Lordy, Lordy LOOK WHO'S 40!

Turn up your sound. The first 3 songs that you'll hear are songs that remind me of my brother Brad in some way. Enjoy!


My brother Brad turned 40 today. He is a New Year's Eve baby. I can't make too big a deal about it because if he's 40 I'm not too far behind him. Yep, Brad and I were a year and 9 months apart and I can remember doing all of the fun stuff kids do together. We would go down to the creek and catch crayfish, ride our bikes up to 7-11to get some nickle and penny candy, compete with eachother on our "Atari 5200", go swimming at the pool at Dad's apartment and then take a break to make a "Steakum" sandwich and shoestring french fries. We did a lot of stuff that I would guess most every other siblings that are close in age do. One fond memory I have in particular, is when we would cook up the perch we caught from the pier at Morgantown on our little Coleman stove. Also, there was that one time when I picked a fight with a kid down the street and Brad took up for me. It was the classic case of "no one can pick on my sister but me!" And boy did we have our share of fights....ahhh, the memories. LOL

Well, I just wanted to give a little "shout out" to my brother on his big day. Happy Birthday Brad. I love you.
Love, Lit

Jesus Jubalee

Charlie is an "Oompa-Loompa"

Act! For Youth, which is the theatre arts section of the The Arts Council of Wilson, will be performing the play "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory." Charlie and Levi auditioned for the play this week. Levi thought that the audition alone was the final act. He thought it was great just to be in there with all of the kids and singing his little "Speed Racer" song. So when his name wasn't on the cast roster we told him what a great job he did, and we just left it at that. We were so proud of him though!

Charlie, however, did land a part in the play. He will be joining the 9 other boys and girls doning their green wigs and orange faces. Yes, our son will be an OOMPA-LOOMPA! GO ahead.....take a minute....sing the song.....you know you want to...lol
If you need a little help remembering the words, I have posted a video below to help you out. Enjoy! Oh yeah, you will have two chances to come out and see the play, as they will be performing for two weekends. The dates are Feb 25th through Feb. 28th and March 5th through March 7th. Also, make sure you pause the song that is playing on our playlist before you watch the video below.

"Elf"

So I was watching the movie “Elf” last night and there was a scene in which Elf (Will Farrell) says, “I just don’t belong anywhere”. At this point in the movie, this poor Elf had just left his home in the North Pole with Santa and all of the “real” elves and was now looking for his biological father in New York City. Anyways, what struck my heart at that particular moment (and yes I did tear up when he said it) was how often so many people feel just like that; like they don’t fit in no matter where they go.

I was kind of meditating on that today. I thought of how people will do just about anything to fit in. They want to belong to something. They want to be a part of a body of people who see them for what they really are. Basically, they just want to feel loved and accepted. Have you ever felt this way? I think we all have at one time or another…..

Well, before we started school this morning, this thought came up in our devotion time. I wanted the kids to understand that this feeling of rejection will indeed come up in their lives if it hasn’t already. But what I really wanted them to grasp and hold on to, was the fact that God will never make you feel like that. No matter if everyone in your family, your friends, your husband or wife, your boyfriend or girlfriend, your church (yes I said church, sadly) comes against you, God never will. He is always FOR you and if He is for you who can be against you?

Just remember that today, “If God is for you, who can be against you?”…….and if they are against you…..does it really matter? You have the King of kings and the Lord of lords on your side.

Merry CHRIST-mas!

We have a Black Belt in the house

Today we all drove up to Richmond, VA for Charlie to test for his 1st Degree Black Belt. He has taken Tae Kwon Do at Dong's Martial Arts for almost three years now, and after much hard work and practice he has earned his Black Belt. We are so proud of you Charlie.

As part of his test he had to break three boards


Charlie with his new belt


Charlie and Noah with Grand Master Dong, 9th degree black belt and founder of Dong's Martial Arts.


