Renstromania

A Weekend in Lynchburg

2009-07-05T17:53:00.000-07:00

Since Leigh Anna had to work and couldn't get home to Charlotte, Scott and I went to spend the weekend with her. We took up the new trestle table that Scott built for the apartment she shares with Katie De Armon, her cousin. The table turned out great. Soon we'll take up the two benches that he is still finishing to go with it. Here we're sitting down to our dinner on Saturday, July 4 before leaving to go the Hillcats baseball game. Dinner was barbequed chicken, pasta salad, corn on the cob, Texas toast and watermelon (which we forgot to serve). Yummo!

At the Hillcats game we ran into John Ruleau and his new wife Jenna. Scott and I were glad to finally get to meet Jenna as well as to see Rocky, another friend from LU. We enjoyed sitting with them for the last half of the game and the fireworks. It was a fun 4th!

On the way home Sunday morning we went to church at Lawndale Baptist Church in Greensboro where Mark Walker is worship leader. Their morning service featured a patriotic program with a video connection to Ken Lewis in Baghdad. Cindy, Meagan, Taylor and Katie Beth drove in for the service as well. In spite of some technical glitches with the live feed from Iraq, it was a great program that made us proud of our country and proud of guys like Ken who are serving our country.

4th of July Resolution

2009-07-04T05:31:00.000-07:00

In know that most folks make New Year's resolutions, but today I'm making a resolution and it just happens to be July 4th - what better time to declare my intention to be a better blogger! I've heard from several of you that my bi-yearly updates just aren't getting it, so in response to the great demand (Hi Launi!) I'm going to try to do a better job.

Thought that the best material for my re-entry into the blog world would be the world's cutest, sweetest, and smartest grandchildren. Recently when Daniel and Danielle were in Canada for her grandmother's funeral, Natalie and I ventured to Chik-fil-A with all four. It was a bit crazy but made for a great photo op.

Healthcare Will Never Be the Same!

2008-10-03T14:28:00.001-07:00

Liberty had a special Ribbon Ceremony for the nursing students on Tuesday night, 10/30. Cindy Lewis and I got to go up to see Leigh Anna and Katie Beth receive their blue ribbons as new inductees in the program. Those of you who know Leigh Anna know that we tease her quite a bit about being a "klutz." (In our family no one is allowed to take themselves too seriously, so everyone gets teased. We believe in equality.) But she really is a determined and accomplished young lady. (We just all cringe a bit at the thought of her coming at someone with a syringe!) She's worked hard to get admitted into the nursing program - only a fourth of those trying, get in. Now that she's in, she'll have to work very hard to make it through the rigorous program. But - Leigh Anna loves a challenge. She has a heart to use her medical training for the Lord, to be His hands and feet for hurting people as they emphasized in the ceremony.

The Lewis girls - Meagan's a senior in the nursing program, due to graduate in December and get married in January - Katie's in Leigh Anna's class and received her ribbon as well - Cindy was the school nurse at Northside Christian Academy the last eight years and has just gone back to mom/baby nursing at a local hospital. Great gals, all three of them! We're proud of them as is their husband and father, Ken.

Some of the professors in the nursing department handed out the candles.
The entire sophomore class. If you think you're seeing a giant pair of blue jeans in the background you're not mistaken. It seems that Jonathan Falwell is preaching a sermon series at Thomas Road right now and uses these giant jeans as a prop for his message. It made for an interesting and rather surreal background for this dignified ceremony.
Speaking of dignified ceremonies - here are some of Leigh Anna's friends that attended -Dani, Cimber, Ryan, Kyle, Julie and Meagan. She's so blessed to have such great friends who encourage and love her, but dignified doesn't describe some of them, especially her cousin Kyle who yelled out her name every chance he got. We're just hoping she doesn't get kicked out of the program because of it. Thanks Kyle!

The Grandest Ones of All

2008-09-28T17:54:00.000-07:00

We're never happier than when we are with our granddaughters. Last weekend we got to go to Raleigh and see the whole gang. Eden was dedicated in the Sunday morning service at Providence and we celebrated Bennett's 2nd birthday while we were all together (Leigh Anna even came in from Lynchburg). Bennett turned 2 on Monday, September 22. In just a few weeks we'll have to update this picture by adding Greta's new baby brother, soon-to-be-born, William Scott. For now, we just imagine what his world will be like with these three girls telling him what to do.

