Last night Daddy treated us to the first supper out of the garden. We had stewed squash and onions, creamed potatoes (not mashed, mind you), onions, and peppers — topped off with homemade cornbread. It was the best meal I’ve had in ages. Honestly. I can’t wait until the okra is ready. Oh, and the beans. And the peas! Good eatin’!
Jim and I went to Gulf Shores for the Memorial Day weekend. The trip started as a trip with another couple and ended up as a vacation with almost everyone we know. It was kind of like the old Breck commercial: I told two friends who told two more and so on and so on and so on! The crew:
Kevin and Carol
Chris and Michelle
Michelle and Jerrod
Drew
Vlad
Roy
Jim and me
James and Karen
It was really neat how we all ended up there: Kevin, Carol, Jim, and I planned this trip in January. Last month, Michelle and Chris decided they would drive down Saturday and spend the rest of the weekend. Carol invited Michelle and Jerrod. Roy called us Thursday afternoon just before we left and caught a ride with our bandwagon. Drew and Vlad ended up going to Mobile to see Drew’s brother, and James and Karen are friends that moved to Florida about 3 years ago. What a great reunion!
We drove down Thursday night, arriving at the state park at 2:00 a.m. Yes, a.m.! We got settled in by 4:30 and woke up around 7. The entire weekend, was just go, go, go. That’s how I like a vacation — I don’t want to waste a single minute. We fished, swam, soaked up the sun, ate, and just hung out. It was a GREAT weekend!!
While at the beach Sunday outside the Florabama roadhouse, skydivers landed directly behind us. It was an amazing site! Diver after diver after diver landed beautifully.
Kevin and Chris went parasailing……
Jim, Roy, and Kevin caught fish — then we went shrimping and caught a bunch of shrimp under the bridge between Alabama and Florida.
Jim and I left Sunday night around 9:30 p.m. and drove straight through only stopping once. We got home at 3:00 in the morning! Like I said, it was a wonderful weekend and I’m ready to go back!
Today I participated in BMW’s Drive for the Cure. BMW donates $1.00 for every mile driven during the drive. This is the 10th anniversary, and since the beginning, over $9 million dollars has been raised for breast cancer research. After my 10 mile drive, I got my free t-shirt, signed the Signature Car, bought some Pink Ribbon merchandise, and went on my merry way. I figure that since the nasty disease took one of the most important people in my life away, it’s the least I can do — what I can to support finding a cure for an evil disease that takes mothers, wives, sisters, and friends.
Tonight was Christopher’s graduation. What he’s worked toward for the last 12 years. Some years were better than others, but in the end, it was all worth it. I was so proud as I watched him march in with his class and prouder still as he crossed over to receive his diploma. I couldn’t help but wonder where the years had gone. It seems like only last year that I was graduating — am I really old enough to have my baby graduating? Memories flooded back to me as I watched all his friends — the ones he’d known since t-ball — graduate with him. I wondered where they would end up. Will their paths cross again? Graduation is a terrific event — a huge milestone in the life of a young adult. I hope Christopher will continue to work hard on his studies at college and pursue his every dream.
(note: The settings on my camera were incorrect at times, so some pictures didn’t turn out very well. The ones of him actually receiving his diploma are too dark to see. I hope Aunt Gay got some good shots.)
Marching in:
Class of 2006:
With Aunt Gay:
With Gram and Pop:
My Family:
Jim’s Family:
Shaking Grandpa’s hand:
Christopher played baseball with Eric:
Christopher and Kaleb have been friends for years:
Jared is Christopher’s youth minister:
The proud graduate:
Today was Senior Day in a big way. The church honored all the graduating high school seniors with a breakfast. Then, during the service, they had a tribute to the seniors including a slide show of pictures depicting each graduate throughout his life. It brought tears to my eyes to realize that my baby is all grown up and about to enter college.
