Blowing out the candles on his Cars birthday cake

Earlier this month we celebrated Hunter's 4th birthday.  It's hard to believe he's that old now!  Time moves so quickly.

Enjoying cake and ice cream

We had a small party with a few friends and family.

Opening a present with his cousin watching

Hunter really enjoyed the presents everyone gave him.  He got lots of cars, trucks, a play mat and other goodies.

Playing with his new toys

I love my big boy!

Cute, messy, wild boy

The theme one night

I meant to post this last week, but things happened.

Some of the kids dancing

We had Bible School at our church last month.  Our theme was Kickin' It Old School.  It's like you're backstage at a concert.  The major theme of the week was God and his word never change.

My royalty costume- my sash says Queen of my double-wide trailer

So I saw this as an awesome opportunity to play dress up, which y'all know I love costumes!  Each night we were supposed to wear something different.  We had nights for animal prints, dressing like royalty, christian t-shirts, dress like a soldier night, and the last day we dressed like an 80's rock star.

Us dancing on Camo night (I'm in the back in the pink)

The music was a throwback to the 80's.  Old hymns were updated and made more fun for the kids and included lots of dancing, which I loved.  I danced with at least 2 classes each night!

Our class- a great group of teens

Me and Barb taught the teen class.  It was more fun than I thought it would be.  At times the kids got really into the lessons and we all shared laughter and tears while learning about God.  We ended up having about 10-14 teens in our class most nights.

One of the snacks a world with people (gummy bears) on top

Mama Cora made dinner each night for the kids.  Then, later at night, they had snack time with snacks related to our daily theme.

Snack time

Our games were even old school.  They played things like tug of war, red rover, and over and under.

A game of Over and Under with toilet paper

We have a small country church, but boy was it filled up during our Bible school!  I think it's awesome that they had classes from toddlers to teens.  A lot of the time churches stop VBS when kids get a certain age, so glad ours didn't!  We were truly blessed by these kids!

Tug of War (Hunter is in the middle)

Saturday we had our Survivor weekend.  The kids come early for breakfast and stay until after church on Sunday.

Even some of the adults enjoyed the water fun

We had our usual water fights and redneck water slide.

Mitchell on the slip n slide (Hunter ran around shooting everyone who slid)

We also had a talent show Saturday night.  A lot of the kids sang, danced, and one played his guitar.  Barb and I even got awards for going all out by dressing up every night.

Talent show

If you want to have a lot of fun during VBS I would highly recommend Kickin' it Old School!

Me and Barb dressed like rock stars

Did any of you have a Bible school theme that you loved this year?  I would love to hear about it!

Sam's Club wants to remind you that it's back to school time and that means collecting Box Tops.  Box Tops for Education are an easy way to help raise money for your child's school.  All you do is cut them out, and send them in to school with your children.


Right now when you purchase participating products you will find 5 extra Box Tops.  Some of these products are Honey Nut Cheerios, Totino's Pizza Rolls, and Nature Valley Granola Bars.  The best thing is each item has 6 Box Tops for Education.

Box Tops products I bought at Sam's Club

On my recent trip to Sam's Club there were prominent displays showing off the Box Tops for Education products for sale.  It was hard to choose from so many great items, but I ended up purchasing Lucky Charms, Fruit Roll-Ups, Scooby-Doo Fruit Flavored Snacks, and Hershey's Ultimate Chocolate Brownie Mix.  I went a little over my $25 gift card, but i couldn't resist the Ultimate Brownies!

Sam's Club would like to give one of my lucky readers a $25 gift card.  To enter do any or all of the following:

• Leave a comment telling me which Box Tops product you would buy with the gift card
• Follow My Blog on Google Friend Connect
• Like Southern Blessings on Facebook
• Like Sam's Club on Facebook

Leave a separate comment for each entry.  Giveaway is open to US residents only. Giveaway will close Wednesday night August 31st at midnight. Good luck!

Disclosure: The Sam’s Club gift card, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

 
I recently had the chance to review a new book by MaryLu Tyndall called Surrender the Dawn.  It's the third in her Surrender to Destiny series.  If you haven't read the first two books, I highly recommend them.  They are all wonderful Christian romances with lots of adventure too!

Surrender the Dawn is set during the War of 1812.  The heroine, Cassandra, will stop at nothing to save her family.  She decides to invest in a privateer, but can't find one willing to work with a woman.  Finally she finds Luke Heaton, who is a drunk, gambler, and the town rogue.  He also desperately wants money to fix up his ship, so they agree to work together. 

