Living from the Heart

The Auction I mentioned in the last post that we attended the auction at the Yacht Club, it was a big success.  I'm not sure what the total amount raised was but I'm sure it was a few thousand dollars.  Rob and I got into the bidding action and ended up winning a peal and Swarvoski crystal necklace made by a local woman.  It was kind of ironic seeing how I just visiting the Swarvoski store when I was in Charlotte.  The overall night was a lot of fun, we got to get our adult time in and visit with our new found friends and the boys got a chance to play with their new found friends too. My pretty necklace my love won for me at the auction Sailing I'm so excited that the boys are sailors!  Christian and Nathaniel are enjoying their lessons.  Where Nathaniel was a little slow to start, Christian picked it up quickly and has a lot of potential to excel.  I think as in all things, they are complete opposites; Nathaniel would like to feel the bree...

18 or 81 We got news earlier yesterday of approaching snow back home.  My grandma said the low was going to be 18, the temperature here was 81! It's bitter sweet for us to be here especially when my husband provides snow removal there in the the winter months.  He was in quite a panic and pacing for some time last night.  It's also been hard for Nathaniel knowing that his friends are out of school and outside playing in the snow, it is one of the things he misses most.  He also likes cool weather, he must have warmer blood than I do! New Arrival Rob's mother, Ann is here with us now.  We took her to Limon Beach yesterday and went out on the boards, laid on the beach, and picked up sea glass and Chaney.  Today,  we are finding a little bit of a slower pace, hanging out at the house, doing some home school, and enjoying the wonderful breeze.  Later the boys will have their sailing lesson and we will have some adult time at the Yacht Club. ...

Good Bye to a Good Man A lot has happened since my last entry.  I've already made a trip to Virginia and back to attend my grandfather's funeral.  My first memories of my Pop,  Ernest Adkins are fond.  He was an intelligent, talented, creative, and hard-working man.  He played the fiddle and I remember him playing "Pop Goes the Weasel" and begging him to "do it again, Pop!" until his fingers were sore.  Pop was known for his fiddle playing, wood-working, story telling, and being the sole provider to my Grandma Helen and their six children. "Pop, you are going to be sorely missed." Love, your 'lil' girlfriend', Chelle My grandparents Family Love Despite the sad reasons for being there,  there was good to come from the trip, and good lessons about the love and support family brings.  At one point before the service, Pop's family and loved ones were all gathered in a circle for prayer, after the prayer, Kenneth McCoy, th...

The Beach Is That Way We started off this week by trying some new beaches.  We visited Cramer Beach which has a lovely view of Buck Island, soft sand, bathrooms, and covered picnic areas.  The beach is well protected by reefs.  We read that the beach was well used on the weekends, we went twice, once during the week with Kim and once this weekend with the boys.  It was pretty sparsely populated both times. Day 1 at Cramers Beach: Buck Island in the distance. Those our my toes. :) Queenie A Pelican waits for us to leave his fishing spot. Self pic on the paddle board.  Day 2 at Cramers Beach Boys will be boys I added the sea fan Sweet Lil' Than Sweet Model Christian Big Sweet Boy Dashon Mystery Vacationer... It seems that there are not a lot of visitors on the island right now.  Well, except for one really well known one, who I believe is my neighbor.  I only say that b/c the Secret Service is camped...

The Gift of Life Here on the island there are many gifts; warm weather, new experiences, sunny days, new friends, time together, ....just to name a few.  Often times we look to the Christmas season as a material holiday.  I, like many others, have fallen into the wrappings and trappings of gift giving and receiving.  This year we wanted to keep a little of the old and infuse a lot of the new.  As our awareness grows and values shift we begin to learn what is really of value.  While it's important to let children be children for as long as possible we also want our children to appreciate that everyday is a gift.  We want them to begin to see the little moments in life that often slip by unnoticed and begin to see them for what they truly are, gifts. I am so thankful and so blessed.  Being here has helped me realize what loving and wonderfully diverse family and friends I have in my life.  I appreciate each one of you for your individualism and ...