This afternoon, we had the entire family up for a graduation dinner for Christopher. The menu included steak, baked potatoes, salad, and hamburgers for those who didn’t want steak. For dessert: cookie cake and ice cream cones. The entire family came to honor Christopher — well, almost the entire family: Great Grandmother wasn’t feeling up to coming and didn’t make it. I suppose when you get to be almost 90 years old, that is absolutely reasonable! All in all, the party was a great success. Anytime my entire family gets together, it is loads of fun. The only thing that could have made it better would have been if Jimmy, Sue, and their families were there.
After dinner, we sat around and shared stories about Christopher. Included in the comments was the time Kay spanked Christopher and he told her “that didn’t hurt”. According to Kay, when she got through with him, he said “I don’t like you”!!!!
Gay told about the time she worked hard to grow a particular flower she had never been able to grow before (or since). One day, while babysitting Christopher, he marched up to her and proudly presented a flower he had picked for her. You guessed it — it was the prized flower!
Like I said, everyone was there. Ok — everyone local was there:
Kay, Kelly, Kendrick and Kenny:
Gay:
Jessica and Jon:
Kris, Jeremia, Chris, and Jamie:
Pop and Gram:
Grandpa:
Kelly and Jennifer:
Brook:
Jim and me:
And, of course, the Guest of Honor:
Everyone gathered around the porch and talked while Jim slaved over a hot grill to produce steaks grilled to perfection:
Wilson and Sadie stayed in the pen. Wilson wasn’t very happy about it!
We enjoyed our meal on a cool spring evening. I thought for a bit that it might rain, but the clouds brought the perfect temperature to our dinner.
After dinner, we had cookie cake and ice cream cones, and the guest of honor opened gifts:
For the rest of the evening, we sat around and talked. Kay taught Jamie how to say “brrrbrrrbrrr”:
Four cousins:
Grandpa and Christopher:
Gram, Pop, and Christopher:
Christopher and Aunt Gay:
Christopher and two cousins (Jeremia and Kendrick):
With his big sis:
With his mean ‘ol Mommy:
Jamie had fun playing under the table:
While Kendrick wreaked havoc with a big stick!
Here are some more photos of our great afternoon:
Today would be Granny’s 101th birthday. I don’ t have a picture of her right now to post, but maybe I find and scan one today or tomorrow. I loved Granny more than anyone can know and miss her more every day.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GRANNY!
I’d like to wish a happy Mother’s Day to all the great mothers I know:
Sue
Kay
Wendy
Gay
Kris
Gram
Great Grandmother
Granny (post-posthumously)
And all the mothers I wish I knew:
Mother
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!!!!!!!!!!
It’s that time of year again — decoration at Granny’s cemetery. Jim took me yesterday afternoon to put flowers out. Decoration is actually Sunday, but it’s easier for me to decorate on Friday or Saturday. I put out beautiful purple flowers for Mother and gorgeous peach-colored roses for Granny and Grandaddy. I meant to take pictures, but in a senior moment (we all know I’m old now), I left the camera at home.
Yep — it’s just another ordinary day at my house — Sadie eating soap and Christopher modeling his own unique outfit (check out the shoes).
Jennifer signed the lease on the apartment at that place today. On one hand, I am very excited for her — I always wanted to live out on my own, but on the other hand, well, I’m just plain worried! I’m a mom — what else am I supposed to do? Yes, I know — we raised her the best we could and now it’s time to let her fly. The apartment is really a cute little place…….
It’s a one bedroom with a study, so it’s like a 2 bedroom. The best part is that Sadie can go with her. An added bonus is that this unit has hardwood floors in the living room so it is more Sadie-proof.
We have been gathering stuff for her place for a while. Actually, she has been buying things longer than I have. She is pretty much set — there are only a few other small items she needs. Her bedroom furniture will go with her, she has plates (thanks, Daddy!), flatwear, utensils, and living room furniture (thanks, Kay!). I bought her 3 small lamps and a shower curtain.
She anxiously awaits move-day…. I dread it!
Update: Oops: SUE bought Jennifer 2 lamps and I bought her one.