Thursday, June 26, 2008
the start of a new season
It is the start of another golf season for me. Our first match is this evening. I am very excited. My dad is the coach, and we have a decent team. But there are some hard teams in our league!
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
almost the end, by anderson
Anderson would like to post another blog tonight. He is handwriting his blogs, and I am typing them for him. Here is his latest:
I am almost on my last month of summer vacation. I am really sad. But there will be exciting things in fourth grade. I am excited to learn about bugs and machines. But I will always be looking forward to the next summer.
I am almost on my last month of summer vacation. I am really sad. But there will be exciting things in fourth grade. I am excited to learn about bugs and machines. But I will always be looking forward to the next summer.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
the big game, by anderson
This post is written by Anderson. He has taken a new interest as a contributor to our blog, and I am thrilled about it. He asked if he could write this blog, so here it is:
Today the whole family on the Thompson side played a baseball game. It was a blowout. Anyway, my team won, and I hit one homerun over the fence. In the whole game, there were five homeruns, but there were a few problems. Andrew ran the racecar over where we played and Bennett, of course, wanted to play, too. It still was a fun game.
Today the whole family on the Thompson side played a baseball game. It was a blowout. Anyway, my team won, and I hit one homerun over the fence. In the whole game, there were five homeruns, but there were a few problems. Andrew ran the racecar over where we played and Bennett, of course, wanted to play, too. It still was a fun game.
a brief farewell to ava michelle
(Yes, the title of this blog rhymes. It's intentional.)
I don't think I have had a moment to even blog about the fact that Paul's baby sister, Ava Michelle, has been living with us for the majority of the past five weeks as she attended summer school at NC State. She is a rising sophomore there, and "as smart as a whip, as my parents would say. She is most likely majoring in Industrial Engineering, and this summer she wanted to go ahead and get another calculus class and an intro to engineering course under her belt before the fall semester.
Tonight, she had to leave us to return to Greensboro. We are all sad that she is gone. Anderson will no longer have his aunt around to tease, Bennett will no longer have his playmate, and I will no longer have my helper, Guitar Hero band mate and fellow estrogen carrier. It has been really nice having another female around! I've actually had someone to talk to! (Just kidding, Paul...)
Next week, she'll return to housesit for some friends of ours, so we'll have her here to at least hang out some during the day. By the time she returns, Bennett will have asked for "Shell" at least 600 times, Anderson will have asked me every day how many days there are until she returns, and I will have counted them down along with him!
See you soon, Shell. We love you!
I don't think I have had a moment to even blog about the fact that Paul's baby sister, Ava Michelle, has been living with us for the majority of the past five weeks as she attended summer school at NC State. She is a rising sophomore there, and "as smart as a whip, as my parents would say. She is most likely majoring in Industrial Engineering, and this summer she wanted to go ahead and get another calculus class and an intro to engineering course under her belt before the fall semester.
Tonight, she had to leave us to return to Greensboro. We are all sad that she is gone. Anderson will no longer have his aunt around to tease, Bennett will no longer have his playmate, and I will no longer have my helper, Guitar Hero band mate and fellow estrogen carrier. It has been really nice having another female around! I've actually had someone to talk to! (Just kidding, Paul...)
Next week, she'll return to housesit for some friends of ours, so we'll have her here to at least hang out some during the day. By the time she returns, Bennett will have asked for "Shell" at least 600 times, Anderson will have asked me every day how many days there are until she returns, and I will have counted them down along with him!
See you soon, Shell. We love you!
ny times on "the shack"
The New York Times has written about "The Shack", the book that I loved and that God used in so many ways to impact--even change--me.
Thought I'd share....here's the link. Click here:
Thought I'd share....here's the link. Click here:
Sunday, June 22, 2008
morning run
Call me crazy. But I love waking up early in the morning before the boys are awake, soon after the sun has begun to invade the darkness of night. I trade my pj's for a pair of shorts, a tank top, socks and a running bra. I then lace up my running shoes, stretch the muscles which have been relatively motionless for hours, and I head out of my front door to run the winding streets of my quiet neighborhood.
