The start of the game – cold – 35 degrees – steady rain – SOCCER!
We traveled five hours NW to Va. to Lynchburg –
our grand daughters first home contest of the delayed season!
Maddy Myers – number 13 – waiting for the start of the game!
As a Freshmen – she played in 13 games – now a Sophomore –
the first game she had a assist and two near misses in a 2-0 victory!
Out family – father Mike – Mother Debby – sister Ella and grandma – Sherry – Ella will be attending Randolph College in the Fall to play soccer – right across town and will compete against her sister for two years!Hard to see but she is in the middle far side above the Y about to pass the ball!
She carries a HIGH GPA – and as a Sophomore – because of that GPA –
was able to have a room in the buildings right behind her!
She is a determined young lady – her last two years of travel –
she drove herself 65 miles each way so she could compete with the best in the
Metro D.C area in Loudoun County – a hot bed of recruiting for college soccer.
Steady rain – but we stayed watching her and the game.
The entire team waiting for the start of the game in the cold and rain!
Near the end of the game – a 4 to 1 victory and 2 – 0 on the young season!
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WHERE FRIENDS MEET THE FAMILY
FAMILY MEETS FRIENDS!
Sherry – Certified Health Coach – business owner – The Juice Plus Company – her website – http://www.sf.juiceplus.com
MY SITE: PAPA’S WORLD MY BLOG: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
It was not planned – but we had weeks and weeks of non stop rain!
So – Sherry made the call – what are you doing to our friends
who now live some 50 miles from us!
Lets get together – you come here for a over night stay –
we will walk the beach if it does not rain!
So – they did – came down and stayed overnight!
Yep – story of our lives now!
We played cards – laughed – and walked.
The rain held off and the Sun came out – but was still cold!
We made the most of it!
Papa and Buck – on the beach – girls were going to walk to Cherry Grove Pier – we would walk back to the condo – pick up the car – and go back and pick them up!
They walked the two miles up to the pier –
we walked the mile back to the condo –
The wind was blowing – but on the beach –
The ladies said the sun kept them warm.
We picked up our car and drove up to the pier –
and got out and met them just as they arrived!
The pier at Cherry Grove – there were surfers in the water!
We walked a short distance up the beach –
Before we decided to get in the car and drive around.
We showed them the canals and cottages.
Stopped at the boat landing – and then returned to the condo!
So ended another great time with friends –
No rain – walking – games and just great fun.
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WHERE FRIENDS MEET THE FAMILY
FAMILY MEETS FRIENDS!
Another time – another place – warmer weather – still – GREAT FRIENDS!
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They play sports – the two oldest – soccer – and one is in college playing
and the second – next fall will do the same.
The youngest is into dance – loves the arts – and wants to go to NYC!
When they were little – Sarah – Maddy – Ella with their father and mother.
All three love their Grandma – laughing with her and at her!
She loves to take them shopping – getting nails done and ear piercings! Here – Sherry – Sarah – 14 years old – Maddy – 20 years old – Ella – 17 years old – Sherry is 5′ 9″ tall – they all are tall!
We took Sarah and Ella for a week to the beach last summer –
We took Maddy to swim with the Manatee’s for her 16th. birthday
We took Ella to Disney Star wars for her 16th. birthday
And now when Sarah reaches 16 – she wants to go to NYC and Broadway!
I will sit that one out – her mother can take my place!
Maddy has made the leap to college – now in her Sophomore year
as a Freshman she played in 13 games at the University of Lynchburg – Va.
And has maintained a GPA – over a 3.85!
She just played this past weekend – having one assist –
one barely missed assist and one barely missed shot on goal.
They won 2 to 0!
Mike Debby Ella
Ella will finish her H.S. soccer this Spring –
She had two colleges to pick from and choose Randolpf College in Lynchburg Va.
Just across town from her sister and they will compete against one another!
Maddy Ella Sherry Sarah
Sarah is all about fashion – no interest in soccer at all!
Although when little – she played as well as her older sisters!
She loves to dance in competitions when younger and shows.
Her goal is one day to create fashions and design – produce movies – acting!
All three are like this – beautiful on the inside – smiling on the outside – living life to the good.
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WHERE FRIENDS MEET THE FAMILY
FAMILY MEETS FRIENDS!
ELLA MADDY SARAH
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Our volleyball team after I quit playing softball – Back row – next to me – Steve and in front of him next to Sherry – Elaine. This couple are some of our oldest friends – and we still stay in touch today.
We are blessed in that we have so many dear friends.
