Billy Graham Museum

March 14, 2023 | Stacy

With my trip behind me and my health returning, Nan, Tabitha, Johanna, Katriel and I went to Charlotte, NC to visit the Billy Graham museum. It was a wonderful place that exceeded my every expectatin.

The entire place was interactive. It was set up so that you would moved between rooms every 6-7 minutes. Each had its own focus.

This one was set up like a revival tent.

This talked about his media presence.

It highlighted his outreach to our elected officials.

And his opportunities to reach out across the nations.

He and Mrs. Ruth Graham are buried on the site.

It was a slightly stressful drive as Charlotte and I-85 are no joke. But it was a trip wholly worth making!

Winter Jam 2023

March 12, 2023 | Stacy

Tab sat with some friends, and Katriel stayed home with Nan.

We barely got there in time, and yet we got there at the perfect moment. It was JUST as they opened the doors for the HIS Radio More Than Music Partners (monthly donors) to go in just five minutes before the main opening. We slid right in the door and grabbed seats we liked. About 25 minutes later friends found us and joined us. Kevin and Shannon moved here about a year before we did, but they live about 40 minutes west of us. I haven’t seen Shannon since LAST Winter Jam.

AND – remarkably enough. In a venue of THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS, our friend Jeff was in the section directly behind us. So cool.

Many artists. It was a wonderful night of worship.

Beauty and the Beast at BJU

March 8, 2023 | Stacy

This photo doesn’t do a thing to highlight the amazing performance we were treated to by BJU. Over 2000 people were in the auditorium for their “educators performance” (the last night before opening night).

Marie and John will be going in a few nights.

Carnival Elation

March 6, 2023 | Stacy

John and I have been married almost 26 years and we have never gone away.
With Nan coming in for a month, and us living so close to cruise ports, we decided we’d do something crazy and take a four night cruise…

I was medicated to the hilt, and I mostly slept and moved from sitting in X to sitting in Y, but we had a nice time being fed and looking at the sea. And I would have been about good for nothing at home with the steroids and antihistamines.

The port is small and easy to access. We went out of Jacksonville.

Parts of the ship are kind of dark and ugly, and other parts are updated and lovely. All of it was clean and the staff was outstanding.

We hung out waiting for our stateroom to be ready.

It was a great room for two people.

We had a beverage package that allowed us to frequent the coffee bar.

Guy’s Burgers are the best.

The adults only quiet area of the ship. It got very busy at times.

We also got slushies with our package.

And Blue Iguana tacos. I had a few fish tacos over the days.

We visited Freeport.

The beach was lovely, but the waves were rough.

We got back to the ship in time for dinner.

We went to Nassau the next day.

And returned to the ship for some quiet time by the family slides.

Sea Day we went to the Dr. Seuss breakfast.

And had more Guy’s Burgers and Blue Iguana for lunch.

Before you knew it, it was time to go home.

And I would feel like I was on the ship for over a week.

It was a mess…

March 1, 2023 | Stacy

51 years old, and I now have to answer, “Yes,” to the question, “Are you allergic to any medication?”

Backing up a bit, on Feb. 13, I went to the provider and she diagnosed and ear infection and I started on Augmentin. I was not improving and on Feb. 17th, I went back and she gave me a steroid injection and started me on another medication.

I think I ended up with a virus on top of the ear infection, around about Feb. 20th, just as Nan and Noelle were joining us. I sort of stumbled through that week and all the activities (note the blog!) and then on Monday, the 27th, I noticed I had two small hives on my left wrist. Noelle flew out. I took Tab to archery, and by dinner time, my face and neck were involved.

I called the office before they closed and they set me up for a nurse visit on Tuesday morning. I was told to take Zyrtec, and that Benadryl probably wouldn’t help?

When I woke up this morning, I was covered with hives from my scalp to my knees. I could not get to my 9AM appointment fast enough.

I waited at least 30 minutes, itching like a crazy person, until I was given another shot of steroid, and an NSAID. I was told to absolutely take Benadryl WITH the Zyrtec.

I was miserable, but at least I was getting better. Nan was helping a lot with food and kids and household, and I was just miserable.

And then she lived happily ever after, right?

NOPE.

I did feel better and better as Tuesday went on. I found some steroid cream in my medicine bag and used that where I could and I think that helped some.

I expected to continue to improve on Wednesday.
But
by lunch time I was getting worse again.
And telling myself that I would be on the ship soon enough (John and I had a cruise planned for Thursday) and even thought I could just see the ship’s medical staff for more steroids if I needed them.

But then my brain came back to doing its job, and as John came home from picking the girls up from church around 8PM, I announced we were going to the ED. There is a wonderful free standing ED just around the corner from our house. And 90 minutes later I had a steroid shot, a ten-day supply of Prednisone, and instructions to take 50mg of Benadryl around the clock til I was better. The ED staff was superb and we were home and back to packing by 11PM (we had to stop at the 24-hr pharmacy).

Let’s Get Together!

February 27, 2023 | Stacy

We’ve been super intentional with Marguerite and Jeff about getting together each month for fellowship. It was a PERFECT weekend for it, as Noelle and Nan were visiting. The other two in the photo are Joseph’s girlfriend, Katelyn, and her daughter, Kaia.

PLUS! Our friends Karl and Mary were visiting from NY. They are looking into moving to Greenville later this year.

It was a VERY busy weekend – but such a joyful one.

Tab’s Winter Formal.

February 26, 2023 | Stacy

I love my girl so much.

I dropped her off at the Winter Formal, which had a medieval theme.

Not all of these photos are mine. Many came from the event photographer.

She hung out with her sweet pal, Melody.

This is the junior class.

You can just make out Tab on the left next to Melody in the red dress.

Tab and her friend Ben.

And Emily W. and Melody.

The girls did not attend with dates. They did dance with many of their friends.

Tab and Nathan.

Melody dancing with Daniel

The line dancing is my favorite to watch, and I did make it back before pick up to catch some of the coolest young people in the world doing the paired line dancing (think square dancing, but along a line.)

Tab and Mark.

At one point, the smoke machines set off the fire alarms… and I am sure this fire fighter is still talking about this call.

Most of the moms (this is Staci and Courtney) dressed up for the event.

Katriel’s MARVELous birthday party

February 25, 2023 | Stacy

We had a fabulous, Marvel-themed birthday party for Katriel.

She came up with all the games, and Mrs. Heather helped print us off some Marvel Bingo.

They made some cool obstacle courses and Hero Training ideas outside. (The rain stopped by the time the friends came over.)

We drank “Hulk Punch,” had some pizza and fruit.

And, of course, cup cakes.

It was super cool.

The littlest Butler is 10!

February 24, 2023 | Stacy

I do not know how it happened. Our sweet “Ducky” is now 10 years old!

She didn’t wait around for the family tradition of waking up the birthday kid with a song. She wanted to be up and around for every minute of her special day.

She started her day digging into her CBS.