9/11

Well, the 10th anniversary of 9/11 disaster has passed.  I know in the Bible we are told to forgive.  But, when something of this size happens, to so many innocent people, how do you do that?  How do you forgive such hatred in a person that it seems as if satan himself is in that person? 
When I first heard of the attack, I was in my car running an errand, listening to the Today Show.  The hosts started making some comments about smoke, fire, explosions, near the Twin Towers.  I rushed home and turned on the television, catching the second plane hitting the tower.  What was happening?  I remember feeling such a sense of shock, disbelief, horror, pain for those there, and then as the day went on and we learned more of what happened, anger.  Why would these people hate us so much to do something so bad?  I was angry.  Very angry.  I wanted to go after the "bad guys" myself.  Well, of course, that was impossible.  I was very glad that our president at the time saw fit to do something about it. 
Over the past 10 years, even though this event is not forgotten, it does seem as though "we" have become very complacent about the events of that day.  I hear how we are to "forgive" them, and "not all muslims are bad", and "we must be careful what we say".  These events that day turned our country into a quagmire of mush.  We are so careful in what "we say" that we don't say anything at all.  Are we suppose to just roll over and take whatever is handed out to us?  Do we not stand up for ourselves?  Do we allow non-Americans to take control of our lives?  Our security has reached ridiculous standards.  Our airports' security has gotten out of hand.  When 80 year old grandmothers are strip searched, children are strip searched, when do we say "ENOUGH!"    We avoid searching the most obvious -- muslims!  We don't want to stereotype anyone!  WHAT?  They are the ones who did this!!! Why wouldn't we search them first!?    I have personally been pulled out of line TWICE when going through airport security!  Me!  My family and friends joke about it, but, really, what is going on? 
Yes, we are to forgive, but how easy it is to say, we must love one another, not hate.  I agree not all muslims are bad; but when we know the terrorist, and that person is threatening our country, do we just say, "oh, not all terrorists are bad!"; excuse me, but I don't really think that is going to stop him from doing "his duty", blowing us up.
I am proud to be an American and I stand behind our military men and women and appreciate everything they do to keep this country safe.  I will stand behind any president who will protect this country; but I will not stand or support anyone who "cow-tows" to any country/government/group who is trying to destroy us as a nation. 
I appreciate all the people who were involved in the anniversary memorials on Sunday.  I do wish some of our clergy could have had a part in the memorials; after-all, we are a nation built on the grounds of religious freedom -- not freedom FROM religion. 
I could go on and on about my feelings related to this event, but my last statement is this, "Yes, we are to forgive, because God tells us to." 

Kiawah Island Golf Resort, Continuing Medical Education

During the week of July 3 to July 8, Howard and I and our friends, Rod and Diane and their 2 children, spent the week at Kiawah Island in South Carolina.  It is located near to Charleston, SC.
Following are some pictures of our trip.  We also enjoyed some bike riding, and a beautiful fireworks display on the 4th of July, while sitting on the beach.  Also not pictured are the times we had playing games at our villa, at night, mainly, Guesstures.  It was hilarious!  Love it!  Diane, Gabby and I took on the guys, and beat them soundly.  We were great!  :)

Enjoy the posts!

Oyster Roast, Mingo Point, Kiawah Island Golf Resort, July 3, 2001

On July 3, 2011 we all went to the OysterRoast at Mingo Point 

While Howard, Diane and I ate barbeque ribs, chicken, corn on the cob, and all kinds of other delicious southern delicacies,  Rod, Gabby and Sadri enjoyed the oysters (yikes!)

 Gabby said she found her calling, she wants to open oysters for other people.  In the meantime, Sadri couldn't eat them fast enough......

On July 4th, Kiawah had a bike parade.  Here Gabby is decorating her bike for the parade

and

here,

Sadri is decorating his, while his mom, Diane, holds her bike up.  Yes, that's Howard in the white shirt, and Diane's husband Rod, in the back ground.

 

and even Trixie, our little miniature Blue Dapple Dachsund, joined in the parade.

One evening we went to eat at Osprey Point Golf Club and had a beautiful view from our table on the veranda of the golf course.  Yes, that is an alligator on the bank.  On the bank of this particular pond, in the middle of a golf course, there were at LEAST 10, yes, 10, of these buggers, scattered around it.  We even saw some bikers on the trail, above this one, who couldn't decide if they should try to pass them or turn around.  Some went on by.  We enjoyed watching these guys for a couple of hours, during our meal, and at one point, they  all slid back into the pond for a while.  There were a group of children near one of the banks, and they all started a slow swim toward them.  Fortunately the manager came out and told them they needed to move on (the children, not the alligators).