All the Black Belts from the Wilson, NC School


Grandma Judy, Uncle Brad, Aunt Lisa, and cousins Emily and Noah all came down from Maryland to see him test for his belt.

Charlie's first football game

Last Tuseday, Charlie's team had there first game, it didn't go to good with the final score of 26-0. But Charlie had a good time during the time he played and the team had a great practice the next day to try and get everyone clear on thier positions. Next week is another game.

Lindsey walks for life

Lindsey raised money and walked in the Walk for Life event in Wilson, the event raised money for the Wilson Pregnancy Center, will have some photos when we get them developed.

Laura's B-day blessings

Well, last week I turned 38 years young. I had a great birthday. Cam and the kids got me a whole bag of my favorite things. They took me to Starbuck's, then out to eat and then we cruised the strip in Wilson...lol (that would be the Wal-mart parking lot) A little later, we all made little piggy's out of ourselves while scarfing down a Carvel ice cream cake (another one of my faves). I love my little family. They make me so happy :)

I also love my sweet friends. Amanda and Carla are two of my very special friends. They both planned a get together for me complete with a pan of brownies, two tubs of ice cream and a great time of fellowship. Thanks you guys!

Carla's gift to me was "The Word of Promise" which is a beautiful reading, if you will, of the Bible. Jim Caviezel plays the voice of Jesus as he did in "The Passion of Christ". Richard Dreyfus as Moses, Gary Sinise as David, Jason Alexander as Joseph, Marisa Tomei, Louis Gossett Jr., and over 600 actors contributed to this timeless work. It has really blessed me. I have started listening to it while riding my bike and keeping it playing in my ipod dock just so it can be playing all the time! If you are looking for a great Bible on CD, this is the one to get.
Here is the link: http://www.thewordofpromise.com/

Amanda's gift to me was a VIP ticket to the Aaron Shust concert in Raleigh. It was actually called "Chris Sligh's Back to School Tour 2009". Wow what a night it was! We got our "PRAISE ON", as Kirk Franklin would say it. Merideth Andrews and Andrew Witt were also there. It was not just another concert. It was a night of worship. Our girls went with us and it was so refreshing to look over and see Lindsey and Anna Gracen lifting their hands and praising God. I especially loved that part! One other part I loved was when Chris Sligh started to sing the old Bon Jovi song "Living on a Prayer" and Amanda and I looked at eachother and started belting it out. Then Amanda said PROM!! Oh, us 80's girls are a trip!

You can check out pictures and more info about each artist on Amanda's blog here: http://www.doughertysdigest.blogspot.com//

Oh yeah, turn up your volume on your computer and you will hear one of my favorite Aaron Shust songs "My Savior, My God" also Chris Sligh's "Empty Me" Meridith Andrews "You're Not Alone"

Charlie starts tackle football

Last week Charlie started tackle football with the city recreation department, he had three days of conditioning practice, although I think these practices were more intended to weed out any of the kids that were going to give up. The practices were not hard, but they were enough to make the kids know that they would have to put forth some effort. Last Friday we went and picked up Charlie’s gear; helmet, pads, pants, and mouth piece, these are all provided by the Wilson Recreation department.
So this week full contact practice in full gear started. Will update more later with pictures (have to wait for film to be developed- the digital is in for repairs)

Happy Birthday Laura

Today is Laura's birthday, more details of the day to come along with photos and video. We are getting ready to goto Starbucks, Oh what fun.

Having some coffee at Starbucks


Happy Birthday Huggs from the kids

Lindsey and Charlie get baptized

Matthew 28:18-20
Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave His charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: GO out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the three fold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I will be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up till the end of the age.”-The Message Bible

Today Lindsey and Charlie were baptized; this is something that we have discussed with them for some time now. We have explained that this is a public demonstration or there salvation and an act of obedience. The Fulford family has allowed our church to perform baptisms in their pool for many years with the stipulation that afterwards the filters would need to be cleaned! (Wouldn’t want all that sin to clog the filters now would we) LOL
We are confidant that this decision that they have made will become more significant as they grow in the Lord and realize His cleansing power.

