Just another weekend of fun down on the PLAINS...

Recently we went here:

and the kids played in the indoor practice facility like it was their backyard 

but, really we were there to watch 

this guy 

do his thing

 TOUCHDOWN AUBURN!

Of course, we saw these guys too... 

and Baby Girl analyzed enough practice runs

until she could not only mimic the proper stretch for the ball....

but also coach up the younger players as well...

watch out guys...she's a woman in charge!  

Really, there's nothing finer than a weekend in Auburn! 

War Eagle!!

....football season is just a couple of months away!!

Super Sweet 16.....

Happy 16th anniversary to the man who makes my heart smile....bigger than ever.  

The Light

Each summer, our little church has VBS, as most churches do, and although it's a ministry outreach primarily for children, I always leave it so very encouraged....and a wee bit tired. But mostly amazed at the faith of kids, the perseverance of our church members (many are older and still trudge right on helping any way they can), the knowledge that can be instilled in such a short time that can last an eternity and most importantly the love shown for the Lord as well as the love shown from Him! Yes, VBS can be an exhausting week long or weekend event, but my oh my the rewards each and everyone participating can reap!!!

It is no surprise then that I chose each summer to include our VBS bible verse as an H3 scripture to memorize. So, here is this month's verse to hide in your heart:

"...the Lord will lighten my darkness."

2 Samuel 22:29

Pretty easy to memorize, but probably a lot harder to allow it to be incorporated in our lives. I adore the thought behind this writing of David...letting God illuminate all the dark spots that are in our journey. However, many times we feel the need to get ahead, to handle the darkness on our own, because we lack patience with God's perfect timing, because we are too stubborn to give Him control, because we are too eager to conform to this earthly world and it's many alluringly dark offerings, because bottom line, our "darkness" can often seem so.very.big. and His light seems but a spec. Bottom line, our faith in His abilities to shine that light to help guide our path is wavering....and that's when we need to seek Him even deeper.

You know what happens when YOU try to overcome the darkness alone? You stub your toe on that coffee table! Flip that switch (read your Bible) turn on that lamp (worship and praise Him) light that candle (pray diligently for guidance)....

It is no coincidence automobiles have headlights. You wouldn't dream of not turning them on when driving down the roads at night, would you? Then why would you not turn on God's headlights for your life....

World of Coke -- TASTE IT!!

Earlier this month while in Atlanta, Middle Child and I visited the World of Coke....and he couldn't wait to get inside the TASTE IT exhibit...to do just that, TASTE the products from all over the world!

I'm not sure that it was his favorite flavor, per se, but he did get extremely excited when he saw one for DJIBOUTI...."Mom, we just studied about the country of Djibouti last week"....cool.  Although, I really think you only remember it because you enjoy saying the name.

Listen, here's my tip of the day, especially for all you folks traveling to Italy.....BEWARE of their drink, the Beverly.  Those crazy italians may like it, but it's not for us. I assure you.

Clearly, I'm not a big risk taker....as the raspberry sweet tea from Spain was my favorite "taste" of the day. And the only one I asked Middle Child to refill my cup with!!

BEHOLD....we finally reached the area that held good ol' American fountain machines filled with our kind of COKES....Middle Child could have sucked the Vanilla Coke pump dry!

Have a Coke and a Smile!

Coach Candice

Baby Girl had her first big experience with the heartache of having to "let people go".  She cried so much one night, I thought we'd have swim to get out of the house.  Middle Child didn't know what to do with her (he's a man with a crying woman in front of him---they never know what to do), so of course, he came running to me and whispered quietly, "she's crying again and I don't know why.  I asked her if she got in trouble at gym practice tonight or didn't do well on a skill or something and she said no, and then I asked her did she get in trouble with you on the car ride home for anything and she said no and then just stared at me with glossy eyes and said in a weepy voice, Candice is leaving." 

One of her gymnastics coaches, who has been with her almost since she began this journey over 5 years ago, left our gym this month.  She has graduated from the University of Alabama (Congrats!) is moving back to her hometown and then getting married this summer (Congrats again!).  To say the least, Baby girl has been devastated, but she's pushing forward, knowing that Candice is cheering her along the way!

