Happy Spring from the Frys!
We've been busy with so much going on the past couple of months! From going to check on the boat to busy with lots going on at our church (Christ the King Anglican). Right after Ash Wednesday (or was it right before? I can't remember, lol!), we were given the great news that, after meeting 10 years at the beautiful Hodges Chapel at Samford, that we had a chance to purchase our very own church building. Many have been praying for this for a long time! While we love worshiping in such a lovely chapel, the church was growing and we needed much more space. Terry is on the Vestry and he had been telling me that things were moving along! Sure enough, God blessed us with the opportunity to purchase a beautiful church, (after the congregation voted!) ,and we are thrilled. It's the"Berney Points Baptist church" if you're familiar with it (you can see it if you're traveling towards town on I-65 from Hoover. The members from BP Baptist were older and the congregation was dwindling so that is the reason that they felt the need to sell it and find something smaller to fit their needs)It needs some work done to the Sanctuary so it will be Fall before we get to move it, but everyone is just so excited!!!
All the Frys (Hornes and Cullens) are good! We had a wonderful Easter Sunday lunch, here, after everyone got out of their respective worship services. The only one missing was Kelley, who had to work (Nurses don't get holidays!). The kids were all great and it was wild and fun and LOUD. haha
I have been busy working on Bible Journaling and hope to offer a class as soon as we get into our new church. I've watched a gazillion videos and it's really a wonderful way to do art and learn some scriptures, too! I'm pretty obsessed with it, honestly, haha! Along those same lines, I am doing a similar type journal devotional called "100 days of Bible Promises" and it's also a journal where you can use art as well as doodle or journal. It's a shame I'm not an artist because I LOVE paints/pens/watercolors, etc. but I sure can use stencils and get ideas from others to use to make my own little hobby fun for me. It's so relaxing and nothing better than to have my cup of coffee/ my pens and paints/ my Bible and start doodling!!!
I took my usual sabbatical from FaceBook on Ash Wednesday like I have for the past couple of years. This year was different for me. I didn't blog like last year, which was my intent, instead I was constantly asking God "what do You want of me?" Not sure where He was leading me and it wasn't until almost Holy Week that I realized it was my Bible Journaling! I knew that I was supposed to share my joy with it with others who like to have quiet time or study and that's when I really started watching YouTube and getting so much into it and enjoying it so much and I realized that it would be great to share what I've learned with those who love arts/crafts. So, I am looking forward to teaching!!!
On Easter, I realized I could've gotten on FaceBook if I wanted since the 40 days were over (FYI, I "gave up" Facebook for Lent). But, I really didn't have the desire to get back on, honestly. Instead, I have enjoyed posting pictures on Instagram vs. reading posts on Facebook that were inappropriate or political rants (OMG!) or just wasting time scrolling down posts of who knows what, lol. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE reading what (most) of my friends write! And seeing their pictures, etc. But, for me , personally, it was taking a big chunk of time every morning as I sat at this very computer, scrolling on Facebook. I didn't miss it one bit! So, I have decided that while I still will get on some, I plan on not getting on nearly as much as I have. and the funny thing is, I really don't have the desire to at all right now. I've become introverted in my old age! HA!
So, that's all, folks! Pretty boring stuff from GranJan10~!!! Heres' a few pix of what I've been doing since Ash Wednesday if you're one of my Facebook Friends who have sent me messages you missed the kidlets! here they are!!!!!!! *FYI, they are all out of order! OOPS, sorry!
Winter Doldrums (and how to beat them!)
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!!!!!
