OUR ANNIVERSARY GIFT TO EACH OTHER....

Psalm 69:34 Let the heaven and earth praise him,
the seas, and every thing that moveth therein.

Since we officially booked it today, we will consider our 2-week trip to Alaska in May 2008 as our anniversary gift. Our friends, John and Jeanette, started planning their trip and invited us to join in. We are so excited!!! It is a 14-day and 13-night trip with a land tour (6 nights) and then a 7-night cruise of the Glaciers aboard the Princess "Diamond" Ship. We have lots of planning to do and will get started on getting our Passports come Monday.

North to Alaska..... here we come! (Well, in 8 months that is!)
Bon Voyage!!

DEAR FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN OUR WEDDING....

Philippians 1:3 ¶ I thank my God upon every remembrance of you...

These pics of our wedding are posted in tribute to those who had a special part in our special day 34 years ago.

When you click on each picture, it will enlarge. You will notice that time has played tricks on us all. :)

NOTE: I just discovered that two or three of the pics do not enlarge. I have no idea why and apologize for that snafu on the page!

To those who are pictured, I hope you enjoy this blast from the past.

The people in these pics:

The Pastors who officiated our wedding: Susan's Dad and Bro. Jerry E.

Susan's Bridesmaids: My sisters: Karen and Nonie. Richard's sister: Diane. Susan's Friend: Jan T.

Richard's Groomsmen: Brothers: Larry and Bill. Friends: Tommy J. and John A.

Soloist and Organist: Jerry E and Steve H.

Susan and her nephews: Steve and Doug.

Richard and Susan with Richards' niece: Yvonne.

Darlene at the Bride's Book.

A "couple" picture of Bill and Darlene. In just 9 months, they would be married.

IT OUR 34TH ANNIVERSARY TODAY!

Matthew 19:5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

Happy Anniversary to us. I thank GOD for my Richard ~~ my faithful and Godly husband. It was been a wonderful 34 years together as man and wife. Oh sure, there have been and still are some days when we get crossed up and don't love each other as we should, but thankfully the word "divorce" is not in our vocabulary. Murder perhaps, but not divorce. (Just kidding!)

We were both raised in Christian homes with parents who had strong marriages. There had to have been storms, but they weathered them. I thank God for our parents as they definitely set an example for each of us as to how to have a Christian marriage and, therefore, a Christian home. I post the wedding pic of us with our parents as a loving tribute to them today. They are all four safely arrived at home in Heaven so we know we will see them again someday.

The visible fruits of our marriage are our two WONDERFUL "kids." It's hard to call Amy and Chip kids as they are approaching 32 and 30 years old respectively. What a joy it was to raise our two off-spring. We always said that Amy was the sunshine in our home and Chip was the fun. We thank God for our two children each and every day. And now to be GRANDparents to Amy's four children is such a blessing. We look forward to Chip's future as a husband and father if that is God's will for him.

God has blessed us abundantly. Richard's profession provided well, and I didn't have to work but was able to be a full-time mom for Amy and Chip. When the time came that the kids were in school and I wanted to go back into my secretarial field, Richard gave me his blessing. I volunteered for many years in the church office and then worked my last 8 years at our Christian School.

Thirty-four years. They have been wonderful, and I pray that the Lord will bless us with many more happy and healthy years. Happy Anniversary to us!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy 34th Anniversary to Us!

Ruth 1:16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:


Saturday, September 29, is our 34th anniversary, but we started celebrating tonight. We have a favorite little restaurant ~~ Sunset Grill ~~ out on the water. It isaptly named for you sit on the back porch and watch the sun set while eating. It is such a lovely and tranquil dinner. Richard and I had a good time talking to other folks (strangers) who were there. We rode over to Gulf Shores and enjoyed that ride and then back home again.

Since we aren't going anywhere, we are acting as though we are out of town with plans to eat out several times over the weekend. We are going to get up and go out for an early breakfast. For lunch on Saturday, we have invited Brian, Amy, and the kids to join us. (We need to call Chip and tell him to have a meal out on us tomorrow since he can't be here with us.) And then we will get in our favorite BAMA ballgame foods and hunker down to watch the game (against Florida State) tomorrow evening.

What a fun anniversary this is turning out to be!!! Happy Anniversary, Richard. I love you!!!!

Marcyne ~~ A Friend of Faith

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Today I had the precious privilege of taking my friend, Marcyne, to the hospital to have a breast biopsy. Why was this such a special privilege? Until 3 months ago, I didn't even know Marcyne and yet she called on me to help her regarding today's event.

Marcyne is a member of our church (a long-time member) but Richard and I didn't personally know her nor her husband. In a large church, you simply don't know everyone. Marcyne's devoted husband died on June 14 following a lengthy battle with cancer. Just 3-1/2 months ago she lost Don of cancer and today she faced the situation of possibly hearing that same diagnosis for herself.

Digression.... I was with my daughter Amy in Wal-Mart one Saturday shortly after Marcyne's husband died, and we ran into her. Amy introduced Marcyne and me. I learned she was off of work for several weeks following the death of her husband so invited her to go to lunch with me one day. We planned a date right then and there. I invited a mutual friend of ours ~~ Ann ~~ to go as well -- just in case Marcyne and I didn't hit it off. (Not really for that purpose. Ann is a very special lady and knows Marcyne so I knew Ann would be able to minister to her as a friend.) Not to worry... Marcyne became a new dear friend over lunch that day. She talked a lot about her late husband and how God showed Himself so real to her and Don during his illness. It was quickly evident that she is a very strong believer. She endeared herself to me with her testimony of faith in the Lord. After leaving from the luncheon that day, I asked God to help me be as strong as she is if takes Richard home before me.