Candice is a precious sweetheart, whom we love dearly, and are so proud of and excited for her.  It's just heartbreaking because my Baby Girl was so very attached to her sweet Candice.  Don't get me wrong, Candice could be very stern and strong on Baby Girl during training, hard core when needed.  But has lovingly guided her with full support all along the way!

We love you, Candice!!!!

Family Bed and Breakfast....

No, this is not a post about me pouring the kids a bowl full of Lucky Charms while watching Food Network in my bed.  Although, that could totally be a post on here one day, as it happens, quite often.

We recently took a trip to South Carolina, with a few other lady family members, for a weekend retreat at our cousins' bed and breakfast....better known as The Veranda on Main. 

Some of the Tyner women who were there....several generations.

There are many bedrooms in the house....my mom's favorite colors are yellow and blue, and since we were first to arrive she dropped her bags off right on the spot in this bedroom!  Although it really was a hard decision, as they are all so different but equally beautiful! 

And I would be in big trouble if I didn't include the room Baby Girl slept in with one of her favorite little cousins.  They giggled often behind those closed doors at night....a sure sign of good times.

The lush backyard---which was our view for much of the trip as the weather was near perfect and we just about lived out on the backporch!

• we ate breakfast  there each morning (and it wasn't even Lucky Charms either, it was DELICIOUS homemade food my cousin Linda magically brought forth from her oven!)
• we played cards there in the afternoon....and no one cheated, or maybe they did and I just don't want to say. 
• we ate a late lunch there as well....I'm telling you it was divine.  

All the while, we would gather on the back porch and there we would linger, for HOURS, listening to family stories from years past, or recent ones from the drive over.  In the background you could hear the birds singing....well, you could hear them singing during those few moments when we weren't being so loud with our laughter.  I'm going to tell you, that old saying, "laughter is good for the soul"....it's the truth and it doesn't take but just a minute for our family to spout out a good story that will have you tearing up one minute and then cackling the next. 

I am so proud to be a part of such a family, with deep roots and strong branches....

Thank you to my cousins who were so gracious to host us all piling up for a weekend of fun! And if you are ever in their area of South Carolina....or even if you're not, it is well worth the drive to stay at their B & B.

I'm going to fess up and just tell you that I hardly even took my camera out during our visit....too much fun to get into that needed my full attention!!  But you can and SHOULD TOTALLY go to the website to see the Bed and Breakfast gallery photos and read about it for yourself.  It was also mentioned and described in an article about Abbeville (in the South Carolina section) in Southern Living this month.

The Veranda on Main

What are you waiting for....plan a trip there NOW....and if you feel like you need a traveling partner, call me...I'm always game for a roadtrip with crazies....see:

On your mark, get ready, get set....GO!

Last Friday, my niece was a qualifier in the State track meet finals, and I was able to go see her! She finished 21st in the state in 1A! She is only a 7th grader, competing against Varsity girls in her classification....I can hardly wait to see what she will be able to do in 5 more years as a senior!!!  Where is the next Olympics anyway???? I may need to plan my travels accordingly!

While she competes in many areas of track and field, my favorite and what impresses me most---HURDLES! Although they make it look easy, it's not! Clearly, I would fall flat of my face and eat a mouthful of track for breakfast

Here she is during her heat:

Way to go Banana! We love you and are so very proud of your accomplishments!

Hard working girls...

Finding a stronghold.

I'm going to make this month's devotion short and sweet.  Because really, my ramblings on this blog are nothing compared to the depth you can find in a few short words of scripture to hide in your heart. 

Have you ever had a "day of trouble"?  Honestly, haven't we all.....

I may not know exactly what your trouble is, has been or will be, but I do know an answer:

"The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble;

and he knoweth them that trust in Him."

~Nahum 1:7

On of our kid's bibles says it like this:  "The Lord is good. When people are in trouble, they can go to him for safety.  He takes good care of those who trust in him."

Trust in what the Lord has in store for you, even in the days of trouble.  Seeking refuge in the right stronghold, trusting in the one true stronghold, could prove to be our biggest blessing yet. 

Rodeo night

The family had a fun evenign at the arena for the rodeo, where we saw some sweet bucking broncos and bulls, barrel racers, calf ropers and more cowboys and cowgirls than you could count.