Anniversary Weekend ~ 34 Years!!!

PopPops and I took a trip to the beach ~ Atlantic Beach.  We only live about 2 1/2 hours from the beach and when the kids were home, we would make it to the beach quite a few times throughout the Summer, but since they have been gone, we don't go as often.  We went this past weekend becasue we celebrated our 34th year Anniversary.  We had a great time.  We have some wonderful friends that have a place at Topsail Island Beach, that offered us their place for the weekend.  We drove down on Friday night...I got off early and we left about 4:30pm...it does not matter what we do, but it always takes us longer then 2 1/2 - 3 hours to get to the beach...but this time we had traffic to contend with on I-40.  Once we made it past the traffic we had smooth sailing.    PopPops and I usually eat pretty healthy, but not this weekend.  We stopped at Sonic in Jacksonville and had a burger, fries and a Cherry Dr. Pepper.  Then we had what is considered their blizzard...it was all yummy!!! We finally got to the beach around 8:30 or so, enough time to take a nice stroll down to the beach and smell the wonderful salty smells and hear the waves. 
There are about 3 couples from our church that have places right in that area...they keep saying we need to buy a place...We hope to one of these days!!
Saturday was a beautiful day...our Anniversary day.  We slept in...ate breakfast...had to run to get a few items at the grocery we forgot to bring with us...came back, ate lunch...decided to go Jet Skiing...now that was so much fun...PopPops drove and I rode behind him.  Then we went out onto the beach and went boogie boarding, which wears you out...the waves were perfect for it.  We stayed out on the beach until about 6:30pm...I love the beach at that time, when the sun is on it's way down, but not quite going down and it is just so peaceful...folks are heading in for dinner, so there are fewer folks out on the beach...I could have stayed another hour, but PopPops was getting hungry.  We went back to the house and changed out of our bathing suits and cooked dinner...we had brought steaks to grill and broccoli to steam and a sweet potatoe for dinner.  It was a perfect Anniversary dinner. We could have gotten all dressed up and gone out to eat for dinner down at the beach, but it was so much more fun to not deal with all of that and just enjoy a quite evening.  We then took a stroll down to the beach and over to the intercoastal waterway by the pier and walked over to the ice cream store and got ice cream and listened to the live music and then went back to the house for the night.
Sunday was another beautiful day...we went to the intercoastal waterway side and sat at the pier for about 45 min and and listened to the sounds around us...we then took another walk down to the beach and them came back and had breakfast and just relaxed for a bit...we had to be back in Raleigh by 3:00pm because good friends of ours were having a graduation party for their son, Nick. Congrats! 
Remember how I said we didn't eat the healthiest this weekend...on our way back to Raleigh we bought a big bag of peanut M & M's and stopped at Sonic in Jacksonville again and got another Cherry Dr. Pepper and a large order a Tater Tots to share...and that was our lunch...I know it was really bad, but it was oh so good. 
PopPops and I talked about how hard it is to believe that we have been married for 34 years, because it does not seem that long ~ I guess when you are so much in love time does not matter???  We did realize that so much has happened in 34 years. We are so happy we found each other 37 years ago at Forest Hill Christian Church in the youth program.  PopPops had been at that church for a long time with his family and my family started going there when I was a junior in high school. (We both went to the same high school, but met at church)  PopPops and I started dating when I was a senior in high school and he was a junior.  Oh how I thought he was so cute with his sweet smile with a dimple in one side and his dark curly hair AND he was taller then me!  We were the sweethearts at church...and have been sweethearts to each other ever since.  How I love my sweet husband...so kind and loving and there is nothing that he cannot fix or nothing that he cannot make.   He has been a good provider and great father and now a great PopPops and always my very best friend and I am so thankful that my Father in Heaven chose him for me.   I love you with all my heart PopPops.  I hope to spend 34+  more years with you. 

First Week in June

NC has been really hot this past week.  Up in the 90's already.  But Nana loves the hot weather.  I am cold natured and the hot weather does not bother me.  Yes, I do get hot, but some people I know really do not like the summer months because of the heat, but I love it. 

This week was a short work week and it seemed to fly by.  I received really great compliment at work this week.  One of my co-workers IM'd me and said that she enjoyed working with me, and that I was a great example of Christ in the workplace.  This is the best compliment I could have ever received.  I sometimes feel inadequate in my example, but I do strive to always live to the best of my ability like Christ.  I am a sinner and I do faulter, but when someone says that they are watching...it makes you want to strive even harder...but isn't someone watching all the time....But anyway...it was a great thing for someone to tell you they noticed.

PopPops and I have eaten dinner a couple of nights this week out on the patio...I am indoors all day and I love to eat out on the patio...we have a large umbrella that we put up and a fan that we turn on.  It is quite pleasant.  I would stay out there all night, but the bugs get to bothering PopPops and we have to come in...they never seem to bother me at all.  PopPops says it is because he is sweeter then I am. :)
June is a busy month for my family for Anniversaries.  Today, my sister Nancy has an Anniversary ~ 16 years.  Tuesday, June 7th my sister Pam has an Anniversary ~ 37 years.   June 11th is mine and PopPops' 34th year Anniversary and June 13th was my Mom and Dad's Anniversary (could have been 50 + years) ~ they are both deceased, and  one of my nephews Jason, has an Anniversary in June as well, I think the 22nd.  PopPops and I are going away to the beach for our Anniversary this next weekend.  We have friends that have a place between Atlantic Beach and Emerald Isle.  We are going down on Friday evening and will stay through Sunday.  It is a great place and we love it there.  Thank you Dave and Anita.

Nana has only gotten to skype with Carter and Colemam this past week a couple of times because of my schedule and their Momma's schedule and because of them sleeping.  But when I have they have been so cute!!!...Carter and Coleman both can say Nana...melts my heart...Coleman can say Bye Bye and Carter will clap his hands and put his hands up to his face when his Mama sings "If you're happy and you know it".  Just precious.  They are changing alot right now...even from when they were here to this past week, they have shown changes.  Nana and Pop Pops love you Carter and Coleman!!

I teach the 4's & 5's Sunday School Class.  Today I had a larger group then normal and we had a great time. We learned about the Holy Spirit coming to the disciples at Pentecost with the wind and the fire...after Jesus had returned to Heaven.  I love to hear what they have to say and how they perceive things. Sometimes they are more attentive then others...today was an attentive day.   I have a great group of kids and I so enjoy it.    Little children are so adaptable.  Maybe we should learn to be more like little children as adults...hmmmm.

Cupcakes...big thing nowadays...I have found a great cupcake place...GiGi's in Cameron Village...they have a large selection and they make great gifts.  If you live in the Raleigh area, go check them out...if you need an idea to give someone to brighten their day, birthday, or for any special occasion, GiGi's has it...they box them in a cute single box, which makes gift giving perfect.