I've Won a Major Award!!!

Thank you so much for the award, Rebel. That was really sweet.

"This blog invests and believes, in 'proximity' [meaning, that blogging makes us 'close' - being close through proxy] They are all charming blogs, and the majority of them aim to show the marvels of friendship; there are persons who are not interested when we give them a prize, and then they help to cut these bows; do we want that they are cut, or that they propagate?"

Now I have to give it to 8 other bloggers. Melissa, Emily,Anniesue and Dy. If anyone else would like to claim it, please do.

Have a great night.

Ghosts, ghouls and Happy Halloween

We had a fun time trick or treating this year. My friend Sharon brought 2 of her boys over and went with me and Blake. Rusty stayed back at the house making his world famous chili and Wayne handed out candy to the 1000's of kids that came by the house. It seems like there were alot of kids out tonight but not alot of people giving out candy. I think this was the worse year for candy. Blake had a good time though and that is all that matters. He was a zombie this year and it was pretty scary. Wayne went outside to get set up for the trick or treaters and all of a sudden he came flying back in the house yelling for me to come outside, the headless horseman was riding up our road on a coal black horse. Of course I ran outside without my camera. It was the neatest thing I have seen in a long time. He had a pumpkin tucked under his arm and the horse wasn't at a full out gallop but a pretty good trot.

Ashleigh has come home for the weekend, I think she is a little homesick. It is really good to see her. She will be going to Blake's football game with us tomorrow. He only has 2 left and they are undefeated. Tomorrow's game is a tough one. We have already played Luray once and beat them but they are a tough team. Rusty has a ritual he does before every game (well other than wearing the same clothes every game down to his underwear), he prays with the kids.

They don't have to participate in the prayer but he hasn't had anyone tell him they didn't want to be included. He prays for both teams to do well, for no injuries and to have a good clean game. He ends it with the Lord's prayer. I think it is really neat that he does that.

Rusty has coached for a while but this is the first year that he's been a head coach. He was so nervous the first game, he wanted to do good and he wanted the team to do good. He had gotten himself so worked up before the game that one of his assistant coaches told him he thought that Rusty needed him to pray with him. They walked away from everyone and Tim prayed with him. That has also now become a ritual before every game. Tim is one of those people with a very calming nature about him. He always seems to be able to calm Rusty down, well as much as Rusty can be calmed before a game. It's nice to have a friend like that, with the same Christian faith who feels confident enough in himself to pray with you in public.

On Tuesday at practice Rusty told the kids if they win the next 2 games and go undefeated he will let them shave his head on the field after the last game. He wanted to give them something to pump them up and get excited about. Oh, let me tell you, they are very excited. Tim told Rusty he would fix his hair in a high and tight after the kids get done with him. He's a retired Marine so he's had alot of experience with that hair cut. ha ha Wish us luck tomorrow, it is going to be a hard game but I know the kids are up for it and are ready to play.

Happy Halloween and good night.

October 8th?

Has it really been that long since I've blogged?! Wow, October 8th, where has the month gone? I will try to finish posting about Steven and Denise's wedding and post the rest of the pictures. It was a beautiful wedding and the weather was absolutely perfect.

My Dad and I went and picked up Rusty from the airport. This was a picture of him right after he got off the plane. He was calling his Mom to let her know he hadn't died and was on the ground again.

My Dad lying on Steven's bed at the beach house. He was working up his energy for the wedding.

Denise, the beautiful bride. Her friend made her dress and it was perfect. They did an autumn theme and her friend put the orange panel in the dress to go along with the wedding colors.

My Dad and Mom both walked Steven down the aisle to give him away. ha ha I've been waiting to give him away for years. Just kidding Steven, just kidding. Actually, I could not have ever asked for a better brother. He has always been there for me. He was the kind of brother who would spend his last penny on me instead of himself. He is always thinking about other people and wanting to help them.

Denise and her Daddy, he was so proud.

I love the bare feet in the sand. Denise in the top picture and Blake in the bottom with his bucket. He carried Denise's wedding ring in it.

One of Denise's favorite things in the world is cupcakes, well next to Steven it's her favorite so they had a cupcake wedding cake. It was so incredibly neat. I had never seen anything like it. To the right is a sandcastle that Denise made of brown sugar and the shells that are on the table are all chocolate. Oh, they were so good.

Steven and Denise's first dance together. It was like they were the only ones in the world. It brought tears to your eyes and just made you burst with happiness that these 2 people had found each other.

Denise and her Dad with my Mom and Steven in the background.

The following are pictures of everyone just having a great time at the reception.

Denise learning to do the Electric slide, she got it down but oh was it funny in the process. Love ya Denise, remember, laughing with you not at you.

Actually, some had more fun than others. Have you ever seen a keg stand? I had never even HEARD of a keg stand. But of course after seeing Steven's friend do one Rusty had to do it. You do a hand stand on the keg and the other idiots, oh sorry "guys" hold your legs up in the air while your other "friend" holds the keg tap in your mouth until you can't take anymore. He broke their record. I am just so proud.

