The Summer, The Beach, My Ashley's Birthday

First, the Summer:
This summer was loooonnnnggg awaited. This school year was, by far, the HARDEST on record for me. It was a combination of case load (tooo many), the move to Maumelle Middle School because of our problems with the roof, and then............the state mandated that we make up the three days we missed BECAUSE of the roof and the move to Maumelle Middle. It was a loooonnnnggggg year. BUT, summer did finally arrive. And soon after......the beach trip!
Second, the Beach:
"Just Because" we could, my friend Cheryl and I decided to take the camper to our favorite spot at Navarre Beach....Navarre Beach Campground. Emily found this little piece of Heaven a few years ago while looking for an affordable place to meet. It has cabins ranging from very small to beach houses that sleep 8-10. It also has a pool and of course, great camping spots. It's a VERY AFFORDABLE way to spend a week at the beach, so we decided to try it. Well, although I am glad we did it, let's just say that we both agreed it would be the only time we took the camper! It was a combination of hauling that thing down there along with the heat we experienced the day we set it up...there was a heat factor of 115! Granted it WAS a string of record breaking heat for that time in June, but still...it was miserable! Our little A/C didn't have too much time to catch up with the heat until evening fell, and then THANKFULLY, it cooled down and we were comfortable sleeping. The bottom line is, the small cabins that sleep 2-4 are not very much more and we don't have to DO ANYTHING but walk in!

And finally, My sweet Ashley's "first" birthday with her family. It is a birthday unlike the first birthday of the other "3." This birthday celebrates her birth, her adoption, her new place in a family of 4 kids, her coming to live in a free country and her ability to hear the Gospel. Yet, one small part of me is saddned by the memory that her bio mother must have. Today is the day the orphanage gave her a birthday, but only God knows for sure the real day she was born. Today, I pray for her bio mom who bravely gave up her baby (probably for medical reasons) that I truely believe she loved. I pray that God give her peace that her little one is happy and loved. This time last year, we didn't have our sweet girl with us. But today, we celebrate that she is here with us and will be forever more.....

H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y MY SWEET ASHLEY MEI.........YOUR NAMMY LOVES YOU VERY MUCH.........

It's One of Those "Wonderful, Ordinary, Days"

It's time to stop and smell the flowers...it's hot out, the garden is growing, I walked my 3 miles this morning, cooked dinner in my outdoor kitchen, drank some delicious peach tea, spent time helping a friend, and am ready to read my book...nothing special, nothing worth noting, nothing exciting...just one of my favorite kinda days..."Ordinary"...soooo many days of my life I wanted just an "ordinary" day...today was one.
THEY ARE WONDERFUL AND I AM GRATEFUL FOR EVERY ONE OF THEM

Enjoy today, for it is a gift..that's why they call it the "present"

Happy June 13th!

At Almost 92, She's Still Going (somewhat) Strong!

On June 24, 1917, my mother was born. She was an only child and lived with a very difficult home life. She is nearly 92 and still has her "faculties" and good health. Although somewhat feeble, she manages to walk the dog everyday, fix her own lunches, take care of her personal needs, and still gets up and gets dressed (make-up included!)everyday!

As a mom, she made mistakes
As a daughter, I love her anyway.
As a mom, she wasn't so nurturing,
As a daughter, I still know she loves me.
As a mom, she had her share of heartaches,
As a daughter, I understand her hurts.
As a mom, she showed her weaknesses,
As a daughter, I have them too.
As a mom, she can say hurtful things,
As a daughter, I get over them.
As a mom, she did her best,
As a daughter, I now understand.
As a mom, she hid her tears,
As a daughter, I saw her pain.
As a mom, she was unappreciated,
As a daughter, I didn't appreciated her enough.

At almost 92, the inevitable will come. I only hope that I can show her how much she means to me and how difficult it will be someday without her. She is a strong woman that I admire and respect....in spite of it all...she is my hero.
I LOVE YOU, MOM

"Roll out those lazy, hazy,crazy days of summer"

AHHHHHHHHHHHHH...Summer at last! Today is the first day...it's also my FAVORITE day of the summer because I haven't spent a whole day off yet...every day is ahead of me. Coffee on the deck and a nice morning was just the right combination to start the summer. "I don't have to go to work, I don't have to go to work"...my ears are ringing with that tune! It usually takes me a few days, if not a week or so, to get into the "groove" of not working. So many projects I want to do...where do I start?
My sister, Sally, and I WERE going camping in East Texas tomorrow, but had to postpone it because something came up with her church mission commitments...are re-scheduling soon. That's fine because it gives me a few days to ease into the "no work" zone.
Well, gotta run ...have ta decide what to start on first! I think a clean house would be a great place to launch the "lazy, crazy, hazy, days of summer!"

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!

This has been the LONGEST SCHOOL YEAR ON RECORD! But today............the last...

FINALLY............SUMMER IS HERE!!! Will post more tomorrow...

LOVE YOU SUUUUUMMMMMMMEEEERRRRRR!