What a very, very long time it has been...

Hello my people.
Well, well, well.
Chad's birthday came and went as evidenced by the pictures in the previous post of long ago.
Cole's birthday came and went with no comment from me on this blog but lots of comment and fanfare for real and in person.
Ryan came home!
We all went to a mud run.  Remember, Ryan came home.  Coach or Mr. Crossfit.  The guy who says, "What can we do outside this weekend?"  Yes, Ryan is home and several of us got wet and muddy.  Someone had to sacrifice and stay back with Claire.  That would be me.  I really wanted the special mud spa treatment...under the nails, in the ears, in places I can't mention on a family site.
Thanksgiving came and went.  Extra pounds also came but have not "went" yet.  I see a New Year's Resolution coming on.
Now Christmas is upon us!
So much good living has occurred.
We have traveled to Virginia, North Carolina (twwwwiiiiiccce...such a lllooott of driving two weekends in a row - says the one who snoozes sporadically between such comments as, "Did the speed limit change?" and "Did you see that policeman hiding in the median?" and "Getting a speeding ticket just isn't worth it, is it?" and "I'm so glad you don't speed....you don't, do you?"  I am a very helpful, edifying, law abiding passenger.  Let me know when you need a passenger like me to make your trip more enjoyable.
What was the driving for you ask?  Julia is on a school basketball team that drives all over kingdom come to find teams to cream, slash and burn us!
We played the best team on planet earth in Virginia - Oak Hill.  As my daughter stated, "It was an experience."  We put it in the category of character building life lessons.  We played at a tournament in NC where we won the first game and made it to the championship game.  We played Oak Ridge.  We have decided that it is not to our girls advantage to play any team whose name has an oak in it.  More character building.  And slashing and burning.  But hey, we took home the 2nd place trophy.

Now I've waited a very long time since the news above.  Well, that was all written before Christmas and before Julia's birthday, Claire's birthday, Ryan's birthday, Julia's birthday and Ryan's departure to the nether parts of the world, and we celebrated New Years, Valentine's, moved into our new home, continued to move into our new home and currently are continuing to move into our new home.  Remind me never ever to move ever, ever, ever again!  Unless I can just leave everything behind and start fresh.  But then all the Walmart  and Lowes trips.....let's just stay put for a while like maybe leave here feet first and just be scattered in the woods behind us.  A long while preferably.

We are enjoying our new home so very, very much!  We share it with Julia, Ryan, Cole, Julia, Claire and soon baby Matthew!  Julia, Cole and Claire live in our cold, wet, musty basement.  It's decked out with huge picture windows, full, albeit tiny, kitchen, and plenty of living space and it isn't wet or musty.  And I would call it cool.  Perfect for South Carolina.  The very best part of this house is the people we share it with!  We share meals, germs, noises, pets, precious time together and lots and lots of fun!  This is most definitely a little slice of heaven.

I would put in pictures, but there are 50 trees awaiting planting along a fence out front and I must go out into the field and dream.  I will include pictures another time.  Maybe another 8 months when they've grown a little.  

Love to all my precious people!

A very special day

Hello Chadman!  I'm remembering a very special day.

Twenty-two years ago, Dad and I made a long, rough, long, uncomfortable (for me), long yet greatly anticipated trek to Barnwell Birthing Center.  Dad was genuinely worried that I was going to have you on the side of the road when I asked him to stop part way out there in the middle of nowhere to answer the call of nature!  You weren't calling...quite yet.  A mere one hour after our arrival time, you made your grand appearance!  You were adorable from the very beginning and have blessed our lives beyond imagining.

Party time!  We decorated your birth room with a welcome sign and a friend drove your brothers to join us for a birthday party.  Out came the homemade hats, balloons, cake and gifts for all comers!  Bowing our heads and holding hands we thanked God for His magnificent handiwork and His grace to add another dear one to our home.   We haven't stopped celebrating that beautiful, joyous day.

Dad gave you your first bath right beside my bed while I held your hand.  Your brothers took turns holding you.  Ryan so tenderly and carefully held you while just beaming in anticipation of another buddy to adventure with!  Cole held you close with twinkling eyes and cooed in his little deep, gravelly voice and then proceeded to roll you off his lap when he was through!

