Veterans at the flea market

We stopped at a booth at a North Carolina flea market and bought some stuff from a Vietnam vet. After we thanked him for what he did for us and our country, we talked to him for a while. He had been in for quite a while and out for 20 years. He told us that he really missed it which surprised us until he said that you got real close to the people that you serve with and that he was still having trouble fitting into the real world. He mentioned getting into the selling antique glass business by mistake with some one that he met "at the place that you go when you get depressed. Soon, he realized that he loved the business and that he was good at it. Just then a WW II Vet walked slowly by and he ran around his counter and shook his hand and said, "now this is really the man". The man quietly told us that he was in Normandy on Omaha beach on D day and that the Lord had been with him that day. He said that he was 18 when he enlisted and that when he was 20 and wanted to marry over there, he had to get permission from the Army....and his mama. We Asked about his family and he had children, grand child and great children and great great grand children. I thought of all the the generations that would not have been born, if he had died that day. I asked if he had told them his story and he said that he had a notebook folder with the newspaper clippings , reports and information that surrounded that day in history. I wish that I had a tape recorder and could talk to him all after noon. Soon another Vietnam vet showed up and shook hands with our older gentleman. showing him all the respect that he deserves, the greatest generation. I told him that I hoped his family listened and understood. He told me that the problem that he sees today is lack the of discipline and respect. He told us that if he had come home and said that he got in trouble at school... after he picked himself off the floor, he would have been told to respect his teacher. He also seemed sad that we do not honor our vets by celebrating Veterans day or Memorial day. Mark and I felt honored being with 3 of our American hero in a flea market in the south. This is why we travel.

Holiday work week

Last Tuesday, Mark and Drew picked me up from bible study and headed to Savannah to take Drew home. We made it back this week just in time for the kids to eat supper Monday night and for me to make it to our last bible study this year. When we are working, we eat in the hotel, the R.v. or the van. We decided that we were taking December off, so this was a holiday-buying trip. We stayed in Myrtle Beach for two nights in resort hotels for unbelievable winter rates. We walked the beach and swam in indoor pools and relaxed in the Jaccuzi We watched the sun rise and set from our 21st floor room and kept the window open to listen to the waves. We tried to go to auctions, but never found a good one. So, we bought a lot of stuff one item at a time. We went to flea markets, thrift store and antique malls and yard sales in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. Mark calls this grunging it out. We ate hotel breakfast and shopped right through lunch. Every night we found great places to eat. We ate appetizers in one place and another for our meal. We ate at a local, family own seafood place with a sweet waitress named Lisa. This place great decor including one of those signs with arrows that pointed in every direction including cities,the ocean, heaven and hell and great cook. We ate at a crab shack and then an Italian restaurant with an singer with a pure voice that we really enjoyed. We stopped by a raw oyster bar for Mark to eat raw oysters and sat next to people who knew Moultrie folks. We found a German place and ate what we ate when we were in Germany. We had Chinese food and Japanese sushi and on our last night we met his sister in Statesboro at a Greek restaurant attached to our hotel. It is a tough job, but someone has to do it.

November 30th

When we travel, we seldom know the date of the week or the date or even what city we are in. However last Wednesday, I knew that it was November the 30th when we checked into a South Carolina hotel because it was Clint's birthday. There was a bible open on the table. I picked it up and noticed that it was turned to proverbs 30..so I read it. The next morning, I asked the clerk if they did that on purpose and he said no, it must have just happened. Another God wick from God and a reminder to read proverbs daily according to what day of the week it is.

55

Today I turn 55 years old. I would like to thank every one that sent me messages and called to wish me a happy birthday. I did have a happy birthday. I started out by playing tennis in Thomasville. I practiced with the team today because I am to sub for the league tommorrow. Mark went with me and walked while we practiced. The team is blessed with a very good coach. The team welcomed me back with open arms even though we have travel so much, that this is the first time that I made a practice all year. We met a lady in Thomasville and sold her a whole set of dishes. Then I asked Mark to take me by Rayanns Christian book store. We ran into a very close friend that we have not seen in a very long time and visited with her in front of the store. We headed to Monticello which is where we have merchandise in a very cute store. We spent time with the owner and got a better idea of what she wants and got a check for items sold. We ate outside at a nice sandwich shop and then shopped around in local antique stores. Glenn and Barb called, so did my kids and the computer made that noise all day that said that I was receiving happy birthdays. We made it back to Thomasville where Mark talked Holiday Inn into letting me clean up and change clothes for my night out in Thomasville. Mark was so sweet that he would leave me until the girls showed up for our all chocolate night at Liams. Anna, Becca and Carrie joined me for this little culinary adventure. It was great spending time with my girls. Wish that Sara could have made it to make the night perfect. I had a very happy 55 birthday.

A little bit more

When Olivia wants more juice or milk, she looks at me sweetly and says she wants a little bit more, showing me with her fingers how much. At nap time or bed time she cuts her eyes at me and says that she wants to sit in my lap for just a little bit. She climbs in my lap and we cuddle.. sometimes she falls asleep in my lap. Sitting around the fire with granny and granddaddy, she likes to get a pillow and lay across both of our laps. Mark likes to say to her,"you are in the safest place you can be......Late at night or early in the morning when I first wake up, I love to spend time with God. Just a little bit of time, praying, praising him, thanking him, listening to him and feeling his love. Sometimes times I feel his love so strong that I feel like I have climbed into his lap...the safest place in the world. My prayer for you is that you feel his love tonight and in the morning, and every day. Don't just go to Him when you have a prayer list of wants. The next time that you have a little bit of time, just spent time with the one who loves you most.

typical Tuesday

Went to bible study and picked Olivia up from preschool. She went to our ladies lunch and then we picked up Becca and Riley. Grand daddy and Olivia took a nap, while the kids watched a movie. Next we went to dig sweet potatoes and squash, saw honey bees and went fishing. Olivia counted the potatoes as she picked them up and throw them in the box. She fished and picked up and dropped worms when they squirmed. They all played outside until supper time. Becca and Riley are so good with Olivia and she knows that she is just as big as there are. After supper, we did a fire in the pit and roasted marsh mellows. Then, Olivia "helped" me sweep and wash dishes. Becca and Olivia took a bath in the big tub. Mark and Riley stayed out side until bed time. Some how, we also managed to clean house and packed R.V. I love fall weather, no gnats, no mosquitoes and fall fun.

expo

Expo week is here. Expo is known for having all seasons in one week. Monday afternoon, we set up in shorts and summer weather. Tuesday, it rained all day. Wednesday, it cleared up and was very windy and cold. Who knows what tommorrow will bring. So, why do we come out here. To meet nice people and see stuff and to hear things like this, " does any one have a hog scrapper." Really, a hog scrapper, I've never even seen one....... and Bobby had one, for 2 dollars that he sold it to the elderly gentleman who is going to use it. So come out to Jimmy Allens Antique and storage and see what else we have out here to buy.