A Blast Through the Summer

Are you ready?  I realize that there is no way I can cover the whole summer or all the amazing experiences and people we had but I will post some final pictures of the summer so we can move into Autumn (since it is almost October!)

The girls learned how to swim this summer thanks to this sweet lady!  It only took one week of lessons and then they were off!

We got to tour Wretched TV studios and see how the shows are recorded and edited. 

Ludie was surprised by being called out onto the set during a recording and actually was interviewed by Todd Friel on Wretched TV for a show that has now been aired!

We also got to make s'mores with two of our favourite people in the world: 

 Larry Boy!

and Suzanne Miller.  This woman is one of the biggest influences on our family's life and is such a blessing!

This is the Hunt House on campus at Southeastern Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC, named after our pastor, Johnny Hunt of First Baptist Woodstock, our home church.

We got to meet up with former Immersion student Ashlyn and her hubby for some Irish Pub Grub.

Camping with the Creech Family!  We used to all stay in tents.  We have now upgraded to RV's.  Thankfully they let us bunk in with them.  Here are the kids enjoying FROG LEGS for supper.  Yep!  And they are GREAT!  You just can't think too much about what you are eating.

Pop Doing what he does best, cooking!

Does anyone want a pot-bellied pig for sell?

Lakeside mornings! ....The best!

Bet you haven't been to church in your golf cart!  I had to take a picture for our friend Mick. :)

A family tradition.  You have to have your picture withe the gorilla.

Pictures of home.  North Carolina.

I grew up riding the boats at Pullen Park.  Now my baby is doing it!

Yes, we crashed paddle boats (Traci Byrd always told me, "Rubbin's Racin'")

Our kids favourite thing to do with Granddaddy....Ice Cream!   They got to experience Carolina Concrete for the first time. You can hold your bowl upside down and it does not slide out.

Precious hugs!  Precious moments!

There are more hugs to go around. 

Barbara's side of the family.  It is rare that we are all together at the same time to get a photo!

The kids got to go to a Mexican Restaurant for the first time and celebrate Uncle Mark's birthday!

Later we finished the night with future NBA star, cousin Alexander.

...then an Irish Reel

And of course no night is complete without the worm (Yes he used to get paid to breakdance!)

Lila got to meet Aunt Jane for the first time.  They weren't strangers for long.

Uncle John carried on Uncle Horrace's family tradition of giving all the kids baseball caps.
What a blessing it is to be with family.  We don't see them often so it makes each visit so precious.

Summertime in Slapout, Alabama

Slapout, Alabama is one of our favorite places in the world to be.  If you blink you may miss the intersection with the Piggly Wiggly store and the outdoor produce market, but you can't miss some of the kindest people on this earth from Shoal Creek Baptist Church.

Shane Russell at Shoal Creek.  One of the best friends and best pastor you will ever have.

Traci Edgar who has one of the most beautiful voices in the world.  Traci came to Ireland and worked in Sarsfield community in Athlone helping with a baseball camp.  What a lasting impression she made, especially in the lives of our family.

Barbara Kay.   Just a ball full of fun and love!  I'd stick her in my suitcase if I could.

The girls enjoyed Sunday School and made a bunch of new friends.

Thanks to the Carter family, we had a great day on the lake.  I even got to paddle board for the first time!  (I didn't post that picture because that one does not hide my hips). :)

The boys had fun on the lake, the boat and jet ski's could not go fast enough for the adrenaline junkies.

Emily Grace.

Here's my handsome spotter for the kids on the tube.  I think it is a law you have to wear camouflage in Alabama. 

Griffin almost got lost on this turn but Clayton saved the day and grabbed his arm

Griffin and Clayton waiting their turn on the tube and enjoying the company.

We met these precious families last year when they came to help us at the National Ploughing Championships in Ireland.  They will be back again this year!  We cannot wait.  What did we do after dinner?....

Target shooting of course.  One of my favorite things to do.  However I aim for the bucket....

When Griffin takes aim.....

he aim's for the letters. 

This pizza is called "The Big Ugly".  It is the biggest pizza we ever saw introduced to us by....

Rachel and Dan whom we also met at the National Ploughing Championship last year in Ireland!

Griffin watching and encouraging a new friend target shooting.

This is also one of my favorite places because I start the morning with Jesus and Big Bird (can you see the crane at the end of the pier)?  I love waking up before the kids and getting out to read the Bible, pray and have devotions.

We also love going to get crickets at the local bait shop and fishing

Emily caught the first fish last time we were here three years ago and she did so again.

There's never enough time to spend with the Russell family but when we do get together, it sure is fun. 

Pig Pickin's and Near Death Experiences

If you are from the South, you know what a "Pig Pickin" is.  You grill a pig over hickory coals all day and then when it is done you pick the meat off, chop it up and eat it.  In the Eastern part of North Carolina we are known for our Carolina BBQ Sauce which consists of apple cider vinegar, brown sugar and chili pepper flakes.  I did not get a picture of the whole hog but Ludie's dad and brother chopping up the meat.  Ludie Sr. and Kevin are the best around and are often asked to cater events.

Of course no pig pickin or fish fry is complete without hush puppies. (Sweet fried cornbread is the best description I can come up with.)

Lila got to see her baby book for the first time with her Grandmother.

Sitting by Uncle James is also very entertaining for all of us.

We have not been able to attend a Smiley family reunion in at least 14 years, until this year. 

This is a cultural experience all in itself.

Of course the day is not finished without a visit to Uncle Pig's farm to see what new animals he has.

Here's Grace, the new Brahma cow.  She is beautiful.  Ruthie now understands what an electric fence is by experience.

Of course a visit isn't completely authentic without a ride in the pick up truck.  That's "a whole lotta youngins!"  Our kids just adored being with their cousins.

You never go hungry with Judy around.  I've never seen someone work so hard canning and freezing.  If anything ever happens, these are the people you want to be with!  They are prepared.

Oh and I almost forgot...the near death experience.   Well I wish I had a video or picture of this to show you.  Reading it is not nearly as funny as seeing it.  Ludie and I decided to get some exercise and ride our bikes up to Uncle Pig's.  So when we got there, we found Ludie's brother and a sister-in-law (Katie) had ridden the golf cart behind us.  However, attached to it was a rope that was pulling Claude (Ludie's other brother, Katie's husband) on a bicycle.  When leaving, the bicycle that already had a messed up tire, crossed over the rope and the slack from the rope snapped tight sending the bike and Claude flipping over.  Claude flipped what seemed to be at least six feet in the air.  When coming down out of the air, he was heading towards the pavement headfirst.  Claude did a tuck and roll, landing in the middle of the road.    Cars stopped coming from both directions.  If that had been me they would have had to peel me off the road.  Of course, Claude had only a small scratch on his foot.    The handlebars were then stuck backwards.  He dusted himself off, laughed, got on the bike and continued home as the golf cart pulled the bicycle.

Being in the Creech family can have you screaming in terror one moment and then laughing your head off the next.  I have to admit, I don't take stomach medicine when I visit anymore because of the craziness, but I am never bored when I am there.