Finally Florida!

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Our first visit as a family to the gulf!

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A new experience that has become my new favorite!

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 Psalm 95:5, “The Sea is His, and He made it.” ….IMG_2572.JPG

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Sunshine, white sands, and blue green emerald waters

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 My two favorite boys……IMG_2698.JPG
These birds visited us poolside each morning.

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The water was prettier than any sight my eyes had seen

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Or was it the clouds hanging in the sky that my eyes enjoyed most?
“Who cover the the heaven with clouds…” Psalm 147:8

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Celebrating time together

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Blurry photo but a moment I wanted to keep. Nana and Papaw joined us.

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We helped celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary!

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Love to capture my daddy giving a smile!

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 “She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.” Proverbs 3:15 ….IMG_2705.JPG
This evening was so entertaining. We were at Margaritaville’s Landshark.

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We played silly, had great burgers, and soaked up the amazing view!

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“Sunrise, sunrise, looks like morning in my eyes”

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What a wonderful feeling, soaking up the September sun and love of my family!

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Our favorite sandbox…

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Red Fish, Blue Fish

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“…and a time to laugh.” Ecclesiastes 3:4
My wonderful girls, happy and having fun!

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Sweetness
“Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:4

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Always keep this memory, this amazing blessing fresh in my mind!

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Sleepy time equals tent time on the sand!

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Nana and Jack Sawyer lounging by the pool

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What a view while eating crabs!

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I can’t get enough photos and of the evening sun, sky, and clouds.

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Each memory trumps the one before…

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The best place on earth.

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“Love the one’s you’re with”

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Traveling great distances to celebrate family

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Abigail picked one book from the lobby library each morning to read. These were a few of her favorites!

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For our part of a history study, we toured Fort Pickens, saw a lighthouse, hit a trail, and even completed their Junior Ranger Program.

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I hope the “tree huggers” I am raising take part in halting the progression of this devastating fact in their future.

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Signed booklets, patches, and badges, and officially sworn in by the park ranger! A Junior Ranger of The Gulf Coast!

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Back on the sand my little man and me!

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A little football

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Happily running from brother…

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Until she takes a fall and of course in dramatic fashion, just lays there!

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Back at our favorite eating spot Red Fish, Blue Fish to celebrate

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I could drive this road everyday if I were with the one’s I loved

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“O Lord, how great are Thy works!” Psalms 92:5

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A simple message spread throughout Pensacola’s landscape.
Leave the trace of your toes, collect the memories to take with you!

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Although we had to depart earlier than planned, vacation 2014 will remain a reminder in my mind to the work of God’s hand. The view created on our earth where sky, sea, and sand meet for a family bonding more than the days before.

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This day is a gift…
I’m grateful for the health of my family to be able to create these kinds of memories! Grateful for the eyes to see the beauty, and the heart to collect the blessings!

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Sealed with a kiss to the man I love!!!
Thanks for our adventure!!!

 

 

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Goodbye Long Hot Days

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Satisfying summer moments

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Full of play and mischief.

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I’m not sure if I love the puffy white clouds or the amazing blue between them the best…

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Hidden wild flowers growing off the path

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Nana’s girls celebrating pink!

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Love our playgrounds and a view of the city.

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Back at Dollywood with Nana, Papaw, and the cousins

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As always, we have fun celebrating Grandparents!

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The memories made are just wonderful

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You can see, the love is great between these five!

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“Continue to bless my children and grow their relationship as one.”

Butterfly Gold!

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A beautiful monarch butterfly! We didn’t catch it flying around our flowers. We grew it from a caterpillar and hatched it in a jar.
“God changes Caterpillars into Butterflies, Sand into Pearls, and Coal into Diamonds. Using time and pressure, He’s working on you too.”
Rick Warren

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We started with these little creatures which had been hatched from an egg of a mother monarch. We found more than we could care for! We harvested the milkweed plant from outside of our garden. We shared many caterpillars with Nana, Jayden, and Elijah too.

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Stage two is the larva, also called the caterpillar. For about 14 days we fed it milkweed. It ate and ate and continued to grow in size. It made it’s way to top of the jar, secured itself and then dropped down into a “J” shape.

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Stage three is the pupa. The caterpillar formed a hard shell and created this sight. Inside the shell, the pupa changes into a butterfly. This process takes about 10-14 days.
Looking closely you can see specks of gold!

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Closer to the time of revealing itself, the once green pupa turns black. Looking closely you can see the outline of the wings within the pupa.
“The caterpillar does all the work but the butterfly gets all the publicity.” George Carlin

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The fourth and final stage is the adult. It emerges wet and wrinkled.
A miracle in front of our eyes!

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As it’s wings dry, tiny veins filled with blood allow the butterfly to grow larger as it prepares to fly.

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“What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, THE MASTER calls a butterfly.” Richard Bach

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“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

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Amazing cycle of life

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Off to the warm South you will fly…free to be…

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