RANDOMNESS #1 - As predicted/hoped/prayed for, after four long years The Boy came home from college!
Not surprisingly, Austin walked past the balloons without a response.
"Did you like your balloons?" I asked after several minutes.
"Oh. I wondered about those. Those are JSU colors, you know?"
"Yes. Yes, I know. That's why I bought them, and Roxie and I decorated... to celebrate your homecoming from four years of college."
"Well, that makes sense. I kept wondering why you had balloons on the front of the house in JSU colors."
As you can imagine, it was the beginning of a good, good weekend.
RANDOMNESS #2 - I took prom pictures of Katie and Tim at Vulcan Park Saturday night... and we had the best time.
Here are just a few...
How handsome is this couple?
I know Katie belongs to me and mine, but is she or is she not the most gorgeous Senior chick you've ever seen?
Do you see what I did there?
I put the word "Senior" in the question, and that will keep me out of trouble when the most gorgeous Sophomore chick reads this post.
I am a genius!
But, back to Katie and Tim. Vulcan Park is "their place," so they wanted their prom pictures taken there... and it was a perfect choice. We practically had the Park to ourselves. No other "prom people" showed up until we were leaving.
It was a beautiful day for a prom.
NOTE - I keep thinking the Birmingham Zoo would be a cool place to take prom pictures, but every time I mention it to someone, they roll their eyes into the back of their head.
Is it just me, or would flamingos, elephants, giraffes and zebras make really fun backdrops for two high school kids in prom duds?
Could I be wrong?
No. I didn't think so either.
RANDOMNESS #3 - During our Sunday School prayer yesterday morning, the gentleman who was praying began by saying, "Good morning, God."
Then he prayed the rest of the "beginning of Sunday School class" prayer.
I thought, "What a sweet, sweet relationship he has with God to be able to talk with him in that way. So sincere. So relaxed. Just like he was talking with a member of his very own family."
And then my thoughts came back and hit me on the forehead when the realization set in I could have the same exact conversation with my Heavenly Father. The only thing stopping me... was me.
I have always loved hearing small children pray, too.
"Thank you for our concrete driveway."
"Thank you for my new shoes that light up when I run really, really fast."
"Thank you for Poppa and Nanna, but not Tyler because he hit me on my arm when Poppa and Nanna turned around, and when I told on him he said I hit him first, and I think Poppa and Nanna believed him instead of me... and now I wish I had a different brother."
So sincere. So relaxed. Just like they were talking with a member of their very own family.
I hate to admit it, but sometimes I talk to God in "list form."
"Thank you, God, for ____________, ____________, ____________, etc. Forgive me, God, for ____________, ____________, ____________, etc."
And other times I pray in "memory form."
"Our Dear Most Heavenly Father. I come to you today to ask ____________, ____________, ____________, etc."
I need to stop and remind myself to talk to my Heavenly Father just as if I were talking with a member of my very own family.
Because I am a member of His family, you see.
And I should never, ever take that for granted.
RANDOMNESS #4 - I was reading my newest copy of Family Fun Magazine and it was the Travel Awards issue.
Maybe it is just me, but it's a little depressing how few of these TOP TEN FAVORITE FAMILY DESTINATIONS we have actually visited:
1. Yellowstone National Park
2. Acadia National Park
3. Carlsbad Caverns National Park
4. Grand Canyon National Park
5. Mount Rushmore National Memorial
6. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
7. Yosemite National Park
8. Disney's Magic Kingdom Park (YES! YES! WE AREN'T TOTAL FAILURES AS PARENTS. WE'VE BEEN TO DISNEY'S MAGIC KINGDOM!)
9. Glacier National Park
10. Pearl Harbor Visitor Center
It doesn't help we live at least 10,000 miles away from most of these "destinations."
I am happy to report, we did a little better when comparing our travels with the TOP TEN MUSEUMS, ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS.
1. Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History (Mike and I visited this Museum on our Honeymoon, and Austin and Mike visited during Austin's Senior Trip to Washington, D.C.)
2. Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium
3. Saint Louis Zoo
4. Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago)
5. Museum of Science (Boston)
6. Steinhart Aquarium (San Francisco)
7. The Field Museum (Chicago)
8. Shedd Aquarium (Chicago)
9. Smithsonian's National Museum of American History (Read 1. above!)
10. Tennessee Aquarium (Yep! We've all been to this Aquarium... TWICE!)
See what I mean. THREE out of TEN. Much, much better.
However, the next list is where my family really shines. TOP TEN AMUSEMENT PARKS.
1. Disney's Magic Kingdom Park (CHECK!)
2. Disneyland
3. Holiday World & Splashin' Safari
4. Islands of Adventure (CHECK!)
5. Disney California Adventure
6. Cedar Point
7. Disney's Epcot (CHECK!)
8. Disney's Animal Kingdom (CHECK!)
9. Hersheypark
10. Disney's Typhoon Lagoon (We didn't actually go there, but we were within five miles of this park... so I'm going to count it! CHECK!)
That's it for today, Folks. I'm working on four different scrapbooks which must be completed by May 15 (of this year), and I didn't gather any useful information this past weekend to share with you.
I'll try to do better Monday through Thursday of this week.
I'll be back Friday morning with lots of Graduation Celebration News, I am sure.
Take care, and I'll talk to you the end of the week.
Sincerely,
The Enchanting Belinda
In all the kids' scrapbooks, every time we visited Vulcan Park, I would always post a picture like this on the last page and write "The End."
Is it just me, or is that still hilarious?
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