Okay, I tried.  I really tried.  But, really, how good can anyone be when the temperature is at the melting point. 

On our last evening at Kiawah, we enjoyed a very nice dinner on the Jasmine Porch, at the Sanctuary hotel. 

Visitor

Had a little vsitor recently -- he got a little hungry ---decided to try Doc's dog food.  He kept at it until Doc saw him and tried to chase him down.  Fortunately he got away.

Trip to State College and Ithaca, NY

Over Memorial Day weekend we visited with Heather and Andrew for Heather's birthday.  This beautiful setting was on the morning of her birthday, in their backyard.  We had such a great time with them.  The night before we went to see a play at the community theater, titled: "Epic Proportions", a very funny comedy.   

Andrew and Sawyer having a "special" moment

After leaving Heather and Andrew, we traveled about 3 1/2 hours north to Ithaca, New York.  Howard was fortunate enough to be able to attend a conference on "Biological Information: New Perspectives".

Howard and I were fortunate to share a picnic dinner with this gentleman, Werner Gitt and his daughter, Roma,  from Germany.  He was one of the speaker's at the meeting Howard went to held on Cornell University's campus.  Delightful people.

A scene near one of the athletic fields.  I just thought it interesting with the ivy growing all over.

Another view of the ivy climbing up the side of a structure near the athlectic field.

This shrub was growing out of this huge rock (this was located in the arboretum near campus) 

This explains why the shrub is growing out of the rock.

While Howard attended meetings, I got to explore --this is a view in the arboretum that I kept returning to daily.  It was a beautiful place.

Arboretum

This little fellow was so CUTE!  And he allowed me to get several pictures of him.  He even came back the next day, hoping I would take his picture again!

Taughannock Falls, Ithaca, NY

Absolutely amazing and beautiful!  Such wonderment!

Pictures absolutely CANNOT portray the majesty of this.

The name means "in the trees" in the algonquin language.  It is 215 feet high, the tallest free-falling waterfall in the northeastern U.S.

Howard standing at the top of a cliff with the falls in the bacground.

The next day, after taking Howard's picture, I returned to the falls -- I found a trail that would take me to the bottom of the falls.  It was about a 3/4 mile hike, on a beautiful trail.

I crossed this bridge in order to get as close to the falls as I could.  However, due to the heavy mist the falls created, I couldn't get near as close as I wanted to.

I'm going to share some pictures of our garden -- we are trying a "container" garden this year. I've planted lettuce, cucumbers, strawberries, and tomatoes in containers. I had to find a place in this rocky, hilly yard to plant 2 kinds of watermelon, squash and carrots, and so far they are beginning to make their appearance. Oh, and I planted 2 blackberry bushes in the front yard, as you walk up to the house. We'll see how well things do in this hard clay-like, rocky soil. We've been able to pick a few strawberries already and they are quite tasty. Looking forward to picking the other produce as they mature.

Here my squash is just beginning to pop up. Love that squash!

The tops of carrots just beginning to make their presence known.

The little beginning of a watermelon plant. Yum! I love watermelon. I sure hope these make some good ones.

And here we have a cucumber plant. It has really grown over the last week.

We are trying container gardening, and here some lettuce seems to be thriving.

Here is one of my strawberry plants with some ripening berries. We've averaged about 2 berries every few days..... I guess I need more plants? But they are delicious!

This is one of my blackberry plants with some berries actually growing!! Yeah. Now, if I can keep the birds from finding them.......

I had this garlic sitting in a cup in my window, waiting for a recipe to use it -- well, I guess I took too long, and now I have a garlic that is growing!

One of the beautiful roses I received on my birthday this year. Unfortunately I seem to be inching closer and closer to a new decade. But that didn't stop me from enjoying God's creation.

Well, I'm going to try to catch up a year's worth of information and pictures for you. We had a great year. One of MY highlights of the year was visiting Philadelphia - I want to go back and spend more time there. There is SO MUCH history there!
Enjoy the pictures - I'll try to keep the blog updated more frequently with more information.
We are in our second year of Howard's contract with the hospital here in Albemarle, NC. He has this year and one more year on the contract. Then, who knows what the future holds. We are open to where God will lead us.
Enjoy!

Snow in January 2011!

After a walk in the snow, Trixie decided the fire looked and felt mighty good!

Christmas at home - 2010





Heather loving on Sherlock

Andrew and Sawyer

Howard and his mom making a Japanese Fruit Cake - YUM!!!!!!

Christmas 2010 -

First Picture - Howard and his mom

Second Picture - Amber and her husband, Greg

Third Picture - Amber and Greg's daughter, Courtney

Fourth Picture - Tracy's husband, Bryan, holding Breanna, with Taylor in the foreground

Last Picture - Tracy and Breanna