Our three oldest granddaughters – Maddy ( 22) Sarah ( 16) Ella ( 19 ) – we have watched them grow up – two in college – one in H.S. – it seems like only yesterday there they were at the top of the stairs – giggling – waiting for their parents to get up on Christmas morning – we lived life one day at a time back then and today we also still live life one day at a time!
Our life is to give what we can – one day at a time.
The dawn of a new day with the picture of Sherry – my life – forty years married – forty-two years together – living our life one day at a time – living life to the plus each and every day!
Together we walk – together we explore and together we live our lives to the plus one day at a time.
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A picture along the trail in a display for a resident hiker of the Appalachian Trail she took beginning to end.
This is all part of the Shenandoah Museum complex in Winchester Va. A hiking trail – through the woods.
Sherry took all these pictures as we walked about three miles!
The pathway is very wide – I would guess eight feet and all made up with crushed limestone! There are benches to sit on the entire walkway – and areas to sit quietly – a really nice walk and easy on the feet!
We have walked this every time we come to visit and now in late spring – the flowers and trees are full!
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Papa and Debby walking the newest feature a boardwalk circle with water on all sides!
The next morning we walked the beach after the storm and then decided to go back to the condo and pack up the chairs – some drinks and food – music and relax on the beach – RETIREMENT!!!!!!
The beach was not crowded at all being early in the week.
We choose our spot and set up the chairs – took a little walk to test out the water –
But – on either side of us – people had music – loud enough that it interfered with what I had –
So – I just put mine away and listened to theirs – two different types! LOL
Watching them para-glide right off shore – four boats out there – two up by us and two farther south.
We could watch then load and unload the people – hardly stopping – and the crowd on the beach was picking up!
After a night before with thunder and lightening storms with high winds –
this day was calm – sunny – blue skies with white clouds!
Cleared my mind and was a relaxing mid afternoon!
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A few short years ago – Maddy ( finished Sophomore college) Ella – (enter college in fall) all grown up now!
Maddy has been named to third team in her conference playing soccer – as a Sophomore she was in the top five on her team in four different categories –
Ella – is playing her last soccer for her senior year – undefeated – and aiming for states. She is one of five or six off her team to have signed letters of intent to play in college – she will be attending Randolph College and in the same conference as Maddy.
Ella – Papa – Maddy – it seems like just yesterday – we were the support team for their mother and father and uncle and Tammy and Sherry running the ten mile Cherry Blossom Race in Washington D.C. – where we stationed ourselves to welcome them all across the finish line! Here we are in our front yard before we left for D.C. They were troopers – following me around – standing up on a bench so they could watch the race! Carrying clothes – back packs – water bottles – everything needed for the finish line that day in May.
As the years passed – Sarah came along – the baby little sister – always making the older two laugh.
She has a way about her – always the forefront of fashion.
Wants her grandma to take her to N.Y.C. to see Broadway and shows!
Sarah – Maddy – Ella and Papa – Christmas eve waiting to go to bed – and wake up for Christmas morning!
I miss those special times – all three sitting at the top of the stairs – waiting for their parents to get up – smiling – laughing – such great kids and polite.
Today – we are scattered – us being in S.C. Maddy – coming home from Lynchburg Va.
Ella completing her senior year of H.S. and Sarah about to enter H.S.
Papa with Maddy at one of her early travel team games – she went on to driving herself 65 miles each way for practice three times a week to join a more elite travel team where we lived in Loudoun county , Va. catching the eye of college coaches – now playing at The University Of Lynchburg in Va.
Thinking back to the early years – the smallest one out there with a skill set – determination and quickness. I always thought she should of gone into track as she ran a 5:40 mile and did not train much!
Now – today all three are so tall – athletic – Maddy at 5 ‘ 6″ Ella at 5′ 8 1/2 ” and Sarah almost to 5’ 8″ ( 15 years old soon)
I miss those days of the three little ones – giggling – laughing – on the trampoline – hiking – soccer – dance – running –
being little girls – climbing up into my lap – singing songs as I picked them up!
Today – they are young ladies with their grandma – the little ones are gone but not forgotten – MEMORIES!
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PAPA’S WORLD – when they were little – now all grown up!
We journeyed North to Bolivia N.C. to meet up at CAROLINA NATIONAL GOLF COURSE!
Twenty seven holes and a signature Fred Couples course.
Our first time here -and we are golfing different courses each week.
It was a Monday afternoon with 2:12 pm. tee times.
It was a great gold day – high 70’s – slight breeze – blue skies – white and gray clouds –
lots of sunshine and very good friends!
Game on – girls vs boys!
Cindy – teeing off – Sherry spotting the ball!
