Memorial Day - Proper Respect to Old Glory

Memorial Day -
A day to honor and pay respect to those who have served our country and to those who are still serving.

Jonah, along with his boy scout troop, was given the honor to participate in a flag retirement ceremony this morning. Over thirty flags were retired this morning by way of inspection and then burning. These were flags that once blew in the wind in front of public buildings or personal residences. Flags that stand for our freedom in this country. There were large flags as well as the small flag that attaches to a car window. Some of the flags were soiled, while others were torn and faded.

Along with the National Anthem, a 21 gun salute, an explanation of the 13 thirteen folds of a flag (which was very interesting), each boy scout unfolded the flags that were brought, carefully walked with the flag to the fire, threw the flag in and then paused before another flag was burned.


On our way home, I asked Jonah how he felt about the ceremony and in his words he told me that it was the greatest honor to be part of a ceremony like this one.

No, the umbrella was not because of rain but instead Courtney, along with many other spectators, used the umbrella to shade the sun during the ceremony. It was a very hot morning.

Heading to the Beach

Just a note to say that this blog will be quite for a week. We are heading to the beach with the Sowders and also going to Ocala for a little house hunting trip (wish us luck, the houses are a lot different then here).

I thought these pictures fit the blog. This is Zoey, the kids hamster and a little mommy to 5 baby hamsters. Courtney and Jonah took Zoey for a ride in two of Courtney's barbie vehicles. We think that Zoey's favorite was the red Volkswagon.

Flying High

These are such fun photos of Jonah on the trampoline with the sprinkler on the ground. He definitely has no fear and will try anything once.

Mother's Day

To all moms, I hope that you had a wonderful Mother's Day yesterday. The weather here was beautiful. The sky was clear and there was a light breeze. In fact I think I can honestly say that yesterday was a good day. Yes, I missed my mom yesterday and a few tears were shed.

We started and ended the day yesterday by attending church. For lunch we enjoyed the company of some friends at a local restaurant and even though we had an hour wait, the company was good and I would not have went elsewhere. After lunch we spent the afternoon together as a family with taking a few moments to remember my mom. Since my mother has passed away, every Mother's day we release a balloon with note to my mom. The first year it seem kinda silly and the kids were not to sure on releasing a balloon. However this year the kids made sure that we bought a Mother's Day balloon for "Shishee" (that's the name Jonah gave my mom when he was little and it stuck). We went to the park after attach a note and watched it float away until we could see it no more.

I thank God that he made me a MOM!

What a Week

What week it has been? One of those weeks when it feels like it should be Saturday and it is only Thursday. Not a horrible week, just crazy as we try to get so many things done before we begin the next chapter in our life. We started the week off with church on Sunday and an afternoon nap (YEAH!!!). Monday we celebrated Courtney's 9th birthday. It is so hard to believe that our little girl is now 9. It seems like just yesterday we were bringing her home from the hospital. She looked just like Jonah but with a pink dress on. Courtney has decided to wait until June for her birthday party so that she can have a pool party. But she was able to open her gifts from Phillip and I, as well as from Jonah before we took her out for her birthday supper.

Happy Birthday Courtney!!!

On Tuesday, we celebrated Phillip's birthday. I won't tell you how old he is, but he did receive his daughter as his 30th birthday gift. The kids gave Phillip this Florida Gator Football Championship shirt (go Gators!). Phillip chose to delay his birthday supper until Wednesday evening, which little did he know we would eat at our favorite restaurant Carrabba's for his birthday.

Happy Birthday Phillip!!!

On Wednesday, Phillip and I both woke up at 3 am unable to sleep. It did not help that both of us was awake and kept each other awake talking about different things. Then around 5 we turned on the news and I was trying to fall back asleep I hear them mention on TV, fires in our hometown. Well, immediately I sit straight up in bed (going back to sleep was out of the question by now). Too early to call my dad, I decide to research it on the internet (what did we ever do without it). Sure enough 3 different fires are burning around my hometown. I was able to learn that no houses have been destroyed at that time. Later, that morning I was able to speak with my father and he was not in any danger at the time, but he was informed to be on the alert and watch the direction of the wind. Please pray that Florida gets much needed rain.