I know you've heard these remembrances over and over again, but they are worth repeating and enjoying.  We love you and miss you and are eager to have a family celebration when Ryan returns!    

Have a wonderful birthday my wonderful Chad.  Remember who breathed life into you and gave His life for you.  Be entirely His.

Summer is going, going, going...gone!

Hello dear ones!

So where has this summer gone?  Swim practices, swim meets, swimming, pool parties, a lake visit, one glorious week at the ocean, more pool time, house plans, foundation digging, workout, workouts and more workouts, time with family and friends, watching the cutest baby ever grow and get cuter and of course more swimming!  Yes, my fingers are a bit wrinkled and prune like (not from age...as if you didn't notice all the H2O time, tsk, tsk, tsk).   I'll have you know, Julia's are more pruny than mine.  She lounges daily at the pool pretending to work for hours and hours.  She is ever, ever so slightly tanner than I.  It's hardly noticeable to anyone.  Really.

Once again, my summer has flown by and I'm left asking, "Where did it go?"  It has been a wonderful, event filled season.  All family members have taken trips but Ryan wins the award for longest and furthest from home.  Alright already Ryan!  You won, you can come home now Mr. Competitive!  You have vacationed in that exotic, warm, sandy location way, way too long.

School starts on the 20th for the baby of the family.  Julia is registered for Adelphi Christian Academy AP English and will be starting her college transcript with two classes at USCA as well!  Can you believe guys, that your baby sister is taking college classes?

Now will you all move back home and drive her to class and sit with her while picking your teeth with large, sharp, deadly looking knives and then escort her to Adelphi with the same provisions and finally whisk her home to her mamma who will be waiting with warm cookies and milk?  Ok, ok, more realistically, raw veggies and a fruit smoothie.  For all of you.  Your rooms are ready.  Hurry home.

Yet another water loving Nickell!

Haiti memories.

Beach house fun!

Yes, even Claire swims under water without holding her nose!

I love you all and may God bless you in all you do and may you each be a blessing to all those around you.  "Wherever you are, be all there."  Even though I love it when we're all together, I know God's hand has put us in these different places to do one thing.  Glorify Him.  So, in Qatar, Haiti, Clemson and Aiken, wherever you have been planted, I adjure you;  

Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 4:11

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things

To Him be the glory forever. Amen

Romans 11:36

Blessings,

Dee

Summer....those crazy days

Ryan!  Congrats on passing your board and qualifying so you can now work even more hours with generous 5 or 6 hour breaks in between missions!  Whoohoo!  I am very hopeful the job is more engaging and challenging and interesting even at this breakneck pace.

Cole had a great week at The Edge youth camp at Covenant.  Julia and Claire had a wonderful time in Asheville with her family.  Julia loved spending 5 1/2 days with the Abens in Minnesota.  Nick and I have been toying with house position on a mere 10 acres of land.  So many possibilities...sun angle, road exposure, saving beautiful trees all complicate the decision making process!  How 'bout you Chad?  What's going on in your neck of the woods?

The word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit and of joints and marrow, and it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.  (Hebrews 4:12-13)

A few recent pictures to enjoy.

Love, love, love.

Pops loving Claire!  Claire loving sleep and Pops.

Are we buff or what?  We were certainly sweaty.

Swim meet memories?!  Julia following in her bros' strokes.  Great coach!

We salute you most awesome new father!

Two AMAZING fathers and one AMAZING granddaughter!

Till we meet again.  God bless.

Back from Dinny and Phil's!

I'm so full of poignant memories from my time in Woodstock, VA.  I had a ball with my sisters, my aunt and uncle and my cousins!  Dinny found us a quaint, charming and of course historic bed and breakfast called The Inn at Narrow Passage.  Just a short walk from our rooms, we could stand at the Shenandoah river front where we could see the smooth brown rocks on the river bottom...before the rains came down.  Rain is not scarce there and everything is lush and green.   Jann and I had hoped to tube from the inn down to Dinny and Phil's place...a pleasant four hour float.  But after the arrival of a wild storm we were satisfied to cross the river on a slightly swaying suspension bridge that took us high above the swirling, muddy, angry water.

