Since May of 2008, we have seen many of our old Tanton Memorial Baptist Church Friends.

In May we went to FL to see Dan’s two younger sisters walk and receive their college diplomas.  Then the next day, Lillian (the youngest), got married.  While we were down there we got to see some friends at our church down there.  Though we didn’t go to the church, as they have had troubles since we left there in 2002, we did get to see some of our friends.

We went to church with Pastor Bill and BJ McNeely, Luis and Amber Roman, and Charlie and Monica White.  It was wonderful to see all of them again and to see Luis’ little boy.

Bill was the pastor of the first church I ever joined and Dan worked there for a total of 5.5 years under him. 

Luis was a PCC boy, who finally married Amber a PCC girl.  They had dated for while, and then didn’t, and then did and finally got it finalized with “I do’s.”  Luis, Frank, Dan, and I hung out while in college. 

Charlie had attended PCA while in grade school and he when he came to the church ran into all of us PCC people.  He said he had no idea that PCC people could be so much fun.  He ended up meeting and marring Monica who attended TMBC with her family.

Then in the fall while, I was trying to teach Anna, Dan called and told me that there were a couple of people down at the church who wanted to see me.  I told him that the house was a disaster, but I guess they could come.  Since he said that he was bringing them out, I figured that these weren’t church people.  So I got to cleaning up the living room so we could have a place to sit and talk.  Well, who should arrive?  Peggy Moore (now Peggy Graham) and her husband Otis.  Peggy was Anna’s “grandma” down in Florida.  Peggy loved to hold and spoil Anna while we were down there.  [We moved from FL when Anna was nine months old.]  Peggy and Otis did stop by once and stayed a few days with us up in New York State.  This time, we had no idea that they were coming and they stayed in the prophet’s camber, since our guest room was not set up yet.  It was good to see them again.

Later on, while Dan was at a preacher’s meeting, he ran into the father of one of our other TMBC friends.  Dan found out that our friend had had some struggles in the ministry and wasn’t currently in any ministry and lived a few hours from us.  So Dan invited him and his wife to come down the church.  Nathanial Hill was a music man and Dan had him do some specials for us.  We were hoping to have them move down here and work with us.  Nathaniel was just looking for a non-ministry job for awhile and then working in a church (without pay).  We thought that we could be an encouragement to them while they were an encouragement to us.  But they decided not to move down.  It was nice to see him and his family.

Then in January, Joel Simkus (who also worked out at TMBC) and his family came and stayed with us about 10 days as they ministered in the church.  Joel is on his way to South Africa as a missionary.  It was a blessing to have Joel and his wife here.  Their son had fun playing with our dog and with Anna.

While Joel was still here, another PCC boy who worked out at TMBC, came by for night to see us and Joel.  Frank DeVries had been down in south Florida, but had just returned back home to NC and he wanted to see us and Joel again.  Frank also gave us a visit up in New York State. 

Tough we haven’t been to FL for a little under 6 years it was nice to go back and then to have old Tanton Memorial Baptist Church people stop by and visit us.  It is always nice to see old friends again.

Sunday, Joel taught the Jr. Church children and was pleased to find out that again they weren’t as rowdy as the Monday night group.  Sunday night Joel and Kelly sang a special for the church.

Monday was a day off for everyone as we slept in and then went down to the NC Aquarium.  Joel treated us to brunch at Cracker Barrel before we went down.  We thought that with schools being out for the holiday and people still having to work that the aquarium wouldn’t be that busy.  Boy were we wrong!  After we got there we found out that it was free to get in that day.  I guess the aquarium has two free days (Veterans’’ Day and Martin Luther, Jr. Day).  Though it was beyond full there, we had a good time.

Once again, I took the time to play with my new camera.

(seahorse)

(diver playing around with Anna)

(starfish -- used micro mode)

(crab)

(yellow violet -- used marco mode)                                                                                                                                               

(water dropplets on grass leaf -- used macro mode)

(rattle snake)

(Anna playing in the water)

(Anna playing in the water -- used continues shot mode)

The Simkus family came Saturday evening and went right to work on Sunday.  On Sunday morning Joel resented his ministry to South Africa and then preached and during the evening they went to another church to present their ministry.

