Pirates and Cowgirls!

This year for halloween, we decided to be a little creative.  We would not buy costumes but would use things that we already had at our house.  So M was a pirate.....

And E was a cowgirl.

We usually just go trick or treat at grandparents but this year one of E's friends invited us over to trick or treat in her neighborhood and the kids had a blast!

Hart Square

A few weeks ago, we went back in time about 200 years.  We went to Hart Square.  It is an amazing place that is literally 5 miles from my house!  Dr. Hart, a local doctor in our area, has found old homes and cabins from over 200 years ago.  He locates them, disassembles them and moves them back to his property and puts them back together.  This place is only open to the public 1 day a year and there are very limited tickets to get in!  Here are a few pics to share!

You would not believe how massive this place is and you cannot see it from the road.  It is amazing!  There is over 90 different buildings representing the past.  

Panning for gold.

We absolutely loved it there!  We stayed all day!  It was so much fun and we have decided this is going to be a new family tradition that we will do every year but next year we are taking more people with us.  Absolutely amazing!

Not fitting in. . .

Do you ever feel like you just don't fit in???  I try my hardest not to let things bother me, but there are times I just feel like an outsider in my life.  I try to please people and make everyone happy.  I like to be included in things but sometimes I'm not.  I know I do not need to look for approval from others but I do.  I look for my parents approval but struggle at times to feel I fit in my own family.  I look for my friends approval, my co-workers, people I go to church with, and the list goes on and on.  I feel the enemy trying to defeat me all the time because I can never live up to my own expectations of who I should be.  I know I will not at times be asked to be a part of certain things even though sometimes it hurts.  I have got to realize that the only one I need to strive to please is God.  I know I may struggle with this but I am going to let Him feel me with peace and pray the enemy away so I do not doubt myself because I know I do fit in with God.  He loves me more than anyone else.

Girls Night at the Theatre!

A few weeks ago, E and I went to a local theatre with my sis-in-law and 2 of her daughters to see the Wizard of Oz.

We had a great time with just the girls and the play was GREAT!!  One of E's friends from school was a munchkin in the Lullaby Guild.

Few pics of E with characters from play.

We had a great time!

Hunting with Daddy!

For those of you with hunters in your house, you know that it is that time of the year again.  E and M are so into wanting to hunt with their daddy.  I don't think they are ready for deer hunting(plus I am a little scared of that), but last week started dove season.  I know, doesn't sound too exciting but to Michael, E and M it is a HUGE deal!  So, on Labor Day, Michael took the kids hunting for dove.

Here are my hunters!  Yes, E and M both have a dove in their hand after their daddy shot them.  They had so much fun and if you are wondering, they did have dove for supper.  Me, no!  I had a turkey sandwich! Ha!

I am so thankful to have a husband that loves to involve his children in things that he is interested in.  He is such a great daddy and I am so thankful for him!  I am blessed!

Catch Up Time!

OK, to say I have been too busy to post lately is an understatement but I want to post about all that has been going on since the last post.

First off, me and the kids went to our church's children's camp this year.  I went as a counselor and this was the first year M got to go.  He is actually still too young but the leaders were very understanding and let him come along because Michael was working and I didn't want to leave him with anyone else since we had just been in Vegas 2 weeks before.

He had so much fun!  I think he fit right in and didn't have a clue that he was younger than everyone else.

I was blessed to get to be in E's group this year.  She had so much fun but I had a great time being with her and seeing her learning about Love.  I came across some notes she took during one of our sessions the other day and it just made me so happy to see her heart taking in what was being said.

E and her cousin G canoeing at camp.

So, the next weekend, I guess we had not actually "camped" so some of our friends from church all got together and camped on the lake.  I have to say I have never tent camped before but it wasn't too bad.  We had alot of fun talking and hanging out with everyone and "jug fishing".

Our little home on "survivor island"

It was an island, in the middle of the lake.  I was very nervous about the whole "bathroom" issue cause I am not an outdoorsy girl.  I like outdoors but I also like my mattress, air conditioning and bathroom. Ha! Thanks to the guidance of our trusty friend Tina, and her leg to use as our handicap rail we survived, didn't we Mandy?!! 

Michael loving camping and eating a yummy breakfast!

All the kids having fun in the lake.

Ok, I told you we have been busy!  So the next weekend we went to the beach with my family to move my little brother to college.  We left a day before everyone else though and enjoyed a day on the beach.

I love the beach!  Fortunately, when we go to the beach we always stay at my great aunts beach house.  It is so nice to just go down and hang out. Love it!  But check out this pic!

Do you see it?  There was a storm out off of the beach and it was sunny on the beach but you could see this storm and all of a sudden a waterspout formed!  It was pretty cool to see and it actually got a little bigger before it went away.

While we were at the beach, we met some friends of our family that we used to go to church with until they moved to Wilmington.  It was so good to see them!

Then, Saturday came.  The day to move Tyler to college.  Broke my heart!  He was born the day after my 15th birthday so I have kind of mothered him his whole life.  He is such an awesome person and I know God has great plans for him.

