-up. He is learning to brush his teeth properly and he even does his own hair now. John Joseph tested at 94% in his class and his teacher said that as long as she has been there (this is her 5th year teaching at the school) they have never had any student test higher than 70% and this year, the highest percent was 58%.....and then there was John Joseph. He came in knowing all of his letters, all of the sounds they make (including the three sounds that A makes and the other vowels), his blends, and even reading some. In other subjects, well, he just knew it all. He is proving to be one smart cookie and he is always looking forward to learning something new. He loves motorcycles, three wheelers, and tractors. Whenever we go to Home Depot or Lowes, he "rides" the lawn tractors. One of his favorite things to do now is to go by the Honda store and "ride" the four wheelers and motorcycles. He is also our chocohalic as he absolutely loves chocolate. Chocolate milk and chocolate candy are his favorites. We call him the "chocolate monster" of our family. Swimming is his new thing. We have never let our kids swim in public, so the only places they have ever gotten to swim is when we go to Florida and rent a house that has a pool. Well, I must say....John has no fear of the water and is our little "fish." A few weeks ago, we joined a gym that has a pool and John Joseph is all over the place. I can't believe how well he swims for only being in a pool 2 or 3 times his entire life. Thank you, Lord, for a wonderful little boy whom you have entrusted to us!

Birthday Dinner

2009-02-06T17:19:00.002-05:00

John Joseph chose to go to El Paso to celebrate his birthday. No, he's not big on tacos or burritos...he ordered his usual...chicken nuggets and fries. He's not really big at wanting lots of attention, but he really enjoyed the waitstaff's attempt at Happy Birthday (with the strong Spanish undertones) and the wearing of the sombrero! Happy Birthday-our little amigo!

Happy 6th Birthday, John Joseph!!

2009-02-05T08:00:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it!! Our baby boy is 6!!! Where does the time go??? John Joseph has been so excited about finally turning 6. For the next 15 days he is the same age as his sister….and believe me, he’s not going let her forget that. I can’t believe how much he has changed in just one year. He has really matured and plays with toys less and less and does things that older boys do more and more. He loves to be outside, even in the cold weather. He loves to play basketball, baseball, and soccer. He loves jumping on the trampoline and riding his bike or scooter.
We asked John Joseph what he wanted for his birthday and he couldn’t think of one thing. Now that is an odd thing today, but we considered it a blessing that he was a satisfied little boy. We have been looking for a junior set of golf clubs for a couple of months now for him as he loves being at the driving range or on the golf course with his dad. He has a putter (which is way too small for him) and he likes to “practice” in the house with his dad. They make up all kinds of silly games putting down the hallway, into things, etc. God always has perfect timing as we found a like new set of junior golf clubs at Play It Again Sports just yesterday. God is so good. John was so surprised when he opened his present.

The BIG Haircut

2009-01-02T11:45:00.000-05:00

Well, we finally did it! John and I have been trying to convince Joylyn to get her hair cut for a couple of years now and she has insisted on growing it to her feet. Joylyn has beautiful hair, but she (and I) are in tears almost everyday getting tangles and knots out of it. We had a really bad day with her hair last week and she gave in and said, "Mommy, I'm ready to get my hair cut." Even though it's not terribly drastic, it was a BIG haircut for Joylyn. Actually, this was her first real haircut as she usually just gets things trimmed up. The hair stylist said that a lot of the problem was that she still had some baby hair and cutting it would make it healthier and stronger. So.....here are some pictures of the BIG haircut!

Not so Tacky Light Tour

2008-12-30T07:52:00.001-05:00

I love looking at the Christmas lights and we started a family tradition of going out and looking at the lights on Christmas night. Sometimes we just drive around, but usually I compile a list of houses from the "Tacky Light Tour" and we make our rounds. Last year we also drove through the lights in Newport News Park and that was really neat. We also found a house last year that had an awesome light diplay that coordinated with music. That was our first stop this year and I took some video of it. The pictures aren't too great...but these are some of my favorites!

Christmas Day 2008

2008-12-25T18:21:00.007-05:00

James and Lilly got us all slippers. John and I got his and her reindeer!
Too cute!

As a child, I can remember waking up at 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning to see what Santa had brought me and trying to get my parents to wake up so we could open everything. My sister is 7 years younger than me and my brother 8 years younger.....so Christmas was always a fun time. Every Christmas morning around 4:00am (yes 4:00am) we would head out to my Grandma Williams' house for a big breakfast. Both my aunt and uncle are Chesterfield County Police Officers and my Grandma had a Christmas tradition of making breakfast for the officers working that day. They dropped by all day long and it was neat to have the police as a part of our Christmas tradition. We would usually return home around lunch time and finish opening our presents. Grandma Williams passed away in 2001, just before Joylyn was born. As in most cases, when the matriarch passes away things are never the same. For a few years we still had the early morning breakfast tradition...but it was different. Around the time when Joylyn and John Joseph were 2 and 3, we started a new tradition at our Grandma Williams' house (my mom and the only person who could possibly be our Grandma Williams-because my dad has all sisters). My mom fixes a big lunch/dinner and my aunts and uncles stop by and it's just a big family gathering. We all catch up on what's going on in life and hear lots of neat stories from my Uncle Matt (who is a police officer) and my Aunt Judy (who is now with the forensic unit--CSI, I call her). Joylyn and John Joseph are the only grandkids my parents have...so of course they get spoiled.

