Sarah and Annabeth's Graduation in St. Louis

 

 

Sarah & Annabeth completed their coursework within a couple of months of each other, so they were able to "walk" at their commencement together.  Such a neat thing for sisters to share.  

Sarah's cap

Annabeth's cap

WGU honored siblings that were graduating together. 

They called them on stage together.  

They actually thought they were twins

Annabeth and her buddy Dallas

Noah and his Peep

Sarah and Dallas

Sarah with David and Kathy

us and our girls

Sarah and Annabeth

Sarah and her family

Sarah and David

Sarah and Hunter

Sarah and Noah who is taller than her

if you graduate in St. Louis, you have to go to the arch

it was the windiest day ever especially down by the riverfront, but we took many, many, many pictures to get those caps under the arch...ha!!!

Me and Dwayne - Orange Beach, Alabama - Fall 2022

This was the first year that I was miserable at the beach.  I just did not feel good in general.  Too many ailments to mention, maybe just old, maybe just overweight, maybe alot of different things.  When we left this time, I was not even sad, I was glad to be getting back home.  

gimme some sugar

I had to sit down a lot.  don't mind our hair, Hurricane Ian was whipping out there in the Gulf.

I can't even figure out who Dwayne is looking like in this picture, ha!!!

 

Annabeth's butterfly tattoo

She wanted a blue butterfly.  Annabeth likes the significance of the transformation of a butterfly.  She decided on one with blue roses.  Rhonda told her about the poem of the Blue Rose that she wrote for Nathan, so that made it even more special.  I think the colors are beautiful.  

 

Sassy Annabeth

The beach really IS her HAPPY PLACE.

don't mind me and my tired looking tail.  I was in a lot of pain this week and unfortunately could not hide it from the camera.  

look at her new butterfly tattoo on her ankle.  

 

Orange Beach - Fall 2022

We had beautiful weather the week we were there, but if you look up in the weather history books, you will find Hurricane Ian that pounded Fort Myers, Florida this week.  Continued prayers for our friends in Florida who are without power and trying to rebuild.   

 

Pookie loves him some vacation

He was getting him some Vitamin D

Have no fear, he figured out the TV quick and got on Monday Night Football.  He had to, the Cowboys were playing.  

 

Getting into Mobile Alabama

Once we come into Mobile, AL we know the beach is not far off.

I always want to snap a picture of the USS Alabama.  I remember as a little girl, maybe kindergarten going to the beach to visit friends who were stationed in Fort Walton Beach, momma made me and Rhonda homemade purple polka dot bikinis.  We stopped and toured the USS Alabama.  Even in my mid 50's, I want to stop, take a picture and send it to daddy.  Even 50 years later, I remember spending that time with him.  

I HATE the tunnel, but it is a necessary evil to get to the beach...either that or that huge tall bridge that I dislike equally as much.  I always think of Susanna (she hates it too).

 

We checked something off of our Buccee's list (I mean Bucket List)

 At the exit off I-10 heading to Orange Beach is a Buccee's store.  It is like the Walmart of convenience stores.  This one claims to have 120 gas pumps.  I believe it.  It was very "People-y".  Lawd have mercy. Needless to say, we did not stay long!!!

look at those teeth.....maybe that is where he gets his name

that is a BUNCH of gas pumps for sure!!!

our hands

Dwayne got me this hand mold set for my birthday.  I love it.  I painted my fingernails pink (of course) then painted it all in pearl.  It is amazing that it looks exactly like us.  I should have tapped it a bit more to let all of the tiny bubbles settle, but I love it just the same.  

 

Sarah & Annabeth's graduation is coming up soon

 Western Governor's University is going to recognize all of the family members who are graduating together.  They submitted these photos.  We are so beyond proud of all 3 of our kids.  Not many parents can say all of their kids finished college.  

Boundaries

 This is something that I struggle with since I am so co-dependent.  It is a control thing or something.  I feel like I am helping, but it is only hurting me.  This was very eye opening.  

Keep Rhonda in your prayers

Rhonda came to my house in June after having a routine screening mammogram and handed me this index card with big tears in her eyes.  She was in for a journey that is for sure.  She has Stage 1B triple negative breast cancer.  She had a partial mastectomy in August and will have chemo from October through December and then radiation 5 days a week January into February.  Please keep her in your prayers as she starts chemo on Tuesday.  

I told her when her anxiety and worry gets the best of her to remember to Calm the Flock Down!!!!

 A friend was going to make a yeti cup for her.  I was sending her the bible verse and accidentally sent the "Calm the Flock Down".  They ended up using both things of the cup.  She likes it, she can use it for whatever mood she is in....ha!!!

Another friend at work made us these shirts.

Annabeth painted this for her.  The pink flamingo was a running joke with her and momma, so they make her laugh.  A merry heart is good like a medicine (Proverbs 17:22).  

 

Annabeth's Diploma came in the Mail

She and Sarah can't wait to actually walk at Graduation later this year in the fall. 

 

Cinderella

This is a tiny version mock up of the Cinderella dress that Austin is making for the Cumberland County Playhouse this summer.  

 

Servants Heart - Take Me Back

"Take Me Back" Click for YouTube link 

I don't post much about our singing because I know I am not the best singer and I probably goof around with Kenneth too much, but I DO LOVE THIS SONG!   Recently, when I went to Hot Springs, I was honestly searching for answers and it was a wonderful time to get away from the distractions of life and just get back to spending time with God one on one.  That is what this song reminds me of.  Click the "Take Me Back" link above the photo to hear the song on YouTube.

Thorne Family 1968

my friend who is a photographer cleaned up this photo for me.  It was an old scanned picture that was really grainy and she restored it so it is much more clear.  Look at ALL of our hair....ha!!! Daddy was still sporting his Marine Corp flat top, Momma believed in the higher the hair, the closer to God, and I am certain Momma had given me and Rhonda fresh hair cute the day before.

 

Dallas lost a tooth

It is sad when Sarah sent me a picture of Dallas and I did not even recognize him.  

this was more like it.  He is just a baby....well he is our baby.  

 

Austin was able to spend time in D.C. this past week

Austin has been a professor at Williamette University in Salem Oregon this school year while the regular professor was on sabbatical.  He has been able to still do community theatre on the side.  He did an opera in D.C. with some of his University of Maryland friends as well as University of Memphis friends.   He has plans for the summer to do Cinderella at Cumberland County Playhouse near Nashville - it should be fun.  Then he is going to Vermont to do another opera there.  Then he has accepted a tenure track professor position in New Jersey, a suburb of Manhattan.  He is living his dreams.  We are so proud of him.