Babies!

One of the blessings of loving, feeding and ministering to college students for many years is the babies that come a few years later. I love getting the Christmas cards with the family pictures, or  a personal visit with children in tow. I'm happy to claim these college grad grandchildren!

Jessica Mills Vandergriff and new baby Spencer

Hailey Stovall Burns and her sweet boys.
She poured into my family for many years. Love her so much!

This year has been a banner year for babies, with 3 being born in the month of February.  Two of the three live in Rome.  I've been thrilled to visit all of them soon after they came home from the hospital.  What a joy to see these former students raising Godly families of their own. Newborns, toddlers and preschoolers certainly have their challenges but I like to remind them that these are some of the sweetest days!

Drew Landis and baby Lydia

Carrie made a blanket for Tracy Batchelor's new baby Bert

Matt, Heather and baby Mills. The Medley family!
Heather used to babysit for Kate.

This next baby is my favorite story, but not a Berry grad! Melinda went to Calvary with us, and is a precious lady. She had trouble getting pregnant and sought the help of fertility specialist. She would sometimes conceive, but then have a miscarriage.  She and her husband, Gary, were planning a trip to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary.  Melinda had recently turned 40.  They were resigned to being childless.  Gary's father passed away.  Gary's mother lived with them for awhile after his father died. Melinda and Gary changed churches. Melinda got pregnant!!! No fertility doctors needed, just God's perfect timing!

Melinda and baby Wyatt

We love seeing the former students, even if they aren't married! They are all special. Autumn recently returned to campus for a recital that I played with one of her former students. It comes full circle very quickly!

Birthday twins. Carrie and Autumn Ginn. 

Heather and Chris were both music majors who worshiped with us at Calvary. They paid us a visit in October.

Love this couple! 

The adorable Bragg kids!

Michael and Dana Van Sant were a huge part of our life for many years.  Michael was youth minister, and Dana was a significant influence for my girls.  They came to visit during Thanksgiving week.  They moved to Florida when Sadie was a year old.  We miss them!

Carrie and Sadie hiding under the slide

Kate and Josie.

We love to see the families, but sometimes they don't bring the kids. Abby and Joe spent many Sunday lunches at our house, and if you know their story they fell in love on our couch.

Carrie and Kate have many memories of playing with Joe and Abby.

I always mention that one of the blessings of having college kids at the table is their Godly words of encouragement.  My young kids soaked in the fun they had the college students that we hosted, but more importantly they learned about loving God and His sovereignty as they saw them trust Him in everything.  

Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body. Proverbs 16:24

Florida for 90

Happy 90th birthday

I made a solo "shotgun" trip to Florida the weekend of February 9 and 10. The occasion: my Dad's 90th birthday. My arrival was a surprise, which completed all the siblings being in attendance for the celebration. I stayed in Gainesville with my oldest brother, Leo and his family.  On Sunday morning we all converged on Hawthorne First Baptist for worship with Mom and Dad.  I played the offertory, which always makes my parents happy! 

I am blessed to have been raised by parents who loved God and served Him through the local church. Dad was a deacon, sang in the choir and taught Sunday School for 60 years. I have fond memories of him falling asleep in the choir loft!  I also recall how he loved to have preschoolers sit in his lap so he could tell them Bible stories. 

Being honored for 60 years as a deacon.

Besides family, there were some special friends that came to honor Dad on his special day.  I learned to cook and share with others from my parents.  Growing up, there were often extras at the table. One of those special friends was Cliff Preston. Cliff was a friend of my brother Jim. They were both runners, and stinky boys were often dinner guests. 

Kathryn and Cliff

Another sweet friend that is more like family is Millie Bean (maiden name). Her mom was the matron of honor in my parents wedding.  Millie was born on their first wedding anniversary.  I grew up visiting with the Bean family in Tampa.  Millie and Leo are the same age, and did some long distance dating in their teen years!

Millie and Leo

Great grandchildren, Cotton and Evie 

Jim and his grandson, Cotton!