Wednesday was also Grand Jury day for me which I am happy to say that we were done by mid morning which made in possible for myself to ride to St. Jude's Children's Hospital in Memphis with Phillip and the kids to deliver right at 1400 books. Phillip's store had collected these books and he wanted to deliver them himself before he changed positions. Which was a great experience for the kids. We never imagine the hospital being so large and so spread out. Jonah and Courtney helped delivered the books and were able to see several kids from a distance. (Can you believe I left home without my camera?) It was an enjoyable day, one that makes you appreciate life. The kids did great on the fast trip and it was a fast trip. I would have loved to been able to see a little of Memphis, maybe another day. We did find a Carrabba's, which made Phillip and I very happy. I won't go into the long details but the 4 hour trip home ended up taking up over 6 hours. Due to an accident on the interstate, we sat between the two exits in Franklin for 2 hours, in fact the kids turned on the DVD player and was able to watch the entire Cheaper by the Dozen movie while we sat in traffic.

Thursday was a catch up day for us and a preparation day for Friday. On Friday, the kids helped me clean the house, which there will be a reward for next week, b/c they were a great help. Our realtor and friend came and put the official sign in our yard Friday afternoon, the sign that had all of our neighbors wondering what was going on. Friday, was also Phillip's last day as store manager. The store threw him a going away lunch and even a few employees were teary eyed (imagine that).

I guess today we will be busy again moving furniture around making the house an "inviting place with useful space" (yes, I watch way to much HGTV). By the way, we have a showing on the house today (YIKES!!!).

Well, to all my friends out there, I hope you have a great weekend. To all the moms, Happy Mother's Day, we all desire it!!!

School's Out for the Summer

Last Friday was our official last day of school for the 2006 - 2007 school year (yeah!!!). This year has flew by. I can not believe that I now have a 4th grader and a 6th grader. Where does time go? These pictures were taken last Thursday at the Home School Association's field day (yes, home schoolers do have some activities like the public schools).

Check out the tennis ball in mid air and Yes, that is Andrew G. with his mouth WIDE open. Of course, I am sure that Jonah is going to love having a picture of him on a pink tricycle.

Go, Courtney, GO!!!!

Can you do this? I surely can't!



Both kids took a semester of Martial Arts through the home school co-op. These pictures were taken of Courtney showing off her stuff (watch out boys).

673.5 Miles Away

673.5 miles away is our new home.
The word is out, we are moving. I am not sure when and I am not sure address wise where. I do know that somewhere in or around Ocala, Florida is a house that soon will be our new home. An hour from Disney, an hour from the Gulf of Mexico, an hour from grandparents and family and an hour plus from the Atlantic Ocean. Yes, we are leaving Tornado country for Hurricane country. Ocala does have rolling hills and lots of horse farms just like B.G. and I think size wise its very close to the same. Ocala also has a Hobby Lobby and a Joann (so Judith when you can't find that paper pack that you just got to have, call me).
The kids are excited and Phillip is looking forward to the new challenge that awaits him with his new job. As for myself, I wish I could have it all. I am sad to leave my scrapbook buddies, my spoon playing friends, the Mafia group, our neighbors, and our wonderful church family that has been there so many times over the last 6 years. We have been blessed with such wonderful friends who have touched our lifes forever, friends that we will never forget.

We will truly miss our friends here, but look forward to many visitors in Florida. Come crash at our place in the "Sunshine State" is what I am telling everyone.

What a day?

Do you ever have those days when you just want to crawl back into bed, pull the covers over your head and stay there all day? Well, today has been one of those days. Not that everything has gone wrong and I probably have no reason to complain about anything but I will surely be glad when tomorrow arrives. I had to start my day out in a rush, which is not the norm since we home school. Don't get me wrong we still get up early however during the school week we are usually not in a rush. But this morning when I wanted to stay in bed for a while I had to get up and go to jury duty. How lucky I was to be chosen for Grand Jury. Which means for the next five weeks I will spend 1 day a week at the court house. I still can not get over the judge not dismissing me since I home school, take care of a 87 year old and about to move. Don't take me the wrong way. I have no problem with serving as a juror, but with everything that is and about to happen, I do not need another egg in my basket right now.

Well my biggest struggle today was that on this day 3 years ago my mother passed away, it does not seem like it has been that long and then some days it seems like it has been forever. I miss her everyday but it seems like I miss her more now that we are planning to move back to Florida. I have to realize that she is not going to be hour away and I know that, but some days I want to believe that the distance between her and I, is the same distance between Starke (my home town) and Bowling Green. Days like today makes me realize how short life really is. It makes me wish that I would have picked up the phone more often just to tell her that I love her and how wonderful she is. To anyone that is reading this, if your mother is still alive call her and tell her that you love her, don't wait until Mother's day.

Courtney, the sensitive and caring child that she is, reminds me so much of my mom, that I feel like she is always near. She can sense when I am truly missing my mom, because she will give me a big hug and sing a song that my mom used to sing to her. Just like my grandmother, my mother always loved to sing and now Courtney enjoys singing.

Tomorrow is a new day!!!!