First Day of School

TJ and Samantha started school on Monday, August 25th. I took these right before they left for school. Sam is attending Spotsylvania Middle School again, and TJ is at Courtland High. So far, they've had a great week! I am so glad, as this time of year usually makes me pretty sad, as they had back to school, and it helps that they are both enjoying it...well, enjoying it as much as you can enjoy going to school. haha

Grandpa Stone Comes to Fredericksburg

My dad has been visiting us this week from Sarasota, FL. We always play Dominoes when Grandpa is here. All four of the kids played, too, so it was a fun evening. Theron had to work late, but came in to observe after awhile. haha Here are some pictures Mary took during the evening. She was camera crazy. She took about 20 pictures of Chrissy, so I didn't upload all of those to the blog. We had a lot of fun and laughed a lot. Thanks, Dad, for coming to spend time with the girls before they leave for college.

Theron took this shot of usMary snapped this one when we weren't looking

Grandpa contemplating his next move
Me, acting surprised, as Mary snaps another shot. Theron is in the background watching TV
Chrissy watching Dad take his turn
TJ, thinking he was going to win, but he ended up losing by getting too many points the last few rounds...poor little boy

Sam lauging at Mary

Chrissy and Dad looking at me doing something silly, I guess

Mary taking a picture of herself

TJ

Our trains

Flowers Along the Way

My Mother-in-Law knows a lot about plants, and was able to tell me what a lot of the plants and flowers were. Some were near the river walk we were on, and a lot were by a house that was by the walkway. I took a lot of these, not just because they were so gorgeous, but I also wanted to try out different settings on my camera. :) Oh, and we also ate wild blackberries and wild mulberries. They were SO good! Our hands looked like we'd been fingerpainting!

Walking with Poppy and Grandma

On our last evening there, we took a walk with Theron's parents. We had a nice time and the weather was perfect.

This is all 4 kids with Grandma Bowman. I love this picture!

Playing in the River

The place we stayed when we were in TN was right on the river. When the dams aren't open, the water is low enough to wade in. This day, we were able to wade. It was beautiful.
TJ getting ready to wade
The girls after getting in
The field between the house and the river..this is looking toward the house from the river
Playing int he water..it was very cold!!
TJ and Theron venturing out
TJ and Mary
Getting into the river

Chrissy and Sam were quite brave. It was rather deep in the middle of the river. They wanted so badly to go check out the cave on the other side, but it was a bit too deep.

Sam and Chris
Sam, TJ and Mary

Annie(s) Get Your Guns

TJ brought his air rifle, but the girls discovered they liked it, too. Chrissy (she actually shot more than anyone, except TJ)
Mary trying her hand at it
Sam, taking aim

Johnny Update PRAISE THE LORD

Hi, Johnny was able to come home from the hospital last night!! YEAH!! No wonder he didn't feel well at all...he had a virus, somnelence (side effect from the radiation he had a few weeks ago) and he had to have 4 units of red blood and four units of platelets in 7 days. He still has heavy fatigue, but is home now, so that is always great. Thanks for praying for Johnny. He has such a wonderful testimony for the Lord, even through all he has to endure. Darlene keeps reminding me that God is Good and that God loves Johnny even more than we do. She is right, and she is a pretty awesome mom, too!!

Johnny

Hi, Johnny is still in the hospital. So far, it looks to be something viral in his system, and his fever is staying down. That is great! I'll let you know as anything changes. Thanks, again, for praying.

Johnny Update

Hi, I just talked with Darlene. Johnny is still in the hospital and they are trying too figure out where the infection is from. So far, so good, though. His body's immune system is kicking in and helping him fight whatever this is. That is in and of itself a miracle from God, as he hasn't had any immune system for awhile. She said thanks for your prayers. They should know more within the next few days. I'll keep you posted.

Pray for Johnny

Hi, please pray for Johnny today. Bill had to take him to the hospital around 2 this morning. They don't know much right now, but think he might have a bug or some kind of infection. I'll post when I hear from Darlene again. Thanks for your prayers. I'll pass on anything you want me to to Darlene. I know God is holding them all in His hands, and Darlene reminded me again this morning that God is good and never gives us more than we can handle. :)

It's a Party!!

We arrived in Tennessee on Monday afternoon. On Tuesday afternoon, my in-laws invited their brothers and sisters & nieces and nephews over for dinner. It was so much fun! I hadn't seen some of them for at least 10 years. It was such a blessing to have everyone there at the same time, as we always seem to have to miss the Lockhart and Bowman reunions. It was so nice of Moe and Christine to have everyone over for us. Theron's cousin's girlfriend, Christine, & Moe's sister, Goldie
Sandy (another of Moe's sisters) & her son
Moe with Bill and other relatives

More cousins
Christine's sisters and brother

Favorite Places to Visit

Theron and I love Pal's (especially their milkshakes & iced tea), so we stopped by there on the way to "the little house". The kids enjoyed it, too.

Here we are stuffing our faces. It was worth every calorie, though.

Here everyone is relaxing on the porch. My father in law did the most awesome job of laying stone for the porch. It is absolutely a work of art. I wish I had taken some of the porch "flooring" up close.

Mary & Chrissy trying not to get their pics taken

Mary, still trying to hide

Me and Sam on the swing. I have lost a few pounds since this picture, thank goodness!! haha

TJ, Mary, Samantha, & Chrissy posing for their camera crazy mom