The Pediatrics team

The other night we had the pediatrics team over for a goodbye party for Aimée who is getting married and moving away. We had pizza, which they liked, and a leftover pumpkin pie from the Thanksgiving party which wasn't really a hit except to the girls. They enjoyed watching Tom and Jerry which is a big hit here. I guess it's because the plot is simple and they can follow it despite not understanding the words.

Esayi, Aimée, Jospeh, and Jeanne (she is a visiting medical student)

Then with the toubabs (white person) as well. The other white guy in the picture is Jake, a nurse who does anesthesia as well as pediatrics.

Our Christmas decorations

When it is 80-90 degrees outside, it is hard to feel like it is the Christmas season. So between that and the fact that three little boys occupy this house, our decorations are minimal. I considered not putting them up but the other day we were at our neighbor's who have put up all their Christmas stuff. Dawson came home saying, "why did they have their Christmas tree up? It isn't Christmas time." I told him it actually was Christmas time so he insisted we get the decorations out.

These are the boys' first Christmas ornaments. They are on my dresser since I want to see them but don't want the boys to touch them.

This is the whole set up. Do you think it's too much? :)

The tree was down on a table and the stockings hung on the drawers of the armoire, but within a day the boys had managed to break several ornaments and mess up the stockings so all went on top of the tv armoire.

We do actually have lights hung up in the living room as well, which Dawson wants on from the moment he is up until bedtime. I must admit, they are kind of fun, but something tells me we won't be winning the Christmas decoration contest this year. :)

Pictures of our time in the US

Though it was a terrible reason to come home, it was good to be with family. All the four grandkids who are only 7 weeks apart total were able to meet for the first time. (I didn't bring my camera so all pictures are courtesy of Jen or Ben- thanks! and this applies to the several other posts below.).

This was right after Shelby Grace and Silas met Eli. They shared very well.

sometimes. :)

And here is Riley, the fourth one year old. Somehow the cameras were never out when everyone was together but I wanted to attach a picture of her anyway. She's a cutie.

Silas enjoying sitting around with the family.

and playing with sticks.

bath time was fun

Silas and Zachary had sword fights. Silas missed hitting his older brothers.

Then there was baby in diaper time on the couch. Eli wasn't a fan.

but Shelby Grace was.

and so was Silas. They enjoyed being the center of attention.

who me?

Yes you, Silas.

So happy to be center stage

but Shelby Grace was up for the challenge to make people watch her too. :)

Yum Yums

There is this hot dog and ice cream shop, Yum Yum's, that my mom has taken us all our life. My mom has been going there since she was young. It is on UNC-Greensboro's campus. I LOVE ice cream, and Yum Yum's has the BEST ice cream in the world in my opinion. They also have awesome hot dogs. The best part is everything is really cheap. So when we are around that area, we try to stop. Now some people don't quite understand how wonderful this place is, but at least the girls in my family think it is fantastic and as Brett would always say, "It's Tradition.. tradition!" If we really wanted to walk down memory lane, we would first eat at Stamey's bbq, then head over to Yum Yum's. I have very vivid memories of being there with my grandparents so it is fun to now be able to take my kids. This was Silas' first trip (and yes, I documented the other two boys' first taste of the best ice cream in the world).

You start with the hot dog.

Silas enjoying the hot dog while I faithfully watch him because I have just handed him the whole thing instead of cutting it up.

Lovin' it.

Eli enjoying his as well. Ben was nice enough to share his ice cream with his son, I however, am not that nice. I get my own. No sharing of Yum Yum's ice cream.

Shelby Grace eating it a little more ladylike.

The gang.

The great grandkids.

Salem Lake

While Silas and I were home, we visited the lake where my Uncle John died with the family.

My aunt Patricia and cousin David

So the top row: my dad, Aunt Vicky, Uncle Rackley (Patricia's brother)

Zachary (Jen's son), Ben, Sarah and Eli

David and Patricia

Silas, Jen, Shelby Grace

my mom

Mom with her only granddaughter

David and Zachary

Zachary and his momma

The whole gang. Not a bad picture with so many people and three one year olds. :)

There you have it

The other night I was kissing Dawson. It's one of my favorite things to do-kiss my boys. As I was on the 20-30th kiss, I was reminded of how Brett tells me that I can't smother my boys because as he says, they are boys. So I stopped and asked Dawson if I was kissing him too much to which he said no. (thank you!)

A little bit later he said. "You can never give me too many kisses."

"I can give you kisses even when you are big like Daddy?" I asked.

"Yes!" he said with a huge smile.

