a post featuring pictures of darling grandsons sporting yellow pants and pink suspenders?
I LOVE this little mama. She is a treasure!
Our grandkids with the other side of their family.
You can tell they have a little bit of fun together!
(By the way, be sure to visit Sheri’s blog where she tells about some great Easter traditions with the grandkids.)
on Steve and the great job he did designing our new stage at church and then overseeing its construction.
This is what the stage looked like when the church was built back in the early 80’s.
This is what the stage looked like when we came ten years ago.
This is what it looked like after about 5 years.
And after about 7 years.
And here it is now!
until Sarah’s graduation. And speaking of her graduation, I did a little photo shoot with her while she was home last week. Here’s a sneak peak. (I’ll post the rest of the photos later.)
are getting their plans finalized to make the trip for her graduation. They haven’t had a lot of child-free getaways over the past few years so I am hoping this will be a relaxing few days for them. I keep threatening them that I am going to make them take a lot of naps to make up for all the sleep they’ve lost in the past few years but we’ll have to see how that works out.
And may I mention how grateful ALL the Smiths are for the generous blog readers who have contributed to their plane fare. About 80% has been covered. Thank you!
here’s the schedule as we know it so far.
We will leave for Akron, OH, Sunday, April 28, after our morning service and arrive at some point Monday evening. (Leaving our house and dog in the fabulous care of our doggie sitters.)
We’ll stay there until Friday and then drive to Slippery Rock, PA to spend time with Steve’s uncle, who was like a second dad to him while his own dad was in Vietnam.
Saturday, we’ll drive to Edenton, NC, and get settled into our borrowed home there. We’ll stay till the following Wednesday when we’ll go back to Manteo to prepare for the graduation weekend.
On Friday, May 10, we’ll head to Virginia Beach, get Nathan and Meagan from the airport, spend the night at an Airbnb, attend the graduation, and bring everyone back home to Manteo.
Monday, May 13, we will take Nathan and Meagan back to the airport in Virginia Beach and then head back to Edenton for the remainder of the sabbatical which will go to the end of May.
We are so very grateful for this opportunity and for the generous hearts and spirits of our congregation and church board who are sending us off with joy on this much-needed time of rest and renewal.
Do you have any memorable Easter memories to share from when you were growing up?
Did you do a big meal with family on Sunday? Have egg hunts? Go out of town? Rest?
Instead of buying a new (or thrifted) outfit this year, I just recycled an old outfit. Happy Spring!
Congrats to Sarah graduating! Can’t believe it is happening already. Will she be moving back home? Or going out on her own? Our daughter graduated in 2013 and is back home again, which is fine with us. She just this year started a permanent teaching job-before that, she was subbing every year and we all know how erratic that can be which makes the pay erratic as well. It will be nice this summer when she is getting actual paychecks!
Nicole,
Sarah will be moving back home at least for the summer and working at her old job at the grocery store. Thankfully they kept her spot open for her which is a huge blessing.
She is putting out applications for jobs and internships and we will just have to wait to see where it all leads. Of course, we are not complaining one tiny bit about having her with us for a little while longer. She will be gone too soon.
Good for your daughter getting a permanent teaching job. Sending hoorays her way!
Becky, the pictures of your grandchildren were precious!!! Your happiness about Sarah’s upcoming graduation and family time together came right off the page – making this what is possibly your best blog ever. Love, Fred & Lucy
Fred,
Well, you know all about how wonderful it is to be a grandparent and that it DOES make joy leap off a page! One of the best things about it. 🙂
This is definitely a year with many reasons to celebrate.
Glad you are feeling better, Becky. The pictures of your grandkids are great, what sweeties, and they look so handsome and beautiful in their Easter outfits. Steve has done amazing things with the church stage, what a talented person he is. Sarah looks as beautiful and happy as always.she is such an amazing person and an inspiration to so many. And you look great in your Easter outfits. If you hadn’t mentioned it, no one would know it wasn’t brand new. Can’t wait to hear more about Sarah’s graduation and, of course, am looking forward to pictures, lots of pictures! Enjoy your well earned sabbatical, and I hope you have fun in Slippery Rock, which isn’t that far from Pittsburgh….your schedule sounds pretty full, but, if time allows, there are some great things to see and do in “the city!”. Hugs, Linda in Pittsburgh
Linda,
Thank you for taking the time to leave such a detailed comment; so sweet of you!
