posting outside the pack for a good reason....

Today has been a very busy day. I am packing for our annual Family Summer Vacation, which begins tomorrow, as well as getting ready to receive our out-of-town children and grandchildren that are coming in at various times tonight. The rest will meet here in the morning and we will caravan to Grayton Beach. Each car has a code name and a set of walkie-talkies so we can keep up with each other on the way. It is an exciting time that we all look forward to. We are having a "Green Grayton" this year...as in, sustainably. We intend to make it as environmentally correct as we can make it. I will let you know how it works out!

Anyway, while preparing for all this, I thought about my best friend, my confidante and my sister, Judy. Boy, what would I do without her. She understands me when no one else does and likes me anyway. She keeps me informed about family stuff and most importantly gives me another connection to our Mother, as they live near each other. She has been my glue when my world felt like it was falling apart and she shares my joy as if it is hers. I really like my sister, she makes it okay to be me.

You may be asking, so why all this talk of your Sister? Two reason, one is; I hope we are bonding our family with each passing year that we live and play together. It is so important to have each other to lean on in bad times and to rejoice with in the good. Secondly... Tomorrow is her birthday and I want to wish her everything that is good and the time to savor it all (she stays pretty busy).

So, Happy Birthday, dear little Sister. I've loved your all your life and will continue to do so.

I'll call you from the car on the way to Grayton. :)

Shannon fights for children's mental health funding

http://www.wsbtv.com/video/20217964/index.html

For the last 6 months son and Dr. SSC has been working on getting media coverage on how little the state supports the poor kids at Grady with regard to mental health issues. The above piece was aired last night on the local news and it came out really well. Shannon's efforts produced an excellent result, and the overall piece was very effective.

We are so proud of you Shannon!

Birthdays old and new...

The next two days bring us special reasons to celebrate, that being the birthday's of Molly (28th) and Ford (27th, today!). We got together tonight to share time, love and birthday joy with these extraordinary members of our family. Molly gets more beautiful with age and Ford, at 14 years old, is an exceptional young man!

Happy Birthday you two!

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Now to birthdays old, I mean that in a good way...

This weekend Terrence collected his birthday gift from the SSC family; a tennis lesson from their tenant, family friend and tennis pro, Kristi M.

During his lesson, the family helped relax Grandad by playing together on the next court, while Mimi took pictures of the stamina her young family (and Grandad) exuded in the 95 degree sunny day!

You'll be happy to know that Grandad survived and actually did quite well, gaining confidence that he can participate in this years family tennis tournament at Grayton Beach. Look out guys Grandad hasn't given up yet!

See you at the Beach!!!

Mr. Athletic wins again!

In the off season, Joe has replaced his success in baseball and football for a golf ball! And he plays this gentleman's game with grace and style at the tender age of eleven.

Joe was invited to play in the Atlanta Junior Golf Club Championship (top 40 players from the season can play) at Marietta City Club last Wednesday. He placed 4Th out of the 40 and it even went into a 5 person shootout at the end.

Way to go Joe! You are a winner all the way!

the sound of music...

And this I know...Suddenly, your rocky mountain high is officially over. But you feel blessed and you have to take what you’ve learned on the mountain and put it into practice when you go back down. It all seems wasted unless you can share it with those you love. Well, all of you are out of town and I am sitting here full of the mountain experience. So...I'll give you yet another Mimi slide show and we'll talk together in Grayton. To the other readers of Chatterbox, you read because you love me, my family or I guilt you into clicking on. Well, I wish you too, a mountain top experience like mine, so you can go out into the world and pass it forward.

P.S. I heard the sound of music when I was sitting in that field on top of that mountain. :)

Mimi's Summer Camp for Granddaughters...

Warning, this video is over 7 minutes long. Watch it if you like (and I hope you do) but I made it as a wonderful memory for Emily and Isabelle.

Mimi's Summer Camp just keeps getting better and better each year. The joy of being with these fine granddaughters makes my heart sing, I love the glimpse of youth and hope for the future that I get from being with these wonderful girls. Morgan couldn't be with us this year but luckily she was at Northcroft over the Fourth of July weekend.

I am even more looking forward now to our week together in Grayton Beach. God Bless Mimi's girls!!

Happy Anniversary My Darling

“If I know what love is, it is because of you." Herman Hesse

...and I do know what love is! Thank you for 32 really terrific years and for your unconditional love. Our hearts are bound together...

You are my Forever.

Happy Anniversary to us!

4th of July 2009!

God, Country and Family...doesn't get any better than that! You were all here with us in spirit and I look forward to the next time some or all of us reunite. What a GREAT time!

Freedom

I am ready for the July 4th celebration! Terr is on his way, S C family and T S-C family will arrive this afternoon. We will fill every nook and cranny all the while enjoying the cool of the mountains and creek. Wherever you are this weekend I hope you have a good one and enjoy the freedom of being there! Happy 4TH of JULY!