So there you have it. I can't ever give Dawson too many kisses. So glad to know it. And believe you me I'll be pulling out this post to show him what he said when he is a teenager and doesn't feel like loving on his momma. :) And for the record, the week before, he also told me that he would always sit in my lap. So glad to know I am covered.

Uncle John

On November 7^th, my uncle John went to be with the Lord. He had gotten up early to ride around a lake in their area. Soon after that, a runner found him in the lake. Most likely he had an arrhythmia that caused him to die instantly and roll on his bike into the water. According to the autopsy, he did not have a heart attack nor aneurysm, nor did he drown. This was obviously a shock and a terrible loss for our family. He leaves behind his wife, Patricia, and two sons, David and Ben (wife Sarah) and grandson, Eli.

John was one of a kind. He could lighten the mood in any room. He was full of joy and laughter. He was always positive and encouraging. He was fun. He was always ready to play any and every game and would always try with all his might to beat his opponent, even if it was a little kid. He was athletic and full of energy. He loved NC State and often wore red with pride. He was highly intelligent and always curious and interested to learn new things. I feel like he never stopped seeing the world through a child’s eyes. He found the wonder in even the smallest of things, like monitoring the weekly growth of his tomatoes or keeping track of how much rain they had gotten with his rain gauge. These things and many others would inevitably end up on his blog so that everyone could join in excitement. His favorite invention had to be the digital camera. He could take as many pictures as he wanted without paying for developing. His camera was always in hand and he was always ready to take a picture of you doing whatever activity he felt was picture worthy. And these, of course, would also end up on his blog. He loved music and would often just start singing a song.

One day he was out taking a picture of his newly painted mailbox for his blog and realized he was capturing his shadow in the pictures. So forget the mailbox, he started taking pictures of his shadow. Like I said, he saw the joy and fun in the small things. :)

John loved his family deeply. He and Patricia were inseparable. They were best friends who did everything together. As Patricia says, they were best buddies. They truly had something special. He loved Patricia well and served her in every way.

He loved his boys as well. He passed on to them his intelligence and desire for knowledge. Both ended up at Duke University. He was proud of his boys and never failed to support them. Whether David was working for Flyswat, Yahoo, or Kiva, you could find John wearing a hat or shirt supporting his son’s work.

The family grew a little over a year ago when Ben and Sarah had Eli and so did John’s love. He was so proud of his sweet grandson and would be sure to tell you a story or show you a picture.

I love his face in this picture.

He loved his great nephews as well.

John with Zachary, my sister's son.

More than a love for his family, John had a love for the Lord. He was a true servant, always willing to help anyone with whatever task they had. He always served without grumbling or complaining. He loved everyone and always made people feel accepted. John understood that this life was only a foreshadow of what was to come. He was willing to tell anyone about the Lord and ask if they knew Him personally. He was a man of prayer. Even his prayers at dinner became a moment for him to pray for the lost and that we would be servants of the Lord who would faithfully share His love with others. There are many verses that can describe John because he was a man who lived for the Lord. He lived out Christ’s example, humbling himself and becoming a servant. Another passage that I believe John lived out well is Romans 12:9-18

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

John lived out these verses. He was a peacemaker and a servant.

John was like a second father to me. Patricia and he were very much involved in our lives growing up and even now as adults. They came on our family vacations. We talked to them regularly. I always knew that they loved me, cared for me, prayed for me and supported me. When I was home for his funeral, I had to look for something in his wallet. There were pictures of course, of his sons, his wife Patricia, his daughter-in-law, his grandson, as well as of his nieces. I feel privileged to have made his wallet. I love John very much. John taught me several things. One, to enjoy life, even the simple things. One should never lose sight of the wonder of things. Two, how to be a servant. John constantly gave to others and served with his whole heart. It was impressed on me at a young age that John and Patricia were servants. Though they had all they needed, they weren’t wealthy, yet they gave generously to others. They were always helping this or that family, giving their time to some group or volunteer organization. Their love for the Lord poured out onto others. That flows into the third thing his life taught me- to love unconditionally. John never met a stranger nor ever felt that he was above another. He was willing to associate with people of low position. Or any position. He didn’t see color or status or political affiliation or anything but the person and he loved them.

John will be dearly, dearly missed. As I have said before, if you had to be stuck in a room with one of our family members, you’d want it to be John. He was a joy to be around. He made any situation better. Life just won’t be the same without his camera catching every activity, even if it was you sneezing or asleep on the couch, and without his smile and laugh that could warm any heart. We love you, John, and though we know you are rejoicing with your Father in heaven, we on earth are left with a void that can’t be replaced. There is no one like you, John. You are one of a kind, an amazing husband, wonderful father, terrific uncle, a beautiful child of God who knew His Father well and shared His love with others.