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.