I especially love running on a summer morning. Daylight spills upon our part of the earth as early as it ever will; people are less motivated to start their days early when the children are not in school; since the sun has yet to heat the earth, the humidity is lowest at this time of the day; and I have a nutritious breakfast waiting for me at the blackberry bushes which line the streets by our neighborhood's common areas. Right now, they are deliciously sweet and restore my energy during a longer run.
Particularly on Sundays, there is a stillness and a silence at daybreak that I revel in. My neighbors are asleep, and I have the privilege of being the first to enjoy the day. My own thoughts, which are often prayers--just a mental conversation with God--are the loudest sounds I hear. Beyond that, there is always a soft symphony of birdsongs and the occasional scurry heard in the nearby woods made by a playful squirrel or frightened rabbit. And of course there are the faithful sounds of my beloved hobby--my breaths coupled with the rhythmic patter of my shoes upon the pavement.
The wildlife, aware that humans have yet to stir in their nests, are the only creatures who are awake before I am. As I run past the pond that is behind our house, I often meet a family of deer on its way to their watering hole. No matter how many times we have met, they remain skeptical of me, and by the time I am within one-hundred yards of them they sprint, leaping high into the air with their white tails flashing, for the safety of the woods.
Just a few weeks ago, I came upon a fox who had its breakfast in its mouth, probably a rabbit or rat. I did not have the proximity nor adequate daylight to give an accurate account, but I felt very sorry for its victim. And then I thought of the Elton John song, "Circle of Life", and remembered that even the fox must eat, too. I kept a respectful distance from the fox as he looked at me and I looked at him. We paused, then decided that we would avoid one another. I was especially grateful for his evasion of me as I had heard that several foxes were rabid in our area.
I have been a faithful runner for the last 14 years, and I often joke that I will be running when I am 85 years old. I may laugh as I say it, but I mean it. It is one of the few goals I have as a runner--to run for the rest of my life. I am not out there each morning to train for a race or to increase my pace or distance. I am out there for the joy of it. (And, to be honest, to maintain a healthy, strong body and the same pants size.) I may be addicted, I admit. But what better addiction is there? Every morning, I wake up to get my fix. And along the way I get the opportunity to rejoice in a new day along with the wildlife, to see and hear the beauty of God's creation, to enjoy a rare moment of solitude, and to keep my body in tip-top shape.
Tomorrow morning, at daybreak, I'll have the option of another hour of sleep or a run through my neighborhood. If you have read this blog, you know why I'll opt for the latter. And with all that is waiting for me, why wouldn't I?
I especially love running on a summer morning. Daylight spills upon our part of the earth as early as it ever will; people are less motivated to start their days early when the children are not in school; since the sun has yet to heat the earth, the humidity is lowest at this time of the day; and I have a nutritious breakfast waiting for me at the blackberry bushes which line the streets by our neighborhood's common areas. Right now, they are deliciously sweet and restore my energy during a longer run.
Particularly on Sundays, there is a stillness and a silence at daybreak that I revel in. My neighbors are asleep, and I have the privilege of being the first to enjoy the day. My own thoughts, which are often prayers--just a mental conversation with God--are the loudest sounds I hear. Beyond that, there is always a soft symphony of birdsongs and the occasional scurry heard in the nearby woods made by a playful squirrel or frightened rabbit. And of course there are the faithful sounds of my beloved hobby--my breaths coupled with the rhythmic patter of my shoes upon the pavement.
The wildlife, aware that humans have yet to stir in their nests, are the only creatures who are awake before I am. As I run past the pond that is behind our house, I often meet a family of deer on its way to their watering hole. No matter how many times we have met, they remain skeptical of me, and by the time I am within one-hundred yards of them they sprint, leaping high into the air with their white tails flashing, for the safety of the woods.
Just a few weeks ago, I came upon a fox who had its breakfast in its mouth, probably a rabbit or rat. I did not have the proximity nor adequate daylight to give an accurate account, but I felt very sorry for its victim. And then I thought of the Elton John song, "Circle of Life", and remembered that even the fox must eat, too. I kept a respectful distance from the fox as he looked at me and I looked at him. We paused, then decided that we would avoid one another. I was especially grateful for his evasion of me as I had heard that several foxes were rabid in our area.
