Fast, Quiet, Busy, Interesting Week.

Yes! Last week was all of those and more. Monday morning I got up around 4 to take Jonathan to the airport. He wondered if he was going to miss his plane but of the wait where there was so many people in line and we stopped to take a few things out of the suit case bc of how much it weighed so we wouldn't be charged an extra 50.00....ah that was fun doing that in the line....I drove back home in the dark in the quiet and just had some along time with God. Sometimes that is my favorite time.
Lots of Errands and things to do to start off the week.
School for Gracie.
Go to the dry cleaners
Go to the bank
Take Gracie to piano lessons.
Take the missionary baskets to the hotel and some to church for missions conference this week.
And later that night church.
Tues Gracie did school work and she started a Gym class at the Y just like if she was at school but with a homeschool group. She met some new friends. She was a little nervous at first but ended up being ok by the end of class. Sometimes I wish we could have a video camera around 24/7 for the kids so we would never miss a things. Loved watching her do her little excises and learn new things.
Along with Thurs she got to go on a Field Trip with the homeschool group to Vulcan Material and learned about Rocks etc. Thankful Momma took her bc I went to a little Mops Mothers of preschoolers group with David that morning and then went to work.
FINALLY FRIDAY is Here and Jonathan gets to come home tonight. The kids were excited to go to the airport and pick him up. I got a little mixed up with the time difference so I ended up leaving earlier than what I needed to so yes I took my kids into Sweet Frog and had some yogurt at 10:00pm We sit there and enjoyed our yogurt. Love that place. We get to the airport with just 10-15 minutes to spare till his plane landed. Kids waited patiently and when his plane landed they stood as far as they could get and kept looking and saying "is he here yet"


Gracie wanted to make her own pizza one night for supper.

Ah...Still trying to figure out all this fun blogging stuff. Really wanted to start it up to keep up with the sweet memories of our little family in years to come...but was looking back and there were some in a draft. Not sure how they didn't get posted....Learning which I am doing I suppose.

Happy Monday!

It's been a busy day! Got up and went and signed Gracie up for Basketball camp this week. It was a surprise for her. Didn't tell her till I got back. Stopped by the famous Krispy Kreme to get doughnuts to take to the mountains to my Grandma's. Drove back to King to pick everyone up and we headed up to Grandma's. JoAnn was up and had not seen her probably since Pa had passed away, but she hadn't seen the kids. She was keeping Grandma company so that was good. Daddy was already up at Little Grandma's on the tractor mowing with Andrew. I should have had my camera out ready faster to snap a picture. I know it would have turned out great. So wish we had all the money in the world and would not hesitate about getting the house fixed up faster. Visited up at Grandma's for a little while. Looked up the yard at Jackie's and the pony was out from Madeline's. Jonathan was great (it was great to watch him) to help try and get him back in the fence...Just kidding. Serious would not have got him back in without Momma. But what can I say, she knew what to do. Gracie wished we could just bring it home with us.
We headed back home with a quick lunch at the copper pot. Pretty good I might say.

Then this evening for supper at Betty and Forest's. Amanda and Paul and the kids were in. We did get to see Mary Beth through Skype though which was good. And Grandma Ritchey was there.
Back home to get ready for work while checking my work email to see if my work schedule was out and it wasn't ugh...not until 1030pm, laundry, kids ready for bed and you know all that fun stuff......

Happy Birthday to Jonathan. (31)

Happy Birthday to Jonathan. (31)

A while back I asked him what he would like for his birthday, the obvious he said books...like he doesn't have any,...lol. Then begins to say if I could have anything I would like to preach on my birthday. Well I could not physically make that happen but our LORD did. A friend who pastors a church not far from home was going to be out of town and calls Jonathan to ask him to fill for Sunday morning and Sunday night. Sunday lunch Jonathan wanted Tai Café. That evening for Sunday service Betty, Forrest, and Grandma Mamie came to hear him preach so that was nice. It's always nice to celebrate birthdays but even sweeter when the Lord blesses even more than what he already does for us.

Myrtle Beach

Wed morning we headed out for our little vacation to the beach. With a few short pit stops we arrived at the beach early afternoon. Thursday the guys headed out early to go play golf while we headed to the beach. The kids were so much fun to watch them play and run back and forth to the ocean and play in the sand. Thursday evening we ate supper at Damon which is where we usually eat for the past several times we go to the beach. It's right on the ocean with pretty good food. Friday we went to the pool first and Gracie got more comfortable swimming in 5ft water by herself. With Nana's help this summer taking her to swimming lessons that little girls fear of water is not as much as a fear any more. It is simply amazing to see how far she is come learning how to swim. So proud of her. Saturday packing up and walking on the beach one last time.

