Summer Trip

I don't really even know where to begin telling about my summer trip back to North Carolina. Guess I will begin by saying what Ellie said to me several times. "It looks like so much fun being a Grandmother. I can't wait till I am a Grandmother!" Ellie is right! It is lots of fun being a "Meme" or sometimes "NeNe." Although extended trips can be very tiring, I would say it's worth it. I was there a longer bit of time than Sam, but he would agree that the trip is defintely worth it. Just to list some of the fun, I will begin with Will (our oldest). He is 13 and such a sweet and handsome guy. I enjoyed watching him enjoy his cousins although he is the oldest, he is admired by all of them. He loves to play the guitar and is very good, I must say. Ellie is becoming more beautiful each day and the highlight of our time together was when she asked me one day at the beach, "Meme, when you aren't holding Ben or Eli will you hold me like your little baby? Holding her in my lap was so special as we sat together telling stories about her dad when he was a little boy. PawPaw and Will were sitting with us and we had lots of funny stories to tell. Byrum is defintely a great help in party planning. He did a great job helping with Mia's 3rd birthday party and getting ready for the Burgin Family Day. He is an expert on many subjects. I enjoyed watching him pick vegetables in their garden, swimming, entertaining his baby brother, Eli, watching Mr. Bean together, having conversations together right before bedtime. He is becoming a very good reader. I was able to be home for Mia's 3rd birthday party. I enjoyed seeing the families come together to help Mia celebrate. Mia loves books and I enjoyed getting to read to her before bed. She blessed my heart by singing "Give Thanks" to me one night and I asked her about one hundred times to sing that song to me that Blessed my heart. She always did. I was excited to see her little dance class perform on the last day of her dance camp. I didn't know I was going to get to have my first lesson in ballet, but enjoyed it. She made me smile so many times as she played with her cousins and at the beach asking this pretty tall blonde if she was Barbie. She is such a good helper too. She would walk into the kitchen and ask me "What are you making, Nene? Can I help you? She really likes to crack eggs.
I slept in the room with Ben sometimes and enjoyed hearing him in the morning waking up, talking to his Panda bear and Bubby that he slept with. Listening to him sing ABC and "I like to eat Apples and Bananas" in his language. Getting to see him take his first steps and continue with getting pretty braver by the day with his walking ability. Watching Eli crawl around and pull up and fall without even getting upset is pretty cute. His sweet smile will melt your heart and seeing him learn so much new everyday. "How big is Eli?" So big!
On the last day of my visit, Ashley and I along with Byrum and Eli went to the Billy Graham Library. That was a special treat! I bought a few books at the book store and in reading some quotes from Ruth Graham, one has stuck in my mind as advice to give my children as they raise our grandchildren. "Never let a single day pass without saying an encouraging word to your child."

My trip was just what I set out to do....enjoy family. Surprising my Aunt Marcie for her 80th birthday, spending time with Mama in her new home and meeting her new friends, and making memories for our family.

I love you family! You are all so special!