10 Years in Greensboro Celebration and Bishops' Month at Camp

This summer, we invited the Bishops over for a party to celebrate 10 years since we moved from Baltimore to be near them in Greensboro. Aunt Liz brought this pretty card for us (above).

The Bishop ladies went away on assignment to Colorado for Elisabeth's job with Young Life. Both girls caught the swine flu there and the camp had to be shut down for a week due to this new virus.

I sent this message to the girls at camp:

Hello to my favorite ladies. Please give Bethany a hug for me too (I don't see her here on FB). Just a quick note to say that we miss you all and can't wait to see you again! I'm trusting that God's grace is sufficient for each of you as you go through your time at camp: 2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. Russell talks about all of you. He's here at my feet playing with his cars. Yesterday, he put stickers over both eyes and walked into the kitchen to show them off (Is he like Bethany, or what?!). Ross and Lydia are doing a choir camp at First Pres. GSO this week. They couldn't believe how big the church looked from the street. Ross said, "wow! It's like one of the big churches I see on the Tour De France!" Lydia said, "Cool camp, mom! It's a castle as big as 3 mansions!"

Love,

Aunt Jen

Dot Pen, Pets, Etc.

Ross accidentally broke my favorite polka-dot pen. Seeing this, Lydia slipped away. She found me 5 minutes later and handed me a pen that she had wrapped with paper, punched-out shapes and tape. I'll keep it forever. That girl has such a big heart for the hurting!

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Random stories:
Overheard snippet: Russell to Daddy "No I don't want to. YOU can go to bed." and later "No I don't want to. YOU can go potty... I went potty last weekend!"

Ross desperately wants a pet (remember the old story about how he asked to keep a dry, flat grasshopper? Poor guy! Now he's got a container of fireflies- out on the deck.

Russell was the victim of a misunderstanding... Russell: I don't like this TV show. Lydia: Me neither. Russell: I not a 'mean-ie'! You a 'mean-ie'!

Russell refused to apply hand sanitizing gel. When I asked, "Why?" (thinking it might have hurt a previous cut) he corrected me, offering the real reason for his objection: "Because it makes my thumb taste bad!"

Post-Reunion Trip to Lake Tuscaloosa

We so enjoyed staying for an extra day after the reunion to see Mark and Carolyn's new house in Tuscaloosa and playing on the lake with J.T.'s cousins.

Jennifer, Todd, Jen, Russell on her Dad's boat. Fun times!

Uncle Ralph, J.T., Ross (in the water on the raft), Aunt Tant, Chris, Lydia, Todd, Jennifer, and Russell.

Thomas Family Reunion 2009

This was the house that JT's great-grandparents built for themselves and their 11 children near their mill.

Here are two old photos of J.T. at the family reunion when he was 4 years old.

Above: a celebratory cake from that reunion
Below: This year's special 100th anniversary reunion cake

This year, Ross and Lydia sang in the choir (notice the Pa-parazzi , aka Jim Thomas, in the front row of parents). Below: Russell prefers cake to choir duties.

More 2009 Thomas Family Reunion Photos

The Vera and Russell "Uncle Russ" line of the family

Russell swinging in the hot Alabama sun

Gamma Beth thomas helping Russell shuck corn for dinner with Lydia nearby

Meeting Sweet Ayla

Lydia was so excited about getting to feel the growing baby (on Anne Elise's birthday weekend).

What a lovely mother and baby!

This photo will be a classic as these cousins grow and become close friends. :)

Ayla (at home) is tiny and beautiful!

Hi Ayla- so nice to meet you, sweet little niece!

J.T. loves to play with Ayla.

McCain Beach Trip

Cousins: Russell 3, Anna 15, Ross 10,
Bethany 12, Lydia 7, and Fre 18.

We were delayed in joining the McCains at the beach this year due to a virus (plus poor Aunt Liz, who got it from us). When we were finally cleared to roll out, Russell buckled himself in his car seat with his blankie and bear before we had even eaten breakfast. He was READY to see his cousin Barrett (with Russell above) and his grandparents!

Reflection on the photo above: How many years until you all will walk away to college and your lives beyond that? We savor our long days and short years of raising you. Our goal is for you to 'fly' successfully.

Nice sand pile, bro.

Fun to stomp on.

JT notes this photo is reminiscent of Newton's concept of himself as a rapt child wandering along the beach, picking up a pebble or a shell, while the vast ocean of truth lay undiscovered before him.

My brother-in-law (Bill), DadDad, and my brother's baby Skye.

MiMi playing ball with Russell.

Our first year in this adjoining duplex.

Parting is such sweet sorrow.

We had a super-fun beach week with the McCains. We missed Uncle Jim and Aunt Pat, as she had a terrible fall last month in Arkansas. We were in a different duplex in North Topsail this year. The best accomodations so far: the adjoined duplex gave us space and privacy. This place had a covered porch on two sides with seating for 15 outside, so we enjoyed dining al fresco each night! Our new neice, Sky, was a delight- just like her older brother! We enjoyed time with everyone, including Yahtzee with Anna and Roller Skating with DadDad, Russell, Ross, Lydia, Jen, Anna, and their precious, adopted Ethiopian exchange student, Fre.