Prayers to all. . . .

The events of the earthquake and tsunami and the impact on the lives of so many is unimaginable and been in my thoughts. I have thought about how horrible Katerina was to us, yet is was so small compared to what Japan is dealing with. The added affect of the the struggles to manage the nuclear plants is also on my mind. The men and woman making the decisions do so with heavy hearts knowing the world is watching. Pray for them, for the decisions they make.
Recognize the "experts" that are on the news do not know all, including the condition of the facility.
Most are waiting to see all the data, understand the facts, and learn all we can.

So funny

 
Emma wouldn't look. She was terrified of the crab coming after her. The tubes they have in the big tanks the kids can stand in are awesome. It was too funny getting all five kids in one. When that crab starting moving toward them, Emma just freaked - hilarious!!

Simple beauty

 
I love this. It was a quick picture and it turned out so beautiful. Of course, it is an orchid. I do love taking pictures, but when they come out like this I want to take so many more. . . . .

So pretty, little butterfly

 

Butterflies

 
I love this area, the kids usually don't let me stay long. There were not too many people today, so I was able to catch a few. . .

Beautiful turtle

 
The boys loved the sea turtle.

It is a beautiful place

 
Looking out over the Tennessee River.

Five against one!

 
It was just me against the five kids. Fortunately they are really good kids and we all had a great time!

The girls

 
Gabbie, Emma, and Ani. They are together almost every weekend. Can you tell they had fun?? Oh, they are the same age!

Best Friends

 
Ruston and Keith. These two are inseperable. We have determined it is because they are JUST alike. They have such similar personalities. It is a little weird.

The teacher

 
Dad making sure he know just how it is done. Perfect moments. . .

Sharp shooter in the Making

 
She likes her new bb gun. How cute is she?? She maybe a little princess, but she can shoot a bow and a bb gun. The girls got game! Her Papaw would be more than proud. I know that Roger is grinning ear to ear seeing this picture!

My turn

 
He's likes it! He gets really mad when he doesn't hit the target!

my pirate

 
So this is one McDonalds toy that has lasted. We have had this pirate hat since the first Pirates movie came out. Ani loved it, now it is Ruston's. I don't know, maybe I should keep it for the grandkids. . . LOL!

Forever changed

It was 6:30 in the morning 21 years ago when our lives were forever changed. We were all up getting ready for another normal, regular, routine day of school. None of that was going to happen. I thought it was strange when the phone rang, but not all that strange. The man on the other end asked me if Mom lived there. "No" I answered, she had moved out. "She doesn't live here anymore" Confused, he asked if her husband was there. Of course, the poor gentlemen was asking questions that were more difficult to answer than he thought. Mom and Dad were divorcing, so to a fifteen year old, was Dad still her husband? With a longer pause than he wanted on one of the most difficult phone calls he was ever to make, I answered, with "Yes, but he is busy getting ready for work and in the shower." Growing impatient with my less than desirable, yet honest answers, he pleaded to speak with him and that it was important. I knew Dad wasn't that happiest in the morning, so I thought it would be better for him to call back. It was then, and only then that the man on the other end of the phone made it very clear that he was going to talk to Dad, it was important and about Mom. It sank in, something was wrong. I ran to the other end of the house, and handed the phone to Dad while he was still brushing he hair, just out of the shower. I never heard the words. I didn't know what he said to Dad. I stood there, I saw it on his face, I knew she was gone. I knew it was forever. We cried together and instantly my brother and sister were there. With the words, "Mom is gone" we cried.

Life changed forever. What came before can not be changed. What came after can not either. Life is each day each moment, each decision, regret, joy, happiness, saddness, pleasure, guilt, friendship, struggle, passion, love and everything in between. Enjoy it all.
I love you, Momma!

We got speeeeeeeeddddd!

 
Ok. so we went for the four wheeler ride, we found sleds, but when we saw someone else pulling the tube, we thought, yep! That looks like fun.
Here we go!
Holly cow, they had a blast. Virgel rode them up and down the hill they yelled the entire time and had a total blast! Now, you know, these are great in the water, frozen or not!

A beautiful tree

 
Don't be surprised if you see this as the Christmas card background next year! I thought it was so pretty in the distance.

Hiding

 
The statue in the bushes can barely be seen. It was here when we bought the house and I almost forgot it was there. It surprised me a little when I looked at the bushed all covered with snow and saw just the face peaking out. I thought it was pretty. Virgel laughed at me for taking another picture of snow on plants. . . .

Snowman

 
He wanted a little snowman, smaller than him. So he got one! It may be a silly little snowman, but it made my little guy happy!

And we were off

 
Down the hill we go. Ani didn't like the walk back up, but the sled down was GREAT!