Some – for me – go back to childhood.
Sherry – Papa – PJ – and Bob!
We have been friends since first grade – Bob and I.
We played sports together – stayed at one anothers homes.
Ran the streets after dark – drank a few beers together
and still – to this day – meet up and share old memories.
They will stop in on their way back home to N.H. in May.
HUGS TO P.J. and Bob.
Fred and Lynda – Sherry!
Freddie and I go back to 7th. grade
Playing sports together – card games – there were four of us that paled around
Freddie – Bobby and Jon ( deceased)
Lynda and Fred are the oldest couple still together as our friends.
Sherry – Buck – Cindy and Papa.
We have traveled the World together –
Spain – Gibraltar – Morocco – Canada – and numerous states on the East coast and the West coast
and in between.
Always planning new adventures.
Friends as neighbors since 1987!
Papa Jim Sherry Dottie – they have been married 40 years – and I knew them both before that – Jimmy and I played softball together for two teams in the late ’70’s!
Jim – Dottie and I all grew up in the same town in Pa. called Eldred.
Jim -Sherry and I all worked together in Olean N.Y.
It has been a long and rewarding friendship all these years.
When all the kids were young – we would vacation together at the beach.
Carol and Mike John, neighbors for 12 1/2 years in WNY!
We were neighbors and they were Buck and Cindy’s friends.
We lived beside them for 12 1/2 years
We would race our ride mowers up and down the street! LOL
We would play jokes on each other.
It was a great time in our lives and the McBrides and us left the hood
shortly after they left and moved South.
The John’s own a painting corp that travels the USA
painting various structures and energy companies pipe lines.
We will spend a long weekend with them at the lake house in WNY!
The Browns and McBrides also.
Jo Paul Peterson and Sherry
Jo graduated one year behind me
Paul graduated with Sherry from Smethport.
We got to know one another through reunions
and have traveled to their home in Phoenix and them to ours before the pandemic.
We have maintained that friendship for the last ten years or so.
Here we are at the WALL in DC.
Reflections of the soul I call this.
Gerhard and Jennie – our son in laws parents
For the last 14 years or more – we have bonded with his parents.
Always visiting them when we lived in NVA.
They have come down to visit us in North Myrtle Beach.
In laws and friends – FAMILY!
Our little group get together to golf.
There are times we try to bring us all together to golf.
Wish it would happen more often.
But when it does – it is fun and guys vs. gals!
If we are not on our game – they will beat us! LOL
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WHERE FRIENDS MEET THE FAMILY
FAMILY MEETS FRIENDS!
Sherry’s FAMILY & FRIENDS of Juice Plus. Her network marketing business – http://www.sf.juiceplus.com SSC QMND
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While we differ on many issues – the one thing that brings us together is being friends – the other is love and finally understanding and respect – admiration and equality!
1981 – was our first date – 16 months later – we married.
June 25th. 1982
FRIENDS – then and still today – my best friend.
LOVE – forty years later – still love each other.
UNDERSTANDING AND RESPECT – she smiles – often – she laughs often –
She understands me – guides me – I get lost! lol
I respect her – guide when I am able –
She in turn respects my thoughts – cares and understandings.
Debby Papa Sherry
ADMIRATION AND EQUALITY – two aspects that I have based my life on.
Both of these two are leaders – mother and daughter – SSC and QMND – The Juice Plus Company.
Home based business done over the internet – no inventory – just take a order – submit – everything
else is done by the company – they even collect the payment – 26 years in business- 21 countries. SOLID!
Today we have started building a new home – in Ocean Isle Beach – N.C.
We – one year ago – had no thoughts of doing this – both are in our early ’70’s.
Things happen and change – roll with the flow – relocate – but still only a day away from family.
Our first purchases for our new home.
We have been busy – planning – buying furniture to be delivered – as we had sold all of ours!
We will miss this view – but – we have enjoyed it for nine months! MEMORIES!
Today we continue our journey – in a couple months we will celebrate 39 years of marriage.
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I will continue the story in the next blog.
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When we were here with our grand kids – CASSIDY -TAYLOR – BODE – they strung together these shells with all our names on them including MORMOR & PAPA! Each time we return – we can feel them being here!
They began gathering their shells –
We had shown them the shells that the grand kids had hung from the tree!
The shell Taylor hung with her initials – TK – and the month and year!
In the back ground – our grand daughters – Cassidy – shell with her cousins Olivia in the foreground.
They loved doing this – and when other family members come down
we shall do the same!
