Fort Macon State Park

(I did not take this picture.)

So this is Fort Macon State Park. This ariel view is cool but does not do the fort it self justice. I was just in awe at how beautiful it really was. I hope one day we can go back to see it again.

(I took this one)

In May of 2009, Phil's brother was married at Ft. Macon State Park in NC. It was truly one of the best times we have ever had as a family. I could have spent all day at this fort. It was stunning in all of it's history.

(I took this one)

This is the road you travel on through the fort. The days we were there the sun was so bright and beautiful it just made the colors in the cobblestone just jump off the road. It was easier to travel on the brick part of the road but you know me I LOVE a challenge so I walked mostly on the cobblestone.

It reminds me of my life. I could travel the smoother, simpler surface but why? I believe I was designed to ride the bumpier, more colorful road in life. I am strong enough to handle it and by choosing it the reward is so much greater.

Look at the journey I have finished so far and not alone I might add. The cobblestones were big, bold and brash. There were days that I did not feel I could go on. I was stuck between the stones where the water flows when it rains and I was going to get washed away. But it takes more than water to get me down or to stop me from swimming against the water flow.

Some days I wish I could go back to the orchard to where my life made sense but I don't wish it for long. Today I just have to remember to be happy for the road I am on and accept whatever cobblestone throws me off course and keep moving. Think of all the things I would have missed had I stayed in the orchard or on the smoother surface.

Here's to the bumpy ride I have made it this far.

TTFN~

Apple Orchard

Fall Weekends are really a lot of fun. There is so much to do between the pumpkin patches, apple orchards and other fall festivals. One weekend my parents, Phil, Kaitlynn, Jackson, Madelynn and I all drove up to what they call High Country in NC to pick our own apples out of an orchard. The kids had a ball.

Right next to the orchard on this farm were some horses. Boy were they spoiled. As soon as they spotted you they started walking toward you. They knew you would pull an apple off the nearest tree and feed them. Kaitlynn and Jackson remember but, Madelynn won't.

Personally, I will remember this day like it happened yesterday.

This was the last time my life seemed to make sense. Five days after I took this picture Madelynn was diagnosed with a CHD and had open-heart surgery. She was 10 weeks old.

It is funny the things you remember when you see a picture. I remember the morning was cold, colder than we had anticipated. But by lunch time we found a picnic table at the bottom of a mountain, near a stream to have lunch. The sun was just beating down and warmed you instantly like a hug from God. Just His little reminder that he created all of this for us. It was such a beautiful day.

I will never forget.

TTFN~

Washington, DC

One weekend Phil and I went to go visit his sister. Her house was the usual chaos with the four dogs (at the time), parents, kids, grandkids and siblings and their families all invading her home. Phil and I decided we would make up an excuse to leave for a while and went to DC. His sister lives in a suburb of DC so we decided to go to the capital.

This was the first time that I had been to DC. Let me tell you Arlington Cemetary is breathtaking. My best friend's mother is buried there. If you have never been, there were no words to truly describe the hallowed ground. As we were leaving, Phil and I decided to just paruse through DC. As we did I snapped a few pictures, above was one of those pictures.

I can't wait till the kids are a little older so one day we can go back and just be a tourist.

TTFN~

Love this picture....too.

Over the Summer we loved the water park. I was only able to take my camera twice because I was afraid I would ruin it. However, those two times I came home with some of my favorite pictures of the summer.

Not sure if I love this picture for the simplicity of the water spray or the fact that Phil and Madelynn are in the back ground coming off the slide. I love it either way.

TTFN~

Just a picture.....

One night after Madelynn had come home from the Hospital the second time, in 2008. I was spending a little time with Kaitlynn and Jackson. It was right before Christmas, I was feeling pretty bad about the way I had to push them aside to care for Madelynn for the past six or seven weeks. We were goofing around with my camera....don't tell Grandpa B. This is one of the pictures that I took.

I love her big beautiful eyes, those long eyelashes, and her cute little smile. Just to see her smile brings me Joy everyday. I am not sure I will ever be able to make up the time she missed due to Madelynn's needs. But I told her one day there is a special place in my heart that only she and I can go too. That special place was the same size as Jackson and Madelynn's special place and it would never get smaller and Jackson and Madelynn could never go in there. Then she smiled.