This is Steven's friend showing Rusty how to do it. They aren't supposed to have his legs that high in the air so they had to lower him some. I guess gravity messes with the beer, whatever.

Steven removing the garter.

I loved what Denise did with the bouquet. Instead of throwing it to the single girls, they had the married couples come out on the dance floor and eliminated everyone until they go to the couple that had been married the longest and that was my parents. They will be married 42 years in January. Steven and Denise wanted to celebrate longevity in marriage and love instead of just throwing it to a single girl. I loved that. I told you, there is something incredibly special about them.

Ashleigh and her Uncle Steve. Steven was just 18 when she was born and even as a teenager and a boy at that he always has been really close to her. They have had their rough times but they are getting back to being close again. Love you Steven, you are my favorite brother. Well, you're my only brother but you are still my favorite.

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WAY TO GO!!

Just a short note:

Blake's football team won today 42-6, it was a great game! They are now 5-0.

I will try to get back and post the rest of the wedding pictures, maybe tomorrow, if we don't get back too late from the Redskins game.

Way to go Strasburg White Juniors!!!

As promised...

As Paul Harvey would say "Now ...the rest of the story.

We had a wonderful time at the wedding and all the pre-wedding activities. I took Blake and Wayne, left early Thursday morning, and headed to Carolina Beach, NC. We had a really nice trip down, it's about 7 hours. We laughed and talked and just spent some really good time together. We have also discovered a new channel on Sirrius radio "AC/DC radio". I know, I know but I am a rock lover at heart. The kids really like them too, so if the radio was on that is what we were listening and singing to at the top of our lungs. I met Steven in Wilmington and he took the boys with him out to the house where he was getting married. He wanted to spend some time with them. This is where they were headed.

And this is the view as you come across the bridge onto Topsail Island.

I headed to Mom's for some shopping and fun time with her. We hit a local shop and bought a dress for the wedding. I didn't have anything to wear to a beach wedding and of course here in Virginia all they have are winter clothes in the stores. This is what we found.

No, not Rusty he flew in Saturday morning for the wedding. The dress, I love that dress. We walked into the first store and there it was, like it was put there for me. Ashleigh referred to the store as "the old ladies store" but I am not old and I refuse to get old. Back to Rusty flying. Rusty has NEVER flown before, ever. He was petrified, he knew he was going to die. He didn't come down with us on Thursday because he brother was retiring from the police department after 28 years and Rusty really didn't want to miss his retirement party, of course it was being held Friday evening. So he flew out of BWI, went to Charlotte, and then flew into Wilmington. He did great, I was so proud. ha ha ha By the way Rusty "I told you so!" So anyway, Thursday night Mom and I went to a get together for Denise. It wasn't really a "bachelorette" party but a bunch of friends getting together and having a good time. We all met at a Greek restuarant in Wilmington called Mediterra. Now, neither my Mom or I are very fond of Greek food, but it was a wonderful restuarant. We were on the second floor in a room in the "Hookah Bar". We had Tiropita and Escargots. I love escargots and it was the first time I had ever had Tiropita. It was to die for. For those of you who like me didn't even know what that was until that evening it is phyllo dough stuffed with greek cheese. MMMMMM, so good.

There was about 17 people there and we all went around the room talking about how we met Denise or telling "Denise" stories. It really was a good time and a really nice way to get to know the people you would be spending time with over the next couple days.

Ashleigh didn't make it to this party she was working and then went with friends to " City Limits Saloon" down the street. She went with hopes of meeting 3 of the people from The Real World reality show on Mtv. I think it was Paula, Kenny and Evan, maybe, not quite sure, I've never seen it. She did get to meet them and was so excited. She had pictures of herself with them. I will post them if I can get her to send them to me.

Friday we got up and got pedicures and manicures and then began the day of running. We finally made it out to the beach house for the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. It was all very casual and informal and everyone had a good time. The food was wonderful, fried chicken, bar-b-qued chicken, North Carolina pulled pork, green bean, corn on the cob, cole slaw, rolls and banana pudding. How could you go wrong with a menu like that?

My Mom is squished in the middle between my Dad and Blake. This was the view from Steven's balcony at the house. It was 4 stories and the top floor was 2 master suites with a connecting balcony.

I really have extraordinary children. The lady in the picture with Blake is Dale. She and her husband have been friends with our family for as long as I can remember. She has had MS for over 20 years and has been in a wheelchair for a long time. They came down for Steven and Denise's wedding. Alot of children are uncomfortable around people who may be different, but not my kids. Blake marched right over to talk to her. He had found a bunch of sharks teeth on the beach and he asked her if she wanted to see them. Then he stood there and talked to her for quite a while. I was so proud of him.

Finally, I will leave you with the view of the sunset from Steven's balcony. I love the beach.

To be continued.....

Here Comes the Bride...

Well, here came the bride.

And a beautiful bride she was. It was an incredible wedding, I think one of the most beautiful wedding ceremonies I have ever attended.

I just wanted to let you know I'm back and I will have alot more to tell you and alot more pictures to post.

Here's to love and happily ever after.