Beach Fun 2015- and flat biscuits, old friends, new friends, and fishing....and of course good food!

Last Friday morning, my family, Other Sis, and Mama/Daddy headed to Hilton Head... I took my computer and had every intention of blogging and taking pictures daily....it didn't work out that way... I never turned on my computer... only took my camera a few places... and used my phone, Mark's phone, and KB's phone to take pics... these are all out of order... all mixed up...and most of all... memories of a lifetime that I'll try to put a little order to in the next paragraphs...so here goes... 2015 beach trip....

 These two make me laugh... hard to believe they have only known each other for a few years... she fits right in... plays cards with us... eats like us... and laughs at all kinds of things... I'm worried about her television habits and awareness of gossip in the world... she doesn't know anything...which I guess could be a good thing! 

 He loves the ocean... just like his mama... I just closed my eyes and hoped that no sharks would get me!

 I also love that he entertains himself...most of the time! 

 I could eat him up... love that this sweet boy lets me take his picture...

 and smiles when I ask him to... one would never know just how devilish he is...

 And this one... I am amazed daily at her... for good and bad things.... she is 100 percent teenager... I can read her like a book... I know her thoughts, I know her heart, and I know that she is going to use that hard head to be something one day! 

 Our first night there, we walked over to Crazy Crab in Harbour Town so we didn't have to get in the car... our supper was delicious... I didn't take a picture of my cheeseburger, but Tatum and Kathryn always get that at the Heritage... and I have followed suit....

These are Jessica's fried shrimp.... I could eat all of them right now!

Their station every night.... these two would eat supper and then head out to Harbour Town... I called it "catting".... They were home each night before I had to look for them! 

Jane was there for a couple of nights and of course Ben got his chocolate milk in a special glass... she treats him like that! 

I have never worn a hat as much as I did this year at the beach... Monica's hair was nothing compared to mine! 

Old Oyster Factory.... we haven't been in years... but it was DELICIOUS!  Ben ate most of my supper, but what I had was good.

This is our friend.... we watched from the truck... the bikes... every day we looked for him.... the last few days he was missing... made me kind of nervous that he might just show up at our doorstep!

You can't see Ben here...and you can't see Gregg Russell, but they are both there!  I am ashamed to say I have never heard Gregg Russell before, but we listened to him almost every night.... I loved it...I'm sorry my children didn't get to experience it at a younger age.... but you know they can't sing... so it may have all been in God's plan! 

Outside WildWings for lunch one day!

We were so packed going home we had to wear our hats... just teasing... KB thought we should put them on for a selfie...

Tuesday night Donna and Matt invited us over for supper and the fireworks show.... of course riding on a boat in the "ocean" was new to us.... so when dolphins just come up beside you...it can be a little exciting...or a lot!  They took us to this neat treehouse.... we climbed to the top.... and it was gorgeous.... I loved it!  Now...coming back down was a different story.... but we had a great time...I love that these two little boys had a great time, they are both die supporters of the opposite team, and I know their granddaddies are smiling down watching them play together!  I think they even look alike!

And look who showed up in HHI!  Ruby Cullars and Hugh came to town and invited Mark and Ben to go shark fishing..... the following pictures are some of their catches...

 
 The catters and I stayed at the condo and relaxed.... when the Arthurs and Mark/Ben got off the boat they headed to the top of the lighthouse...as many times as I have been...I had never been inside or to the top.... neat experience! 

My favorite breakfast of all!  Flat biscuits and sausage gravy!  Nanny is the best....and her biscuits are delicious!  Mark and I enjoyed visiting with Nanny and Sally for breakfast! 

Now... these next pictures are from Mark's catch of the day when we headed out deep sea fishing Friday. 

This booger was much bigger than he looks in this picture...and he was fighting mad.  Thank the good Lord that shark week was this week instead of last week... I can say that I have been deep sea fishing... and I never have to go again....

He was working hard! 

One of the stories we will never forget... Jane riding a bicycle..... Katie Britt tells the story much better than I do.  But it has statements like "I'm sorry I ran into you" "You don't need to be on a bicycle" and "Jane is pushing her bike and not riding it".... In the years and years we have been to HHI, I have never rented bikes... we did this time and I loved it!  we rode all over Sea Pines...

This was Jane practicing before we put her out on the road... she should have practiced a little more because of her small mishap.... She reminds me of Pee Wee Herman.... "I know you are but what am I?"