Christmas Eve with the Warriners

2008-12-24T23:16:00.002-05:00

John's family always gets together on Christmas Eve, usually at his Uncle Joe's house...which is where we met this year. It is probably the only time all year we get to see all of the Warriners together (we are usually out of town for Thanksgiving). John has 3 aunts and uncles and 7 cousins. Quite a small family when you compare it to my family. Of the 7 cousins, there are only 6 children....so Christmas Eve is mainly focused around them! The youngest, Lauren, is now old enough to enjoy presents and the commotion involved in it all. Joylyn enjoys being with Kaitlyn and Alexa and John Joseph chases them around. It was nice to see all of the Warriners with very little incident:)

First Christmas Pageant

2008-12-24T18:13:00.005-05:00

Joylyn and John Joseph partipated in their first official Christmas pageant on Christmas Eve at Church. When I think of Christmas pageants, I always think of the book (and now play), "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever." It was one of my favorite books in elementary school and I just get tickled thinking about it! Joylyn was a beautiful angel and John Joseph was a shepherd. I just loved how the Christmas story was presented. Afterward, we had a birthday party for Jesus! What a great way to celebrate Christmas Eve!!

Elf Yourself

2008-12-22T23:48:00.001-05:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

A trip to The Jefferson

2008-12-22T21:05:00.006-05:00

Okay, I've heard a lot about The Jefferson, but no one can quite describe what a beautiful place it is. My boss at work took our unit out to lunch today at The Jefferson and all I can say is WOW!!

The Jefferson Hotel is a one of only 27 hotels rated with five stars. We ate in the Lemaire, which is named after Etienne Lemaire who served as Maitre d' of the hotel to Thomas Jefferson from 1794 through the end of his presidency. Lewis Ginter (yes, the garden guy) built the hotel in 1892 and first opened it in 1895. It was designed by the same architecture firm that designed the New York Public Library, Carrère and Hastings. It burned in 1901 and was restored and reopened in 1907.

Patrons have included presidents, writers, The Rolling Stones and Elvis Presley. For many decades, the hotel was the home of Historic Garden Week.In his autobiography, "The Moon's A Balloon". Academy award winning actor David Niven described how he was on a trip from New York to Florida in the late 1930s when he decided to spend the night at the Jefferson hotel. Niven stated that as he was signing the guest registry, his eyes snapped open with amazement when he noticed a full sized alligator swimming in a small pool located six feet from the reception desk. Alligators at The Jefferson would become world famous, and the last alligator living in the marble pools of the Jefferson's Palm Court, named Old Pompey, remained there until he died in 1948.

Local urban legend has it that tap dancer Bill "Bojangles" Robinson was discovered while working as a bellhop at the hotel. Another urban legend states that the Grand Staircase in the lobby was featured in the classic movie Gone with the Wind. According to the concierge, the author of the novel, Margaret Mitchell, stayed at the Jefferson during the time she was writing the book, and thus the description and portrayal of the staircase in her novel is said to be inspired by the one in the hotel.

Nevertheless, it was absolutely gorgeous! If you've never been, you have to check it out!

Great Grandma Thomas turns 85!

2008-12-21T20:53:00.000-05:00

WOW!! I can't believe my Grandma turned 85 and I am so glad we have been able to be close to her over the past years. We celebrated Grandma's birthday with lots of family! My Grandma is the only living Grandparent I have and you realize as you get older just how important that is. Grandma is my mom's mother and there are 23 grandchildren (my cousins) and 39 greatgrandchildren (with a couple more on the way......I'm sure!) It is always fun to get together with family and now Joylyn and John Joseph are old enough to enjoy their .....2nd cousins (I guess that's what they would be!) Anyway, we had a great time with Great Grandma!!

Chuck E Cheese time!!

2008-12-14T20:38:00.000-05:00

John Joseph was invited to a birthday party for a friend and so we made it a family event. I love Chuck E. Cheese!! We haven't been there in about 6 months and we were excited to see some new games there. John loves the safari game where you are in a jeep and you have to catch all of these wild animals with a rope. A little too complicated for me! John Joseph likes the helicopter simulator and his new favorite was the firemen game. It's pretty cool...you are a fireman with a hose and you "spray" water on the fire. Joylyn's favorite game is the spider stomp and I love the bumblebee game. We had a great time! I took a picture of the birthday boy's cake because I think it's the best homemade cake I have seen in a while!!

Nanny McPhee

2008-11-30T20:19:00.000-05:00

We have been calling Joylyn, "Nanny McPhee" because she has had this tooth just dangling and when she smiles sometimes....her lips are closed and you can still see the tooth. Well, finally the "Nanny McPhee" tooth had enough and decided to come out. Quickly followed by another tooth (on the bottom) less than 48 hours latter. Now her new nickname is "Toothless Wonder."

Disney on Ice: Worlds of Fantasy

2008-11-18T22:23:00.001-05:00

We have taken Joylyn to Disney on Ice every year since she was 1 year old. Thanks to Grandma.....we were able to go this year. I didn't realize there were so many different versions of Disney on Ice...... I think there are about 10 shows touring the US right now. This year's new show was called "Worlds of Fantasy." Joylyn was excited to see The Little Mermaid and Tinker Bell portions and John Joseph was glad to see the characters from Cars and The Lion King.

We haven't seen the new Tinker Bell movie....so us girls really enjoyed the story. Disney always does everything right.....and the ice shows are no different. The costumes are phenomenal and I enjoy just taking it all in.

