Weekend Happenings

Good Friday morning!

The Gallery Pic is of Roxie and Monica... at the pool... SURPRISE, SURPRISE! Next week, I'm going to try NOT to post a pool picture. I can't promise, but I will most definitely try. One of the nicest summer traditions is spending time with cousins who live 30 or more minutes away. The amount of time isn't really the problem, of course, but school, extracurricular activities, etc., etc. do tend to get in the way during the fall, winter and spring seasons. We try to take advantage of more relaxed schedules these short, few weeks we call Summer!

RANDOMNESS - In a few short weeks, the Faulkner Five will be traveling to Amelia Island for a little getaway. It's a beautiful island about 40 minutes north of Jacksonville, Florida. And when I use the word "island," I want to clarify you do not even realize you are on an island. There is a very short bridge you drive over to reach your destination. I didn't want you to think we were going tropical or anything!

The kids and I were fortunate to tag along with my sister and her family a couple of years ago when they were there for a work conference... and I totally fell in love with Amelia Island. I love the name. I love the sunsets. I love the beaches which are SO different from the gorgeous white sand beaches I grew up visiting each year in Gulf Shores. But, guess what?

Amelia Island is known for their manatee population which swim freely in a saltwater river which separates Amelia Island from Cumberland Island. And guess what else?

There is a herd of 150 feral horses which live on Cumberland Island and roam free. But wait! There's more!

This is sea turtle season, and there are nests all over the beaches of Amelia Island. While many of these nests are marked, protected and CANNOT be touched or tampered with in any way, shape or form, there is the tiniest chance we might see baby sea turtles hatching and making their way to the ocean. Of course, we aren't allowed to have flashlights on the beach, so if we do actually find a nest to watch, we cannot stay after dark to "see what happens." I'm not going to be holding my breath for this one!

I know what you're thinking... This is almost too much excitement for one post! And I still have more to tell you!

I heard a rumor that Tom Selleck has a home at Pointe Vedra Beach, which is fairly close to Amelia Island. Although I haven't been able to confirm this information on the Internet, I am making sure there is a block of time during our visit to "look for Mr. Tom Selleck."

I guess the ultimate Amelia Island experience would be to go on the River Cruise (tickets have been bought, by the way)... see Mr. Tom Selleck sitting bareback on a feral horse... which would, of course, be standing knee-deep in the river with manatees swimming all around... holding a giant sea turtle under his right arm. Yes, indeed. That would be a picture worth a thousand words!

TOPIC OF THE WEEK - FAULTY FOCUS

I'm going to share one more little tidbit from Chapter Seven of Calm My Anxious Heart. It is a poem written by a 14 year-old boy, and it really sums up how so many people think.

It was spring but it was summer I wanted; the warm days and the great outdoors.

It was summer but it was fall I wanted; the colorful leaves and the cool dry air.

It was fall but it was winter I wanted; the beautiful snow and the joy of the holiday season.

It was now winter but it was spring I wanted; the warmth and the blossoming of nature.

I was a child but it was adulthood I wanted; the freedom and the respect.

I was twenty but it was thirty I wanted; to be mature and sophisticated.

I was middle-aged but it was twenty I wanted; the youth and the free spirit.

I was retired but it was middle-age I wanted; the presence of mind without limitations.

My life was over but I never got what I wanted.

Food for thought, isn't it?

Weekend Happenings

I'm not sure who, and I'm not sure when, but I think Toy Story 3 will be playing a part in our weekend. At least, I hope it will!

Saturday will be spent doing a little cooking, and later in the day we'll be having a birthday celebration for my sister, Bev. (Which also means a little shopping is in my future this weekend! Don't worry. I already have a gift idea.)

After church on Sunday, we will be going to visit Mikie's family (Code for I GET TO SEE MY GREAT-NEPHEW, MATTHEW). The kids and I have a little something special planned for Mikie's Father's Day Celebration Sunday evening, and we are ALL looking forward to that outing!

Family, family, family describes the upcoming weekend for us. (Oh, and NO pool pics!)

Have a great weekend. Make memories. Enjoy special AND ordinary moments. Take at least 100 pictures... AT LEAST! I have tons to share next week. There are so many great summer ideas to "copy." You really must come back!

Take care, and I'll talk to you Monday.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda