Memory Lane....

Yesterday we packed up the big black van and headed 3 hours towards the midlands straight to Shaw Air Force Base , Sc. Hubby and I lived there our first 3 years of marriage, from 1996-1999. When he finished his 4 years, we packed up the truck and the 2 kids we had while stationed there and headed straight back to Ny. We had our fill of military life and were ready to blend in as civilians. Little did we know the impact that those 3 years would have on our marriage and our hearts.

Our solid foundation was set within those base walls and the south crawled in our hearts.

Going back was bittersweet. Walking the streets felt like we never left, yet so much has changed and all new faces were abound.

We sadly discovered our old base housing and neighborhood had been knocked down. All that remained were a street that resembled ours and small driveway entrances. It didn't take long for us to find where our home once stood. We knew the area well. It was where we left our hearts.

We walked our land and reminisced about the years. We oohhed and ahhed at how big the trees had gotten and "walked" thru our front door. We drove past the empty plots of land where our friends homes once stood and walked the weed covered sidewalks where I walked Emma in her stroller as a baby... almost 13 years ago.

We also took the girls by the hospitals where they were born and the base lake where Hubby and I would go for late night strolls and fish together. How funny it was to go back and see other young couples doing the exact same thing.

Before long it was time to head back to the upstate. We were ready!!! Even though that place holds a special place in our hearts, we have given our heart to a new home. A place we know we belong and a place that God wants us to be.

Last night after all the kids were in bed and I was all comfy in mine, the tears began to roll down my cheeks. I couldn't explain to hubby why. I didn't want to go back, I didn't want to move. I am happy here, but seeing my life knocked down and grassed over hurt me so. I stared at those pictures for a long time and could envision life as it was. My neighbors, my friends, our mailman waving hello.... all gone. Nothing but overgrown weeds and small concrete blocks where our driveway entrance once stood.

Today I am better. So happy to spend Mothers Day in my little red house. My flowers are blooming and my home oozes love. I don't plan on moving ever! The thought of more of my history being destroyed kills me.

ONE thing is for certain though, life brings change and the only thing constant in this world is just that!

Road Trip!!!

I have so much to do today and very little time, but I knew I had to share with y'all that the family and I are hitting the road!!! Just for the day but hitting the road none the less. We are all excited and can't wait to get where we are going but first... cooler must be packed. Yummy sandwiches and treats must be made and the van needs some cleaning and gas!!

We leave before the sun comes up and will be home late at night. My bestest extended family will be hanging at my little red house so it doesn't get too lonely without us.

Where are we going you ask??? Well what fun would that be?? I'll give you a hint, its where it all began... where our foundation started and where I most certainly will shed some memory tears tomorrow.

Leave your best guess and make sure to come back on Sunday to see all the pictures I will be sure to post. Im so excited...EEKKKKKKKK

It Really Is!!!

Last week the kiddies and I packed up our big black van and headed downtown to see the Greatest Show On Earth. I think half the town and all the local schools also joined us for the show. Traffic was crazy and I paid a small fortune to have front parking. 1 huge van+ 5 kids and 1 mommy= parking nightmare, so I happily handed over the money and walked right in!

My fears were calmed and my kids easily fell in line. Everyone had a partner and everyone stayed close.

We easily found our seats and sat back and enjoyed the show. I don't think our eyes could have gotten any wider. The show was truly spectacular. Every last child was amazed at the stunts, the pretty costumes and of coarse the elephants.

During intermission we all stopped for bathroom breaks (where we bumped into friends=) and headed back to our seats. On our way, I was able to meet one of my readers who recognized me from my blog. Her name is Melissa. I wish I could have gotten a picture with her but my camera died. I was impressed she liked my blog enough to remember who I was and I enjoyed meeting her husband and her adorable baby!

The circus ended just in time for lunch and we headed home. My kids are already counting down the days till next year, when the Greatest Show On Earth comes back to town!

Where In The World Was GapGirl?? Pt 1

In the happiest place on Earth of coarse! Last week we packed up our big black van and headed south to Orlando for a week of fun, indulgence and good ol fashioned family time. We surprised the kids and boy were they thrilled!!!

There is nothing like the Magic Kingdom at Christmas to really make the season bright!

The ride down was a bit different. Here is a quick synapse :

3:35 A.M- We pull away from our little Red House for the 8+ hour car ride...

4:00 A.M- Molly asks if we are there yet...

4:05 A.M- she asks again with a little less patience...

4:15 A.M- Daddy threatens to turn around if they don't stop asking...

5:30 A.M- Abigail wakes up screaming that she wants to go home...

7:30 A.M- Molly insists we are driving way too long ( we all agree)

and so on and so forth...

By noon we were all bonkers. Road rage was in full force, kids were on a permanent quiet time and if we had to hear one more kiddie movie my brain would of went permanently stupid! I silently prayed for our safety as GapBoy vowed to shove our van in certain Florida drivers rears... you get the picture don't you? Well if you don't then you obviously have not road tripped with 5 children... one of which suffers from a "mild" case of anxiety/ocd... ( can you guess which one?)

