The Week In Review!

And, oh, what a week it was!   Remember that mention of the motorhome saga?  Well, I'm going to let you in on just a little of our frustration!  We had been planning to take the motorhome in to a business that we had used in the past and had been very pleased with their work.  So.....on Monday of last week, we stowed everything and had our bags packed for an undetermined number of days without our little "house".  We drove "the Beast" to aforementioned RV business, and after going over everything that we felt needed checking out or repair, we drove away....feeling that our home was in good hands and would be returned to us in better shape than when we had left it.  We settled in with gracious friends and looked forward  to the week.  Well, that was on Monday.  On Wednesday we got a call that our motorhome was ready and we could come pick it up.  So excited....!  Yay!   Hooray!  Ugh....that "hooray" quickly changed to disbelief  as he told us what he thought we should do or have done....the very things that we had thought HE was going to fix!  So after almost three days, we had our home back....but in no better shape than it had left.  And I think WE were in WORSE shape!  (BTW - we now have an appointment for the Beast next week - with someone else, you can be sure!)

In the midst of all of this, Willie's daughter Amber was coming to the Beach for a visit (which included her 30th birthday), I had several doctor's appointments, and had also volunteered to be at Brandon's end-of-school-year party!  But I must say, the rest of the week was certainly better than the motorhome fiasco!

Willie spent most of the day on Thursday with Amber (she helped him with some yard work here at the church and they took a long walk on the beach.....ouch....can you say, SUNBURN?!),

while I went to Brandon's school for the party. 

 

Sorry, no pictures of the walk on the beach....I wasn't there to take the pictures!  ;-)

Saturday was Amber's birthday,

and family and friends gathered at Becky and James' for a celebatory cookout! 

Willie and I got to meet Tom's girlfriend, Angel

and we hope to meet up with them later in the summer so we can visit a little more.

We also got to hear about Cody's new summer internship with the City of Va Beach (which he started today).

And of course, to enjoy birthday cake (german chocolate by request).

Happy 30th Birthday, Amber!

 And that, folks, is our week in review! 

Another Birthday Shout-Out!

Today is the day that Amber, Willie's youngest daughter, turns the big 30!  We celebrated at Becky and James' house with family and friends....

Happy Birthday, Amber!

Birthday Greetings and Other "Stuff"!

Let's start with the other "stuff"!  It has been a busy week so far.....between doctor appointments (nothing major),  taking the motorhome in for what we thought were repairs (I'll share the motorhome saga in a later post), end of school activities and visits with family (Amber, Willie's youngest, is in town for several days).  And the week is not over yet.....whew!!

It's time for birthday greetings....to Ted, Willie's oldest,

who is making us feel VERY old since he is now 44!  Ouch!   Regardless, we want to wish him a Happy Birthday and a great year.

Peace.....

So grateful for God's peace in the midst of life's storms!!

Field Trip!!

Yup...you heard right....we decided it was time for another field trip!   This time we thought we'd head down to Elizabeth City, NC and surprise some friends that were going to be set up at the Farmer's Market in downtown EC, and then make our way make up to Suffolk and check out Davis Lakes campground.


It was a gorgeous day for a drive....and so we drove through the lower part of Va. Beach and Chesapeake past fields and fields of corn, soybeans, and who-knows-what-else, along the edge of the Great Dismal Swamp.  It's hard to believe that Willie and I had both lived here for many years, and neither of us have ever been IN the GDS.  They have a few tours into the swamp but for some reason, we never "signed up".   Maybe we'll have to rectify that while we're here.

One thing I had forgotten about, but was quickly reminded of, was the intercoastal waterway, with its many crossings in southern Virginia.....and the resultant bridge liftings...

So we sat and waited as the bridge lifted, the boat passed through and the bridge lowered.....really not long at all....just long enough ot make us stop and take a few minutes to enjoy our surroundings.

It didn't take us long to find the Farmer's Market once we made it to the quaint downtown and wharf area of Elizabeth City.....I just love the individuality of old storefronts....

