Graduation-Liberty University 2008

Ok so I tried my hand at a little creativity!!!

Time for a Change!!

OK so I've been checking out a lot of blogs lately and several of my friends have changed backgrounds and layouts, they use videos & slide shows and I'm feeling so "bloggingly challenged"!! Or maybe I'm creatively challenged....or I'm just getting old~as I've been reminded more times than I care to admit the past few weeks.....If one more person, doctor, friend etc says, "well now that you're/we're over 40"..........OK OK I get it!!! But don't expect me to take this getting older thing without fighting it every step of the way!!

I decided a new layout would "perk" things up a bit!! There are some ever so talented women out there just writing about everyday life and they are hilarious!! (thanks to my friend Jen for sharing some of her favorites-Jen's blog is also fantastic!! http://akersmemories.blogspot.com/ As is my good friend Kerri's http://teamthumm.blogspot.com/ ...) I laugh and laugh because they say everything we mother's are thinking.....you know exactly what they are talking about 'cause for some of us, we've been there, done that.....my challenges and daily fun seem like nothing compared to a women with 6 children attempting a grocery store trip!!! I really have nothing to complain about. It feels good to know other mom's struggle to get homework done, come up with interesting creative meals everyday of the week, really don't like laundry or grocery shopping and their children also find creative uses for markers and crayons!! The more I read, the more I want to jump in and share...........

so to all the blogging moms out there, thanks for sharing and thanks for bringing some comic relief to all the busyness around us!!

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO ME!! I FINALLY DID IT!!

THAT'S RIGHT 20+ YEARS IN THE MAKING!!! I FINALLY GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE THIS WEEKEND AT LIBERTY UNIVERSITY IN LYNCHBURG, VA!!

It was a wonderful weekend in Lynchburg and I'm so glad I went and walked the stage!! I promised my daddy I would finish this degree and I hope he knows I finally did it!! This one's for you daddy(and momma) I know they're celebrating in heaven!! Thank you Mike and Matthew for supporting me and leaving on the weekends for "guy time" so mommy could study and take exams!! You have both been behind me every step of the way and I know at times this took away from time we could all spend together!!Thank you for your sacrifices and for all the support!!

My sister came from Indiana to be with us for the weekend! It meant so much to have her here to share the big day with us!! We really enjoyed being together and celebrating! Lynchburg is really beautiful and the campus is quite impressive!! Thank you guys for so much fun this weekend!! You all mean the world to me!! I couldn't have done it without you!! Also thank you Grandma and Grandpa G for your support and blessings!!






I think Mike has been the most excited!! He's gone out of his way to make this such a special time for me!! He ordered these personalized plates for the Explorer for me!! He's so sweet!! (if you can't see these are LU plates!!)
Now it's his turn to finish that college degree!!

WAY TO GO SUFFOLK UNITED

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!!!

Soccer Tournaments May 3-4 VA Beach!!

It was an exciting weekend May 3 & 4th as Matthew's U-10 Soccer Team competed for the championship in their bracket in VA Beach. The team played 2 games Saturday and 2 games Sunday and WON their bracket!! Matthew played great as goalie, 2 games ended in overtime and went down to "points kicked" shootouts!!! A lot of pressure for a goalie!!! We are so proud of Matthew and he is truly blessed with a lot of athletic talent (must be dad's genes!!!)

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!!!!