Friday's FIVE!

My son-in-law celebrates his magic birthday this week - Phil Morgan is 28 on the 28th of this month. In honor of the father of my grandsons... this week's Friday's FIVE! is a tribute to my son-in-law, Phil and five things that I appreciate about him....

1. Phil is a wonderful father to his two sons... I'm so proud of my grandsons and I will be proud of the men they become because of the father they have in their lives.... Phil spends time with his boys - when they visit us at the lake... Phil ALWAYS spends time with Tyler throwing a ball around in the front yard. I appreciate the time he gives to his boys, Tyler and Trevor!

2. Phil is a wonderful balance to Katie - she can talk (a lot)... and he lets her. He just smiles at her - and lets her talk (and talk)...

3, Phil loves his sister-in-law. Katie and Betsy are very close, and Phil has always appreciated that. He loves his little sister-in-law, Betsy and I love to watch them together.

4. Phil enjoys beer - and we like to drink beer with him. This Friday's FIVE! was almost a list of my favorite micro-brews as a tribute to Phil - but I wanted to say more about him than... Bells, Sierra Nevada, Pacifico etc. etc. etc.

4. Phil is just fun to be with - Bruce and I both enjoy his company... We enjoy having him around. We enjoy laughing with him.... and watching the wonderful father and husband he has become. He is helpful - and will assist with family projects (you should have seen him wrestle a 164# pig at our hog roast) - We enjoy him and are proud he is our son-in-law.

HAPPY 28TH BIRTHDAY, Phil!!!!

Living the Legacy at Yellow Creek Lake!

In the summer of 1927 - my Grandma and Grandpa Pence rented a "clean, but simple little cottage" on Yellow Creek Lake for a week. Married just 8 months, Grandpa was recovering from an adverse reaction to rabies inoculations and my Grandma was pregnant with their first child, my Aunt Barbara - they called this vacation at Yellow Creek Lake, their "Honeymoon".

The "Honeymoon" began a legacy of family fun that has spanned 5 generations.

Following this "honeymoon" my grandparents spent several summers renting and camping on the lake - and in the early 1930's built a cabin on the same lakefront property where we live today. My grandma's memories indicate that in the summer of 1929 - "something must have happened during our week at Yellow Creek Lake" = that 'something' was my father, born the following spring on April 4, 1930...

My Grandpa writes in is personal memories:

"We built a small cabin on the lot (most of the material was scrap from the lumber yard), drove a water well, and put a pitcher-pump in the kitchen. We had a pot-bellied coal stove in the front room so we could extend our seasons a bit. The cooking was done on a coal-oil stove and we had a wooden ice-box. Each time we went to the lake, the first thing I did was take the tongs and a small wagon and walk to the little store to get a 50lb. block of ice for the ice-box. It would last all weekend. We enjoyed many years at Yellow Creek Lake as our family grew up around us"

When my father and my aunt were children at Yellow Creek Lake - they became friends with a neighbor, Janyce Knotts. The Knott's continued the same Yellow Creek legacy with their own family. In 1958 I was born - and late in 1959 - Janyce Knotts Ward gave birth to Laura Ellen Ward. Laura and I grew up together at Yellow Creek Lake and in the spring of 1980 we both gave birth to daughters , Katie and Amanda. This spring- our daughters both gave birth to sons. Wyatt Kucartz and Trevor Morgan are now the 4th generation of family friends to grow up together in the fun and the sun at Yellow Creek Lake.

Trevor's first weekend at YCL!

We are having a wonderful Memorial Day weekend at Yellow Creek Lake! Katie and Tyler and Trevor have come to visit. We miss Phil, because he works Saturday, Sunday & Monday nights... however, it is Phil's work schedule that gives us this precious time to spend with our grandsons and Katie....So, while we do miss Phil, it is wonderful to have this time with Katie and the boys.

Tyler and Trevor are the 5th generation of my family to enjoy Yellow Creek Lake... the joy of family, friends, fun in the sun, and evenings around camp fires - roasting hot dogs and Marshmallows.

We had a great visit with Grandma today - and we enjoyed KFC and an assortments of salads - and Grandma's homebaked pies!

I'm so blessed - I love living at the lake with my peaceful husband- it often feels like we are on vacation all the time. I love sharing the lake with my children and my grandchildren. I love it when Mom comes up - and we all share this legacy that Grandpa and Grandma Pence started for us in the early 1930's....

PS: Betsy & Debbie - We hope you had a great time at Summer Camp... We Miss You -

Addendum....

In honor of Katie's 28th birthday - my Friday FIVE! this week focused on the things that Katie and I enjoy doing together... however, there is one thing that I didn't include in the Friday FIVE! that is certainly worth an addendum - and possibly could have been top on the list of the Friday FIVE! When Katie was just 13 years old - we took our first family trip to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Little did we know, that it would become a family favorite vacation spot. We have since returned many, many times - and hiked many, many different trails in the National Park. Katie celebrated her 16th birthday on the Abrams Falls trail - and Betsy celebrated her 16th birthday on the Alum Cave Bluff trail. Two years ago - we took Tyler, the next generation to hike Andrews Bald. Discussing this with Katie today - we realized that there are so many things that we love about hiking in the smokies - packing the sandwiches for lunch on the trail, the sights and smells and vistas to enjoy on the trail, the time together, the silence, the hustle and bustle of downtown Gatlinburg and the taste of the cold beer after the hike - just to mention a few. There is just so much to enjoy - together as a group ... or just with our partners. We have passed this love on to a new generation....and before long, we'll be planning a trip to introduce Trevor to the Smokies.....