 ...and then to surprise our friends, Duane and Sherry, who have their own business, Bunch of Munchies,

specializing in dip, dessert, soup and other goody mixes.   It was sooooo neat to surprise them after so many years....tho' Willie didn't get to pull his harassment act since Sherry recognized him immediately!  We spent a couple of hours chatting and doing a little catching up....

and we even let Sherry sell a few things now and then......(gotta' keep her in business, ya' know)...

.....and oh, my.....what goodies she had for sale!  Have you ever heard of waffle iron brownies?  Well, she had 'em!  And generous lady that she is, she sent us home with several things to try, including the waffle iron brownies, Vidalia Onion cornbread, and Cheddar Bay Biscuits!

I can't wait to start trying them, but think I'll wait a week or so until we have the motorhome back and are settled back in.  (FYI - it is going in to the RV doctor on Monday for some much needed work, and we don't know how long it will have to stay.)  But be looking for the samples I'll share with you as I "whip up" each of the delectable treats....mmmmmm.....my mouth is watering now, and I bet yours will be, too!

And, of course, I had to make a stop at the flower and herb stand where I purchased a small pot of chives to add to my container herb garden.  Let's see....so far I have flat parsley, basil, dill and now chives.....luuuuuv those fresh herbs!

I could tell you about the remainder of our field trip, but I'll be honest.....the rest of it paled in comparison, and the campground was nothing exciting, but it was a GOOOOD day, and we really enjoyed our outing.

For those of you who have been praying for Jon, please continue to do so.  He is doing some better, and we are so grateful, but continue to pray that God will restore him to complete health.  (Test results should be back next week.)

Tomorrow is the Lord's Day.....remember to give Him praise and glory for WHO He is and for all that He has done!   Blessings......

PRAYER!! (Edited)

We KNOW the awesome power of prayer.....we've seen God answer those fervent prayers so many times in our lives.  From when I was a baby with a tumor on my head....with the doctor's grim pronouncement that I most probably would not live past the age of two, and if I did....well, I would be a vegetable....to countless other times that heaven was bombarded with our prayers.  The answers to prayer have continued...some not always the way I had prayed for them to turn out, but again, God knew what was best.  Right now I am praying for answers to prayer....and I ask that you join me. Our son, Jon, has been battling a Strep F infection for four weeks....finishing up fourth round of antibiotics and it is still not resolved.  After visits to several doctors, including his primary care doc, two ENTs and a trip to the ER, they have referred him to the infectious disease clinic at Vanderbilt Hospital, where he has an appointment at 9:40 tomorrow (Weds) morning.  Please pray for wisdom for the doctors and other health care professionals, and we pray for a quick and complete healing.

If you have burdens on your heart that you are bringing before the throne of God on a daily basis, and would like for us to lift you up during our time with the Lord, just leave a comment or contact me through FB message.  I would be honored to join you in prayer as I ask that you join with us in prayer.

Praise Team and Date Night!

Yes, I know, that is somewhat a disjointed title, but this may be a disjointed post, so it seems to fit!

The music that was chosen for this morning's worship service really spoke to my heart....thank you, Rhona, for allowing the Holy Spirit to work through you as you choose the music each week.  It is definitely a gift from above!  And during the past weeks I have once again realized what a privilege and blessing it is to be part of a praise team....to see and feel the Spirit working is such an awesome thing, so a big thanks to the music ministry of TCN for allowing me the privilege to be a part of such an important part of ministry and worship....I am honored and grateful to you, and to the Lord, who has given us the gift of words and music that mesh and meld in such a way that sometimes we are ushered into such a sweet spirit of communion with our Lord.  Praise His glorious name.

Now for the second part of this post.....Saturday was DATE NIGHT!!!  We had decided that we wanted to try out the Lynnhaven Fish House....lived here for how many years (too many!) and had never been.  Went early, thinking that it would probably be crowded....it wasn't crowded, but we were glad we DID go early....got primo seating right by the window with an excellent view of the Chesapeake Bay.  It was a very relaxing dining experience....and even tho' the she-crab soup was touted to be the best in Virginia Beach, it was really the crab cakes that got my attention!  Yum-yum to the max!  And Willie was happy with his choice - Scallops Lynnhaven (served over a bed of crab meat).  And the carrot cake....can't believe I turned down key-lime pie for a few bites of Willie's carrot cake, but I did.