Sis and I getting ready to ride!  The last time I think I rode a bike was when she was just big enough to sit in one of those stands behind me... I thought it looked like so  much fun... and all mamas do that... well... I took one lap around our neighborhood and had to get off and push.... HHI is all flat, so I had a pretty easy trip this time!

One day at the beach... rebels who needed to get on the lifeguard stand!

At the top of the lighthouse!

I'm not sure where this tongue-sticking out in all pictures comes from, but it gets on my nerves... Ben looks like a lizard! 

Any chance to be silly... we take it...

So here is my favorite story of the entire trip!  The five of us headed out Friday morning with a friend of a friend.  We met up in Harbour Town and headed out for a day of deep sea fishing.  The water was a little rough/choppy, but we had all taken Dramamine, so I thought we were going to be fine... after about 2 1/2 hours and just minutes after this picture of KB with the shark was taken, she started throwing up off the back of the boat.  Our guide decided to take the girls inland... he said he would just drop us off at Daufuskie for a little bit and settle our stomachs while he took the guys out fishing.

And here comes the "rest of the story".... we walk a long pier to a house that looks like a club house to a golf course... I see women inside having tea, brunch, and visiting... they were very dressed up, but I wasn't shocked by that... I did notice there were several signs that said Members Only/ Private... but I've never been one to follow directions... I needed help finding a water for KB!  Keep in mind that all three of us are soaking wet in t-shirts and shorts.... hats on.... and a little green... All I had with me was Mark's credit card and no phone.  I had left it at the condo.  We go inside and the lady asks if she can help us... I asked her for two waters and a diet coke and told her that the girls were sick and needed a restroom.  She pointed them in the right direction, and as I was waiting on her to ring up our drinks... I noticed a cookbook... I told her I wanted that too... I'm a talker... so I also told her this was my first time to the island and I had heard so many things about it.  I told her I would love to explore once KBs stomach settled.  She told me I could rent a golfcart and tour the entire island... I told her I would talk to the girls and see what they said.  We went outside because it was so cold inside with air and wet clothes.  After waiting a few minutes, I went back inside and told her I wanted to rent a golf cart and to use the water taxi to get us back to Harbour Town... she looked at me funny and said, "Are you a member of the Yacht Club?"  I told her I wasn't... and then she started asking me how I got to the island and told me I couldn't be where I was!  I told her sorry and I would leave as soon as my husband, son, and guide came back to pick me up.  I felt about the size of an ant.... I have been "not included" before, but I got the giggles thinking about how we looked walking into this exclusive club and not really supposed to be there!

I go back outside to tell the girls that we aren't welcome there, and they start laughing too.  We kind of panicked a little because we were ready to leave... and especially since we weren't where we were supposed to be!  We walked back out to the dock and found a bench at the very end to wait.... there were three men fishing there, but they didn't notice us.... a few minutes later, this family comes by and says, "Are ya'll supervising the men?"... I quickly responded with, "No, we are stranded... just waiting on my husband to get back from deep sea fishing so we can get to Harbour Town"... a minute later, we were on the boat below... The family was very nice... they asked us all kinds of questions, but for once... I didn't ask a thing... Jessica looked at me about halfway there and said, "I think they may be rich!"... Yes, dear... they are, but I didn't care about the money...I was thrilled we had a ride.  The girl told me they were going sailing that afternoon.... I didn't think anything about it except I couldn't imagine a sailboat big enough for all of them.... again.... I was oblivious to the conversations because I was so ready to be back on land.  We got off...thanked them over and over... as we made our way around the corner, I turned back to see that they were getting on a huge sailboat... they could have taken everyone I knew with them!  At this point the girls told me that people were taking pictures of us as we came into the harbor... I knew we rode with someone famous, but I didn't know who it was....

Monday morning I retold my story at work and Kaye immediately told me who to look for and see if it was him.... She is so smart!  It was Ken Nugent.... his daughter.... and her husband's family.... I don't care if people do call them ambulance chasers.... they sure were nice to us!  One call...that's all.... he got me back to Harbour Town...and for that... I will be forever grateful!

These last few pictures are of us on the way home, Huddy's birthday party, and Ben playing golf.... We had a great week of rest, relaxation, and fun! 

It's only been a week since we came home, but I sure am ready to go back! 

Dear Sis and Boo~

In years to come... I want you to come to this post when you need to forgive someone.... this morning my two devotions lined up together and I thought I would share them with you...

