What's cooking at night on the island?

This night we had popcorn on the grill. It starts with Madi and PawPaw taking Orville out and putting kernals in the pot with oil


Then it takes atleast three people to watch over it until it begins to pop.

This is what you are left with-melt some butter and shake lots of salt on it. Yummy.

Do we ever see the road we travel?

Do we ever really pay attention to our daily drive to where ever we are going? Does your car know the way by itself to work, home and church? I am usually in such a hurry with kids and life that I don't take time to really look at my path to anywhere. But this day, I decided to take it all in as if it were my last trip to the beach. I looked at the fields, the ponds, the roads, the railroads and the cars riding towards us and beside us. In my people and place watching, I even spotted a Chick-fil-A vehicle on the same highway as us. As we passed by the CFA vehicle, I looked over to wave..haha-it was none other than my boss and his family going on their own beach family vacation. We were about 2 hours into our little trip and so were they. I called my bossman on the phone to tell him that he was driving slower than I usually see him and he explained that he was in a convoy. Oh well, since I wasnt in his little convoy, I passed him and went on. My pictures are not in order since I am not savvy like that. But, the gest is, God is good. He has created some beautiful points and places in our day to day. We just need to take the time to enjoy them a little more than we do. I made a point this day and this trip to see our drive to the beach as if it were our first and out last. Take time to enjoy your path, you maybe surprised at what you are driving by each day.

This is the home stretch. The lake at Carolina beach. We are about 1/2 mile from Mom and Dads now. This is where we ride bikes, go to watch movies on Sunday nights on the big jumbotron and where we ride the boats.

The road seems to never end. We just drive on and on.

The was my girls first drive to the beach. Which is why I got to enjoy the sites that I normally dont get to.

Obviously, some of us don't worry about the road, the driver or really much of anything.

Here is a picture of the railroad crossing in Polkton NC, that we cross on the way to the beach. I don't think I have ever really looked up these tracks. I can only image the stories that could be told and the history that the tracks hold.

Are you serious? $3.99 a gallon. BTW, it is now $4.05 down here on the island. Thanks Gmaw for letting us drive your car to the beach. Lots better gas mileage

Outside our windows were lakes and ponds that we probably have passed 100's of times over the years.

The corn fields went on for miles. As far as I could see, there were fields.

This field looked so soft and pretty that I had to pull over to touch it. Have you ever touched a wheat field? Its not so soft after all. Looks like to would be fun to walk through, I actually stopped, looked for awhile, then rubbed my hands right over it as if it were going to feel soft. Its not. It was dry, rough and prickly. But I am glad I did stop.

1 week down and 1 week to go

I have always wanted to spend two weeks at the beach with my parents. Everyone knows how much I love Carolina Beach. School was over and it was a great time to pack everyone up and spend some time regrouping, recharging and re-acquainting myself with the sand and ocean. I have spent one week with Chip, Lindsay, the boys, my kids, Greg and my parents. Surprisingly, we all get along in this house. We all love days on the beach and nights chillin at the house. I have read one of my books for work and watched hours of dvd's about Chick-fil-A. Being away from work helps me plan and get a vision of the months to come. I love being locked up in my room late at night going over work stuff and goggling the Internet for fun stuff to do at the store.
I have not blogged in over two weeks. I don't think that I can catch up in date order, so forgive me if I jump around.
Greg has gone back to work and will return Friday for our last weekend here. Chip, Lindsay and the boys also went home. It is now just me, the kids and Mom and Dad. Today we sat around the pool and watched Tiger Woods win his upteenth golf tournament. I don't think I ever watched golf until I married Greg. I love Tiger. I also never watched football and we are die hard Steelers fans in our house. It is amazing how a man can rub off on you.
Tomorrow we are going down on the beach for a day of sun and fun. Wednesday we are going into town-haha-to take it a movie. I am also going to see a marketing director from this area and sit down with her for awhile for a chat.
The rest of the week will be filled with more CFA dvd's, another work related book and lots of planning for upcoming events at the store.
Tonight we had a great dinner from the garden. Corn, squash casserole, potatoes, cucumbers, stewed cabbage and Chick-fil-A chicken strips(thank you boss man). Yummo. My children love coming to the beach because they know GMaw will feed them well.

