Bringing in the 80s as we countdown

 

 1980 - Our graceful ballerina - not....  But she is cute.  Mama required us to take piano then allowed us to try other things like ballet/tap, tennis, gymnastics. Dancing did not make our priority lists but we had fun with our friends.  This was probably about the time Karen came home from school wishing her name was Bo, Bill or Ben since it was shorter.  I never understood how she thought her five letters were hard when mine had eight!  Mom and Dad took us to Disney World.  The 80s brought in the shiny silky shirts we both wore for Christmas.

 

1981 - Most family vacations revolved around golf.  We always had nice pools and beaches, too.  This year we visited St. Augustine.  Karen loved wearing her red cowboy hat and riding on her Hot Wheels up and down the driveway at Grandmama G's house.  It's hard to see it in this picture, but Karen has gotten a nice short hair cut.  Several family members even came to GA to see us in our dance recital. That's real family love. 

 

^"4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
⁵ a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;" Eccl. 3:4-5 

 

 

Finishing the 70s with Grandparents and Parents

 1978 Memories - Beach vacation with G Grandparents.  I love the smiles.  Mama and Grandmama actually got in the water with us holding our hands like the ocean was going to devour us.  Karen was knee deep. I'm guessing daddy and Granddaddy were playing golf.  We went to Six Flags as a family.  We loved Easter morning when we got our baskets filled with chocolates, socks and undies before going to church.  We lived Moultrie, GA now and had a visit from Great-Grandmother Minor and Aunt Elsie. 

1979 Memories - Christmas holds lots of memories because we have many pictures.  Each Christmas holiday we stayed with Grandmama and Grandaddy G until Christmas morning.  One Christmas we even saw Rudolph in the back yard.  We were so disappointed our dad missed him because he had something to do on the other end of the house.  Karen's presents were always wrapped in green and mine in red.  We even flew kites after Chistmas.  We also got the chicken pox which we shared with each other.  

¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” ¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest,
    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"

Luke 2:11-14

 

Karen - Daughter and Granddaughter

 1976 Memories - We had moved from Dothan, AL (where Karen was born) to Dalton, GA.  When we came to visit NC, we had birthday parties, including the hats, for us both.  The word Daddy brings lots of memories and even tears especially with each of us having children now and wishing he could meet them. 

1977 Memories - Karen loved to lay on the floor and color - using a cigar can to hold the crayons.  She loved sitting in the rocking chair and Grandmama G's with uncles.  Maybe that's where Aubree got this from.  We visited Grandmother M's house Christmas afternoon where we both helped the adults open their presents. 

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." Heb. 12:1-2

Karen Leigh - Countdown....

    So, my sister is celebrating a special birthday this year. I'm a few days late in my idea of honoring her 40 days until her 40th birthday.  So, I have a little catching up to do and hoping I can keep up.  In addition to celebrating her, this is a testimony to the redeeming and restoring of our sister bond - earthly and eternally. I'm thankful we share in our salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.  I plan to share some family memories and of course I won't embarrass anyone...  Please be patient because I'm not the writer in our family. I do numbers.  I desire for Karen to know how special our relationship is to me.  (I'm not the outwardly sentimental one, so this is a bit out of my comfort zone.)

 

My little sister, Karen Leigh, was born August 13, 1974. 

I don't remember life without her - which is good and bad... 

Mama said the whole time she was pregnant

she told me the baby was "ours", so I wouldn't be too 

jealous when she was born.  Therefore, every time she

cried or needed a diaper change, it was "our baby." 

 

 

     This picture was taken in 1975.  Along with wonderful

parents, Karen and I have been blessed with wonderful

aunts and uncles.  Uncle Jim died when he was very young. 

 Most of my memories come from pictures and

sharing with other family members.  I remember Uncle Jim

being tons of fun and playing with us. 

And he was a huge Carolina fan. 

For you formed my inward parts;
    you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
¹⁴ I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
    my soul knows it very well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
    intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
    the days that were formed for me,
    when as yet there was none of them.

Psalm 139:13-16

Bryce

To celebrate Bryce's birthday....

6/6/01

6/6/02

6/6/03

6/6/04

6/6/05

6/6/06

6/6/07

6/6/08

6/6/09

6/6/10

6/6/11

6/6/12



6/6/13

HAPPY 13TH BIRTHDAY
WE LOVE YOU
 

 

Demonstration Night - Tae Kwon Do

Demonstration Night - Come Thou Fount