Sherry teeing off – note: BOTH of them always hit it straight down the middle!
They are so hard to beat – never in trouble – down the middle and hitting almost every green in regulation!
And – darn it – one will make the putt!
We really try to beat them – but the first nine – well it was not pretty!
All smiles – ready for the back nine! Time to pull it together! We got off to a good start – going up 2 after the first three holes – and then four by the fifth!
But they started coming back – we pared -they had a birdie!
Going into the last hole – we were up by one!
We got into trouble – they didn’t – they parred – we boggied!
Tied the final nine! Let this one slip through but we had a great time!
Drove to Oak Island – and found a BBQ place still open at 7 pm.
We have been doing this for years – guys vs. gals – always fun – but they are good!
On October 1st. 2020 – this became our new home for nine months!
We had no idea we would end up in North Myrtle Neach.
My friend would ask me WHY we choose there?
Well – the best answer I can give is I came across this condo –
on a site that listed houses and condos for sale!
I expanded the search area and this picture or one like it – came into view!
I showed it to Sherry and we decided right there and then we would rent it!
First – for three months – then we extended it to five months –
all because we looked and looked and decided it was just as good to build –
as it was to buy! We could have what we wanted and not upgrade someone’s home!
So – we made our choice in Cameron Woods – across the border into N.C.
It would be a brand new build and we set about making our selections –
and at that time we extended our lease until the end of June!
Which would be a total of nine months!
We tried very hard to stay in this area – but cost and being too close to the Ocean
played a big part in where we ended up!
We are with in four miles to a beach and six miles to another beach!
We can drive one half hour back here to North Myrtle Beach.
We are in a new development – and right in the middle of a dozen golf courses!
We are in the country but a mile and one half to a gas station and a couple miles to a Publix!
In November we signed our contract and made all our selections.
We are on schedule for a early June closing!
We will walk a beach everyday – which has been our dream – we have a community of neighbors we have already met.
Our new home – roof done – siding almost done – stacked stone done – doors and windows – done – plumbing done – electrical done – insulation done – dry wall to start and by the time this is published – will be done – as will most of the inside – outside trim – almost done – utilities – connected – we are almost there!
Sherry and Cindy – they decided to walk the 18 holes – Sherry got a new pull cart!
I actually believe these 27 holes compare to the best in the area including Myrtle Beach!
On this day – the flowers were in full bloom and reminded me of Augusta!
Almost every hole was like this!
A view of the driving range from the outdoor patio of the clubhouse!
Sherry Cindy and Buck – having a beverage on the outdoor patio after 18 holes!
On one of the tee boxes – everything was blooming!
We have played this course many times over the years!
They have called this home for at least twenty years.
Having bought and sold and built here many times.
This is the main reason we came South to this general area.
Our new home will be about 40 minutes away –
so daily golf is available!
Sherry on the patio of their home that overlooks one of the large waterways on the course!Cindy on the same patio of their home looking in a different direction from Sherry!Cindy was to the left – Sherry to my right and Buck straight across from me – looking at the course across the water!
This is the second home they have built here – both in this water area and both had like views –
only this one is downsized from the other one.
Buck and I on the tee box about to tee off!
We – Buck and I – did our usual scramble – and we had a record for us – we shot a 39 with a double boogie the last hole!
If you are ever in N.C. just South of Leland and Wilmington – this is a public course – 27 holes – stop in and make a tee time – it will surprise you and you will love it – one of the best around the area!
Our life has moved on – left behind memories of our former church – just as we did 22 years ago.
Each one holds a special place in our hearts – the first where we were married –
the second where we found a home and friends.
And now the journey begins – another one near our new home.
The stain glassed window – the same as in our last church – a reminder of friends and services – memories!
Right now – this is our future choice – Saint Lukes Lutheran Church
in Ocean Isle Beach right on route 17.
We have to call to be put on the list each Sunday – because of covid restrictions.
But – we were welcomed and social distancing practiced.
Time will tell if we have found a new place to worship –
one that is but 4 plus miles from our new house being built,
Our first time inside the roof and walls of a place of worship in over 13 months.
We left the service and drove to the new house build –
The windows and doors are all installed – the roof is done and almost all the siding and outside trim is done.
Driving up – the beautiful stacked stone is all done!
Our first view of the siding and the stacked stone and the outside trim.
A closer look – the front porch and the garage – the front door and the front bedroom.
This will be my place to sit – the covered front porch – I had told Sherry when selecting which house to build – I must have what we had back in NVA – for I loved sitting on the front porch in the rain or just talking to people walking past!
I have always loved front porches – we had a large one as I was growing up –
I would spend hours on it watching the cars go by with my mother –
Talking to people as they walked by – everyone knew “MARY”
and would call out to her or honk their horns –
I am most like her in tat way!
