Summer by the Sea

Oh the places my feet have been!

Well we are back to school and busier than ever. Little C is running cross country this fall and just had his first meet this week! Big C has been sick and had to miss 3 days of school. But he is better and we are going to enjoy our beautiful weekend.

We took a wonderful vacation in August with extended family to Gulf Shores, Alabama. We rented a beautiful house and made some sweet memories. My aunt and uncle were supposed to go with us, but could not due to his illness. So even though we had a wonderful time together it wasn't complete without them. My uncle passed away about a week after we returned home. He was a very important presence in my life and I miss him dearly.

So here some of our pictures of our time away. This pic is incomplete not just because of Aunt J and Uncle W but because Mom and Frank aren't in it!

Here they come!

A local woman has a terrific business that will come to your rental and provide a shrimp boil for you! Then she dumps it on the table and you dig in! Fabulous!!

I was hopeful that my boys would love the ocean as much as I do. At 17 and 12 it was the first time they were at the beach. I have traveled many places and seen lots of different oceans and it was really important to me that they experience it. They had a blast building sand castles and looking for exotic marine life. Man, those stupid jellyfish hurt! We saw some dolphins one day, lots of sand crabs,hunted shells and did some sightseeing! We even took a trip to Florida to the Naval Air station museum. In the end, we all had a really glorious time and Big C found his passion! He has a new focus for his senior year and is planning to major in marine biology in college! Oh well, we just might have to buy a beach house somewhere. You gotta do what you gotta do! Enjoy our pictures, I will try to update sooner next time! Thanks for sharing the seasons at Fort Cedar with me!

With a joyful heart,

Gigi

Reflections

Well I have been 40 for a week! It has been a great week here at Fort Cedar even though summer is zooming by so quickly. Golf and baseball are slowing down and now it is time to concentrate on getting some things done before school starts again. I really have some major decluttering to do. Bob and I worked on our bathroom yesterday and it feels so much better in there. I threw so much away and then made a plan for the rest. Instead of making a list and thinking about what I need to get the next time at the store- I went right away and got baskets for all of my cosmetics. It really turned out well and I was able to get ready much faster today! Here is my makeup drawer now. (Before this was a jumbled mess in three different spots, including all over the vanity)

I also got some baskets and divided things up by categories like I did my makeup. I now have a basket for hair stuff, for first aid(glad we didn't need that before!) and this is a pic of my face basket!

Okay so maybe everybody in the world already has done this but I just have not done this in my new house. Yes, I have lived in this house for like 5 years now! When we moved in I was just starting my teaching career and so the emphasis has been on school. It feels really good to have time to focus on home again. How simple $6 worth of plastics baskets! But just this small step has motivated me to keep going!

I have been pretty sad over the death of Michael Jackson these last few days. I have not always liked everything he has done but he is really a part of my childhood and adolescence. You don't have to like him , but he is undeniably the "King of Pop". His passing will be for many of my generation like the death of Elvis or John Lennon for the previous generation. We bought a CD of his number one hits last night. I really hope the money goes to his children. Do you think it does?

We are having a quiet 4th celebration here (except for the MJ tunes cranked). Bologna salad and watermelon! Bob and Casey are working at the golf course and Carter and I are enjoying doing our own thing! He is going to help me get that Michael Jackson on my ipod later! I guess we will watch fireworks on tv later. Does that sound pathetic? You know my kids have never really enjoyed fireworks so we prefer the dopey television shows like "4th of July from the Capitol" Hope you all have a terrific and safe celebration tonight! Enjoy this truly American holiday!

With a joyful heart,

Ginger

Baseball and Birthday

Friday June 26,2009



We are still busy with golf and baseball here at Fort Cedar. Casey had a tournament Wednesday and then we went to Deanna's for hamburgers. Dean was in town and it was so nice to be together again. Deanna has a beautiful new home and we watched a DVD from one of our camping trips in 2001. It was probably one of the most memorable at least for Deanna and the raccoon! The kids were so little and it was fun to hear their sweet little baby voices again. I think we all had a nice visit and I really hope we will do it again soon. It was just like it used to be and I have missed that. Dean stopped by our house on his way home and we always have a good time. Yesterday Carter had a baseball game at 5:30 and it was really hot! Fern, Deanna, Olivia and Haley came to watch!
"Hollywood" on his way to the game.