Dinny and Phil and Greg spoiled us royally.  We thoroughly enjoyed sharing our lives with one another for those 3 1/2 days.  We reminisced, laughed uproariously, cried and loved abundantly.  We shared old memories as well as created beautiful new treasure stores.  Greg was our faithful tour guide and go to man.

Lance came for a visit and shared a meal with us.  I think we may have overwhelmed him with all our hugging!  It was so much fun to see pictures of his family and spend time with him!

Marc and his family joined us for another delicious repast and I finally had the pleasure of meeting his beautiful wife, Wendy, and their delightful and charming children, Samantha (actress phenom) and Connor (soccer phenom).  I enjoyed my time with Marc and his family tremendously.

What a lovely time I had.  I hope we all return to that inviting cabin in the woods one day to share our lives person to person once again.  It was difficult to say our goodbyes but we were planning another reunion before we had even left!

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him?  You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.  You made him ruler over the works of Your hands, and You put everything under his feet.  (Psalm 8:3-6)

I am filled to overflowing with love for each of you my dear family.  

A good closing to May.

May was a beautiful, eventful month.  Our last weekend was filled with fun.  Thursday night we were blessed with the presence of dear old friends.  The Scheffters came to stay and look just as they did when they left umpteen years ago.  I have changed plenty with my hair getting so much lighter (blonder did I hear you say?) and Nick's getting less thick (it has such a positive spin when I say it that way). Barb and Ken look like, well, Barb and Ken.  Soooo good to have them in our home!

Friday, Nick, Julia, Cole, Julia, Claire and I, drove to Clemson to spend time with Chad and Donna and go to the Smalley / Charlton wedding on Saturday!

We played outside, adored Claire, then went out for dinner and got caught in a torrential downpour and hail storm--hail yes! (Said with a slow southern drawl) ; )  After dinner we played cards, talked with Aiken friends and adored Claire.

Saturday we adored Claire from a nice early hour (she slept beautifully!), played tennis, went to the student center and bowled and played ping pong while Julia watched Claire finally get a much needed nap. The people sharing her room, along with several others, had been adoring her to excess and robbing her of essential nap time.  Who would want to hug, hold, enjoy, love on that precious little Claire?

Chad's apartment was next on the list of Clemson sights to see and we were impressed!  What a great transformation!  There is a place for (almost) everything and (almost) everything in its place.  Nicely done Chad.  We all trooped in and changed our clothes for the wedding celebration.

It was a lovely, joyous wedding ceremony with picturesque Lake Hartwell directly behind the couple as they shared their vows.  We had so much fun!  The wedding was God honoring and beautiful and so many in our church family were there to celebrate with them.  Claire was an angel throughout the ceremony and was abundantly adored by many during the reception until she finally fell asleep in Mr. Rabon's arms.

It's been reported that Claire may have been overly adored and is suffering the effects.  She's not quite understanding why, when she cries, she isn't instantly scooped up and adored.  I will have you know that she is a beautifully happy baby who is impossible to resist.  She has the cutest cheeks, lips, fingers, toes, eyes, .....you get the picture.  The adoring continues even when she's not even present.

Soon I leave for another adventure on my own!  I will be joining my three sisters in Woodstock, VA for a reunion with the added bonus of time with my aunt, uncle and cousins!  I will update you with pics when I get back.  Until then.....Lord, Your grace is sufficient for us, for power is perfected in weakness.  May we walk and serve through dependence on Your power rather than our own resources.


Much love to all my dear people!

May's ending already?

Time is flying but it still feels like you've been gone for a long, long time.  It has been so much fun to connect with you on google chat!   I am very grateful for the chats, but I am really looking forward to being face to face again one day.  Until then, here are a few faces to enjoy.

Julia and Dad ready for ballroom dancing but very nice about my insistence of a picture.  Note the article "a".  I actually have about 15 or so pictures of them; same place, same time, same smiles with varying degrees of eye visibility.  Shotgun approach is still best to get that one good photo.

