A Cabinet Maker Discovered ...

David and I decided back in the winter that it would be a great idea to build bookshelves (well okay ... maybe me more than David) instead of buying premade ones so we could use the brick space that is really wasted space in the Family Room.

Scott was gracious to let David use his tools as well as helping him get started by getting the pieces cut out of the cabinet-grade birch sheets we bought to do the job.

After the boards were cut, I got to work priming and painting ...




Frame and shelf boards ...


Top of cabinet boards ...



Frames built and routed for the shelves to go in ...


Shelves are in!!


A better view of the unit ...


The Creator and Twins ...




Getting the bottom of the cabinets finished so the doors can go on them ...


David putting up the trim ...


Here's what they look like inside ...


Aren't the beautiful!?!!


The almost finished product.

David is still working on the doors, so when they are finished, we will get a shot of them! They have been the most time consuming because he has put decorative edges on them, and there are 4 of them, so it's a little more tedious ...

This ended up being one of my birthday presents, and my favorite for sure!

Sugarwood Swim Meet July 9th

Jared was in 4 events this time around ...


Freestyle, Backstroke, Butterfly, and Freestyle Relay


Jared and his buddies hanging out waiting for their event.


A quick shot with mom ...




The sunset was absolutely beautiful!


A serious game of cards in between events; let's take a closer look ...



Jared won first place in his event for freestyle, shaving 4 seconds off his best time ... way to go Jared!!!

Fun for the 4th

Thursday morning, we headed out to Norris Dam State Park to meet up with the Bakers (friends from our previous small group at River Oaks) for a fun-filled day of pontoon boating, tubing, and swimming ... The weater was perfect!


A few pictures before we head out ...


The Baker family ~ who we enjoyed the day with ...


Just look at that water! Oh, yes, and the ducks too :))



Jared suiting up for his first tubing adventure of the day.


Garrett, Jared, and Matt enjoying a leisurely pull in Big Bertha ...


Filling up Big Bertha after she deflated a bit; cost, 50 cents. Watching Greg try to figure out how to use the vacuum cleaner on Big Bertha ... PRICELESS.


So we set out agan with Big Bertha filled up and ready to go ... who are those gorgeous girls?


He's a natural !!


Greg and Jenny enjoying their day.


Anchoring down for for a leisurely swim ...


Matt checking things out for the new arrivals.

We spent the night with the Bakers Thursday night and had a great time of catching up with each other, grilling, playing games, and the most important thing of all, sitting around the fire roasting marshmellows for Smores :)) Thanks Greg and Jenny for a marvelous time!


Friday evening, we headed over to "Camp Roberts" as Jared likes to call it, for a fun-filled evening of eating and playing ...


The kids enjoying playing with their Sparklers!


Jared's best buddies ever ... 4 of the Roberts boys ...

Happy 4th of July!

Small Group Photo

Instead of adult Sunday School, River Oaks has small groups that meet at different homes on different nights. This is our group. We spend every Wednesday night with them, so they are a very important part of our lives. We eat together and we share our lives together by learning what it means to grow in the likeness of Christ; by encouraging each other, helping each other, and just plain loving each other.


We are minus 2 people in this picture; Benssy (Christy's husband who is in Basic Training for the Navy - for more details, visit Christy and Benssy's website under "Friends and Family" to the right), and Dawn Wayman. Our younger members, Laney and Isaiah are also not present in this picture.



Jared and Laney-girl :)) We feel it is an important part of Small Group to have the children be a part as well :))



We can't have small group without have a little fun! Show me your tongue!

The Newvines Wild Weekend ...

Each of the Newvines had different and fun experiences this weekend ...

Starting with David ...

David, Chris, and Joe went on a motorcycle retreat where they rode a total of 480 miles over the weekend.

David taking care of some final preparations on his bike.

Mike giving David a goodbye hug ... wishing if he weren't so tired, he would go too ...

Almost ready ...

And off they go !!!

On Friday afternoon, the 3 "adventurers" started at the Borders ... heading through Wears Valley over into Metcalf Bottoms, then over the mountains into Cherokee, and then onto Maggie Valley where they stayed for the night across the street from a big Harley Davidson rally. Saturday morning, they left Maggie Valley and rode to Blowing Rock, NC via the Blue Ridge Parkway. They were chased by rain Saturday, but managed to "outrun" the storms :)) They stayed at the Blowing Rock Lodge on Saturday night and were WILD boys, taking in a late night movie, The Incredible Hulk.

They were on their way again Sunday by 10:30 a.m., but were not so fortunate this time to outrun the rain. They got soaked in Elizabethton and Johnson City. David had on his Frogg Toggs to keep him from getting soaked, but said he was glad there were no cameras on this trip because he said he looked like the Michelin Man on 2 wheels.

They all arrived home safe and sound Sunday afternoon about 4:00 p.m.

Jared and Mom's Weekend:

Mom wasn't on her toes enough to bring the camera, but Friday night Jared had his first experience at the Drive-In movies at Parkway Drive-In. We rode over with Amy (who is a long-time friend and former room-mate from the "old" days) and her little girl Hattie. Dawn (a friend from small group) and her friend Hannah met us there. Dan and Melissa (long-time friends from S.H.) weren't far behind with their 2 girls. And then we stumbled upon Julie (long-time friend and former room-mate) and John with their 3 children! I also ran into LaDonna (whose husband was on the motorcycle retreat with David and Chris) and her boys, and chatted with them for a bit. So anyway, we arrived around 7:15 p.m. and hung out until the movie came once it got dark about 9:30 p.m. We watched Wall-E. I don't highly recommend paying much money to go and see it (if any), but then again, Jared liked it.

Saturday night was a night to remember in the Staples parking lot ...


Oh yes we did!! We whipped out the lawn chairs and gathered to watch the Aloca fireworks without all the hastle of the crowds ...


Kathy, Kate, and LaDonna enjoying a good laugh.


Is that a laptop??? I thought we were here to see fireworks??


The newest members of our Small Group came to be a part of the exciting parking lot action ... Curt and Dawn.

The fireworks were very enjoyable, we had a great view, AND we didn't have to fight ANY traffic to get home !!! Thanks for letting us in on your secret LaDonna!

Sunday Evening ...

Curt (in the above picture) is a former drummer for ShadowWax, a local rock band. They asked him to fill in for them for a show, so the Borders and Newvines decided to go and check him out ... Jared took this picture ... what a great job!

We weren't able to get pictures once we got inside, but what a great job Curt did! Napoleon Dynamite would say, "he's got really good skills ... probably the best that I know off" ... Seriously though, we were excited to be able to see him live in action, and so thankful to have him and Dawn with us! :))

And, the Borders definitely extend us in ways we never thought, like keeping us up WAY past our bedtime ... :))) Soooo, here we are, living life on the edge by peeling into RJ's at 10:30 p.m. for dessert, and low and behold ... they have NO dessert! Oh well, it was fun anyway and saved us a few calories. It was a great weekend.

Breast Cancer Awareness

This is a free and easy way to help provide women free mammograms who can't afford it. All you have to do is click the pink ribbon every day.

It's a great site to get updated information about breast cancer as well.