Going to Carolina

 "I'm going to Carolina in my mind."  -James Taylor

"And in my truck."  -Us

This weekend began Phase One of the 

Barnette Family Relocation Project.  

We are exhausted.  

But we tried to have a little fun in the midst of all the work...

Sometimes a $7 dolly rental is more fun than a day at an amusement park.  :)

 

We can't forget the really important things.

I have no idea how my husband moved all the heavy boxes all by himself.
He's apparently a pretty strong fellow.

Seriously.  It never gets old. 

Going-Away Party

 We threw a going away party for the kids Friday.

They were allowed to invite their best friends: 

Elijah, Aryan, Gabe, Blaze, Matthew, and Chloe.

To my friends in North Carolina, please accept my sincerest apologies for massacring the shape of your state so poorly with my cake.  Lest anyone think it's easy to make the state of North Carolina with a 9x11" sheetcake and some icing, I assure you it is NOT.  I'd like to note that if God had called us to a church in a different state, it would have been much easier to make a cake look like Wyoming.  :)

John and his best buddy Aryan, who shares John's affinity for camouflage.

Happy Mother's Day

 Just got home from a great trip to West Virginia, where I had the rare pleasure of spending Mother's Day with my mom.  If you're reading this Mom, WE LOVE YOU!

The kids enjoyed their time with Mamaw Barnette, too.  And if you're reading this, Mamaw, WE LOVE YOU!

I visited my 92 year old grandmother in her nursing home.  Mamaw Rita has Alzheimer's.  I spoon-fed her lunch.  Humbling.

On Sunday morning, I was able to attend church with Mom and Dad.  They still go to the church I attended as a child: Dunbar First Baptist.  I had a great time catching-up with people there.  How do people who taught me to sing "I'm In the Lord's Army" when I was a kid still look EXACTLY the same when I'm 39????

I snapped a shot of this special place in my life.  These are the stairs where I was led to the Lord by a Junior Church (that's what we called it back in the day) teacher when I was ten years old.  I consider this spot Holy Ground.  :)

On Saturday, I had the distinct pleasure of attending a baby shower for my dear friend, Alison Clemans.  I had a fun afternoon catching-up with old friends from our last church, Good Shepherd Baptist in Scott Depot, West Virginia.  

I MISS YOU GOOD SHEPHERD!

I also was able to watch my sweet niece Lindsay play in the State High School Tennis Tournament while I was in town.  Lindsay, who is only a freshman, made it all the way to the finals, where she lost in a nail-biting 3rd set tie-breaker.  

We are so proud of you, Lindsay!

Oh, the Places We'll Go.

In 24 days, our family will be moving to Rocky Mount, North Carolina, where Tim has accepted a call to be the Senior Pastor of a wonderful congregation called Oakdale Baptist Church:  WE ARE SO EXCITED!!!  In anticipation of our relocation, I bought a copy of the classic Dr. Seuss book for my kids as a moving gift.  We love reading it together and dreaming of the fabulous plans the Lord has in store for the five of us.

Here are a few of our favorite parts...

Congratulations!  Today is your day.

You're off to Great Places!

You're off and away!

It's opener there in the wide open air.

Out there things can happen and frequently do

to people as brainy and footsy as you.

And when things start to happen, don't worry.  Don't stew.

Just go right along.  You'll start happening too.

You'll be on your way up!  You'll be seeing great sights!

You'll join the high fliers who soar to high heights.

On and on you will hike.  And I know you'll hike far 

and face up to your problems whatever they are. 

And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed!

(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

Kid, you'll move mountains!

So...be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray

or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,

you're off to great Places!  Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting.  So...get on your way! 

Tar River Trail, Rocky Mount

Psalm 100...by Anna Jean Barnette