June 23rd

OUR ANNIVERSARY

When John and I got married I do not think that the thought of being married 39 years ever crossed my mind. We were just, happy go lucky, high school sweethearts who have managed to beat the odds. So, here we are, 39 years later......still married, still in love, and still enjoy each others company! I am so thankful that through the highs and lows that we made it! I still remember John telling me, when he proposed, not to say yes unless I was willing to be married the rest of my life. Now, I know, it certainly is not that simple, but it didn't hurt to be said and thought about.

Happy Anniversary, John Brady....I love you!

I found this receipt when I was looking at our Wedding Book. How funny....we spent the night at The Ramada Inn (the one that burned about 2 years ago) on Highway 65. It was so pretty (I thought) with the big plantation columns in front. That room cost us $17.00 plus tax!

Father's Day

ALWAYS....brings to mind memories of when the kids were young. Thank you, John, for being a wonderful DADDY!

John and Brady
John and Courtney

John and Josh

I am so glad that John got to learn from the BEST.

PAW PAW with Jamie and Courtney

I want to be like Dad

What a great gift, to a Grandparent, when they know that their Grandchildren have a great Dad to be like!

Happy Father's Day - BradyHappy Father's Day - Dave
Luckily, both these men are blessed with wonderful wives that help them lead their families. Our DIL - Kim and our D - Courtney.

Synchronous Fireflies in the Smokies

Just let me say......unbelievable! John and I first heard about the fireflies ,at Elkmont, in the Smoky Mountain National Park for the first time 2 years ago. Linda and David Lawson (John's brother and his wife) went to see them last year and told us we really needed to see this phenomena. So, we started making plans. We had so much happening that we almost decided to wait until next year. Partly, because we had some good friends that wanted to go and they couldn't go this year. I am so glad we went. We can go with them and have a better knowledge of the best things to do to enjoy this night.

Hopefully, you can blow up these pictures and read the pamplet. If not, you can go to www.insidegatlinburg.com/things-to-do/the-smoky-mountain-synchronous-fireflies/

You park and wait to go out to Elkmont at The Sugarlands Visitor Center. They only allow as many people to go see the fireflies as can park in the lots. So you have to go early. The shuttles to Elkmont start at 7:00 and we got there and parked at 4:00. I would not go any later. We parked, got out our chairs, read, talked, visited with people from "everywhere", went (well, I did anyway) on a hike, and just enjoyed being in the peacefulness of the mountains. The time really passed by quickly.

The hiking trail behind The Sugarlands Visitor Center

I got a kick out of the "fire hydrant" out in the middle of no where. Do you know how long we waited on a fire hydrant to be close enough to our house in Berry that our insurance would go down!

I love trees and rocks. It is just my thing. I would love to have this rock in my yard at home!

The line, for the shuttle beginning to get long.

This is the line behind us....there was a line in front of us also!

Getting close to the shuttle bus

The spot where we decided to make "our camp". That is John's knee. We did not carry chairs. Not sure if I will next time.....we carried a blanket to sit on. This picture was made with a flash.

Same picture-no flash.

Let me say.....I have never witnessed anything like this. It is very hard to describe. It really wasn't what I thought it would be and I think it is because it is so hard to describe. The whole experience was wonderful...that is if you love the outdoors! Everyone needs to see this. I am so glad we got to see it and we will go back!

I tried to get pictures but my 35mm just couldn't do it. Any light will upset the fireflies so you would need a really good camera, on a tripod, so you could open up the camera lens and then I think it would be a blur.

The fireflies really started showing off around 9:30. We watched them for about 45 minutes and then started the walk down the mountain trail to get in line to ride the shuttle back to the parking lot. It took about an hour to get on the shuttle bus, then about 15 minutes to the parking lot. So, this is a all afternoon and night outing. Luckily, there was still places open to eat!

Shari Cavali / Branon Bishop Wedding

John and I headed to North Carolina, 2 weeks ago, for a wedding. The son of some of our best friends was getting married. That would be Wayne and Shirley Bishop. Now, our history goes much deeper than saying John's best friend...that is just where the story begins. John and Wayne were friends all their teenage years, they went to school and church together. I met Wayne way before I knew John....we were both in the band....and at Minor High School that was a special connection that never goes away. We loved Shirley the first time we met her and I still remember the first time she made us spaghetti at her apartment. Well......John and I moved to Berry when we got married and life took over and we see Wayne and Shirley on average of once a year. But that feeling never goes away. The minute we heard that Pleasant Grove had been hit by the tornado....John and I panicked because that is where Wayne and Shirley live! All this to say that we may not see each other often ......but, we have always been there for the big, important, sad and happy times in each other lives.

This was a HAPPY time!

The wedding was on a gently sloping lawn beside Lake Norman. It was very pleasant under the trees where the wedding took place.


you can see the shade over the chairs

Brandi Bishop Gray - sister of the groom

Here is the story behind this picture...and I bet you are wondering.

The preacher and parents of the groom walked down the aisle to the usual formal wedding music. Then the music made a scratchy sound (on purpose)....that made everybody panicky for a second...and then some very modern music started playing and the groom and best man appeared and started dancing down the lawn toward the aisle.....as they got close to the aisle Branon leap frogged over the best man and did the splits....we couldn't help it...we clapped.

dancing down the aisle

look past the couple in the red jacket and light blue dress.....and you can see Wayne and Shirley.

Here comes the bride.................

the bride and her dress was beautiful

and if you are wondering...the music went back to a little more traditional for the bride

I loved it.......they had just exactly what they wanted...as it should be!So obvious how happy they were

Brandi

Being introduced as Mr. and Mrs. Branon Bishop

Their first dance......and yes, that's my Big John watching

I love this new cup cake craze

throwing the bouquet

the garter

John and I got to sit and watch the festivities and visit with Wayne and Shirley. We left around midnight...that's a sign of a good time.

Beautiful wedding, handsome groom, beautiful bride, beautiful bridesmaid, beautiful grandchildren and our wonderful friends. What a great weekend. Wayne and Shirley, we love you and hope we get to see each other more in the years to come.

Friends

for a long time......

I almost forgot to put this picture on here and it is my favorite!

They Love to

Swim....Swim....SwimEmma
JB3 and Abby Claire

I love their imagination. This day they were playing......Walk The Plank!

Hard to get a picture of our little "fish" JB3!

Abby

Emma