I have been a faithful runner for the last 14 years, and I often joke that I will be running when I am 85 years old. I may laugh as I say it, but I mean it. It is one of the few goals I have as a runner--to run for the rest of my life. I am not out there each morning to train for a race or to increase my pace or distance. I am out there for the joy of it. (And, to be honest, to maintain a healthy, strong body and the same pants size.) I may be addicted, I admit. But what better addiction is there? Every morning, I wake up to get my fix. And along the way I get the opportunity to rejoice in a new day along with the wildlife, to see and hear the beauty of God's creation, to enjoy a rare moment of solitude, and to keep my body in tip-top shape.
Tomorrow morning, at daybreak, I'll have the option of another hour of sleep or a run through my neighborhood. If you have read this blog, you know why I'll opt for the latter. And with all that is waiting for me, why wouldn't I?
Friday, June 20, 2008
showering love
Most of the people who actually keep up with us through this blog know about my dear friend, Stacy (aka--Aunt Stacy to my boys). Stacy and I have been friends since the 8th grade, and even though she has been living in Charleston for years now, modern technology has made it easy for us to remain the best of friends. She owns Lady Fingers Confections in Charleston where she makes these amazing cakes and desserts. My waist line benefits from the fact that I live far enough away that I can't just stop by her shop every day!
Anyway, our other friend since the 8th grade, Kara, along with Stacy's sister, Jenny, and another friend, Heather, all hosted a baby shower for Stacy last weekend at my house. We had SO much fun! Below are pictures of the grand event that some of my friends who were not at the shower were interested in seeing. As you can see, we had a ball helping Stac get prepared for Miss Vivien to be born!
This is the table setting. The centerpiece is a storage box with the word "BABY" on it, and inside is Ms. Hattie, the frog in a pink gingham dress, and she is flanked by two pink potted flowers.
This is the dessert station. My mother makes the best vanilla-almond pound cake ever, so she made one for the party. We wanted a homemade, southern dessert in keeping with the theme of the shower (A shower for Vivien Lee who will live in Charleston....). We served the cake with fresh strawberries and whipped cream.
Here is an old-fashioned baby carriage that has the party favors in them. We made lemon cupcakes and coconut cupcakes and boxed them up, tied them with the ribbon we used throughout the shower, and put a printed label on them which read, "Your gifts and your presence have blessed Stacy so, Our token of thanks is this sweet treat-to go!"
My philosophy on throwing a great party is this: Love. Do whatever you can to make your guests feel loved, like they are blessed to be in attendance. And I believe love is in the details. On the back of the placecards which indicated what each dish was, we put baby Vivien's monogram.
Look at the stash! Stacy is well on her way to being fully prepared for Vivien's arrival.
When guests arrived, we had them place their gifts on the screened-in porch where there were drinks waiting for them. We served mimosas garnished with an orange and a yummy pink punch, in honor of the baby girl.
Here are the shower hostesses with Stacy and her three nieces. The following photo is the "three amigas"...is there anything better than (almost) life long friends? One of life's greatest gifts, I think, is to have a friend who has known you forever.
The hostesses gave Stacy a laundry basket (with a LOT of help from Julie, Stacy's mom) that was lined with a pink toile fabric that Stacy is using in the nursery. We gave her all kinds of things for the baby, all attached by a laundry line and clothes pins (which had adorable flowers glued to them....again, it is the details that matter!) Here our guests all hold the clothes line and ooh-and-aaahh over the baby girl stuff.
I love parties like these. They remain forever etched in your memory because they are commemorating such a special time in someone's life. Vivi will be 25 years old, walking down the aisle with her dad at her side and her groom before her, and I will still recall this party and think, "It seems like just yesterday...."
Anyway, our other friend since the 8th grade, Kara, along with Stacy's sister, Jenny, and another friend, Heather, all hosted a baby shower for Stacy last weekend at my house. We had SO much fun! Below are pictures of the grand event that some of my friends who were not at the shower were interested in seeing. As you can see, we had a ball helping Stac get prepared for Miss Vivien to be born!