Bama Beats Georgia!

2008-09-28T17:46:00.001-07:00

We had a great time watching Bama beat Georgia Saturday night. Pam, Frank, Nathan, and Allison came over and they brought this great cake that they made themselves. I think it was a group effort. It not only looked awesome but tasted good too. We pulled off such a great win against a higher ranked team that I think they should make one every week for the rest of the season. Hey, we're not superstitious, but it can't hurt! Final score - Bama 41, Georgia 30.

A Bridal Shower for Meagan

2008-07-24T02:34:00.001-07:00

We had a bridal tea for Meagan last Saturday and lots of friends came and helped shower her with gifts. About 25 were there. She received some wonderful gifts and we all enjoyed the time together.

Taylor's mom, Tammy, came from Hampton, VA.
The three Lewis girls: Katie Beth, Meagan and older sister, Cindy, or is she the mom? It's so hard to tell.

The girls from Raleigh who visited with us last weekend gave me a beautiful bouquet of flowers which we used for the shower. It's in the background on the buffet - pink roses, fuji mums and baby's breath. The teapot and cream and sugar set on the buffet table belong to Danielle Renstrom; they were her Grandmother's. I'm just giving them a safe home for a while until Bennett and Eden are a little older. Maybe someday we'll use them in a bridal tea for them! I'll try to post a better picture that shows the flowers and tea set. Thanks, girls, for your thoughtfulness.
Meagan's Grandma Betty and Aunt Corky drove up from Greenville, SC.

As favors for our guests we made these tea bags and attached them each to an embroidered handkerchief.
Carleen Maslar helped by making a corsage using a lace handkerchief that has been in Meagan's family for several generations. Meagan's mom, Cindy carried it in her wedding.

Pam Howell and Debbie Baker helped with the shower. Pam brought the yummy cucumber sandwiches and then took over my kitchen for the afternoon! Debbie got up early Saturday morning and made about 50 chicken pockets which were a hit! These two ladies have been a blessing in Meagan's life for many years and wanted to be a part of this special event for her. Meagan, you couldn't choose two more precious ladies to look up to!

Meagan and Taylor are getting married January 3, 2008. It's been a joy to see how God has brought them together. We know He has great plans for them in the future!

Weekend Guests from Raleigh

2008-07-17T17:48:00.001-07:00

Loved having these girls spend Friday evening and Saturday with us on their little "Mommy-ran away-from-home" retreat.

Family Vacation

2008-07-17T17:25:00.000-07:00

Just a few rather random pictures from the last few weeks. We all met on Isle of Palms near Charleston, SC for family vacation this year. What a great time with four generations under one roof! The early morning crew on the porch reflects the oldest and youngest. We took some group pictures down at the waterfront in Charleston. As you can see, with our gang, some of the little ones were running out of patience with the picture process. This last picture of Bennett was taken at our house before we left for Charleston. While we were fixing breakfast one morning, Bennett arranged this comfy seat for herself on the coffee table to watch cartoons.

A New Granddaughter!

2008-06-20T18:27:00.000-07:00

What a great day! After waiting for an extra week past due date and then all day of Danielle's being induced on the 19th of June, Eden Hope Renstrom made her grand entrance on June 20 at 12:01 a.m. We were so excited to be there when she arrived, waiting (impatiently) in a nearby waiting area. Daniel was texting us with frequent updates, and Danielle was actually posting her progress on their blog (blonderenstroms.blogspot.com). Those of us waiting were rewarded with a chance to see and hold her when she was just minutes old.

We feel so blessed to have a third little girl to add to our family. Eden weighed 7 lbs. and 2 ozs. She's got lots of dark hair and a sweet little face that reminds us all of her big sister Bennett. Bennett is so gentle with her, just kissing her lightly on the hair and giving her "air hugs."

Daniel and Danielle are doing fine though it has been a rough couple of days. Daniel was diagnosed with strep throat Thursday morning before taking Danielle to the hospital. Danielle remained in good spirits even though she must have felt like the pregnancy was never going to end.

Our Friends from up North

2008-06-20T18:22:00.000-07:00

It was so fun to see Sara and Molly again and to meet Molly's husband Jeff as well as their two girls Emma and Grace. We also enjoyed meeting Diana, their other sister, and her family - husband Chris and four of their five daughters: Brenna, Emily, Catherine, and Grace. What a wonderful family. We were blessed to have them stay with us for a night on their way to a week at Hilton Head.