I wish we had a LONG time to spend in the Slippery Rock/Pittsburgh area but unfortunately it’s just going to be a matter of a few hours. At least I’ll get to drive through Pennsylvania which is one of my favorite places–parts of it remind me so much of Wisconsin.
I know you know ALL about the loveliness of your state! 🙂
Love the Easter outfits! The pink and yellow is great, but add the suspenders? Too cute!! Everyone looked great! And your Easter outfit is great, too.
I can’t believe Sarah will be graduating! All I can say is, God is good!
Krista,
I know, You just CAN’T go wrong with suspenders. I bet your little guy would be cute in them, too! 🙂
They pretty much cloned Nathan with that older boy, didn’t they? And the little girl may look a little like Sarah when her hair was still blonde? I dig the color coordinated outfits. We have no kids here so I held a little adult egg hunt inside my apartment. Got some dollar store prizes and put a $20 in one egg. Crazy, huh? But then I hear a museum around here is having an adult egg hunt on Thursday (idk why *after* Easter), so I’m not the only one who wants to have a little immature fun. It might catch on. Well, safe travels and happy graduation to Sarah.
Blue Rose,
Yes, I agree that clone is the perfect word for Nathan and Noah.
I love the idea of an adult egg hunt–especially when there is $20 involved. Kudos to you for making your own merriment. I love that!!
Growing up I always got a new dress and shoes for Easter and carried on this tradition with my own girls along with egg hunts at church. This year we “winged it”; my youngest daughter turned 22 on April 16th and her sister turned 25 on Good Friday, so Saturday we met with extended family to eat at Rosa’s Cafe & Tortilla Factory, then stopped at The Harbor for the littles to hunt eggs and just enjoy the beautiful scenery. (I’m tagged in my sister-in-laws post onFacebook, SueEllen Williams). It was a great day spent with family.
I loved the pictures of Nathan’s family – what a precious family!
Sue Ellen,
I checked out the photos on FB. So much fun and so many good memories in the making!
I’m glad you found something that works well for you with your migraines. I’ve never had them but have heard plenty of stories about how awful they can be. Thankful for good medicine.
Yes, Nathan’s family is truly a treasure. We just need to scootch our states a little closer together. 🙂
Your recycled outfit looks great on you and very springy!. Beautiful sanctuary platform. Have been praying for you Becky. May your vacation/sabbatical bring you some rest and may the Lord strengthen you during this time. I know we don’t have to say, “take lots of pictures.”
Sharyn,
Thank you for the prayers. We are definitely in need of some rest and renewal and are very much looking forward to it.
And yes, the camera WILL get a workout!
You are going to be traveling a lot in the next month. Safe travels for all those trips.
Your grandkids are so cute – Noah is really getting tall and looking grown up. Love the coordination of their Easter clothes. Love your outfit also. I bought a new sweater for a wedding in March so didn’t wear it again until yesterday so kind of new but not specifically bought for Easter.
A woman from my Sunday School class invited me to lunch yesterday morning. I had planned to go by a grocery store and get something already prepared. I had been out of town since the 12th and only returned Good Friday so not a lot of time to think about cooking anything. She had also invited the husband of another woman from our class as she is in Ohio with her daughter and family, watching their kids while they look for a house in Ohio. Currently they live in New York state. Both of the men are nuclear engineers so their discussion went right over my head. No Easter egg hunt though.
Enjoy your sabbatical!
Phyllis,
I love hearing stories about people reaching out to others and inviting them into their lives and especially into their homes. You are blessed to have folks like that in your life!