Tomorrow is my 40th birthday! Wow! You know the closer it gets the better I feel. I have been dreading it but this week I have started to embrace it!(what choice do I have?) But life really is good here at Fort Cedar. My family loves me, I have the job I have always dreamed of, my house is safe and comfortable, I have great friends! Life at 40 is good! It seems like I sort of have permission to be who I am now! I have already received some wonderful cards and gifts and tomorrow Mom and I have a terrific day planned. We are going to hit the flea markets, thrift stores,and health food stores. All of our favorite things! Hope life is good where you are. Leave me a post if you stop by!

Joyfully,
Ginger

Busy Days at Fort Cedar

Saturday, June 20

Summer is flying by here at Fort Cedar! Thursday we went to Silver Dollar City! We always have a great time but it was really hot!! We live pretty close so we decided to get season passes this year. The fall festivals and Christmas are really nice. My boys are not huge fans of the rides but love the "Great Shootout at the Flooded Mine". Here are some pics of them together and one of their final scores! Sorry boys, I think Dad won!

We also saw a new show at SDC called "Jeerk" otherwise known as "Dancin' Dudes from Sweden"! I have to admit we only went to see it because it was air conditioned! But it is a really great show. It is a rock and rhythm show where they make all sorts of objects percussion instruments, I recommend it if you have the opportunity. The park is really pretty this year so here are some more pics.

However, the fun doesn't stop here! On Friday we got up and left home at 6:30am to head to Greene Hills Golf course. Casey is golfing in a summer league and playing lots of different courses here in SW Missouri! He is getting to know some other players and play courses he doesn't get to during the school year. We had a great day together and Carter and I were thankful for a cart. We usually walk the courses but with our SDC day behind us and our early morning we decided to ride in style. It was a good decision too since there were so many golfers it took 6 hours! Casey did well and is loving his new wedge! Here are some pics from our day.

I hope everyone is having a blessed summer like we are here at Fort Cedar. Thanks for reading and post a comment if you have time! Let us know what you are up to!

Joyfully,

Ginger

Thursday, June 18

Well the blessings continue here at Fort Cedar. Our oldest son Casey had inherited an ugly little flaw on his X chromosone from me! He was diagnosed with Alport Syndrome about 6 years ago. This syndrome causes hearing loss and kidney failure. Casey has a terrific doctor at St. Louis Children's Hospital and has to go for check-ups every 6 months. He also takes two different medicines morning and night. So on to the blessings! Well there are many because God is so good and faithful but yesterday we got the really wonderful news that the protein his kidneys are spilling has drastically been reduced!! Hmmmm.....change in medicine or something else? I will tell you I know it is a miracle and I am overwhelmed by God's love!

The next few days are really busy! Today we are going to spend the day at SDC, a theme park close to our home, Casey has a golf tournament on Friday and my cousin's beautiful daughter is getting married on Saturday! This summer has been so incredibly busy, I am not used to this pace since for the last two years I have been in Europe with students. I am looking forward to lazy days in July!
Have a terrific day and if you stop by please leave me a post!

With a joyful heart,
Ginger

Some Thoughts on Fort Cedar

Fort Cedar is not in such good shape anymore. I remember (wasn't that yesterday?) when I was afraid for Casey to play alone up there-then I was afraid Carter would fall the edge(it's only about 3feet). But now the seasons have changed at Fort Cedar and those little boys have moved on to other interests(golf,facebook,baseball, video games). To most it looks like an eyesore but when I look out the window, I see a shelter(built by Ba-Pa)for two little boys and their imaginations. So maybe Fort Cedar has been damaged by the seasons but the memories have become sweeter.

Ginger

Check out this beautiful 4th of July giveaway! One of my favorite blogs!
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Wow I am beginning to realize how important goal setting really is in life. Since I am not taking students abroad this year I have had all these great ideas and things that I want to accomplish. However, without actual goals, I mean written down, I am not getting so much done! I wrote some goals down yesterday and I am trying to think about each one today. Here are some of my goals for the summer:
Professional> 1. Read book for next year's study 2. Complete curriculum(That's a big one)3. Create flashcards for vocabulary 4. Rethink systems and classroom organization

Personal> 1. Clear my utility room of clutter 2. Read/apply 7 Habits 3. Complete my Europe scrapbooks 4. Work on my blog 5. Practice my golf swing.

Let me know what you are working on right now. How do you set goals and keep of track of them? What keeps you going? Are there essential steps? How many goals do you work on at a time?

Welcome to my blog! I have been so inspired by all the beautiful blogs I follow that I decided to create my own! I am turning 40 in a few days and this blog is part of a new perspective for me. I need a place to focus on the important things in my life- my Christian walk and personal relationship with Jesus Christ, my husband and my boys and my home. I hope that by updating this blog a couple of times a week I can stay focused on the blessings we enjoy here at Fort Cedar. Welcome!

Ginger