Mail

MAIL...

Who doesn't like to get an unexpected letter from a dear friend???

Today I was so happy to discover not only a letter from my sweet friend, EJ, but

also this package...

I instantly knew what its contents contained...

Maybe to your eyes this looks like just an ordinary bracelet; but it is FAR from that!

It was custom designed by 4 girlfriends who, 16 months ago knew that it would be there last summer together.

Each girl chose a bead that best fit their personality and taste and then EJ (aka the Master Beader) put it together.

This bracelet has been mailed several hundred miles as it makes its rotation to and from each of the girlfriends.

Tearing into that brown envelope, I couldn't help but think of my 3 friends and reminisce on our friendship. Our lives have changed so much since that summer day, but, despite the distance wearing this bracelet makes me feel somewhat closer to them...

Miss ya girls!

...the best is mine

Yesterday my church celebrated their 40th anniversary, and I am proud to say that my family has been here for 27 of those. Fairhaven Baptist Church has impacted lives, salvaged families, and reached out to the community for all of its 40 years. We celebrated this special day by having an 'Old Fashioned Service'!

My church runs several buses all throughout the areas surrounding us. The children we picked up were able to participate in a giant helicopter candy scramble. It was so much fun to watch all the children anxiously watch as the copter dropped candy and the flag was waved for them to go and get it!

Our evening service was completed with cake and ice cream and a special gift given to our Pastor. After my Preacher was presented with his gift from his church he said something that made me proud...

"Many Pastors say they have the best church...but, I KNOW I do."

And..., I feel the exact some way about the church. It has made a difference in my life and I am so very proud to have been raised in this independent-Old Fashioned-Bible-believing Baptist church. Truly, I can say as well, "the best is mine."

Linking up over at Mary's to participate in Mosaic Monday!

A new season

I absolutely love the season that has snuck up on us. Perhaps, it is because fall contains my favorite holiday, or maybe because I love my comfort foods such as soups and pies, or because I LOVE watching the foliage change. Autumn...mmm...thinking about all that it brings makes me feel ever so happy!!!

My mom and I recently "dug" up the autumn decor and were excited to bring a little of this season into the house...

One can never have enough pumpkins!!

...or candles

Absolutely love this jar which I picked up candy selling with Mrs E...

contains small turkey papers inside to write your blessings on

a candy corn pot, crafted by me at age 12...

My favorite fall touches of all are found on the

entertainment center...

And of course, the fall mums which grace

our front stoop

Delicious autumn! My soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird

I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.

~ George Elliot

A Glimpse of Autumn

It's just around the corner...

I can feel it in the cool crisp evenings,

I can taste it while sipping hot tea,

I can hear it in the crickets' song,

I can smell it in the fog of the sunrise,

I can see it in the color alteration of the leaves...

Welcome autumn!

{Sharing my mosaic over at The Little Red House, visit here to view more}

Delayed

The last two days, I have been delayed in getting to work due to these creatures...

This picture is taken in my subdivision, after they had ever so slowly crossed the street, all the while taunting me with their big brown eyes, as if to say,

"YOU are running late to work, and WE are not helping...heeheehee!"

Of course, I could have made it to work a little sooner, if I hadn't decided to pull out my camera and snap a few pictures too!

The day before, I was driving down the road at approximately 6:55 (cutting it close to being on time...again...), when I noticed the oncoming car stopped in the middle of the road flashing his lights at me. I slowed to a stop to see that there was a family of deer standing on the side of the road, contemplating whether or not they should cross. One skirted across the road, and another followed, however the third stood there on the side paralyzed. By now quite a line of cars had formed and it was even closer to 7:00. I sighed in frustration, and ever so slowly proceeded, I was NOT going to wait anymore for that deer to cross. As I drove pass the line of cars, I am most certain, that almost every driver glared at me...

*sigh*

Oh, to be back on Tybee, where the signs read,

and we saw this along the highway...

A Tribute

As long as I shall live, I hope I never forget this day, nine years ago. We were getting ready for school listening to WLS, when the program was interrupted to announce that a passenger plane had crashed into one of the Twin Towers. I was 14 years old and unsure what this meant, the broadcasters speculated suicide bombers, hijackings, or accident.

Fifteen minutes later we listened in shock to hear that another plane had crashed into the second Tower.

I remember going to band, the first class of my day, and listening to all my fellow classmates' speculations. By the time band was over, the third plane had crashed into the Pentagon and one of the towers had collapsed. I remember thinking that today history was being made.

English class came next and our Principle came down and announced that we would not be having our morning classes. We were ushered into the library where we watched in horror the events unfolding on the television.

I will never ever forget watching the billowing smoke that seemed to cover New York City, watching the dozens of people that rather than burn to death, jumped from the towers. Tears were streaming down our faces. I didn't knew who these victims were, but I knew they were people like me...fellow Americans...a Father, a Mother, sons and daughters.