Both the kids had their UNCW shirts on.  Saying goodbye was hard and I didn't let him see me cry.  I walked to the truck crying but he never saw me.  After we left the college, me, Michael and the kids went to the USS North Carolina Battleship.

We had alot of fun!  It was unbearably hot though but one cool thing we found was a list of people who served on the ship from our area.  We were real surprised to find Michael's great uncles name on the list.

Pretty cool!  

Well, that pretty much sums up the rest of our summer.  Told you we have been busy.  Will post about all our school activities soon.  We had an extremely busy summer but a good one with tons of memories.  I think next summer though, we are going to slow it down a notch.  Hope you all had a great summer!  I am so ready for Fall!  My favorite season!

Viva Las Vegas!!!

Two weeks ago, I went on a trip to Las Vegas for a business conference for my job.  I was so excited but also so nervous.  First off, I have NEVER flown before and this was no small trip!  Plus, leaving my babies behind and being almost 2,000 miles away made me very nervous.  I knew they would be in good hands with my parents but I have an issue with control.  Anybody else like that?

Fortunately, Michael was able to go with me.  It is a good thing cause I don't know who else's hand I would have squeezed so tight on the plane when we took off.  I actually left nail prints in his hand!  Well, we took off but I never realized a plane shook so much!  Scared me so much!  Thank you to everyone who I sent out my panicked text to requesting prayer when I was sitting in the airport.  Once we got up to about 30,000 feet I calmed down and was able to relax.  Michael kept trying to go to sleep cause he had worked the night before and he had only gotten 2 hours sleep before we had to get to the airport but he didn't get much.  I think he was too excited about our trip plus every time we hit turbulence I would grab his arm.

I finally started to enjoy flying and looking out the window.  Flying over the Mississippi River.

Flying over the beautiful Grand Canyon!

It was absolutely breath-taking!  How awesome is our God to give us such beauty to look at!  So amazing!

Once we landed, which the landing was rough.  I thought I was on a roller coaster and was going to throw up but we finally touched the ground and I was fine then.  Just so you know, I wasn't the only one.  It was pretty rough!

Anyways, when we landed is was ONLY 111 degrees outside!! We got to our hotel and were blown away by our room.

It was a very, very nice suite and we had an amazing view.

Our hotel was so huge we got lost.  Once we got there we had to go register for the trade show we were attending and then get ready for a reception we needed to go to.  It was very nice but once it was over we were exhausted and called it a day.

On Thursday and Friday, I had classes to go to and the trade show to go to also.  I learned alot.  We got to eat some great meals.  On Thursday night, our conference had a concert for all of us with Leeann Rimes.

She gave a great concert.  She is actually the first person that I have heard in concert that actually sounds like what we here on the radio.  She did a great job and was very personable.  She would stop and take pictures with people and seemed very down to earth.

Over those 2 days, we walked the strip to see the different hotels.

The Mirage

Inside Ceasar's Palace

Eifel Tower at Hotel Paris

We went up in the Eifel Tower, which was 1/2 the size of the actual one.  We went up 46 stories and we saw an amazing view.

You could see forever and the lights were beautiful!  We also got up at the top of the tower just in time to see the Fountains at the Bellagio.

We promised the kids that we would get them some M&M's at M&M World while we were there.  We decided to walk there.  We didn't realize it was that far and we were shocked at what we saw on the way.  When they say Sin City, they are not joking.  I was very uncomfortable and felt like just yuck trying to get to M&M World.  I have lived a very sheltered life and was blown away by the things I saw.  We made to M&M World and there is a whole other story once we got there but the kids got their M&M's.  We then went to Coke World and Michael tasted all the different flavors from around the world.  Pretty neat but I was ready to get back in the safety of our hotel so we grabbed a bus and got back to our "home" away from home.

Saturday morning, we got up and went on a Pink Jeep Tour to Hoover Dam.

I have to admit, this was my favorite thing of our whole trip.  I like historical landmark type stuff and this was right up mine and Michael's alley.  No big crowds and no other stuff, just lots of open space with beautiful Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam.

Beautiful!  It was hot so I am so glad we took the morning tour.

On our way back, we were looking through the desert and our driver took us by this park with lots of Big Horn Sheep.  Michael just loved it!

Of course, in his mind he was already dreaming of a hunting trip to come back out here to get one of these.  It was a great day!  We came back and collapsed from exhaustion.  We got ready and went to our final dinner before we took the red-eye home.

I have to say we had a wonderful time.  Even though I was in shock and uncomfortable at times, it was an experience I will never forget.  Thank you to Melinda for giving me this awesome opportunity and trusting me enough to do a good job for you!  We both appreciate it and thank you from the bottom of our heart!

We had alot smoother flight home and were exhausted but so happy to see the kids!  This trip taught me alot about me too.  I had to trust God to protect us and our children while we were gone.  Everytime I would get in a tizzy before our trip, I felt Him tell me that He is in control and He can take care of us better than we can.  I also learned that I need to be more confident in myself.  I met people from all over the country and I had to present myself professionally.  I am sometimes shy around certain people but this made me step out and become bold and just introduce myself and meet many interesting people.  I am thankful for that!

Thanks again for your prayers and again, Melinda, thank you for sending me!  Love ya!