To My Grandma

 To My Grandma,

I am still in shock that you are gone.... it is hard to say goodbye to one of the most important women in my life.  A grandma that lived next door to me until I moved out of the house to start living on my own as an adult.  Someone who I would run across the yard to see in Florida and North Carolina.  Someone that made me look forward to sleepovers where I was able to eat anything I wanted (including ice cream sundaes, biscuits with ranch dressing and cheese sticks) and watch what I wanted on television (which usually included Golden Girls and TGIF).  I absolutely loved taking naps in your king size bed!  I love the way you loved me, making me feel that Lindsey and I were the two most important people in the world to you.  You helped make my dream of owning a wedding dress at a young age a reality when Santa delivered it to our house while I was sleeping on Christmas Eve.  You would light up when Linds and I would entertain you singing songs using microphones you got for us (a favorite artist- Neil Sedaka) or when we would roller skate in your basement like we were on the national figure skating team (usually to Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston or Celine Dion).  I loved the trips we were able to take together in the camper and motor home.  I loved being able to stay longer with you on vacation after mom and dad had to head home early.  I loved hearing you tell stories of dad when he was growing up (how he would eat hot dogs- without the dog, just the bun at the drive in theater!)  I loved the way you would laugh when something was really funny.  I loved looking into your blue eyes and getting hugs from you where you would rest your hand on my hip and squeeze me tight!  I loved swimming in your pool in Florida, having birthday parties there and ironically you not being able to swim yourself, still watching us from the side as we swam around.  You would always take the "creepy crawly" out when we were swimming since it scared me.  I loved Sunday lunches after church and lemon cake with lemon icing for my birthday.  You were always such a good cook and I love having recipes I use often from your kitchen, written in your handwriting.  Some of my favorite stories that you would tell or that would make you laugh included the "f-ing butter" story, me figuring out the timeline of dad's birth compared to your wedding anniversary date (the smirk you gave, I will always remember!), and you attempting to "spank" me as a punishment dad and mom had for me while they were gone out of town and you struggling to make it a meaningful consequence since I was just too cute! ;)  I talked to you for the last time on Monday, July 19th.  I called you daily while we were on vacation (which is where we were when we found out you were gone) and the conversation we had was a fitting "goodbye".  You mentioned you liked the beach.  You mentioned I was the light of your life and I brought you so much joy.  You told me you loved me.  I tried to call you on Tuesday and the phone kept ringing both times.  I think you knew that conversation on Monday would be our last.  While you talked about how much joy I brought to your life, I have to say that it is one of the greatest joys of MY life to see the woman who watched me grow up meet and love on MY own children.  I know it is a blessing that not many people get to experience to watch their grandparents with their great grandchildren.  We were blessed with eight years where four generations were able to spend time together.  I am so thankful that you and grandpa got to meet all four of them!  So until we meet again, thank you for loving me, thank you for loving my kids and thank you for always being one of my biggest fans!  You will be greatly missed.  Until we meet again... so long, Grams.....

Love, 

Meggie ;)

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.  He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”  -Revelation 21: 4-5

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. - Ecclesiastes 3:11

Summer Break 2021: Week Five

Beach week is my favorite week of the summer and definitely one of my favorite weeks of the year!  I always look forward to spending uninterrupted time with the family and not having to worry about jobs and other responsibilities competing for my attention!  Here is how we spent our vacation week at Ocean Isle Beach....

On the way down to the beach, we were able to meet up with one of my best friends, Ginny, and her two boys!  Ginny and I have been best friends since high school, in each other's weddings and have boys that are about the same age!  Since they live in Kansas, it had been two years since we have seen each other. The boys loved swimming at the pool, floating in the lazy river and playing with the water guns as they aimed at each other and the adults.

Here are some of our favorite memories from our week.... feeding the birds, swimming in the pool, going on nature walks and of course, playing in the water and the sand at the beach!  Grandpa splurged and got the kids Italian ice one day on the beach as well.... something that Linds and I weren't able to get when we were little..... these grandkids are spoiled! ;)

We got dressed up for dinner two nights, enjoying delicious food at Inlet View in Shallotte and Dockside in Calabash.

We went to play putt-putt one morning..... I am pleased to announce that mommy beat all the boys, winning by 5 strokes!

Daddy decided to rent a kayak one day and we enjoyed paddling around the inlet side, exploring crab traps and floating through the tall sea grasses.  We were so excited to use the roof rack on our car for the first time since we purchased the car two years ago! 

I love watching the cousins play together... Zack and I took the oldest three to the pier the last night!

I have to include the annual comparison post... instead of showing each year at the beach since Z was born, this year I am showing "how it started" (from the first beach trip as a family of four) and "how it is going"...... this is a popular phrase these days to show the first picture taken many years ago along with a current picture for comparison! ;)

Maddox :)

Zander :)

Burke was in good hands while we were gone.  We had one of my co-worker's daughters watch him at our home for the first time instead of having him boarded.  I think he loved being in his own home and having all the attention from Hailee.  She was so sweet to send us "pup-dates" of our favorite four-legged pup including pictures while we were gone!  This picture is just adorable!

While we usually only look back on this beach week with positive memories, we had a very sad one while we were at the beach this year.  My grandma passed away on Wednesday, July 21st around 2:45 a.m.  While I believe we all thought we had more time with her and would at least be able to see her one more time, God's timing is perfect and that day was already known before Grandma Nancy was even born.  While I am still in shock and there will be much sadness in the upcoming days, I am hopeful that I will see her again one day as I believe the promises of Revelation 21:4-5 to be true. 

Until next year..... goodbye beach......

Summer Break 2021: Week Four

The highlight of week four was going to a High Point Rockers' game with the whole family thanks to Aunt Kelly!  Her company has a box at the stadium which we enjoyed!  There were yummy snacks, an air conditioned box and outdoor seating area down the first base line!  Eli loved being able to walk back and forth and I loved that all four kids were easily accounted for!  We had a blast!

Some other events of the week.... we fit in a couple park outings (one with Grammy while we got new tires on our car)!  Maddox requested gel for his hair and I am happy that our baby boy has stayed out of dentist and doctor's offices this week! ;)

We met up with his BFF, Mollie, to swim at the pool one day.  The kids loved jumping off the diving board and playing "categories" in the deep end!  We also swam at our neighbor's pool two different afternoons.... it was so nice to cool off on these hot summer days!

Maddox finished his kindergarten workbook that we started last summer!  He was so excited it came with a certificate of completion!

One of our other park outings included a gathering with Maddox's friends from his PreK class.  He even saw a friend from his baseball team while we were there!

Today, we met up with Aunt Kelly and her nieces for a day at the science center.  The science center was celebrating shark week so the boys were extra excited about the shark floaties they got to take home!

This week was pretty laid back overall.  I was able to mow the grass.  We went on a couple bike rides/walks to the neighborhood school and neighborhood playground.  Since we ate most of our meals in during the week, the boys were super excited when we went out to lunch on Wednesday and they were able to get a sweet treat after the meal!  We are loving this time together! I cannot believe we only have three weeks left until I am back at work (and I don't want to mention that I have trainings/workshops two of these three remaining weeks)!