Vacation Memories

Vacationing with Joe and the kids is very important to me...I want to build lasting memories for Danielle and Joseph and I want them to look back years from now and reflect on the quality time we spent with them.

When I was a kid our family always went to the same place for vacation. We didn't necessarily vacation every year but we always, always went to the same place when we could vacation. Lake George, NY...Mohawk Cabins...Cabin #7. Most of the time our grandparents (moms parents) went with us. As we got older we would bring friends and I am so, so happy that Joe came with our family on one trip so he could experience what I had been experiencing my entire life. When I say entire life...we probably started going when I was about 7 years old and when Joe came with us we were about 20. In my mind I clearly see the inside of the cabin...I see my mom unpacking and making the cabin feel like home for the week. I see my dad sitting on the couch watching TV or watching us play on the floor in front of him. I see the entire property and where the 4 of us would play. I see the back way out where we would walk down to the grocery store. I see the front exit where we could walk down to the arcade, old time photo shop and a variety of gift shops and other resort town type stores. I see my dad sitting on a bench outside drinking his morning coffee and people watching. I see my 2 sisters dressed alike. I see my mom cooking us dinner in the cabin after a fun day. I see my dad putting the van in neutral to coast down Prosperity Mountain to save gas!!! (of course he was a jokester) Without looking at any pictures I see so, so many things that I will remember and cherish forever...I wonder if when my parents started taking us there they even thought about the lasting effects those trips would have. I love them for giving me/us the simple things...time together.

The amusement park we would go to while up there

The little old lady's shoe...we took a picture every year in front of this shoe

Another amusement park we would visit...so pretty at night all lit up

We would go visit the North Pole too - and mail post cards from the post office that was right there

Mario's restaurant...we ate here one night, each time we were on vacation

Still open for business!!!

Forgiveness

There was a wonderful and extremely well done series on Forgiveness at Elevation Church. As soon as I heard about the series I arranged our schedule to be sure we would not miss church even though we were leaving for vacation on the first Sunday. We were able to attend the Saturday evening service and we were home before the next Sunday.

I like to pride myself on the fact that I am not a grudge holder...I just don't see the point. I also don't feel like I am intentionally spiteful. I hope I am setting a good example for my kids. I want them to know that everyone is different and we should accept people they way they are - however I also hope that their kindness is never mistaken for weakness.

As much as I say I like to pride myself on being a non grudge holder and not spiteful...a few years back I fell into the trap. I abruptly stopped speaking to someone who I had been friends with for over 20 years...no need for me to get into the details of "why" but just know it was the first time in my 38 years of life that I had done something like that. In the beginning I struggled daily with this...then time passed and I was attending Elevation and learning so much and growing in many ways...God put it on my heart that I needed to reach out to this friend - whether I felt I was right or wrong did not matter, He was telling me that she needed me. So I took the sort of easier route and sent an e-mail to her. We went back and forth via e-mail for a few weeks and then just before the holidays in 2008 the two of us met, no husbands, no kids, just us...the way it began when we were 16. Turns out she did need me, and I needed her for different reasons. We agreed to never let something like this happen again and that we should know that we can tell each other right away if something is bothering us. Today we are just like we had been for all the years leading up to our "falling out." Right now she is going through what is possibly the hardest time in her life. I can't imagine what I would feel like if I just heard through the grape vine about all that she is going through, or if I could not be there for her, her husband and their kids if they need me. The moral of this story is don't wait, don't let stupid, non important things come between you and someone you love AND most importantly whether you are right or wrong...don't let it influence your decision to reach out, someone has to make the first move. I am very glad that I did.

Vacation

July 11th - July 16th we were in Myrtle Beach for Danielle and Amber's Dance Nationals. It was also a family vacation for us, Colleen's Family and our friends Tom & Lisa - we also had all of our moms come. We had three 2 bedroom condos that were right across from each other so the kids could walk between them at any time.

We had lots of fun with the dancing and some great quality family time. Our family has been on vacation with all of my siblings and Joe's siblings over the years...but this was our first vacation with Alex (he is 4 1/2) and for us and Colleen's family it has been almost 9 years since we had been away together.

We had meals together, spent time at the pool together and a full, fun packed day at the beach. It was sort of depressing when in ended, but as long as the girls continue dancing we will be doing this once a year!!! So therefore, something to look forward to.

Here are some pictures....

The Nana's

Chloe and Danielle

Joseph & Alexa

Bella

Re-Re and Alex

Joe, Robert and Taylor

One BIG Family

Chloe, Alexa and Joseph

Alex and Uncle Joe

Doing so good swimming on his own

Amber and Uncle Joe

Danielle and Amber

Robert & Colly

Me and Nanny Pat

Amazing First Year!!!