2008-11-18T20:45:00.000-05:00

Meet "Cookie Dough"

2008-11-14T06:57:00.000-05:00

Joylyn has been wanting a hamster for some time now, but John and I were not quite ready for another pet. We told Joylyn that she would have to save up her money for EVERYTHING the hamster would need and then she could get one. Well, she sold tons of toys at two yard sales whe had in August and we couldn't believe it when she counted her money and it totaled $42.00!

So.......it was time to get a hamster. We looked for days at all of the pet shops and she finally picked one out. Her name is Cookie Dough and she has provided us lots of entertainment recently. Welcome to our family little furball.....I mean Cookie Dough!

Dinner at The Nile Ethiopian Resturant

2008-11-13T22:22:00.003-05:00

Several weeks ago, I got in touch with an old high school friend via facebook. Pam and I have been friends since Chester Middle School and we were pretty much in all of the same classes until we graduated. It was so nice to get back in touch with her. Long story....short....I found out that Pam and another of my close friends, Julie, along with other high school friends Jedina and Janean...get together every few months and go out to eat. It was decided that we would meet at The Nile Ethiopian Resturant. Well, I must say...we had a blast. It was so good to see my old friends and amazing how after not seeing each other since the summer of 1994 our friendship was still there. We are all married now, which I must admit seemed a little weird. My friend Julie has been married a couple of years and is expecting her first child in a few weeks. My friend Pam just got married this year and has no children. My friend Jedina has been married several years and they have no children and my friend Janean has been married several years and has a little boy and is expecting twins in the spring. I think we were at the resturant over 3 hours and both John and I didn't want to leave. We had a really great time with everyone. Now the food.....it was interesting. No utensils and the meal was served on bread that resembled a very thin wet pancake. The food came in piles and looked like pureed vegetables. Neither John or I could eat the bread...it was nasty and for John not to eat something, you know it is bad. The piles of food were not edible to me, but John tried to eat them. Then there were the meats. I tried to eat the chicken, but again...pretty yuck. We really enjoyed the experience and it was worth it to be with my friends.....but I must say....we would NEVER eat there again!

Has it really been almost a month since my last post???

2008-11-12T21:46:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it has been almost a month since my last post......well, maybe I can. We have been so busy that I hardly get a chance to even check my email these days. With her 85th birthday around the corner, I realize that she is in her last days. I hope and pray that God gives her at least 10 more years that I may glean some of her wisdom. She is such a joy to be with.
This is nothing new....but I must say that my husband, John, is the most amazing person I have ever known and I am blessed that I get to spend my life with him. He is Godly, wise, kind, loving, humorous, compassionate....and best of all he's mine! I have seen him in good days and in bad days and he continues to amaze me. We have been together all of our adult life, over 15 years now and we wouldn't change a minute of it. We are trying to come up with something unique to do for our 12th wedding anniversary. Anyone got any ideas? We have been to a secluded cabin in the mountains, beaches, big cities, on cruises. Hey..we haven't been to Vegas yet! (just kidding)
Joylyn has matured so much in just the past few weeks. She is a wonderful little girl with a huge heart. We finally have new flooring in her room and after re-arranging her furniture....it feels like a new room. She lost another tooth about 2 weeks ago and if her other "wiggler" comes out she will be wishing for her two front teeth for Christmas. She has been trying to grow her bangs out and we are about half way there.
John Joseph has really been enjoying school. He has been reading "easy" books since about May, but he is really coming along now. He enjoys all subject and retains what he learns. He was tested a few weeks ago and scored extremely high. I was told that out of 152 kids tested he scored the highest (a 92) and the closest score to his was a 48. I am trying to think what John Joseph has been "into" lately, but he mostly has been playing with matchbox cars. He has about 75 of them between our house and Grandma's.
Well that's a quick update. While writing this post I thought of a couple more things I will make into separate posts. I must remind myself of the verses in Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3. In a nutshell, there is a time for everything! I'm so glad that God is in control and has perfect timing. Until next time....

Outdoor World a must see!

2008-10-20T21:26:00.003-04:00

John has been wanting to check out the new Outdoor World in Ashland for sometime now and last week we finally made it out there. All I can say is WOW!!

The store is over 150,000-square-foot and while this is definitely a man's paradise, we quite enjoyed it too! The store has hunting, fishing, camping, etc...but also is part museum, art gallery, antique store, aquarium, education, conservation and entertainment center. The entire store is a tribute to the vast diversity of the Virginia landscape, its history and the culture of its people and, like other Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World stores, takes on the flavor and atmosphere of the region in which it is located. I was told that there are over 3,500 area artifacts, antiques, pictures, mounts and memorabilia, and the store is considered a living museum of Virginia's hunting, fishing, camping and other outdoor legacies. It is unbelievable!!

THere are hand-painted murals that show areas in Virginia from the Appalachian Trail and the Blue Ridge Parkway, to the James and Chickahominy Rivers to the Shenandoah Valley and Chesapeake shores. Smoky-blue mountains, lush forests, pristine beaches and old mills and tobacco barns are all found throughout the store. Bear, deer, mountain lion and other wildlife are throughout the store as well as a 24,000 gallon fresh water aquarium.

On the second floor there is a natural bridge that connects the camping section to the hunting section and it is surrounded by a cave structure. From the bridge you can see the beautiful waterfall and the pondlike structure in front of the two elevators. There is also an aquarium stocked with more than 400 fish native to our area. There is a huge catfish that we watched for quite a while. There is a home furnishings section with...of all things, camoflage recliners and sofas!! There is a General Store and a Fudge Shop. A NASCAR area with driving simulators. There is an arcade that is themed as a Virginia tobacco field and an old cabin. There are rustic wood floors, antique pine wall finishes, and vaulted post and beam construction ceiling which make up the front lobby which resembles one of Virginia's old mills. A fire crackles in the large stone fireplace and the store also has a resturant that is surronded by a 12000 gallon saltwater aquarium.

