just boring real life

This past weekend was my idea of a good relaxing weekend, but to Ben, at times, it was his idea of horrible boredom.  We basically didn't have any plans & just went with the flow.  Friday night we went to dinner at a great new restaurant in town called Cortlandt's with friends Katie & Jody, Erin & Jess.

Saturday morning Ben & I tackled the yard work 1st thing instead of waiting until high noon heat like we did last time.  After showers we met my parents for lunch on the causeway at R&R Seafood.  I had never been there & it was quite delicious... I had blackened fish & french fries and Ben had a fish po-boy & onion rings!  The rest of our afternoon is where Ben got bored.... relaxing at home & watching TV/movies, taking naps.... ahhh the perfect afternoon!  Then we met up with Austin & Stephanie for dinner at Bimini Bob's and then drinks & visiting back at our house.  

Do you ever feel like your whole weekend revolved around what your next meal was going to be?  Haha...  Anyway, Sunday morning we went to the early church service (9:15) to hear our new preacher and it was shocking how much we got done that day by getting up early instead of waiting until the 10:30 service.  We had lunch/brunch at Cracker Barrel, went to the grocery store, came home & Ben marinated a prime rib for dinner while I made a chicken casserole to feed to the youth mission kids at our church Monday night.  Then we had our usual relaxing Sunday afternoon at home.  Didn't sound very exciting to you?  Yeah, it wasn't to Ben either, he prefers to "go somewhere" on the weekends; I just like to not be working... but at least I'm still blogging about it, right?!  

Speaking of the youth mission kids, a few months ago I joined a Bible Study.  A bunch of friends from high school who live in town & mutual friends from different walks of life all joined together to form a summer bible study & we meet every Wednesday night & are doing a small group book study on JAMES.  It has been an awesome experience so far joining together with these girls & sharing our experiences & the word of God & also doing different mission projects.  Monday night we fed the junior high kids at our church who are doing mission projects all week & then we joined them in worship before taking them around town on a photo-scavenger hunt (absolutely hilarious stuff).  All of our husbands joined us for this project & it was really inspiring.  Next week I am hosting our Bible Study group at my house for the final week of our James study & then we will start something new (maybe a Beth Moore book?).  

Also, I have been wanting to join or start a Supper Club for a while now but needed to get a group together.  We have finally found several couples through our church & are starting our 1st Supper Club this Thursday night!  I can't wait..... boy life keeps getting busy when you get older :)  

... and since then

I keep treating my blog like an online photo album with words.  One of these days I'll actually express some personal opinions of mine of something other than "this is what I did this weekend" or something like that, but for now I'm still in "catch everyone up on what I've been doing in chronological order & include pictures."  That's just how I roll.....

SO... 2 weekends ago, Ben & I had Friday date night with dinner at Wings (romantic huh?) and then saw Grown Ups.  It was a very cute movie & we pretty much laughed through the entire thing.  Then Saturday night was Andrea & Mac's wedding.  We have become friends with them through Austin & Stephanie, but Andrea also used to work at the same place as Ben & goes to church with us.  We had a great time dancing & celebrating their big day (& this is the last wedding we have on the calendar until October! woo hoo)!

the bride & groom

with Austin & Stephanie (both in the wedding party)

Then, this past weekend we left town early, on Thursday, and went back up to Grandmother's house to visit.  Ben worked in Montgomery on Friday while I hung out with grandmother, ate fresh from the garden tomato sandwiches, cooked dinner for everyone (fried chicken, peas, cream corn, green beans, etc etc), visited, dealt with an air conditioner unit that went out on us in the summer heat, picked green beans, okra, cucumbers, & more than a 5lb bucket's worth of tomatoes from the garden, & just really enjoyed her company.  Saturday was the Family Reunion (granddaddy's family, this being the 1st year he wouldn't be in attendance since he just passed away) & we were glad to head down with her & Aunt Cresa, and Ben's mom met us there.  I played the slideshow of granddaddy again for those that had not seen it & we ate SO MUCH of the best home cooked food.

