My big Boo boo and Christmas cheer!

Hi all
For those of you who don't already know, I am temporarily crippled by foot surgery and I have been in my jammies for 4 days now. Christmas has begun early this year as I had to get on with it to get things done before my surgery. Now most everything is in order and I am enjoying lying around playing on the computer, reading and watching movies...today its cold and the fire is going...hot chocolate is on my mind. :)

And what blog of mine would be complete without a pic of my sweet little Jbear at her Christmas best...
I hope your holidays are full of joy this year and that Christ is more real to you than ever before.
Merry Christmas my blog friends!

LIF

A quote from my dear friend "Z"....
"the sound of what cannot be seen sings within everything that can & there is nothing more to it than that."
That woman is always speaking life to my spirit!

Fall at home

In between the rain we have had some glorious weather in the deep South this year and some lovely foliage. Its about to be gone but here are a couple of pics from Shoals Creek in my home town. No wonder I love the Fall so much if this is what I grew up on!

Now on to Thanksgiving and Christmas......

The Muscle Shoals Sound

this video only tells part of the story...much more from many recording studios and talent in the area and those who moved on and have drawn on their Bama roots. Actually just this past year several musicians won national awards including the Swampers...The Muscle Shoals Sound band, who were inducted into the Hall of Fame. Proud to be from Flo Town!

Hawaii 3

Maunawili Falls Hike

Hiking in the rain forest...in the rain

The falls at the end of the rainbow....:) I mean hike

Canoe Parade at the Polynesian Cultural Center representing the various Pacific Islands and cultures...the Hawaiian Isles are in blue

...the Isle of Fiji

Samoa...yes, he climbed it with his bare feet...all the way to the top.

Tribal shuffleboard

The guys getting spear lessons

A Hawaiian Catamaran used to navigate the oceans...using only the stars to guide them...wow, I'm impressed!

THE LUAU..that's a roasted pig making its entrance.

A plate full of Luau food including taro rolls...that would be the purple thing at the top. Yes, they are very purple!

Hawaii Part 2

More of our adventures in Hawaii. We really had a great time and squeezed a lot in.

This me getting washed up on shore from snorkeling. I was a little scared but it turned out to be loads of fun and very easy to do. We spent the day at a beach on the North Shore, known for good snorkeling and got to see lots of brightly colored fish who seemed completely unaware or afraid of us. (no, we didn't see any sharks and I'm very happy about that!) My daughter and I used the float to lay across so we didn't have to think about swimming and looking at the same time, neither of us are strong swimmers. This place is called 3 Tables because there are 3 coral reef/rocky type barriers there between the shore and the open sea. That made for fairly safe swimming and really good snorkeling.

Here we are at the famous Masumoto's eating Shave Ice. They line up at this place for a concoction very similar to a snow cone only the ice is REALLY just like snow...and the flavors are largely tropical...mango, papaya, watermelon, banana, etc. Yum! Very refreshing on a hot day...which they all are. :)
Near sunset and while waiting for our table at Jameson's for dinner,(hey their sunset photo looks just like mine...I took my own I promise!) we spotted several sea turtles off the jetty. Very Cool! They would pop their heads up and look at us as if to say hello. Unfortunately none of my shots of their heads turned out.

Paddle boarding...the latest in surf riding...easier than surfing, I'm told and very serene at sundown.
Gorgeous sunsets nightly. Note the couple in the foreground who pulled up their beach chairs just for the occasion.

And the morning and the evening...were the second day.

Hawaii...part 1

Very first sight we saw after getting off the plane. We actually saw four rainbows that day.

Hubby couldn't get over the mountains...neither could I really. They were so dramatic and beautiful! Every bit as dramatic as the Rockies...only green!

Proof we were actually there! The island in the background is called The Chinaman's Hat.

Every where you looked there were spectacular beaches...and multicolored water.

Its hot but very breezy..the meaning of the word "balmy".

Would you do it again?

I ran across this article and thought it made for very good reading. I can truthfully say "Absolutely" to the question posed. How about you?

Bye now...I'm off to Hawaii for 9 days with that guy I married...:)

End of Summer?

Goodness its nice here lately! What marvelous weather for August. The dog days have passed and though the calendar still says "summer" there is a twing of fall in the air. Plenty of rain this summer so all is green and flourishing with blooms...my impatiens are huge, still, soon they will need to be replaced with mums and a more fallish look. School has begun...although everything in my being shouts "too early!!"..no one listened to me. Summer is ending in spite of all I can do. :)


However August coming to an end does mean one really exciting thing....

WE ARE GOING TO HAWAII!!!