Did I say WOW? This a great place to go one evening and just enjoy. We all had a blast and we couldn't believe we had been there for several hours! We didn't spend a penny and had great family fun! Outdoor World is a must see!

Pumpkin' Patch

2008-10-12T08:20:00.003-04:00

We decided to go the the Wathall Berry Farm this year for pumpkins instead of the Chesterfield Berry Farm. The Chesterfield Berry Farm has gotten so expensive as they now charge just to take the hay ride out to the pumpkin patch. There are a lot of activities for the kids....but we were trying to be a little thrifty. The Wathall Berry Farm it was. On our way, we discussed what kind of pumpkin each of us was looking for. John Joseph wanted a small, round, smooth pumpkin. Joylyn wanted a "smallish-medium" (her words), orange, smooth, pumpkin. John wanted a pumpkin he could carve a design on and I wanted a decent sized more oval shaped pumpkin with a stem. The stem is so important to me! A pumpkin just doesn't look whole without the stem.

Wow! The Wathall Berry Farm sure has changed since the last time we were there...which was probably about 8 years ago to pick strawberries. They have lots of things for the kids now too! I guess they have to compete with the Chesterfield Berry Farm. They had a really small maze made from hay bales. The kids liked it though, better than the big one at Chesterfield. Horse rides, playground, barrel train, goats to feed, face painting, a moon bounce, and an inflatable slide. We played a little while and then went to pick our pumpkins. We all got the pumpkin we had in mind (but I did have to make sure they all had stems). Now all we have to do is carve and paint our pumpkins! Coming soon.......

A visit with Grandma Thomas

2008-09-28T09:22:00.003-04:00

Grandma is "moving on up" as she now resides in a luxurious suite at the Mayfair House. Well, it may not be luxurious, but it does have a lot more room for Grandma's .....STUFF!! We took Grandma to one of her favorite resturants for lunch: Red Lobster. She ordered shrimp and ate some of mom's crabcake. There were NO leftovers!! We went shopping and Grandma picked out a nice cutain rod and some fancy curtains. She picked the color, the style, everything. We also had her pick out a rod to display the Greatgrandchildren quilt on. Grandma was in heaven with her shopping cart, loading it up with 3 and 4 copies of the same "Enquirer" and "Star" tabloid magazines. When we checked out we had to make sure she wasn't buying any duplicates! She had a great time and we enjoyed bing with her. She sure is a hoot for a woman of 84! We also took Grandma by to see Grandpa's grave and she put some fall flowers down for him. We talked breifly about his service in different branches of the military and then wisked her off before a big storm came. When we returned to Mayfair house, Grandma put us to work. We put fresh sheets on her bed and disposed of at least 75 tissues she had hiding under her pillow. Yuck, Grandma! She said she put there in case she needed one in the middle of the night! We hung her Grandchildren's Quilt in her bedroom where she can see it. We also hung her new curtains. Joylyn and John Joseph put up fall decorations all over her room. We sorted through the tabloids, magazines, and Nora Roberts books. All the time keeping an eye on the Redskins game. Our Grandma Thomas is quit a woman and we enjoyed spending the day with her.

Howl-O-Scream

2008-09-27T09:23:00.005-04:00

Busch Gardens' Howl-O-Scream celebrates 10 years of "bone-chilling thrills" this year and I think it seems to get better and better. This year there are new haunted houses & scare zones and a couple of new shows. Masquerage is a new haunted house that is a nightmarish journey through a ruined Italian palace. This is John's favorite. The Wicked Woods is a classic outdoor haunted area that moved to Italy this year and is much better. Monster Stomp Revamped is a show in the Abbey Stone Theatre and is my favorite. There is music, some dancing, and my favorite the knife demonstration and the skeletons. It is a must see! We saw Rockin' Eve's Wrath at the Royal Palace Theatre for the first time Friday night and it is awful! Actually my mom wanted to see it and so we gave in. Lots of loud music and a guy with fire. The train ride is small children, but we always like to ride around the park when we go. John Joseph loves the train. Over in Germany behind the Festhaus is "The Never After." This is two houses/mazes and the scariest part as after the second house with these huge guys that look like scary pro wrestlers (or wrastlers as John calls them). There are a couple of shows, one inside the Festhaus.....not very good and one in Ireland....Jack is Back.....not very good either. Finally, there is the haunted house inside of Escape from Pompeii. Oh, I forgot about the wolf haven. This is basically an area that people walk through to get from Ireland to New France. There are fake wolves all in the trees, but at dark....the real wolves come out. It is so funny to walk through here and watch people. John Joseph loves to hid behind trees, trash cans, or poles and jump out and scare us. Joylyn is the only one who is not really into the scary thing. She goes through the houses and mazes though....she's a trooper. We have been able to go to Howl-O-Scream several times in the last few weeks. We went with my Aunt Jackie who was visiting from Utah, my Uncle George, and my mom and sister. We have had a great time each time we have gone.