I love how Ms. Tyndall combines history, faith, and romance seamlessly.  I really liked the hero Luke, I think a lot of us have a thing for the bad boy.  Surrender the Dawn has lots of action on land and sea as the characters come face to face with the British.  You almost feel like you are a part of the story. 

I was given a copy of Surrender The Dawn by the author in exchange for an honest review.

On Tuesday I got a call from my "adopted daughter", A.J., telling me her grandmother had died.  It was completely out of the blue.  She hadn't been sick, and was in pretty good health.  I was shocked to say the least.

Kenneth and Cora (taken just a few weeks ago)

Cora was married to my cousin, but she was like my second mama.  She took me in when I was a teenager and let me live with her and her family.  She has always been the kindest, most loving person.  She helped to raise most of her grandchildren and welcomed everyone into her home.

A.J and Cora (during Salkehatchie)

A.J. was very close to her "granny" and was quite upset.  The kids and I went over there as soon as we found out and stayed most of the day with A.J., her grandpa, and the rest of the family.  All of the grandchildren were devastated over the loss of this wonderful lady.  My cousin, Kenneth, didn't seem to be too upset, but he did keep saying how pretty she was at the funeral home and how he never figured out what a pretty woman like her was doing with a guy like him.  It was so sweet!  We all mourned and remembered Cora together.

Cora loved to work in the kitchen at our church

As I sat in the church at her funeral, crying, and listening to the preacher talk of her, I realized I was selfish.  I had kept thinking of how I can't believe she left me and what will I do without her.  I was only thinking of myself.  I guess a lot of us there were thinking how we were affected, instead of where Cora was.  I tried to remember it was a celebration of her life and how she's in a much better place now.  It helped a little, it's just hard right now.

Cora, Kenneth, and my family at their 50th anniversary party (3 yrs ago)

I have been taking this much harder than I have the deaths of other family members.  I guess I thought she would be here for a long time to come.  I am sure time will help, but the pew at church sure felt empty today without her!  Eventually the tears will stop falling, it just won't be today.

Another great song! 

Only A Man

I used to live my life in fear
Was worried all the time
From waking up to laying down
I had no peace of mind

The world became a darkened place
A struggle without end
Although bitter times those were
The days that I had began to understand
I was only a man

I grew up singing songs in church
With questions in my mind
Then turned my back and ran away
From God who gave me life

Then one night his presence fell
I wept and shook and then
I fell down and cried, Dear Jesus, rescue me again
I understand I am only a man

And He said, What will it be now?
Will you choose me or keep swimming up stream now?
I've been inside your head hearing you scream out.
Well here I am, just take my hand and I'll take out
All of the pain and all of the fear
All of the fear

I'll give you my burdens (I'll give you peace)
All of my desires (I'll give you what you need)

Oh, what about these chains, Lord? (I'll set you free)
But they're so heavy (Lay them at my feet)
I'll lay them at your feet

Just promise you won't leave (I'll never leave)
So where do I go from here, Lord? (Just follow me)
(Just follow me)

I'll follow you (Just follow me) wherever you lead
Wherever you lead, wherever you lead

I heard this last Sunday at church and wanted to
share these awesome lyrics with y'all! I hope
everyone has a blessed Sunday!

He Knows My Name 

He counts the stars one and all 
He knows how much sand is on the shores 
He sees every sparrow that falls 
He made the mountains and the seas 
He's in control of everything 
Of all creatures great and small 

And He knows my name 
Every step that I take 
Every move that I make 
Every tear that I cry 
He knows my name 
When I'm overwhelmed by the pain 
And can't see the light of day 
I know I'll be just fine 
'Cause He knows my name 

I don't know what tomorrow will bring 
I can't tell you what's in store 
I don't know a lot of things 
I don't have all the answers 
To the questions of life 
But I know in whom I have believed 

And He knows my name 
Every step that I take 
Every move that I make 
Every tear that I cry 
He knows my name 
When I'm overwhelmed by the pain 
And can't see the light of day 
I know I'll be just fine 
'Cause He knows my name 

He knew who I was when He carried the cross 
He knew that I would fail Him but He took the loss 

And He knows my name 
Every step that I take 
Every move that I make 
Every tear that I cry 
He knows my name 
When I'm overwhelmed by the pain 
And can't see the light of day 
I know I'll be just fine 
'Cause He knows my name 

Every step that I take 
Every move that I make 
Every tear that I cry

He knows my name