July 2010

It seems as though the month of July has come and gone. Today, being the 29th, there are only 2 more days of the month. Part of me feels like the month has flown by, another part of me feels like the month began such a long time ago. The month of June was certainly busy all on its own, however, when July 1st hit, the business got busier and the crazy got crazier.

Disney's Beauty & The Beast ran from June 24-27 at the theatre. VBS began at our church on June 27 and lasted through July 1. There was a movie at the theatre June 28 and a show on June 29, I Love a Piano. We had a break on June 30, which served as "the calm before the storm".

July 1st - July 4th, the theatre was hopping. The theatre hosted The Inspiration's Independence Weekend, which consisted of 6 events combining the concerts and chapel meetings.

July 3rd, the town did the 4th of July Celebration in the Park because the 4th landed on a Sunday. I was able to finish at the theatre to meet Brandon and watch the fireworks. Since I had come straight from work, I didn't have my camera or anything... :( We were able to find Mama, Daddy, & Lucas n the midst of the madness at the park and sit with them for the firework show. Lucas loved them.

July 7th - David Crowder Band

July 9 - Little River Band

July 13 - Lary Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers (2:30 & 7:30 show)

July 16 - Doc Watson & David Holt

July 12 - 16 - I would leave from work and go straight to Brandon's parent's house, where Terry was helping with create "crews" for World Changers. (That is a totally different post all in itself, more to come)

**Somewhere in all of this there were three movies, but I can't remember what or when they were**

July 17 - 24 - WORLD CHANGERS FRANKLIN

July 24 - Beatles Tribute

July 25 - Recuperate from World Changers

July 26 - 28 - Worked during the day, had a couple lunch dates, rested in the evenings

July 29 - TODAY - we have Folkmoot at the theatre

July 30 - Point of Grace & Laura Story

July 31 - DOLLYWOOD with Brandon, Lucas, & McKenzie!!!

As you can tell, this month has been nuts, as it has been for everyone else as well, I'm sure. Brandon and I have tagged team on all necessities of life - grocery store, laundry, getting the mail.... you know, things that have to be done, but get tossed to the wayside until you reach the vital point of no milk in the fridge, a packed mail box, and heaps of laundry. If it were not for Brandon and his unfailing willingness to "keep everything going" it would have been a disastrous 30 days. So here is a shout out to Brandon. Thank you for all you have done this month just to keep life going.

Happy Birthday 95th Birthday, Papaw!

I am just now posting this, however, at the time, I didn't feel as though I had enough time to sit down and do this blog post justice with the time I had. I did not want to barely mention Papaw's birthday without the attempt to share his life with those that read. Therefore, I chose to wait until I could sit down and work on it. I didn't realize it would be one month later....

June 28th, we celebrated Papaw's 95th birthday. I left Brandon at VBS (he had to teach) and I went up to Mamaw & Papaw's house. When I got there, my parents and a few other members of our family were there visiting with the Birthday Boy (there is just something about calling someone who has been through all that he has, a 'boy' that does not settle well.)

As I sat in the living room with him, I tried to think of all (at least a lot) of the major events that Papaw has lived through - events that shaped our family and nation. Knowing that throughout his lifetime, he has seen 22 different men take the office of the President of the United States and 16 of them he was able to vote for, I am amazed at exactly how much he has been a part of and how he has watched the events in history change the nation.

He was born in Franklin in 1915 to Jerry & Hettie Holland, farmers and gardeners and "folks that took care of what they had". World War 1 had been well underway as it began in 1914, with three years left to go. Woodrow Wilson was President.

Growing up in Franklin, life was slow, but hard. In a world of farming, gardening, and manual labor, there was always something for he and his five other siblings to do around the house. In 1929, life got even harder. The stock market crashed which led the nation and eventually the world into what we know as The Great Depression. Papaw was 14. The nation emerges from the Depression in 1939, but its celebration didn't last long as Hitler invaded Poland, the beginnings of World War 2. Papaw was 24, one year younger than I am now.

In 1942, Papaw was drafted to serve in WW2. He trained in Fort Benning then he was able to come back to Franklin for a 30-day fur low. It was 1943. While he was home, he met a man who invited him over for supper and to "make music" at his house. Papaw went and met Betty Stewman, one of the daughters of the man. I prefer to call her, Mamaw. At the end of the month, Papaw went to New York where he and his fellow soldiers sailed to England, a sail of 21 days.

He was a sharp-shooter. His friend, "Cotton" was the driver of his tank. They were best friends while serving. I'm still trying to find the family of Edgar Cotton, but as of now, I have had little luck. I have heard many stories of their friendship, camaraderie, and mischief. "Cotton" is a familiar name in Papaw's house. Papaw served in Germany from 1942 to 1945, when the war ended.

Papaw & Mamaw got married after the war, moved around to here and there, and settled back into Franklin to begin and raise their family. They have four children: Daddy, Randy, Marianna, & Jesse and their family has only continued to grow. He & Mamaw have 4 children, 12 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, all because two people fell in love. We are all thankful for the investment that these two have poured into the life of our family. To us, they are our Legecy.

Happy 95th Birthday, Papaw!!!!

A Mother's Gift - Herself

So much to blog about.... Sarah, I read your blog the other day and I am in the same position. I have so much to blog about, update, etc, but I don't have the time to do it right now. However, I did come along this article.

