Catch 22'n

And that is very much where I am. Catch 22'n. Hey guys, I'm not a fan.

I am beginning to get ill with this long distance thing. I could go anywhere from 3-6 weeks away from Fred before I developed this "macho-woman" demeanor. What does that mean exactly? "I don't need a man. I can do things on my own. I've gone this long away from him, so why not go longer? I am not weak, and I will combat missing-you feelings with short answers, snippy remarks, and other not exactly nice ways." I am just about at this point again. I miss him. I cannot wait to be with him.

Flipside: He's taking me away from everything that I know and love. [Yes, that was dramatic. When I said, "I will" to marrying him, I knew what I was signing up for. But he still is the reason that I am leaving. :) Sorry, I'm a realist.] I am getting antsy about leaving. I had to fight back tears most of the way home, which is not the norm, a few days ago because I knew that I was only going to make that drive north to home only two more times before I head east.

I will miss Christmas with my family. I will miss the slow, simple moments of being at home over the holidays... waking up at 7am, hanging out with Jan in the living room, sleeping in my bed, all of the comforts of home. I will miss the pond, the drive up the road, the walking up the road with Jan, the trips to Meridian, driving to see family, etc., etc. I could keep going. I will miss seeing Eden as she continues to grow. I won't be there when Jan is planning a wedding. Who will visit my dad in his cabin after he moves in? And I won't get to enjoy Mama's home-cooked meals. This. Scares. Me.

I missed out on so much when I was younger because I was too scared or too shy to do things. Now I see life in the opposite way: How much can I crunch in? So feeling like I am missing out on the things of home is disheartening, to say the least. But that is what happens when you grow up and get married. I understand that. It doesn't mean that it stinks any less.

Fred and I will be spending our first Christmas together though... no, like our very first Christmas in the same location in our lives. This is so exciting. We get to pick out a tree together, decorate it, and do what we want to that day. I will miss the dressing though and seeing/laughing with the family.

And I won't have to miss that handsome guy anymore when we are together. I'll just have 10+ other people to miss. For someone who loves comfort, that hates massive changes, that is super-sentimental to the core... this is going to be hah-ard. I will miss my routine. I will miss my work and my co-workers. I will miss the drive to Stennis, my church family, teaching those 4th-6th graders, running down the Blvd and surrounding neighborhoods, having my windows open and watching NCIS from my couch. And honestly, I've never been more than three hours away from home. I've never been more than four hours from the Gulf Coast. I have always had the hope that I will get to go back home, but that won't so much be a reality for the next so many years.

The thought of new is something that I've been secretly longing for a while. Meeting new people and being able to connect with them and witness to them is exciting, with a little fear mixed in. I have no clue what living life as an Air Force wife will be like. Fred and I will be about four hours from Pittsburg while living in Dayton, which will be nice to go to a Steelers' home game without the expensive plane tickets.

Ah, so much potential. So much excitement. So much separation and missing out.

Catch 22'n.

I am ready to leave, but I do not want to go yet. Just pray that God will work in my heart the same way that He did when I move to Mobile for college... total peace and never an intense, crippling home-sickness. If this is where He wants us... where He wants me, pray that I will be okay wherever we end up. Because at the moment, I grow more upset as my little clock ticks down to mid-December.

Soooooo

So here I am. It's been months since I last blogged. It's been months since I have had nothing to do. And actually, it's weird. I was bored last night. I was almost bored today but found things to do. Dare I say that I kind of miss the planning?

There is so much to catch up on that I probably will not attempt to cover most of it. Oh well.

But at the moment, this is what is going on...

I am married to one handsome, fun, loving man. I. Adore. Him. But I'm starting to come off of the wedding/honeymoon sugar-rush, and reality sets in. I miss the mess out of him. We discussed and agreed on a few more months of distance... to tie up loose ends, to figure out where we would end up next, etc, etc. Things are now set, and there is a clock ticking down the time until I leave Picayune, Mississippi. I am so excited to be with Fred, to be "home," to live in South Carolina for a few months. I am sad to leave my routine, my job, my co-workers, my church, my GAP outlet, and being just down the road from DeKalb.

As quickly as time is passing, it stinks not being with Fred. Our trip to Utah was total bliss... well, except for my nose bleeding from the dry air and catching up on rest after three nights of nearly no sleep. We click. We always have. And Fred was amazing during the trip. I didn't have to worry about a thing! :) We made things up as we went, made sure that we both were able to do things that we wanted to, and both loved the two coldest days when we didn't do much at all. We do love our simple, mellow downtime of coffee in the morning, watching our favorite shows/movies/games, or just sitting beside each other. But what stinks is when we both have time off to do that kind of stuff and are states away from each other. I know. I am rambling and whining.