This is the table setting. The centerpiece is a storage box with the word "BABY" on it, and inside is Ms. Hattie, the frog in a pink gingham dress, and she is flanked by two pink potted flowers.
This is the dessert station. My mother makes the best vanilla-almond pound cake ever, so she made one for the party. We wanted a homemade, southern dessert in keeping with the theme of the shower (A shower for Vivien Lee who will live in Charleston....). We served the cake with fresh strawberries and whipped cream.
Here is an old-fashioned baby carriage that has the party favors in them. We made lemon cupcakes and coconut cupcakes and boxed them up, tied them with the ribbon we used throughout the shower, and put a printed label on them which read, "Your gifts and your presence have blessed Stacy so, Our token of thanks is this sweet treat-to go!"
My philosophy on throwing a great party is this: Love. Do whatever you can to make your guests feel loved, like they are blessed to be in attendance. And I believe love is in the details. On the back of the placecards which indicated what each dish was, we put baby Vivien's monogram.
Look at the stash! Stacy is well on her way to being fully prepared for Vivien's arrival.
When guests arrived, we had them place their gifts on the screened-in porch where there were drinks waiting for them. We served mimosas garnished with an orange and a yummy pink punch, in honor of the baby girl.
Here are the shower hostesses with Stacy and her three nieces. The following photo is the "three amigas"...is there anything better than (almost) life long friends? One of life's greatest gifts, I think, is to have a friend who has known you forever.
The hostesses gave Stacy a laundry basket (with a LOT of help from Julie, Stacy's mom) that was lined with a pink toile fabric that Stacy is using in the nursery. We gave her all kinds of things for the baby, all attached by a laundry line and clothes pins (which had adorable flowers glued to them....again, it is the details that matter!) Here our guests all hold the clothes line and ooh-and-aaahh over the baby girl stuff.
I love parties like these. They remain forever etched in your memory because they are commemorating such a special time in someone's life. Vivi will be 25 years old, walking down the aisle with her dad at her side and her groom before her, and I will still recall this party and think, "It seems like just yesterday...."
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
myrtle beach-part 2
While we were at Hard Rock Park, Paul and I ended up riding the swings with Anderson, since Anderson had already ridden the swings several times alone, and Paul ended up not feeling so well after that.
Bennett enjoyed riding the carousels at both Hard Rock Park and at the Pavillion.
Because we had just eaten lunch, I opted out of the "spin" rides. Here are Paul and Anderson preparing for a very rocky, twirling taxi ride.
As much fun as we had at Hard Rock Park, the boys actually enjoyed racing remote controlled race cars at Broadway at the Beach the most. In fact, Paul won five races in a row, which meant he was forced to retire for an hour, and then Anderson ended up being the champion. Forever the competitors, they wanted to race these cars every night we were at the beach. The owner was kind enough to allow Bennett to "drive" while his dad and brother actually raced.
Here is a Paul getting ready to shake hands with his opponent after he secured the championship. Can you see the joy on his face???
Of course, during our trip we had to eat seafood, being that we were at the coast and the boys are absolutely crazy about shellfish. So, since we were staying at Anderson's Ocean Club, we decided to eat a few blocks up at Bennett's Calabash Seafood. The boys ate their weight in crab legs, and Bennett was very fond of hushpuppies. Only he didn't understand that he didn't need to put the entire hushpuppy in his mouth.
Even though we had plenty of "outings", we did get in plenty of beach time. My favorite part of the entire trip was waking up early to go run and workout in the gym and then take a long walk on the beach before the boys were awake. Here is a photo of one of those mornings.
And here are some photos of us enjoying the sand and sea. (Of course, Bennett did not like the sand at first. He refused to walk on it.)
Finally, we enjoyed taking a few black-and-whites of the boys on the beach. Here are a few...
Bennett enjoyed riding the carousels at both Hard Rock Park and at the Pavillion.
