July/Aug 2011

 Boxes for Military!

 Scrabble fun with friends :)

 Michelle, Elizabeth and Angela looking at something.

 Me and Elizabeth and Baby G!

 Happy 20th Birthday Elizabeth!

 Yum

 A hug for Patrick!

Sun-showers on the way home.

conversations...

I have no idea what we talked about, but Irina is certainly more energetic than the rest of us!

Freedom from Tyranny (of sin)

Title: Gaither Vocal Band - Let Freedom Ring lyrics
Artist: Gaither Vocal Band Lyrics

Deep within the heart has always known that there was freedom

Somehow breathed into the very soul alive

The prisoner, the powerless, the saved have always known it

There's something that keeps reaching for the sky

Even life begins because a baby fights for freedom

And songs we love to sing have freedom's theme

Some have walked through fire and flood to find a place of freedom

And some faced hell itself for freedom's dream

Let freedom ring wherever minds know what it means to be in chains

Let freedom ring wherever hearts know pain

Let freedom echo through the lonely streets where prisons have no key

We can be free and we can sing --- let freedom ring

God built freedom into every fiber of creation

And He meant for us to all be free and whole

When my Lord bought freedom with the blood of His redemption

His cross stamped pardon on my very soul

I'll sing it out with every breath, I'll let the whole world hear it

This hallelujah anthem of the free

That iron bars and heavy chains can never hold us captive

The Son has made us free and free indeed

Let freedom ring down through the ages from a hill called Calvary

Let freedom ring wherever hearts know pain

Let freedom echo through the lonely streets where prisons have no key

You can be free and you can sing let freedom ring

Let freedom echo through the lonely streets where prisons have no key

You can be free and you can sing let freedom ringYou can be free and you can sing --- let freedom ring --- let freedom ring

BBC and other happenings

I get so confused with all the different titles of basically the same thing;but different gatherings.

BBC or Backyard Bible Club is like VBS (Vacation Bible School) but the location is different. One is in the community, the other in the church building.

Flock group, Fellowship Groups, Cell group, Small group; these I don't quite know what the differences are...except perhaps the book read or era. I tend to stay with the one I first learned; so I confuse a lot of people! Most people almost think they know where I am going or have invited them to..

Just a diversion...

I have been busy lately doing things to develop interpersonal relationships, and also to disciple and encourage others and myself to seek the Lord in EVERYTHING! Does anyone else find themselves falling short of that?

Been to Bible Study, helped with a baptism, did some BBC/funfest activity, drove around town,went to visit with a very good friend, stopped by WTCC for guidance(?...) and hopefully all these things will bring Glory to God!

Let us not forget that Nothing is too difficult for our God, nothing is a surprise to Him, and He IS our ALL in ALL! Let us find joy in the JOYGIVER and rejoice for this is the day the Lord has made...BE GLAD!

April

A Very Happy Birthday to Charlene! (far away in Singapore, but near to my heart!)

Patrick is out of the AF, but like the USAF song...he is "into the wild blue yonder"!

He has not as of yet showed up here, so I think he must be enjoying his cross country trip back to the east coast.

Swizzle, doing her best at looking somewhat perturbed.

I don't think we had honey in ours...But it needed a clean out...$250 later and we def are better off!

Fun at the Library Park, a little Bingo and some time chillin' together.

Ladies Retreat this weekend! Starts May off nicely; Elizabeth graduates, get to see Patrick and some old friends from Vin's childhood, (maybe even a special trip ....)

Williamsburg

Ferry across James River on way back home.
I can't figure out this sign, I didn't pay for the ticket. It was so cold, not too many folks out on street to ask. I guess meat, fruit and water are available here.
Bruton Anglican Church
This lectern was donated by T. Roosevelt in 1907 for the 300yr anniversary of Jamestown. Original church was founded in Jamestown.
Angel of Peace is standing on earth, one foot in American, one in Great Britain. Eagle and British Lion support the globe. The British Washington's coat of arms in between. Three tablets under that, with the front one saying "To The Glory of God" . It held a Bible given by King Edward. I guess they just recently took the Bible off and put it in the archives. There is a baptismal font that has been in use since they received it from England. George Washington stood there as sponsor for as many as 10 of his slaves. It is still in use today.

We had a great time of fellowship, met up with Debbie's brothers and Patty. Greatest ribs in USA.

We continue to be in prayer for not only our church but for the Church.


"Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place." (2Cor 2:14 NASB)

pot luck

A great mix of folks, some new friends and some old...but all family in Christ. We will miss Glenn, Charlene and Carrie in our day to day lives!

Just to let you know

I am stealing photos from your sites for the "scrapbook" assignment. You all have posted some great ones and I just thought "you know who(s)"(V) would enjoy the diversity of places, people and things from NC and MI.

Hope you don't mind....
Thanks to all of you I think it will come out quite nice. Now be sure to send some comments and verses my way too...

not just a hop and a skip anymore....

Charlene is moving far away....
just a sample of some of the flights to Singapore:

Northwest Airlines Flight 1691 / 11 / 5

12:32pm Raleigh/Durham, NC (RDU)

1:45am Arrive on Wed, May 28 Singapore, Singapore (SIN)

25hrs 13min - 2 Stops Change planes in Detroit, MI (DTW) Change planes in Tokyo, Japan (NRT)

$1,785

Delta Air Lines Flight 6316

4:49pm Raleigh/Durham, NC (RDU)

6:35am Arrive on Wed, May 28 Singapore, Singapore (SIN)

25hrs 46min - 2 Stops Change planes in New York, NY (JFK) Stop in Frankfurt, Germany (FRA)

$2,902 per person

Hard to imagine Carrie enjoying this ride, so we will have to be praying for their trip this Fri and return on the following Sunday(5/18). They will be checking out the real estate!

Exciting times...

Ladies Retreat 08

N. Topsail Beach was our location this year. It has been a year of struggles and trials, heartbreak and joys beyond measure for a lot of the women there. We had several newbies, and that is always exciting. The theme was "God's Greatness Grows Our Faith and Faithfulness".

I know that for me, this year has been a real wrencher. The pictures of waves crashing, the black sand gushing, the sand ripples as God has been dealing with my heart, and then the calmness of the water, the expanse of the sea and the sunrise bringing a new day. Of course than there are times where I can relax and enjoy Him and the friends(sisters) he has given me.

So much in my heart, it overflows to this paper just a bit (lest you be bored, and E tells me too many words on the page) I know God is working all around you and me, and in you and me. He knows and cares down to the last minutia in our hearts and lives. Linda found a perfect shell, Cora got confirmation, Noah's fever broke, Margaret was able to come, Ruth heard a song....goes on and on! AMEN!

spring time!

Today I am having lunch with a really good friend. She is one of my mentors, one who tells me like it is and encourages me beyond measure. Today, I have the opportunity to encourage her. We enjoy "Birthdays lunch" every April as our birthdays are a few weeks apart. 5 years ago, we sat together and she shared how she had discovered a lump and was just at the doctor's. Last month, she got an all clear, and then something has shown up on the other side. Today, we will sit and talk about what the surgeon said. The best thing is that we aren't alone, when we go to lunch Jesus will be there with us. We do have something to celebrate and that is not only a friendship but a sisterhood because we belong to God's family. So, enjoy your friendships, encourage and love one another, be transparent and grow with your trusted one!