A Bitter Sweet Reunion

Most people don't know that I have family way down south in Miami, Florida. A total of 650 miles away to be exact. My dad was born and raised there.

Wednesday we took a way overdue trip to celebrate the life of a great Pop!

Pop is my dad's father or Joe Bartley or also known Colonel.(more on that later)

Sadly for us, Pop passed away on Monday night, but I can tell you that he is in a much better place then he was.

Brooke, Earle, Mom and I loaded up the car and headed down Wednesday and then finished up the drive on Friday to join my dad who was already there.

The funeral was a time to say goodbye and remember what made Pop such a great person. Growing up with family so far away we visited much less then our hearts would have liked, but I have some very special memories of our trips to see Grandma and Pop.

To begin my dad has 3 brothers, making that a total of 4 boys growing up in under one roof. Someone had to give orders and that happened to be Pop, who soon gained the nickname colonel long before I was born.

To a 10 year old hearing this name it could only mean one thing- Pop was a great colonel in the US Navy, so I wrote a essay on him for my class. Imagine my surprise when several years later I realized that colonel was a nick name due to Pop giving orders all the time.

I also remember talking very loudly to him over the phone. Loud, because he often thought he did not need to wear his hearing aid to hear. When I say talk loudly it was more like a yell. Fun times!

When I made the choice to go to Georgia Southern, Pop was quick to tell me that he had spies watching me while I was away at college.

I also learned the correct way to eat a grapefruit from Pop on one of our visits.


This is the last picture I have of Pop and myself. At 82 he made the 650 mile trip to our wedding. What a precious memory I have of him that day.

I sure hope he had is hearing aid in for God or that he is not giving to many orders up there! We love you Pop and will see you again in time.

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden,and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28

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Yeah for Birthdays and Random Tuesdays

Twenty- Seven years ago this sweet little friend of mine was born. Happy Birthday Meredith!! Wish I could be there to celebrate with you.


Random Tuesday
Teachers like their sleep and after hearing the news that our new work hours would be starting 15 minutes earlier and ending 15 minutes later next school year, a sudden celebration/stress reliever/get away afternoon was planned. The trip took me, Kanada, Amy, and Brittany all the way to down town to talk, eat, shop and we even snuck in a little game of trivia. It was a much needed break and I am thankful as always I have such wonder friends and coworkers!

(P.S.- Check out Amy's new stylish bangs)

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Hurry Up October

Going to see Sugarland in concert October 14!!!!! So excited.

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A goodie but oldie

One of my favorites!

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

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A Week of Family and Friends

This past week has been one with good food, great family, and wonderful friends. Here is a look at the week in pictures!

Thursday

Mom, Dad, Brooke, and Momo let me experiment on them with a new Paula Dean Recipe(Everyone survived)


We even had out door dining!

Friday

A much needed time was spent with these lovely teachers after a long, but fun, field day.

Things got a little crazy, blame it on the heat from field day.

Saturday

Lacy and CJ came to town for a little visit. We got a little pedicure action going on and listened to her brother's band play. So glad to see this one in LaGrange!

Tuesday

My cousin Danielle turned 20. Wohoo. We celebrated with two of my favorite things Mexican food and family.

My grandmother all pretty in pink.

(notice Earle telling the story about his stitches in his hand)

Wednesday

It had been way to long since I got to see these girls. Of course there were stories about teaching and food in the mix. Michelle, Casey, and Allison are my high school teacher friends. It's good to keep people that are in higher places as your friends.

Have a happy rest of the week!
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A Day for Mom!

Happy Mother's Day to all you moms.

I am blessed to not only have a wonderful mom, but a fantastic mother-in-law and three sweet grandmothers.

In Sunday school we discussed how much our family shapes our lives and the point they have now brought us too-how true that is!

We celebrated with a late and delicious lunch at Brooke's cute little house.

There was plenty of yummy food to go around!

And lots of presents too.

This is our first attempt at a family photo, not as successful as I would have liked.

Take two, much better.


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Happy Cinco De Mayo

Tried a new recipe tonight for a little cinco de mayo after party tomorrow and wanted to share. Easy, quick and good.

Mexican Pinwheels

1 block of Cream Cheese

Half a jar of salsa

Chili Powder

Shredded Cheese

6-8 Tortilla (I used 6')

Mix cream cheese and salsa. Spread mixture on tortilla. Sprinkle with chili powder and cheese. Roll up tortilla in wrap and let chill before cutting into pieces. So good! (pictures to come later)
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Greedy Golf Ball Man

Earle turned 27 on the 26th.

I asked him if he wanted me to blog something special for his birthday.

I did not get much of a response from him so I decided to wait until a good idea came my way.

It would not be like Earle if somehow he did not manage to give me a good idea through one of his crazy adventures.

Oh did he ever come through.

Early Saturday morning he and 3 other guys decided to play a little round of golf. After hitting the first tee they discovered that had all hit their ball over the fence around the course and into a field.

Earle nominated himself to jump the fence and get the balls. He located every one's golf balls and then "he got greedy."

As his eyes scanned the field to much delight he found golf ball cemetery. He then began to pick up as many balls as he could hold.

As he reached down to pick up the last ball a flash of black lighting caught his eye. Coming at the speed of Cheetah was a dog on a mission: to get the golf ball man out of his yard.

Without much thinking, Earle took off running and almost cleared the fence.

He did a little tuck and roll action and landed on his back - manged to do some pretty good damage to his hand and leg.

5 stitches later the story is something we can laugh at. I imagine it to be something like the scene from Sandlot when the boys hit the baseball over the fence.

He has claimed revenge on the deadly pup the next time he plays.

So happy birthday Earle and thanks for always making us laugh!
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