Bear goes to camp...

That sounds like a movie title...

Anyway- my brother and SIL have this bear named Bear. (Let's hope my future nieces/nephews have better luck with names). They take Bear places and take photos of him for fun. Bear got to go to Palmetto Bible Camp with us this June, and we took him on a photo safari one day. So this post is for Becky- enjoy our funny shots!



Bear is lucky, he sleeps in the staff cabin...


The lake at sunset, SOOTC.


Bear chillin' on the staff porch, finishing off a Cheerwine...


Bear feels right at home while at camp...


Bear goes to F-mart, our favorite place to get Cheerwine...


Bear realizes that his mountain cousins also frequent F-mart...

goodbye, summer...

...back to work today...

all about me...

I've seen this done on a lot of blogs, and I must say that Mary finally inspired me to try...it's 10pm and I'm not really tired, so here it goes (I'll let you know how long this took at the end)...

1. My favorite color is PINK.

2. I LOVE LOVE LOVE flamingos.

3. I got a pair of flamingo flip flops today.

4. I own (too) many pairs of black shoes.

5. I watch Stacy and Clinton on Fridays.

6. I used to spiral perm my hair in high school.

7. I would hang my head upside down off my top bunk bed and let my hair air dry for hours.

8. I was married 17 years ago August 4.

9. Larry was my first and only date.

10. I've never been kissed by anyone else but Larry.

11. As a mom, I wanted four boys.

12. When the ultrasound tech told me Mary E was a girl, I didn't believe her.

13. I used to bite my nails, so now they really won't grow well.

14. I was a very anxious child.

15. I knew I wanted to be a teacher in 3rd grade.

16. I didn't like to go to school. I cried every morning through middle school.

17. I danced and sang in show choir in high school, High School Musical style. No joke.

18. I always wanted to be a mom. I loved my doll babies as a child.

19. I asked God to make one of my favorite dolls real. I promised Him I would take good care of it. He finally answered my prayer when Mary E was born, weighing in at 6lbs- my real live baby doll.

20. I loved being pregnant. I was a good pregnant person.

21. Mary E was two weeks early. I knew she was our last. I cried as I folded and put away my maternity clothes because I felt "cheated" out of my last two weeks pregnant.

22. I sew. I used to cross-stitch.

23. I drove my dad's pickup to high school each day, with a tag on it that said, "Lord it's hard to be humble when you're perfect in every way." I got a lot of grief for that.

24. I am a Disco Queen.

25. I still love the 80s.

26. I listened to Love Shack and U Can't Touch This when I worked out at the gym this morning.

27. I was voted Most Likely To Succeed in high school.

28. I tried out for the cheerleading squad in high school, but didn't make it.

29. I am a people person.

30. I like to talk, and I talk fast.

31. I'm a night owl.

32. I've been told I have nice feet.

33. I had never mown a lawn until just last year.

34. I love the beach. I wish I could live there.

35. I want to own an RV when we retire.

36. My favorite flower is a carnation.

37. I was baptized when I was almost 11.

38. I love chocolate.

39. I tend to be extremely organized.

40. I can handle dirt. I can not handle chaos.

41. I'm not always a good listener. Remember #30?

42. I love old houses.

43. I'm nostalgic.

44. I love to take photos.

45. I have to sleep on the right side of a bed. (if you're looking at it, the right side)

46. I'm not into expensive jewelry. Larry's lucky.

47. I love Bed Head massages at Urban Nirvana.

48. Rubbing my head puts me to sleep.

49. I love staying at a Westin, they have THE BEST beds.

50. I made David and I matching outfits for his first birthday party. They didn't come out so well...

That took me about 25 minutes. Next 50 later. Those last few are making me tired...and can you tell who's reading over my shoulder??

Sorry it's been so long...

...I finally got all my summer photos out of my camera, onto my computer and backed-up onto CD! So these are from Mullet Hall...

things I love about Mullet Hall...

...sleeping late...

...a rustic country house...

...boiled peanuts...

...good fishing...

...peace and quiet...

...the hammock...

...hanging out with family...

...shopping Freshfields...

...warm chocolate chip cookies...

...scrapbooking...

...watching bad TV...

...picking peaches and eating them warm...

...wildflowers...

...hydrangea bouquets...

...going to the beach...

...last-night fish fry and red rice...

...the porch swing...

...open fields to run in...

...the chow hall...

...homemade chicken salad...

...huge spanish-moss covered oak trees...

...egrets and herons in the marsh out your back door...

...happy, care-free, dirty kids...

When in Rome...

...eat all the pizza and pasta you want. It's wonderful, fresh, and real.

...be sure to walk about ten miles a day. This obviously is because of the first statement I made.

...shop.

...use a moped or a Smart car, or you won't be able to park. Or just walk instead.

...be sure to "buffalo" yourself on the metro or bus (our code word for secure yourself and your surroundings). Or just walk instead.

...shop.

...use some basic Italian words, like ciao and si and buon giorno and grazie and scusi and quante costa. It's polite and impressive.

...drink wine if you can. It's WAY cheaper than soda. Don't ask for tap water. They only serve bottled.

...shop. Did I say that already?

...wear good shoes. Nice shoes. They take shoes very seriously.

...shop for shoes.

...expect to wait awhile at restaurants. Service is very slow. Italians take their time. And no tips are neccessary, they actually get paid.

...eat lots of tomatoes. They are sooooo bueno!

...eat a gelato every day. Maybe twice. Especially if you're walking. Try as many flavors as possible. Pineapple, melon, peach...I miss it already.

...don't use large Euros, ie anything over 10. They don't like making change.

...visit a coffee bar and I guarantee that you will leave Rome loving coffee. Order a cafe macchiato (expresso w/ milk), latte macchiato (milk w/ expresso) or a caffe latte (half and half). A great morning, afternoon, or evening pick-me-up, especially when jet lag hits.

...cross the street like you mean it.

...be prepared to experience claustrophobia. There are people EVERYwhere.

...don't let the beauty of all that you see overtake your senses and make you forget where you are. Don't take it for granted. Look around you. Daily.

Do as the Romans do.

Catching up...

Wow.

WOW.

Rome was beyond awesome. It took my breath away. I'm going back. Someday.

I got a job teaching first grade at the school where my husband and children are. Incredible.

We had Carolina Work Camp at church last week. We have VBS this week. Larry has jury duty all week and I have Open Court training for school in Columbia Thursday and Friday. We go to Mullet Hall on Saturday for a week.

b*r*e*a*t*h*e.....

God is so good. God is SO REAL. God is just plain awesome. He's seen us through all this and will see us through what's to come.

More later. Hopefully photos!