All three siblings were at the party, but only three of the eight grandchildren were able to attend.  Jim's daughter, Lindy drove down from Kingston for the party...with her 2 1/2 year old son.  Will is Leo's son, he drove up from Fort Lauderdale where he is stationed with the Coast Guard.  His wife Tracy and new baby, Evie also made the trek.  Leo's daughter, Leslie is back in Gainesville and is a regular visitor with Mom and Dad.

Lindy, Leslie, Will and Tracy

Pastor Henry

Leo and Dee are the heroes in the family! They take care of the day to day for Mom and Dad.  They arrange in-home caregivers, drive to doctor's appointments, order medicine, and take care of the finances and legal details.  In a word, they are AMAZING!

Leo's family

Old family friends, the Dickersons

With Millie....like a daughter!

Dad with his Doctor, Carolyn Von Zabern

Dad had two brothers and six sisters.  He is only one of his generation that remains.  There are many nieces and nephews that still live in the area.  A few stopped to visit, call or sent cards during the birthday week.

Dad's niece Dorothy and her husband Andy

The master planner behind all events that happen in the Dugger family is Dee.  Marrying her was the best thing Leo ever did...even though his 12 year old sister didn't believe it at the time!

My wonderful sister-in-law, Dee with sweet Evie

On February 17, I had a surprise Florida visitor!  Brenda Hutchins (don't know her married name!) showed up just as we were ready for lunch.  Brenda and I grew up together. We were both in the band, and even went to band camps together.  We had not seen each other in many years!  She is friends with our neighbor's daughter, Lisa.  They drove up President's Day weekend to visit Lisa's mom. I knew that Lisa and Brenda were friends, but never expected her to show up at my door!

Childhood friends!

Holidays and Family Time

Christmas at the Nobles involves many traditions. It starts at Thanksgiving, we make a lot of cookies. A trek to the tree farm to cut a tree is next. Alyssa helps Randy put lights on the tree, and she usually puts up the lights outside too. Everyone helps hang ornaments.  In December we watch holiday movies, such as Elf, Miracle on 34th Street, and It's a Wonderful Life. Trinity Methodist Church has a live nativity and we consistently make a trip to see it.  The kids all went to preschool at Trinity, we call it our Methodist church!  This year we attended a Christmas Eve service at Westminster Presbyterian Church. 

Christmas morning starts on our bed, and the reading of the birth of Christ. Well, they don't fit on our bed anymore, and we relocated to the den for this tradition.  We have some great stories of Kate's renditions of the Christmas story.  After prayer the kids open stockings, and then on to the  presents under the tree.  A few years ago we started opening gifts one at a time...youngest to oldest. That makes it last longer, and it's not just a ' free for all' of paper shredding! Later we go to Grandmommie's house (Randy's mom) for a wonderful lunch and an afternoon of hanging out...movies, games, and sometimes general craziness.

The girls started a new tradition: a gingerbread house made out of graham crackers

Boots and new sweaters!

Kate is a HUGE "One Direction" fan

Nerf wars because it's fun to get toys!

Alyssa received a calendar this year

After our first National Parks trip in 2002, I began making calendars for the grandparents.  This year I had one made for Alyssa.  It had pictures from our Colorado trip, but also included pictures of friends from home and Berry.  When we were in Florida, the kids enjoyed looking back at the old calendars.

Kate on an early calendar. She was SO cute!

Checking out the calendars.  Cousin Leslie on the left.

Passing time on the farm includes battling with sticks!

After Christmas we make the journey south to Hawthorne Florida to visit my folks. One of the best parts of visiting my parents is getting fresh fruit.  There was a freeze last year, and some of our favorite citrus, Chinese Honeys, did not bear.  We did get some Parson Brown oranges to make fresh squeezed juice.  We are spoiled!

