More Rik pics!

Here are the rest of Rik's senior pictures. I'm posting the proofs because there's no way we could afford to actually buy all of these pictures. That would require mortgaging the house, or- as the woman that I talked to as Prestige Portraits told me, "You can split it up into 6 payments." Um, no, that's ok. I'll just order the proofs, thanks. They did ask for me to sign a release to use Erik as a model for their advertising. So I'm thinking that would get me a discount. Nope. Anyway, enjoy. He's such a great looking kid!! And smart. He registered for his senior year on Monday. He is taking Probability & Statistics (yuck), Biology 2, and Family/Community Health. He'll be getting out at 1:00 everyday and will finish the school year in December, like his sister did. Where have all the years gone?!

Sensory Garden

One of my patients is the head RN at the McLeod Hospice House. I was very curious about why she chose this area of nursing. Did she stay depressed being around people that are dying day in and day out? She told me that she loved it and I thought she was nuts until she told me why. She told me that it's the best time to witness to people. The ones that are dying and the family members that will be left behind need to be surrounded by loving, caring people like her. She described death as just another phase of life that could be peaceful and that's what they try to accomplish there. Then she told me about the sensory garden beside the hospice house that was made for the patients and families by donations from the community. Later in the week I met the above mentioned nurse's sister and she told me that her sister was chosen as nurse of the year. Doesn't surprise me. It warms my heart to know there are people like her that are passionate about what they do and bring comfort to others in their time of need. Last night after dinner I took Lee by the hospice house to explore the garden.

I love this lamp-post. I just learned that the pineapple means "welcome."

Fish pond

Roman numerals 1-12. Not sure about what it means. Gospel of John maybe?

Recreation of the "beach" with water and sand. I told Lee to make one of these for me in the back yard. :)

I don't know if you can enlarge this poem and read it. It's beautiful.

There were tons of benches all dedicated to deceased family members.

Erik's senior pics

Oh, how many times have I gotten this look?! :)

Holden Beach 09

This was the highlight of Lauren's vacation. We went to the T.I.G.E.R.S. Preservation station at Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach. The kids loved having their pictures taken with the animals. Lauren has since decided that she wants to go out to Ventura, California to get her EATM certification (exotic animal training & management) and then a degree in Biology. Yeah, ok, I'm telling her to follow her heart and all that but I really would love for her to stay here as previously planned and finish her degree in nursing. But seriously, how can you look at her big grin in these pictures and not tell her to follow her heart??

The finished product. It really did look better in person.

Me working on our sand castle.

Lee & Erik getting their tan on.

Lauren & Cameron

Lauren & Cameron trying to get the nerve to skim-board. It wasn't pretty.

Lauren & Cameron's shadows. Cool!

How about breathing, is that ok??

This is why we chose Holden Beach for vacation this year. No hotels, very peaceful! :)

Excuse me, are you talking to me before I've had my coffee?!

What I read on vacation.

Lauren loved feeding the birds!

One of my favorite things on vacation. SCRABBLE. He didn't win. I don't know why they continue to challenge me, but I'm glad they do! :)

I don't know who he was, but he looked so lonely.

The inside of the Oak Island lighthouse. Erik really wanted to climb up to the top but you have to have an appointment and they were 4 weeks out.