Lots to Share!

There's nothing like a few days away from home to just rest and relax. We've not gotten away in quite sometime to do this. At the beginning of the week we took what I like to call a mini vacation down to Carolina Beach. The weather was great, but it was sweltering hot.

One morning Tony and I decided to get up early to watch the sunrise and I must say it was absolutely breath taking. If you've never done this, take the time to do it. What an amazing view! Here are a few of the shots Tony took that morning as we watched in awe!











I had no idea he was taking this picture. Thinking back, I was having a quiet moment with God...I was in awe of what was unfolding before my eyes.



The view as we walked back! Incredible.



While there, we took all our food for breakfast and lunch to cut down on cost. The condo we stayed in had a full kitchen and we could have cooked dinner, but we decided to hit some of our favorites for dinner while there. On Monday night we ate mexican at a local place and it was out of this world delicious!

Tuesday night we went to Wrightsville Beach and ate at one of our favorites, The Oceanic and had such a good time! We sat on the upper deck and had a great view of the ocean. Katie and Callie, our niece, had so much fun spending time together on the beach and at the pool. The older they've gotten, the closer they've become. Here are the girls dressed up in their beach sun dresses just before we left for dinner!



Callie's mom and dad were down at Atlantic Beach which is about an hour and a half from Carolina Beach. So we decided to meet them on Wednesday night for dinner at The Sanitary Fish Market Restaurant...we had the best time. It was a long drive but lots of fun, worth the ride and a great place to eat!!

My sister, Jan and me outside The Sanitary Fish Market


Katie and Callie in their Sanitary Fish Market t-shirts...a must have if you eat there!



Unfortunately we had to head back home on Thursday. Katie had to work on Friday. While coming back through Wilmington we took a drive around the campus of the UNCW-University of NC at Wilmington. The campus was absolutely beautiful. We were all quite impressed! Just might have to schedule a tour.


On Friday Tony's parent's came to visit for the weekend and brought our sweet friend Nastya from Belarus with them. Nastya stayed with us for several summers through the ABRO program and has been staying with my inlaws for the last several summers. This will be her last summer to come to the U.S. She's been coming since she was 9 and she will turn 18 this summer.

Katie and Nastya~I remember the first summer that Nastya came to visit and we had to pick her up from D.C. and drive back to NC. She was so afraid and very unsure of Americans. She spoke no English and we of course spoke no Russian. That was a hoot! Now she speaks English fluently. She and Katie stayed up until afer 1:00 Saturday morning catching up!




Yesterday for the 4th we went out to the Billy Graham Museum for a tour. It was wonderful. If you live in the area or in North or South Carolina and haven't taken advantage of this, it's a must see. I was very impressed.

Tony's mom and dad at the museum!



Last night we had a very traditional July 4th meal. Tony cooked barbequed chicken(with his homemade sauce), grilled corn on the cob, bleu cheese cole slaw, and rolls. The day and evening was a fun way to wrap up a really nice week.

I trust that you all had a fantastic July 4th of July with your family and friends. Have a great week!

Ginger :)