10 Day Stay Vacation

We just finished a 10 day stay vacation at my moms home. 

Started out the first day touring Williamsburg. 

Early Ssturday morning we had breakfast with some family and friends and then headed to Yorktown to check out the local Waterman's Museum.

Later that evening we celebrated my cousins 2nd wedding anniversary. 

Sunday was homecoming at my home church. I served as worship leader for the afternoon service so no pics from that day! Didn't think it would be proper for me to break out the cellphone and start snapping pics from the pulpit!! lol 

Monday morning we took care of some wedding business and then went exploring at a local historic ruins. 

We also road down to the river where my grandfather use to baptize people. 

Unfortunately we lost a family member during vacation. Many of my family could not attend the funeral which was held on Tuesday but Marc, my mom, my cousin and I did get over to see my cousins daughter the night before during the viewing time.

After we left we did a little undercover taste testing at a possible wedding venue. 

Tuesday my mom had to work so Marc and I took a little road trip to FarmVille Va to visit the Moton Museum.

It amazes me that people could hate someone so much that they would rather their child missed 5 years of school rather then have them attend school with someone of a different skin color! If your ever in FarmVille I encourage you to visit the museum. It's very eye opening concerning the racism blacks faced in the 60s!

 Wednesday we had to go back home to collect something Marc needed for a job so on our way back we had Nicki and Byron meet is at the rental place to get an estimate on tents for the wedding. We actually got a lot of wedding stuff accomplished over vacation!

It turned out to be a productive day because it also gave us and opportunity to pick up some of the wedding supplies and bring them back to my moms for storage until the wedding next spring! 

Mom even put Marc to work that afternoon when we got back! Like I said it was a very productive day!! lol

I spent Thursday hanging out with some of my cousins while Marc and mom were working. I didn't take a lot of pics and just enjoyed the time I got to spend with my family (although I did take a pic of the food.....lol)!!

Thursday evening we packed up an overnight bag so that we could leave in the morning for Lancaster PA to see Joseph at the Sight and Sound Museum.

I will have more indepth info on my travel blog in a few days. 

Vacation has begun!!!!

Went home to my moms this past weekend for a bit of rest and relaxation. Plus some wedding planning in between! 

Sunday I spent most of the day with my childhood home church. Even followed them to a second service. 

Monday before leaving for home I had breakfast at our favorite spot with my mom, "sista" cousin and my "big brotha" cousin.

This place serves pancakes as big as my head! 

I love my family!! They ground me when I feel like I'm barely keeping my head above the water!! And they love on me like nobody else! 

My cousins facial expressions though! lol 

I also got to check out the local farmers market as well. Mom picked up some corn that was amazing! Of course it helped that I was hungry lol. 

Not sure where this week has gone!! 

The day after I got back I was at a dinner celebrating a girlfriends last cancer treatment.   

But by today I saying goodby to another long time family friend! Life is way to short people for petty stuff!! 

The one meal I cooked this week! We have been on the run it seems like forever! I have really got to do better in the eating department. I've lost a whole inch in my waist and depending on the style I've moved from a size 14 to a 12! I haven't been a size 12 in years!!! Wish I could say its from healthy eating and excerise! It's actually from stress. Last time I was this stressed my hair fell out but I guess losing a dress size is always a better option! lol 

I've made a conscious decision to take some time over the next few weeks (we started a 3 week vacation from ministry this past Sunday ) to try and refresh and regroup. I have to admit I've lost some of my passion this year and I'm hoping this time of rest will be what the doctor ordered. 

I won't go into details but I do ask that you keep us in prayer as we navigate through some hard stuff. 

Meanwhile I'm enjoying my role as mother of the bride and I've found great pleasure in planning my youngest daughters wedding. It's very different from planning for a client and even though it comes with its own stresses it's been a pleasure helping her plan her special day! And it's given me great joy in the midst of some very personal pains!

If you happen to read this (not sure if anyone still does) I appreciate the fact that you still stop by!! 

If your in ministry I have one piece of advice!! Don't let anyone steal your joy or make you doubt your purpose or Gods plans for your life!! If he's for you then it doesn't matter if the while world is against you....Gods got your back!!! 

Have a blessed weekend everyone!! 

Unexpected Beach Day

We live less then 20 minutes from the oceanfront but rarely ever go. Like years will go by! In all honesty I love my city and I love living the "beach" life sort of speak including having a deep love for water! What I don't like is dipping my toes in the sand, let alone in the ocean with muddy sand under my feet! I know for most people that's the fun part! Not this sister..and I don't like it when it's to hot!! I know another reason people go to the beach!! So I'm different!! No biggie!! God created each of us unique and one of a kind!!

Now what I do like is listening to the waves, people watching, and walking the boardwalk. Yesterday I got a chance to do all of that!! Marc got a trouble shoot call for one of the local hotels on the oceanfront and asked me if I wanted to tag along. While he worked I walked the boardwalk, set at a bench and read a book and also did a bit of people watching. At one point while walking a family from New York stopped me up ask if I would take their picture. No problem!! It reminded me of being at Disney actually! I had a great time and once again it confirmed my resolve to spend more time enjoying the beauty that is this world that God created! When I think about how often we have put life on whole for ministry, for children, for extended family and friends the older we get the more we realize that at some point we have to take time out for ourselves as well or suffer the consequences. By consequences I'm talking emotional as well as physical! 

Don't get me wrong I love working in ministry but let's face facts ministry is hard! And if you don't take some time to refresh ministry can become bitter. And that's never what God intended for any of us! 

At some point you will either burn out, give up or give in. It's important to take vacation (even if it's a stay vacation). It's important as a couple to have a few date nights here and there. And above all else it's important to keep God first and foremost! Before the people, before your children and family and yes even before your husband and your marriage. Because without him all of these other things will fall apart. 

And even if finances are tight there are always ways to still get in some "me" time! You might have to be creative but it can be done! 

The beautiful oceanfront we call home!! 

The Hilton hotel! 

Lighting at the Hilton! 

Artwork! 

King Neptune! 

The boardwalk! 

Sandy beach!! 

The Hilton probably has some of the prettiest landscaping on the beach! Wish we could get our flowerbeds to look this good!! lol

I'm not a seafood eater but my daughter Quisha says their in house restuarant Catch 31 is pretty good. 

I truly do love my city!! Recently we were voted 3rd or 4th as one of the best city's to raise a family! It's definitely been good to ours.

It doesn't look half bad at night either!! I really surprised myself by walking the boardwalk alone and engaging with those around me. And being comfortable in my own skin enough to sit on a bench among strangers and read my book! Anybody who knows me (believe it or not I'm actually an introvert ) knows this was a major step for me (so much so that several family members even said how shocked they were that I did this). I learned an important lesson that day. I truly can do all things through Christ which strengthens me! Marc said it was unfair that I got to enjoy the beach while he was cooped up in a small room working on a computer! So as soon as it's cooler guess what will be added to our Friday date days? And the best part?? It will only cost a small fee to park in the parking garage!! lol But it will be worth it just to bask in the beauty created by our Abba Father!!