Happy St. Patrick's Day

and Happy Birthday to Rob Lowe! (Amazing how some trival facts remain with you!)

In honor of St. Patrick's Day here is a little history:
St. Patrick was born in Britain. He was kidnapped at the age of 16 and sold into salavery in Ireland. After 6 years he escaped and returned home to Britain. While he was home he had a dream or vision of the Irish people calling him to convert them to Christianity. After years of studying and preparation, he returned to Ireland as a Christian missionary. St. Patrick is credited with bringing written word to Ireland. He encouraged the study of the Bible and legal texts. Previously, the Irish relied on the telling of stories to pass on their history.

From www.stpatricksday.com :
This beautiful prayer is supposed to have been composed by Saint Patrick in anticipation of the victory over Paganism. It is also known as "The Lorica of Patrick", and "The Deer's Cry".

I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of the Invocation of the Trinity:
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.
I bind to myself today
The virtue of the Incarnation of Christ with His Baptism,
The virtue of His crucifixion with His burial,
The virtue of His Resurrection with His Ascension,
The virtue of His coming on the Judgement Day.
I bind to myself today
The virtue of the love of seraphim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the hope of resurrection unto reward,
In prayers of Patriarchs,
In predictions of Prophets,
In preaching of Apostles,
In faith of Confessors,
In purity of holy Virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.
I bind to myself today
The power of Heaven,
The light of the sun,
The brightness of the moon,
The splendour of fire,
The flashing of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of sea,
The stability of earth,
The compactness of rocks.
I bind to myself today God's Power to guide me,
God's Might to uphold me,
God's Wisdom to teach me,
God's Eye to watch over me,
God's Ear to hear me,
God's Word to give me speech,
God's Hand to guide me,
God's Way to lie before me,
God's Shield to shelter me,
God's Host to secure me,
Against the snares of demons,
Against the seductions of vices,
Against the lusts of nature,
Against everyone who meditates injury to me,
Whether far or near,
Whether few or with many.
I invoke today all these virtues
Against every hostile merciless power
Which may assail my body and my soul,
Against the incantations of false prophets,
Against the black laws of heathenism,
Against the false laws of heresy,
Against the deceits of idolatry,
Against the spells of women, and smiths, and druids,
Against every knowledge that binds the soul of man.
Christ, protect me today
Against every poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against death-wound,
That I may receive abundant reward.
Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ within me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ at my right, Christ at my left,
Christ in the fort, Christ in the chariot seat,
Christ in the poop (the stern of a ship),
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me, Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of an invocation of the Trinity,
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.

Happy Days are here again!!

Saturday night was the Annual Volunteer's Banquet at church. Each year Ms. Carla comes up with a fun theme for the evening. This year we all took a trip back in time to the Happy Days of the 50's! For some of us -this was our first time visiting this decade. For others it was like rewinding the clock - you know the clock - the one we rock around. We played games, we laughed, we danced, we laughed, we ate, we did silly skits, we had keen door prizes and did I mention that we laughed?

Here are Tom and me as Potsie & Joanie (don't tell Chachi). I love the episode where Joanie had a crush on Potsie. She called him "Dren" - nerd spelled backwards (check it out on youtube). Check out these chicks ready for the sock hop in their poodle skirts!

(L to R: Mrs. Elizabeth, Mrs. Linda, Mrs. Laura, Ms. Pamela, Mrs. Paula, Mrs. Amy & Ms. Carla)

Mr. Linwood so looked his part as Al. Here he is with Mr. Ralph who appropriately was Ralph Malph.

We all had a blast playing "Name that Tune".

Mrs. Laura and Mrs. Cameron did an awesome job creating the working wheel with lights and all!


No trip to the 50's would be complete without a visit from the king himself - ELVIS!! He was "All Shook Up"!

It was a fun filled evening! Wonder what the theme will be next year..........

Spring just around the corner

According to the calendar - spring is in a few weeks. According to North Carolina weather it will start feeling like spring tomorrow. You gotta love good 'ol NC weather. Snow Sunday night, Monday and Monday night - public schools closed because of very icy roads on Tuesday. Temperatures in the teens at night.
Wednesday 45; 27 overnight.
Thursday 59; 38 overnight.
Friday 68; 51 overnight.
Saturday 74; 53 overnight.
Sunday 79.
What a crazy weather week 15 degrees to 79 degrees! Snow boots to flip flops. Turtle necks to tank tops. Long johns to shorts. I kid you not - there will be people sporting spring even summer-like clothes this weekend. I prefer to gradually get there.

Reminder: spring those clocks forward Saturday night. Another sign that spring is just around the corner.