Greta's 1st Birthday

2008-06-20T17:53:00.000-07:00

It's catch up time, but I couldn't post anything without going back to highlight some highlights first.

Greta turned 1 while in Alaska visiting Natalie's family and celebrating Bernie and Angie's wedding. We loved hearing about her special day and the moose birthday cake that Natalie made for her. We celebrated her birthday with her before she left. She is opening the little scooter that we hope she'll enjoy giving Will rides on.

Not in Kansas Anymore

2008-04-28T17:42:00.001-07:00

This past weekend Sandra, Pam, and I traveled to Tampa/Clearwater to be a part of Sharon's four performances of the "Wizard of Oz." It was a fabulous production with a cast of over 40 and an additional 15 or so stage crew. The colorful set and costumes were complimented by the fresh approach to the familiar story.

Sharon is giving some last minute instructions to her cast.
Here the Munchkins are excited because Dorothy's house has landed on the Wicked Witch of the East. In this scene they sing and dance to a cool arrangement of "Ding, Dong the Witch Is Dead" intermingled with "Celebrate Good Times."
Everybody loved this scene where the crows taunt the scarecrow. The crows danced as the scarecrow sang, "Shake a Tailfeather." The Tin Man sings "If I Only Had a Heart."

Arriving at Oz.

Somehow, in the midst of all the performances we did find some time to enjoy Florida. Friday morning we all went for a walk on the causeway, and then Sunday evening after Pam left to go back to Charlotte we went to Honeymoon Island to watch the sunset.

Teacher's Lounge Makeover

2008-04-23T03:39:00.000-07:00

Since I consulted with several people on ideas for this project, I thought I'd post some pictures of the outcome. Just finished redecorating the teacher's lounge at Northside Christian Academy. It had been 15 years since originally furnished and in recent years had begun to look bedraggled, plus it had become a dumping ground for assorted equipment. It was fun to clear it out and try to make it an attractive, restful retreat for the teachers.

I love representational pieces such as the picture above the chairs. Found it at Hobby Lobby as a poster and I put it in a ready-made frame. Much cheaper than buying already framed art. But the best part - the title showing underneath the three trees is, "Standing Together." It also reminds me of Psalm 1:3. Check it out.
The plaque on the wall by the door has one of my favorite verses, Psalm 19:14, "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeember."

One of my favorite pieces, I actually didn't capture in the picture - the area rug. I got a great deal on it at Rug and Home Outlet in Gaffney. It's a contemporary design fitting the rest of the room and has color blocks of tan, black and the wine color of the loveseat. It helped tie the colors of the room together.

Most of you know that I don't consider myself a decorator, not by any stretch of the imagination. But this was a chance to try something I knew I couldn't do without the Lord's help. He's truly the Master Artist.

More Birthday Re-Cap

2008-04-19T11:19:00.001-07:00

Last weekend, 4/11-4/12, we went to Raleigh to hang out with the kids and celebrate Scott's birthday. Leigh Anna wasn't able to come in from Raleigh. We missed her! For dinner Friday night we went to the Angus Barn where the guys all got their red meat fix.

Bennett is thinking, "Only three candles? He looks a bit older than that."

The girls provide all the entertainment that we could possibly want.

After the meal, our waitress, Florence, took the girls back into the kitchen and fixed them some ice cream. It was fascinating to see all the cooks working over the prep areas and the hot grills.

Happy Birthday Papa Squat!

2008-04-15T17:21:00.000-07:00

To most people April 15 is income tax day. But here at Renstromania, it's double birthday time! Scott and his mom both share April 15 as a birthday. So.... just for the occasion, I'm actually creating a new blog! Here's a picture of Mimi Renstrom holding Greta when we were down in FL visiting in January. Greta got to help pick oranges and grapefruits from Mimi and Papa Renstrom's trees.

Here's the birthday boy with Bennett. Scott enjoys being a grandfather as much as anything he's ever experienced. He's never happier than when both girls are in his arms. Last weekend we enjoyed some time in Raleigh with Bennett and Greta and their parents. Today Bennett called (with the help of her mommy) and said, "Happy, Happy Poppy!"

Still one of the favorite girls in his life, Leigh Anna poses with Scott in front of a wine rack somewhere; but as far as I know, they're both drinking ice tea. Speaking of birthdays, in a few weeks Leigh Anna will be twenty and we will no longer have a teenager in our family. Now that makes us feel old!

