A Summer Day

A Day With the Crew

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
 ~ John 13: 35 (ESV)

This is just a very random post on today's happenings.  It began with a trip to the high school to pick-up the big Rooster who finished weight training for football at 8:30.  We made a quick breakfast run by Chick-fil-A.  Everyone likes something different.  Blake is the chicken biscuit bird.  John Ryan loves their chicken minis, and I confess that I am a huge fan of those little buttery rolls filled with a piece of chicken the size of my thumb--haha.  Nick only wants mini hash rounds and a Pepsi. 

Blake left around lunch time to go to the water park at Ft Jackson with a friend.  It was so sad to see him hop in the car with Ian and head down the road.  Blake and I would spend almost every day at the water park.  He would invite a friend and have the run of the park.  I would float on the lazy river and just relax.  Sigh.  The little Roosters busied themselves with inside and outside activities including a few fights. 

Our Bible lesson for the day was "The Tower of Babel."  I was actually able to keep the boys entertained building their tower long enough to dust the living room. 

 

This was a fun activity they enjoyed.  It was a Bible verse written out on bricks.  I cut the bricks apart prior to our lesson time, and then the boys had to unscramble the verse and glue the bricks in the correct place to build their tower. 

 

Nick looking at the Bible verse to see which brick he needed to find next.

 

This was another cute idea I found.  I was "supposed" to make home-made

play-doh to construct bricks and build the tower.  I was not in the mood to make play-doh, so I just grabbed their play-doh and showed them how to make bricks.

 

They decided it would be faster to work together (wonders never cease) and build one tower instead of working on individual towers. 

 

 

I ordered these ABC Scripture Cards the other day off the Blog called "Lil Light O' Mine". They arrived yesterday and I put our first one out today. 

 

I couldn't help but chuckle when I read the scripture on the "D" card:  "Do everything without complaining or arguing." ~ Philippians 2:14  How ironic is that for my Roosters?

 

I decided to put the cards on an end table in the den so that the boys can see it all during the day.  The cards even came with this easel.  I think I am going to find a cute 5 X 7 frame so the cards stay clean. 

 

 

This is my hybrid cucumber bush.  Isn't it gorgeous? 

 

I even have a few cukes about this size.  I am just tickled over my little patio garden. 

 

Here is one of my tomato bushes.  It is loaded with tomatoes. 

 

I'm off to cook supper while the Colonel sits in the den and continues to work on Nick's bike.  Everyone has a bike and toolbox in their den, right?  Wink!

Have a great day!

   

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. ~ John 5:24 (ESV)

 

 

 

 

Turtles, Toads and Another Griswold Story

Only with the Dew Crew...Lord, love us!

"But he has given proof of what he is like. He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven. He gives you crops in their seasons.  He provides you with plenty of food. He fills your hearts with joy." ~ Acts 14: 17 (NIRV)

Before I share turtles, toad and the Dew Crew's Griswold story for the week, I simply must share what I saw tonight when I took Sister home. 

 

Look at that sky!  I had to pull over on the side of the road and take a picture of that amazing art by God.  (I was also praying that the folks in that mobile home didn't think I was some stalker.)

 

Imagine what I was really seeing as this is a cell phone shot.  "And He has given proof of what He is like..."

 

I could have sat in my car all evening and watched the sky change until it turned navy blue and the stars came out.  I wonder how many of these God paints for His children that we miss because the world has us too busy.  Sigh.

 

 

Meet Scotch.  As many of you know, Nicholas is enchanted with turtles right now.  On the way to taking he and John Ryan to Miss Michelle's, we saw this turtle about to cross (or try to cross) a big four lane road.  I wheeled around in the road and turned into the cemetery (from which Scotch was seen leaving) in order to try and redirect the fella.  The entire time I was praying, "Dear Father, please do not let this child want to keep this reptile as I just can NOT take it home in my car!"

 

Now look at the joy on that child's face.  That face would could cause me to put five turtles in my car and scream all the way home.  However, Nick was more than okay with putting him into my school bag and transporting Scotch to the little "turtle" pond (I am sure, right?) in the middle of the cemetery.

 

Here is Nick loading Scotch into my bag.  I wish I would have gotten a shot of him with that bag hanging from his shoulder.  It was precious.