St. Thomas Slide Show

2008-09-06T08:19:00.000-04:00

St. Thomas: Our second port

2008-09-05T15:39:00.001-04:00

St. Thomas is an unincorporated territory of the United States. The US Virgin Islands consist of four main islands: Saint Thomas, Saint John, Saint Croix, and Water Island, as well as several dozen smaller islands. The combined land area of the islands is roughly twice the size of Washington, D.C. In 1917 St. Thomas was purchased (along with Saint John and Saint Croix) by the United States for $25 million, as part of a defensive strategy to maintain control over the Caribbean and the Panama Canal during the First World War. U.S. citizenship was granted to the residents in 1927. In 1954, passage of the U.S. Virgin Islands Organic Act officially granted territorial status to the three islands, and allowed for the formation of a local senate with politics dominated by the American Republican and Democratic parties. Full home rule was achieved in 1970.

Our ship docked in the territorial capital, Charlotte Amalie. We had booked a private tour with Sunny Liston and had arrived at the dock early. We chatted with some other passengers and then we saw our tour trolley/bus arrive. We were told that Sunny was off for the day and Elvis was our guide. I made a comment about Elvis's name that I guess didn't go over well, but our guide warmed up after getting all of the passengers aboard. The funny thing is that even though St. Thomas is a US territory, the rule of the road is to drive on the left. Elvis dropped us off in downtown Charlotte Amalie for about 2 hours of shopping. I had gone to the shopping talk on the ship the day before, so I knew all of the stores that were giving out free stuff to cruisers. Misty and I ended up with 2 Del Sol pen/bracelets, 2 Del Sol color changing rings, a shell necklace, a saphire gemstone, and a Diamonds International bracelet. There were also lots of little jewlery, perfume, and gift shops that we hit along the way. We stopped by "Jen's Island Cafe & Deli" for a quick bite to eat. We hurried back to meet Elvis for the next part of our tour.

Elvis drove us all over the island. He showed us some homes that were destroyed by Hurricane Marilyn, stopped several places to get beautiful pictures of the island, told us some history and brought us to "Mountain Top." Mountain Top has shops, world famous banana daiquiris, and a beautiful observation deck in which you have a have a panoramic view of over 20 islands, and cays, including the neighboring islands of Tortola, St. John, Hans Lollick, Jost Van Dyke, Tobago! Breath taking!!

Our tour continued around the island and Elvis took us to Sapphire Beach on the other side of the island. There were giant iguanas on the beach looking for leftovers. That was a little weird at first, but when we looked out over the beach the view was beautiful. You could see St. John Island and the water was a clear blue! Beautiful! The water was warm and we saw lots of fish. We wished we had brought our snorkeling gear. We were talking to a lady who said that she had just seen a sea turtle and a sting ray. We stayed in the water about 2 hours until it was time to head back with Elvis. The plan was to go back to the ship, but John and I decided to do a little more shopping at the shops right near the ship. Wow! What a beautiful place. Definitely a lot to see and do. We saw Magen's Bay several times and it is rated one of the top ten beaches in the WORLD! Maybe next time we can go there!

Half Moon Cay Slide Show

2008-09-04T16:52:00.000-04:00

Half Moon Cay: Our first port

2008-09-03T19:19:00.000-04:00

Half Moon Cay is in the Bahamas on Little San Salvador Island, which is one of about 700 islands that make up the archipelago of the Bahamas. It is a private island, owned wholly by Carnival Cruise Lines. The island was purchased in 1997, and has developed only 45 acres of the 2,400-acres on the island.

We had to be tendered (or taken by smaller boat) to the dock. All you could see was beautiful white sand and crystal clear water down the whole stretch of the island. Since we had booked an excursion, we were on the first tender boat over and no one was on the beach yet! What a beautiful sight! We had decided to do the "Horseback by land and sea." We were shuttled about a mile or two down the island to where the horses were kept. There were about 20 people in our group. We picked out a helmet and then one by one were put on a horse. John's horse was named "Pit Bull" and mine was "Elvira." We went in a circle to practice until everyone was on a horse. Then it was time for a ride. No, they didn't cut us loose.....we pretty muched stayed together. John and I had only been on a horse once and so we both enjoyed the ride. For a seasoned rider this would have been boring. We went along the beach, up a hill, on rocky terrain, and then down the hill. Yikes!

Then the fun part! They took the saddles off the horses and we got back on them with only a pad on their backs. This time the ocean was our destination. It really was great fun (and yet a little scarey for me at times). The staff there was great and kept all of the horses under control. We enjoyed this excursion greatly.

After our horseback adventures, we were shuttled to the outdoor barbeque area. The ship had cooked hamburgers, chicken, yummy rice, and other dishes and they were ready just in time for us! We ate lunch and then headed to the beach. John had forgotten my change of clothes, so I opted to go shopping instead of swimming. John took a quick dip in the water and then we went to the little market. On our way we passed a beautiful church. I think they must use it for the workers who live on the island, because there are not other inhabitants. We found out that the people who work with the horses and other excursions are mostly from Jamaica and they live on the island for 6-8 months at a time and then go home for 2 weeks.

Half Moon Cay was gorgeous! Your typical cruise line's private island! Some other activities were jet skiing, snorkeling, papasailing, glass bottom boat rides, kayaking, and of course the beach.