On the tree – Sherry wrote the names – Taylor – Cassidy – Bode and now Maya and Olivia.
Maya signing her shell.
Olivia signing her shell!
We spent some time here – reading other shells and found one with a date of 1990!
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Mother and daughters – Kristie – Maya – Olivia
WHERE FRIENDS MEET THE FAMILY!
FAMILY MEETS FRIENDS!
MAYA
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BLOG: FAMILY JONES
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PAPA AND MORMOR with Casey – Maya – Olivia – FAMILY JONES!
Often times you look on the other side of the fence – and then there comes a time you get a chance to walk at a place that would look the same 300 years ago! Here is that place at the far end of Cherry Grove – S.C. where no houses are built – no piers or docks – just sand – ocean and trees and shrubs – a deserted beach!
This I think is what the coast line looked like long before the settlers came here. No buildings – just raw nature – surf – and sand!
First – you have to find the path through the trees and shrubs to get to the beach!
Finding a very large tree washed upon shore – perhaps 60 feet long!Sherry Tammy Cassidy Bode Taylor
Walking along the surf – no one in sight – imagining that this is how nature looked centuries ago!
And then we turn around and in the distance the pier – broken from the last major storm! Mother and daughters – solitude – listening to the surf – and time to turn around – head back to the houses.
In the background – the end of the buildings – the broken pier and a deserted beach – and looking ahead into nature what it looked like all those years ago. Tammy – Cassidy – Sherry (MorMor) Bode Taylor
This is a place where the past meets the future –
and we had the pleasure to bring the family
to see – hear and experience it!
Walking back to the future – Bode and MorMor!
Walking to the past from the future!
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FAMILY MEETS THE FRIENDS
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Our young grandson – five granddaughters and then Bode!
From the very moment they pulled in – he asked that question –
PAPA – CAN WE GO ON YOUR HIKE?
To him – a hike is like back home – rocks – hills forest – streams!
I tried to explain to him it is different here –
But PAPA – That is not a hike – we have to go to the mountains!
Bode – entering the forest for our hike – along the ICW and the marsh land – no gators – at least we saw none!
“FOLLOW ME GUYS”!
He is a leader – and always out in front!
This is him to a tee – always staying ahead of the game – his own mind.
We walked a good mile and one half through the woods –
although he was out in front of me or alongside of me –
he never sought to run off –
staying close to me!
There were many intersections going in different directions – which way do we go PAPA he would ask – I had a map so I could tell him – he always listened to what I would say!
The twins – Taylor and Cassidy stayed close to their MORMOR ( Sherry)
We spent the better part of a hour walking the marsh and the woods
I want to come back here in the Summer so we can see more wild life!
Cassidy MORMOR Taylor Tammy Bode
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The day we went on our hike –
Bode now understands a hike can be different
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At the end of the hike – snacks and a swing – life is good and feeling blessed!
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The first thing they wanted to do was walk the beach!
Now – wouldn’t you know it that it got cold and windy the day they arrived!
It was so warm the day before people were sitting on the beach and wading in the water!
So we pressed on and walked down and onto the beach.
The wind was the culprit – making it very cold.
Even Bode has enough even though he had no shoes on!
Cassidy Taylor Bode after he put his shoes back on!
We walked to the next beach entrance and exited!
MorMor Bode Cassidy Taylor Tammy
It was a very short walk – but they got to see just how close we are!
Tammy said the kids were great – she had told them she would not stop and she didn’t making the seven hour drive in a little over six hours and they never complained!
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And that night after the kids went to bed – we relaxed and watched a playoff game
We are all from Western New York
and were huge fans when Buffalo Bills made their four straight Super Bowls!
One of my favorite beers from back in Western New York!
When the day begins with a splash – each day break is different! Ocean Keyes – North Myrtle Beach – SC!
This is the view I saw in the ad for this rental!
This view sold us and we jumped on it right away!
Each morning is different!
Our view of the small lake –
Water fowl flying in and out!
There are six fountains that we can see!
Each at night is lit up!
The moon and fountains light the water !
This never gets old.
I will miss this when we move into our new house.
But – we will have enjoyed it for nine months!
We are social distancing from here – in the condo!
We knew when we moved in October 1st. that we would be mostly alone-
that we would not be able to eat out –
but what we have here is the ability to walk!
Every day – we can walk different routes and still end up at the beach!
One half mile walk brings us to this! If you want information on this place – just contact us here or through my wife’s web site: http://www.sf.juiceplus.com and we will answer.
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The view from our living room through the screened in Lanai – plus you get this same view from the master bedroom!