 

These are a few geese with a baby "gooseling" (remember that story?) coming to welcome us to the pond.  Notice John Ryan is not in any of these pictures.  Well, poor John Ryan got out of the SUV with a cheeseburger in his hand and this welcoming committee was most interested in the bread between his paws.  They were following John Ryan like a momma goose.  He was not pleased.  Did not find it remotely good in anyway and chose to remain in the car and eat his burger in peace.

 

And this is where Nick decided would be the perfect home for Scotch...I have my very own "Turtle Man."

 

 

Have you ever watched an episode of "Turtle Man"?  I'm afraid my boys love the show.

 

 

GRISWOLD STORY

 

Yesterday the Colonel and I had "camper class."  We walked in and around this thing for TWO hours taking notes and learning what every spout, hose, knob, light, button, flip, flap, and flop did or did not do.  I have four pages of notes!  And thus, part one of yet another Griswold Dew tale.  After two hours of class, we head inside Camping World to purchase a few things that we feel we must have.  Since both vehicles were there (the Colonel dropped his off earlier in the day to have the trailer hitch and brake installed on his truck), I left to go get the Roosters while he pulled the trailer to meet us so we could drive it to Floyd Dale to his mother's house to park it.  (She lives 45 minutes from the beach.)  As I was driving down the road, I didn't recall the keys being given to the Colonel for the trailer.  I decided to call and "remind" him to get the keys.  Sure enough, they didn't give him the keys.  Fact is THEY HAD LOST THE KEYS!!  GGGgggrrrr!  The Colonel had to stay and WAIT on them to change all the locks on the trailer.  UGH!  Are you kidding me?  Oh, but that is not the end of this tale.  Oh, no!  A Griswold story has to have at least two parts.  Once we got the trailer pulled into its temporary home at the Colonel's mother's house, WE COULD NOT UNHITCH THE TRUCK FROM THE TRAILER!  I kid you not!!  The more the Colonel jacket the trailer to clear the ball on the truck, the more the TRUCK went up WITH the trailer.  As you can tell from the picture, it was getting late, it had rained and the skeeters were out in sheer droves.  Finally, I suggested that he unpin part of the hitch and see if he could pull it from his truck and just let the ball fall from the trailer.  Luckily, that worked.  We were both worried that the trailer would just slide of the wood block and we would have a mess then.  So, I guess this Griswold story could have had a part three, so we are thankful for only two parts. 

 

And this is a picture of Main Street after 6:00 in the big town of Latta, SC, where I had the privilege of living when I was a child.  It was and is a small town, but it truly was a privilege to grow up there.  I wouldn't trade it for anything.  (However, I do love Columbia!)

 

This is part of the farm Mrs. Dew rents out now.  They used to always plant tobacco in this field, but right now there is wheat.  I wish we would have gotten there earlier so I could have taken more pictures.

 

And this would be "Toad" in the hand of my Nick.  While the rest of us were slapping skeeters and doing the hop of the Sugar Plum Fairy to try to keep the skeeters from causing us to have to have a blood transfusion, Nick was running around the yard chasing frogs/toads.  They were all over the place.  He would catch one and run up to us to show us his treasure.  I did learn that the Colonel's mother has a dislike for toads just as I do. 

 

 

 

And today was Bible time with Noah and learning that God keeps His promises to us.  Here are the boys gluing cotton balls to their clouds.

 

Nick with his rainbow.  (And, yes, you know the teacher in me took the time to teach the order of the colors in a rainbow ~ ROY G BIV)

 

John Ryan and his art work.  I love to watch the different ways they work.  Notice how John Ryan's color strips are perfectly spaced while Nick's are doing good to just get stuck on in order. 

 

And this was our HUGE surprise of the day...This is "Nana"...She kept the boys for four wonderful years and then stayed with us an extra year to take care of me!  (Nick is not in the picture b/c he was crying b/c Nana had to leave.)  The boys with her are her grandchildren Devin (next to John Ryan) and Jaylen (the tallest in blue).  When Devin and Jaylen didn't have school, they would come with Nana to keep the twins.  Nick and John Ryan loved the days when these precious boys showed up with her.  If you look closely at Nana, you can see wings and a halo because she was an angel sent from God to bless us.  Nana was with me when the twins were two years old and Blake was twelve and the Colonel was in Iraq for a year.  I would not have made it without her.  God has blessed Nana also.  When the boys started kindergarten, a friend of the Colonel was looking for someone to keep his twin girls.  The Colonel got Nana together with that family and she is now taking care of a set of twin girls.  Nana says she loves her new family, but we will always be her favorite.  Smile!  Nana will always be part of our family no matter where she goes.  We love her dearly. 