Monday, Dan took them for a walk into the woods and down to the river.  Little Wyatt got to try to fish, and he had a great time though he didn’t get a bite.  Later that day, we took them to the Moores Creek Battlefield.  Though we had been there several times I took my new camera out to try to out.  It was fun playing with the camera.  Here are some photos with my new camera I got for Christmas.

That night, the Simkus family and Dan went to church to work with our Monday night children’s program.  Joel was to give the devotion.  They all came home looking very exhausted.  Our Monday night program is made up of our bus children and they are a handful.

Back in college, during Dan’s and mine sophomore year, Dan had to change rooms.  There was a room of 3 guys who had run off their APL (assistant prayer leader) and Dan was moved into the room to be the APL and to keep an eye on the boys.  These three boys were 6’ 10”, 6’ 9”, and 6’ something.  The two tallest were brothers.  And the 3 of them were trouble.  Dan didn’t spend much time in the room.  He hung out with me, because what he didn’t know, he couldn’t get into trouble for.  I remember when Dan moved in there, I told him not to make them made because they would squash him like a bug (Dan’s only 5’ 6”).

While Dan was in Seminary he went to the church recruitment at the college.  He had worked at an off campus church for the past 2 or so years and he went to hand in his card to work at the church again.  While he was there, he saw the 6’ 10” guy and was wondering why on earth he was there.  You see this guy was an art major in undergrad.  Dan went up and talked to his old roommate and found out that he was now a majoring in Bible and he was Seminary.  Dan invited him to his church, which he did.

We found out later that this guy got right with God and went to the deans to tell them what he had been up to and he thought he would be removed from the school.  But the school allowed him to stay and even made him a floor leader so he could help catch other wrong doers. 

Joel, for this was his name, had changed a lot from when Dan was his roommate until when Dan met him again looking to work at a church.  Joel, Dan, and I all worked at TMBC for a year together and the change in Joel was genuine. 

I’m not sure how they caught up again, but Joel and his wife (6’) are heading to South Africa to be missionaries and Dan invited them to come to the church to present their ministry.  Joel’s family stayed at our house for about 10 days.  When we moved down here we stayed in the prophet’s camber for about 7 weeks, and I knew it wasn’t fun with a little one.  So I told Dan that they could stay here as long as they new that I was still going to home school Anna, that we had a kitten and a dog.  It was nice to have them around.  Wyatt got to play with Anna and with our dog. 

While they were here, I mentioned to Dan that if he would help me watch their son so they could go on a date together.  So, Dan brought it up and they went out on a date while they were here.  They returned the favor, which was not necessary, and they watched Anna so we could go on a date.  They even gave us some money to go out with. (I was not comfortable with this as I’m used to giving missionaries money, not them giving me money.)

Dan kept Joel very busy while they were here, but we also took some time off.  We took them out to Moores Creek Battlefield and the Aquarium.  And Dan took them fishing out in the river, though they didn’t get a bite.  I’ll post some photos in later posts.

Mother’s Day is almost here.....oh, did you forget?  Let me tell you of a wonderful place to buy her a gift that she will love (even if it comes a day or two late – it would be worth the wait).

If you haven’t gotten her anything yet, you should try Stone Heart Farm.  They sell handmade soap, body butter, creams and lotions, bath salts, bubble bombs, lip lubes, body balm, toner, wax tarts and bath melts.  They even have gift baskets.

I have used their soap and some of their other products – and all is good.  In fact, every lady in my family got their Christmas gifts from Stone Heart Farm.  I have even sent out Valentines Day gifts and thank you gifts. 

Every woman loves to be pampered in the shower and in the tub.  I never was one to paper myself, because of cost; but you know what – I’m worth a specialty soap bar.  The bar lasts just as long (if not longer) than the store bars and they smell better and our better for your skin. Of course, I’m the only one that uses it – poor Anna and Dan have to use the store bought soaps.

So, what are you waiting for?  Click here and get something your mother, mother-in-law, and/or your wife will love.