Wednesday my buddies and I were in were in Marshall, NC, for the day, celebrating our friend Becky’s 60th birthday. Our ultimate destination was Hot Springs, to spend time in the mineral baths, but we stopped first to eat in Marshall at Main Street Cafe. The food was absolutely out of this world – everything was homemade. I got this picture of Becky just before my camera died, as we were leaving the restaurant. Such a wonderful day.

Because I had to get home to get to King Sunday afternoon I didn’t get to really study the Memorial Day decorations at church, so I went back by Monday morning to check them out. The wreath out on the lawn looked lovely.

Among other decorations inside is a tree with individual pictures of those killed in combat from our community. Not just our church but anyone from the area. There are also pictures of tombstones for people – mostly WWI veterans, it seems, that no pictures have been found of. It is a very meaningful exhibit.

This morning Jeff’s lifelong friend, Debbie, who has retired to Sumter from Indiana, came up to visit and bring Jeff some paint-by-number pictures she’d made for him. We had a great visit, and the pictures are perfect for him.

Zollie with his oldest grandchild, three-year-old Mary, and youngest grandchild, nine-week-old Heath. Such a precious time.

We have a very strong Veterans’ Committee at our church, so Memorial Day is always celebrated very specially. The decorations in the lobby were beautiful yesterday, including this tree decorated with pictures of servicemen from Clover who paid the ultimate sacrifice, and in some cases of their gravestones.

Sherri got to our house soon after noon, & we drove to Winston-Salem, where we loaded up with Andy & Amy. From there we headed to King to visit with Zollie’s family, as Josh, Hillary, & Jack were in town for Memorial Day weekend. Jack is six months old now, and I got a million pictures like this of him, because he loved the green light that flashes on my camera before it takes a picture. So, so cute.

Saturday afternoon I went to a graduation party for a girl from church who graduated with Mallory. Jessica has gone through four years of ROTC, and is going straight into the Air Force. I loved her cake, and those cupcake with the Air Force ducks on top – so cute!

And the big old bowl of the blue and grey and white candies – Clover’s colors – was so cute (and yummy.)

With her very, very proud and happy grandparents…

And with her buddy Charlie. Needless to say, we are all very proud of him…

I loved this picture of them after they all got their hats back after they’d thrown them in the air.

Afterwards, a big hug from her Emmy – her other grandmother. So sweet.

One more picture of Adam at his graduation. This is the back of the sweatshirt the school presented to him for being named Male Student Athlete of the Year. We were so, so proud.

This is the bracelet we gave Mallory for her graduation present. My friend Becky Coulter made it – she grew up next door to us in Murfreesboro. The turquoise and pearl combination was first popularized by Queen Victoria, and since Mallory is such an English history fan, that seemed perfect to me. She tried it on for us while we were at their house for the party.

Mallory offered the prayer at her high school graduation ceremony last night. She was chosen to do that as a member of the leadership team for FCA. She did a beautiful job, and we were just so proud.