One final birthday note - Today at my office at church a bouquet of flowers was delivered. Inside was a card from Scott that said, "Because of you all my birthdays are happy ones!" How's that for sweet? And.. how many men send their wives flowers on their own birthdays?

Happy Birthday Scott! - from Susan

Happy Birthday Papa Squat! - from Daniel, Danielle, Adam, Nat, and Leigh Anna

Happy Happy Poppy! - from Bennett and Greta

"Adore and Tremble" Is Released

2008-01-21T14:47:00.000-08:00

Friday, January 18th was the official release date for Daniel's new CD, "Adore and Tremble." Family came from Huntsville, AL; Charlotte, NC; Clearwater, FL; and Lynchburg, VA; not to mention the friends from Liberty and the folks all over the Raleigh area. The concert packed out the Delta Lake Center at Providence Baptist Church and what a thrill it was to see what God has done. Around 600 folks came to the concert and about that many CD's were sold! May God continue to multiply and bless this ministry. Anyone interested in buying "Adore and Tremble" can go to danielrenstrom.com for information.

A shout-out to Grandma and Papa Ward - Daniel told the crowd, "They're a great part of the reason this family loves the Lord."

Now we know where Daniel gets his strumming ways! Anybody for a little dueling strings?

Saturday morning at the hotel we celebrated Adam's 26th birthday. Natalie gave him a kayaking trip at the Whitewater Rafting Center. Guess he'll have to wait for the ice on the river to break first. Greta Jean got to hang out with Grandma Jean for a little while Saturday morning.

We also enjoyed a trip to the new Orchid Conservatory at the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. This morning, January 21, Mom, Dad, and I took a ride down to the new exhibit. How beautiful! It's amazing to see how many varieties of orchids there are - all enclosed in this tropical paradise. Guess what! Because they are card-carrying members of the Huntsville Botanical Gardens, they got in free. Sandra, we all owe you an apology!

Of course, when the ballgames are on, we make time for that. Sunday afternoon we took in the game and again Sunday night after church.

Christmas Is Family, Friends and Fun

2007-12-29T16:39:00.000-08:00

Because Adam and Nat were going to be in AK for Christmas, Scott and I went up in early December to have "Christmas" with them. We enjoyed attending Providence Baptist Church's Christmas program on Friday night. That has become one of our favorite Christmas activities. Daniel sang a beautiful solo at the beginning of the program and Adam and Nat were part of a "commercial" that was inserted in the video footage of the program. Adam was at the drive-through at Caribou Coffee and Nat played the part of the lady named "Larry" who took his order - his usual "boo."

Scott and I are here with Bennett and Greta. Greta is hanging on to Poppy's hoodie string because she doesn't want him to leave (either that or she liked sucking on it.) We had a little time with all the kids on Saturday morning before heading back to Charlotte.

Mom and Dad came in for a few days in early December. They love to get together with the "Village People" for breakfast on Saturday mornings. Here's a shot of the gang all gathered around - the men sit on one end (they call themselves The Liar's Club) and the ladies all sit together on the other end. They've been doing this for so long that the waitress knows everyone's order.
Another tradition - for years Mom and Jean Raborn have had a Christmas party for their Sunday School class on a Saturday afternoon in December. This year it was my joy to host their party. About 15 ladies gathered for lunch, gift exchanges, and lots of laughs and fun. These ladies have such a special relationship of loving and caring for each other. It was a privilege to have them in our home. Merry Christmas, Joy Class!

Christmas 2007

2007-12-29T13:27:00.000-08:00

Just a few pictures to post of our Christmas this year. Adam and Natalie and little Greta were in Alaska with her family, so they're missing in these pictures. Our pictures mostly show Bennett enjoying her gifts on Christmas morning. She's 15 months and so much fun. We loved watching her open presents and enjoy each one.

Mama and Pap Ward sent this cute knit cap with some money tucked inside. Bennett's already a good Tide fan.

One of the gifts Scott and I gave Bennett was a drum with rhythm instruments inside. It's a wonderful gift for her to take home and play with - one of those noisy ones!Daniel and Danielle left yesterday (Friday, 12/28) to go back to Raleigh. We had a wonderful week with them here.
A special treat - Wednesday afternoon we had a visit from Carol Wray Moore and her husband Byron, their son Byron, Jr., their new baby (1 week old) Bryson, Carol's mom from Cleveland and her twin brother Carl from Baltimore. Carol and her husband live here in Charlotte. Carl and Carol were students at Cedar Hill Christian when I taught there. They attended for about 5 years and were in my plays and music classes. We had so much fun remembering people and songs and programs. They are such a wonderful family, and I feel so honored that they would want to stay in touch. Having them come by for a visit was a highlight of my Christmas!