Let the fun begin!

 Looking over the balcony

 I think Jonathan is loved just a little bit!

 Smile Daddy quick picture before going to eat at Damons

 Family Picture-minus Jonathan since he took this picture

 My beautiful babies

 My beautiful Momma and Andrew

 Silly David. I said put your shirt down so he kept it up...

 Sweet Andrew

 Only God could make such a beautiful sunset! It amazes me the handy work of our precious Lord.

 The kids one morning after breakfast.

 Looking for seashells.

Flying Kites on the each one night after supper.

 Getting the kites ready.

That was pretty fun to watch the kites fly around.
We were blessed with time with one another. Stopped at the outlets on the way home for just a little bit. Had to take another quick break on the way home so we stopped at the Berry patch for bathroom and homemade icecream. Yum!

David's PH Probe study test.

While David Wayne is on my mind.....since it is really late and that little boy is not asleep I will post a few pictures from when he had the PH Probe study done at Brenners Children's hospital a few weeks ago. He was not very cooperative while putting the tube down, which I can't blame him and then when we had to go down stairs to have the x-ray done to see if it was placed right it was not positioned far enough down so we had to come back upstairs and try again. Finally got it right. Later that day we got him calmed down and was able to go to the playground. That was interesting needless to say in the beginning.
Heading to the playground

In the room. Nana got me new pajamas and a big book to look at.

Balloon and Bear from Woodland Baptist Church.

Not feeling so well, so resting in the bed.

Lord Give Us Strenght and Wisdom.

Last Friday we had our first appointment at Duke for David. This Momma was a little nervous but felt it was time for a change and our little boy deserves some help. Sometimes I have a hard time talking about it so bare with me. Don't get me wrong I understand he doesn't have something awful like cancer and we are very thankful it is not anything life threatening but it is life altering for him (and us at times) Most days he complains of his stomach hurting and at times crying with it. (It makes you hurt knowing your child hurts) He has now saying his head hurts along with it. Just want to figure our some answers and how to help him and what we can do.Back to his apt. on Friday. We met Dr. Reinstein after waiting a little while, haha. He was very informative in explaining things, drawing pictures etc. to help make sure that we understand. He asked us a lot of questions...A lot from all the way back to when the day he was born. He ordered a barium enema so we had it done here at home at Baptist. The poor child cried the whole time, for about 40 minutes straight. The radiologist was nice but that ease him any. "Mommy please help me" is what he said over and over. I normally try and stay strong but it took everything in me to keep the tears back. So right now we are just in the process of waiting to hear back and see what the next step is from Duke.

If you can't tell we had to tell him to smile. He was getting tired.

On a fun note for David Wayne, he loves to drive home. When we pull into the driveway. No worries not on the main road. If you haven't seen the picture on facebook. The look on his face is priceless. He actually is doing well about figuring out when he needs to turn down the street and into the driveway.

Gracie is doing well. Loving school I believe...I have been trying to work some too. While I am at work she will do her school work at my moms and when I get home we will go over it and then supper etc. for the night. I  think next week I may switch up my work schedule and go in at lunch time bc doing both after I get home after work is long some days. And on Wed with church everything doesn't get done. But it is all working out. On Friday when I was off we went by the library. Got her own library card and got a few books that were on the subjects that she has been studying.  Rocks, minerals, amphibians that kind of fun stuff.

Last Saturday we left mid day and went up to Madison County Virginia about 4 1/2 hours away. Jonathan was going to be preaching in both services on Sunday. The kids did well traveling, proud of them because I was getting tired by that long. We got to the place where we were staying, very pretty, got in our room with no T.V, and no phone. Well that gets your attention. We ran out to Walmart, a thirty min drive from where we were staying to get something for breakfast in the morning. No continental breakfast. It all works out. We had great family time and enjoyed the great weather on the porch in the rocking chair...:) The people at the church were very nice and Jonathan preached great and Sunday night seen the Lord work in a special way in the service. We will be praying for the church and the people there.

This was our view from the room.

 Before we left thought we would let the kids play in the creek before riding in the car so long, well may not have been the best idea. The water was COLD.

 Help Daddy!

 Splash splash, I sure do love those little feet.

 LOVE THEM!