In the Storm

stories from the files | today i am missing you

Going through old folders of photos, hunting up stories to tell from the files and I came across some photos we took at the end of 2011, around Christmas time; all you kids, plus your kids and Grandma Geer in some of them. I saw this photo of you and Ella, and I realized, unmistakably, that I was missing you. Your years in the military...now I know how Pap Pap and Grandma felt when my years in the military kept me away from home for long periods of time.

It's painful reality.

One day soon - yes?

stories from the files | have more firsts

I still have journaling for this page. I will make a 6 x 12 journaling card to add to the center of the two-page layout. I used everything Ali Edwards, including some of her story kits that I subscribe to.

Jeff surprised me when he came home early one Friday afternoon, May 25, 2012 and asked if I was ready to go. Wearing leisurely clothes for our date that was beginning much earlier than normal, and Jeff not telling me anything, we headed out east towards the ocean.

Our first stop was the big surprise. We made it in time for one of the last dolphin tours of the day. I WAS SO EXCITED! A dolphin tour had been on one of those 'I want to do before...' lists for a very long time and while we have lived in Savannah for many years, and drive by the dolphin tour places many times, we just had never done it. I truly believe Jeff enjoyed my excitement as much as the dolphin tour itself.

And we saw dolphins. The tour lasted almost an hour and we saw numerous pairs of dolphins scattered about the tributaries and waterways our tour guide ventured to lead us. Ok, so the photos didn't come out great, and next time we'll take the big camera, but honestly, while I loved seeing the dolphins and want that experience again, it was the special afternoon, the surprise, the building excitement, the entire date night that I loved most.

After our dolphin sighting adventure, knowing without a doubt we had to have more of these kinds of adventures, we heading onto Tybee Island proper towards our favorite eatery on the island, A.J.'s Dockside Restaurant. It's name is perfect as it is a dockside restaurant with tables scattered about the deck leading onto the pier where various boats and jet skis have pulled up and docked, some of whom slip into eat at A.J.'s. Oh, that would be another fun adventure: slip into a dock, hop off a boat, climb onto the pier, and walk into A.J.'s Dockside Restaurant from the waterway to enjoy one of their choice appetizers or southern main courses.

I drank a beer. Yep, truly, I did. And it was good!! One beer about does me in, seriously.

And the food: For an appetizer, Shrimp and Grits with a Cajun cream sauce, to die for good! After this yumminess we each chose our own fair for a leisurely, conversation-filled dinner, enjoyed the amazing weather outside on the dock watching the sun set across the waters, past the marshes and land and over the horizon.

After dinner we finished out our evening with a jaunt on the beach, listening to the surf, feeling the spray of the water as it splashes our feet, smelling the thick, salty air, and holding hands and more conversation. A glorious date. One that needs to be re-visited - our at least something like it.

stories from the files | train them up.

This is what I love. I love catching those teaching moments when Jeff is training one of the boys in some life skills that will serve them well in the future. He is always patient, well, almost always. Sometimes, he gets frustrated when the skills he's taught have to be re-taught, re-trained, or re-examined later, but, that is life too. Mostly, the boys, like John was here, are very receptive to the time it takes to learn a new skill, especially the satisfaction they experience from a job well done. Thanks, Dad (Jeff).

interesting links | 01

                

source

100-day project. a very interesting project, that while a creative endeavor, could be attempted for other disciplinary commitments: give something for 100 days, purge #-items for 100 days, write letters for 100 days, learn something new each day for 100 days.

a sermon series taught by Jeff Minion, the author of the book Satisfied, which I recently read.

everyday photo cards. I would love to make some of these. Not sure of what. Or who - yet. But, I love the very simplicity of these cards.

Added to my CREATE52 pin board as another craft DIY @ DesignLoveFest

Record frame instagram photo wall. Awesome.

my own stories from the files that I have been creating the entire month of March.

Unbelievably amazing photobook.

Considering making an album, maybe Project Life, with a 9 x 12 album.