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Every morning when the sun rises – we get to see this!
This view is what first got my attention when I was looking for a place to rent!
I came across it and right away I called to Sherry –
“How would you like to live here for a while” ?
It took maybe one minute to decide – this is where we will go until we find another place!
We have now been here – at this time of writing – early January – some 13 weeks!
And – expecting our house to be done – the end of June!
But – that view is not all – we can walk to this every day!
The other reason is the walk to the beach –
a little over 1/2 mile and we are standing here.
Although the clouds roll in and out –
very few times have we not been able to walk with rain ruining it!
Plus – we are so close to other trails – nature – we can explore.
We are building a house – in the long run – it was about the same as buying one already built!
In our price range.
And – we will still be close to this – one half hour away!
The area we choose is in N.C. 15 miles away.
There we are close to two other beaches!
Ocean Isle Beach ( which is the address) and Sunset Beach.
Both about 4 and 6 miles away!
Although we will not see this on our walks – we will have a entirely different view.
The skies here are wonderful – different each day – I always notice skies where ever we are!
Just above the fountain – two black dots – the SWANS have returned – they come and go!Looking back toward the beach entrance – and .66 miles away – our rented condo!
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WHERE FRIENDS MEET THE FAMILY
The wonder of the surf while working her business by phone! http://www.sf.juiceplus.com from anywhere in 21 countries!
FAMILY MEETS FRIENDS!
The skies of North Myrtle Beach – where we live-walk!
Here we are – in our early ’70’s – homeless – living with daughters –
until we pack up and head South
to North Myrtle Beach S.C.
First thing we do as vagabonds – is play some golf!
We made it a point – have fun – play golf – and enjoy the warm weather while we can!
Here we played one of our favorite courses in NVA!
Deer are everywhere – and are so tame – even when you hit toward them
they do not move!
You have to be pretty good to hit them and we are not good! LOL
Our view from youngest daughter and husbands home!
We would have almost three months to wait before we left –
pack up and go –
to a place we had never been and found by accident
OCEAN KEYES – North Myrtle Beach
every day a 1/2 mile walk to the sand and water of the beach.
First – we had to downsize – made dozen of trips to the Salvation Army – sold almost 95% of our household furniture with the house ! And got ourselves a storage unit – one big enough to walk in and through all our “STUFF”!
I thought I would MISS STUFF but I don’t!
I have moved on – just as we were about to do!
But first saying our goodbyes – these are what I will miss – FAMILY!
You never get use to that – WHEN YOU THROW IT AWAY – REMEMBER THERE IS NO AWAY!
That is why we are back home for the Christmas time – for three weeks!
And we will come back again in late Feb. and early March.
They will come down to visit –
And our life will go on!
We will walk once again with them – we will share laughs – and in Jan. hope will bring them to us!We will meet up once again with old friends – laughing – exploring –And true to form – PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING! LOL!
ICE CREAM and a SMILE!
This one texts or calls everyday her MORMOR & PAPA!
FAMILY – fun times and memories made –
FUN TIMES and memories to be made!
NEW ADVENTURES AWAIT FOR THESE TWO – as we a\have traveled the World together and now they live only 40 miles from us!
Our friends of many years – Buck and Cindy – have lived down in N.C. for years
and now – we golf every week together.
Family is back home – friends are here!
Yes – the Sun set of a family home – the night before we left – rain shower cleaning the roadway – vagabonds!
We are blessed to have these places to stay –
and now – we have begun our new home build
and once again – it will become a FAMILY HOME!
Once again in the South – we will be together – family – as always – you never throw that away!
It was by accident that I found this place while searching for a place to live after selling our house!
I came across a picture of the view from the Lanai and we fell in love with it!
This is situated in North Myrtle Beach and we had no thought of coming here!
The plan was to find a home to buy or a lease –
planning on only being here for five months!
But – after searching and searching and visiting numerous homes – condo’s
And the housing market going up every day- it became apparent to us –
that maybe the best way was to find a model and build it our way!
Where we are staying is the building at the very beginning of the small lake – top floor – four stories -middle!
We found that we could build for almost the same price that we would buy –
and not have to do any renovations!
So – we extended our stay here until the end of June!
And hope that our build out of four to six months
would allow us time to enjoy what we have here!
From our condo – is 6/10 of a mile and we are standing on the beach!There are six pools here – a tennis – pickle ball court – a work out gym and a community center!
We walk the road every day past the pool straight to the beach entrance.
Cross two roads and are in the parking lot of Avenue six beach entrance!