All of this to say, I love being married, and I hate being away from my hunk of a husband.

Wedding Website

So it's been a while. What a crazy 2-3 weeks it has been! This website was done a long time ago, it just was missing a tidbit from Frederick that I was waiting on. Here it is. Hope it helps.

http://jaclyn-frederick.wix.com/wedding

More Impressive than Superman

The past three weeks have mentally been a doozy for me. I have had the most stupid of fears totally overwhelm me. I, much like my mother, have almost taken on too much this summer. So naturally... for me... the fears about getting all of it done and remaining the sane have been a huge, huge struggle lately. I really think that agreeing to do Vacation Bible School has been the underlying disturbance recently... accompanied with working, wedding planning, keeping up with Fred, keep in touch with family, teaching Sunday school, attending church, trying to sleep and exercise, and just living life.

I did something that I really wanted to do yesterday afternoon after work, since we got off an hour early. I drove to Slidell's Grand Theater and watched the "Man of Steel" by myself. Can I just say, "Grrrrrrreat movie!! (and a very believable --and dreamy-- Superman)" Near the end of the movie, my stupid brain became fixated on everything that I had to do. It honestly became so overwhelming and consuming that I am pretty sure that I was on the verge of panic attack. Really? While I was watching Superman?! And to add to all of it, I felt like I was going crazy... like what if I became mentally unstable. I sucked things up and was able to focus again on the movie.

I walked out of the theater and to my car, and my little fear-friend decided to follow me and sneak into my car. Stupid guy! So most of the way home, that little fear-friend grew in size. And again, I felt like I was going to break, crack, crumble, and be labeled "insane, a mental basket case."

So what to do? (laughs) There is only one thing to do... cry out to God. My car is usually the typical and best place for this. And as I told God that I feel like I am losing my mind, that I cannot do everything that I signed up for, that I just want these feelings to go away... He spoke. He told me that much like what I just saw in the theaters, He will swoop down and catch me in mid-air and keep me from falling, from plummeting to my (mentally-stable) death. He reminded me of the times that I just didn't think that I could do what was ahead of me: dealing with panic attacks as a junior in high school, moving away from home, performing a weather briefing and impromptu questions after, planning and executing SeCAPS, standing a mid-watch all night by myself.... and how He got me through off of it. And if He did it then, why wouldn't He do it again.

In the middle of all of this, Sanctus Real's song came on:
I love Sanctus Real. Much like Switchfoot, I love how their music relates to my life, has solid messages, and has deep insight... and just simply good sounds.

It was just enough to shut my fears up and calm me down. That typically doesn't happen, because God usually has to talk a while to me to through to me and my doubting-stubborn self. But I instantly felt a calming peace come over me. Amazing, right? By the time that I walked into Walgreens... since I needed to pick something up... I felt 100% sane and normal. Hallelujah! He is faithful. He is better than Superman... and I would like to think much better looking (ahem). He is the One who put my brain together, so I know that He is the One that can tame/fix it.

So are you struggling with anything? Anything little, big, gi-stinken-normous? I know Someone that you might want to talk to.....

Operation: Get It Done

A co-worker was married on May 25th, and she invited me to her wedding down in Bay St. Louis, Missisisppi. I find it weird how much we are alike in the way we think and what we like, and a lot of her wedding was what I am hoping to do with mine. After being a part of her sweet wedding, I walked out feeling motivated and with a mission: Let's get this wedding thing done!

Last weekend was the breaking point though. The way my brain works is that it will not stop thinking about what I have to do until it is done, which is why I have never needed a planner. For the past few months, my brain has chewed on wedding plans and planning and decisions. But for the past 3-4 weeks, I have been determined to get all of the big things and most of the little things done, like done-done! Not going to bed on time, dealing with family, being thrown a curve ball about Fred's next AF assignment and the timing with that, being frustrated with my slooow work, and knowing that I do not have much more time to procrasinate with this wedding stuff, physical and moreso mental exhaustion was where I was.

