Where The Orange Blossoms Grow...: 2010

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Come ye Thankful People, Come

Ack! Yes..I realize that I am almost a month late. Nevertheless, here I am, and here, finally, are the pictures from Thanksgiving and the trip up--and the trip down. :o) I will post more recent pictures whenever I get a chance. Y'all (the 9 readers of our blog) just hang in there! The Lord has been faithful once again, and we have safely made it back from Missouri, and then, last week from North Carolina. NCFIC's Love the Church Conference was amazing. But that's another story for another time.

May the Lord bless y'all till we (virtually) meet again.

The Creation Museum. Boy was it ever a long drive...but so worth it!

My stupendous, wonderful, amazing, lovely, supercalafragalistic, scrumdiddlyumptious parents!

The museum displays were quite amazing!

8 seconds, dinoboy! (okay, okay. Corny alert...)

The camel was hilarious. It really poses for the camera. :oP

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Yes it is F-R-E-E-Z-I-N-G!

You think he's been in the car a wee bit too long...? Just maybe?

A rest stop and time to take a picture. :o)

Little squirt is in good spirits!

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The three Amigos finally reunite. ;o)

Little people.(and mighty cute ones at that!)

Stinky and Sparky (looking oh so innocent hiding the ipod to pose for a picture.)

Sparky Markie looking lovely...

Listening intently to Uncle Chris...

Happy Birthday, Aunt Beth!

Sweet helpers

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Markie and Matthew

Benny enjoys the company of his little cousins

Sammy looking extraordinarily sweet. :o)

My Mama and her Mama. :o)

My wonderful aunt and uncle

Hauling logs...

The sawmill at work

Playing Cranium...

"GRACE!! Can't you tell!?! I'm a......."

(I'm a-making a fool of myself--That's what I'm a-doing.) :oP

My handsome cuz. :oD

Me and Sparky

Eating a cozy meal. :o)

Time to say goodbye....Waaaah!

We had a wonderful, blessed Thanksgiving. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Now....Time to head South!

...Well, not yet.

...After about three or four hours of daddy's expert mechanical abilities being put into action, we were on the road again.

Isn't the Lord's Providence a wonderful thing? We were invited to stop and stay the night with the Powers family a few hours away. Thank y'all for your sweet hospitality!

Levi being his usual cute self... :o)

Bye bye, Powers'!

We stopped for a brief visit with the Whiddons and were treated to lunch and some more sweet fellowship.

Callie giving Nina some Dobro tips. :o)

Lindsay is so good with babies. :o)

What a sweet way to end a wonderful trip!

Thank you, Lord, for your Providence, traveling mercies, and wonderful family and friends!

Disclaimer: The quality of our pictures is kind of bad because our "wonderful" Nikon is in the shop (again) and we used a cheaper camera, which was much better than nothing at all!! :o)

The Orange Blossom Song

I want to wake up in the morning where the orange blossoms grow,
Where the sun comes creepin' into where I'm sleepin',
and the song birds say hello.

I want to wander over yonder, Pick the fruit that's hanging low,
I want to make my home in Florida where the orange blossoms grow.

I want to wake up in the morning where the ocean breezes blow,
I want to cast my line on the falling tide,
Where the tarpon swim below.

I love the sunshine and the beaches, where the palms sway to and fro,
I want to make my home in Florida where the orange blossoms grow.

I want to wake up in the morning where the Spanish moss hangs low,
Where the gators swim through the Everglades,
And the grand old live oaks grow.

I love the wildwoods, and the cities, and the friends I've come to know.
I want to make my home in Florida where the orange blossoms grow.

I want to wake up in the morning where the orange blossoms grow,
Where the sun comes creepin' into where I'm sleepin',
and the song birds say hello.

I want to wander over yonder, Pick the fruit that's hanging low,
I want to make my home in Florida where the orange blossoms grow.

Here Is Home

Here is home, my blessed home.
Florida is her name.
God’s Providence has brought me here,
So here I will remain.

Here is home, my beautiful home,
Where God's creation sings
About the mighty power and grace
Of Jesus Christ our King.

Here is home, where in the Spring
The orange blossoms bloom,
And fill my senses to the brim
With their sweet perfume.

I love to hear the honey bees
Buzzing with all their might.
I love the clear, blue, cloudless sky,
And radiant stars at night.

Here is home, where Summer comes
With its burning heat,
Relentlessly providing us
With bugs and burning feet.

But when the Lord provides us
With a gentle shower,
It lifts the weary, wilted head
Of every wildflower.

Here is home, where in the Fall,
I don my scarves and sweater,
But really I don’t need them.
Cotton would do better.

No Autumn leaves are falling.
The trees are still quite green,
But a crisp, cool breeze is blowing,
And the days grow short, it seems.

Here is home, where Winter comes.
It's not so very cold,
But how I love to dig in the sand
My numb and barefoot toes!

In wintertime I love to eat
An orange from the tree.
Such a sweet and sticky treat.
Quite a delicacy!

Here is home where I am proud
To be a humble part
Of Florida's great, rich history,
And hold it near my heart.

The land on which I've tromped and played,
The Spanish settlers roam'd.
They called this place the “Land of Flowers,”
And here they made their home.

When war broke out between the States,
We proved our loyalty
To the precious Southern cause,
For God and Liberty!

Some folks call us “Florida Crackers.”
I'm proud to hold that name.
My ancestors were proud as well,
To call themselves the same.

Here is home, My home, sweet home,
Where life is at it's best.
Every day I thank the Lord,
For I am truly blessed!

Pages

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Merry Christmas, Y'all!

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Come ye Thankful People, Come