Just thought I would share.

TTFN~

Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day Weekend

It has taken me a few days to get my bearings. All three kids are now in school and for the most part loving it. Madelynn's pre-school is loving her.....more on that later.

Over the Labor Day Weekend my family was in town for a fun filled weekend. Everyone finally arrived before dinner Friday afternoon. Phil had to work late so Kaitlynn, Jackson, Madelynn and I invaded my parent's house for the initial meeting of the weekend. All of the grand kids just jumped right in and started playing.

Earlier this summer I was feeling bad that I could not take Kaitlynn on her summer trip until late in the summer. However it proved to be the best thing. Kaitlynn, Ruthie, Anna, Lily and Madelynn all had a weekend to play when we went to Mason. When the girls all got back together this weekend it was as if we never left. Jack just had to find his own way in to this girls club to get along.

Saturday we took the family to the Rec Center Water Park with a free pass. It was a great time and lots of smiles all around. Not to mention a few hundred pictures were taken. Sunday Morning we all met for the Family picture. Amazingly enough it only took 30 minutes to get all 7 adults and 6 children (6 years and under) to smile and/or be looking at the camera.

We all wish visits with family could be longer but Monday early morning The Schmeichel's and Ted headed back to Ohio to get back to work and for the girls to start school. It was a good time to be had by all and a great way to end the summer. While they were all traveling Phil, the kids and I decided to find out if we could find the yard.

Over the summer it was simply too hot to work on some of it or too difficult for me to do, and keep an eye on the kids while Phil was working. I carefully planned the yard when I planted it, (years ago) that something is blooming in the yard all year round. It is spread out through the yard so that I only have to maintain certain flower beds at a time. This is the time of year that I clean out all the summer ones, cut all the spring ones back so they will be ready and make sure nothing is choking back to winter ones to bloom.

We were exhausted and the next day 5:30am came very early. Getting myself and three children ready for work and school is quite a circus act. Phil is usually walking out the door before the kids are awake. It has taken me a few days to get my bearings. Phil has helped with some of the meals and the dishes. It was funny I fell asleep for a power nap while he was cooking dinner and was suddenly awakened by Madelynn tapping me saying "Soups on Mommy".

Attached are a few pictures from the weekend. It was exhausting but lots of fun. Can't wait till Christmas.

TTFN~

My Dining Room Table.....

Everyone organizes their home different. Everyone has those little tweeks that they like things this way for a reason, whether we see it valid or not. Some people have both a kitchen table and a dining room table. I only have room for a dining room table.

But my dining room table to the naked eye is nothing to write home about. It comfortably seats the five of us daily. It will eventually need more chairs but that is another day. However I love this table. I love every meal we have at it whether bad or good. I love to look around at family dinner and see all the little faces.

Besides meals, we have celebrated almost all of the kids birthday's on it, we use it for homework and other projects and sometimes just for sitting and watching out the window as the world goes by. We have even celebrated Thanksgiving, with good friends, on it one year (my favorite holiday).

If you look at the table very carefully you can see the marks of our family journey gone by. When Kaitlynn and Jackson were first learning to write there names they pressed so hard they imprinted their names forever in the wood. While Madelynn was learning to use a fork, you can see fork stab marks in the wood where she missed the plate.

To most people this table has many imperfections. While most people see these as deficiencies I see them as memories. One day I will rub my hands over the stab marks and remember the frustration I experienced everyday trying to get Madelynn to eat. Although I will also recollect the daily tears that went along with that; it is the time in her life I fought the hardest just for her and succeeded.

On that bright sunny afternoon when I am cleaning the dining room table in the future Kaitlynn's and Jackson's names will jump right off the wood. I will reminisce about the days long gone of teaching them to write their numbers and letters, encouraging them to do their homework or signing their first card.

Hoping as time goes on and they grown up I have lots of great stories to tell to help remember earlier days gone by.

TTFN~

Happy 1st day of Kindergarten Jackson!!