He Has Made Everything Beautiful in Its Time

2007-11-14T14:15:00.000-08:00

As I drove in the driveway this afternoon I couldn't help but notice the beautiful colors in our yard. Because of the drought, it had seemed as if we wouldn't see those vibrant colors fall usually brings to the Carolinas. But today they were there! God's goodness is all around.
"He has made everything beautiful in its time." Ecclesiastes 3:11

The red maples stand out against the other colors.
All year long we watch the squirrels playing in these oak trees. The acorns are everywhere, crunching under the leaves as we walk across the yard.
The sweet potato vine (right) that I planted last spring has almost taken over the fence. I think it's trying to make a break for the woods!

A Weekend with the Kids

2007-11-11T11:17:00.000-08:00

The girls and their parents were in for the weekend. Greta and Bennett are just starting to interact with each other.

Greta is modeling a little cap that her mommy made for her. Love those blue eyes!

"No more s' mores!"

Bennett enjoyed the slide and Greta enjoyed the swing. Saturday was such a beautiful day that both girls were able to be outside and play in the yard. (We didn't let them stay out too long by themselves, though.) Greta had her first time on the swing and she loved feeling the air on her tongue. She gave us a big smile and laugh when her daddy pushed her. Bennett learned to come down the slide on her tummy and enjoyed landing in the pile of leaves at the bottom.

Fall Festival with Pumpkin & Tootsie

2007-11-01T03:45:00.000-07:00

It was fun to attend the Fall Festival at Providence with the kids on Halloween night. Bennett and Greta were dressed as the cutest pumpkin and a tootsie roll! There were games, ponies and a big slide that the kids could enjoy. Bennett rode a pony and went down the slide with her daddy. But she, like Greta, mostly enjoyed watching all the other kids in their costumes.

Happy Birthday, Daniel

2007-10-14T12:55:00.001-07:00

Daniel turned 28 last Friday, October 12. How we remember the night he was born. We were living in Nashville, and Scott was a youth pastor. About ten teenagers were in our home that Thursday evening. When I realized that our baby might be soon to arrive, I started hinting that it might be time for everyone to go home. Soon after they left, we too left for Baptist Hospital. In the early morning hours, around 6 a.m., Dr. Levine delivered Daniel. He was our firstborn and how thrilled we were to be his parents!

In looking through some pictures of Daniel when he was a baby, I came across the one I've posted here. It occurs to me that this might explain some things. Those of you who know Daniel well know that he doesn't like getting dressed up. Well, maybe it's my fault. I miust have scarred him with outfits like this!

On his birthday last Friday we all met in Greensboro and had dinner together. Adam came with Daniel, Danielle and Bennett, but we missed having Greta and Natalie there. (Hope you two are having fun in Idaho with Nat's family. We miss you but are glad you're getting to spend time there. Hurry home. We hear Greta is starting to turn over!) Leigh Anna drove down from Lynchburg and Megan Lewis, her best friend, came along too. Megan is just like a member of the family, so it was fun to have her there. After dinnner at Outback we went to a nearby Starbucks, then we all headed home in our separate directions. It was so fun being together, though. We'll take the opportunity every chance we get!

Scary Times in Missouri

2007-10-08T17:16:00.000-07:00

We had a few hours to look around in Farmington on Saturday before Matt and Maggie's wedding. It's a neat little town with lots of shops in the downtown area. Right next to our motel a garden center was having a fall celebration with lots of things to do and see. We enjoyed hanging out with Lorraine; she's a good sport and really not a witch. She doesn't even play one on TV, but she was willing to pose beside this tombstone. Natalie, do they have pumpkins this big in Alaska?

Matt and Maggie's Wedding

2007-10-08T17:03:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful weekend we had in Farmington, MO as we celebrated with Bruce's family at Matt and Maggie's wedding. They were married at Twin Oaks Vineyard, a beautiful setting, right among the grape vines. The weather was splendid, if a bit hot, especially for October. But as the sun went down the evening was especially nice under the tent with lots of laughter (who will ever forget Brian's toast to his brother?), wonderful food, and lots of dancing. Maggie was a radiant bride. I hope these pictures give you a chance to see her dress, the setting, the cake and just a few of the special touches. I love fall weddings!

