Happy 32nd Birthday!

Today I am celebrating my 32nd birthday. It is not a birthday I have dreaded (like my 30th) and it has actually been a good day! I feel good about this birthday and what this next year is going to bring for our family. To celebrate, I thought I would try to think of 32 very random things about me that some of you may not know. We will see who is my TRUE BLUE friends by how many of these you knew!

1. I was 18 days late! Yes, poor Dwina! I was due June 10 and born June 28. Yes, they did TRY to induce!
2. I moved when I was 8 days old to Columbus, MS.
3. I lived in San Antonio (or Universal City), TX three different times in my life.
4. I am an Air Force brat.
5. I went to 7 different schools from Kindergarten-college.
6. I am a history buff!!!
7. I love the WWII time period.
8. I love the Civil War period.
9. In relation to #8, I live an hour from Shiloh and have never been!
10. I have been a Braves fan since it was not cool to be a Braves fan!
11. Dale Murphy is my all time favorite ball player.
12. I love 80s music.
13. I still listen to the New Kids on the Block.
14. I love cookies n cream ice cream.
15. I like to have alone time - once or twice a year.
16. I want to write Bible curriculum when I "grow up."
17. I have a Bible school blog. Check it out here.
18. I love making cards and scrapbooks.
19. I have a card/scrapbook blog that I really need to update. Check it out here but then come back later!
20. I love Milano cookies and have deemed them "Momma only cookies" at our house because they begin with the letter "M."
21. I am a Duke basketball fan.
22. I have been to Cameron Indoor Stadium.
23. Bobby Hurley is my favorite ever!
24. I love to play guitar hero.
25. I can eat a whole can of Pringles in one sitting (and will regret it later).
26. My friends and I "broke" onto the roof of Dixon in college one night to have pics wth the bell tower behind us.
27. I can't seem to take a picture without my mouth being open. (Have got to work on that now that I am 32!)
28. I have read many a book in one day (I can't help it!)
29. I DO NOT like putting up dishes and laundry!
30. I have read Harry Potter #1, 2, 3, and 4 too many times to count (and am reading #4 right now).
31. My kids can probably swim better than I can.
32. I have written professional athletes asking for autographs for myself as an adult - thank you, Chipper Jones and Grant Hill for writing a crazy lady back!

I was going to include a picture of me but really can't find one that I like (see #27). So, sorry for a no picture post! It has been a wonderful birthday - worshipping with our church family, eating lunch with family, getting WICKED tickets (going in Sept!) and getting cricut! What a day, what a day!!!!

Thank you, God, for Fathers!

Sunday was a double special day for our family. We were able to celebrate with the rest of the country the special gifts of our fathers. We were so blessed to be able to spend our Father's Day with dads, grandfathers, great-grandfathers and uncles! All these men are such godly men who set wonderful examples to us all. Sunday was also Damon's birthday! We are so blessed to have him in our lives. He leads in a very quiet (yet loud) way. We are so proud of him and all he has had to endure this year. We pray God's richest blessings upon Damon this year. We know He has great things in store for Damon and we can't wait to see what they are!

Happy Birthday, Damon! We love you!

A Family of Five Now

Damon brought home an earlier birthday present for the two of us. A guy he works with found a dog his neighbors had left during a move and could not keep him anymore. Damon, being a big softie when it comes to dogs, brought it home to us! So, we are proud to introduce, CHIP (yes, he is named after Chipper Jones). He has been a wonderful addition to the family and we could not have asked him to be any better than he has been. Laura Beth is loving "teaching" him tricks and Carter (who has had some dog issues in the past) is growing to love and care for Chip every much! I am sure this blog will hold some wonderful Chip stories in the near future!

Welcome to the family, Chip!