With Marcyne working a full-time job and me busy with Richard and the family, we hadn't done anything else together ~~ just always exchange a hug when we see each other at church. So, it was a real blessing to me when she asked me at church on the 19th if I would go with her to have her breast biopsy done on the 28th. I cleared it with the Friday Bible Study leader and then told Marcyne that I would be privileged to take her and be with her.

As is true to form, her faith was strong today. She had to have had a miriad of emotions whirling around in her heart and mind's-eye as she was back at the same hospital where her sick husband was in and out for so many times during his illness. But she had a big smile and a confidence in the Lord that He would over-shadow her and keep her in His loving care ~~ no matter what!!

She had the biopsy. The surgeon thought everything is okay but, of course, sent the specimen on to pathology to be tested for cancer. Marcyne won't get the report until later but left the hospital with the assurance that her God is working His will in her life ~~ no matter what. My faith was increased as I observed her today. God is so good to show of glimpses of Himself in others. I surely hope all is well with Marcyne. I know there is so much more to be learned from spending time with my new friend.

Our "By Request" Monday Night Dinner

Proverbs 18:20 ¶ A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
























It was a blast cooking each grandchild's requested dish for Monday night's dinner. Jarrett had his hot wings, Belle had her stuffed pepper, Josh had his chicken parmesan, and Jaden had has sweet tea. Jaden thought he was big stuff serving the spaghetti noodles. So, we had a fun dinner with the GRANDkids while Brian and Amy had the night "off" and dinner out. Life doesn't get any better than this for a Grandma and Grandpa!! By the way, Richard ate the chicken parmesan with Josh, and I ate a stuffed bell pepper with Belle. YUM!!!

Dinner Hodge-Podge

Proverbs 31:14~~~ She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

It's Monday!! I do enjoy Mondays for it is the one standing day that I set aside to pick up my GRANDkids from school at 3:00. We come home, have a snack together, and then the school crew gets their homework done while Jaden plays and Grandma fixes dinner for the fam. This evening, Amy and Brian are going out for dinner so we will just have the 4 grandkids around our supper table. I asked each of them what they would like to have for dinner and here are their answers: Jarrett (hot wings), Isabella (stuffed bell peppers), Josh (chicken parmesan), and Jaden (tea). Well, none of those are hard, so I am going to surprise them and have their requests for them at dinner. Won't that be a hodge-podge?! And let me say, that I am thankful I don't have to go "afar" to bring in food but will enjoy shopping at Wal-Mart to get the needed ingredients.

Grandmas can do "fun" things like that once in a while. Maybe I'll even snap a pic of each GRAND with their meal and post here tonight. Those four are my favorite "subjects" for sure!!

Lazy Saturday Mornings Are Best!

Proverbs 17:6 ¶ Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

I know people probably don't believe it, but even with our daughter, son-in-law and the 4 grandkids next door, we don't see them THAT often to spend good quality time together. We can watch out our front window and see them coming and going (we're not spying but just happen to see them at times) but they live very busy lives and we don't get together every day. I pick up the four grandkids from school/nursery on Mondays and then feed the family dinner on Monday night. Amy has us over for dinner on Tuesday nights and that is it for any regular interaction for the week. Well, I keep the youngest grandchild on Wednesdays, but Jaden has gotten big enough to come over by himself so I don't necessarily see Amy on those mornings.

As I write all of that, I realize how very blessed I am to have my daughter and her family next door. I have friends whose grandkids live in Maryland, Morocco, Mississippi, etc. We are very blessed indeed to be right here ~~ next door to our crew. And I have to "admit" that we invited them over for Saturday breakfast and enjoyed an impromptu 3-hour visit. As I said, it is rare to have "quality" time so we surely enjoyed our laid-back Saturday morning. The pics were made after breakfast of the kids playing. Grandpa Richard was helping Belle and Josh with their kites. It was a fun time.

FELLOWSHIP ONE WITH ANOTHER

1 John 1:7~~~ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

As a woman, it is a blessing to have sweet Christian friends who encourage me in the Lord and with whom I can fellowship in the bond of our Christianity. Such is the new friendship I have in Lucille. It was a fun time at her lovely home this morning watching the kids play and enjoying some great adult conversation with Lucille. She served a delicious lunch and then we parted ways so that the little ones could get their afternoon naps for church tonight. Jaden LOVED the big slide and the trampoline, and it wore him out. He has had his bath and is sound asleep following his fun morning and yummy lunch.

WEDNESDAYS ARE SPECIAL!!

Grandchildren Are God's Reward for Growing Old(er)....

This picture is of Jaden coming over this morning... in his pjs, with his "bedhead", and with a big smile. You see, Wednesdays are special for us both as this is the day I keep Jaden home from nursery for a break in his week and a fun day for us. We have a standing arrangement to get together with my grandma friend Lucille and her granddaughter Cailyn who is Jaden's age. Last week they came to our house to play and for lunch, and this morning, Jaden and I are going to their house for play and for lunch. This is our first time to go to their house so we are both excited. I know a secret but won't spoil the surprise for Jaden. Granny Lucille has one of those big blow-up water slides and Jaden is going to get to play on it with Cailyn this morning. That should make for some fun playtime and some good pics. :) Speaking of which, I need to get the boy dressed so we are ready to go here in a bit.