WE ARE SAFE & BLESSED!

To all who have called, THANK YOU! Know we are doing OK and we are all back home together!

The tornado as it approached our subdivision in Suffolk, aerial shots of the neighborhood......



















Photos from Suffolk & our neighborhood, Hillpoint Farms. (The Walgreens is right up from our house) This storm also tore through other areas of Suffolk. We are fine, our home is untouched, amazingly, and all our friends and neighbors are safe! There are NO reported fatalities, just minor injuries, and no one is missing. Praise God! Mike was at home and saw the tornado as it approached our subdivision. He had time to get to a bathroom with the dogs and wait 'til the storm passed and then he went out into the neighborhood to check on folks on the streets that were hit (about a block over)

God is in control and we are not!! Our God is an awesome God!! There are many families with amazing stories of the goodness of His grace and protection!

We wanted everyone to know we are OK and please continue to pray for all in Suffolk who are facing trying times as they approach clean-up and rebuilding. Pray for the Red Cross volunteers, emergency workers, police officers and all who are aiding in the effort to get these folks back on their feet. We so appreciate all who have put in hours and hours keeping our subdivision safe and taking care of our friends and neighbors!! God Bless all of you!!

Waterfront Living??

This is the home of my sister and her family in Southern IN. She's always wanted to live by the water but this isn't really what she had in mind!! They have been hit by the terrible rains and flood waters in the Midwest. I realize I haven't "blogged" in quite awhile and have lots of pictures to upload and news to update. This isn't really a "happy" updating posting but I wanted to ask for prayer and any type of help available out there for my sister and her family. This is the 2nd time in 24 months this property has flooded but the first time was not to this extreme. They ended up with 21+ inches of water in the home and basically everything on the first floor is a loss.......the appliances(fridge, stove, dishwasher, washer and dryer), her furniture, clothing etc. The master bedroom was also on the first floor. Unfortunately they do not have flood insurance as this is not considered a "flood plain" and it's looking like insurance will not cover anything. Since the first flood they have realized their home and 7 acres are built on a "sink hole"......They have been assisted with some basics by the Red Cross but the area has not (as of yet) been declared a disaster area by the government!!! So please pray for them, pray they will find a home to live in as it is not clear if this home is safe to live in nor are they even sure if it is worth returning to considering the circumstances..........they have 2 large dogs that are being boarded and are ready to be back with the family........pray for resolution with the mortgage company that is "workable and doable" and pray for strength as well as rest, as they try to carry on with their daily work and activities until they have a place to stay........We love you Uncle Keith, Aunt Susie, Jessie and Joe and we're praying for you!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!!! We love you!!!

Yesterday was Michael's 46th Birthday!! We went to he & Matthew's favorite Mexican restaurant (Santa Fe Grill) with our good friends Mike, Rose & Tristan to celebrate the big day!! Honey you're not getting any older only better!! We love you and hope you enjoyed a wonderful day!!

HAPPY 9TH BIRTHDAY MATTHEW~WE LOVE YOU!!

Happy Birthday to our pride and joy!!

We can't believe you are NINE today!!

Mommy is a bit nostalgic as she realizes how fast nine years have gone!!

A mom at your party said, "you realize we're half way done raising them!!"

WOW.....not ready to hear that!!!

Hope you enjoyed a wonderful day with your friends at Kangaroo Jac's!!

Matthew and a couple of his "buds" Alex and Taylor on the way to Chesapeake to Kangaroo Jac's for a "bouncing good time!"

The boys take a breather from bouncing off the walls!
How 'bout a game of air hockey.........I'll take winner!!!
Bring on the pizza and cake....we need to get back to the business of playing!!! We will stop momentarily for food!!

"Hey guys, we may be retired military men but I think we can take that wall of that fort over there & bounce down the other side!!!"

Wow, we did bounce off the walls at Kangaroo Jac's~time for the ride home....over the river and through the woods back to Suffolk we go!!!

Do we have to leave so soon Mr. Mike??

Matthew hope you enjoyed your "first" birthday party in Suffolk!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM THE GOODWIN'S!!

We enjoyed an awesome Thanksgiving Day with the Thumm's!!

Brian, Kerri, Danny & Aaron put on quite a spread for Thanksgiving.

We tried to get a picture before the group "dug in" to show off Kerri's talents!!

We had a wonderful time and great "eats"~Thanks so much for inviting us!!

We must do this more often!

This is the third grade classes from FBCS putting on their Thanksgiving program on Wednesday!

All the classes did such a good job! They got to go back to their rooms & enjoy their Thanksgiving parties & then a half-day off before Turkey Day!! Yippee

It was great for Mike & I to both get to attend!!

We're so proud and thankful for our little guy!! (he'd disagree with that "little guy" part now that he is almost 9!!!)

It's a big weekend for the Goodies as we anxiously await Sunday as that is Matthew's Big 9th Birthday!!! Soon he'll be in double digits!! :( Mom's not ready for that!!

I can't believe my baby will be 9!! WOW

We love you son!! Enjoy a special day!!

TASL U-10 CHAMPIONS!!

WAY TO GO GOALIE!!! TASL CHAMPIONS!

U-10 Boys Soccer Team goes UNDEFEATED for the Season and WINS the Championship!!

Matthew, Mom & Dad are sooo proud of you!! You learned a lot this year and played great!!