A May Birthday

Our first born, Cameron Stewart, was born May 29th, 36 years ago:)
Then, I couldn't imagine our lives with a baby. Now, I couldn't imagine life without all 6 foot 4 inches of him (& our other kids)!

Cameron's arrival was a great blessing:)
He was a quiet, easy-going, little boy, always playing with Lego's, matchbox cars, his Big Wheel, & reading. Quite content to entertain himself:)

As an adult he has attended NCSU, worked for a few computer companies in the area (now at IConnect), has a special friend Holly, owns a townhome, enjoys biking & playing computer games with friends, hosts movie nights for his buddies, & recently bought this new Subaru, pictured here.

Cameron, here's wishing you another wonderful, healthy & content 36 years, plus countless more.
May the Lord be your Best Friend, may you be surrounded with dear close friends, & family that you enjoy being with:)
Love you, Mom:)

A Tough Thing To Hear; The 'D' Word.

This week, Tuesday, I stopped by my doctor's office to have a TB test. While there I asked for a few minutes with my doctor to discuss recent lab blood work results.
The office called last Friday notifying me that my lab tests indicated signs of renal failure; the 'D' word was mentioned...
Dr. Jordon made time for me immediately and gave me her undivided attention.
The verdict?
Yep--Diabetes.
The 'D' word has been dogging me for years. The thought of it drove me to Weight Watcher's a few years ago. After losing 25 lbs. I simply became lazy and fell into cahoots with old gluttony once again:(
Gulp.
The kidneys are hit hard with high blood pressure, carrying too much weight,  loving sweets in excess.
My walking, which my doctor loves (and I enjoy!), simply cannot overcome all that. Walking is a diabetics best friend, but losing weight is equally important.
So, what will I do with this diagnosis?

I need to change.
I have a sugar addiction.
God, this is hard. Help me with self control.

Skye Graduates!

Sunday afternoon, a cool sunny afternoon, Skye graduated Cum Laude from Appalachian State University with a degree in Appalachian Studies & a minor in Religion.

How exciting!
Her Grandma Robeson would be proud.
She always believed education was extremely important. And Skye's first year at App was paid with Mama's inheritance to our family:) It couldn't have been used in a better way:)

Now Skye looks forward to graduate school, and with that, the responsibility of finding a job(s) to help support her through at least two more years.

This is her time to figure out her passions, her unique talents, where the Lord is guiding her....the adventure begins!

I'm proud of you, Skye-girl!

The Home Place

 

This morning I drove down to Aberdeen to have lunch with my brother Lindsay. Afterward we met our sister Christy where the three of us set out to hike our home place, named "Sandrock Acres" by our mama.
The original farm was about 73 acres, & continues today to be Lindsay's home & Christy's family's home.

Our brother Mark sold his portion of the farm property to our cousin Tommy in the past year. Recently Tommy has asked if he could trade some acreage with me in order to build a house on the back hill, so Lindsay wanted me to walk the land & see what Tommy's proposing before signing on the dotted line.

After dividing up the farm a few years ago, then Mark selling his part, we're also rethinking the way the farm has been partitioned, thus another incentive to walk the property today & discuss what might be changed.

The weather was overcast, a mite muggy, but overall a good day to take a hike.
I sprayed thoroughly with insect repellent (remembering past nasty attacks of chiggers!), put on sunscreen, & knee socks with hiking boots (in case I came across a snake--which I saw the last time I hiked the farm!)

Right away my sister's little dogs flushed out a good sized "mama" turkey!! She flew up & away from her chicks, diverting the dogs' attention. I can't recall ever seeing one growing up!

As you can see by the photo, everything is lush & green, with many of the trees maturing so much in the last few years I had trouble orienting myself once in a while.
I must say, it is a beautiful place, more beautiful than it was when I was young. The creek has created wetlands where hardwoods have flourished, & the pines, rising out of a fresh carpet of pine straw, are reaching to the sky!

A sweet time today with my family in a place where we were first loved so dearly:)
Mark, wish you had been there too.

“There is a serene and settled majesty to woodland scenery that enters into the soul and delights and elevates it, and fills it with noble inclinations.”
Washington Irving