Standing on the beach after a 12 minute walk!Early morning view from our Lanai – with views from both the master bedroom and the living room!
Thank you for reading Papa’s World – our stay in Ocean Keyes – North Myrtle Beach – S.C.
NO IT DOES NOT GET OLD!TWO AND ONE HALF MONTHS – WAKING UP TO THIS!
Every morning – the sunrise from our condo –
it paints a different sky each day.
I watch this as it develops each morning –
Sherry has the same view from our bedroom!
She has almost never seen the sunrise – but now she wakes up to this
and has almost trained herself to wake up to it!
Some days – we walk when we should of just stayed inside! LOL
Those days are mostly when the high winds are around.
One is because of the giant trees here!
They are high above our fourth floor condo!
And branches – even though small – come down!
We do not want to get hit by them!
The wind causing the sand to blow across the beach!You can see that when it is windy – very few people venture forth! The sand is blown across all but wiping out the footprints!
Papa and MorMor – we tried as you can see –
but the wind was so strong –
and the sand was stinging our faces!
We decided not to for go a walk here
and instead walked the sidewalks where it was bearable!
We returned to the condo after getting in our three mile
beach less walk!
There are days such as this that we also do our errands!
Or go to a late lunch early dinner
when no one is around
keeping social distance!
Back at the condo – we await the late show
not on TV but outside
once again in the dark sky
the rising of not the sun
but the full moon!
Both sun rise and moon lit nights from our own private Lanai!
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FULL MOON FROM THE LANAI!All our decorations are in storage – so Sherry put together our own CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS
Sherry has a friend from back in NVA who also owns a home just outside Conway.
She told us we had to visit this town as it has large living Oak trees
and a historic part with a River-Walk!
The walk is along this river – known local as THE BLACK RIVER!While these pictures do not show just how black this water is – you could see nothing!
I tried to see into the water – but it was black!
I guess there is a chemical released from the Cypress trees that line the banks –
that leaches into the water – turning it a almost black color!
It just gave me the creeps not knowing what or if anything is in there!
The trees and bushes were really beautiful as was the new walk way!
From all the rain they had – flooding of the River-Walk!A portion of the walk was under water – making it so we had to find a way around it!Geese swimming in parts of the park under water! You can see the water mark on the base of the trees!
We also came across a marina – with docks and boats – this area seemed to me – to be like a campground for boats! There were a number of boats with people living on them and they looked to be in pretty rough shape! I would not want to take them out onto the river. There was bathrooms here so I assume the people used them to bath etc.
These are some of the better looking ones – some were decorated outside for Christmas – others had lawn chairs and some had just things laying around!
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We did a job that Sherry has been wanting to do – wash the walls of the Lanai down by hand!
The Lanai is screened in and has a vinyl siding – which with storms – gets dirty.
So – with soap and water and some cloths – we cleaned it all down
Took us about two hours –
and then we treated ourselves to BEACH TIME!
A few people were out – being this was the middle of the week. It was in the low to mid 70’s!Looking South on North Myrtle Beach – we decided to walk North – toward the pier two miles away!
This day – we did not spend all the time sitting – but walking for most of it!
We walked to the pier two miles away!
We try to walk three miles a day – and as much of that we can on the beach!
Sherry – while walking – will do her network marketing business with her phone!
This has always been a dream of mine – walking in the sand and surf every day!
Always a view in the sky – dark clouds contrasting with white – and then blue skies – and sunshine!
We had never walked all the way to Cherry Grove – point pier –
And – along the way we collected shells for a church group back home!
Beyond the tall buildings – just visible – is the pier – so you can see just how far we walked!Tidal pools forming behind me as I walked through the surf. The water felt warm – and some pools we had to walk around as they were above our knees!
This day – just to walk was relaxing – cleaning the Lanai –
Cindy Sherry Buck on the green – now to select where we are putting from
We have decided to build a house – in the long run –
it will work out the same or cheaper than buying!
The market keeps going up for resales on houses
and we can build and have brand new for the same!
Cindy and Sherry – down the middle is normal for them – Cindy getting yardage to the pin!
And we will build right across the road from this and three other courses
in what is called Cameron Woods!
In fact within a 5 mile radius –
20 golf courses and two beaches
Ocean Isle beach and Sunset beach.
We had searched and searched – condos – houses- apartments
and by chance we found this – and the model –
Sherry once again had her dream home!
And it knocked off about 45 minutes for the drive back to NVA!
Sherry hitting off the middle to the green – water to the left!