But on the bright side, look what has been checked off since the end of May:
* Two ladies agreed to direct the wedding and help with food.
* The food situation has been figured out, and the menu is planned -- much cheaper than I expected.
* There has been a visit to the lake house, and Jessica helped me plan out areas for the reception.
* Reception plates and utensils have been purchased, along with a few things for the house.
* Family has offered their platters, crockpots, decorations, etc. :)
* Invitations have been addressed and stamped.
* The reception music list has been created, and the sound equipment has been figured out.
* A friend has offered to lend me a microphone and speaker for the ceremony, if I want it. :)
* I have finished up most of the few decorations for the reception, and the floating candles burn for a while.
* I found my music man for the ceremony!
* Plane tickets have been purchased, and lodging for everyone has been worked out.
* My dad was fitted for his tux!
* I was fitted for my wedding dress, and the alterations are in the works.
* Fred and I are chugging along in our premarital workbook... three more sessions left!

There might be more, but I cannot think of it at the time. As for the near-mental-breakdown, it has been worth it. There are just a few more things that I want to do before I let things slow down again. The main thing to work out is how to get guest from the lake house road down to the house, because the driveway it too steep to be walked, and little parking space at the bottom. Any thoughts?! Help. But praise God for keeping me on the right side of sanity, for forgiveness, and for allowing this all to come together.

Almost there.... almost..... there.

Brokenness

I get so frustrated when the world chooses to do the opposite of what they are supposed to. It enrages my heart there are malicious words and actions said and made. People kill strangers without reservation. There are threats, power struggles, and lashing out like a cat that has been backed up into a corner. Anger fuels fires; and when the mouth is opened, instant combustion is possible... destroying whatever is in the way and burning others nearby. People are mistreated. Feelings are hurt. There is abuse and pain and longings for a better life but caught in the sick cycle of the past. I mean, look around at the world. It is a global catastrophe!

And in those moments when the news, people's actions, reactions, and reasoning just makes me so upset that I do not know what to do.... It dawns on me: I live in a fallen world. I am just as much to blame about all of the wrong-doings, all of the injustices, all of the mistakes, all of the ill-will as anyone else. Saint or not. Christian or not. Saved or not. I am still to blame, and my rage is solely about myself. Because if Eve never took a bite of the forbidden fruit and handed it over to her husband, I would have been the one to mess up somewhere down the line. And knowing myself, it would have been an ugly mess-up, something that I would not have wanted recorded in God's Word for generations of generations of generations to read over and study.

This year has been an interesting one thus far. I have been a part of quite a few nasty conflicts, some of them were created by me. I mean, I have always been a part of ugly-ugly conflicts from as early as I can remember by living in a house with them. But at the age of 26, I now know what it like to have them directed toward and at me. It produces this awful, gut-wrenching feeling. It bruises your heart, and you are left feeling the lingering pain for a while until time heals it. I have also had to battle with angerful (yes, I just made up that word) hurt that has corroded the compassionate parts of my heart and left forgiveness an unbearable task to complete. There have been tears and raised voices and rambling and venting and sarcasm and jokes made about those hurtful situations, but that has done nothing to solve the problem from my side. You see, I am broken and need fixing too.

Forgiveness, understanding, and trust are things that I have never really had a problem with from birth until six months ago. You would think that the older you get and more you mature that hard things would become easier with gained knowledge and perspective. I have found the opposite to be true recently. And let me inform you, in case you did not know, that a little bit of anger and unforgiveness harvested in your heart is like kudzu. Once is becomes rooted, it will grow way out of proportion and cover a lot of ground quickly... and it becomes harder and harder to kill back.

I think... well, I know that is God tells us over and over again in Proverbs to be slow to anger, watchful and mindful of words, considerate of others, intently listening before speaking. He is the only One that can conquer death, death in many forms but death in the form of hateful heart. We just went over today in church the miracle that Jesus performed on the Sabbath, found in John 10. He found a man that could not see, spit on the ground, mixed up His spit and dirt, and rubbed onto the blind man's eyes. "Go wash it off," He said. The man did; he could see.

As broken as this world is, I just want Jesus to throw His spit/dirt on my eyes. I want Him to wipe my eyes clean and see... see the world from His eyes, from His sight, from His perspective. All I see is what is wrong. All I see is what and who is hurt. All I see is hopelessness and selfishness and a lack of concern for things and people. I just want to see how the Savior of this world saw those that He chose to forgive and wash clean of their filth, especially after they caused so much pain.

So Lord, in all respect and humility, please hock up a massive spit ball and mix it with a dump-truck pile of dirt, and spread over each and every one of our eyes so that we might actually look out and see the way that You want us to see to fix this brokenness.

Last-Last Words of the Day

One more thing....