Sunday night, we went by to visit with Ben's other grandparents, his dad's parents, who live in Mobile & were doing very well... before we went over to my parents house for dinner.  Everyone was there & we had a great time sitting out on the back porch, looking at my parent's pictures from their 31st anniversary Road Trip they just got back from, and eating dinner.  Bennett of course was there & cute as ever.  He LOVES his trains:

you can see baby Emory (in Natalie's tummy) here :)

So, now I am all caught up on journal-style blogging!  That's why I didn't blog for a full month (well aside, from work too, which isn't going very well... prayers please). I have a few other random blog posts coming, so don't give up on me completely, I'll be better at regular posts!  I have still been reading & commenting on everyone else's blogs along the way.  So have a great day!!!

Love,

ME

4th of July Destress

After we got home from being at Ben's grandmother's house from Monday- Thursday night, we were sleep deprived & mentally drained.  Originally we were supposed to go to Destin, FL for the 4th with Ben's family but that trip was cancelled.  Ben & I finally decided to go down to my beach house Saturday morning to relax, de-stress, & attempt to enjoy the long Holiday weekend.

We didn't see any oil but did see a lot of evidence of them working on cleaning it up & keeping it out of our waterways!

Natalie, Stephen, & Bennett were down there with several couples of friends and graciously allowed us to join them.  The weather was beautiful, the food was amazing (they had already planned a huge 4th of July cookout & we just got to eat it all!), and of course we swam, laid out, & enjoyed some drinks, too.

The Blue Angels flew by!

and Bennett LOVED them!

3 Black Labs (Harper, Steele, & Travis's dog Sam)= no trouble at all!

Ben & his buddy

Luckily Ben was off work on Monday so we got to stay for a long weekend.  Monday, Ben & I went to Publix on our way home (the best grocery store ever!) to stock up on groceries after being out of town for a week.  And then, Monday night was the biggest excitement of the weekend (I can't believe Natalie left this out on her blog post)..... we went & saw ECLIPSE!  Natalie, Rachel, Ben, & I went & saw the 3rd installment of the Twilight series & it did NOT disappoint.  I'm already trying to see when I can go see it again (for some crazy reason I can't convince Ben to go see it again, haha).

I hope that all of you had a great 4th of July weekend, too!  

(I'm catching up on blog posts!.... SEE!)

Granddaddy

A big reason why I haven't blogged much lately is because Ben's grandfather passed away.  

(dancing at our wedding.... the life of the party)

Granddaddy had surgery on his back & then the Monday after my friend Erin's wedding, we got a phone call from Ben's mom letting us know that he wasn't doing well.  We immediately left Mobile & headed up to see them, but Granddaddy passed away that afternoon, Monday June 28, before we got to the hospital.  

This was very unexpected and to say it has been difficult is an understatement.  However, the celebration of Granddaddy's life over the next week was amazing.  The visitation was Wednesday & funeral/burial was Thursday July 1st & the whole family came from out of town to gather.  

I have been a part of Ben's family for almost 9 years now & Granddaddy embraced me as his very own Granddaughter from the very beginning (I don't have any living grandparents except Ben's since my Granny & Grandfather passed away, as well).  He has been calling me "Princess" since I first started dating Ben & called Ben "Champ" his whole life. 

Ben's Grandmother is such a rock & is so strong after losing her love & partner through the last 63 years of life.  I was in charge of & made a slideshow of all the pictures of granddaddy we could gather together to show at the events.  Everyone loved it & the stories go on and on of what an incredible man he was.  He will certainly be missed & we will forever be sharing stories & memories from his life.  

Cousin Julie & Jerry's son Miles celebrated his 1st birthday on Wednesday while we were all in town so we got together with a cake & sang Happy Birthday.

Smiles & laughs with the kids were a good distraction

Leigh REALLY enjoyed the blue icing

Grandmother & Granddaddy's Flag flying at half mast


Robert Lee (Bob) Faulkner

October 23, 1924- June 28, 2010

This poem from his program truly expresses what I think he would say to us now:

“A Fallen Limb”

A limb has fallen from a family tree.

I keep hearing a voice that says,

grieve not for me.

Remember the best times,

the laughter, the songs,

the good life I lived

while I was strong.

Continue my heritage

I’m counting on you.

Keep smiling and

surely the sun will shine through.

My mind is at ease,

My soul is at rest,

remembering all how I

was truly blessed.

Continue traditions,

no matter how small,

go on with your life,

don’t just stare at the wall.

I miss you all dearly,

so keep up your chin

until the day comes we are

together again.