Yes, it's 2015 and I'm reading a devotion from 2014.... Jane had it and said it was good... why not recycle it?  Anyway... each morning this year I have picked up this devotional book and read the verse... the devotion...and then the activity or prayer... this morning I find it very fitting for life...your entire life...because no matter how old you get... your feelings will get hurt. 

It all started with this... yes...it says Friday... but remember it's 2014... I love this post... Boo I worry every day about you playing football... a game you love... I don't want you to ever get hit... can you just stand on the sidelines?  My favorite part is about the peace lily... yes, I'm just like this lady... I don't have a green thumb, but I do love a peace lily.... I actually have "Lily" sitting in my kitchen right now...Lily was given to me one day by someone who couldn't take care of her anymore.... I'm doing an okay job with her... right now she needs a little water... but she can wait a day or two because I know she will perk right back up.  Isn't that great... we get to be sad for a few days when someone hurts our feelings, but we need to get a little water (God is the best) to perk us back up after we are hurt.  Be forgiving like Lily.... when I water her... she forgives me and you would never know that I harmed her... If you hold on to grudges, anger, and emotion.... you are going to be like her and not really take the water in... As I have gotten older... I've learned to forgive... I hope you see my example... I hope you are processsing all this and taking note... I love when you look at me and say, "But Mama... they said".... yeah... people have said some things that aren't really nice... or been ugly.... or even hurt you... and yes, I'm nice... I hope you always see that!  I'm trying to teach you that you can be nice without being ugly...

I love to write the dates in my Bible when I come across them in devotions/sermons... Psalms tells us that we have taken an oath... we will follow His laws... and we have to love!  Trust me... it's much easier to love your enemy than build up a hatred for them... I've been there and done that... even today... I let things roll off my back... at least where I am concerned! I always get a little ruffled when it comes to you two, but then I try to step back and just let it go! 

Sis you brought me this book back from camp several years ago... I started reading it a few weeks ago, and today's lesson lined up with my devotional.  It's about overcoming the past... there will be times in life that you are going to wish you hadn't done things you did... they are learning experiences, but you will be ashamed, embarrassed, and you can make yourself sick with guilt... that feeling in the pit of your stomach when the memories come back will haunt you... but let them go too... learn from that mistake and don't make it again... you have long roads ahead of you... relationships to enter into...and get out of... but remember that if you get that little sick feeling in your stomach...it's probably not the best thing to do.... and words from Lolly... that I like to use... "If you have to hide anything you are doing... it's probably not a good thing"... right now you both let me read your text messages on demand... I know that will change eventually... but I like to keep tabs on who you are talking with and what you are talking about... Boo.... I got my radar on you right now!  Whenever you type something in a text message, an email, or even say it... it can come back to haunt you... but you can overcome these things... you might not think a thing about making fun of someone with a friend... or talking about a difficult situation that a friend is going through, or even giggling that someone is finally having trouble in his/her life... but remember that it can...and most of the time will haunt you later on.... Overcome your past by trying not to do these things anymore... because one day the table will turn and you will be the one who is talked about... and it doesn't feel so good.... that friend who talks about someone with you... will probably talk about you one day.  So step back... watch what you say/do...

And finally, remember Exodus 20:6- but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Be nice... beware of those who may hurt you... but love them with all your heart!  

My Advice to My Children

Yes, it's Father's Day, but what better way to add a little advice for years to come from now!  I' m not sure who taught me this or if it is original, but...

KB - the best boyfriends are the ones you can look at and see that they will be good daddies one day... they have a heart for noise, they like to teach new things to little ones, and most importantly, they treat you with respect and love... after all...that's the best gift they can give.  You have a pretty good daddy... ok...he is great... and I can only tell you to try your best to find someone as close to him as possible... He is so much like Butch... he lets most things roll off his back, he is honest to the core, he wants the best for you, he will defend you when you are right, and YES, he will hurt your feelings when you are wrong... Your daddy got his ways from Papa.... who left you a sweet message on your first birthday (never marry a logger)... so I'm thinking you better heed to that advice and look for someone who has all the characteristics of the three men who molded you.  Papa would tell you the same thing!  I have to add in JMac too... for his patience with a pre-made family... for his love to us and how good he treats us...and more importantly, his love for Mimi! 

