Memorial Weekend

Okay so this weekend was fun. I got to catch up with Janelle, Josie & Jayden. I had a great weekend and met some friends of the Wilder's. I also got to go out with some one really sweet. Everyone was so open and easy to communicate with. I really enjoyed the social interactions. I did want to show you some pics of my nephew. I did a quick photo shoot with him on Sunday and he was so cute and interactive playing peek-a-boo in the blankets. I had so much fun watching him and his expressions. He is growing up so fast. I can't believe how much he changes each time I see him. Check out these pics. I spent today in the ED and got sucked into a 12 hour shift since the doc promised to come take over and remembered an hour and a half later after he had caught up seeing several sick patients. I must say-- THANK GOD FOR GOOD HEATLH -- physical as well as mental. I just am so thankful for my life and the blessings of a great home and the ability to speak openly about God.

A visit up north

Happy Mother's Day -- thanks goes out to all those Moms who gave birth, fed, clothed and nurtured their children along the way. We all appreciate it.

I spent the weekend driving to Virginia and getting a sneak peak at parenting a newborn again. This time I got to do the night feedings and give the new Mom & Dad a few extra hours of well earned sleep. Since he takes the bottle like a champ it wasn't bad but I can see how night after night for a while would be exhausting. Check out the new pics

I also got a chance to watch Nicia play soccer for her green team--- Go Nicia!! They tied the blue team, but with a great coach they are all learning alot. Special thanks to Eric the coach who does a great job and for his additional love he pours out. I also got to run by the book fair and then visit the original Whitcomb family for a while and taught Nicia some additional note taking & investigative skills with a few rounds of the game Clue.

Then I took Tim and Lindsay out for dinner to celebrate their Mother's Day and his Birthday. YEAH for special occasions.

And I ran into a couple that I knew from my clinical position at UVA. Their son had a miraculous healing last Christmas from a brain aneurysm and it was great to catch up with them and hear things are still well with him. God is good!

Today I went to Alethia and saw some old faces and had awesome worship. Graham (someone new since I left) did a great job with worship. I love their style of worship and could participate in it all day. We listened as Pastor D shared from Timothy about the importance of having prayer, theology, male involvement and woman's involvement. He talked about the importance in woman allowing men to feel like church is their environment too to keep them drawn and to be careful of not allowing womans ability to administer or verbally lead to detract from the environment. A testy discussion for anyone to teach on. I did find his point that men have visual weakness while women have verbal weaknesses a good point to ponder.

After church I got to chat with some friends and hear about mutual friends as well. Congrats to Matt & Jenni on their upcoming birth. I got to see Amy & Jon's new son- Micah -- a cutie with tons of hair. That church has tons of babies being born! It's wild to see my generation bringing new life into the world and wonder how this new generation will develop -- what skills will they offer the world and how or who will serve God.

I pray a special blessing on the ones I visited with and the ones I missed. Lord-- protect them daily. Draw them into your presence with a new refreshing awareness of your strength and love. Help them to walk with You into their divine destinies and not fear them. Teach them to be obedient, lead them in truth and let them feel your guiding hand in their journey of life ahead of them. May they pursue you. Fill them with your joy during times of sorrow, your peace during times of trouble and your rest during times of storm and your contentment during times of want. And may we all meet again in heaven before you once again if not again here on this earth...
Love
K

Back on the water for ASA class 104

That means I got to be on the sailboat for three days!!! YEAH. We had a great trip. The sun was shining and the wind was blowing -- some of the time. Here are a few pics. We sailed from Wrightsville down the ICW through Snows Cut to Cape Fear River to Dutchmans Cove River to anchor. The second day we ran out the river to just about 3 miles off Bald Head Island and back to Dutchmans. The final day we left early 6:30am to catch the tide right to get back up the river and anchored for a while in the Wrightsville channel (near two bushes) to review systems and take the test.
I especially enjoyed sailing out passed the Bald Head Island out the Cape Fear River (avoiding the shoals off of Cape Fear). It was a beautiful day and while Paul steered I enjoyed time taking pics of the sails and sitting on the bow with my feet over the edge taking splashes on my legs. The temperature was sunny and 80-90 degrees during the day and would drop off to 50-60 degrees at night. PERFECT.
We did get to see the inside workings of a marine head as the brave Captn Ed did some plumbing. We also talked our way through the electronic wiring system and engine system and galley cooking/gas options. I got to play around planing with the dingy in the Dutchman's Cove River where we anchored for the night. I also got to swim for a few minutes and cool off after sailing back the second evening before the sunset. We had great meals prepared by Chef/Captn Ed including barbecued chicken, potato and onion foil packs, to shrimp, potato, corn on the cob and sausage boil to great om lets.
And again -- no seasickness for me. Yeah... (thank God) My nickname of "Nails" continued on (I earned that from Jim and Captn Ed the last trip while standing on the bow at sunset enjoying the wind in the low 50s degree temperature for about 20 minutes(in shorts, two tshirts and a vest) while they bundled up in long sleeves and pants behind the dodger. Paul thought I was crazy swimming in water with water temps probably around 65-68 -- but ya gotta enjoy it while you have the chance. :P Specially when you live so far away from the ocean.
Although it took about 4 attempts to succeed at docking with the wind at the stern and moving with the current -it did happen and I did learn from the experience and will be mulling over my mistakes and the forces involved for the next week before I totally understand it all -- thanks Captn Ed for talking me in and to Paul for being good at fishing in that midship spring line. And a special thanks to Kathleen for sharing Captn Ed to teach us and talk us through the last few days. And a gold star to Paul for tacking us quickly and efficiently and avoiding the shoal just outside the shipping lane. Good luck to Paul and his wife & family with their future sailing.
All and all a great learning experience.
I can't wait to get an opportunity to get out there again. Know anyone trustworthy who owns a sail boat and is willing to let me help sail or wants to charter? Just let me know. :)

A few hours in Wilmington

I took an extra day after my sailing class to wander around Wilmington. It has a historic section and a river walk and I enjoyed wandering around. I walked the river front and then around Front Street. I had fun playing with my camera taking pictures of the architecture and nature -- Spring is a wonderful time of year. They do a beautiful job with tons of trees and window boxes and vines and greenery throughout the city -- I love that! I found some beautiful flowers on a fence and as I left town I found these beautiful rows of poppies I had to pull over and enjoy. Here are some more pics I had a great time-- it is a nice city. And I enjoyed the old fashioned fronts to the buildings and the small boutiques and galleries along the way.