Pastor Eric reads a scripture and says a prayer before the baptism


Mr. Eddie baptizes Charlie


Mr. Eddie baptizes Lindsey

Testing Laura's text to blog setup <!LAURA G.!>

One Love

One Love....one heart....let's get together and feeeeel aaalright.

I love it. I was out riding my bike the other day listening to my iPod shuffling through about a thousand songs and this one by Bob Marley came up and just made me smile and sing so loud that I'm sure if anyone heard me they were in disbelief that someone with such an unrefined voice would be singing so boldly and so LOUDLY! (Sorryaboutthatbigrunonsentencelol)

Anyways, I just love it. I know, I know 'ole Bob was probably flyin' high on some wacky weed at the time, but come on, you've just got to appreciate the lyrics for what they are. The man was spiritual. I'm not going to get into the whole Rastafarian theology discussion, but I will say that 'ole Bob had it going on in a lot of his songs. Exodus, Jammin. Redemption Songs...just to name a few. Anyways, we haven't updated the blog in a while so I thought I'd post some of my random thoughts! Enjoy MON!

One love,one heart
Let's get together and feel all right
Hear the children crying (One love)
Hear the children crying (One heart)
Sayin', "Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right."
Sayin', "Let's get together and feel all right."
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa

Let them all pass all their dirty remarks (One love)
There is one question I'd really love to ask (One heart)
Is there a place for the hopeless sinner
Who has hurt all mankind just to save his own?
Believe me

One love, one heart
Let's get together and feel all right
As it was in the beginning (One love)
So shall it be in the end (One heart)
Alright, "Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right."
"Let's get together and feel all right."
One more thing

Let's get together to fight this Holy Armageddon (One love)
So when the Man comes there will be no, no doom (One song)
Have pity on those whose chances grow thinner
There ain't no hiding place from the Father of Creation

Sayin', "One love, one heart
Let's get together and feel all right."
I'm pleading to mankind (One love)
Oh, Lord (One heart) Whoa.

"Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right."
Let's get together and feel all right.
(Repeat)

On our way to get Lindsey a ferret, oh my what have we allowed to happen

Independence Day 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHARLIE!!!!!

br>We had Charlie's party yesterday but today he is 9 years old.

Charlie, you are one funny boy. You are just like your daddy when you break out in random song and "beat-box". The dances that usually accompany the songs are priceless too. You make us laugh boy! You have always been so full of joy, even when you were a little baby you would play peek-a-boo with perfect strangers and make them smile and laugh. I especially love your "koala" hugs that you still give me. I will take them as long as I can lift you up! We love you so much son and pray that the joy of the Lord will always be your strength.

Here are some pics of Charlie and his buddies at Chuck E. Cheese

Today Charlie had his party for his birthday at Chuck E Cheese <{:-]CG3>

Almost home, we have made our traditional stop at South of the Border (at the Border of North and South Carolina) to take a break from driving and act touristy.

today we are northward bound, headed home, just quick stop at Fenandina Beach to pick up Papa and then I-95 here we come.

Happy 85th Birthday

Today its a ferry ride and a drive to Amelia Island to visit Grandma Patsy for her birthday, 85 years young. HAPPY BIRTHADY GRANDMA!!!!

History and Science

Today we went to the Museum of Science and History in Jacksonville, and on the way it seems the cars heater coil is leaking, bypassed for now, its all good.

A special post to remember all those who gave their lives in service to our country and our way of life, they will not be forgotten.

Lizards and turtles and snakes oh my

Another sunny day, pool in the morning beach in the afternoon, lots of lizards, turtles and a snake, but hey this is Florida after all. No gaters yet.

Beach day

Sunny Sunday in Florida, warmest dryest day yet, spending most of the day at the beach, now it's starting to feel like a vacation, if Levi would only sleep late.