Boys Boys Boys!!!

I love these boys ... all of them!!! As the mother of two daughters - it is soooo exciting to be the MeMe to two amazing Grandsons... but also to share these boys with my husband.

Bruce did not have children before we married... and Tyler was 2 years old when we married.

A new baby in the family is always exciting - but it is especially exciting to share this baby with my dear husband... who has never experienced a new baby so close to his heart. Although my daughters were adults when we married... he has always considered Katie and Betsy - his girls. He loves them and is protective of them as if they were his own. Tyler loves his Grandpa because, as Tyler says... "he plays like a kid". They are two peas in a pod - and enjoy the company of each other. When Tyler spends the night - he still likes to try to climb in Grandpa's lap and share a bowl of popcorn while watching a movie. I love his gentleness with these boys - and I love his love for these boys. I am so blessed ... to have wonderful daughters that love thier stepdad... and a wonderful husband that loves my children.... and we are blessed to share these wonderful Grandsons!!!

Friday's FIVE!

April 30, 2008 - at 3:15PM ... I am now a MeMe X 2!!!!

When Tyler was born 8 years ago - I learned quickly that being a Grandparent was truly one of the greatest joys ... and one of the best life rewards. In honor of both of my blessed grandsons,

TYLER AND TREVOR

This weeks Friday's FIVE! will focus on 5 wonderful things about being a MeMe!

1. Having Grandchildren to love - unconditionally... no expectations - just love....

Endless, endless love....that is also reciprocated by the grandchildren in the most precious... heartfilled way.

2. Watching your child become one of the greatest mothers of all time. What a testimony to motherhood ... to see my own child become a mother that I admire and respect.

3. Sharing the things I love to do with my Grandsons - like a bicycle event, a hike in the smokey mountains, a kayak tour...

4. Enjoying things with my Grandsons that I wouldn't do if it weren't for them... things like - watching animated videos, eating Lego waffles, shopping for dinosaurs and playing with nerf toys.

5. Spending wonderful, blessed time with my blessed Grandsons....having them spend the night - buying them junk and candy - watching the same Shrek movie over and over again instead of my favorite TV show - taking them to the movie - digging for worms and catching crawdads in the creek, packing picnics and playing outside - and sending them home to the capable hands of their parents as I enjoy the peacefulness of our empty nest!

Life is good - and Grandchildren are Gods way of saying 'Life goes on'...

When I married my daughters' father - my own grandmother gave me a little plaque with a prayer that said....

"Look down with favor, Oh Lord on these thine servants..... and bless them with the love of their children's children"...

Dear Lord - Thank you for hearing her prayer....and granting me the love of my own children's children!

TREVOR JAMES MORGAN!

I am now MeMe to two beautiful boys - TREVOR JAMES MORGAN joined his brother, Tyler today at 3:15PM - weighing in at 7 pounds, 13.2 ounces and 20 1/2 inches long.
He is beautiful... and we are delighted to finally meet him.
It was a tough delivery - and his mother and father both were amazing!
Babies are such a blessed gift - What a wonderful day it has been!!!!

Belly Cast!!

It won't be long before my new Grandson, Trevor arrives... Bruce and I are both so excited about our new grandson. Katie and Tyler came up this weekend - and we had a such a wonderful weekend. Katie and I went to local bulk/bakery/organic stores while Tyler and Bruce did 'boy stuff'.... I casted Katie's pregnant 'belly' - and we watched movies and enjoyed bakery treats. Saturday morning we had Steel Cut Oats that cooked all night in the crock pot.
I love these visits so much... I can't wait for Trevor to join us!!

Friday's FIVE!

Soon - the lake will thaw, and spring will arrive... I'm anxiously awaiting the annual arrival of the LOON - that clearly marks that Spring has arrived!!!

This is our 6th Spring as residents on the lake - and every year, we've seen the Loon on the lake within 3 days of the Vernal Equinox.

The call of the Loon is so peaceful.... and is one of my all time favorite 'sounds'..... So -with great anticipation....This week's Friday FIVE! is devoted to my Five Favorite evidences of Spring!

1. The Loon's arrival and hearing him call on Yellow Creek Lake

http://www.ns.ec.gc.ca/wildlife/loons/index.html

2. Migrating Bird Season... a favorite for any bird watcher!

3. Blooming Crocus

4. Mad Anthony's/Lake City Tap house Mug Club party, tapping the Spring BREW!

5. My New Grandson, Trevor - due to arrive soon!!!!!!

SUPERBOWL SUNDAY!

A fire in the fireplace - a one pot meal... my sewing maching and I think SuperBowl Sunday turns out to be a GREAT day!!!! I'm working diligently on a quilt for my new grandson, Trevor James...who will certainly be watching many SuperBowls at his own home with his older brother, Tyler. I've certainly become a fan - Great music entertainment .... funny commercials and wonderful human interest stories. I just can't figure out who to root for - The undefeated or the underdog!