The two car garage – which will have pull down stairs and storage overhead!
Our thoughts on this – have shelves with towels as the outside water bib is just to the left of the corner.
That way – when coming back from the beach – a place to wash off the sand!
Second thoughts we have discussed – putting a enclosed white vinyl fence with a gate –
And a tank less water heater – for a place to shower – as a third shower for the house if we have lots of company!
I have seen them all over down here – really nice with a place to sit and a place to hang clothes and towels!
On our wish list along with taking the screens out of the enclosed covered patio and glass it in with sliding windows!
It has been a adventure these past six plus months.
Building a new home – and moving South!
But – the electric is done as is the plumbing – they are starting the insulation and then the dry wall.
We are excited – and ready to move in and begin out next phase of our new chapter.
Going to miss our view – but we will have pictures and memories!
THE VIEW FROM THE CONDO – WE ARE BLESSED!
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SHERRY: CERTIFIED HEALTH COACH Home based business with The Juice Plus Company (15 years)
Cindy and Sherry – one will walk and then change up for the other to drive.
We started off in the rain – but the forecast said it would move on out –
and the sun and warmth would be there!
AND THAT IS JUST WHAT IT DID!
One of the views – we had to cross over here – but it was not a busy road.
Are there Gators here? YES THERE ARE!
Sherry Buck Cindy about to putt!
We played well – Buck and I – enough so that they beat us by one stroke the first nine and we won by three stokes the back nine. Do not be fooled by how close they made it – they are always right down the middle and second shot is either on the green or close to it! They are good when in a scramble!
We bought what is called the first tee card – we all have them and it allows us to play over 32 courses
at reduced rates – all are on the N.C. side of the border – and our new house is right in the middle!
Sherry going for the green on a par three over the marsh.
Cindy going for the green over the marsh.
I did not like this tee box as it was like a practice mat.
The only part of the whole course that they did this on.
You could not put a tee in – only if you found a seam.
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It was a fun day – and because it was cart path only –
it took us five hours to play and we did not finish up until 6:00 PM.
But – we finally beat them on the back nine by three strokes and it was hard doing that!
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SHERRY: Works for The Juice Plus Company as a SENIOR SALES COORDINATOR HOME BASED BUSINESS
Here is our before 9:am. early morning walk – a little more crowed but nothing not expected! Looking South to North Myrtle Beach from where we enter the access to the beach.
From the beach access looking toward Cherry Grove – a few more people – but not a lot!
But – this is the beginning of the week for Spring Breakers –
and we noticed traffic getting heavey.
We have found our way around and avoid the high traffic on rte. 17!
We take the side streets as far as we can – and one side street takes up to where we can shop!
Now – in the afternoon we decided to do a couple hours of a beach day – taking and carrying our chairs to the beach. Here is the same view looking toward North Myrtle Beach – a lot more people and a lot of people in the water. But we still had our own space – no one within thirty feet of us!
Here is the same view in the afternoon looking toward Cherry Grove! And – it will get more crowed as Spring turns into Summer with vacations! We are in the open space and avoid large gatherings which happen mostly toward North Myrtle Beach town center. A lot of young H.S. and college students gather on the beach there in a large group. You just avoid them as they will do what they do regardless!
Being here is still our dream – we will come back often as we like it here –
but also where we are moving too – no traffic – country quiet – we can walk –
and still be in access to the other two beaches!
The beach here is very wide – I have been told it is the widest on the Grand Strand!
Once it was in the mid to high ’70’s and full sun –
Into the water they went!
Notice how protective Cassidy is of her little brother!
They fight and argue – but no one touches him according to her!
These two should have been the twins
they act and sound just alike.
She is so kind – loving and thoughtful.
Cassidy and Bode – two peas in a pod!
Taylor – or “TATTER TOT” as her cousin Ella calls her!
She on the other hand loves her alone time away from the other two! LOL!
She rides horses – and whenever around her MorMor – holds her hand.
She is the serious – studious one who quotes facts!
“AS AMATTER OF FACT” she says and then goes on to tell you!
BODE – after FIVE GRAND DAUGHTERS – he is the only boy and all boy!
Only six years old – and will be tall like Taylor!
Bode – cars – trucks – bikes – playing Army – running – riding – scraps – bruises – scabs – star wars – monsters – independent – never wearing shoes or socks and shirtless in the cold!
It was a very warm day in the sun – water to me was very cold – but they loved it!
Taylor is goin to be really tall like her MorMor – I think close to six foot!
They played and played in the water – coming out to run up and tell us something and then back they went!
For us – it was sit and take it all in – the sun was warm which is what I like!