Well we just finished up our first year at The Dance Company!!! And what an amazing year it was. I am so proud and so blessed to be part of the TDC Family - this is one loving family. We may be small in size, but we are big in heart!!!

The parents are all supportive of each other and of all of the kids, theirs and everyone elses. We all look out for each other's children and know we can count on someone watching out for our kids. They are genuinely happy for the success of all the groups, trios, duos and the kids who have solos, whether their child is in the dance or not.

The kids are the same way...supportive and there for each other.

The studio director, Miss Charyl, is doing exactly what God intended for her to do. She loves her students and treats them all equally and fairly. Her parents, Gram & Paw-Paw, now have an additional 60+ grand kids - and they love it!!!

If you are looking for a dance studio that is run with love & care and where all dancers are treated equally and will be loved THE DANCE COMPANY is for you!!!

Here are some pictures from The Dance Nationals we just attended in Myrtle Beach.

Group photo at the Nationals Pep Rally

Big Spirit

Final words of encouragement from Miss Charyl

Danielle, Sunny, Alexa and Naijha

Danielle & Miss Charyl

Very proud mom of Danielle and very proud Aunt of Amber

Danielle and Gram

Supportive dad in his "home made" air brush tee

Jordynn & Sunny

Naijha and Danielle

Supportive Moms and Nana

The awesome Moms of the TDC

Danielle, Mackenzie and Amber

Miss Danielle Rockin her Solo

Dare Devil

If you follow my sister's blog, you know that her son Alex is a bit of a dare devil...I mean at 4 years old he can already drive a go-cart...and he drives it well. He is not afraid of anything and if the grown-ups around him will let him try something...he is in. And if they tell him "no" he will fully present his case. (I think I see a future lawyer in him)


He came with Bella last Saturday and again - Joe and I are very cautious, especially with other people's children so we had him in his life jacket and in the shallow end of the pool. Once I was in the pool for a while playing with the kids I decided to let him swim without the jacket - you thought he won the lottery!!! Then I really became fun Re-Re and let him jump in with the big kids and try to surf the raft while jumping...we had a GREAT time!!! He is such a fun little boy to be around. I even took video with my phone...some day I will learn how to get it on more than my phone.


Jumping from the side and knee boarding

Yes he is going to fall backwards onto the float - "because Joseph did it..."

His personal "Cars" surf board float

Independence Day

While I have always appreciated the men and women who serve in the Military...over the past few years I have what I would call first hand knowledge of what these amazing people and their families really sacrifice for the rest of us.

Our friends, Tom & Lisa, live in Havelock, NC. This is located between New Bern and Moorehead City right near Cherry Point Military Base. Tom and Lisa do not serve in the Military but Lisa works for the Marine Federal Credit Union and because of that and based on the area they live in most of their friends and neighbors are either active or retired military.

Our family has been blessed to meet many of these families on our trips to the East Coast. Here is what a lot of us forget:

Military families are in one place for only about 3 years before they get "re-stationed" - Can you imagine starting over every three years - especially if you have school age children.

Military parents miss things that most parents take for granted. We know parents that have missed:

The birth of their child
Their child's first steps
Graduations
Birthday's
Christmas
Weddings
Funerals
And the list goes on...

On the flip side of that is the spouse who is here in the States taking care of the family, house, etc... all while worrying about the safety of their husband/wife. So you see it is not just an individuals sacrifice...it is the entire family making the sacrifice for our freedom.

This is without talking about how they put themselves in harms way when they are called up to active duty and the things they see while overseas.

I hope our kids are processing this as we continue to meet these amazing people. Joe and I have made it a habit to thank them when we see them at Tom and Lisa's - because without them and the sacrifices they and their family are willing to make we may not enjoy all the freedoms we take for granted.

Thank you too all the families serving or supporting our military...may God keep you safe.

Her own little pool

Last weekend we were watching Colleen's kids and also Joe's Brother's dogs and house - that has a beautiful yard with a built in pool. Obviously after 18 days of almost 100 degrees it was really our pleasure to help with the dogs and house!!!

When Bella came we realized that we did not have a "swim diaper" or the plastic cover we could have put over her regular diaper. So since Joe and I are always on the more cautious side we decided to give Bella her own little pool so that if there was an accident we would not have to tell Aunt Regina that the pool had to be drained!!!

Here is her personal pool:


The lovely Danielle and Alexa are serving as her personal assistants and life guards.

Isn't her swim suit beautiful!!!

She had a great time and is really a very easy baby to take care of - we loved having her.