Short delay in boarding the Carnival Liberty

2008-09-02T17:08:00.000-04:00

After getting our luggage tagged and parking the car, we headed into the terminal for check-in. We knew that you could board the ship as early as 11:00am even though it didn't leave until 4:00pm. The lines weren't too long, but we kept hearing that we couldn't board because the ship arrived late into port this morning.......Well, we soon found out that our ship had assisted some Haitian refuges the previous day. Here is a link to a very short news report:
http://cbs4.com/video/?id=60970@wfor.dayport.com

Here is the story according the the Miami Herald:
"A Carnival cruise ship rescued 44 Haitians from a sinking motorboat in the Caribbean on Friday morning. The Carnival Liberty, one of the Miami-based company's largest ships, was off the northeast coast of Cuba when the crew on the bridge spotted the boat, according to Tim Gallagher, a spokesman for the cruiseline.
Gallagher said the Liberty crew notified the Coast Guard, then sent a rescue vessel to the sinking boat and took the passengers onto the cruise ship. Once onboard, all the migrants were inspected by the Liberty's medical team and given food, water, clothes and mattresses to rest on. Liberty passengers observed as the refugees were brought onboard.
''There were hundreds of people watching the whole thing,'' said Leslie Pelton, a Liberty passenger from Bowie, Md. ``When they brought them aboard, everyone was cheering and clapping.''
Coast Guard Petty Officer Nick Ameen said it was unusual for a cruise ship to rescue refugees at sea. ''We're certainly grateful when they pick them up,'' Ameen said.
Ameen said the 44 Haitians were floating on a 27-foot-long boat, and that the motors had fallen off and the boat was taking on water.
On Friday night, the Coast Guard cutter Venturist rendezvoused with the Liberty. Two inflatable Coast Guard boats shuttled the refugees off the Liberty and onto the Venturist. During the transfer, some of the refugees wore Carnival bathrobes to guard against the wind and cold.
On Saturday morning, one of the migrants, a woman in her mid-30s, collapsed and died onboard the Venturist, Ameen said. He said she had been inspected by Liberty's doctors and Coast Guard medical staff, and was considered healthy. The cause of death is not known. The Haitians also reported that before their boat encountered the Liberty, six migrants had died and were buried at sea, according to Ameen.
Saturday afternoon, the Coast Guard Venturist transferred the refugees to another cutter, the Diligence. At 2 p.m. Monday, the 43 surviving Haitians, as well as the deceased woman's body, were repatriated to the city of Cap Haitien.
''Originally, there were fifty people on that boat,'' Ameen said. ``Forty-three returned to Haiti. This just shows what happens when you go out to sea unprepared. It's dangerous out there.''
The Liberty had departed Miami Aug. 16 for a tour of the western Caribbean. It returned to Miami behind schedule Saturday morning, and left again Saturday night.
Karen Nestor, a Liberty passenger from Middleborough, Mass., said the incident didn't sully her vacation. ''We had a fantastic time,'' she said. ``I would definitely do it again.''"

Pre Cruise Slide Show

2008-09-01T16:19:00.000-04:00

Pre-cruise highlights

2008-08-31T19:11:00.001-04:00

We had a great time in the Orlando area before we headed to Miami to board the Carnival Liberty. We enjoyed being with the Brandon & Misty, but not with Hurricane Faye. We drove all day Tuesday and checked into our hotel around 7pm. Wednesday, we went to Busch Gardens in Tampa and had a great time. Faye had scared everyone off and there were no lines! We rode everything, saw the shows, and enjoyed the wildlife. It was a great day! Thursday we went to Sea World where you "won't get wet!" In the summer they have all of their regular shows and then special shows in the evening. It was a rainy and windy day, but we were able to once again do everything. We even got VIP status thanks to Herb! On Friday we headed to Miami and stayed in a luxurious (not!) hotel before our big day.

Our week at Junior Camp

2008-08-04T08:00:00.000-04:00

This is the 6th or 7th year we have gone to Junior Camp in Hillsville, Virginia and each year is unique and special. The trip takes us about 4 1/2 hours and to say it is in the middle of nowhere would be an understatement. The camp is on the side of a mountain with only woods and a cow pasture in sight. There are 8 large cabins that sleep about 40 per cabin in one big room with bunk beds. There are 3 showers and two bathroom stalls per cabin. We have always been in cabin 2, but this year we were assigned to cabin 3 which is the cabin furthest up the very steep hill. We arrived early enough to claim our bunks and I always get a wooden bunk (much more comfy than the metal ones) that is near an outlet. Thank God for fans!! I always bring an extension cord so I can plug my fan, cell phone, and curling iron in. I can't even imagine Teen Camp with a cabin full of girls who actually care what they look like every morning. Thankfully these girls, who are ages 7 through 12, haven't quite reached that stage in life yet. Each day started with a freezing cold shower in a dingy, moldy, spider infested, stall at 6:00 in the morning. All of the counselors met in the dining hall at 7:30 each morning, but I usually went down early around 7:00. We then ate breakfast, went back to our cabin to clean up and then met with our team for a daily devotion. I had 16 girls on my team and they were my responsibility (along with our 3 church girls) for the week. We had verses to learn for each day and then I had a little devotion with them to encourage them. Next, we had activities on the field which ranged from relay races to volleyball, to kickball. At 10:30 was canteen time in which I worked in the service lines taking and filling orders. 11:00 was our chapel service each day and after the preaching was lunch time at 12:00 sharp! For camp, the food wasn't too bad. You definitely don't go hungry. The afternoon was broken up into craft time, swim time, canteen again, and more activities on the ball field. Supper time was at 6:00 and then another preaching service in the tabernacle at 7:00. Canteen after preaching followed by crazy time and sometimes a story. Lights out at 10:00, but this usually meant you were not getting to sleep until 11:00 or 12:00. Cold at night and hot during the day. Junior Camp sure is a different experience. When I look back at the week, I think about Anna, a girl on my team who accepted Christ, and China, a spanish girl who was determined to help our team by learning Bible verses. At the end of the week, my team had memorized 130 verses, won 2 crazy time games, and won several relay and field games. I must admit that Thursday night I was surprised when it was announced that our team had the most points for the week. John's team worked really hard and also won for the boys team with the most points. Now how often does that happen?? The "rough'n it" for the week was worth it to see even one life changed! A special thank you to my sister who graciously kept Joylyn and John Joseph for the week and also to Brandon who loaned John some equipment.

