Colton is Graduating!

Chris and I's nephew Colton is graduating from Sweetwater High School in three weeks.  I can't believe how fast time flies.  Seems like yesterday I was with Chris's sister Bridget while she labored to have Colton.  Then standing behind the doctor I watched Colton come into the world.  It was an extraordinary moment.  One of the most memorable in my life.

Here are a few photos I took tonight for the ending of Colton's senior year.

Daddy's

A close friend of mine is at the hospital with her Daddy.  He has pneumonia and is on a vent.  I believe he is around age 82.

My friend and I both are children of older parents.  Our Daddys knew one another well and were kin.  Cousins.  Hopewell, Soak and Corntassel born and raised.

Our Daddys came from a generation of special men. Men of character I wrote about in "Depression Ear Man".   So special that we both call them our "Daddy" way up into our 30's and 40's while most Daddys lose that title when little girls become teenagers.

Please say some prayers for my friend,  her family and her "Daddy".....

Voting

My 92 year old aunt voted.  At 92 she still cares very much about it.  The elderly still want to be actively involved in all things that affect their lives.  Voting is their voice and ours too.  I'd say Charlsie would tell us to value voting and to go do it.  Early voting ends Thursday at the election commission in Madisonville.  Election day is May 6th.

Visiting

Visiting Vonore Baptist with the niece and nephew.  
Amber and Colton.

Courtney's Wedding

A few pics after the wedding.  None of the bride and groom though.  Maybe I can get a photo from Courtney.  I didn't want to snap during the ceremony.

Lake with the Cousins

It's always a good day when spent with our cousins Jeremiah and Sarah.  Disappointed my photos didn't turn out that well.  Something is up with my zoom lens.

Sarah and I.  Love her!

Here comes J & S

Surprise! Future nephew Bryce was on the
pontoon with our niece Amber.

Amber and Bo.  Bo loves the pontoon.

Suiting up!

Ready to go!

Chris liked the sunglasses J&S got at the
"Color Me Rad" run this morning.

Saw the eagle a couple of times. Makes for a great
time for me.

Doesn't quite make it....

Gorgeous night!

UGH!  My camera.  

Cold!!!

What did people do without Smartphones
in the olden days??

Me and Christopher

Wedding

Courtney and David were married today.   Wow what a gorgeous bride she made.  I'll share a few photos later. It's off the the lake for now.  Maybe I'll take a few there to share as well.

A Truth Worth Learning

Revenge and justice are never the same thing..........

                                          Maybe I'll expound someday..........

Tanner and I Easter Morn

Photo of my nephew Tanner and I Easter morning at McMinn Co High School.  His family church has an Easter drama, preaching and singing each year on Easter.  It was wonderful.

More

More helpful links to vitamin D research articles:

Cancer Prevention Vitamin D

Vitamin D Increases Breast Cancer Survival Rates

Vitamin D cancer.org

High Vitamin D Levels may Increase Breast Cancer Survival Rates

Why Vitamin D Matters to Cancer Patients

Low Vitamin D Level Linked to Worse Survival

Low Vitamin D Levels

What's up with D?

Vitamin D.  The "sunshine drug".  It's the only vitamin I stay educated on because my oncologist stresses to me.  ( I really need to be concerned with calcium as well.)  D is directly related to decreased breast cancer recurrence and decreased mortality rates among many other health benefits.

I do not take an over the counter supplement as you can have too high vitamin D levels which is dangerous.  But you can also have too low.  Be careful either way.  I let Dr. Charles, (the best oncologist in the world in my book), decide what I need.

A blood test can keep you informed of your vitamin D and if they are at healthy levels or not. (Most people have enough vitamin D from sunshine.)  I believe the healthy number is around thirty?  Mine will hover around fifteen at least once a year.  So 50,000 iu once a week for three months puts me around twenty eight.  I never hit thirty but that's fine.  Twenty eight is a good level.

So talk to your doctor about a yearly vitamin D check.  Would probably be easy to have done at same time of having cholesterol checkup if you have that.