Lots to Celebrate

2007-10-08T16:37:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe, but Bennett is one! We were thrilled to help celebrate her birthday as Danielle's parents and two sisters joined us for a party on Friday before Bennett's birthday on Saturday, September 21.

That same weekend we traveled to Raleigh to see Greta dedicated in the Sunday morning service at Providence Baptist Church. Greta, Adam and Natalie are shown here with their pastor, Dave Horner. We're thrilled that our kids are all part of such an awesome church.

We are all proud of Kyle and the playing time he got in the Liberty football game recently. Here are all four cousins at that game. Katie, Kyle's sister, is a student at Lee University in Cleveland, TN. It was so cool that she was present at the game when Kyle got to go in.

2007-09-24T03:18:00.000-07:00

An Update?

Don't give up on me! I'm trying to be better about keeping our blog updated and after the weekend we just had, there's plenty to post. However, Leigh Anna accidentally took the camera back to Liberty with her. We had some great pictures from Bennett's first birthday and Greta's dedication. Hopefully, I'll get them posted soon.

In addition to the fun grandchildren events, we enjoyed seeing lots of friends at NCA's Homecoming Friday night. Leigh Anna brought her cousin Kyle home with her for the weekend along with two great friends, Julie and Cimber. In Raleigh on Saturday we all hung out with Adam and Nat and their friends Jackie and Jay. (Great dinner Nat!) Then watched the Alabama-Georgia football game. (Not-so great.) Sundays at Providence are always awesome. We truly leave there with our hearts full and blessed.

Check back for pictures soon.

Papa Ward Meets an Old Friend

2007-09-16T17:02:00.000-07:00

What an exciting event for Papa Ward as he got to see a buddy from his days in Korea. They were reunited after 56 years. Go to the link below to read the story from the News Enterprise from Elizabethtown, KY.

http://www.thenewsenterprise.com/articles/2007/09/16/news/news03.txt

Loads of Fun and Celebrations

2007-09-14T18:03:00.000-07:00

Mom and Dad flew in Tuesday for a quick visit and Danielle and Bennett also stopped in for a few days.

With Danielle, Bennett and Grandma Ward and I enjoyed a visit to the Farmer's Market. Bennett is trying to figure out if she wants to take a bite out of this pumpkin. Then we went to visit Ruth Goforth at Brighton Gardens Assisted Living Home. Bennett brought lots of smiles to the residents there.

The main reason for Mom and Dad's visit was the celebration of Ward Tank's 25th anniversary. On Thursday there was a golf tournament with about 150 participants and then a luncheon on Friday with employees, past and present, suppliers and clients and lots of friends of Ward Tank from over the years. I was so proud of Dad as well as Uncle Donnie and Jon. Lots of hard work and God's blessing has yielded a good reward. When Jon introduced Dad as the founder of the company and asked him to say a few words, the DJ started playing the Bama fight song before Dad could speak. At the end of the song most of the crowd yelled, "Roll Tide Roll" at just the right time! What an appropriate intro for Dad!!

Catching Up

2007-09-09T02:54:00.001-07:00

I know, I know. It's been so long since I changed anything on my blog that most of you have stopped checking. Well, I'm back. And we've got some catching up to do.

You'll see that we got the whole Ward gang together again this summer. In the picture of the whole group you'll notice that Scott is missing. That's because he had to spend part of the week in Houston. If we had waited till he returned for the family picture, then Kyle would have been missing. (Kyle DeArmon is playing football for Liberty and had to report to practice midweek of our family vacation.) We did get a picture with Scott and the Renstrom family, as you'll see.

What a great week it was at Isle of Palms near Charleston, SC. Everyone enjoyed the beautiful house that Papa rented. It was actually big enough for all of us (that means 9 Renstroms, 7 Gossetts, 4 DeArmons, 6 Burns, 2 aunts, and Mama and Papa Ward)! We swam in the ocean and the pool, played games, put together a jigsaw puzzle, shopped, laid around and read some good books, played video games (including Grandma on Guitar Hero), enjoyed the babies, ate lots and lots of good food and shared a lot of laughs - just to name a few things! Some of the highlights were the evening devotional times when we shared God's blessings in our lives. We particularly enjoyed hearing about mission trips that different ones had been on during the past year.

