Memorial Day Weekend

Paige and Morgan lakeside

We had an absolutely wonderful Memorial Day weekend at Silver Lake. This has been a Memorial Day tradition for many years. Just a few years ago it was a big group of single college kids and it has progressed to a large group of young families with kids. I have to be honest I had several reservations (even more than last year when I was very pregnant and only had one child). I wasn't sure how it would work and where everyone would sleep, etc. I wasn't sure how the kids would nap, or if they would even nap at all. But everything worked out beautifully and it was such a refreshing and renewing weekend. It's always such a blessing to be in the company of excellent friends. These people are genuine friends who mean so much to Justin and me. These are friends that we know we will be friends with for life. Even the ones we just see on Memorial Day. I look forward to seeing all these little children grow up together.

We had excellent weather and thanks to lots of SPF we had responsible tanners and everyone escaped without a trace of sunburn. Even the little fair skinned babies! Sunday was our busiest day, with a total of 24 people, 8 of which were children under age 5. We ate lots and lots of really good food, played lots of dock basketball, threw horseshoes, took several boat rides and canoe rides, fished, read, listened to music and just spent time catching up on each other's lives. I'll attach pictures from the weekend, but I will warn you there are lots and lots of them.

This is Reed Payne, she is the precious daughter of Brannon and Ann (Buster) Payne. She is 10 days older than Paige (10 months old). The Payne's found out last week that she has a mild case of Cerebral Palsy. As you can imagine this is devastating to them. They have an amazing faith in Jesus and I know they trust Him to bring them through. Please keep them in your prayers as they seek second opinions of doctors and therapists in Birmingham. Pray that they will find comfort in their Heavenly Father and that through this He will strengthen their faith in Him.

On a much lighter note and one of no importance at all compared to that of what the Payne's are facing... our old dog Jackson showed up at the lake this weekend. It's been almost a year since we had him put down and somehow he survived and was in full force at the lake this weekend. For those of you who had the pleasure of knowing Jack you will be quite surprised at the resemblance between Jack and the mysterious cur that showed up as soon as we got to the lake.

Enjoy the pictures.... the girls are both at my feet and I have a hard time concentrating... imagine that!!

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