Aaron juicing oranges

Yummy oranges

My parents are elderly (89 & 88), but are still in their own home.  They have in home care for almost 24/7, but when I'm visiting 'the help' gets time off. When I was growing up my Dad was always busy working, but there isn't much he can do anymore. He used to pick oranges and juice them.  He used to pick up pecans, crack and shell them.  He used to plant a huge garden.  The kids have great memories of working with Papa in the field, but that is in the past. The trees on the farm didn't bear any nuts this fall! To give Dad something to do, my brother bought pecans for him to crack and shell. 

Mom and Dad shelling nuts

The kids with Nannie and Papa

A big shout out to my brother, Leo and his wife Dee. They take care of all the details with my parents, and I am so grateful for all they do. I am blessed with a great family! 

Pittsburgh in December!

It's December, before Christmas and time for a fun trip....to Pittsburgh!  Who does that?  Me and Aaron!

Gloomy, rainy day in Pittsburgh

Here's how it started -  Aaron and I wanted to see  Straight No Chaser at the Ryman in Nashville, but it was the same day as his graduation.  They were not coming to Atlanta this year, so we assumed we had missed our opportunity. Then one of our favorites, Ryan, announced he was leaving the group in December to work with Young Life in his hometown of Fishers, Indiana. That made my decision, I would surprise Aaron with a trip to see our favorite a cappella group....it just happened that the best time to go was when they were in Erie Pennsylvannia.

Aaron opening the concert tickets at his party!

10 man a cappella sensation, Straight No Chaser

Warner Theater in Erie, PA

Ryan Ahlwardt at the meet & greet after the show

Used Visa points to stay at the Bayfront Sheraton in Erie, PA

On Lake Erie outside our hotel

Since we were traveling to Pennsylvania, I knew to contact Tom Carver. He hails from that area, and recommended stopping for lunch in New Wilmington, which is home to Westminster. Tom was at Westminster before coming to Berry in 1978.  We easily found the Tavern on the Square, and actually enjoyed lunch there both days! It's a beautiful old house, built in 1849, and was a part of the Underground Railroad during the Civil War.  The sticky buns come with every meal, and were delicious.  We liked them so much we got a dozen to bring home.  I gave two to the Carvers, and they were delighted!

Sticky Bun...yummy!

The Carvers have dear friends, Paul and Peggy Musser that still live in New Wilmington.  Aaron actually went to high school with their granddaughter, Morgan.  As it turns out, Paul was having lunch at the Tavern too!  It was nice to see him, as I have met him during his visits to Berry.  He turned 90 on December 26!

Dr. Musser having his Presbyterian beer - root beer!

We flew into Pittsburgh on December 19, the day of the show.  The next day we didn't fly out until late, so we had the day to enjoy. We found a chocolate shop in Erie, and bought some gifts for family and friends. Then we drove back to Pittsburgh (making the lunch stop at the Tavern).  It was cold and rainy, but we had already planned to spend the afternoon at the Heinz History Museum in downtown Pitt.  I learned the the Heinz family (think ketchup), and Rooney family (Steelers, football) are important folks in Pittsburgh!

The museum had a special exhibit while we were there -  Gridiron Glory: The Best of the Pro Football Hall of Fame — a major exhibition focusing on the history of pro football, from its humble beginnings in 1892 to its rise as one of the world’s most beloved sports.

Aaron trying on some football pads.  

Famous defensive line of the Steelers, circa 1970's

Back to the reason we went on this trip....Straight No Chaser.  If you don't know this group, they are amazing!  You can click on the link earlier in this post to hear them, and you should!  They play smaller venues around the country, and ALWAYS have a meet and greet with the fans (called Chasers) after the concert.  Aaron and I follow the guys on Twitter, and had tweeted about being at the show.  The guys introduce themselves at each concert, and sometimes welcome a friend or family member that is in attendance.  The night we saw them, Ryan (the reason we went), gave a shout out to us from the stage - "I'm Ryan Ahlwardt from Fishers Indiana, and I want to say a special thank you to the Nobles family for coming to the show tonight".  

Lobby of the Warner Theater

Happy Graduation & Merry Christmas!