There were two highlights of the day today:

(1) Getting hit on at Newk's in Gulfport. As stated earlier, some people pooped on my parade at mid-day today. I had and wanted to run a few errands in Gulfport and did not have a chance to eat lunch at work before I left. So my last stop was Sam's Club, and Newk's was riiight beside it on the way out. I walked in, placed a to-go order, and sat down at a table to wait on it. A few minutes later, this guy... maybe a few years younger than me... walked up with my order. "Thank you!" I exclaimed. It was 3pm, and I was ready to hit the road with my roast beef sandwich. Mmm. The guy slowly walked in front of me back towards his counter. As he was walking and I following behind him, a co-worker looked at him and asked, "Man, why are you moving so slow?" As I walked past both of them, I heard the guy say, "I like your shirt!" His comment was followed by the question-filled co-worker, "Whaat?! Oh my gosh!" Not really wanting to acknowledge it, I turned around and said, "Thanks." Poor guy. He was so desperate to say something to me, and the only thing that he could come up with was, "I like your shirt." I pretty sure he felt lame for a while. I know I would, but it did make me laugh.

(2) I drove from Gulfport to Slidell to get everything out of the way. Leaving Slidell and headed north on I-59, traffic came to basically a stop. My phone battery had died-died, and I was left with the radio, my un-eaten sandwich, and slow moving. Do you know that I sooo enjoyed it? I was able to look out of the window, see water under the bridges, and eat my sandwich... and sing along with and beat on the steering wheel to oldies music. :) I enjoyed the 40 minutes that it took to travel five miles.

The end.

Last Words of the Day

I just crawled into bed... with nasal passages semi-clear, eyes red, and eye lids resembling fair weather cumulous clouds. That is right, folks. Family threw a few punches today, and my poofy eye lids are to show for it.

Poor Frederick. I think this was the first time that he heard me in this kind of upset state: trying to talk with only indistinguishable whimpers coming out of my mouth, constant sniffles, and many "I'm so sorry." I realize that this guy is about to enter into a legal and spiritual commitment to love me always, even when I cry the ugly tears. But then again, no one wants to see or hear that... not even myself. The ugly cry -- blah. That is was. And when I walked into the bathroom to wash my face just moments ago and saw the mega-poof on both eye lids, the words "impressive" and "not attractive" came to mind.

I feel a little better now that Fred and I just went through our most recent marriage workbook chapter on conflict. How fitting that we did so last night! I realize that there will always be conflict in our lives, in your life. People are not the same, nor do we think the same. Even those that are very, very similar to you will not agree with and see everything the way you do. When that happens, there is a good chance that a conflict might arise. Arisen, it has.

Hey, Family! What's your name?

Let's play tell-Jaclyn-what-I-think-she-should-do-and-what-I'm-not-going-to-do game!

Yeahya.

Sigh. Weddings are like a crash course to here is how you handle conflicts 1-784,902. If you can make it through all of those, "Why yes! Yes, you may now be married." I think it is a battle of establishing the two-become-one deal. I think selfishness comes into play. I think that advice is welcomed, but don't be hurt to your core if those listening to your advice do not follow it. And I think that family is one tough cookie to hold in your hand, chew on, and enjoy. There are a few crumbs that like to slip down your esophagus and choke you up. It just sucks that the family unit, the unit that should always have your back and be a place of comfort and refuge and enjoyment, has become a conglomeration of a lot of the opposite. What is to be expected though? The family, as a conceptual whole, has been broken down. And if any of you know my family, it is broken from many, many different angles and at many different depths.

I begged Fred tonight to just let our wedding consist of four people: my sweet uncle -- the pastor; Robby -- the photographer and witness; Frederick -- the groom; and myself -- the bride. I can walk down the isle to no music and no audience. I don't like attention anyway. Fred can be there waiting on me, with Robby capturing the look on his face when he sees me. The location would still be the chapel. And Uncle Scott could still give the message and lead us in reciting our vows, and God would be the only One that I cared about listening to them. Well, Robby too, since he would need to verify that it actually happened. I begged Fred. I ugly-cried-begged Fred.

Conflict. It is yucky, for the most part. It is yucky to be a part of, yucky to look at how others handle themselves and their emotions, and how it lead to yucky puff-the-magic-dragon eyes. Everyone has their off moments. Everyone can easily get tangled up in emotions. But those moments of weakness can still do damage. Do not be yucky. Be wise... slow to anger and slow to respond, forgiving offenses, listening carefully, and thinking through your words (and actions)... more insight from the workbook session from yesterday.

