Going back in time .....

I had to smile when William Brown II posted a graduation photo on his facebook site of the 1989 class at Gospel Light Baptist School in Salisbury, North Carolina. Our daughter, Sandi, graduated in the same class as William.

The school and church later burned and the church relocated to its present location, across the street from Trinity Wesleyan Church. But, from what I understand, the school did not reopen. However, the students have kept in contact with each other and Sandi and William's class will celebrate their 20th anniversary next year!

One of the most interesting things is that one of the students who attended Gospel Light lives not too far from us and his children go to Northside Christian School where our son-in-law, Chris, is the dean of students and coach of football and wrestling. What a small world!

Now, see if you can pick William and Sandi out of the photo!!

Are you addicted?

. . . to Facebook? Wow, it can be addicting especially when you are connecting with old friends!!

Today was one of those days when I took a trip back in time to around 1964-1965 when my dad was an evangelist at Harker's Island, NC. That was a campmeeting that changed my life. That sounds a little dramatic but you need to visit Harker's Island to appreciate that!

I made friends for a lifetime! I was sure that I was in a different country when I listened to the locals talk with a unique accent. I tried to mimic it and fell short. I loved it -- I loved the people -- I loved hearing them talk about fishing and the fact that in just a couple minutes, we could be at the end of the island.

I was just about 14 when we first went ... I found myself intrigued by the teenage guys and my dad is convinced that they were as interested in me as I was in them. I don't think that is necessarily true but he continues to stand by his story.

It's neat to talk to others who lived there over the years -- like the Dan Parker family or the BJ Walker family. Later Bill and Mary Carpenter -- although Bill attended as a teenager when I was there. I still tease him about some of my memories of those days.

The schoolhouse was where everything took place -- we stayed in it, worshiped in it, ate in it, etc., etc. And at night after the services were done, you would find a whole pile of teenagers on the porch at one end of the schoolhouse. It was one of those porches that had a ledge around it (as I remember) and several steps down to the ground level. Edna Kenyan, Elaine Baker (Beaver) and others, I'm sure, would somehow find our way out there .. and there were boys there!!

I learned what "grits" were -- and it wasn't the magazine (wasn't there a magazine named "Grit" or is my mind playing tricks). I wasn't sure I liked them (grits) -- I was way too much a northerner at heart!

So, John (Parker), thanks for the photos and memories you posted on Facebook and I loved the memories that Jo (Walker) Dahler shared, too. It was an awesome walk down memories' road. Little did we know then that one of the little guys (Stephen Antrim) who bit your shoulder whenever you picked him up (he probably wasn't much over a year old), would later be our miniature groom in our wedding! I know I have photos of those days but I am not like my sister who could probably go to an album and find a photo in a heartbeat. I'll have to go through a variety of boxes to find them!!

And I do have an autograph album somewhere from those days ... aw, the memories! I think that's enough for one night .... but I did spend a while on the phone this evening with my brother, Mark, who although he wasn't very old, had vivid memories of those campmeetings!!

Today, Roxanne is celebrating her birthday -- I know she'd rather me not say how old she was but since a gal in a doctor's office guessed her in her mid-20's, I can say that she will be 38. It was 38 years ago this week that we found out that Roxanne was going to join our family. Quickest pregnancy around, huh? No ... we adopted Roxanne at just 12 days old. She came to our home directly from the hospital. She had bright brown eyes, wisps of curly black hair and a gorgeous complexion. She found her way into our hearts and into our home instantly.

Six weeks later, I became pregnant and Sandi was born on August 5, 1970. Roxanne talked early -- at seven months, she was saying, "Good-bye" and by the time she was 13 months old, she could talk in full sentences. Sandi, on the other hand, didn't talk until she was about 2-1/2. The reason? We're not really sure other than that Roxanne talked for her. She would come to me, "Mommy, Sandi wants a drink", etc. She truly didn't need to talk. Since the time of Sandi's birth, Roxanne and she have been soul mates. I truly do not know of any sisters who could be any closer -- other than my sister, Rachel, and me. We had two more daughters, Teri and Shonna. Teri decided somewhere along the line that there was something special about being adopted so she was quite upset when she found out she wasn't.

My grandmother was convinced that we might have adopted Sandi since she was very blonde and had blue eyes. The interesting thing is that Roxanne and I are very much alike -- that's good and bad. We butt heads a lot. We react in similar ways and that can be a challenge. However, I appreciate who she is probably more than she realizes! While she struggles as I do with emotional ups and downs, she also has an awesome sense of humor. I love to be around her when she has found something to be extremely humorous. She may end up on the floor -- well, not literally but almost -- and I will be more amused by her amusement than whatever it was that was so funny in the first place.

She loves to embarrass Bob but he always gets her back and she knows that. But, it is quite funny! She's talented musically and has sung since she was just a little girl. It's in her blood! She's part of two music groups now and that keeps her busy!! When she was about 23, we located Roxanne's birth mother. She came to Florida and Roxanne met her on TV -- "Eye on Tampa Bay" with host, Kathy Fountain, who is still an anchor on Channel 13. That began a journey which continues to this day. I keep in contact with Christine (her birth mother) from time to time and we established a good friendship.Over the years, people would ask the question (knowing we had adopted), "How many 'real' daughters do you have?'" Before I could answer, Bob would always say, "Four." The response, "No, you know what I mean -- 'real' daughters." Bob's answer, "Four".

I am sure that anyone who has adopted a child understands that an adopted child is just as 'real' as what others may consider 'real'. At least, that's the way it is in our home.