Picture day on the beach

My crew with Mom and Dad

The entire crew with Mom and Dad

My crew sure is getting older

Olivia has Whit and Madi has Parker
Wow, 6 grandkids. A picture we have all waited a while to enjoy.

Are these proud grandparents or what?

I love taking pictures on the beach. This year I wanted to get photos of my parents with all the grandbabies. It was a great afternoon so Lindsay, Chip and myself walked everyone down to the beach for some fun. I think I may be bias but these are some beautiful people.

Where did all this come from?

Tonight was Madi's "8th grade graduation formal". Let me break that down for you.
8th grade..didn't she just get her first tooth...or a training bra (BTW-Greg wanted to know more about the training bra or lack of that was going on with this dress tonight)
Graduation..from preschool?....nooooo..from kindergarden?..noooo..but from middle school..we will have a freshman in high school soon. That makes me have 2 in high school, 1 in middle school and 1 in elementary. Whoa!!! Sun, please stand still!!!!(more on that later)
formal..yep..they are having formals in middle school now. And I have the receipts to prove it.
Dress-$? Thanks GMaw & Pawpaw
Earrings$20.00
Pedicure $33.00
Shoes Number 1- $20.00 Greg made me return because she would receive nose bleeds from that altitude. And yes, he made me with a fever, suffering from strep throat get in the car and go buy Shoes Number 2 45 minutes before her date was picking her up.
Shoes Number 2- $35.00- Modest, but cute
Flower for date $10.00
Smile on her face- $Priceless

Madi has to do a speech at her graduation Thursday in front of the entire 8th grade student body, staff and parents. She read it to me last night, and I thought I was going to choke on my tears. The theme of her speech is "Sun Stand Still". The idea came from a series Pastor Furtick did last year. She speaks of all the tiny moments in her years at Queens Grant that make up almost 1/2 of her life. The funny times that she wants the Sun to Stand Still on so, that she can remember them forever. Wow! I told her not to look at me cause, I would be the mother in the room that was whaling. Please pray for her..she does not know if she can make it through without crying either. So many of her friends will be attending different High school next year.

As for me,,I am battling strep throat again...yep..went to the doctor today and this is my 4th time since December. She looked at my chart and added up that in the past 12 years I have had strep 3-4 times a year. So, she decided that it was time to take my tonsills out. Yep... 40plus year old woman is getting them out. If it helps me feel better than I will go for it.

Tomorrow we are having Wils and Olivia's birthday parties here at the house. Both wanted to delay their parties until the pool was open.So, Wils is from 12-2pm and Olivias is from 3-5pm. Boom, both out of the way. Greg says he has this one, because he does not want me outside, near food or anywhere near the children. Sure thing bossman!!!.teeheehee. OK, that's fine with me.

Going to Grandma's

My parents are at the beach house and we are off for a long weekend to visit with them. I love Carolina Beach. Greg and the kids are so excited. Memorial weekend marks the beginning of summer for us. It will be a kinda working one for me. I have lots of Chick-fil-A work to do on the laptop at night. But, it's all good, I will have my days..sun and fun.Hope you enjoy your holiday weekend, whatever you find yourself getting into!!

A sad day!

As I was driving to work today, I heard news that really shook me. Steven Curtis Chapman's adopted five year old daughter was struck by a car on their property and died last night. I could not image the grief that family must be going through right now. Please pray for this family as it seems as if it was a family member that hit her. They will be going through so many things in the next weeks. I found this site and enjoyed watching the utube tapes of Maria and family. Hope you enjoy too.

http://chapmanchannel.typepad.com/inmemoryofmaria/ make sure when it is through playing that you move your curser over the utube logo and it will show you more videos of the chapman family with Maria.

Look at this great family picture
http://www.stevencurtischapman.com/