As we sat and watched the beach goers, we were oh, so tempted to take a walk, but when we walked out the door....not so much!   The heat and humidity were just too oppressive....so we decided to take a drive....down Shore Drive, and along the oceanfront (where the crowds were oppressive) and then on out to Sandbridge and the quieter....and on this day, more importantly, cooler beaches!  We really enjoyed our walk along the beach....just strolling with no destination or agenda....NICE!  Thought I'd share a few of our photos from our walk....unretouched.  Personally, I can't wait to "play" around with them some...already thinking of some changes, and how I want them to look for the obligatory scrapbook page!

This type of view always reminds of the poem, "Footprints In The Sand"....and serves as a reminder of how God carries us through so many of the trials and troubling times in our lives. 

Maybe this post has been a little disjointed, but like our lives, God "runs through it"....weaving all into a beautiful tapestry....praising His name through music, enjoying time spent with the man God has blessed me with, and enjoying the beauty of His creation....maybe not so disjointed, after all!

God Is So Good....

An update on our SOWER friends.....after a multitude of prayers being offered on his behalf, Gary has gone from "needing emergency brain surgery" to being sent home with his wife!  Now, if that isn't God in action, I don't know what is!  As Willie said when he heard the news, "It (prayer) works!!"

Thank you, Lord, for your touch on Gary as we pray for your touch on others in our lives.  God is sooooo good!

Good Times

Hmmmmm.....family, friends, food....that MUST equal good times, right?  Well, it did for us this past week.  On Thursday, we headed over to the Palladino residence for some time with Becky and Cody. 

(Look at those cheesy grins....c'mon, guys, can't you do better than that?)

Becky, fixing our dinner....yummy!

Dinner was yummy, but dessert was even better.....brownies with fresh strawberries, whipped cream and chocolate syrup.  (Okay....THAT's why I didn't lose any weight last week!  But worth it.)  Now I want to introduce you to our entertainment for the evening....Minden, the Pom....

 

 Willie really got a kick out of watching him chase and then find a thrown ball (he - Minden, not Willie - is almost blind, but he sure uses his "smeller" to find the ball).

And then came Friday, and lunch at the beach with my good friend, Terri...

We enjoyed our salmon BLTs at Catch 31 - what a beautiful setting, and the company was pretty good, too!

...not to mention our view of the boardwalk and oceanfront

 

I was really "taken" with the color contrast....those blue glasses against the green and pinks...

 ...but there were lots of other photo ops....

 

And then came Saturday, and a trip to the Farmer's Market with Jenn and Brandon...

 

 It was Brandon's first trip to the Market, and I always love seeing things through a child's eyes....

 He really enjoyed seeing all the different pots and yard decorations, but I think this was his favorite....it brought out the giggling laugh..

 And, of course, it would be a rare day if I didn't take some flower photos....and this was NOT a rare day, in that sense....

 

 

 

 

 

 Don't they just make you smile?!!  What wonderful gifts God has given to us, His children....beautiful flowers, wondrous vistas, family and good friends....so many gifts to be grateful for and so much to smile about!

 It is wonderful to know that even in our trials and troubles, He gives us gifts.....people to care for us when we need taking care of, love to surround us when we so desperately need it.  There are many people in our lives that need those special touches, and we are so blessed when God supplies them through His people.  Today I have a request.....when God puts His thumb in your back to do or say something to uplift or help someone.....do it....do it in the moment that you feel that little push from His hand.  

We ask for prayers for SOWER friends who are in need of His touch and His uplifting and healing power......

Gary and Stephanie Conrad.  Stephanie was visiting relatives on the east coast when she got word that Gary, on a project on the west coast, was in the hospital with a subdural hematoma, and possibly facing brain surgery.   God has both of them in the palm of His hand, but we ask that you join with us in praying for His healing touch.  We serve such an awesome, all powerful, all loving God....praise His name!