Ben- Proverbs 22:6- Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.  Your daddy is doing a pretty good job at this... except maybe when he yells at us for talking while he is on a business call... we know better, but we just get a little carried away goofing off and get caught!  Honestly, be like your daddy... your heart is so big... you have enough spunk about you to let hurt feelings pass, you have enough smarts about you that you figure things and people out quickly, and you have enough wit about you that adults fall in love with you from first sight... I'd love to take credit for all that, but I only birthed you... all those traits come from Daddy... I'd like to think that your athletic abilities come from me, but I'm thinking they are all McKinney/Wilkes too... be a good daddy one day and nurture those traits in your own children... Be like Daddy, Butch, Papa, and JMac and play every sport you can... strive to be the best in all you do... but most importantly, LOVE... love the women in your life... take care of them... show them respect... and let your heart shine! 

And to both of you... on each Father's Day... take a moment to remember those who can't be fathers, who don't have their father with them any longer, or who just hurt on this day because of situations out of their control.... you both are lucky enough to have great relationships with the term "father"... but there are those who don't... my heart hurts for them, and I want your heart to remember them as well... for you really don't know how lucky you are until you realize that everyone doesn't have a family like ours.  We are BLESSED, LUCKY people... and by the grace of God... I'm hoping you will always know that you both are loved so much... and Why? because of the fathers that have been in our lives... Butch, Papa, JMac... and on an almost daily basis... your Daddy... Mark McKinney... thanks for being the best!  You drive us crazy... but we love you... what we do without complaining about your silly antics, your crazy ideas, and your sleep habits.  Much love Mark... thanks for going above and beyond my expectations of looking for a mate... you fit the mold I wanted very well... I was right in choosing you to be the "Baby Daddy"... If I don't do anything else right... I did pick you!  



Happy Father's Day Mark, Butch, JMac, and Papa in Heaven....

IPHONE Clean-off

I can't think of anything else to call this.... I mean it could be titled lots of things, but I'm trying to play catch up with an update on SisandBoo.... to say we have been busy... really isn't even accurate... I think last night was the first night all four of us have spent at home without anywhere to go.... End of school activities, baseball, basketball, cheerleading, and life have kept us in the road.... I'll do my best to update, and I am promising myself that I won't get this far behind again! 

I'm not real sure why I took a picture of my Bible...I'm sure it was a post I was planning on writing, but looking at this... I need a new one.  Mine is dirty, worn, and I have run out of room to write in the margins in the New Testament... It's so true that the more you find out... the more you realize you don't know.  Our church has been blessed the last several years with pastors who have made me "write in the margins" more than ever before...It's fun to go back and look at what was said and the take that people have on what the verses mean... I'm learning that the words never change...it's the views... being able to interpret the correct way is something that will always blow my mind....some meaning gets lost through translation, but I hope I'm getting the message... anyway....I'm looking for a new Bible....

For several weeks this spring, I had time on the weekends to make pound cakes... I have tons of pictures with the cakes I made.... I think I enjoy cooking  more than anything else as a hobby.... But... making a cake takes a lot of time.... and it adds pounds to the hips... I'm reminded as I bake these cakes of my grandmothers...and for that... I'm thankful.... I use Boo-ma's pan (that I'm sure she never used...it was just in a box of her pots and pans and I "stole" it).... and no one could make a cake like Granny!  I'm sure mine aren't as good as hers, but I'm going to keep trying! 

I can't believe I'm adding this picture... but this was such a fun day.... I was reality tv star stalking.... this is one of those things that I know I shouldn't do.... but watching this show is like watching a train wreck.... it is a "hot mess".... I can't get over the lives some people live and my watching makes me realize that being a no-name, hardworking, "normal" person isn't so bad!  I'm a closet watcher of the show.... except for maybe a few of my closest friends knowing...I mean who would really admit to watching this!

KB coming home from Clemson.... She was lucky to attend a weekend being acclimated to the Clemson campus.... it looks like all our dollars will be sent to SC...anyone want to buy our house so we can move a few miles over the bridge and not pay out of state tuition? 

My Mother's Day card from Boo.... I love that he remembers the book we read... both my children have been diagnosed (by me) as having separation anxiety.... this book is really good to help with that... and I love that Ben notices me trying to get my steps in.... he and KB both have decided to let me do everything for them now... "Mama, can you do "XYZ" .... you will be able to get more steps in" 

I'm stress eating lately... end of year reports, conferences, and schedules have added pounds to the hips.... or as Mark likes to say sometimes "junk in the trunk"..... so I'm going to work on the Fitbit....and keeping my lips shut.... I'm sure Mark would make a little smart comment about there being nothing to eat in our house and dieting shouldn't be a problem.... but I'm going to shop today... one of those trips that might need two buggies! 