Happy Birthday, Anna Gracen!!!

Today our baby girl turns 10 years old. She is such a blessing from God. Here are 10 things we love about her.

1. Her sense of humor (the girl is funny and quick witted)
2. Her smile
3. The way she makes people feel special
4. That she loves to be around family
5. That she loves to cook
6. How she loves to mother her brothers
7. How she can be a girly girl one minute and climb a tree the next
8. Her crafts and cards that she makes for each of us on holidays and just because
9. Her laugh
10. Her hugs and butterfly kisses

Happy Birthday to our Anna Banana!!! We love you, little girl. You warm our hearts with your smile. We thank God for the blessing you are to us and to others.

We love you,
Mommy, Daddy, Wooten & Christian

Talented People (updated)

I love crafts and I so admire crafty people. I have been blessed recently by some talented people with two projects.

One is my sister-in-law, Jennifer. She printed up the cutest birthday invitations for her stepson and son (my sweet nephews, Jacob and Eli). When it came time for me to order invitations for an upcoming baby shower I immediately thought of Jennifer. She handled all of the details through e-mail and over the phone. The next day she had e-mailed me not one, but two proofs to choose from. I made my choice and had the invitations in my hand the next day. I tried to take a picture of the invitation to post, but they all turned out blurry. I can not post the actual proof because of the personal information. Take my word for it; they turned out adorable!

My next project comes from a talented couple. A friend from high school, Reece, and his wife, Sheila. Reece contacted me (how else? through FaceBook) and asked me to e-mail him one of my favorite pictures. I did not know what to expect. Boy, was I surprised when in a few days the mailman left a box on my doorstep. Here is what was inside:

One of my favorite pictures now saved as beautiful, handcrafted art. I think this is an unique idea and would make wonderful gifts. For more information and to place orders you can reach Reece and Sheila by e-mail at reeced@dishmail.net.

PRICE LIST FOR LASER ENGRAVING

12 X 12 $45.00 (ORIGINAL PRINT)
12 X 12 $35.00 (COPY OF ORIGINAL)

8 X 10 $35.00 (ORIGNAL PRINT)
8 X 10 $25.00 (COPY OF ORIGINAL)

5 X 7 $20.00 (ORIGINAL PRINT)
5 X 7 $10.00 (COPY OF ORIGINAL)

PHOTO ENGRAVING BY:
SHEILA DANIEL
252-299-0052
Or
252-246-9145

Tom had an idea of a picture he wanted drawn and framed. He contacted a friend (Jason) we use to go to church with to take on the project. One of Jason's pictures is hanging in the prayer room at our church. Tom saw a painting Jason recently finished and was very impressed. He is excited to see his idea come together. I will post a picture of the completed work once we receive it.

Blast from the Past

Well the snow is long gone. We had fun while it lasted! Sorry I haven't updated lately. I must confess I have been on Facebook. It has been fun reconnecting with high school and even elementary school friends. We have never had a high school reunion. This year makes 20 years since we graduated. Sometimes it seems like yesterday and other days - it seems like 20 years. Here are some pictures from then. Enjoy! Remember the 80's were all about big hair!


Senior prom picture - my friend, Kemp Lamm

Junior prom date - Keith Ellis (my big dress is hiding his broken foot)

Sherri Whitley (Jernigan); me; Tiffany Cassidy (Heffington); Melanie Cline (Pierce); Sandy Whitley; Tracey Bass (Sinclair); Dawn Thorne and Michelle Legget. Junior Prom.

Picture for the senior yearbook. The big bear in the background (the Beddingfield Bruin) is no longer at BHS. I guess he retired!

Okay we were young'ns when we graduated high school, but not this young. Here is my kindergarten graduating class. Interesting enough four of us graduated from Beddingfield together also (another graduated the next year). How cool is that? Yes, there is a man's knee in the picture. That is my Daddy's knee. I was in a body cast (because of leg lengthening surgery I had) - he was having to hold me up for the photo.

(From L to R: Michael Chad Ellis (BHS '89); Tracey Bass (BHS '89); (yes two) Chad Ellis (Hunt '89); Amy Foster; Douglas something?; ?; Daddy's knee and me; Tracy Ellis (Hunt '89); Gwen Rose (BHS '89); Myra Bass (BHS '90); Mrs. Turpin and ??.

More Snow??

Yes, we have more snow!!!! It is coming down beautifully!! I tried to wake the kids and Tom up to show them, but to no avail. Oh, well, I bet they'll be waking me up in a few hours ready to go out in it. Snow day!!!!!