PARRRRRTY TIME!

Nathan's 5th birthday was on the 15th, but Saturday was the appointed day for the celebration. He had chosen to have a monkey cake (could be because we are always calling him our little monkey...a tendency to climb, swing, jump, etc., could just possibly have something to do with that). 

Janelle had started making the monkey pinata days before..... 

and on Friday I started on the cake.  Everything was going well....cake done, decorated and stored away in a nice, safe place. The problems began on Saturday morning when I preheated the oven. You guessed it...the nice, safe place was the oven! Unfortunately, I didn't remember until I smelled it....cake, covered with LOTS of icing, warming up! 

Not exactly what the directions called for!

You can probably guess my reaction....and yes, it included a few tears. 

But after scraping off the melted frosting and checking the condition of the cake, we decided that it was still edible (and we DID have two dozen cupcakes in reserve)....so I proceeded to decorate it for the second time. This time, tho', I used a MUCH larger tip, so instead of two plus hours, I was able to get it done in an hour...in plenty of time for the party. 

 Not too bad, if I do say so myself...all things considered!

And the pinata didn't turn out too badly, either, I'd say! 

As you can tell, Nathan had a good time....and LOVED his presents. 

 

  

 

 It was a very special birthday for a very special little boy. As a side note, Chris, Nathan's daddy, was supposed to be home from Afghanistan in time for Nathan's birthday, but on Christmas Day, their battalion was officially notified (by e-mail), that they were being extended and wouldn't be home until April. Tough news for a little guy who doesn't always process things the way we do. So we decided to make the trip from Talladega to Gulfport to help make things a little better for him....but the real "icing on the cake", so to speak, was the fact that his Uncle Jon flew down for the party. 

 

A little boy's joy!

There are more photos to post, but they will have to wait until another day.  For now, take joy in those around you.....they are truly one of God's greatest gifts!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

It's time for a Happy Birthday shout-out to our favorite red-headed grandson....oh, wait....he's our ONLY red-headed grandson!

HAPPY FIFTH BIRTHDAY, NATHAN...

 

Yup, that's our silly, Nate!

We love you, buddy!

MONTH #2

Well, the snow is gone....I suppose that I'm glad, but it WAS sooooo pretty.  Now I guess I'll wait for the first flowers of spring that should be poking their heads up in the next couple of weeks!

I know that I promised to post an update on the project here (Shocco Springs)....didn't quite make it on Saturday, but two days late is better than a week late, right?  At least that's what I am telling myself!

We are now into the second week of the project, and we are doing more of the same.  Wait...I am doing more of the same, but Willie has moved on to "bigger and better" things.  Well, at least other things.  He has been working in the maintenance shop the last few days....there are always vacuum cleaners, ironing boards, and lamps that need to be repaired.  Today he repaired and cleaned up a picnic table that had been "out of service" for a long time.  Nothing really big, but all of these little chores get pushed to the side when there are more pressing (ooo...pun was NOT intended, but it'll do) things to be done.   So the pile of "little" stuff just keeps getting bigger and bigger....and now, he has at least made a dent in it!

I am continuing to work in the office, cataloguing and labeling digital photos, along with doing some drafting and editing of text for the website and print material.  All of which I thoroughly enjoy, so I don't mind that I am doing the same thing I did last month!!

Again this month there is a group of MMAP volunteers that are here working.  We are enjoying devotions and meal times together....it is always nice to meet other Christians who are involved in working for the Lord in their "golden" (??) years and to know that even tho' we may have a different "name", we are serving the same Lord.

Therapy sessions are continuing for my shoulder....which is doing remarkably well...praise the Lord! I am continually reminded of His love and protection...what an awesome God!

SNOW DAY!

Well, today marked the end of the first work week of our second project month here at Shocco Springs....and what a day it turned out to be!  I thought I'd share some of the photos that we took as we walked around this afternoon...everything looks somehow different and clean with a fresh blanket of snow.  Enjoy!

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Goodnight, all....tomorrow I'll share some of what we have been doing this past week.  Until then, enjoy the beauty of God's world, whether it is blanketed in snow, basking in sunshine, or bathed in the soft darkness of night....it is a gift!

OVER, BUT NOT DONE!

Does that sound as confusing to you as it does to me?!  Let me explain....the January SOWERs project here at Shocco is over.  Actually, it ended last Thursday, but we are not done...Willie and I are both putting in some hours this week to make up for hours that were not worked earlier in the month.  (Something about a car accident!)

Willie has been working with Tina on a couple of projects, and in addition has spent MANY hours painting bunkbeds in the Adventure Camp....he hopes to finish up tomorrow morning.  As for me, I have been putting in a few hours (here and there) at the Admin Office....mainly working with photos and drafting/editing text for website changes/additions.  Next month should be a little more "structured"....trying to get my physical therapy scheduled for the afternoon hours so as not to interfere with SOWER work hours.

I do want to take a moment to express appreciation to Shocco Springs and to the staff here.  From the moment of the accident 'til now, they have been nothing other than Christ's hands and feet to us!  What was a frightening experience in so many ways was made so much easier by their love, their prayers and their offers of help.....a true example of Christian love.  I would start "naming names", but I am sure I would leave out someone who had been especially helpful or kind.....so I won't.   But I will say that we feel truly blessed!

February will be a month of continued healing for me, work here at Shocco, and, hopefully, some weekend "field trips".  We will be driving down to Gulfport later in the month to help Nathan celebrate his fifth birthday...won't make up for Daddy not being there, but Mimi and Papa can give lots of hugs and love!

Spring isn't here yet, but the last few days have seen a large number of birds - from chicadees, to raspberry finches, to sparrows and a few tufted titmouse feathered friends!  We have even seen a male cardinal on the feeder a number of times....of course, never when my camera is in reach.  I am looking forward to the signs of new life that will soon start appearing here....spring is such a reminder of the newness of life that a relationship with Christ can bring!