The below link is a pretty good article on vitamin D.  Very informative.

Understanding Vitamin D

Ramp Festival

Busy day tomorrow.  Work in morning then friend's wedding in the afternoon.   No time for the Ramp Festival I'm afraid.

Soccer

My great niece Bella played soccer in Sweetwater tonight.  She had her mom text me yesterday to make sure I knew she was playing a local game.  The game ended in a tie. 4 to 4.  Bella's very last game of the year is in Cleveland tomorrow night.  She kept asking me to come after today's game.  I may.  We'll see.  I hate to not go.  I've not watched her play often.

Bald Eagle

I love spotting the bald eagles while at the lake.  Timmy was with us earlier this week on the boat when we saw this one.  The eagle was too far to get a good picture.  But I tried.  

Neighbors

When did neighbors change to people who live next door?

Neighbors.  We had neighbors growing up in Corntassel and Hopewell.   In fact our next door neighbors had a key to our house and vice versa, in case of an emergency.   The word neighbor implies a certain amount of intimacy and closeness. Friend.  Family.

Nowadays many people do not know those living around them.  Those do not say neighbor. They say "people who live down the street" or "people who live next door" or "people who live across the street" and so on.

My.  How times are a changing.  Ronald McDonald has ran away with the neighbor...

The Thrills of Today

Dentist and doctor.   Oh happy day!  Not.....

Nothing

0 x 0 = 0

Nothing can be created from nothing.

Laws pretty much physics and mathematics.   I'm unsure how there are those who believe in a "big bang" theory.  Where did the "bang" come from?  Nothing???  There had to be a Creator.   And I know who that is.

Those who believe in nothing must have more faith in nothing than I have in God.  And I have a lot of faith!!  My life shows I have to be made of faith.  Too much has happened in my life to not have had God with me.   I could never made it alone through hard times without Him carrying me.

And that's all I'm going to say about nothing.  Or I'll have a book written.  And besides, nothing can come of nothing.....enough said.

Pages

Ugh...I'm trying to do better on updating my pages on this blog.  Especially "Things to do in East Tennessee" since summer is around the corner.  Watch for new ideas and dates of upcoming events.

Picky Little Devils

Hummingbird feeder up!  Now if my picky eaters will like this year's nectar.   Wish I hadn't gotten the store bought kind and just used homemade from the get go.

Five Year Old

I'm still locked out of my Hotmail account!!  I have sooooo much info in it. I think I need a five year old to hack in. They'd have better luck than me...

Summer is coming!

Three of my favorite signs so far this week that summer is around the bend:  the smell of fresh cut grass, a few lightning bugs, and the absolute best thing of summer-call of a Whippoorwill while we were sitting visiting with our friend Timmy on the boat last night.

Early Voting Primary 2014

Chris and I early voted today.   I do not have opposition this year but would very much appreciate a complimentary vote.

Movies

I love movies!!!  And going to the movies.  ( Especially the popcorn part.)  During the past year or so Chris and I's movie hobby has turned into a going to the lake hobby.  Soooo we've not had time for movie dates other than some big named movies like "The Hunger Games" and "Divergent" (of which I'm embarrassed to say how many times I've seen).

There have been several Christian/Biblical themed movies the past few months I've not watched and may not until they are released on DVD.  They are "Son of God" (which is probably like the History Channel "The Bible" miniseries), "Noah", and "God's not Dead".  However not on my list is "Heaven is for Real".

Where is he....

No one has seemed to notice that Ronald McDonald has been 

phased out of all things McDonald's......

Rereading

The past couple of years I've been horrible about rereading books.  I've reread "Cleopatra" by Stacy Schiff, couple of Allison Weir books on the Tudor Dynasty and now John MacArthur.  Next I have an Erwin Lutzer book I'd like to read again.

I really should be reading books I've never read. Maybe a nice fiction.  I've had "Divergent" on my Kindle for months and months.