Key Lime Pie and 999 other little blessings: 2017

Monday, July 10, 2017

Gift #617- Old Friends

Look who I ran into at a change of command a few days ago! Steve and Sandy Brown. Sandy was the daughter of the pastor at the church where I grew up (Grace Baptist Church). I loved her and her family so much. The ministry of her family shaped my childhood and my life. It had been almost 30 years since our paths had crossed. Steve is a Navy Chaplain. We had been stationed at many of the same places, but not at the same time. Sandy had two boys first- just like me. Her second son is Joshua- just like my Josh. Her third and fourth are boy and girl twins- just like mine! Her fifth was adopted from Asia- just like mine! She has rabbits and chickens- just like me! (Except hers don't live on her porch). She has lived in Iwakuni and VA and South Carolina. We never imagined that at a change of command on a sticky July night in Beaufort, SC we would meet once again. I smiled all the way home!

Gift #616- Passport Kids Camp

It looks like they are having fun! See you in a few days Sam and Macy!

Gift #615- BCoB Youth Group

I love these BCoB Kids!

Passport Summer Camp 2017

Gift #614- VMFA-312's CO

March 2017

Congratulations Hank on a job VERY well done. You should be so very proud of yourself. I sure am. Thanks for taking me along with you on this crazy ride. It has been a fantastic adventure.

Thanks Thomas family (parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins for shaping Hank into the man that he is today. He is a good one!

Thanks for being there for him on this very special occasion and for his whole life!

Gift #613- Being 7 years old!

Happy Birthday Bo! 7 years old! We love you!

Gift #612- Cousins!

Cousins who were patient with their littlest cousins and their dog cousin! We had so much fun with you Ella and Riley! When are you coming back?

Gift #611- A Dad Like This

This was Father's day. I remember in this moment thinking how grateful I am for a husband who leads by example and places a high priority on sharing his faith with his children.

Happy Father's Day Hank.

I am also extremely proud to be the daughter of a truly amazing father and the daughter-in-law of my husbands wonderful father! Blessed beyond measure!

Gift #610- VBS @ BCOB

Every year I say that I am not going to teach at VBS and every year I do and every year, I am glad that I did! We took this same picture with Phoebe and Bo last year after VBS. Bo has grown so much!

Gift #609- Haircut Day

5 boys = a LOT of haircuts!

But little cuties in hair-cut capes and smiles like this make it all worth it!

Gift #608- Graduation Day May 2017

Bo graduated from Kindergarten! His class sang "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong. I cried like a baby. Something about a little fella' in a cap and gown gets me every time. What a wonderful world indeed!

Gift #607- Easter in South Carolina

Gift #606- Upward Sports

Macy and Sam have had the chance to play soccer with Upward Sports for two seasons now. We have had such a great experience. Macy had a fantastic team this year and a fantastic coach who made sure to teach them to work at it with all of their heart as if they were working for the Lord.- Colossians 3:23

Gift #605- This Crazy Dog

Lucy thinks that she is small and that she can fit in the tiny cubby that holds Turbo's bed.

"Fat guy in a little coat."

Gift #604- A kid in a "whoggie" towel

Gift #603- Valentines Day

As a kid, Valentines Day was always a treat. My mom made Rice Krispie treat hearts and let us decorate them with icing and candy. We always had a candlelight spaghetti dinner where we set the table using moms best china and crystal. Such great memories! I am not quite as prepared as my mom. We did have a candlelight dinner on fine china, but it was take-out! :0) The kids didn't complain and some more great memories were made!

Gift #602- This Tiny Dancer

We bought the clothes and signed up for the class. We talked about it for weeks and practiced twirling in the living room. But this tiny dancer changed her mind when we got to class and will not speak of returning! Im thankful for this cute picture though!

Gift #601- Chinese New Year 2

We Celebrated our second Chinese New Year with this Kid! The year of the Rooster!

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Gift #600- Super Twins- 11

We celebrated Sam and Macy's 11th birthday with Hibachi and two amazing birthday cakes! Happy Birthday Sam and Macy. We love you both so much!

Gift #599- Hoppin' John

This year, our neighbor Ellen, made us some delicious Hoppin' John for New Years Day. We had celebrated in the past with black-eyed peas and corn bread, but this was new for us. We learned that Hoppin' John is a New Years Eve South Carolina tradition. There are many stories that surround it, but my favorite one involves the Gullah people. Apparently, there was a Gullah family here on the islands back in the late 1800's. When the wife made this dish, her husband John, always came a Hoppin'.

Gift #598- A New Year! 2017

We rang in the New Year with style and just about all of the junk food we could afford.

Only Macy and Henry made it to midnight! They toasted with orange floats and sippy cups!

Gift #597- Being Street Legal

Watch out world! This ain't no learners permit! Its the real thing! Congratulations Jack!

ps- slow down on the growing a little won't ya? Your moms heart can't take it. :0)

Gift #596- Early Christmas Morning

This is one one of my very favorite moments of the whole Christmas season- early Christmas morning before the kids wake up. So peaceful and lovely. This year, Christmas fell on a Sunday. It was nice to wake up, let the kids open a gift, and then head out the door to spend the morning with church family and to sing the songs and hear the stories of Christmas. Beautiful!