The theme for today's entry is water...obviously! He's always loved to play in the water. Never has been afraid of it. Pictures of him in the pool, with the his best pals when they were all two, three, four and five would be included in this, but they are all in scrapbooks. Mostly likely, cut with the wave patterned scissors. As I've been looking through his pictures, I have kicked myself a thousand times for cutting the pictures. It would have sufficed, and graciously so, to simply put them on the page and do some narrative text. No...heart shape templates were too much to resist! You'll have to trust me...he took to the water like a duck. He and his pals would have made great testimonials for the company that made all of their floatation gear. From the swim ring that had the seat, to the arm rings to the little vest. Y1 was hearty enough that at one point, he wore the arm floaties and the vest. Kids and water...can't be too careful. Those were great summer days. We'd pile in at our pool friend's house about 9:30...and be out by 11:30 to have lunch...hot dogs or sammiches. Rest a bit, apply more sunscreen and swim about an hour more and then home for a nap. There's just about nothing more divine than the smell of sunshine, sunscreen and chlorine.
 |
| Our first trip to the Alabama coast. June 2010. Our one GOOD day at a stretch of beach in Ft. Morgan, AL. That was the summer of the BP Oil spill. A few days later, oil blobs arrived...and jelly fish. Frankly, I'd rather dodge the oil blobs. |
 |
| St. George Island, Florida. 2011, I think. The first bi-annual gathering of Mr. Snark's paternal clan. Smashing success! The water at that part of The Gulf was pretty rowdy. I love this picture because you can see how he was really starting to stretch out...losing the baby fat and getting more of that "man" look about him |
 |
| That's a lot of my heart in this picture! St. George...and Sister A joined us. We made her an honorary part of the clan. Look closely and you can see Y1's newly liberated smile...braces off! |
 |
So sweet....brotherly love! Ocean love! Love-love!
|
 |
| In the pool at our vacation rental in 2010. It was a great place. The Rookery, at Ft. Morgan, AL. I highly recommend it. I liked this picture so much, it ended up on our Christmas card that year. |
 |
| Orange Beach, 2010...which is just down the street from Ft. Morgan. We met up with friends from Rollin Hills, GA, who just happened to be there the same week. The beach is a different place when the sun is setting...much more hospitable and slightly more magical. The sand was cool and the sunset was like colors I'd never seen before. This picture is basically Y2 waiting for Y1 because he had run too far ahead of him. Miraculously, he stopped and waited for Big Brother. Makes me thankful that they have each other. |
 |
| Anna Maria Island, FL...June 2014. Y1 and Cousin Swamp Cabbage Queen's little boy...code name: Sandspur. And yes...that's right...Mr. Snark's cousin is a former Swamp Cabbage Queen. E'ry little town has it's festival and her little south Florida hometown celebrates the humble swamp cabbage, which apparently, saved early settlers from starving to death. But back to these boys...Sandspur was properly smitten with "that Big Kid." He was six and Y1 was sixteen. When you are six and someone who is sixteen wants to hang out and play and cut up, it's super cool! There's not much physical distance between them in this picture...but in that small space, I can see the ten years that separates them...and it seems like mine should be the little one chasing after "that Big Kid." |
 |
| At Anna Maria...studying for his boating license, so he can drive a jet ski. He passed and had a BRILLIANT time on the jet ski. Some might question the long sleeve shirt on the beach...this becomes necessary when proper reapplication of sunscreen does not occur on the first day of a beach vacation. We are SO white! |
 |
| Part of the great-grand legacy of George and Blanche. Something tells me they would be pleased as punch. The young lady...bless her heart...is Sandspur's big sister. She's a sport model to hang with those boys! |
 |
| Our Bubby and Uncle. He is FIL's next oldest brother. And the two of them are ADORED by our house of four! It was a few years before they were blessed with grand-ones, so we like to say our boyos helped them with vital grandparenting lessons. You know, important things: eating ice cream at McDonald's, playing trash can basketball, the necessity of an inflatable back yard pool so little boys can play nekkidy in the water. If I had to title this picture, it would be "JOY!" |
 |
| On his "13th Summer" with YaYa. We put him on a plane to MI, where he was thoroughly spoiled for a week by my mama (YaYa) and Sister A (she answers to "Meemi.") Just add water to the fancy bathtub at the water park hotel! |
 |
They didn't have water park hotels when I was a kid!
But we did have Tab, bell bottoms and double-knit polyester, so I guess that's fair...NOT!
|
The years have rolled right along...just like water pouring from a pitcher. Mercy sakes, the philosophy's getting a bit deep around here. Probably means it's time to draw this to a close. Let's see if I can keep with the water theme. I pray that he is always overflowing with the kindness and love of Jesus. May he be used provide relief to those who are parched and scorched by the trials of this life. I pray that he is a source of sweet refreshment and never bitterness. I pray he would be pure and not tainted by the poison of this world.
And along the way...I hope he can drop a few cannonballs of joy...and make a big splash for God's glory.
Comments
Post a Comment