Tennessee Turkey

We spent 4 days in Tennessee with Tony's mom and Bruce. It was a wonderful visit. We celebrated Thanksgiving together. Tony's mom is a wonderful cook and fixed so much food it was unreal. This year I even helped make the sweet potatoes! Friday was a long and wonderful morning. Tony and I hit Wal-mart at 4:30 am for their Black Friday Sale and finished up some Chrsitmas Shopping. Since it was Catherine's 8th birthday we picked up donuts to start the day out right! (more about her birthday in a later post). I have to say while I would not want to live in Tennessee, visiting is such a wonderful experience. Tony's mom and Bruce are such nice people. Although like most visits when we leave there are tears as well as colds starting (each year we seem to come home with a cold after visiting).

In the Deep Blue Sea!

Today we did out visit of the Atlanta Aquarium. We arrived right when they opened. As a matter of fact, the river otters were still sleeping when we arrived! We were able to see Nana the Manta Ray, the main reason we wanted to visit. This year Catherine's science is Zoology 2: Swimming Creature of the Fifth Day. So we have been reading and studying animals of the ocean. So when we read that the Atalanta Aquarium now has a Manta Ray, the only place in the US to see one, we had to visit. The Aquarium was great! The kids really enjoyed watching, learning, and even touching sea creatures. We were able to touch a sting ray, horseshoe crab, and a see anemia. Over all I recommend this aquarium!

Following our aquarium visit we grabbed lunch and continued our drive north.....next stop Oneida, Tennessee!

On the Road again...heading North.

Well today we headed north to Atlanta. After a nice visit with Tony's Grandma we headed north to Atlanta. The drive was long but fun. We watched movies, read books and talked. We stayed in a hotel in Atalanta for the night. Next goal to see the fishies!

Fresh Fruit....God's goodness!

Today before we left Florida we stopped to visit Tony's Grandma. What a wonderful lady Alice is! We had a wonderful visit with her and it was great for the kids to see their Great Grandma. One fun thing was fruit picking. Alice has an orange tree and a grapefruit tree in her back yard. Our kids have picked fruit before but never citrus fruit. So thanks to Alice the kids were able to pick fruit. We picked so much fruit and there was still TONS left. I have to say this is some of the best fruit I have had in ages!

Family Get Together!

Today was a day for family to get together. Tonys' dad and Pat invited Tony's brother and Dianna over for a dinner and family time. It was so great to see his brother and Dianna again. We had a wonderful Italian dinner by the excellent cook Pat!

I even got to drive Pat's sports car that day to run and get some last minute items from the store. It was scary to drive it, as I am not a person who drives other's cars. Tony's dad and I went to the store to get some deserts and salad items. When we went into the garage he handed me the keys and said "you drive." I was shocked and very nurvouse. His response was "I drive it all the time and it is insured." So I drove it and it was great. Not sure I am ready for a sports car over my mini van but it was nice. On the way back home he put the top down.

The best part of the night was getting family pics. So in the guys we have 3 generation of Pierce men. Only one missing was Justin as he was at his mom's.

A day of fun

Today we started off with the Cracker Christmas Festival in Umatilla, Florida. The reason for attending the parade was to support Paul, Tony's Brother. Paul is a Road Runner with the Shriners. He did a great job in his mini Corviar. Although he did ended up breaking down and having to be towed by another Road Runner. That was funny, I know for him it was not funny. To see a Road Runner towing another Road Runner down the road with all the other cars after the parade was over.
Following that parade we went to a Soup and Salad fundraiser for a charity in Deltona. Tony's father, Bill did his Elvis show for part of the entertainment. A great time was had by all.

Abra's Wedding

The reason our vacation started when it did was because of Abra. Abra is a friend from College. She is the one person I stay in total contact with from college. She stood up with me at my wedding. Today was the day she said I do. Her wedding was aboard the Carnival Splendor. To say the boat is big is an understatement, it is HUGE! The wedding was very simple and very beautiful. The cruise ship also hosted the reception in this little "night club" within the ship.

I also got to meet up with Erik, who also went to the same college as Abra and I. I have not seen him since school. It was great to see him again.

Being on the cruise ship makes me dream of the day I can go on a cruise. Although that day may never come I can still dream. It is funny when you have children and set different priorities, such as not working and homeschooling, the things you are willing to not have, such as going on a cruise.

Abra is such a great friend and a beautiful bride. I pray the God bless her and Scott and their lives are "happy ever after."

On the road again!

Well it is that time again....time for a road trip. It has been 2 years since we took a vacation. This year we again are headed to Florida and Tenn.

We left at 9 pm on Wednesday, November 19th. We drove straight through to Deltona, Florida. The total time was 23 hours. Although only 20 was on the road, the rest was potty stops and eating. We had dinner at a rest area in Florida. Before we left I baked a loaf of bread that we took with us to make sandwiches. Over all I would say the trip went nice and smooth. The kids did get restless after awhile. Mainly Christopher, who started telling us he had to go potty just to have a reason for getting out of his seat.

So here we are in Florida....let the fun begin.

Hands

A basketball in my hands is worth about $19.
A basketball in Michael Jordan's hands is worth about $33 million.
It depends whose hands it's in.


A baseball in my hands is worth about $6.
A baseball in Roger Clemens' hands is worth $475 million.
It depends on whose hands it's in.


A tennis racket is useless in my hands.
A tennis racket in Andre Agassi's hands is worth millions.
It depends whose hands it's in.


A rod in my hands will keep away an angry dog.
A rod in Moses' hands will part the mighty sea.
It depends whose hands it's in.


A slingshot in my hands is a kid's toy.
A slingshot in David's hand is a mighty weapon.
It depends whose hands it's in.


Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in my hands is a couple of fish sandwiches.
Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in Jesus' hands will feed thousands.
It depends whose hands it's in.


Nails in my hands might produce a birdhouse.
Nails in Jesus Christ's hands will
Produce salvation for the entire world.
It depends whose hands it's in.


As you see now , it depends whose hands it's in.
So put your concerns, your worries, your fears, your hopes, your dreams, your families and your relationships in God's hands because...
It depends whose hands it's in.