 

And if you are still with me after all that, I appreciate your interest.  I hope you'll come back again soon.  Oh, and take time to watch the sunset soon.  You won't find art work like God's hanging in a gallery.  (Wink!) 

 

 

 

 

Father's Day 2013

Happy Father's Day

And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:6-9 ESV

I must say that the Colonel's Father's Day was filled with activities that only happen to the Dew Crew.  Let me give you a hint:

Have you ever seen any of the movies with the Griswold's in it?  If so, then keep reading because the Dew family (which includes the Colonel's sister, brother and niece) all have had experiences much like the Griswolds.  However, before I share the Griswold part of our day, let me just start from the beginning and share the normal with the abnormal.

Our day started with a wonderful service at Shandon Baptist.  Every Sunday I think to myself that
Dr. Lincoln's sermons can not get any better, but he proves me wrong.  I LOVE the fact that he preaches God's word in truth and doesn't worry about being politically correct.  There is too much political correctness in the world today.  We need more of God's correctness!!

 

 

After church, we headed to lunch.  The Colonel wanted Cracker Barrel, but it was so crowded.  He decided to head to Fazoli's.  (Griswold Part I)

 

 

 I guess it is going to be a while before I get normal pictures with the Roosters.  They are all about being silly and goofy in any picture I take. 

 

 

After lunch, the Colonel said he wanted to go to Camping World and look at travel trailers.  Huh?  Where did that come from?  He knows how I feel about camping.  However, it was Father's Day and I was game to do whatever he wanted on "his" day.  So, across town we headed.  (Are you ready for the Griswold story?)

 

 

This is camping world where we went "just to look" at travel trailers.  Trailers that had no AC on a day where the temperature was around 86 degrees. 

 

This is a picture of the Colonel with the big Rooster in front of the motor home that the big Rooster along with the two little Roosters got LOCKED INTO!!  (Here is our Griswold story for the day!)  Yes, the Colonel and I followed the sales associate over to a travel trailer b/c we realized that the motor homes would not accommodate our crowd.  (Please keep in mind we were JUST LOOKING)  Blake was waiting on the little Roosters to finish looking at the coach and was then headed our way.  However, while we were inside another trailer, Nick somehow LOCKED them inside the motor home.  Locked as in PUT ON THE DEADBOLT.  Blake tried to call us but neither of us had our phones with us.  Oops.  I happened to walk out the trailer we were in and heard, "MOM!  MOM!  OVER HERE!  WE ARE LOCKED INSIDE THIS OVEN!"  There is my big Rooster hanging out the back of the window yelling at me.   I run and get the sales man that is helping us and he has to run back to the office to get the key.  He returns with the key and IT DOES NOT WORK!  He realized the deadbolt is on and for some reason it was not unlocking from the inside.  I still don't know why Blake was unable to open it. (????)  Blake and the twins ended up having to crawl out the back of the window and climb down the ladder in order to get out the motor home.  The twins refused to stand next to the coach to take their picture for my story.  They were both like, "No, way!  That's a Killer Coach!  You get in that thing and it won't let you out!!"  I asked the gentleman helping us how many times has anyone gotten locked into one of their trailers.  He said, "Mrs. Dew, I've been selling trailers here for a long time and this is the first time anyone has ever managed to lock themselves inside a motor home!" 

GRISWOLDS!!  I kid you not.  The entire Dew clan has Griswold luck.  It is uncanny the things that happen to us and the extended Dew family.

 

And, this is what the Colonel bought for his Father's Day gift...

 

Yep, our "just looking" turned into "just buying a small travel trailer".  (We still have three days to change our minds.)  The pictures below are the Roosters with the Colonel on the inside of it after he bought the thing.

 

 

The back of the camper has a "kid area."  It has two beds, a sleeper sofa and a TV area.