In only 6 short days we will be on our way.
My hubby and I will be taking a strictly vacation, vacation. No little kids to bundle and chase after....no planning for something "everyone" can do, no "church" stuff on the side...or church work with a little vacation on the side either....just play and relaxation for 9 days in paradise with our sweet daughter and SIL hosting us. I can hardly believe it! We did spend 5 days in San Antonio a few years ago so we are starting to get the hang of it. Who knows...maybe I'll get inspired and have a deep thought like I did at The Alamo...after all we will be touring Pearl Harbor with my SIL.
BTW...his grandfather was actually there at Pearl Harbor that fateful day...in the Navy, just like his grandson...spared because he forgot his rosary on the way to mass and returned to barricks to retrieve it. God always has a plan doesn't He?

So look for some awesome photos in the near future of us being lazy and having a good time...

Please....

Today I played dress up, frisbee, jumped rope, danced a recital AND shared kisses with the most adorable 6 yr old on the planet! Just someone please remind me to take OFF the feather boa on my head before taking out the trash next time.

that Grand of mine!

School has been in session one week and one day....today her teacher called...
she wants to give her 2nd grade work...
Yes, she is smart
Yes, she is bored
Yes, she is already getting into trouble...:)

How?

How do you convey to someone who has only ever known you as you are...that HE changed everything??

Disney-ness

Doesn't this just say it all??

These three are mine!

Thsi girl loves Buzz :)

Everyone's a kid at Disney.

Aren't they cute? Isn't Disney magic??

Classic Disney

Revelation Song (with lyrics)

Oh My God..What an awesome song! Singing it loud in the car this morning...I sound good! He Is Glorious!

This is way to funny not to share!

This came in my email this week. I was laughing out loud in no time at all!
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BANNED FROM WAL-MART...


This is why women should not take men shopping against their will.


After I retired, my wife insisted that I accompany her on her trips to Wal-Mart. Unfortunately, like most men, I found shopping boring and preferred to get in and get out. Equally unfortunately, my wife is like most women - she loved to browse.

Yesterday my dear wife received the following letter from the local Wal-Mart:



Dear Mrs. Adams
Over the past six months, your husband has been causing quite a commotion in our store. We cannot tolerate this behavior and have been forced to ban both of you from the store. Our complaints against Mr. Adams are listed below and are documented by our video surveillance cameras.



1. June 15: Took 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in people's carts when they weren't looking.

2. July 2: Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5-minute intervals.

3. July 7: Made a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading to the women's restroom.

4 July 19: Walked up to an employee and told her in an official voice, 'Code 3 in Housewares. Get on it right away.'

5. August 4: Went to the Service Desk and tried to put a bag of M&M's on layaway.

6. August 14: Moved a 'CAUTION - WET FLOOR' sign to a carpeted area.

7. August 15: Set up a tent in the camping department and told other shoppers he'd invite them in if they would bring pillows and blankets from the bedding department.

8. August 23: When a clerk asked if they could help him he began crying and screamed, 'Why can't you people just leave me alone?'

9. September 4: Looked right into the security camera and used it as a mirror while he picked his nose.

10.. September 10: While handling guns in the hunting department, he asked the clerk where the antidepressants were.

11. October 3: Darted around the store suspiciously while loudly humming the ' Mission Impossible' theme.

12. October 6: In the auto department, he practiced his 'Madonna look' by using different sizes of funnels.

13. October 18: Hid in a clothing rack and when people browsed through yelled, 'PICK ME! PICK ME!'

14. October 21: When an announcement came over the loud speaker, he assumed a fetal position and screamed, 'OH NO! IT'S THOSE VOICES AGAIN!'

And last, but not least...
15. October 23: Went into a fitting room, shut the door, waited awhile, then yelled very loudly, 'Hey! There's no toilet paper in here!'

Sincerely,
Wal-Mart

Grace

Before There Was Time
Caedmon's Call
"The night couldn't keep me from grace"

Wow and amen!
A powerful force, grace. So thankful that before there was time...there was GRACE...and nothing can keep me from it. Grace is eternal and supersedes time and space.....and all manner of darkness.

He did it!

My wonderful nephew enlisted in the US Marines yesterday! We are So proud of him!
Please keep him...and his mommy and daddy.... in your prayers. And don't worry....this is an old pic...that surfer hair went away a long time ago so it won't be too much of a shock when its time for that buzz cut. :)

You're a Grand Ole Flag...

What a great 4th of July weekend we are having! Our son and his girl are in, J is experiencing her first "real" 4th..one that she will remember anyway...the weather has been perfect...its awesome.

Here comes the parade!

Cooling off in the city fountain...:)

Ringing the Liberty Bell

It is for freedom that we have been made free...in Christ and in country...we are free... and it is a powerful thing to see that freedom recognized and celebrated where ever you may find it.
This weekend we see our national freedom celebrated...and for one day of the year...every American comes together and says..."I love my country, with all her flaws and I am proud to be citizen of such a great land". So however you celebrated...let freedom ring!

Prayer please

We, my husband and I, are facing some very important decisions in the immediate future. your prayers for wisdom and discernment would be greatly appreciated.

Congratulations!

Hooray for K! She's all done dental assisting school and has a great job already in this difficult economy. Way to go girl!
J wanted to have a Diploma Party so that's what we did. Complete with cake and presents!