Catching up...

Well, I was visiting with someone recently and not wearing makeup. The lady said, “Oh, my goodness! What happened to your face? I don’t remember you ever being freckled before!” (The tone was one of disapproval.) I explained that the medication I had taken for headaches over the last couple of years had caused my skin to be extra-sensitive to the sun, and thus, I had broken out with a lot of sunspots on my face.

I would have been quite saddened by the lady’s comment had it not been for Cherish just days prior telling me she loved my face. When I asked Cherish why she “love[d] my face”, she said I was looking more like her—tan. (Her interpretation of my sun-spotted face = a tan.☺)

Derek took me to a store that sells cosmetics, and we inquired about getting something to lighten my spots. (He knew the two stories above.) The lady told me I could not purchase anything due to the fact that the creams enter the bloodstream and can be harmful to anyone whose blood has a tendency to clot. She recommended a dermatologist.

So, off I went to the dermatologist for the first time. “No big deal,” I told myself, “it’ll be so fast and easy, and I’ll come out of the office with a cream that will help….”

Unfortunately, the doctor cared little for the sunspots but noticed something else. So, she decided to biopsy a spot on my face. I was not expecting that at all!

So, here I sit with a hole in my face ☺. So, if you see me and think I look even stranger, oh well. So be it. Maybe, for now, I can pretend it’s a dimple ;).

On a more joyous note, last night our church body met at the beach for an old-fashioned picnic and beach baptism. What an uplifting time of hearing testimonies of God’s work and grace in the lives of those who were baptized!

It is times like this that I am overwhelmed by the love and bonds our church Family holds.

Blessed beyond measure,
Julie

Summer Get-Away

This summer we took some time off to go to Stone Mountain, GA and spend time at the state park. We really enjoyed ourselves! (So much so, that Cherish keeps asking to go back.)

Here we are on top of the mountain. What a view!

 The stone carving:

The Memorial Carving on the side of the granite mountain is of three Confederate heroes from the Civil War: Confederate President Jefferson Davis, General Robert E. Lee and Lt. General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson

We took the cable car up the mountain (since we knew Cherish couldn't make the climb up.) However, we all walked/slid down the mountain. Derek and I have climbed it before--and it's addicting! I SO longed to climb it again, but I didn't want to go alone or take Cherish along. Perhaps next time when Cherish is older.

 Atlanta in the way-far background:

 Derek and Cherish's heads peaking over:

 Rock climbing--Julie's favorite sport:

 A second time that day:

Our days were filled at the park climbing their "sky hike", playing miniature golf, swimming, train ride...and watching the laser show on the mountainside at night. We had such a blast!

Then, we went to Atlanta for a day. Here we are at their children's museum.

 Playing store:

 Fishing:

 

Dress-up, tap girl:

 Cooling down at the Olympic Rings Park:

 Then, off to Tennessee to visit Derek's Great-Aunt LaVeta.

 

 Playing at Aunt LaVeta's house:

Cherish hid a Play-Doh container at Aunt-LaVeta's house as a gift to her, but no one has yet been able to locate it. She hid it so we couldn't take it home--to ensure Aunt-LaVeta would have something to play with after we left. A month later, and Aunt-LaVeta still hasn't found it.

Well, as you can see, I am back to blogging. My camera has been located, but I don't yet have it in hand.

A very full schedule

Well, I'm back for now. Our lives have been so full and will continue to be full for a while longer. We continually find things to be thankful for--no matter how "minuscule" the detail may seem to others. Each blessing and answer to prayer is a big deal to us.

We have been given so many wonderful opportunities in the last week, celebrated three birthdays, attended a going-away party, had a visitor for the week, and are involved in a children's clubs...all without a camera. It has gone missing
=(. I hope we find it soon.

So for now, on to preparing for tomorrow. Survival during this busy time includes--among other things--preparing ahead.