My mom was a stay-at-home mom with four kids. There are many people that say, "I would never be able to stay at home with my kids, I have to get out"... However, when I think back to our childhood, growing up, with parents that served the Lord & family, I realize that my mom was giving me a gift - a gift I didn't recognize until 2005. I'm certain there were days when she "had to get away", but didn't because there was a greater cause - us. I came home from school every single day to a mom ready to hand out snacks. When I was in high school and was driving myself to school, I would sit at the breakfast bar every morning talking with her, over our chocolate chip cookies. :) Even as I began attending SCC for college, I still found myself sitting in the kitchen with moma. It wasn't until 2005, when she and my dad were called to serve in Gulfport, MS with the North Carolina Baptist Men with Disaster Relief that I recognized the gift that Moma had been giving me all my life. I was 21 years old. I came home from work to an empty house. Moma wasn't there to talk with, vent to, be excited with, nothing. This was the day I realized the gift that moma had invested her life in giving me. Herself.

Disney's Beauty & The Beast

Disney's Beauty & The Beast began its run at the Theatre on June 24 - June 27th. This was also the weekend of Brooke & BJs wedding so I spent a lot of my time running back and forth between the two events, selling tickets in one place, preparing for and celebrating a wedding in the other.

On Sunday, the 27th, Brandon and I were able to watch the show and we invited McKenzie to come along! She was so excited and could not wait to dress like a princess herself, for the show. Brandon & McKenzie went on to their seats while I finished up at the ticket window, when I caught up with them right before the show, I found my dashing Prince and Princess, patiently waiting for the show to begin.

I continually find myself amazed at the time, effort, talent, and detail that goes into each production. The cast, props, lighting, & sound are all elements that make each show spectacular. Here are a few pictures from the show:

"Be our Guest, be our guest, put our service to the test..."
When Belle came out in her gown, McKenzie gasped.




We loved the show and were so thankful to have McKenzie to enjoy it with us.

Then, after the show, McKenzie got to meet Belle! She was so excited! She said, "I have never met a real Belle!" After waiting oh-so patiently in line, McKenzie crawled up in Belle's lap for a picture and she told the princess that she was beautiful.

Mr. & Mrs. BJ Keener 06.26.10

I was honored to stand beside my friend, Brooke today as she married her best friend. I have known both, the bride and the groom for years and I was so incredibly honored to be asked to stand along side of them on this special day. Since I spent most of the day with Brooke, she is the only one I really have pictures of. While we waited for someone to come get us for the wedding to begin and realizing we still have 40 minutes to wait, Brooke was a great sport in letting me take whatever pictures I wanted....I have a lot more on my camera, but only worked on a few as I am too tired to keep working on them now, but I will post the ones I have:

Congratulations to BJ & Brooke Keener!

Pool Time

Saturday, Brandon and I had the chance to take Lucas to the swimming pool. When we went to pick him, he was so excited to get to the pool. Once we got there, I am certain he knew almost every kid in there :).

Lucas cannot swim...yet, however, he borrowed his friends' swimming goggles and one he put them on, he thought he had some serious swimming powers. It was a blast watching him play in the water. After we swam, we went to McDonalds, ate at the Greenway, and before we got him home, he was sound to sleep.

It was a great day to play.

What A Week!

This has been one busy week. Sunday morning, Brandon left our house with Jeff King and headed towards Orlando, FL for the Southern Baptist Convention. I wasn't too worried as to how I would spend the week, as I already had some plans in the works. In the four and half days that Brandon would be gone, I would have 3 lunch dates (which totally takes the place of the ones he usually has on a very regular basis :) ), talk about missions at VBS, go to Tiffany's house, get a facial, and begin our children's program at church. Although I had quite the list to occupy my time, there were moments of "down time" and it was during these times that I was extremely bored, simply because Brandon was not there. One of these times occurred Sunday afternoon, Brandon had been gone for only hours, I found myself doing laundry and watching "Wild Russia" on the Animal Planet, I was ready for him to come home!

However, I knew that Brandon was really looking forward to the Pastor's Conference and would have a great time and he has. I, too, have been able to use these last few days to do some extra things that I don't normally do.

Monday, I spent some "girl time" with Tiffany as we worked on our Summertime Children's Wednesday night program for church.

Tuesday, I had a lunch date with a special friend. An hour and half later, we left our table at Monte Albans, which reminded me that we need to do this much more often. As we left in our vehicles, we agreed that our husbands needed to come along next time so they can be in on the "catching up". That night, I had been invited to be a part of Windy Gap's VBS, to talk to the Middle and High School Students about missions. I was able to encourage them to look for ways to serve Christ this summer. It was a lot of fun, I'm thankful for the invitation.

I had really been looking forward to Wednesday. I was getting to meet a new friend, Renee for lunch. Renee has had some pretty substantial events in her life all at the same time as she has graduated from college (with a degree in Education) and two weeks later, got married and moved from Ohio to Franklin. Before meeting for lunch, I was concerned that we wouldn't have a lot to talk about, but that fear no longer existed when we got up from our table close to 2 hours later. :)
After lunch with Renee, I headed to Spa Siobhan for a facial. This was a graduation gift and definitely not something that I do very often, but it was fun and was more than relaxing! Unfortunately, as soon as I walked out of the building, the relaxation was over. I had to kick it into gear as we prepared and got ready for the summer program that began last night. The kids LOVED it and I look forward to how this goes as the summer progresses.

Today, I'm completing my week with a lunch with several friends Brooke, Allie, Maddie, Amber, Reed, & Ella and then....for the moment we have all been waiting for..... Brandon comes home!!! ( I realize this is really only the moment I have been waiting for, however, it fit).

Although I have certainly missed Brandon while he has been gone, I have also enjoyed the time I have been able to spend with old and new friends, taking the moments to be thankful for the people in our lives and sharing with one another what God is doing in and through our lives. It has been a true gift to get to spend time with the special ladies in my life. I have realized this week just another way God has blessed my life and for that, I am left with nothing but thankfulness.