That night I heard our Commander in Chief address the nation:

Good evening. Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts. The victims were in airplanes , or in their offices; secretaries, businessmen and women, military and federal workers; moms and dads, friends and neighbors. Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror.

The pictures of airplanes flying into buildings, fires burning, huge structures collapsing, have filled us with disbelief, terrible sadness, and a quiet, unyielding anger. These acts of mass murder were intended to frighten our nation into chaos and retreat. But they have failed; our country is strong.

A great people has been moved to defend a great nation. Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.

America was targeted for attack because we're the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining.

Today, our nation saw evil, the very worst of human nature. And we responded with the best of America --

I will never forget how I observed all the flags being put up at busnisses and homes. I watched as billboards and advertisements were replaced with: We will NEVER forget and God bless America. I remember our Preacher saying that now more than ever Americans were searching and looking UP.

I remember a talk show host commenting that Americans should be forced to watch news images from that day, so that we would never forget. It has been nine years and I agree with that statement more than ever...

So today, the anniversary of that fateful day where 2,996 Americans lost their lives, I hope you will take a moment to pause with me and remember that the only thing necessary for evil to prevail; is that good men do nothing. God have mercy on America...

[watch this patriot tribute...Blood of Heroes]

Dolphin Crossing

My sister posted a blog and photos of our vacation, you can read it here. I decided to choose some other photos and tell you about some more of our great vacation to Tybee Island.

We drove 15 hours through, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia splitting it into two days.

We drove onto Tybee and were greeted by lush palm trees,

blooming bushes, and balmy blue skies!

We stopped by the rental agency to pick up our cottage key...

We were so anxious to see our living quarters. My sisters and I

had picked out Hemmingway Place after looking through dozens of photos

online. We were hoping that it looked as adorable in person.

We pulled into our driveway, which might I add was "paved" with sea shells (sooo beachy), and fell in love with our cottage immediately!

Everything about our cottage was absolutely perfect; both inside and out!

One of the lighthouses on the island...

One of the first things we did on the island was go on a tour of Little Tybee island, a mini Tybee, that is uninhabited. We anxiously awaited our private tour boat...

The "ride" over was absolutely breathtaking! The boat weaved between marshes and tall grass, while dolphins swam alongside of us. It was unlike anything I had ever seen!

Once we arrived on Little Tybee (aka Sliver Island) our guide

helped us comb the sand for shells and sand dollars...

My sisters and I had walked quite aways down from our parents with the guide,

when she turned around noticing that a dark cloud had gathered across the sky.

She quickened her footsteps and said somewhat anxiously, "Umm...we need to go RIGHT now."

Just then there was a rumble of thunder and we picked up our pace. As Brooke mentioned, we made it onto the boat, just as it started to mist. The waves were getting bigger, and as she picked up speed, the boat seemed to bounce up and down like a wave runner. Mom was starting to get just a tad nervous, and I...well I was just worried about the small fortune of a camera I had behind my legs. We made it to shore before the storm was in full action. This was the last picture I took while boarding the boat...

...and this is what I captured from the window of our vehicle...

just a little ran cloud...

Another highlight of our trip was parasailing. It was something I had always wanted to do and it is definitely something I would do again and encourage all to do so within their lifetime.

The view was spectacular and it was so peaceful 300 feet above the Atlantic Ocean...

We also were able to rent a convertible and we spent the day cruising Hilton Head

Island and Savannah.

Savannah, Georgia was a beautiful city with cobblestone streets and

amazing trees!

AND...of course being on an island, we spent alot of time

at the beach.

There was the Back River Beach where you could observe breathtaking sunsets and dolphins

frolicking in the water!

The water was unbelievably warm...

Charles Martin and I had an appointment on the beach...OF COURSE...

Finished it in two days and was so sad when it was over. :)

This little guy and many of his relatives enjoyed tormenting my sister, Lauren,

who has a phobia of birds...

Couldn't go without talking about the food either!

The Crab Shack was our first stop as well as the first and last time

I will ever try eating shrimp that has not been deveined and 'deleggified' *GAG*

My next attempt at shrimp was deep fried...a Po Boy Sandwich

which was soooo amazing!!

Our last food stop on the island was at AJ's Dock. We ate on the Back River Beach

while it rained(under an umbrella, of course)...

Peaceful & Relaxing!

Once again while eating there were several dolphin sightings!

One morning my Mom, Brooke, and I awoke and drove down to the beach to watch the sunrise.

I lost an hour or two of sleep, but it was well worth it, although Brooke may not agree...;)

The sunsets were just as spectacular, and I saw a whole lot more of them.

We do not remember days, we remember moments

Truly a vacation to remember forever!