FHU Soccer Camp 2009

Soccer camp at FHU this year had to be one of the hottest weeks of the summer so far. It did not stop by little (not so little) soccer players at all! Carter got a real treat by getting to play with the BIG kids. He did a great job playing with people over half his size and did not let it stop him at all! Cecily enjoyed her little chair in the shade as she cheered on "LaLa Beth and Tarter." Laura Beth was in her element - she loves soccer about as much as Carter loves baseball and walked away with "Girl Camper of the Week." Even though it was hot, a wonderful time was had by all! Thanks, Coach Elliott, Cassie and Naomi for a wonderful week!

MSYC - Lifting His Name

Laura Beth LOVED being at Mid-South Youth Camp again this summer. The theme was "Lifting His Name" and all the Bible classes were taken from Philippians 2:5-11. This was her second year to be able to go and she already has "camp friends." I am so glad she loves going so much and has these special friends. Camp songs, swimming, arts and crafts, and mail call were some of her favorite times of the week. She received the "Happy Face" Award for just always being ready to go and being happy about it! She and her friend, Madlyn, are already making BIG plans for spending the night next year during Week #1!

Havin' Fun in the Summertime!

Thanks to Aunt Di-nane, Uncle Rick and Houston we are able to enjoy many summer afternoons poolside. The kids love going out and testing their swimming skills. Laura Beth has confidence now to jump off the diving board and swim to the ladder - we just have to work on the form now!!

A Fan Favorite!

Carter loved playing baseball this year but, even more than that, he loved seeing who was in the crowd cheering him on for each game. Some of the fans became regulars and we appreciate all of you who came for one game or each game. You helped make this season a wonderful one for us all!

Baseball Season Comes to a Close

Carter's baseball season ended this week and he is already missing it (surprise, surprise). We were so blessed with wonderful Christian men as coaches who taught the boys how to play the game as well as how to have the attitude of Christ as they played the game. Carter loved playing with his friends and will always look back on this first season with wonderful memories!

Way to go, Richard West Painting!

What a wonderful season!

A Wonderful Day to Get Married

One of the greatest things about working with college kids is seeing them grow up into wonderful Christian men and women. Two that we have become extremely close to had the picture perfect wedding day this week. We were honored when they asked our kids to be a part of their special day.

Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Tyler Hughes!

We love you and are proud of you!

May God bless you always!

A Game of All Games!

Thursday night Carter had one of his best baseball games ever. He was on fire! He hit a homerun, caught a fly ball (and then tagged a guy out going home) and ran down 3 or 4 guys at home for outs. He has really enjoying the night and was thrilled when he got the game ball for his efforts! We are so proud of Carter! Not just for getting a second game ball but for being a good teammate and enjoying playing! I hope he always has a love for whatever he is doing at the time! Way to go, Carter!

Baseball Camp 2009

Carter was able to go to Freed Hardeman University's baseball camp this past week. He was in heaven! I kept getting asked if he was enjoying camp and all I could say was, "He is able to play baseball all morning long and has people who can actually pitch to him!!! He is loving it!" He did so well and learned a lot. Here he is with the official baseball camp shirt, learning to slide on the big tarp and getting his certificate. He is very ready to go back! Thanks, Coach Mac, Coach JD and Coach Frankie! He had a great time!

A Wild Day

We enjoyed a day at the Memphis Zoo with our friends, Cecily, Kim, Katy and Daniel. The day was perfect and the zoo was not crowded at all. We enjoyed the animals and each other very much.

Even though the ages are spread out (ages 15-3), they do so well together. They all look out for each other (due to Katy and Daniel's diabetes and Carter's peanut allergy) and love each other just like brothers and sisters.

Just a Reminder

These are Carter's new batting gloves (which is another story ALL in itself). The past pairs of batting gloves he has had have been endorsed by some of his favorite baseball players. Damon was a dear and picked these up for him at Dick's the other day. When Damon gave them to him, he told Carter, "I don't know who #88 is, Carter." Carter looked at him and replied, "Don't you know? That is how old Grandmama was when she went to heaven. I know she is watching me play baseball because she liked to watch baseball." It is hard to believe that we have been without Grandmama for almost a year now, but I am so glad that my children have such fond memories of their Great Grandmama and know she loved them -and baseball!