Yes, it's cold in the 'Ham. Last year, our winter was so mild I felt like we didn't even see Old Man Winter! Enter winter in 2017 and to now, Winter 2018. Go ahead, blast me! I deserve it! I wrote on Facebook that I wanted it to be cold on Christmas. You know, to FEEL like Christmas???? Notice I said ON CHRISTMAS. Only on Dec. 25th! HA! Well, Mother Nature must need a hearing aid. She must have thought I said COLD FOR THE WHOLE SOUTHERN WINTER! Honestly I am tired of it now. Tired of freezing when I get out of the car to run into Target. Tired of wearing a coat (didn't even wear one last winter!). Tired of not being able to sit on my porch swing. Ok, so enough complaining. It's here and it's cold and I'm dealing with it. Don't know about you (especially my Southern friends) but it ain't easy. TODAY and TOMORROW we are getting a slap in the face of some SPRING like temps! only to be backsided with freezing temps on Sunday. So, I'll take the next 2 balmy days. Thanks, Mother Nature, for at least 2 days where we can go without coats (and almost wear flip flops).....!
Christmas with all the Fry fam is as per always: Fun/Frantic/Fleeting!!!!! To keep from letting this be one big boring blog about complaints, I am going to say we had FUN FUN FUN over the holidays (starting with Thanksgiving) and through the New year!!!! Our big news is NOT a new baby this year, but, it does start with a "B". We have a New boat!!!! YAY!!!!! We got our little "Floating Condo" so we (me and Big T) can slip away some (if he can get away from the golf course!) and chill on the water in the Gulf of Mexico! We have our New Baby/Boat docked at "The Wharf" in Orange Beach, Ala. (for those not familiar with the Alabama/Florida line, Pensacola is over the bridge down there). It takes about 4 hours to get there by car (longer on the way home if it's a week-end and traffic abysmal in Clanton!) but a great and fast trip. Just far enough but not TOO far. Anyway, we have looked for 2 years at boats! Been to boat shows/ visited in Destin's wharfs, etc. Found a couple we loved. One, we really thought we were going to get, didn't pass inspection at last minute. Very disappointed isn't the word. (Terry, same!). But, another one came up. Terry didn't even to really look at it but we did b/c the guy who has helped us so much kept saying he thought we would really like it. So, all the way there, Terry complained and moaned about how "I know I'm not going to like it , I don't know why we are even looking at it". Famous last words! This boat , unless you're dense (like me), is now ours. HAHA! After making offers, etc (yeah, like buying a house!), and passing inspections, this baby, a beautiful Sea Ray, is ours. She is docked at The Wharf in OB as I mentioned and love the spot on the pier she is sitting on! We can see the bridge that goes into OB. (if you're coming down and go to OB , when you come to the end of the bridge, you're there!!! Turn right and that's where we are located!). The first 2 trips down were mainly to take our new things on and to see what things we needed on there. Trips to Walmart/Target , etc helped plus I had bought lots of cute nautical goodies (I bought at the end of the summer last year) like pillows, plates, decorations. I "GranJanned" it. HA! It was so much fun just making it personally our space. First trip was down after Thanksgiving and , then , the 28th of Dec . we went down through the New Year. What fun that was! (and got to watch the episode of "house Hunters" featuring the HORNES!). We also took the DOGS with us! it was fun, they were freaked at first, didn't know where they heck they were, but soon settled down in their little "boat beds" and were happy (as long as we didn't leave them!)! we DID leave them one night to go eat and OMG, Chi Chi managed to get out of the glass sliding door and was waiting for us when we returned, lol.*Oh, one more thing about our boat. We struggled what in the world to "name it". (yes, boats have to be named). We went thro it all! I wanted something to do with our fav team (ALABAMA! ) but Terry kept shaking his head. O that and any other suggestions I had. Finally, one morning , he came running out of the bedroom and said, "It hit me while in the shower what we have to name the boat! WHAT DOES IT TAKE!Ok, Yall, I cried. I did. That is the name of "our song" way back in 1969 ! "What does it take" by Junior Walker and the All Stars!!!!! So, THAT is it! Go look for "What does it take" at the Wharf and you will find us!
All in all a great holiday but looking forward to Spring and having the kids/grands come down , to hang on the boat with us! Hope everyone reading had a great holiday and looking forward to a New Year! praying your New Year will bring health and happiness to you,too. We've had some friends who have cancer and also have had friends whose parents passed away and all are close to our hearts and in our prayers. As we get older we see, even more, how precious family and health is . Michael had the flu on Christmas so that was a bummer but just thankful it was "just the flu". But, for me, I was really bummed not seeing my #2 son for Christmas! But, for those dealing with cancer or other serious illnesses we pray for you and your families and I can't imagine all you are dealing with!
We are so thankful to attend an incredible church ("Christ the King" Anglican church) with our pastor Father Michael. It is a church that is comprised of many young couples, (thus many children and always someone pregnant!), and so thankful to see how invested they are in the life of the church and in our Lord and Savior. Many are in Samford's Divinity school (we meet in Hodges Chapel at Samford) so thus, we get many students. It's wonderful! (but, dang I feel old!). I remember when Terry and I were they young parents of 5 and sitting on a pew with 7 people!!! now , it's bittersweet when I see families with their children b/c wasn't that just yesterday I was telling Michael/Natalie to stop picking on each other during church service??? Life is going by like a rocket contrail. ("Go Banks" for those who got that little nugget "rocket contrail"). Truly, tho,Fast and fleeing. And we are truly trying to hold on to that contrail as hard as we can before it becomes just a whiff in the sky. I feel blessed beyond measure, feel God's JOY so strongly I could weep (and sometimes do) and so thankful that Terry and I still are traveling this journey TOGETHER . It's been long and sometimes hard over these past many years since 1971, having 5 kids/ surviving my fall/ business ups and downs and so many great times but honestly, many not without tears and difficulty! It's called "marriage", lol. But when we gave it ALL to God, how He miraculously weaved in us His love and joy, even in the hard times that would come (and will come) . His Word has been our guiding and His Voice and I pray if you are searching for Him, you will go find a place you can hear that Word and belong to a place of believers. Not trying to proselytize here but offering HOPE if you have not experienced the love of Jesus. It's real. It's true. It's undeniable. And, if you seek Him, you will find Him.
SOOOO, happy 2018! And if you are planning at trip to the Gulf Coast, come by and see us! We would LOVE to have you aboard!!!
P.S. One more VERY important thing!!!! ROLL TIDE ROLL! We are THE CHAMPIONS!!!!!