All we are waiting for now is the plans to be final
and then a meeting with the construction manager
to go over those plans
and then a start and probable finish date
4 to 6 months start to finish!
By the time you are reading this
we will have already done that!
Buck and me – it was a great time to golf with friends on a very good course – to think there are three more in here and it is a mile from where we will live!Cindy hitting fro the fairway to the green!
We love this area – the drive to both beaches is less than 15 minutes
Shopping is 6 minutes
Calabash is 15 minutes
and Route 17 is ten minutes.
Our friends house is about 30 to 40 minutes
And a lot of places to dine out on the I.C.W.!
We have extended our stay where we are until the end of June
hoping that the build will be done
We have to buy furniture and move what we have in storage
down here.
Cindy – Buck – Papa – Sherry we are golfing regular now – mostly with our friends – whom we have golfed with for about 30 years!A lot of the golf cart paths run through the sand – we saw no gators but not sure if they are here or not – but saw signs for snakes!Cindy and Sherry discussing their next shot as we let a twosome play through – these ladies are serious and hard to tie!
We did not want to go farther South –
we wanted a temperate climate
and still be 7 hours to home!
Bridge to number 18 – the final hole with waterfall!
We have found that place here – among the golf courses and beaches
but still only a 30 minute drive to North Myrtle Beach
I first met Jim some years back – his wife Claudia is a close friend of my wife Sherry!
Jim is a very large man – standing 6’5 ” of taller!
He loves to cook and always was making BBQ for his employees!
Claudia was interested in what Sherry was doing for her health.
Then – Jim became interested.
He sent me this email – I had no idea he was writing it.
It is such a story of health and a journey for a individual
who one day said enough is enough!
IN HIS OWN WORDS – JIM MARTIN!
My name is Jim Martin, and I am 65 years old. I live in Reston, Virginia, I still maintain a full-time job.
Heaviest Weight: 350 pounds
Current Weight: 260 pounds
I struggled with my weight my entire adult life. It led to binge eating and weight gain. Before trying Juice Plus, I had done yo-yo diets my whole life. My weight has gone up and down 50 to 80 pounds over the years, but nothing ever stuck.
Before Juice Plus, a typical day consisted of a lack of sleeping of no more that 4 to 5 hours a night and grabbing either a breakfast burrito with an apple juice or a chicken biscuit from a drive thru. I would go to work at my incredibly stressful sales job from 7:30-4:30 and get little to no movement at work. I would always eat out for lunch and pick very unhealthy options—sometimes I would even get dessert (cookies) with lunch! After work I would come home and eat dinner around 6:30 pm and sit on the couch until it was time for bed. Before bed, I would usually have ice cream or another dessert. Sometimes I would wake up and get a “midnight snack.” I was literally eating around the clock.
The first time I heard about Juice Plus was almost a year ago. I was not into fitness at the time, but back then I thought Juice Plus would help me lose weight and promote a good immune system. However, after years of putting on weight, I started learning more about it and decided I wanted to give it a try and joined the “Shred Your Way” Facebook group.
My turning point came on January 6, 2020 with the “Shred Your Way” Sugar Shred Challenge, No sugar for 10 days. As a result of completing this challenge, I have completely removed sugar from my diet for the past 11 months. I have no sugar cravings or desire to eat sweets as I did in the past. This all happened two months prior to the COVID lockdown and I was stress eating like crazy. It was a Monday morning and I stepped on the scale that I had been avoiding for months. After I read it, I just said, “That’s enough.” Something had to change.
My goal when I started this journey was to be in better shape than I was when I was 45. Back then, I was 260 pounds and less than 20% bodyfat. From the start of this journey to get healthy, I told myself that I wanted to be in better shape in the next year than I was in the last.
I found that adding Fasting, Healthy eating and Walking to my journey
I loved it so much, I added the Fasting (Zero Fast), Food Monitoring (MyFitnessPal) and Walking (Fitbit) apps to help me stay on track. It has been a huge help in my journey. Tracking the fast, steps, and foods It helps me to see trends, and with that I can make adjustments. I love being able to look back and see how I have done. The Shred Your Way Facebook group has also been a great source of motivation.
I currently follow a 16:8 fasting schedule, walking 8 to 10 miles a day, and eating about 1500 to 1800 calories a day, while trying to keep it flexible. Most days I end up following 17:7 Fasting, 25,000 steps and 1600 calories. I change my fasting times to suit my lifestyle. If I want to go out and have a big dinner with my wife, I will just do a longer fast leading up to it, so I stay in a deficit. And some days when I am hungry, I will break my fast at 13-14 hours (minimum of 13 hours to be considered fasting). I listen to my body and hunger signals. That is what I love about intermittent fasting—it is all about flexibility.