Couples Night at the Blackwell's

2008-08-03T21:49:00.001-04:00

Couples Night at the Blackwell's

2008-08-03T17:34:00.000-04:00

Last Thursday night(a week ago) was our couples get together at Jason and Kate's house and it is always a time of food, fellowship, and fun. The guys grilled hamburgers and hotdogs out on the grill (without incident) and we had yummy baked beans, exceptional corn on the cob, a nutritious salad, Kate's famous cheese dip with chips, and homemade sweet tea! For dessert there were two cobblers: berry and peach. After dinner, we played our all time favorite game, "Catch Phrase." I must admit that the guys played really well this time and the girls look to redeem theirselves soon. No, we did not see the donkey dance or even the worm....but we had a great time together. You find out so much in just a few hours: Hilda & Jesse are expecting (okay, so EVERYBODY else knew this except for me), Mark and Candy are still searching for that perfect middle name, Kate has a new job, Krystal has an unusal doctor situation, Jesse has a passion for puppies, Daniel is a master Catch Phrase player....but that's a secret, Brandon really tells it like it is when he is pressed for time, Jason only spills food in our presence, Misty is having a jewlery party, Amy's necklace saved little Alyssa, Candy wears expensive jewlery, and Tommy .....Wow!! I feel enlightened!! It is always nice to spend time with the people you serve the Lord with and we look forward to our next get together!

Lunch with friends

2008-07-20T17:42:00.005-04:00

We had a great time eating lunch with Nathan Thompson, Martha, and little Johnny Cole at one of our favorite spots, El Paso. Nathan has long been one of John's friends from the time he was about 10 years old and now that he is in college (year round) he is greatly missed. John enjoys Nathan's humor and intellegence all rolled into one. (If you know Nathan, you know what I mean!) Martha is Bethany's (who just got married) sister and I have not spent time with her since going to a Ladies Conference at her church in Indiana almost 2 years ago. I remember when I was there, she was asking questions about getting pregnant and I tried to help her and give her advice. I also prayed hard for them and now it is nice to see their little boy who is almost 1. Joylyn really enjoyed Johnny too as she entertained him with bubbles and kept him busy while we talked. Martha asked if she could borrow Joylyn at home to keep him entertained. Not a chance!! God is good and we enjoyed being with some friends for lunch!

Congratulations Bethany & Daniel

2008-07-20T17:18:00.005-04:00

Bethany has been a special part of my life for many years and yesterday she became Mrs. Lett!!! We have spent many good times and bad times together, laughed together, cried together, talked about life, and now....she is married. I can't believe it!! Congratulations!! You made a beautiful bride and may your life with Daniel be blessed!!

A hospital visit

2008-07-19T17:22:00.000-04:00

As you know John is not only the School Administrator, but also the Assistant Pastor at our church. He often misses out on pastoral type duties because he is busy in the school, so during the summer he tries to get in visits and such. Saturday was a visitation day and this is a time when we go out and try to share the Gospel with those in our area. We had an opportunity to do that as a family on Saturday and it is such a blessing to share this experience with our children. They are learning to care about the souls of others and seeing the importance in sharing the Good News. It also helps to have children with you as people are more likely to talk to you. We also made a visit to the hospital on Saturday to see a man named Mr. Murphy. Since he is in ICU, we were not able to see him....so we made the best of a visit to the hospital. Our first stop was the nursery, which only had one baby. After the baby was changed and wheeled out to his mother, our nursery stop was done! We went back down to the lobby and tried to think of something to do while we waited on Daddy. Snack machines!!! Yeah! I had exactly $2 in my purse, which bought exactly 2 ice creams! We sat back down in the lobby and patiently waited for Daddy. After the ice creams were gone....so was the patience!! As all mothers know, if you make up a game, it can keep children occupied.....so I started thinking. We rode the elevators up to the 6th floor and then back down a few times, but then I thought we were going to miss Daddy when he came down, so back to the lobby we went. While we were sitting, I noticed that the elevators always came down to the 1st floor and then opened. If someone needed an elevator on a higher floor, the doors would close and up it went. Sometimes it returned to the 1st floor with a passenger, sometimes it didn't (they probably go off on another floor). Okay, that's pretty neat. A ghost....I told the kids. They sat and watched in amazement as each of the two elevators would go up and then come down and open without a passenger. John Joseph reminded me that ghosts weren't real....but it was fun for a while. We then started to guess how many passengers if any would be coming down with the girl ghost (elevator on the left) or with the boy ghost (elevator on the right). We didn't even realize that we had been sitting in the lobby almost an hour when Daddy came stepping out of the elevator. He rode the girl ghost's elevator, in case you are wondering. Thank God for children with patience and creative minds. By the way, Mr. Murphy is doing much better. If you get a chance, pray for his health!