She also keeps busy being a wife and a mom of two -- Kasi, almost 18, and Kamen, 10. In just a few weeks, she will be 'grandma' when Kasi gives birth to a little girl, Ava June (June was my mother's middle name). Friends and family came to a baby shower for Kasi on Sunday -- I have no idea where they are going to put everything but somehow we will find space, I'm sure!! I haven't quite thought of myself as a great-grandmother but I'm sure I will be able fulfill the role easily.

I'll finish this up with a funny story -- one that both Christine and I have shared over the years and I may have shared it here already. When Christine was here to meet Roxanne, we took her to Gatorland in Kissimmee. She was rather spooked by the 'gators' but we had a good time. Roxanne, Kasi (who was just about 2), Christine and I decided to go to Wendy's before heading home. The guy who was waiting on us was rather rude and so I decided to promptly stick my foot in my mouth -- I must have been really hungry!! Roxanne and Kasi were already seated at a table -- Christine was with me at the counter. I said to the guy, "You see that gal over there with the little girl?" I put my arm around Christine and said, "That's OUR daughter!" Then I realized what I said and before I could catch myself, I said, "I know - it sounds kinky but it's not!" Christine has a sense of humor at least as big as Roxanne's so she about lost it ... I didn't say much more other than to pay for lunch and head for the table. I'm sure that guy scratched his head for a while trying to figure out what in the world I was trying to say!So, happy birthday, Roxanne -- and thank you, Christine, for the beautiful gift of a baby daughter who has been an awesome blessing in our lives!

A very belated "Happy Birthday" ...

On my Facebook site, I posted a "Happy Birthday" note to Roxanne. Then it dawned on me, due to my accident (leg fracture), I had not even mentioned Sandi's birthday nor her anniversary. I fell on August 2nd -- Sandi's birthday was the 5th and her anniversary, the 11th -- the day of my surgery. So, while I will post Roxanne's birthday greeting here, I am going to post one for Sandi first.

We adopted Roxanne and about six weeks later, I became pregnant. It was not an easy pregnancy and I spent a great deal of the time in bed. Part of it was in a lot of pain as it appeared Sandi had decided to take up lodging near my gall bladder. Now, I am not an expert on medical issues so some may say that is not possible but I had typical gall bladder attacks for a couple months during the pregnancy. I could not eat -- they gave me medicine to eat. I took it .. still couldn't eat -- it had some kind of alcohol content in it so it appeared that I was semi-drunk when I couldn't get enough food down to absorb the alcohol. I lost weight rather than gained it and when she was born, I weighed (prior to her birth), 119 pounds! (My metabolism is perfect only when I'm pregnant, go figure!)

Because of all of this, I worried a lot about her and if she would be okay. Thankfully, she was! We have laughed over the years (she has, too) at her birth picture. I was "out" during her birth and I remembered that you were not allowed to drink until after your baby was delivered. I awoke when they asked if I wanted orange juice and then they asked if I would like to see my baby. I assured them I did -- I looked at her and commented, "She is sooo beautiful" .. all the time thinking, she was not a pretty baby at all. However, it wasn't long until she grew out of that and turned into a beautiful little baby with a dazzling smile. And today she is a beautiful, talented lady.

She was shy -- probably until she was in the 4th grade. She was put into speech class when she was in kindergarten. She wasn't necessarily making too much progress until she stated one day, "It's not that I can't talk, I just don't want to!" But, after her 4th grade, all of that changed. She had an excellent teacher who knew how to bring her out -- even if it was just setting a mircrophone on her desk so that when she answered a question, she had to speak into it! Wow! She decided to run for president in a school mock election as Ronald Reagan -- and had to go to each class and make speeches and answer questions. By the end of that year, we had a changed child.

Lest I write a book, I'll jump ahead. She and Roxanne have always been soulmates. I love that about them. Sandi and Tim didn't have children until they had been married for ten years but Sandi was Kasi's greatest advocate. She actually went along to school conferences since all her reticence in speech was long gone and she was happy to speak on their behalf. '

Almost 8 years ago, Tyler was born. He is a mix between Tim and Sandi although he usually looks like a clone of his dad! His expressions, etc. Sandi homeschools Tyler -- and he has inherited her love of books. He's an excellent reader already! The summer when she was 7, she read 42 books and they were not little books. One was "Christy"!!!

She became a wedding coordinator and managed a tux shop when she was barely out of her teens, if that. She could remember what girls had worn for their proms the year before -- so if something happened and she shares what she remembers, you can pretty well count on it being accurate.

Needless to say, I didn't have to coordinate weddings for our girls-- I was so blessed to have Sandi who knew how to make sure everything was covered. Literally! Her wedding was absolutely beautiful and all I had to do was follow the "to-do" list -- and not make any suggestions! (That's an inside joke!)

Sandi and Tim direct the Youth Camp for the South Atlantic Conference (Free Methodist Church). I can't begin to share all that has been accomplished through them but I always am amazed at the insight God has given to them to know how to handle difficult situations. As a result of their direction, there are three young men attending college to go into ministry. I know there are others as well and the list keeps growing. Check out her blog to find more information and camp and their life.

Sandi keeps me balanced -- during tough times, she can help me gain perspective. She's probably a great mix of Bob and me -- perhaps a little more of Bob in her than of me. She's a great mom, a great sister and for me, a wonderful daughter. (Don't worry --each girl is special to me in a unique way! They are all wonderful!! Of course, I have to say that .. I'm the mom!!)

So ... I'm sorry for not getting this posted sooner! Happy Birthday, Sandi -- a long time late!

Yesterday, Sandi opened her home for a baby shower for Kasi, our granddaughter. I thought I would share just a few photos of her special 'touches' -- of course, she received several comments on her designs. One thing she took from Platinum Weddings and made it for almost absolutely nothing.