Moses sleeping spot until Zack started barking at him.  Funny cat.  His head was hanging over the edge but Zack was insisting I focus on him.  I didn't.  That'll show him.  He just wagged his tail at me and continued to shadow me.  I really showed him, didn't I?!

Granny and I enjoyed Nick's performance in downtown Aiken with South Boundary.  Please note the zebra bow tie.  Can you keep up with his fashion?  He's a knock out, is he not?  That's my man I'll have you know!

Love my family so very much.  Blessings to each of you.  May God be your consuming passion and delight.

“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.”- Acts 20:24

Hello, hello! Yes, I am still alive and kicking, squatting, pulling up, box stepping....

Hello All!

Since I last wrote.....

Julia washed your truck and it no longer has that lovely golden hue.  So much for team spirit.....Go Navy!

Those plants along the driveway are finally growing thanks to Mr. Green Thumb.

Quite a getup for hard work under the house.

                           

Mother's Day was a day that can only be described with an abundance of adjectives!  I held my beautiful granddaughter for part of a worshipful church service, handsome men and a beautiful young lady served a yummy meal for a table full of excellent company and I received two calls from more handsome men, one of whom resides on the opposite side of the world.  Whew!  I vote for a repeat of that day.

Cole enjoying the celebrating....tremendously!

Julia, sporting a brand new lifeguard certificate!

Thankfully there is no embarrassing picture to record this moment but.....Victory!  Finally, I can do hang power cleans and successfully lift my arms to comb my hair and brush my teeth the next day!  This has made my people very happy.  You know, about the teeth, and I'm happy about the hang power cleans.  Everybody's a winner!

We did have another two guests at our premier workout facility.  One declined our photo shoot due to wardrobe issues but the other guest was more than happy to show her enthusiasm for a tough workout...  Please say hello to our youngest new client, Petra!

One last priceless picture.  Claire was wanting her Mamma and that was that.  Betcha never thought a look like that could be the cutest thing ever, ever, ever, ever!

Enough for now.  Have a great week.  And remember...God will provide all you need if you but trust Him!

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.  To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.  He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.  Revelation: 21:6-7


The Lord is able to keep us from falling and to present us before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy.  Jude 24

Nick graduates....Again!

Can you guess where we are in this picture?  Good old Clemson orange!  Nick is now a graduate of the USNA, USC and Clemson!  He received his Leadership South Carolina degree Wednesday night and I was there to record and observe and be very proud (in a Christian way of course ;) ).


Nick and I drove to Clemson on Tuesday leaving our "little one" in the capable hands of her brother and sister in law (sil).  She had a wonderful time and we did too.  We got to see Chad several times and Donna was a delightful bonus both evenings.  Nick had class obligations Tuesday evening and most of the morning and afternoon on Wednesday.  

That left me free to have a fun dinner in humming, downtown Clemson with Chad and Donna Tuesday night.  Nick then joined us for several rousing games of pool at Peppino's!  I landed some balls in the pockets and a few were the right ones!  Hahaha!  I was hilarious but thankfully it was not recorded for posterity.  Nick showed us all how it is done by handily winning the majority of the games even though his (unnamed) partner put a few balls in for the other team!  Donna knows her way around a pool table and had some very impressive shots.  Chad was a quick study and also had some 'goot' ones.  We had so much fun with them!  

Chad has been bonding with his new, classy car by taking it apart to fix various anomalies.  He and Nick worked together on it and they had good son/car bonding time as well!  They enjoyed the trouble shooting and came up with some good solutions.  The car is soooooo cool--just like Chad! Note the sunroof Ryan! You found a terrific bargain.  I'd say that's a pretty wonderful first car Chad!  You and Donna are planning on a visit to Aiken soon, right?

We're back home and continue to work on house plans.  We've turned them in for hopefully the final revisions.  We are so eager to break ground but will first have to submit them for bids with various builders.  We'll keep you posted on the progress.


God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline 2 Timothy 1:7  I hope this encourages each of you where God has placed you.


Love you all so, so much!