The first few mornings I started fasting I was so hungry, but honestly by the second week my body had adapted well. That is part of the reason I have been able to do this so long (coming up on 7 months). It is not a struggle for me to follow the plan.
Aside from the weight loss, fasting gives me freedom from food, walking gives me the movement I need and Juice Plus give me a healthy immune system. I no longer feel like food is my source of comfort. I can focus my thoughts and feelings more. I also did change my overall diet. I discovered tons of extremely healthy choices. However, that is another writing exercise.
Here is what I typically eat in a day:
Breakfast: Black coffee, breakfast cereal (Ezekiel or Sola brands, no/exceptionally low sugar) blueberries, raspberries, almond milk, and chia seeds.
Lunch: Arnold whole wheat bread or a Mission brand low carb whole wheat wrap, turkey or ham, mustard, lettuce., tomato and Kettle Brand avocado and Himalaya salt potato chips.
Dinner: Taco Bowl (steak, brown rice, pinto beans, salsa, cheese,) Kevin Brand Chicken entrees with steam veggies.
Snacks: Mixed nuts or, protein shake (1G or less sugar) or apple or protein bar (2G or less sugar)
Dessert: 1oz70% Dark Chocolate
I feel completely different now that I added fasting and walking to my Juice Plus daily routine. I no longer have a need to eat wasteful and harmful foods like sugar. Before, I would always eat a huge lunch and then be worthless for hours afterwards. Now, I experience the mental clarity that comes from eating the right foods, fasting, and walking. I am tracking all my calories in MyFitnessPal because I wanted to stay in a deficit, which was key for weight loss. I aim to eat 1,800 calories each day. I walk 7 days a week. It has been great.
These three changes contributed the most to my weight loss success.
Change 1: I gave myself more than a year to reach my goal.
By taking a longer-view approach, I do not get discouraged by little missteps. I still have plenty of time to reach my goal. When you set a short timeframe to reach your goal, you can get discouraged if it does not happen “fast” enough.
Change 2: I focused on healthy eating at first. I’ve done diets before, and when you change everything in the first week, you drain yourself of willpower and end up falling off the wagon. I just focused on finding healthy food choices that minimize or eliminate SUGAR. SUGAR is the killer of any plan that includes weight loss or a good immune system.
Change 3: I do not get discourage… focus on the big picture
Life happens, and if I get down on myself for being human, that is not going to help me in the future. So instead, I give myself grace and understand this will happen. I acknowledge it and move on instead of making myself feel like a failure. I could barely walk a mile without resting, now I can complete a 10K in less that two hours. It takes one step at a time.
I hope my successful journey can help other archive the life changing experience this has been for me. I think the most rewarding part about making this change has been the mental clarity and focus that comes in the last few hours before breaking a fast. I do not feel mentally drained. But the weight loss has made the biggest difference. It is going to allow me to live an active life well into old age. If I had continued putting on weight, I would have been in extremely poor health within the next five years. But now I feel strong, and I do not feel deprived.
The new Jim Martin – at 260 lbs.
As a side note – Claudia Martin has literally folllowed in Jim’s footsteps.
All the grand kids and their parents with Sherry and myself.
When this picture was taken – the only thing we had planned
was for her 16th. birthday – we would take Ella to Florida with us for a week.
She would go to Hollywood studios to see Star Wars!
When each grand child turns 16 – we do something special with them.
Maddy wanted to swim with the Manatee’s and we did that!
Growing up in the ’60’s – we never imagined taking trips with grandparents – mine were all gone by the time I was 16!
As the year progressed – plans were made and soon – we would leave for one month in Florida.
But first – quality time with the young ones.
I will for the rest of life see this as MORMOR and Taylor – walking hand in hand to church!
Although now she is only ten years old – she comes up to just under Sherry’s chin.
She is going to be very tall and loves horse back riding!
2019 was also the year we had friends from AZ. come to visit – and accomplished crossing off everything on their bucket list to see in DC. This is a reflection of Sherry among the ghosts of the Korean War.
Many friends visited over the 21 years we lived outside D.C.
We acted as tour guides – and in the year past – we toured almost every facility
there was to visit including the Capital Building which was a first for us!
The year in review – blessings will continue in the next blog!
We also venture to outside Raleigh – N.C. to visit her sister.