Cassidy – small but a spitfire! Always calling her MorMor as does Bode! Love you Papa she says!
Yes – the sun was warm – the sand was also – yet the water was cold – but to them – it was their day at the beach!
Sherry went to visit her sister – so I had no car – but – that did not matter – I walked!
I decided that instead of one big walk for the day –
I would break it up and do several smaller walks
So I walked four times!
And it was a total of 6 1/2 miles!
The first picture was the beach entrance I choose – after walking .60 miles to get there!
This picture is of me after walking onto the beach.
It was a great walk and the sun came out making it warm!
I choose this entrance because I walked a new path
and it brought me to this street.
You see – every street here running West to East –
ends in a beach entrance and most have parking lots!
So I turned left – North – and headed up the beach – back to our normal entrance!
It was almost to low tide – not many people there!
Looking back the way I had just walked! Still not many people!
The beach exit I choose – I came here because to the right is a ramp and it leads to a bench to sit down on. The sand has nearly reclaimed that part- but I find it peaceful to just sit and listen to the surf and watch the people!
Plus there is a boardwalk all the way back to the parking lot-
giving you time to clean off any sand in your shoes!
One last look down the beach from where I had just walked.
The view from the top deck and bar of Snooky’s on the beach – the other Snooky’s is situated on the ICW!
We decided after our attempt to walk the beach –
which was very windy and cold –
to drive back down the Ocean Blvd to Snooky’s!
Sherry and I brought Tammy and the little ones here when they visited.
Sarah and Debby at the table surrounded by heaters!
It was chilly out on the open patio.
We choose this because of the heaters and wanting to be out in the open
for social distancing.
Every other table was empty!
This was the last full day they would be here!
The four days have gone by so quickly.
We packed a lot into it – Mike is a teacher and could not come down.
Maddy is in college with her classes and in the middle of Spring Soccer.
Ella a senior in H.S. Debby – oldest daughter Sarah – youngest of the three – in 8 th. grade
We sat out there on the patio – when I heard Sherry exclaim ‘ THERE HE IS” pointing toward the beach!
She had read a article in the newspaper and seen the interview on TV.
A man who was dressing up as DARTH VADER in Myrtle Beach and walking up and down the beach
entertaining the children – with his Laser –
And he happened to be right here!
Sherry and Ella
Now Ella is a huge – huge Star Wars fan!
For her 16th. birthday as a present – we took her to Florida with us for a week.
And the highlight of that trip was her going to the STAR WARS park.
That was what she wanted to do forever!
DARTH VADER about to walk out on the beach!
So – they both got up – Sherry and Ella – and down the deck they went!
I went up on the top deck so I could get a clear picture of what was going on the beach!
Here Sherry and Ella are nearing DARTH VADER who is Laser fighting with a young boy!
She has Star Wars figurines from her youth – ever since she could walk and talk.
She has seen every movie – over and over again.
Ella and DARTH VADER!
This was one of her highlights of the entire trip to visit us at the beach!
And it was all by chance – we wanted lunch – we selected Snooky’s because it was close
And we knew they had heaters outside!
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For those of you whom are interested in Health and Nutrition
Sherry is a Certified Health Coach and a Senior Sales Coordinator for The Juice Plus Company
Which has been in business for almost 50 years!
Currently sold in over 20 countries.
Sherry – wife of Papa – for almost 8 years guiding me through my heart attack and four by passes – with health and nutrition – she has given me every day since – I am grateful – and will listen to her every day I have left.
There is a place near the ICW – where there are hundreds of shells hanging from trees – each one is someones WISH!
We brought them – Debby – Sarah and Ella to Vareen’s Memorial Garden
Just as we did with their cousins – and here is a special place
to not wish upon a star – but a SEASHELL and the hang it form one of the Cypress Trees!
Sarah Sherry Ella Debby at the make a wish site.
Sarah’s hanging wishes for all her school friends!
The first make a wish tree – now there are many more!
Many people pass through here each day –
I watched two older women stop and do the same thing –
find a shell – write on it and then hang it from a tree!
Busy writing their names and making their wishes!
Debby’s shell – no matter how old you are – make a wish to come true!
Taylor’s shell in front of Ella’s shell – cousins!
It was a warm day – low tide so lots of shells to look at!
Sarah going to the ICW to look for shells.
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Sherry and Papa
WHERE FRIENDS MEET THE FAMILY
Sherry Sarah Ella Debby
FAMILY MEETS FRIENDS!
Wishing tree along the ICW!
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SHERRY SSC for The Juice Plus Company Debby QMND for The Juice Plus Company – Mother and daughter teaming up to bring health and nutrition to families all across the U.S.A.