Birthdays abound

So last week, on the 4th, we once again hit the road!  September is a busy birthday month for us!  My mom's is the 7th, Russ' grandma's is the 9th, and Russ' dad's is the 11th.  Our little Nathan's birthday is today!  Shortly after Nathan went to Heaven some VERY dear friends of ours gave us a bear with instructions on naming a star for Nathan.  In the past 3 1/2 years the timing just never seemed right.  Then when it did seem right too many other life things were happening.  We had hoped to get the star picked before Lex and family moved, but it just didn't happen.  So we decided to celebrate his birthday by choosing his star this year.  We are all excited to do this later today!
Now, backing up a bit....
We hit the road on the 4th and drove up to the Dallas area.  We had dinner with my folks that evening then spent the next day with them to celebrate my mom's birthday a little early.  It was the day my folks did a devotional time with one of the local Senior Centers so I got to experience one of life's purest joys.....I got to play the piano for my mom to sing and got to hear my Dad share his heart on scripture.  I began accompanying my mom as a preteen.  Dad use to say we had our own little dog and pony show with him preaching, me playing and mom singing.  Precious memories for sure!  We spent that afternoon visiting and catching up a bit then I cooked dinner for them.  Brisket had cooked int he crock pot all day and boy was it yummy!  We had german potato salad, a lovely green salad, and then brownies for dessert.

The 6th we hitched up again and drove up to the Tulsa area.  Russ' folks went up too so we got to camp together!  The 7th we enjoyed a quieter morning and then Russ and his dad went to pick up Great Grandma and Aunt Connie.  Russ' mom had decorated up a little pavilion in the camp site so we set up all the good food there and enjoyed the pleasant weather.  Well that is until the storm blew in!  It hit an hour earlier than we had thought it would and it hit hard and fast!  We all nearly blew away!  We got a bit wet, but we all made it safely back to the trailers and finished our little party there.  It was a wonderful time with family!  4 generations together!  Great Grandma turned 94 this year!  After returning the ladies back home safely we had a quiet evening.  The8th we went into Claremore and enjoyed a couple of museums there.  If you are ever up in the area be sure to stop in at the Will Roger's Memorial Museum!  What a treat!!  I didn't get many pix this trip, but this view was too pretty not to capture.  I was looking out over the Will Rogers' family tomb area into the beautiful Oklahoma countryside.

The 9th found us on the road once again back to the Dallas area.  We were able to have dinner with my folks again and then got things ready for our third party of the trip.  With lists made we ran to the store on the 10th and then headed over to Russ' folks house to visit and catch up a  bit.  Then in late afternoon Russ' brother and family came over and we enjoyed cooking for Dad's birthday!  Steaks, mashed taters, gravy, stuffing, green beans, and then pecan pie, angel food cake, and banana pudding for dessert!  YUM! Oh can't forget the garlic bread and corn muffins!  Talk about STUFFED!

It was a wonderful evening!

We headed home on the 11th and since I was having sinus headache and there were some cross winds I  drove us home.  I even pulled the trailer through the gas stations WITHOUT hitting anything or anyone!  It was a leisurely day but we were very glad to park the trailer and unhitch.....at least for a few weeks!  Life is NEVER dull!

So Much

So very much has been happening and I just have not made the time to sit and blog it all.  Since Russ' retirement ceremony and party, life has kept us hopping!
First, our son-in-law Jonathan finished his military training and came home!  Lex and Matrim were beyond happy to see him!  Matrim took right to his daddy and his daddy stepped right up into the role.  It's a beautiful thing to see!
Next, we celebrated Kerrie's 13th birthday.

She received lots of fun things but her two biggest gifts were her very own makeup and a Kindle touch.  Then we took a "pizza" cake to church to celebrate with friends.
A couple weeks later we said "good luck and farewell" to Jonathan, Lex, and Matrim as they moved off to Missouri to their first duty station.  They stopped to visit grandparents and Great Grandma along the way and made it safe and sound.  They are planning to live on base and will finally be out of their hotel the first of October.

We tried to have some down time to plan after the kids left, but it didn't work.  We still got our planning done, but we were as busy as ever with projects, friends new and old, and getting things lined up for coming adventures.
As public school has started so has MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and I have volunteered to be the mentor to the local group this year.  They had they kick off and I have already been greatly blessed!
Then it was time to take our trailer in for a check up at the dealer down near San Antonio.  So we made the appt and off we went.  We decided to combine some fun in with  that so we dropped the trailer off and headed for Natural Bridge Caverns.  What a NEAT place!  The pictures don't do it justice, but here are some that I took....

See the Natural Bridge going across?

Just amazing....

Notice the "jelly fish" formation

There were pools of water everywhere and the sound of dripping water.  we even got dripped on a few times.  They called it "Cave Kisses".  Temperature is a constant 70 degrees with 99% humidity.

The "witches face" in the top of this structure

the wall of one of the rooms.  The super thin pieces grow about an inch every 100 years.

and the light is shining on the "profile of the mountain king"

It was all just incredible!  

So if you find yourself needing to escape and you are in San Antonio, head for the caverns for a tremendous treat!

More adventures to come.....

We are....

RETIRED!!!!
Yep you read that right.  Russ had his retirement ceremony Tuesday, July 3.  We were surrounded by family and military comrades.  And it was a beautifully done event.

Our Narrator, Lt. Stayton...

His commander, Lt Col Huisman, gave a brief rundown of Russ' 

accomplishments during his time of service....

The Meritorious Service Medal ...

Many awards...

His retirement pin...

Even a few awards for me...

And some gorgeous roses from the unit...

(Russ gave some to his mom too and they were equally beautiful!)

The kids received the Military Brat award ....

Grandson just chilled and watched the show...

A wonderfully done shadow box commemorating his time in both the Army and the Air Force...

A few last words...

And it was PARTY TIME!!

We were surrounded by both our local family and those from out of town for a wonderful evening of fellowship and good food.  

Our military career has been a good one.  It was a life we enjoyed for the most part.  The time has come though to move forward to new adventures and playing the part of home support team as the next generation steps up.  Lex and Jonathan and Matrim leave for their first duty station later this month!  

Tis bittersweet as we are so excited for them but will greatly miss having them close.

....but hey!  We're retired now....and we have a travel trailer.....I think I feel a road trip coming on!

May your lives be as richly blessed as ours!