Racin' at Southside Speedway

2008-07-19T10:42:00.002-04:00

John and I are not really racing fans even though we do sometimes catch some of the NASCAR races on tv. John has always cheered for Jeff Gordon since working for Dupont, but we really don't have a favorite. When Kevin Minter was racing at Southside Speedway it was so fun to come out every Friday night and cheer him on. We had a few favorites in every division and it was so much fun. After Kevin stopped racing, it wasn't as exciting and we haven't gone as much. We have taken our kids a few times, but it is hard to keep them interested and still for all of the races. We just started going again and Joylyn and John Joseph are at the age now that they enjoy it. The moonwalk and snowcones help!! We cheered for the getloaded.com car for our friend Candy and the 84 car, which is Kevin Minter's old car. There were also M&M cars, Chesterfield Berry Farm cars, and even a girl driver! We also got to see some friends at the races and Joylyn and John Joseph had checkered flags to wave. We sure did have a great time and saw some great racing too!

Black(berries) & White (paint)

2008-07-17T23:01:00.003-04:00

Black and White....corny huh? Behind our church, right along the woods there are lots of blackberry bushes. We had fun picking (and eating) the few ripe berries that we found. Why so few? Well, we are not the only ones who know about the blackberries and Wednesday evening the berries were wiped out! In contrast to the black, we had some white this week too. While our Preacher was gone, he asked if John would paint the columns and doors at the church entrance. We decided to make it a family project as Joylyn and John Joseph helped tape the windows and even painted some on the doors. It took 4 coats of paint to get the jet black doors to a pristine white. It was fun to let the kids help and be a part of the work at the church. We are so blessed to have them with us in our ministry.

2008-07-14T15:42:00.001-04:00

Joe's Crab Shack

2008-07-14T15:36:00.002-04:00

Every time we go to Florida we always say we are going to go to "Joe's Crab Shack." Well, this time we did and we ABSOLUTELY loved it. We went there several times during our trip and we loved the way the inside was decorated as well as the play area outside. On each of our trips we were always given a discount card for out next visit. No wonder we kept going back. John loved the crabcake and stuffed shrimp. A good crabcake is hard to find! (The best we have ever had was on Tangier Island!!) We also loved the cheesy new potatoes. They were the best. We don't usually get dessert, but on one occassion we ordered the bananas foster which was delicious! On our last visit, we found out that Joe's Crab Shack is all over the country and there is even one in Norfolk. If you've never been, give it a try!

2008-07-09T00:18:00.001-04:00

Magic Mountains!!

2008-07-08T22:33:00.001-04:00

Magic Kingdom is Magic Mountains to us. There are three mountains that we like to frequent. Space Mountain is an indoor roller coaster in the complete dark. This is both Joylyn and John Joseph's favorite ride at Magic Kingdom. The next mountain is Splash Mountain that retells the story of Briar Rabbit. I am the only one in our family that has ever seen the movie, so the ride made sense to me! At the very end of the ride, you "splash" down the mountain, thus the name. The third mountain is Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and this is a fun one too! We planned our day out well and took advantage of fast passes to allow us to do everything at Magic Kingdom in one day even though the park was jam packed. We also rode Buzz Lightyear which is another favorite of our family. This is where you have laser guns and you shoot at targets throughout the ride. The kids have also really enjoyed trading pins. We started this a couple of years ago with just 2 or 3 pins. You can trade your pins with any Disney workers and we always have great fun with it. Last year we found over 70 "Disney Trading Pins" at the thrift store and got them for under $2.00 each. I sold 8 of them on e-bay and paid for all of them with the profits. So, they had 15 pins each to trade and it cost me nothing. These pins cost anywhere from $8 to $20, so that was a great find at the thrift store!! We also had a Daisy Duck sighting right beside Cinderella's Castle. It is so funny how you go to Disney World and you (and the kids) find yourself fascinated by a duck and her ducklings!! At the end of the day, we watched the "Spectromagic" night time parade and we found a great spot to view the night time fireworks show, "Wishes!" This is my favorite fireworks show of anywhere I have ever been and we are so spoiled to have enjoyed it so many times. They are getting so creative with the fireworks in making shapes like Mickey ears, hearts, and stars now. What will they think of next?? We feel so blessed to have been able to visit "The Happiest Place on Earth" compliments of President Bush (and his economic stimulus check)!!

Sorry for the delay!

2008-07-08T22:13:00.002-04:00

We have been so busy since we got back from our vacation that I have just now had time to get some pictures uploaded to the computer! I decided to break up some of the highlights of our trip into several posts....so here we go.

We're back home from a GREAT vacation!!

2008-06-29T21:43:00.002-04:00

We had a wonderful family vacation and yes....while we were gone our computer and telephone use was very limited! (Hey, that's part of vacationing...isn't it?) Even though we are blessed to be able to serve the Lord full time as a family, being together on a daily basis is COMPLETELY different than being on a family vacation. Growing up, John never went on a family vacation, so he cherishes this special time. My parents always made our family vacations special and that is why I spend so much time planning and researching where ever we go to ensure a good time and lots of memories for all. Our trip this time was one of the best ever with some "firsts" and some special blessings. I won't bore you with all the details and I have over 500 pictures/movie clips, but I will try to get some highlights from our trip together for you to see. Thank you for all of your prayers and a few special thank yous to Mrs. Bolton (you're the best), Mrs. Freda, Kayce Conner, Kevin Minter, Mark Robinson, Michael Garcia, Jeremy Knutson, and of course our Preacher.

Singing in Church

2008-06-10T10:58:00.004-04:00

The Junior Chior at our church sang last Sunday night and I thought you might enjoy seeing them.