Here – we went to a farm that had what are called BELTED COWS – GOATS & CHICKENS!
They are white with a black belt around the middle!
Never heard of this and never saw this before!
Standing outside the pen with the goats – chickens and cows at the BELTED FARM!
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I love this picture – I told Sherry we need to get it blown up and framed!
And – it all happened in a space of two or thee minutes!
Maddy took her phone – while we all just sort of found a place –
put it up and braced it on a tree limb –
set the timer for 6 seconds and “BOOM”
there it was!
We went back to the new trail – but this time – the whole family went!
This family hikes all the time – that is their form of family time together!
Mike will take the older two – Maddy and Ella – overnight hiking!
He would take Sarah – but she is into more like N.Y.City hiking!
Sarah – but she is the adventure type – always climbing – swinging from vines – exploring woods and meadows.
She is the one I think really likes it but has aspirations of one day dancing – acting – fashion –
But once you do get her out there – no boundry is off limits – being the free spirit she is!
Ella – come on – follow me!
Ella is 5 ‘ 8 1/2 ” Sarah who just turned 14 – I think will be taller – both taking after their grand mother Sherry – who is 5’ 9″
We made it a family day hiking – where Debby – Sherry and I had gone the day before!
A new trail within the city limits of Winchester Va.
When it is completed – with all the side trails and loops
you pretty much can get a easy five miles in!
YEP! there are also pastures and cows!Walking the trail – Ella Maddy Sarah Mike Papa the trail is made of crushed limestone the whole way! Easy to walk on and not trip!
This day was somewhat cool but warm in the Sun!
And we made a day of it as long as we could.
Many volunteers keep this project going
helping to clear out brush
and maintaining the cut area’s!
There is a farm silo – which you can walk into – and look up and see this. A hand crank on the wall – makes these turn in opposite directions – providing the look of birds soaring in the clouds!A old farm tractor just sitting there offering a photo opportunity!Thank you for reading Papa’s World – where friends like you meet our family!Sarah on one of the many standing sculptures along the path!Daughter and Mother – living life to the plus – one day at a time!
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Papa (Tom) & MorMor ( Sherry) Swede for Mothers Mother
The night before we came back home to N.VA. – we drove 45 minutes South
Near Pawley’s Island S.C
to “BROOK GREEN”!
( and we will go back in warmer weather – to see it again in daylight!)
Huge Oak trees – with hanging lights – almost from the top!Reflections in the water of lights!
The whole place – hundreds of acres – is dressed up in colored themes –
and over 1000 candles lit by hand!
Bronze statues are everywhere!
Some of the 1000 candles lit by hand!Candles and lights – everywhere we went – a different theme – and colorful lights!
There were food trucks and a tent set up with drinks – hot chocolate – coffee and tea as well as water – soft drinks and beer!
So many different areas lit up – hard to capture them all!You had to stay on the paths – and after dark – you could easily get lost in the maze of light!Hanging moss lit up!Paper lanterns lit in red and white colors!Like fire flies in the sunset!Sculptures with light reflecting on the water!
There must be a lot of volunteers to do all of this!
And – we only saw part of the park –
there also is a zoo here but was closed!
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WISHING YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!
First you gather the ingredients – then you gather the grand daughters and their mother!Mother ( Debby) Ella Sarah Sherry ( grand ma) Maddy
Memories are made each year during the holidays –
making Christmas cookies is one of them!
Sherry has done this for years – and they all love it!
They laugh and laugh at her and with her!
The results – or a small fraction of the results – all decorated by each of the grand daughters!
She teaches them her heritage and is passed down generation to generation.
Sherry is Swedish – her grand mother was born in Sweden.
She is 5 ‘ 9″ tall – and Ella is almost as tall – Sarah will be that also and Taylor at 10 years old
comes up to her chin!
The temptations are there – YUMMY!She is a educator – teaching them to be themselves – honor – compassion and self worth!
Respect is what they have for her.
Admiration – and laughing – both at her and with her.
Going shopping with Grandma!
MEMORIES for a lifetime!
Ella Sarah Sherry
We will come up once more and spend a couple days and Christmas eve.
Then we will go back to Tammy’s for Christmas day!
The little ones are so excited and she made cookies with them also!
To them she is not grand ma – but MORMOR – mother’s mother in Swedish!
After Christmas we will once again head back to S.C.
Knowing that Memories were once again made
and captured into this blog
for future reading – seeing !
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My little contribution to the cookie making!ELLA will be on a soccer team in college – and will play against her sister Maddy at the University of Lynchburg!
I 