Catch up, Part 3 (October 2008)

We went to Celebration! This was a conference for the Sovereign Grace churchs in north Florida and Georgia. We came together for a time of worship and teaching, and God was there! It was SO good to see friends from other churches...especially from Metro! Todd, Danny, David G, Chip and Jordan...you were all a sight for sore eyes!

We met at Camp Kulaquah (sp?) near Gainesville...it was a wonderful time of making new friends, seeing not new friends, and deepening relationships with somewhat new friends. Can you tell what I liked about going? FRIENDS!

Speaking of friends...here is Brianna with some of hers!

Catch up, Part 2 (October 2008)

This is Brianna playing Vanna White at the Harris Family Reunion in Slocum, Alabama. This is David's mom's mom's family (aka Mawmaw)...and other than David's mom, Mawmaw and Pawpaw, Mawmaw's sister - Aunt Jeanette, and David's cousin - Aaron, we had never met a sole in that room! Okay, so picture this...we're in a VFW hall. A rectangular room with two lines of tables going from one end to the other...every seat filled...and there is Brianna standing up there with Cousin Aaron (who she only met once before) holding up the items for the auction...Can you say "AMAZING GRACE!"???

David and I were in shock! Here we were (in October) watching Brianna not only get up there, but SUGGEST to Aaron that he might need a helper! And she SMILED! And she walked up and down and made sure everyone got a good look! Folks, this is THE SAME girl who at our wedding in March wouldn't make eye contact or talk to people she had gone to church with for THREE YEARS! David's mom just smiled and said "She knows she's with family."

Oh, and did I mention that Brianna was the celebrity at the reunion? David's mom COULD NOT WAIT to introduce her new granddaughter to everyone! How kind of God!

We visit around a lot that weekend. We saw David's grandparents on his dad's side (Nena and Grandaddy), and had our usual breakfast out with Grandaddy. We went to see Rodney and Susan...Rodney grew up with David's dad and when he would come to visit the family in Jacksonville when David was a baby he would stay in David's room and take care of him in the night...they bonded! =D

Rodney and Susan live out in the middle of no where. They have a horse - Breeze, and two llamas! Not to mention cats...and a new mule. They took us out for chinese food to what looked like a hole in the wall...but was THE BEST chinese food EVER! And that's serious coming from a native New Yorker!

It was a good visit with everyone in the Ozark area. Then we got up Sunday morning and drove home the long way...by way of the nursing home my mom was in at the time (south GA). Here is a picture of Brianna with my mom.
Not long after this picture was taken my mom was moved to a nursing home near my dad. The new facility is MUCH better and my mom is making progress there. It's hard to believe she hasn't been home since May 2nd. She was very excited to find out that the new facility has a hair stylist that comes in, and she was able to get her hair cut before our visit at Christmas. She says she feels much better having her hair done! =D


Thank you to everyone who has prayed, and continues to pray, for my mom. She is slowly gaining strength. My dad is muddling through, living in a mostly empty house as their things are here waiting for them to get here. BUT, when my dad was here this month he took a half of a truck load back with him...David and I are pretty sure he doesn't plan to move here any time soon.


It's so easy for us to look at their situation and think we know best. Well, it's easy for me. ;D My David is much more careful NOT to presume these things...once again showing that he is wise beyond his years. (sigh...isn't he wonderful???) Anyway, it would seem the logical thing to me to have my mom moved to a facility in Jacksonville, and for my dad to live with us - or nearby - so that we could be a support to them both and hopefully give my mom a reason to try...But I have to remember, and usually David has to remind me, that God's ways are not my ways, and HE has them where they are for a reason. Or countless reasons!


SO, we pray, we encourage over the phone, we go visit when we can...and we trust God, because we know HE knows what He is doing!

Catch up...Part 1 (September, 2008)

Are you ever surprised when God has gone before you and made a way? It happens to me sometimes. Like tonight...a friend sent me a message on Facebook saying she missed my bloggin'. And I told her (via a Facebook message) I had been praying for God to provide some time for me to do it...And off to bed I went. Well, after I lay there an hour I decided to get up and take a shower to save time in the morning. And then I was still wide awake, and I asked the Lord why I was. And He reminded me that I had caffeine at dinner...which was not much earlier than bedtime. SO, I'm awake! =DSo, I went downstairs and to get the camera - which I was thinking I needed the USB wire to get the pictures off which was why I haven't posted pictures in so long - until just a few minutes ago when the Lord reminded me I can put the memory card into my laptop and download the pictures! Yay! There are pictures from a whole bunch of things! I'll post in order so things don't get too, too confusing!

First up, we have Brianna on the Little Ninjas demo team from Pak's Karate of Mandarin at the Mandarin Koi Extravaganza. These kids came out and did a demonstration for the community. It was our first time participating in this kind of thing, and it was a great success! And we also got to see a whole bunch of kiddie pools full of really, really big fish! Who knew gold fish were so popular in Mandarin! lol

That's Brianna in the back row next to the little, tiny green belt. =D See the two red belts who are side by side? Those are our friends, Nick and Kristopher.

All the kids have new belts now...Brianna has gone from deputy yellow in this picture to solid yellow to yellow with green tips. She'll be testing for her green belt in April.

Good job, Bri!

My Special Friend...

This is my special friend, Tina. We are as opposite as Day and Night (our daughters) in a lot of ways...but in some ways we are so very much alike. For one thing, we're both "Hot Mamas". lol (As Aubrey likes to call us.) For another, we have daughters born in April of 1997. And of course there is the fact that we both call Bob and Bonnie "Dad and Mom". And, let's not forget that no party is the same without us. =D

BUT...the most important thing I can think of that we have in common is that we both LOVE to worship the Lord! (As you can clearly see from the picture above...isn't she beautiful when she is worshipping the Lord?)

And even though I'm married and living in Jacksonville now, Tina is still, and will always be, my special friend. The one who is stuck with me for all of eternity...the one who will most assuredly be right next to me worshipping the Lord around His throne. The one who has taught me so very much in just 3 years...and the one who claims the whole reason David and I had to wait 6 years to be a couple is because I had to be at Metro Life Church just for her...a place I would not have likley been had David and I married way back when.

Of all the friends I miss in Orlando, Tina has such a special place in my heart...and I miss her SOOOOOOO very much!

Oh! And she's also the one who called me up last week and said "Change your playlist, I need some new music to listen to at work."

SO, here it is! Tina's playlist. Some of the songs are those that come to mind when I think of all the Sundays we stood next to each other at Metro (although these worship leaders don't hold a candle to our friend Todd)...and some are for encouragement...and some are just because I like them. =D

I love you my friend! =D