This Weekend....

...we built a fire pit.  And by we, I mean Scott.  

I retained my esteemed position of Chief Clean Up Gal and photographer.

Will was the runner, making sure Daddy had the right shovel, level, chain saw, etc. Yep, chain saw.  

Have you ever tried to shovel through North Carolina clay, completely embedded around tree roots?

Sometimes a chain saw is the best way to get through those roots. 

Scott got to use his new electric chain saw.  It doesn't really have the same savage sound as the gas powered version, but it got the job done. Take a look:

Eliza Grace managed refreshments and provided moral support.

Will also hauled stones and blocks.

 
All we need now is for ya'll to come over and enjoy it with us!

Daughter of the King.

Last night our American Heritage Girl (AHG) troop celebrated a wonderful tradition of honoring our 6th grade girls who will be moving to a new level in the spring. This event includes having the girls' fathers say a few words about their daughters and present them with a gift.

As part of the proceedings, the audience is told about a badge the girls have earned called "Daughter of the King."  

Here's what the AHG handbook says about being a daughter of the King:

"You are a daughter of the King! Though our culture may try to tell us differently, God sees each of us as beautiful, worthy of love, and full of potential!  It is important for us to hold these truths dear and live our lives accordingly, as our identity is in Him and we are made in His image."

As her mother, I make a concentrated effort to help Eliza Grace see her amazing worth and potential just as God as made her.

And Scott?  As her father he is KEY to this understanding. 

The relationship with, and the love and acceptance of, a daughter's earthy father immeasurably impacts her relationship with her heavenly Father, her self-image and, eventually, her relationships with other men.

Which brings me back to the events of last night.

Eliza Grace's sweet, sweet Daddy took the words he would say and the gift he would present very seriously.
Scott very publicly and eloquently told his daughter that he loves her and how proud he is of his smart, loving and quick-witted girl. He spoke about how much she has grown and matured in confidence.

He told the audience that she is a very brave and loyal young lady who is not afraid to try new things, voice her opinion or speak up for her friends and her beliefs.

He then presented her with a beautiful silver Claddagh ring, which he researched and picked out himself. He explained how he felt that the story behind the Claddagh described his daughter and how he felt about her. Take a look:

As he started to put the ring on her finger, he stopped and said, "Whoops, not that way.  That way would mean you're married," which got a chuckle from the audience and a mild look of horror from Eliza Grace.

Words have power and I know that the words of love and acceptance Eliza Grace heard from her earthly father will forever impact how she views herself and her heavenly Father.

She is beautiful. She is worthy of love. She is full of potential.

Eliza Grace is a daughter of the King.

25 Years Ago This Week, the InX Was Born!

Shortly after finishing my two-day Disney "Traditions" orientation in advance of starting my job at Walt Disney World, I pulled my 1978 Carolina Blue BMW onto Villa de Costa Drive in Orlando, Florida, walked up to apartment #7025 and asked to speak with a guy named Scott Hughes.

It was the third week in May, 1988. 

Little did I know that I was asking to meet my future husband and father of my children.

As well as meet what would quickly become some fabulous, lifelong friends!

 

 
 

It was, without a doubt, the best summer of my life.  

I have to smile at God's infinite wisdom when He chose to put such an amazing group of people together in the same place at the same time for the sole purpose of forming amazing relationships with one another...with the side benefit of pushing an old Bronco through sand :)

Happy 25th anniversary, InX'ers!  

Love y'all more than my luggage!

Mother's Day 2013

I've had a lovely weekend.

North Carolina's weather seems to have fully committed to Spring and we have had both plenty of rain and warm sunshine.

On Saturday evening, I took a quick drive over to Winston-Salem to have dinner with my Mother and my three sisters so we could celebrate Mother's day together.  

Mom, Dawn, Heidi and Me in a blurry iPhone pic.

We forgot to take a picture at the restaurant and when we finally remembered to take one, Kelly had already left :(  

Trey was too far away to join us but he was there in spirit! 

We had good food and lots of laughs, which was just what we all needed.

Mother's Day Sunday began with breakfast in bed, which was very nice, despite the fact that Will and Eliza Grace ate my toast and Chewie nearly upended the whole thing when he jumped on the bed.  Scott's omelet was divine, as always.

After church I used my "1 hour nap" coupon given to me by Eliza Grace.

Heavenly.

Scottie made his fabulous bread and grilled steaks for dinner.  I prepared a salad straight from our garden and we had watermelon for dessert.

And just when I thought the day couldn't get much better, I was told it was time for the show.

Eliza Grace had written a song for me and got her brother to run the props.

Will had prepared a little something as well.  My shy guy offered something short and sweet.

Definitely feeling the love today.

Dads, Daughters, Dancing.

Our American Heritage Girls Troop held its second annual Daddy Daughter Dinner Dance this weekend.

As one who helped to organize and execute the event, I must say our Fiesta-themed evening was quite a hit!

Everyone had a great time and, oh my goodness, it's so fun to see Dad's and their girls being silly and dancing together.

We had games for the girls and Dads to play before dinner.

After dinner we broke out the dance tunes. Scott even got out there for the chicken dance!

We even played a couple of slow songs.  Watching them dance to Butterfly Kisses about had me in tears! 

Eliza Grace just looked adorable in her peach-colored dress.  She is growing up so darn fast!

The girls had plenty of time to be silly and hang out with one another.

And when the Dads took a break, the girls were still going strong on the dance floor.

The obligatory group shot.

Followed by the obligatory silly faces group shot.

I'm so thankful for this group of families with whom we can do life.

And this is the beaming face of a sweet girl who had a really great time with her Dad and her friends!

Happy Place

Our family has been vacationing on Kiawah Island, South Carolina for just shy of 20 years.  

This was the place where our kids' feet first touched the ocean - before either had reached three months of age. It's no wonder they're so at home in the water.

For an amateur photographer, like myself, it's a great place to experiment with light and depth, expanse and detail.

Mysterious swamps, wide ocean views, amazing sunsets, fishing holes, winding paths, and Spanish moss laden live Oaks makes it a wonderful place to just breathe.

Throw in the Nature Center activities, a kids camp... 

...and the fact that it's 25 minutes from downtown Charleston's history, shopping and fabulous dining...

 

 and it's almost paradise.

No wonder it's one of our happy places.