Memorial Day Festivities

Posted: Monday, June 3, 2013 | Author: | Filed under: 2k12, 2k13 | Tags: , , , , | 2 Comments

Louis and I love our annual Memorial Day Festivities!!!  This shin-dig started years ago and has grown significantly since. We hung out with a lot of friends and neighbors..remembering and honoring the day. Louis and I provide the grilled chicken, drinks and birthday cake (because my birthday always falls around Memorial Day!)…and everyone else provided the rest….fruit, sides, veggies, salads, fried fish, corn cake, curried chicken, you name it!  What a blessing!

Go ahead…mark your calendar for next year….Monday, May 26, 2014….4pm-8pm.  I dare you!  

Quick side note… My birthday won’t actually fall on Memorial Day until 2021…when I will turn 58. WOW! Now THAT is scary!

Curious to know…for those of you who came,

what was YOUR favorite part of the gathering and why?

Mine? I love connecting my friends to one another over a good plate of food, where everyone had a part in contributing to the meal.

Annual Memorial Day Cookout!

Posted: Tuesday, May 21, 2013 | Author: | Filed under: 2k13 | Tags: , , , , | Comments Off on Annual Memorial Day Cookout!

Hope to see you at our Annual Memorial Day Cookout!!!

2013 Memorial Day

Clouds…Rain…SUNSHINE!

Posted: Friday, July 27, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: 2k12 | Tags: , , , , , , | Comments Off on Clouds…Rain…SUNSHINE!

Just a quick sneak peak at tonight’s activities!  It was definitely interesting.  Although I know we need the rain pretty badly, we prayed that the rain would hold off…..

 

But, the rain came….and this is what it looks like when it rains….

 

 

 

Then… the clouds went away and the SUNSHINE came out!  WOO HOO!!!! I know I should say something spiritual here, but I just don’t have the energy! But, what I do know is…God is really good…all. the. time!

 

 

What a super night of great fun…and a night of learning about just how loud it can get in our house….and I can say I appreciate the sunshine today more than most!  🙂  Again…super thanks to new and old-time friends from Hope Church (BIG TIME!!!), Movement Church, Cornerstone Christian Church, Parham Road Baptist, Bethesda House Ministries, New Hanover Pres, Tuckahoe Pres, Spencer Simmons (check out this talented musician at www.spencersimmonsmusic.com) and soooo many more who helped out this week and tonight in some way!  I always hesitate to list groups or people because I know I will forget some one….forgive me if I did!!!)  More pics to come!

Thanks to community for coming out….and blessing us!

 

LouDawg Does It Again!

Posted: Friday, June 1, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: 2k12 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on LouDawg Does It Again!

As usual, LouDawg’s Grilled Chicken (about 80 lbs!!!) was a huge hit at our Annual Community Memorial Day Cookout for Southern Barton Heights. Although we’ve done this for years, we just started tracking numbers.  3 years ago, we had about 40 people.  Last year, we hosted about 60.  I was super surprised and thrilled when about 100 people showed up over the 4 hours!  I couldn’t have been happier!  It was a great time of getting to know our neighbors and friends.

We were thrilled when we connected with a small group from Movement Church who sacrificed their time to help us!  They were amazing!  Not only did they bring side dishes, but they also came early to help set up.  They organized games for the kids in our neighbor’s yard….because when we had a ton of people in the yard, it got a little tight, needless to say.  Our total yard is only .14 of an acre, so the back yard is 1/2 of that.  And then…the guys, TC and Matt, hung out to help us tear down, along with Chucky, David and Khalil.  Our neighbors were great…contributing to the meal, helping to clean up afterwards, etc.  Brian, Christy and Joy were AMAZING in the kitchen!

I have mixed feelings about the day.  On one hand I was sad, when I heard someone warmly say, “I’ve never experienced anything like this. This is great!” Another new friend said, “I’ve been longing for a sense of community in our neighborhood, and now…I think I finally feel that.” as she connected with neighbors she had never met.  Why sad? Because my neighbors have been hungry for community, and haven’t felt it.  On the other hand, I’m also thrilled because we are moving in the right direction.  Less of us will be disconnected, but now will feel a since of warmth, love and community.

I look forward to continue moving in that direction… As we attempt to love our neighbors as ourselves.

Enjoy the pictures of the day.  I guess I should note that we also celebrate my birthday (5.31) each year as well.  I was overwhelmed when my old and new friends joined in singing “Happy Birthday to you” in the traditional tune….and then, in the Stevie Wonder style! Thanks to everyone for making my early birthday so special.  And…go ahead….mark the day on your calendar for next year when I turn the big 5-0!  🙂

Annual Memorial Day Community Cookout

Posted: Thursday, May 24, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: 2k12 | Tags: , , , , | Comments Off on Annual Memorial Day Community Cookout

Thrilled to host our annual Memorial Day Community Cookout on Monday, May 28th from 4-8pm.  We’ll provide the drinks and grilled chicken courtesy of LouDawg’s Cafe and Grill (aka Louis).  If you can, just bring a side to go with it!  Looking forward to seeing all who can come!  Here’s the post from last year’s cookout…  Memorial Day 2011.