 

This is the other side with the other bed and TV area and small wardrobe beside it.

 

Can you tell what the Roosters are going to be doing?  Yep, climbing and jumping and rocking the house--literally.  Lord, help this Griswold mother.

 

This is the "big" bed (hahahahaha) on the other end of the trailer.  There is a TV on the wall in front of the bed.  TV?  Really?  Who needs to "watch" a comedy when I live one daily with these boys!?!

 

 

This is the living/dining area.  The dining area turns into a bed.  How?  I have no clue.  I guess if you sleep rolled in a ball.  The sofa is supposed to be another bed for a child I guess.  It pulls out but either way it is tiny.

 

This is the kitchen area.  I kept asking where the dish washer was.  Mr. Hawkins kept laughing at my question.  I was serious.  See those cabinets?  I can assure you they will be filled with paper produces of every kind made at WalMart.  There is also an outdoor kitchen area which is really neat.  It has a small fridge, sink and stove.  There is even a cable hook-up in that area to watch TV outside.  I guess if the guys in my house are getting into camping then this is better than a tent. 

 

I just am really concerned about my lack of organization skills.  I think camping requires one to be super organized.  I don't even know what one needs to stay in one of these things for a day let alone a week!  I am just thankful that the Colonel has been in the military for 24 years and is an "expert" camper (so to speak).  He can pack two weeks worth of supplies, including clothing, into a rucksack.  Surely he can instruct me how to pack this thing.  I just can not express to you how much of a NON nature gal I am.  I love God's creation, but I am just not one of those women that can "rough it."  I'm not high maintenance (although the Colonel would beg to differ) by any means either, but I am just not a nature gal either.  I'm a walk on the beach, take a hike in the woods, picnic in the park but enter a sturdy shelter that has a HOT shower, fluffy towels and a soft bed with AC and heat.  However, I am also the mother of three boys and when in Rome...well, you know the rest of that old adage.  :)

 

Here is a few photos of where we plan to induct ourselves into the world of RV camping.  The boys are beyond excited.

 

 

I love the beach.  I am convinced I was once a mermaid.  HA!  This looks like it could get awfully hot, doesn't it? 

 

This is what got the boys super excited.  I look at this and see myself chasing Roosters all around that pool.  With my roosters, there is nothing "lazy" about a lazy river.  I usually end up walking the river with one Rooster on one float another in another float and me in the middle holding on to both floats walking around, and around, and around, and around, etc. 

 

 

 

 

 



The Weekend

Friday and Saturday for The Dew Crew

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin.  Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.  ~ Hebrews 4: 15-16

Friday the little Roosters went to Miss Michelle's so that I could spend an afternoon with my sister.  Heidi loves to pilfer through thrift stores and that is hard to do with Roosters trying to entertain themselves because shopping is boring to them except when they are in a toy department.  I am a huge Marshalls, TJ Max, Ross and Stein Mart gal.  However, those are stores that take time to sift through the racks to find a deal I just can't pass up.  I found no such deals Friday.  I think the best deal I found was Veggie Tales DVDs at Ollie's for $4.99. 

Today was a rough day in terms of dealing with the Roosters.  Blake had an all day driving class because he doesn't want to wait a year in order to be able to drive alone.  He obviously got a lot out of his first class b/c he came home telling me all about the very graphic videos he saw.  After he returned from class, we packed up some snacks and he went with his girlfriend and her family to the Big Mo which is a huge drive-in.  They went to see "The Man of Steel."

 

 

The Colonel and I will be up late tonight waiting on Blake to get home.  The Big Mo is actually in Georgia and it makes for a late night.  Tonight should be a really good night to see a movie at the drive-in because it isn't so hot and there is a slight breeze blowing.  I hope they enjoy themselves.

 

 

The little Roosters have been ill all day.  Nothing seems to have been to their liking this day.  Heidi came over again today, and I worked on laundry that was about to take over the entire family.  (That's what I get for being a slug for two days and a day of shopping with Sister.)  Anyway, I took the boys to WalMart so they could get a Lego set that I "thought" (hahahahahahahahahaha) was going to occupy them while I folded my Mt Everest of laundry.  NOT happening this day.  Pieces weren't fitting together the way they should.  Pieces were hiding.  Pieces were just being difficult, so I was up and down the hall helping with Lego kits.  Ggggrrrr. 