Because we had just eaten lunch, I opted out of the "spin" rides. Here are Paul and Anderson preparing for a very rocky, twirling taxi ride.
As much fun as we had at Hard Rock Park, the boys actually enjoyed racing remote controlled race cars at Broadway at the Beach the most. In fact, Paul won five races in a row, which meant he was forced to retire for an hour, and then Anderson ended up being the champion. Forever the competitors, they wanted to race these cars every night we were at the beach. The owner was kind enough to allow Bennett to "drive" while his dad and brother actually raced.
Here is a Paul getting ready to shake hands with his opponent after he secured the championship. Can you see the joy on his face???
Of course, during our trip we had to eat seafood, being that we were at the coast and the boys are absolutely crazy about shellfish. So, since we were staying at Anderson's Ocean Club, we decided to eat a few blocks up at Bennett's Calabash Seafood. The boys ate their weight in crab legs, and Bennett was very fond of hushpuppies. Only he didn't understand that he didn't need to put the entire hushpuppy in his mouth.
Even though we had plenty of "outings", we did get in plenty of beach time. My favorite part of the entire trip was waking up early to go run and workout in the gym and then take a long walk on the beach before the boys were awake. Here is a photo of one of those mornings.
And here are some photos of us enjoying the sand and sea. (Of course, Bennett did not like the sand at first. He refused to walk on it.)
Finally, we enjoyed taking a few black-and-whites of the boys on the beach. Here are a few...
trip to myrtle beach-part 1
We took a vacation down to Myrtle Beach the first week of this month. We stayed at the Anderson Ocean Club, which just opened in '07, and we were pleased we chose this particular resort. The condo was beautiful (lots of gorgeous cherry furniture, plasma tv's, and granite everywhere!), the amenities were nice (a great spa, nice workout room, several pools, a lazy river), and the hotel is in a great location (right on the beach, just a few blocks from Broadway at the Beach). Here are a few pictures taken at the hotel.
It was a relaxing vacation, even though we stayed busy keeping the boys entertained. Our first full day there, we visited the new Hard Rock Park, and it was especially enjoyable because it was not the least bit crowded, even though we were there for one of their "grand openings". We rode most of the rides. Paul and I rode The Led Zeppelin roller coaster, and I'd say it is pretty intense. Anderson loved The Eagles roller coaster and the swings the most.
Anderson enjoyed going on his first ropes course while we were at Hard Rock Park. Here is a photo of his experience:
Bennett rode his very first roller coaster! That's right. We were foolish enough to take him on a children's coaster. The ride ended at just the right time--just when he was turning up that bottom lip and starting to have tears well up in his eyes! He did enjoy some of the other kiddie rides, though.
It was a relaxing vacation, even though we stayed busy keeping the boys entertained. Our first full day there, we visited the new Hard Rock Park, and it was especially enjoyable because it was not the least bit crowded, even though we were there for one of their "grand openings". We rode most of the rides. Paul and I rode The Led Zeppelin roller coaster, and I'd say it is pretty intense. Anderson loved The Eagles roller coaster and the swings the most.
Anderson enjoyed going on his first ropes course while we were at Hard Rock Park. Here is a photo of his experience:
Bennett rode his very first roller coaster! That's right. We were foolish enough to take him on a children's coaster. The ride ended at just the right time--just when he was turning up that bottom lip and starting to have tears well up in his eyes! He did enjoy some of the other kiddie rides, though.
hole-in-one!
Paul shot a 68 and had a hole-in-one on Sunday, Father's Day! It was hole #15 at his home course, a distance of about 220 yards. He ended up winning money because he beat his opponents, but the tradition at golf clubs is that if you get a hole-in-one, drinks are on you at the club house. So, basically his earnings went towards paying that tab. He also won a $200 gift certificate at the club house for making the hole-in-one. This was especially sweet as he played in the NC Amateur Championship on Thursday and Friday and didn't play as well as he would have liked.
We are so happy for him. We know there is nothing we could have given him on Father's Day that would have made him as happy as this.
We are so happy for him. We know there is nothing we could have given him on Father's Day that would have made him as happy as this.
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