Found this amazing site: mini-lessons or short episodes about something, anything, tidbits of information at 99% Invisible

stories from the files | hello missions.

John and Jarrod were afforded the opportunity to go on an overseas missions trip with a Savannah Christian Church GO Team to Ecuador with middle school students plus a couple adult leaders. In order for them to go they needed to raise money for the trip, $1400 each. They sent out letters to everyone we know who might be interested in supporting their mission efforts. In addition to the letters, I took backyard photos of the boys, picked out our favorite (the top photo on the page), added their trip information, and reminded everyone to pray for their mission trip. On the back of each photo I put a magnet so they could hang it on their refrigerator.

stories from the files | every single minute

Even if the only amazing part of the day was Ian cuddling up to John, squeezing him tight, hanging out together while Ashley tried on clothes at Maurice's, then the day would have been worth seeing, worth being a part of worth having this togetherness - because it is what love looks like to me.

stories from the files | yahtzee play

Getting the time to play games as a family can be tough, sometimes, but when we do take the time and are purposeful about playing together it's always fun! Everyone likes Yahtzee so it is one of our go-to games to play. Inevitably, someone will have a really awesome game and not just roll one Yahtzee but two and sometimes even three Yahtzee's in one game.

Jeff is his cool-as-a-cucumber self when he rolls, all sly like, just rolls and fills in his 50 points, or marks a check when he just as slyly rolls a second Yahtzee. But, John and Jarrod, roar and act out any number of goofy, silly movements that make us smile and laugh.

currently | march 2015.

 

currents | march  

having one Eagle project inspected by the Garden City building inspector, ready for finishing touches to the project

needing to make plaques for both boys' Eagle projects.

watching the boys lead construction projects; all the trials and errors and successes that go with any project. So cool!

deciding whether to accept an adjunct teaching position with Point University teaching business.

hoping to begin my big annual photo project this month.

enrolling John and Jarrod for Dual-Enrollment at Point University, Savannah campus for the fall semester. Except for Bible (and maybe Science; Point is still deliberating) John and Jarrod will be finishing their senior year of high school as college students.

loving the outfits I recently purchased and dressing up more often and...

wanting to buy more beautiful clothes

trying to reach 10,000 steps everyday at work is sometimes a challenge

watching the last episode of Blue Bloods on Netflix; found The Blacklist!!!

laughing it up with the boys as we watch episodes of M*A*S*H.

getting approval from the contract weather office for me to move to the day shift in May and take over the senior weather observer duties.

drinking French Vanilla coffee creamer with my many cups of coffee each day - still.

taking Mom to the Chiropractor's once a week. It seems to be helping.

eating homemade noodles and chicken soup, ramped up with fresh herbs and full-bodied chicken stock instead of broth - and some knew recipes that have been wonderful.

realizing I have a ton of recipes that need to be added to my recipe books

 

 

 

stories from the files | sea turtles.

I know why I never scrapped these photos. Because, while our day began so well, our day didn't end so well.

We began our day-long journey south to Jekyll Island, early on Saturday morning the end of July 2011, our first stop was the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. While we had to wait about 45 minutes for the center to open we enjoyed the leisurely time in no hurry watching Ian and Wyatt explore the grounds and the older boys, John and Jarrod, with their typical attitude - they rolled with the punches.

When the center opened we participated in the centers' scavenger hunt which assures each visitor the chance to see all of the exhibits regarding the life of Georgia Sea Turtles, so prevalent on the Georgia Atlantic coastal waters and shores. It was a beautiful and educational morning, perfect for the beginning of a family day trip.

stories from the files | jewish food festival.

Such a fun little story and a great time with even more awesome food.

For one of John and Jarrod's merit badges for Boy Scouts they had to participate, or visit a community event. It just so happened that the Jewish community was celebrating Peace with their Jewish Food Festival - and who doesn't love food. This was not a tough assignment: take a gander around Forsythe Park, visit the various Jewish food booths, decide on the perfect afternoon meal while enjoying the beautiful fall weather in Savannah with hot corned beef sandwiches on rye bread smothered with mustard.