It was a rough few weeks – but we finally got around to celebrating John’s birthday.
Daddy
Carnival Elation
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.
Marie is 18
This poor girl! Last year, on her 17th birthday, we were packing up the house all around her. She also was in the midst of a month where she couldn’t taste anything!
This year – it’s her 18th birthday – and we are up to our ears in VBS and other craziness!
Daddy took her to Silver Bay Seafood for a lovely dinner.
We will celebrate as a family on the weekend.
Our little girl graduated.
Sweet Marie.
Didn’t know a soul there.
Agreed to go through the ceremony for Mama.
None of the siblings went. It was long-ish.
We came home for gifts and cake.
Instead of a party Daddy and Mama arranged for Mama and Marie to have a quick trip to Disney World next month.
My friend made her this beautiful shirt.
AHG–Powder Puff Derby
By any name – it’s not Daddy’s favorite thing.
Daddy birthday celebrations
Mama and Tab were out of town – so the kids gave Daddy some cards and brownies.
Then on 4/24 we made a dinner for Daddy and had cake.
Tent night for the win…
Katriel had one outstanding item on her list to get the Sacajawea Level Award for AHG.
We ran out of weekends.
But Daddy didn’t run out of energy.
Busy Friday? BRING IT ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I LOVE BEING THIS KIND OF BUSY!
I need to write posts like this because even three weeks later I just grin from ear to ear at how much GOD has provided us. PTL!
Friday started EARLY as I drove Nigel to the airport at 6AM for a 7:30AM flight. He headed back to Rochester to get in some holiday visits. He bought his ticket himself and planned all his rides and visits himself.
As soon as I got home, Marie and I headed to Greenville to visit Bob Jones University campus for a tour. Thankfully God nudged me earlier in the week to switch days from Thursday – (we ended up needing that time to spend that time with Jasper).
As soon as she and I got back (she liked BJU a lot) I grabbed Johanna and Katriel who were ready in their AHG uniforms so we could go to the host church to work on Christmas cards for a local nursing home.
The girls and their leaders made sure there were enough for every single resident to get one.
Then we crossed the street (passing Nan who had just dropped off Marie and Tab for their event…. I’ll do another post for that) and went to The Springs in Simpsonville. The girls were invited inside to sing and the residents who wanted to come to were given their cards in person. Many cards were read aloud and the girl who made it got to personally greet the resident. There were even a few residents who came over to hug the girls.
(Meanwhile – this very day NY entered lockdown number 3,492…)
We went home for a bit and I called John and asked if we could go out to eat before the movie the girls didn’t know we were going to. The WISE MAN (I love the guy) agreed that was the best idea. I got the girls ready and as soon as Daddy got home we ate at Cracker Barrel. We did have to rush it a bit in order to be to the show on time. We ran into people from church (I just love how we run into people we know – I love that God helps us in this way!!).
And we made it into Encanto in time for a few previews.
I love this kind of fun.
Post-CBS lunch
We meant to do it two weeks ago.
Then last week.
But stuff kept coming up.
So today, after CBS we met Daddy at a diner in Greenwood and had the best cheeseburger in my memory
Dayspring Disciples 