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.  

 

What was to have been our Jamaica Vacation

We had a Sandals Resort vacation paid for to Jamaica, then it got moved several times during the pandemic.  At the spike in Covid-19 around Christmas 2021, we finally decided to just stay in the states.  We wanted somewhere tropical and needed to use our plane tickets before June, so we decided on Panama City Beach.  We had not been there since we first got married.  It was nice to just get away.  

I thought of my friend Linda.  She likes the beach, but hates the sand.  This was perfect for her.  

what was special about this picture is we were standing watching the sunset and he took the picture of us himself without us posing, we were just watching the sunset.  I thought it was sweet. 

the water was so clear

pink one day

gold the next

 

Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally - PCB

Unfortunately for us, we did not know that it was Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally Spring Week when we were going to be there.  The news projected 60,000 bikers there that week.  It was so loud.....I cannot even begin to tell you how loud.  It was like a weed-eater, hedge trimmers, lawn mower and leaf blower going 24 hours per day.  Bikes were every where and probably 75% of parking spaces were coned off for bikes.  2 nights we just opted for fast food because it was so crazy.   I realize that complaining about it really is a "first world problem", we were on vacation at the beach, when so many people in the world don't even have clean drinking water, but I digress.  

Our condo was at the Majestic Resort.  Our bedroom wall was on the walkway facing the Beach Blvd.  This bar was right across the street from our room.  Did I mention it was loud.  In fact, we slept on the Sofa sleeper in the living room some.  You could still hear the motorcycles, but not quite so loud.  

this was just the first row of our parking garage.

 

Baby Birds at Panama City Beach

this momma built a nest on our balcony in PCB

there were 2 little eggs.

they switched shifts occasionally.  it was so sweet. 

this tiny bird looks awful in this picture, but she was moving.  We never saw the other egg hatch.

this little fella was bringing some crackers over.  We didn't put the crackers out, so they flew them in to the momma.

God is amazing.  

 

Sarah & Annabeth are both graduating from college

We are super proud of Sarah....she might have taken the long way around, but she did it with 3 little boys, a husband, a full time job and church responsibilities.  

And Annabeth worked hard too, especially during a global pandemic, online was the way to go.

They are both graduating from Western Governor's University with Bachelor's Degrees.  They will get to march together in St. Louis later this summer.  It will be neat to see them graduate together.

 

For the Servants Heart guys

Annabeth found this shirt............she says I say this all of the time, especially to Dwayne, Jeff and Kenneth.  When those guys get together, they "ain't right", but Jesus loves them.
 

My favorite picture from Hot Springs - Lake Catherine

 

Inspiring Videos from Hot Springs, AR

Down in the River to Pray 

God is my strength

Heart of Worship

 I am Not Alone

When you are Tired Run TO God

When He Calls You, He Equips You

Thomas O'Malley - the Alley Cat

Late one night  Annabeth decided we could watch a movie.  The house had Disney Plus and Hulu.  She found a movie that was a horror/thriller.  About 5 minutes in, I could not STAND IT.  I was so scared.  Even the music was scary.  She said I don't think anyone dies, so we watched the trailer, ummmm, no ma'am.  Not after dark, without your daddy here to protect us.  We ended up watching Aristocats....my pick :o) 

we named this little stray kitty Thomas O'Malley, the Alley Cat after the hero in Aristocats ;o)

she loved him and worried about him the whole time, that he might be hungry or thirsty.

 

So many things reminded me of Momma

Momma would have LOVED this porch swing on the dock. Plus the boat dock was welded together and very sturdy looking.  I kept thinking I hope this thing can hold me up :o)

momma hated picking up gumballs

there were dogwood trees all around - they were her and Granny's favorite flowering tree.  She loved a pin oak tree for shade.  

this was in the front divided driveway - it reminded me of Granny's pink dogwood.  This was not a dogwood, but still reminded me of her. 

momma even had ceramic bunnies in her flower bed too.

 

We even watched Ellendale on Youtube Sunday morning

look at my Pookie - one thing that has been consistent about him, I guess his whole life, he is not going to miss church and he LOVES the choir. 

Palm Sunday Services, EBC

 

Lake Catherine - Hot Springs, AR - VRBO 1145982

VRBO 1145982 - 1333 Ackers Drive, Hot Springs, AR