And yes, any discussions on nuclear engineering would be a bit much. Interesting to listen to but not too much to contribute!
Glad you had a newish sweater to wear on Easter. Newish is just as good as new!
Pretty Easter outfit Becky! The grandchildren are beautiful. So glad you are feeling better. Very nice photo of Sarah, I can’t believe she is graduating. I look forward to celebrating her when you post the ceremonial pictures. Safe travels for the coming month, it all sounds wonderful.
As for my Easter, I also recycled my outfit and it was just fine. I went out for brunch with the family and grandaughter(who keeps things lively) and afterward some of us took a stroll around Georgetown, DC, poking in and out of the multiple little shops. I got a sitter for Sarah because the day would have been to chaotic for her. The weather turned out nice. After returning home and getting Sarah fed etc, I settled in to watch Call The Midwives on PBS. Love that show, LOL.
Lesley,
Strolling around Georgetown and poking in and out of little shops sounds like a perfect way to spend an afternoon. So glad you had some me time to recharge and relax.
Yes, I enjoy the Midwife show too. I can imagine it being extra interesting for you since you are watching it through the eyes of a nurse. It amazes me what those women went through back then to give birth. They were a lot tougher than I would have ever been!
Hey follow Call the midwife fan . It is my all favorite time tv show ?
Katrina,
The show tells some amazing stories, doesn’t it? I haven’t seen much beyond the first season but I did enjoy that.
Well, what’s not to love about this post?! The Junior Smiths and Smithettes are adorable, Sarah is beautiful as always, Steve’s work on the platform re-design is incredible and I am totally jealous of your smashing Easter ensemble and of how good you are looking! Let me just waddle off to Walmart in my PJ bottoms.
Your sabbatical schedule sounds good . So glad you can have some time away. Love to all!
Deb
Deb,
Waddle off to Walmart. That made me smile.
But then again, you usually do! (Make me smile.)
We had a last minute dinner visit with our youngest grandkids, 9 and 1. It was a fun day with some much needed outside time after so many cold wintery days. Kids make the holidays so much more fun. I recycled an old outfit too. Can’t remember the last time I bought a new Easter outfit. I noticed that not many kids in our church get Easter outfits. That was always such a treat for us growing up-and of course had to have white patent leather shoes. Do they even make them anymore???
Patti,
Oh yes, the memories of the white patent leather shoes. Those were the days.
I think I remember buying some for Sarah but I don’t see them showing up much anymore.
You’re right–kids make special days sparkle all the more. Glad you had a chance to be with those special little ones AND enjoy the beginnings of spring.
We went to see our kids/grandkids. We had an easter egg hunt for the littles and spent most of Saturday outside because it was so sunny and warm!! Spent Friday night and most of Saturday, then home for our Easter vigil service at church Saturday night. It was just hubby and me on Sunday so no big meal which was fine with us. I spent the afternoon doing yard work and soaking up more sunshine…..gotta love that vitamin D! 🙂
Your outfit is very pretty and you look great! So glad you are feeling better. Sarah is beautiful, as usual. Looking forward to seeing the rest of the pictures!
I LOVE the kids’ outfits! So spring-y and Easter-y. Precious!!
LeeAnne,
There are few things more therapeutic than spring sunshine after months of winter. Glad you were able to get out with the kids and soak it up. It was also nice you had some quieter sunshine soaking time on Sunday.
Sounds like a perfect weekend!
Lovely outfit and so glad you are better. Steve is awesome and has done a wonderful job with the stage. Pictures are so cute of grandkids and Sarah is beautiful. So happy plans are working out for graduation. Enjoy your time off and prayers for rest and relaxation. I cooked for Jim and me and we ate Easter dinner Saturday and Sunday nights. Did FaceTime with one grandson. He was busy playing so did not have much time to talk. Have a great week. I, too, wore an outfit I have had for years. No new clothes in a while.
Ann,
Jim is blessed to have such a good cook in his life! One of the simple joys of marriage is all the meals a couple shares together over the years.
So thankful for the two of you!