My stomach is growling, and my eyes are getting heavy. I do believe that it is time to turn this computer off and fall asleep... before I raid my kitchen for anything edible. This is all. Over and out. Kersssshh.

Bragging Rights: Take Four

Yes, yes. More bragging about that handsome guy that I might a little more than a lot....

(1) Fred just started midnight shifts last Thursday night and/or Friday morning at 12am. He calls me every morning that he gets off work to talk and to let me know that he got back safely to his apartment. I must admit that I do like midnight shifts for that sole reason. :) But after his second night on and getting off after 8am, he drove to Columbia to pick up my wedding band because it was going to be on sale that day. People, night two of overnights are typically the hardest. You're already tired coming onto shift from a total change up in your sleeping schedule. The morning after a second mid-shift was always the hardest one for me. And this handsome guy drove 45 minutes one-way to get my wedding band. Mmm. It was worth the 20% off! Thank you again, Frederick.

(2) Fred listens to me vent. No... he honestly listens. When I get to rolling about things, he quietly sits there and doesn't speak until I am done. He absorbs most everything that passes through his ears. Can I say how amazing it is to have someone like that? That poor guy listens to so much; and whenever I say, "Okay, I've talked enough. I'll shut up." he responds with, "Shut up? I don't want you to every shut up. Why would you say that? I'm here for you, Baby." It's a little sappy, but I melt... I melt as I wait for him to talk.

(3) I could not fall asleep Sunday night a week ago. This wedding stuff was like a tarantula on steroids (... awful, awful thought) and on my bedroom wall. I could not go to sleep with it hanging over my head. Fred was on shift, but I called to leave him a voicemail. I begged him to take care of 2-4 things for me in the next few days, since I was stressing out and didn't want to think about those things at the last moment. We talked the next day, and he had already done two of the tasks... one of those being the music/speaker for the reception, which was weighing heavy on me. He heard. Heard the fear in my voice, and he helped me out on his off day. Love him.

(4) He has also busted his tail at work over the last three months! He was the main guy planning the 28th OWS's Dining In, which he spent many hours on organizing, booking, writing scripts, and the like. He even was the main one that stayed behind to clean up when all of the others split, and he was sure to wrap things up within days after the event. Besides all of that, he went into work on his days off numerous times and went into work early/stayed late even more times than numerous.

(5) He has also been the officer of the month twice now, I think. I have a good feeling that he will be officer of the quarter, as well. I encouraged him to look amazing and to stand out if he was serious about being selected to get his Masters degree with the Air Force. Mmm. He is definitely working on it. I am so proud of him. He has done so well to keep up with things and put in extra time and help people out. That sounds like a mighty fine 2nd Lt. to me.

(6) When Fred came in March to visit me in south Mississippi, he was adamant about purchasing a cross necklace for me, much like the very first one that he bought me for Christmas in 2009. Since my engagement ring came from Kay's Jewelers, that is where we went to look. After seeing two that I liked, we then asked for the price. I was taken back. "Fred, you are not paying that much for me for a necklace. No." With a massive smile on his face, "If you want it, I will." I did want one for our engagement pictures, and he was so excited to get a diamond cross necklace for me... that was not cheap. Right after the lady took the necklace to the register, Fred went to looking for diamond earrings to match. His eyes scanned all of the earrings, pointing out the prettiest ones. My eyes scanned the price tags behind those shimmery earrings, and I brought him back to reality. "I'm going to get you a pair." I am sure that he will, but he better not before the wedding. :) What I love is that there is this guy that gets excited about purchasing fine jewelry for me, picking out things that are so much prettier than I would. He has a great taste for that. And here I am, not really a huge jewelry person, but he loves to adorn me with those types of things. Hello, people. Tis a keeper!

Oh my goodness, I love him so much. I love his confidence and concern. I love how he is growing as a man, taking on responsibilities and doing them so well. I love that he loves me unconditionally and shows me that verbally and physically by the little things and simple words. And I love how he listens. Huh, I love him. I mean, look at this guy.....

 

Two Months in the Making: Part 1

Since August of last year, Fred and I average seeing each other every two months. As time gets closer to one of us traveling to the other one, we typically start making grand plans... plans to do this and do that and go here and go there and watch this and canoe there. But do you know what I love and adore so much about being with Fred? It is the simple, every day life things that we get to do with each other that mean so much.

