4th of July FIREWORKS!!

This was my first time EVER photographing fireworks!!!

Here are my best efforts below.

{Word to the wise, fireworks that explode unexpectedly are STILL easier

to photograph than kids.}

At least my kids.

ENJOY!

{REALLY COOL!} unedited!

not bad for a first timer, huh?!

I hope you had a wonderful 4th of July!

I'm off to reheat some of the delicious leftovers for lunch!

The 4th of July!!

GodBlessAmerica!

My Home Sweet Home!

 My American Boy Wesley!

 Charlie and Grandma Marie!

 My American Boy Char-Char!

 Rebecca Star Grace!

 Us! What a happy picture!

 Wesley!

One of my creative pictures...

Wesley again! Or as Char-Char calls him, "Wuh-Wuh"

 There were so many things to photograph so to make it easier I just put a bunch in a collage so that you could see them all at once.

What a neat set up this was- and I learned some great things about money, weapons, and customs of the time...still, I am most grateful for Air Conditioning!!

 Papaw Charlie and Mr. Fred playing the guitar and banjo!!

 Pete- served in the Army, singing... great voice!!

 God gives his beloved sweet rest...

Wesley playing with Terri's yo-yo! 

This kid comes with strings attached! Ha!!

Tonight we're BBQ-ing hamburgers and hot dogs, pasta salad, steamed long green beans with balsamic vinegar and feta (three simple ingredients- lots of flavor!! Our favorite way to eat them!!), baked beans, chips, pop and Kool-aid for the kids! Hopefully we'll get to watch fireworks tonight if the rain holds off!!

Lastly, I just want to put a thought out there to all our Military men and women. This great land wouldn't be as great as it is without your sacrifice- and the ultimate sacrifice of those that have died for this great land.

An incomplete list of past wars include:

WWI, WWII, Korean conflict, Vietnam...

and more recently, Ground Zero on September 11th, 2001.

On September 11th I saw America not just as a place to live, 

a country on a plastic map, or as an untouchable, unattackable, bullet-proof nation-

But as a nation that was breakable but not unbeatable.

A nation that was vulnerable but victorious.

A nation whose soldiers were harmed yet heroic.

A nation that not only had a great anthem but LIVED UP to those last two lines-

where we sing with tear filled eyes and grateful hearts as we wave our flags proudly

"THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE!"

America means MORE to me now 

that I have seen the wounds

she can withstand.

America is my home sweet home.

America is the land that I love.

I am PROUD to be an American.

I pray always,

God Bless America!!!

Father's Day 2011

Here's a look at a very quick Father's Day!

Me and my Daddy!

Daddy and the boys!

{love}

Keith and Wesley!

{Grandpa Keith adores his grandsons!}

Jeff and his boys!

Carla and her Daddy!

Jeff and his Dad!

Three generations!

 

 {my favorite}

Jeff,

You are the hardest working Dad I know.

Even though the days are long and monotonous,

even though the time passes by slowly when you're at work 

and very quickly when you're with us,

even though there never seems to be enough money though you work countless hours,

even though you may not feel appreciated at times,

though you grow more weary every shift change you NEVER have fainted...

You aren't my dad, but I'm so glad you're my children's dad!

You teach them every minute you are with them.

You hug them every chance you get.

You play. You laugh. You are always Dada.

You are the glue that holds this family together- the knot that keeps us tied tightly.

You are most certainly the head of the house, the king in his castle 

and the love of my little life!

Even though you are spending tonight at work...

we are here waiting for our "Dada" to come home to us!

Love you!!!

Happy Father's Day!!

Waiting for Daddy...

Charley and Wesley (well mainly Charley) love waiting for Dada to come home from work, especially since he's been working a lot of night shifts. Every morning Charley wakes up, and makes sure to wake Mama up, at 6:30am...and we stretch, rub our eyes, yawn...and then make our way down stairs, open the door.....

....and wait.

And then all of a sudden a big red truck comes around the corner...it takes Charley but a moment to know who that is! "Dada! Dada! Dada!" Charlye waves his "I love you" sign at Jeff and stands to His feet....sheer joy...bliss....oh happy day it is already to see Dada! 

And then Daddy gets out of the truck and comes slowly up the stairs...wore out from the long nights work but so eager to greet these happy faces...and it makes the whole night worth doing...

 It's easy to take for granted those little moments with your children and your spouse...until one day you look at your life and realize that every hour that you get with them is a blessing. God doesn't want us to be spoiled little children. So He helps us grow into strong adults not by always giving us the great things we think we deserve, but giving us just enough to never take it for granted. But to be thankful.

I have learned these past 9 months not underestimate time. How easily it slips away. 

And once it's gone, it's gone for good. 

That's why I started this blog. To capture our lives. To capture what I know I will forget. 

Front porch moments like these where we're two and 7 months old and eagerly waiting

for Daddy...to play with us and to ride us on his back and run around the yard...

That song by Rascal Flatts that talks about nothing beating the view from the front porch looking in...

yeah, nothing beats my view...