Banquets and Mother's Day and Graduations Galore!

This has to be the busiest month of the year any more! I think it has surpassed December for craziness. We have been trying to keep up with everything, and it seems sometimes like I am forgetting half of what I need to do. Organization is not my strong suit. Even though I started planning for Sam's graduation months ago, I am still sucking wind here at the end trying to tie off the loose ends.

Sam cleans up well! Micah got this picture of him before Banquet!

A group shot of some of the kids that went to Sam's Junior/Senior Banquet!

Sam had a wonderful time at his Junior/Senior Banquet with some of the kids from the 'Boro up the road from us. They went to a place that served "country cookin'" which Sam is not usually too fond of. However, he came home raving about this place. He said it was just awesome. After dinner, there was a jazz festival going on on the town square, so they all stopped off there and listened a while. Then, they went back to one of the kid's house and were joined by some other folks for hanging out and playing in the game room. It seems a fine time was had by all!

Two very tired Mothers!

The next big day was Mother's Day! Daniel had made it back from visiting Jenn's family in Georgia, and we traveled down to be with my Mom for the day. I wanted all day to take a picture of us together before we got out of our "church clothes," but it was so chaotic all day that we finally ended up snapping a picture late Sunday evening after we got home and our families gave us presents. I was given multiple boxes of sugar-free chocolates, a lovely candle, and a new memory card for my new digital camera so that it can hold mega numbers of pix! Needless to say, I felt pampered!

Daniel and Jennifer on his most recent trip to GA. They never seem to lack for good times!

Now, the countdown to graduation has started, and I am in panic mode. We drove out and found the place where graduation is going to be held for the homeschoolers in our little group, and it is a beautiful setting. It is nestled in some rolling hills, back in "the sticks!" I hope those that come won't get lost. Mental note to self---make good maps! I finished the slide show of Sam's pictures that will be played at graduation, and I am tickled pink that a dear preacher friend of ours is going to be the speaker of the evening. I still have to get food ordered for the reception, and I pray that the other lady who is in charge of some of the bigger items like caps and gowns has her ducks in a row! I am now starting on the Senior Table for Sam, collecting memorabilia for it and plastering a presentation board with photos.

Hopefully, 2 weeks from today, we will be having a graduation ceremony, and some neat memories will be made. Pictures, as always, will follow.

In the meantime, the stomach virus came, went, and seems to have come again. Sarah was the only one who had it two weeks ago, but now, all the boys have dropped with a somewhat milder version of it (they would say it is bad enough). Tim even seems to have succumbed. I guess I had better go check on the biggest babe of all! 'Til next time.....

Not Again!

For all of those who keep records, mark this day down.
Pukebug is back in town!



And the current score is:
Pukebug 1, Lysol 6

Sarah has fallen! Sadly, so has her little friend Rachel Beth at church. We must have shared some love Sunday night after church at Arby's. To the rest of the inhabitants of Gravyville out there, grab your Lysol guns and start firing.

I SO Need to Update!

I decided that some other things would just have to fall by the wayside, because this blog needs updating so badly. I am not sure that I can remember all that has happened since I last wrote, but I will give it the old college try!

We were dreadfully late on getting to celebrate my Dad's, Micah's, Sarah's and my niece Kelsey's birthdays like we do every year in March. Tim has been very busy at work, and the weekends have all had something as well. Finally, towards the end of the month, we made it down to have the big family get-together. We always leave with tummy aches, because we try to have cake on top of the dinner, and it is just too much!

We have all been watching the progress of my father, who had the open-heart surgery in December. It seems he takes two steps forward, and one step back, as the saying goes. I think he takes 12 different medications, so it is no wonder that he feels badly on some days. I cannot tell you, then, how gratifying it was to see him preach last Sunday. Last year, around this time, he was in the worst part of congestive heart failure. He sat in his den with three fans on him and the a.c. on high, gasping for breath. When the congestive heart failure relented a little, the doctor decided to act, replacing his aortic valve. Here we are, about 6 months later, and Dad was "back in the saddle" on Sunday! He did an awesome job, and I had to shed a few tears

My brother, Daniel (not to be confused with son, Daniel) is the regular preacher at one of my favorite congregations in Middle Tennessee. Sunday, he moved over and let Dad into the pulpit. Few people know that Dad preached for a while when I was a little girl. Of course, at the time, he was also working as a Highway Patrolman. All my brothers have taken up similar challenges in their lives, working several jobs at the same time, usually. Drew is also preaching now in another church in the county, in addition to working his M-F job. That church had died down to a faithful few of about 40 or so, I think. In the last couple of weeks, they were delighted to have about 27 visitors one day! My prayer is that this church will soon be filled with young people to carry on the work when the 40 older people are gone.

At any rate, we enjoyed all the birthday festivities in March, and then it was no time until my young nephew Ben's birthday. Here are some pics from the festivities.


Sarah was the first to celebrate---about 3 times! I can't believe my baby girl is 7!


Next came the group celebration, and the photo of Dad with his NINE grandkids, the newest being little Emma Elizabeth!

Speaking of Emma, she is growing so much! She is 4 months now....

(They say she looks like me! I am flattered!)


Emma checks out her Meme's adjustable bed with darling cousin Lauren!


Then it was time for Ben's Birthday!


Here is the handsome gent and his precious mother Steph!


The grandkids had to pose again! It is amazing to have them there all at the same time, now that some are growing up! Micah's face is burnt from being out in the pool---yes, the freezing cold pool!

Speaking of going in the freezing pool---here is another brave little snaggle-toothed girl:


Finally, here is one last picture with Tim in it. He is standing in front of a bush that should be all full of leaves this time of year, but the frost got it. There are so many flowers that just did not make it. It looks kind of sad outside this year. I think it is going to be interesting to see the trees this fall. Wonder what they will look like?


(Pardon the sunbeams)

Well, that's enough for one update. Next time, I will try to share some Sam pictures--from his banquet, etc. He is having a fun senior year and is quite excited that graduation is less than a month away! Don't forget Mother's Day on Sunday! Mail those cards if you live far away!