 

 

John Ryan selecting which Lego City set he wanted.

 

 

Nick wanting to know if he can get the big firetruck kit.

 

They finally decided on a transporter truck and a small firetruck motorcycle.

 

This was so sweet--Nick was helping John Ryan with a section he was having some trouble.  The boys decided to build their kits in the hall.  My den floor was covered in train tracks that they didn't want to disassemble.  I moved John Ryan's city map rug to the hall so the floor wouldn't be so uncomfortable and so the boys could play afterwards.  Yes, my house belongs totally to my Roosters.

 

Playing with their past and present Lego sets.

 

A few of their Lego City vehicles making their way through Rooster Town.

 

This was today's selection. 

 

More past and present

 

Laundry managed to be reduced from the height of Mt Everest to Sassafras Mountain (The highest point in South Carolina) and just in time for me to start supper.  Dinner was baked pork chops (I would have rather had them fried but didn't have the time.), crowder peas with hot peppers, and tomatoes and rice.  Yes, I hurt myself again because I also ate a huge bowl of cantaloupe.  After supper, I took Sister home and decided to share my past two days with everyone.  Below are a few more pictures of the little Roosters today.

 

 

This was Nick this AM playing on the Wii.  I have just started letting the little Roosters play the Wii.  So far I haven't had to put a time limit on their playing.  They don't play for very long at all.  Too much energy to just sit still. HA!

 

John Ryan chilling on Nick's bed eating breakfast; I mean a sucker.  HA!

 

This is my "stank" den floor.  It is covered from one end to the other with Thomas train tracks.  I absolutely hate the last rug I picked out for the den.  It was (notice the past tense be verb there) a gray with different colored specks in it.  I thought it would hide stains and be a good "go with anything" color.  I hated it the moment the big Rooster and Colonel rolled it across the floor.  I don't spend a lot on the den rug because of the boys still being at that age where they spill everything.  I know some mothers don't allow their children to have food and drink outside the kitchen and they can make that work for them.  I can't.  The Colonel and I drag food into the den to enjoy while watching TV, so I think it only fair that my Roosters be allowed the same privilege.  So, I have opted to buy cheap (and sometimes very ugly) rugs that I don't mind throwing next to the road after six months or so.  This piece of grossness is long overdue for the curb.  As a matter of fact, I found a new rug (cheap and less ugly) at Ollie's last night while "just looking" with Sister.  I'm wondering how many other mothers have toys all over their house today??

 

And last but not least, I have added lyrics to a song that I am just in love, love, love with lately:  "Hello, My Name Is" by Matthew West.  If you live in or around the Columbia area, 89.7 WMHK plays it a lot.  I hope you'll take the time to read the verses and then focus on the chorus and bridge.  WOW!  WOW!  WOW!  Is this not how it truly is for CHRISTians?!  What a joy it is to be a child of the ONE TRUE KING ~ JESUS CHRIST!! (AMEN!!!!!)

 

(v1)

Hello, my name is regret
I’m pretty sure we have met
Every single day of your life
I’m the whisper inside that won’t let you forget

(v2)
Hello, my name is defeat
I know you recognize me
Just when you think you can win
I’ll drag you right back down again
Till you’ve lost all belief

(pre-chorus)
These are the voices, these are the lies
And I have believed them for the very last time

(chorus)
Hello, my is my name is child of the One True King
I’ve been saved, I’ve been changed
I have been set free
Amazing Grace is the song I sing
Hello, my name is child of the One True King

(v3)
I am no longer defined
By all the wreckage behind
The one who makes all things new
Has proven it’s true
Just take a look at my life
Find More lyrics at www.sweetslyrics.com

(chorus)
Hello, my name is child of the One True King
I’ve been saved, I’ve been changed
I have been set free
Amazing Grace is the song I sing
Hello, my name is child of the One True King

(bridge)
What love the Father has lavished
Upon us that we should be called His children
I am a child of the one true King
What love the Father has lavished
Upon us that we should be called His children

(chorus)
Hello, my name is child of the One True King
I’ve been saved, I’ve been changed
I have been set free
Amazing Grace is the song I sing
Hello, my name is child of the One True King

(ending)
I am a child of the One True King