But thru it all God is Good. Just when we were all about to leap out of the moving vehicle, our beautiful resort appeared before our eyes. We checked in, kissed and hugged all of our family who awaited us and let the kids run and run. "be free..." we yelled and then went on our merry way.

Our suite was a 900 sq. ft. 2 bedroom villa and we made use of every square inch.

After a couple hours our road trip adventures were forgotten and we were ready to begin our vacation.... with the kids we loved =)!

YesterYear

Yesterday we packed up our big black van and headed far away to yesteryear. We visited an awesome southern plantation with some other homeschool friends. Before embarking on our journey we turned to the internet to supply all of our history needs.

Walnut Grove Plantation was the home of Charles and Mary Moore c.1765. They owned over 3000 acres and was a complete self sufficient farm. They raised their 10 children on the land and are buried on the property in the family cemetery.

What caught my interest the most was their eldest daughter Kate. At 15 years old she married a patriot soldier and lived very close to her childhood home. She worked as a spy! She was a heroine of the American Revolution. One famous story includes her tying her infant to the bed while she ran off into the night to warn her husband and his troops that the british were coming... saving them.

As we toured the upstairs of her childhood bedroom, we learned how the upstairs beds housed more patriot soldiers until a small battle took place right on the property. Bloody Bill Cunningham and his Tories came, hunted and killed those soldiers down. They were buried where they fell which later became the cemetery. It was Kate, who rode fearlessly, to warn the soldiers that the tories were coming. Greatly outnumbered, they succumbed to defeat.

As I strolled the property with my kids, I was amazed my the peace that surrounded us. It was a perfect fall day. A perfect mix of chill and sun with leaves coming down like snow. We walked the actual wagon trail and strolled thru the family herb garden. The afternoon was humbling. A place so filled with history and American pride, lost between subdivisions and shopping centers.

I chatted with another mom that was there. I was amazed that this family, Irish immigrants, held such fierce loyalty to their new country. If only we, as Americans, held that much pride and passion for freedom... How great our country could be. The South is full of history. Stories that you will never find in school books. Stories that would be lost unless you went and searched them out. Stories Like Kate Barry and her bravery. A love for God and Country is an amazing combination. Back during yesteryear, men and women risked everything they lived for, to protect what our ForeFathers started. Today, sadly, things are quite different.

I've always said, its a good thing our patriotic heros are dead, or they would see that what they dies for was in vain....

Our day in the 1700's was amazing. I think I enjoyed it a bit more than the kids. My camera died right away(thank God for cell phones) and many bathroom trips were needed but the day will go down in our history!!

This is only the beginning of many plantation visits. In the gift shop, we bought a map of every historical site and one by one we will go. We will visit, we will learn and we will remember.

Welcome Fall

We welcomed the cool weather last week by having a field trip to a different playground. My kids had never been to this one before but when our big black van pulled up... we invaded!

Its a great "old fashioned" wooden playground that is meant to really spark a childs imagination. Its HUGE! It has secret passages, towers and more towers, stairs, bridges, swings, tires, monkey bars... you name it. All 5 of my kids ran around playing games, making up characters and just being kids. It was great to watch (and join in) I found myself climbing the high towers and overlooking the "kingdom."

Once I was able to coax them across the way, they performed a wonderful hand puppet show for me in the little theatre and played with the musical instruments there.

Pretty soon it was time to pack up our big black van and head back to our little red house. The groans and moans could be heard for miles. I promised them we would return, in the meantime they still chat about the wonderful day they had!

A Country Kind Of Day...

Today we drove up to the mountains of NC to the Apple Festival. The ride was breathtaking!!! The mountains, bridges and gorges were so refreshing to see.We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves as we drank fresh squeezed lemonade, ate caramel apples, funnel cake and saw many hand made wood crafts. Quilters were there, knitters, wood carvers... It was great. The highlight of our day was listening to THE HUNT FAMILY FIDDLERS. They were a large traveling Christian Home schooled family who played amazing blue grass music. I have a video I will upload shortly. Their CD will definitely be purchased!

We toured a cute little mountain mineral museum, saw a dinosaur egg and amazing gems from all over. Before long it was time to take the shuttle back to our car and head home. The kids were exhausted!!! Everyone but hubby napped for the ride home. All in all it was another day I thanked God for living in the south!

A Hiking We Will Go...

Yesterday we woke up bright and early and headed to the mountains to do some hiking with the kids. The weather was just beautiful! Very un-July like. The morning air had a crispness to it and the shade was just lovely. We took full advantage! A picnic was packed in the trunk and off we headed. The kids were so excited to see the state park.

The trail was a pretty easy one. A little over a mile around the lake. We started slow and will eventually work our way to more challenging trails. We explored trees and watched turtles sun bathe on rocks. We listened to the birds and enjoyed the nature that surrounded us.

Our appetites quickly grew and we settled in for some sandwiches and fruits and then headed to the playground. The day was awesome. We hope to hit another bigger mountain and bigger state park in 2 weeks. This one includes waterfalls we can swim in. =) How exciting. I can't wait!!!