James Family Vacation

Here we all are.....on the beach of TopSail, NC. We were all together at our yearly vacation for an entire week! It was wonderful to have no responsibilities, time restraints or set schedules. Just total freedom to come and go as we pleased, snack throughout the day, laugh and play and visit. Isn't that what families should be about (besides, of course, the seriousness of "teaching/learning" from one another)? I am a true believer in the fact that vacations and family time really do bring us all closer together. It is soooo important in our own homes, as well as with our extended families. Keeping our children closer to their cousins, aunts and uncles and grandparents is very important to me. If they can't be together on a regular basis, special times, like vacations, become hugely important - at least in my mind. I am so thankful for Marks' parents, who have made it a priority to have as many as their children/grandchildren as possible together every year to reinforce the bond already created. Their message on the importance of family togetherness has obviously been received. We all have a terrific time and look forward to the coming years' trip.

Keepin' Up With the Girls

OK, Lynetta, I've read all about your workouts and how so many of you gals meet at SPAR, admiring you and your perseverance all the while. My gal pals here have all started meeting at the YMCA...at 8:30 am!!! We do "Triple Threat" class every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and we will be doing Palates on Tuesday and Thursday......until week after next, when we will do Group Circuit for the following 4 weeks (which I've been told is a real KILLER). I've done pretty good at keeping up, but I HAVE made my share of modifications. BIG DEAL!!! At least I'm moving! And we all get an A for effort!! Right?

Mommy! Sissy!

Last Wednesday my mom, sister and niece came from Texas for a visit. I was so happy to see them. We did some fun things, but not as many as I would have liked. 3 days is just not enough to catch up and see everything there is to see! We took the ferry across the river (again). It is just so neat and unusual, I want to show everyone. Did a little shopping, of course, spent a day at the water park, cooked out on the grill and some other spur of the moment things. We ended up in my bedroom late Saturday night. I was singing my heart out to Christina Agulara, while Jeri Ann busted her moves....all to entertain my mother (and embarrass Ragan as well). It was so much fun. It was a long trip for them (and they may never do it again), but I totally loved having them around. I miss them already!!

50th Celebration

This past weekend, we went to Virginia and celebrated Marks' parents 50th wedding anniversary. They are wonderful people and such great examples to their children. As a gift, we all wrote our own letters to them (real tear-jerkers) and compiled them in a hand-made album with an 8x10 black and white of them on their wedding day in the front. We also gathered almost the entire family for a special dinner. Mark's mom wore her original garter on her leg. Showing that off really set the place ablaze with laughter. The trip up and back was incredible. West Virginia is a breathtaking state, if you ever get the chance to see it. And it was wonderful coming back home to Kentucky. We enjoyed ball games with his sister, Lois, and her family. I almost got discovered (ha-ha!) when we were confronted right inside the stadium about singing for our supper - karaoke on top of the dugout, where you get applauded or boo'd by the audience. I almost took a shot, but I waited too long and they found 2 other suckers. But we had a great time and were thrilled to be close enough to his family that we could enjoy such a wonderful and special occasion with them. I love my family.

going....Going......SOLD!!!

Well, it finally happened! We sold the house in Louisiana!! We're officially "homeless". ha-ha! What a miracle it was, too. The first offer (ever) came in on a Saturday and 2 weeks later it was CLOSED! They put a contract on the house the Wednesday after their first offer and a week and a half later it was a done deal, 1 day after our contract with the realtor expired. WOW! I'm still reeling, but so grateful our prayers have been answered, just in time to prevent us from having to pay 2 mortgages. Never stop praying!!

Hey, Bon Bons!!!

Hello to the Bon Bon Club!! There's a play group here in Kentucky. But I got to thinking about my gal pals in Louisiana and just wanted to shout out to them! Miss you guys! Have a fun summer!!!

Must be Me!

OK, we've barely been here two months and they've just announced they're splitting the wards! Well, 1 ward, 1 branch. Now I know that's supposed to be a good thing (and it is). But I am just starting to know some names and faces, who belongs to who and what calling they have! Now I feel like the rug's been jerked out from under me and I'm going to have to stay on top of this gigantic feat of learning new people and all about them. This is not the first time this has happened. When we moved to LC, they had just recombined the wards, which I liked, and then a few years later, busted us up into 2 wards again, then combined us!! Geeeeeez! Not only that, but everywhere I have lived, TX, Utah, LA, they began re-doing the roads right after I got there. And what do you think they've done here in KY? Yep! I'll bet we weren't here a month and they started ripping them up. Thankfully, here they work at night, while I'M sleeping, and get quite a bit accomplished. So it doesn't seem to be taking quite so long and we've got new roads! Yeah!! I figure it must have something to do with me, since these things seem to happen wherever I go.

My Second Score (I updated)

72 words

Speed test

First of all, let me just thank Andrea for giving me one more OCD thing to do before I can start my day! It is going to drive me crazy if I don't improve on that number, especially since your first post was 78! Call it friendly competition or personal competition. It really doesn't matter.....I want a higher score! Plus I don't like when I misspell and the word turns green! Makes me feel like I've got to start all over right then. Eeeeeeesh!