What a difference 11 years makes!  This is "Mandarosa" as Ben calls her....Mark nicknamed her that because we watched Celebrity Apprentice with her...  this year they were reunited when she came to LC to teach... he didn't get her as a teacher and was so disappointed... She loved on him the first months of his life when she came to live with us!  I don't know what I would have done without her!  She has her own little boys now, but Ben still thinks she belongs to him.  He worried about her everyday she was out on maternity leave... he just couldn't understand why she would stroll the babies around town and not be able to come back to school!  He found her at the awards ceremony to get a picture! 


Ben did great this year in school and enjoyed his teachers... I am sure they are just as excited about summer as he was... I would love to go back in the classroom, but I'm thinking I would take a leave of absence if I had to teach him! 

We have often said we don't know where he came from.... He doesn't look like anyone... he was born with very dark hair and beautiful skin... and he has the ability to draw what he sees... unlike anything else that lives in this house!  He received a special award for art this year from Smokey the Bear... but I, nor he, knows what the picture looks like.... but anyway... he was recognized for a great picture...

So... the last days of school I got a call from Mark that said I had a card in the mail.... people don't send cards anymore, so I told him to open it and see who it was from... it made my YEAR... a mother of one of our students sent me a card telling me how much she appreciated me and the kindness I had shown to her.  I'm glad I could be a small part of this family's life when they were making some tough decisions... I consider myself a "fireman".... I have often said that working in the central office of a school system requires thick skin and a filter on the mouth because 99 percent of the time I deal with a problem.... anyone who knows me knows that those aren't my characteristics.... I struggle daily with both.... but for once, this was one of those pleasure calls that I was able to give some words of encouragement and guidance that led to great things... I took a picture to remind me that it might take years... but one good thing did come from decisions I was a part of...

KB's turn.... there are lots of things I'm proud to say about her.... she has had an eventful year of being second in her class, making Varsity cheerleading, experiencing and surviving her first heartbreak, and spending every day of summer doing something besides sitting on the couch eating Doritos!  I think the thing that I'm most impressed with (not that those other things aren't special) was her piano recital!  My baby can play!  I'm so excited for her!  I have said it many times, but I wish our school could offer a second piano class.... she loved every minute of it and I was proud as a peacock to hear her play! 

I'm posting this picture to show my model body.... HA... not really... just motivates me even more to keep the lips shut... I'm really posting because I impressed myself.... I could only turn one way, but figured out how to paddleboard...I spent the afternoon watching everyone else do it, and I decided that I wanted to try.... I waited until late in the day so if I fell... not many would see it!  I didn't fall, but I did realize that I need to work on getting in shape...it's hard work and using core muscles (which I don't have) is key to being successful! 

I'm adding this picture because Guille and Christie hosted youth at their house a few Sunday nights ago.... We had a great turnout and when I yelled for everyone to get in line for a picture... look at the tall kid in the back row.... second from the left.... he is really twice (some three times)their age... but thinks he is  a teenager.  I'm so glad my children get to be a part of a good group of kids.... moving home has had its ups and downs, but being surrounded by children who don't mind getting together as group of "church kids" is a plus no matter what way you look at it.  Having a core group to turn to when struggles are evident...  my hope is they will look around them when they are tempted to do something they shouldn't and gain encouragement from their friends! 

Baseball was short and sweet this season.... Ben had the opportunity to play catcher and pitcher.... He missed being with his grade level .... I'm hoping next year will be a little better and we have enough to have a team.

We never miss an opportunity to laugh and giggle and be silly.... I'm sure our teachers sent many praises to the Lord when our class graduated... I was lucky enough to part of a great group of students who were all "perfect"... we weren't trashy, we weren't wild, we weren't troublemakers... oh wait...maybe a few of us could be categorized as that.... just teasing... we loved each other like brothers and sisters... It was fun getting back together at a wedding and as I look at this picture, some of us have colored our hair a little bit... some have lost our hair.... some have gained a few pounds... some have their hands where they shouldn't in the picture... but one thing remains the same... our smiles... we all love being silly... we all love being in charge....I'm so glad we can pick up where we left off in 1989... we haven't changed a bit... except our feet hurt, we were ready to go to bed at 9 that night, and we had our significant others with us! 

And while we were taking this picture below... we may have wet our pants a little... someone had the great idea to play wife swap and be silly...

So this picture could be in Southern Living... boys in seersucker pants, smocked dresses, and FROGS... during this wedding there were these children... I'm sure it wasn't MY CHILD's idea to get frogs out of the pond and come put them in the pool... I guess we should have been paying attention to our children instead of taking pictures! 

My hearts.... we cleaned up and attended a wedding... I don't know what I'm going to do when Ben gets a little taller... I always make him stand in front of me.... to hide the hips... I guess I can just photobomb them and poke my head through

Look at this precious one who came to see BUH.... I had to bribe him with a sucker to get his fingernails cut, but I love that he stops by when he is with Mayonnaise to see me!  He wanted to dress like his Papa and wear boots with shorts... I remember Ben doing that too....

THIS NEXT PICTURE IS X-RATED....
so... we like to ride around town... I always have.... the other night as we rode up Main Street, I yelled for Mark to turn around.... I told him I had to do a double take to see if what I thought I saw was really what I saw.... I took a picture and told the store owner that Mark wanted to buy the dress!  So, so funny! 

Ben is sitting with me as I type and insisted I put this picture on here.... it is a cute dress, but I don't do spaghetti straps! 

KB missed this picture because she was at River of Life... this was her third year participating, and she loves it more and more each year... I loved looking at all the pictures they posted...I think she does it to get dressed up and live in a motel for a week.... she loves calling me to pick up her dirty clothes... If I would pay for her to stay at the Cullars Inn each week... she would do it... the four girls she stayed with would not win the cleanest room award... I've never seen such a mess in my life... but it didn't bother them one bit!  At the end of the week she was a little closer to God and recognized as a Keeper of the Water... tears flowed as I heard someone else say how sweet my child was... that makes me smile... and my heart happy...

Another reality tv stalking.... KB wanted me to buy her something from this store in Atlanta, but I didn't get out of sessions at the conference on time to make it to Lennox to make the purchase.... however.... the store is really small...and I was expecting something much bigger! 

And while I was in Atlanta at a conference all week... Boo was at Clemson.... he had a great week with Mimi and JMac carting him around, spending time with his cousins Noah and Harper AND OF COURSE ASHLEY.... I'm thankful for family who can step in when work makes me be somewhere else! 

He worked hard and was named 1 on 1 champ for his division... here is the video of him receiving his award. 

I'm finally done with the pictures and videos from my phone... I haven't even looked at the camera yet... there are lots more there.... I won't let this happen again... I'm excited for this next week... I hope it flies by.... I'm ready to have just a few worries...like when the tide is going to hit my chair... what I'm going to have for supper... and if my book is going to get wet that I'm reading.... until our vacation.... have a great week! 

To My Friend....

This started as an email this morning because in the next several weeks I think my friend may need a little guidance and help from above.  Sometimes hearing that a friend is praying for you, worried about you, hoping the best for you or even just thinking of you helps get through difficult times.  As I started composing the email, I realized that one day my children will go through difficult times, times of worry, times of "oh my gosh", times of "where do I take my next step"... so I decided to blog about it. 
Before I even got up, I had decided that I would send a quick note and remind my friend about Jeremiah 29:11.  For I know the plans, I have for you, declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  It's very clear in the Bible that God is going to take care of us no matter what our situation is... it may not be in the way that we want it to be, but His ways are best.  No need in fighting that...
When I opened my devotional, Jeremiah 1:8 "I am with you..." declares the Lord was the verse.  I think that is even more comforting than knowing that God has a plan.  Knowing that He is right there with you, He is always watching out for you, He is always there to lend a hand....gives a peace like no other.

So to my friend, my family, and my children... storms, hard times, difficult things are evident in life.  Just because we believe in God's love doesn't mean that we won't have hard times... I have recently fallen in love with James - the book in the Bible- not a man!  James 1:2-3- Consider it pure joy my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete not lacking anything. 

And finally, 1 Thes. 5:17-18, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.  Good luck with weathering this storm.... just think of it as entering a washing machine on spin cycle... and coming out clean and refreshed.  I'm excited for you... even though you are scared to death!  Now... do what I say... hold your head up... put on some new shoes... and remember that I will always have a Bible verse to throw back at ya when you start questioning matters!