A Birthday Dinner

2007-04-14T13:30:00.000-07:00

Two of the ladies who work with Scott at Fort Bend County invited us to dinner to celebrate his birthday. From left to right: Yvonne, Tim (Cindy's son), Scott, and Cindy. Thanks, Cindy and Yvonne! We enjoyed the great time at the Texas Steakhouse. Next time we'll get Scott back in the saddle.

Houston Days

2007-04-14T12:34:00.000-07:00

While out in Houston I visited the Ward Tank location. This site has only been up and running for about a year and a half and already have plenty of work. The shop was busy with 10-12 jobs.
This tank is about 18 ft. high and will clear the bays when it leaves the shop by only 3/4 inch. It's being taken to a customer who's local, but getting it there will still be quite a process. They have to get a special permit, set up a police escort and a bucket truck to lift all the power lines, and follow a 22 mile route designated by the city - all to arrive at a customer located 8 miles away.

One of my favorite things to see in Houston was the Arboretum. In the downtown area, there's a large park set aside as a natural area. Lots of trails circle through the park, and I enjoyed walking through some of them. In the following pictures, notice the turtles on the log. When I first came up to this lake, I heard a splash as they all jumped off the log and back into the water. Then as I stood very still, they came swimming back, one by one and climbed back up on the log.

Easter Weekend

2007-04-08T15:16:00.000-07:00

Bennet enjoyed the new swing. I thought that it might be a bit scary for her, but she squealed in delight the first time her daddy pushed her in it.

We enjoyed a Friday morning breakfast with Grandma and Papa Ward.

Leigh Anna was home for the weekend. As you can see, she too, enjoyed being with Baby "B."

Bennett wasn't too sure what to do with the Easter eggs. Mostly, she had fun dumping them out of the basket.

It was great having Daniel and Danielle in for the weekend. Adam and Natalie stayed in Raleigh because she had her grandmother and two aunts in from Alaska.

2006-11-26T15:57:00.000-08:00

It's time to head back to Raleigh. Bennett's glad she can sleep and leave the driving to her daddy. She told us that she can't wait until Christmas!

A Granddaughter and a Grandpuppy

2006-11-26T15:54:00.000-08:00

Sorry, Moose. This food is for Bennett. Yours is in the kitchen.

2006-11-26T15:48:00.000-08:00

Bennett had her first piano lesson while visiting for Thanksgiving; she also enjoyed her first Thanksgiving turkey.

Thanksgiving Dinner and Nap

2006-11-26T15:36:00.000-08:00

We enjoyed having Grandma and Papa Ward join us for Thanksgiving dinner as well as Polly Way, our neighbor from Twin Lane. And of course, Leigh Anna, Daniel, Danielle and Bennett were with us too! Bennett enjoyed a nap after dinner with Poppy!

Trip to Hawaii

2006-04-18T10:16:00.000-07:00

Top: Diamond Head Mountain from our hotel room. What a view!
Second: On Monday we went to the North Shore and to Waimea Beach for a few hours. We also took in the Dole Plantation while we were on that side of the island.
Third: Celebrating Scott's birthday at Don Ho's restaurant Saturday evening.
Bottom: Leaving for Honolulu Friday April 14. We flew from Charlotte to Houston and then on to Honolulu. The second leg was just at 8 hours.

Tacky Tourist Night

2005-06-30T10:01:00.000-07:00

We all disavow any knowledge of these photos!!

Family Portrait

2005-06-30T09:55:00.000-07:00

Notice anyone missing?

Family Picture Night

2005-06-30T09:50:00.000-07:00

Mom, Daniel & Leigh Anna on picture night

Several pics from the beach

2005-06-30T09:44:00.000-07:00

This is the house next to our condos. Lots of damage from the hurricane last year. On Tuesday we woke up to the site of this waterspout off shore.

Family Vacation

2005-06-30T09:41:00.000-07:00

Our first day there. Daniel & Mom by the side of the new pool

2005-06-12T14:04:00.000-07:00

At this point the crab legs were almost depleted. Hence, the aftermath of shells. However, someone is still busy eating.

2005-06-12T14:02:00.000-07:00

The crabs fight back!

2005-06-12T14:01:00.000-07:00

Leigh Anna doing what Leigh Anna does

2005-06-12T14:00:00.000-07:00

Pam & Frank