Oak Island, North Carolina

Do you have a favorite place to vacation? I sure do. Fortunately, one of my favorite places is only about three hours from home making it easy to visit often. Oak Island is a wonderful North Carolina island where summer days are spent on the beach enjoying the salty breeze.



Beach days for our family consist of bike riding, beach sitting, game playing, picnicking, and dolphin watching. We don't spend a lot of time watching television or shopping. My girls have never experienced the beach any other way. What about you? How do you enjoy spending your vacation?



This week my girls are at Camp Caswell, a Christian camp on the island. John and I are going to have a little beach time to ourselves. I think I'll plan a couple yummy meals to enjoy on the beach...any ideas??

The Simple Pleasures of Summer!

It's summertime! And I don't know about you, but I just love the lazy days of summer and all of the simple pleasures that come with those days. Simple pleasures like...


...fresh blackberries


...homemade cobbler


...homegrown tomatoes


...with fresh green basil


...taking a plunge in cool water


...beautiful


...blue hydrangeas


...boardwalks and beaches


...breathtaking reflections


...and summer sunsets


What simple pleasures do you enjoy during the lazy days of summer?

Happy Birthday, Catie!

Eighteen years ago today God gave us one of the most precious gifts. Happy Birthday to our Catie! Daddy, Carson, and I love you very much. We are so proud of the young lady you have grown up to be. No matter how old you get, you will always be our little girl.


Catie at four holding Carson. One of my favorite pictures.

God is in the little things too!

If you've read my previous post you know how busy I have been. Lately, I have had a hard time keeping up with all of the things going on in my life. I have even let a few things fall to the wayside. In my busyness, I allowed my subscription to BHG expire. I know that is not a big thing, however, I do love my magazines. Imagine my surprise when reading one of my favorite gardening blogs I find out that I was the winner of a subscription to that very magazine. I do believe that God is involved in the little things in our lives. Thank you so much Freda. I know I will enjoy it. If any of you have not visited her, you should. She always has great information on gardening and plant varieties. She has even been featured in Southern Living magazine. Wishing you all a wonderful vacation weekend.

I'm Still Here!

Several of you have asked me where I have been and if I am okay. Thank you so much for checking on me. I am doing great! I have been really busy with my girls these days. Catie is graduating in a couple of weeks and this last little bit of her senior year has been really busy. Carson has had several performances recently and all of their activities just seem to run together. I am still here and I do keep a check on all of your blogs. I promise to try to keep in touch a little better from now on! I'm so glad that I have friends who care enough to ask!

Music Photos

Our spring weather has been absolutely gorgeous this year. The landscape around here is just bursting with green. I can't think of any better time of the year to do a photo shoot with Carson. She needed to have some good photos to promote her music so we headed out to some of the prettiest places that I know. Fortunately all of these places are within a half mile of our home. I hope you enjoy the scenery...feel free to weigh in on your favorite shots. We are still trying to decide which ones to use.
















Doesn't this remind you of The Sound Of Music?




Did you pick a favorite? I hope spring is surrounding you with beauty today!

Catie's Senior Prom!

Spring has sprung here in North Carolina! As I am writing this post the birds' sweet songs are drifting through the morning air. After a very busy weekend full of activities...prom...photo shoot...art show performance...and...Easter cantata...it is nice to have a quiet morning to just sit and reflect. I am reminded of how incredibly blessed my family is.

Catie and her friends enjoyed their Senior prom this weekend. The weather was perfect! In fact, it was so nice that she and a friend sat on the pier at the end of the night and enjoyed the warm breeze.

It's hard to believe that she is graduating in just a couple of months. Where did the time go? It seems that just yesterday she was a curly headed little girl playing with toys.



Even though they sometimes argue, you can tell that they really love each other.



As pretty as they are, the azaleas can't hold a candle to Catie.



This child has always loved trees. When she was little, she used to run up and wrap her arms around them.



Every year her prom pictures have to include a tree!



I always like the pictures with the water in the background.



Can you believe that this was the first dress that she tried on?



It fit perfectly! No alterations at all.



I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to take care of this darling girl for the last 17 (almost 18) years. I guess it's almost time for her to spread her wings and fly. I'm sure she is ready...I just don't think that I am!