Wildlife Drive-Thru Ranch with Nanny

We got to go to the Wildlife Drive-Thru Ranch with Nanny!

Nanny stuck her fingers out and the ostrich nipped her!!!! 

We roll the windows up for the zebras too.  Those teeth look scary!

Freedom beat us to the van! 

Happy 17th Birthday Joy!

For Joy's 17th birthday party, Rebekah and Glory insisted on scheduling a day earlier than Joy had planned as a surprise.

Glory made photo booth props!

And every Burgin Birthday has streamers and balloons!

Her party was RIGHT AFTER a soccer game.  Her friends got to the house before her dad brought her home to surprise her.

Snacks!

Trying out the photo booth.

Opening presents.

Sweet, beautiful friends!

The boys.

My favorite present her friend Haley made.

Hannah came in late after a grueling band event!

Cheesecake Birthday cake!

Rebekah made sure she had a tiara to wear at school on her birthday day.

Nothing has made this man happier than his beautiful children!

MEMAW!!!

Um, sheer awesomeness right there.  This picture is rich!

THIS girl.  This girl right here.  She grew up so fast.  It felt like a whirlwind.  Creative, Artistic.  Confident,  Beautiful.  Kind.  Giving.  Gifted.  Artistic.  Voice.  These are some of the words that come to mind.  Joy, you are THE most creative and artistic persons I have ever met.  The way you can imagine and draw things that exist only within yourself is an amazing ability I don't understand.  You're confident and secure in your walk of life.  You're beautiful - and right now, I'm talking on the OUTSIDE.  You are one of the THE most loveliest women I've ever seen.  And beautiful on the inside as well - so kind and giving.  I can't help but say it - it's only because it's true - you ARE one of the kindest and most generous persons I've ever met!  You give and give and give and you never talk ugly of another person.  You love people where they are at and even enjoy them where they are.  You are gifted - you can easily and quickly master a topic when you put your mind on it and then know it, I mean really know it.  And lastly your voice - it's just as gorgeous as you are.  Your voice stands out at concerts as an authentic one - one that's not strained, but naturally beautiful.  It's near flawless when you sing and so pleasant.  And when you read, you hear it all hte time, "You should a narrator. Your voice is so soothing!"  The world inclines its ear to your voice Joy!!!  I pray you give it fully to Christ and share Truth, because the world hears your voice and stops to listen because it's pleasing.  

As I stop to think of you to write this post in remembrance of your birthday, Exodus 31 comes to mind, because I believe you are like these: called by name, filled with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge and in all manner of workmanship, to design artistic works..." artistic works that glorify God and make Him known to a lost and broken world.

31 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 2 “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 3 And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, 4 to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, 5 in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of workmanship.

6 “And I, indeed I, have appointed with him Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and I have put wisdom in the hearts of all the gifted artisans, that they may make all that I have commanded you: 7 the tabernacle of meeting, the ark of the Testimony and the mercy seat that is on it, and all the furniture of the tabernacle— 8 the table and its utensils, the pure gold lampstand with all its utensils, the altar of incense, 9 the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the laver and its base— 10 the garments of ministry,[a] the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, to minister as priests, 11 and the anointing oil and sweet incense for the holy place. According to all that I have commanded you they shall do.”

Fire Station #49

Freedom and I made 2 dozen gingersnaps for our local fire fighters today.  We went to Fire Station #49 and rang the bell.

About to ring the bell.

The firefighters greeted us with GREAT enthusiasm.  They addressed Freedom directly with clear communication and immediately brought him back to check out the fire truck.  He shook their hands, looked them in the eye and communicated strongly.  I was SO proud!

There he is in Engine #49!  

Next thing we knew, we were all in and driving around with the sirens on! 

Then, they had him turn on the water and spray it out!  WOW!

These guys were totally awesome to host us when we just showed up.  Guys like this definitely make me want to drop money in their boot next time I see them on the side of the road!

Fire Safety Merit Badge? CHECK!

Living Memorials to Uncle Gordon

Gordon Cook married my dad's sister, LaNette Blackstock Cook over 40 years ago.  He passed away after a long, hard, tooth and toenail fight with cancer on July 9th.   I didn't get to see him very often growing up, but I loved listening to him talk when I did.  He had a unique voice, slightly raspy, but rather than harsh it was soothingly pleasant.  With that voice, he had something to say about everything and could care less what anybody else thought about it.   I remember him with thick, gray hair and a Mountain Dew in hand.

The man who spoke at Uncle Gordon's service today said we were all Living Memorials of Gordon as he poured a piece of himself into all of us.  He poured a seemingly small, but specific bit of himself into me when I was a dumb teenager by making me a cassette tape of Christian music by Carman that he loved.  I listened to that tape as loud as I could play it in my car and in my house.  Bible stories came alive and stirred in my heart.  Truth poured into my knower as Carman belted out powerful words such as, "Not by might, not by power but by my Spirit says the Lord!"  and "Lazarus, come forth!"  From tape cassette to CD to MP3 I have carried that music for 3 decades and passed it on to my children.  Many a time, my kids and I have jammed out to that music like crazy people.  We have passionately prayed that music as we inserted the names of others into the songs.   Tonight, as a 43 year old woman, I listen to them again in remembrance of Uncle Gordon and realize that I have not just sung those songs the last 3 decades, I have actually lived them, because of Jesus, Lord of All. I know Uncle Gordon did and does too.  "Jesus said, 'I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live!'"  [John 11:25 KJV]

On the 45 minute drive from the service to the burial grounds, we celebrated Uncle Gordon and his gift to us by jamming out again to that music.  I'm sharing those Living Memorials on this YouTube video singing to on our favorites, "Lazarus, Come Forth!":  https://youtu.be/H03e3EnQ8S4

Uncle Gordon didn't want folks dressed in black, drab clothes.  So we went with as much brightness as we had in our closets.  So thankful my honey took a day off of work to be a support to my family and make sure we represented Uncle Gordon well.

 The chapel was beautiful.

Beautiful couple!  Together through thick and thin.

Honored and proud.

He was a good man and we are proud of him.

Happy Birthday Freedom!

Jon always signed up to serve as Watch Dog at the Elementary School on the kids' birthdays.  Here's the morning of  Freedom's 11th birthday and they are on their way!  It's raining outside.  Freedom is holding an American Flag because he was supposed to create a flag from a country that shows his heritage. After discussing some of the countries our ancestors came from, he felt most inclined to use the United States of America Flag.  Great choice son.  It's my favorite flag too.

This was the first birthday party we did not have at home.  Freedom wanted his party at a Trampoline park and he invited a bunch of friends from school, and his dearest friends Daniel and Samuel.  The boys jumped their hearts out...and ate some pizza.

Freedom asked for a cake.  He was thinking "camoflauge and soccer ball" so Memaw made a camoflauge soccer ball.  It was very "interesting" and awesome! THANKS MEMAW!!!  

I didn't do a good job of getting pictures of the adults - but the best ones there were Grandma, Grandpa, Memaw and Mr. Pena...and of course ME AND JON!

Freedom asked for money for his birthday,  Nothing better than hand-written/homemade cards and cash!  Freedom was very blessed.