New Kid Table

I was looking to find something with a larger work surface for school since both of the girls are "doing" school this year. So today we sold the smaller table pictured here:

On Monday we purchased a new one from Costco, pictured here:

My precious neighbor dropped everything she was doing Monday afternoon to ride with me to Costco so I could use her card. I purchased the last one they had. Got a deal on it because it was the display. Two days before we started school. Crazy!

Thanks again, Sarah P! And thanks to Mama and Gran for watching the kids all day so I could run errands, including a last minute trip to Costco.

"B" Was Lost, Now She's Found

Read all about it here.

Read all about it here.

Boy Child

I have a lot to learn about my baby boy. My first learn-the-hard-way lesson for this week is allowing Brody to pull, and pull, and pull on something is a bad idea. It is not harmless, but may be detrimental to our kitchen counter top and may cause our dishwasher to fall out of the wall. See pictures below.

Lesson two is to grab things he's not supposed to have IMMEDIATELY because it may disappear. For example, if I'm hypothetically fixing Abby's hair and see him walking around with "Mouse Soup" from the library, I should not wait until her hair is done to get it back. Because it may, hypothetically speaking of course, end up stuffed in the tiny opening above our dishwasher and won't be located until the dishwasher is falling out of the wall - because my Boy Child broke our counter top. :) But at least I can save face with the librarian when I get my refund!

Thank you, Father, for making me depend on You even more with my lil' fella!

My Nap

As I attempt to take an afternoon nap and my girls are having "rest time"...

Sydney: (Exits guest bathroom) Mama! Why does Abby keep turning down the lights ALL DAY? WHY does she keep doing THAT?

Abby: Because I thought you were DONE! (Enters bathroom in MY room and shuts the door, loudly)

Southern Sweet Tea

I have so many different ways I've made sweet tea over the years and in asking our supper club last night I discovered we all make it vastly different. I'm in search of the perfect pitcher for Stephen.

Please comment on how you make it. Gallon or half gallon? How many bags? Family-size? Decaf? Brand? Plastic or glass pitcher? How much sugar? What do you do with the sugar? How long do you steep? Do you add waterat the end?

Shoppes at Greenridge

Tonight our family took advantage of one of the best things in Greenville - the Summer Music Concert Series at the Shoppes at Greenridge. The atmosphere was perfect - a water fountain, 80 degree weather (with virtually no humidity) and kids running and dancing everywhere. Our friend, Russ Kelly, played tonight. He is a very talented guitarist and has been asked back year after year. We were able to visit with several friends while our kids played.

Here's a picture of Sydney that Stephen took on his phone at Salsarita's just before:

Gang Gang is with her Savior

Last night, a few minutes after 9, Gang Gang went to be with the Lord. It was a very sad night for so many of us. Stephen, his dad and his grandfather, Dad Daddy, seem to be doing well today, considering. Please keep Dad Daddy in your prayers. This transition will be especially difficult for him. For years he has been visiting his bride in the nursing home every night, eating dinner with her and putting her to bed before heading home.

The funeral arrangements were made this afternoon. The Visitation will be held at Mackey Mortuary from 6 pm until 8 pm Monday evening. Tuesday, the funeral will be at 2 pm at Pendleton Street Baptist Church. Stephen's brother, Billy, will be doing part of the service. The graveside service will be at Woodlawn Memorial Park, following the funeral. Stephen, Billy and the other 4 grandsons will be the pallbearers. Stephen's cousin, Heathie, said they will "carry her to her grave because she always carried them." Gang Gang spent so many hours on her knees praying for those boys, and for the rest of her kids, grandkids and their spouses. My in-laws were reading her prayer journals today and said you can find many entries for each of us. I am particularly grateful for her prayers for my husband and my in-laws over the years.

On Tuesday, I hope to celebrate Gang Gang's life and her reunion with Jesus, though I expect there will be lots of tears as we mourn the loss of a great woman. I am so proud to have known Martha Fowler and to have the privilege to be married to one of her grandsons. I hope her legacy of loving Jesus will remain in each of us, all the days of our lives.

Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us family and friends who draw us closer to Your Cross. May You be glorified in Gang Gang's passing, just as you have been in her life. May we all draw nearer to You. I love You. Amen.

Obituary in the Greenville News: http://www.greenvilleonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=OBITUARIES&pagename=obittext&id=115413