Just like always, we had tentative plans to explore Charleston, see 2-3 movies, walk/run a hiking trail, possibly canoe just north of Sumter, drive to Charlotte to go to Carowinds (a theme park) and one of our favorite fish stores. We did a few of these things, but we did not push to do as much as we originally planned. And we both were just fine with that. :)

We did explore Charleston with Sam, right after I walked off of the plane. We did see Star Trek, and it was great! We did spend two (2!!) hours in Men's Wearhouse picking out tuxes, and I just about had a whine-fest in the middle of the store when the man finally told us how much the rentals were. I did order my wedding band. We did go to a fish store... in Sumter.

But what I love-loved was how we just took it easy and did not go too far from his place. We went to Columbia on Thursday to see Star Trek, take care of business at Men's Wearhouse, stop by Kay Jewelers to order my wedding band, and fill our stomachs with Mellow Mushroom pizza.

Friday was going to be our lazy day. We got out of the apartment around noon to do a few everyday things in Sumter. We went to Lowes to look for flowers to plant for his patio. We went to Walmart for a few items: Neosporin, potting soil, a pot, other outside things, a few food items on Fred's list. When we got back to his place, Fred took the trash out while I put Mili, the cat, on her harness. She was going to enjoy the outdoors with us while we planted those flowers! Fred came back in with a smile on his face when he saw Mili. :) Flowers were planted, and we went back inside to change for a run. After running and getting clean again, hamburgers were in order for dinner, along with nachos and the glass-bottle drinks that we got from Charleston! Mmmm. The rest of the night was watching the last season of Fringe.

On Saturday, there were Fred's famous and oh-my-goodness delicious pancakes with coffee in the morning.

We went back to Columbia around lunch time. Our first stop was Tropical Smoothie, and the car's GPS took us to the very  northwest point of Columbia... some residential area. Once we made a turn into the neighborhood, I was pretty sure that the GPS was not correct. We knew for certain when the lady with a slight lisp said, "Destination arrived!" and we were looking at gorgeous houses next to a lake... no restaurants in sight.

 Fred was a little frustrated, but we just laughed about it. And we both came to conclusion that we would have never seen this place had the GPS not messed up. So I soaked in the sights and the smell of flowers as Fred used his phone to navigate to the real Tropical Smoothie. By the time that we got there, ate, and were ready to leave, it was lightly raining outside, and our time at the Columbia Zoo was not going to be as long as we would have liked.

Change of plans. We stopped by BestBuy... one of Fred's favorite places to walk around and play... and spent a while in there. He purchased a speaker that we are going to use for the wedding that can also be used for us as another component of his sound system or outside on a beautiful day. :) I was thrilled to knock out another wedding concern of mine! We put it in the car and headed to Cottle Strawberry Farm, since both of us "Oooo"ed at it as we passed by it on the way into town. I have never picked strawberries before, so Fred was pumped for me. I was excited to do this for the first time with him. :)

  

 

We went back to Walmart once we got into Sumter to look for cheap chair for his patio and something for his tomato topsy-turvy. We found chairs for 15 bucks, but I got the cushions for the chairs for a little extra comfort and pop of color. :) His patio was becoming more warm and homey by the day!

Charleston

Charleston is a town that I have been wanting to visit for quite some time. The first time that I flew out to visit Fred, he booked a flight for me that had a final destination of Charleston. We have never had the time to actually go downtown and explore until this time... My flight arrived just before 3pm, and we had a good friend that volunteered to be our tour guide. :) Oh, honey bunches of oats!

Sam was waiting in the cell phone waiting parking lot well before Frederick drove up to pick me up. :) And folks, that's just the way that it goes. After pulling up next to Sam and saying our 'hello's, we followed him to his cousin's house to park Fred's car and hop into his. With Sam driving, me in the front and Fred in the back, we were off!

Sam took us over the nation's largest suspension bridge, told us a little about Mt. Pleasant, and then drove us back over the bridge... because I didn't realize that my little request was going to take us far out of the way. (Thanks, Sam!) Sam then navigated to the Battery to park, and we started off the tour next to water. :) I loved it!

We walked. We talked. We sat a little while. There were sail boats and runners and kids playing in fountains and birds and ships in the distance and colorful buildings, gorgeous homes, cute light poles, and unique people. Oh, and there were swings near the pier. Swings! I would have been content with just the three of us swinging the rest of the afternoon away as the sun set behind us, illuminating the colors in front of us in a warm hue.

 

 

 

 

 

We left and headed back to North Charleston around 8pm. We say 'good bye' to Sam and headed north to Sumter. What an afternoon! I want to do it again... and soon.