Mourning our beautiful granddaughter Eden Rain

On Saturday May 21, 2016 our beautiful granddaughter was stillborn.

She never took one breath and we never got to hear her cry or see her open her beautiful little eyes.

It has rocked us to the core and it is something that no family should ever have to go through.

Labor was progressing fine and then something went horribly wrong.

You have never known such heartbreaking sorrow until you watch a mommy and daddy bathe their
 lifeless little daughter and handle her with such tender loving care.

The funeral was today...we shed many tears and we cried as we watched her mommy and daddy
carry her tiny little casket down the steps and out into their own SUV...

the only time she will ride with them as a family.

Mommy and daddy named her

EDEN RAIN BOOTHMAN

Please pray for all of us in the days, weeks, months and years to come.

We will never be the same.

More Vacation Fun in North Carolina

Fort Fisher Beach in North Carolina is the last beach we visited before we came home.
 There are so many beaches there that are within 20 minutes or so of where my son and his family live.
What a life to live somewhere like that. I think I could adapt very nicely...until the hurricanes come.

 I have decided that I want to become a beach bum! What do you think? Do I fit the bill? ha!

Something most people don't know about me...I LOVE the water , the beach and the ocean,
but living for years with motion sickness, I have just kept my distance. If you have never had it,
it is not fun, however I was pleasantly surprised this time to not have much of a problem
with that at all.

Although, I am sure if I was on a huge boat with rolling waves I would spend my time hanging
 over the side losing my lunch. As I said...not fun.

These little granddaughters of ours LOVE the water. I haven't met many kids who don't.
They had so much fun!!

I do WISH that I had learned to swim as a youngster. That is one thing I have always
wanted to be able to do. I took swimming lessons one summer when I was probably
around 10 years old, but I did not pass. I passed the diving and flunked the swimming. I
was scared to death of my feet not being able to touch the bottom. ugh.
I don't know what you think , but I am sure a person can't save themselves by diving!! ha!!
 How I wish I had been allowed to go back the next year and actually learn. 

Beautiful little sisters Annika Lilyana and Ainsley Paige.

Family photo shoot time again!

{I never remember to have anyone take photos of hubby and I}

This man of mine was looking for ships or anything really. It doesn't take much to make him happy. 

We searched for shells at this beach and found several. I also brought some sand home.
 I am trying to make a beach inspired jar filled with goodies as a reminder of our wonderful time.
I am so ready to go back!!

Blessings~

The sun, the sand and the ocean!

We took a LONG awaited, MUCH anticipated vacation this past week and
 loved every minute of it!

We left on Saturday and drove straight to Wilmington,North Carolina to my son
 and his families apartment and we had a blast!  We left home about 6:30 am
and arrived about 9 pm. It was a long drive, but so worth it! We haven't taken a
 vacation in...are you ready for this? Over 26 years! Last one we took was to
Niagara Falls in 1989! How sad is that??!! 

Monday we took off for Wrightsville Beach to get in a family photo shoot.

I had looked at pictures on Pinterest to get some ideas, but I don't think I
remembered one thing once we arrived. ha!

My son Nathan, his wife Colette, Annika and Ainsley.
Oh, how we have missed them all!!

I took over 1400 photos in the week we were there. Oh my goodness!! I know you
don't want to see every photo of my family so I will try to pare them down. lol

It seems like this was my standard look in almost every photo! HAHA!
We didn't intend to get our clothes wet...just wanted some pics, but that
did NOT work. After awhile, we just didn't care anymore.

See...that stupid look again!! HA! I sure love these gals!!
This was a maxi skirt and I rolled it up several times so as not to get it too wet.
As it was , when we got back to the apartment part of my white shirt was
blue from the skirt. :)

Sisters...

Several times we wrote things in the sand, but the water washed them
away almost as soon as we finished.

Love this pic of our sweetie Annika.

...and this one. lol.

Isn't this a hoot?? Yours truly and hubby.

I think Ainsley is digging to China...wonder what she is looking for.

Grandpa wanted to take Ainsley in the ocean and hold her as the waves hit.

Now, look at this photo very carefully. See that camera case strapped to his belt
on the other side?

Do you see it now? Nope...he forgot about it and drowned my Canon SX160 in the ocean.
Totally ruined it.
By the time we got back to the apartment it was already starting to corrode the parts inside
from the salt water. Not a good thing to do. So sad...

Love this shot of my son and granddaughter.

We had such a wonderful time and this get away was just what we needed. Thankfully, I also
took my older more expensive camera along also so I could continue to take photos. I have
lots of them so stay tuned.

Blessings~

Moving Day

This weekend was very busy for us as we helped our son and his family move into this gorgeous home! They are first time home owners and they were very excited. I am thrilled for them also...isn't this a beauty???!!!

I fell in love with their back yard and their cottage style garage!! It is just beautiful and I am in
L.O.V.E.

The beautiful view from the back 

I was taking a photo and who appeared in my camera lens by chance?? This little stinker!! lol   Our granddaughter Annika.  

I was amazed by this beautiful chimney and the gorgeous windows. No details were spared in the building of this home even though it was many years ago. 

Don't you just love this little garage? The door is tri fold I believe and it needs a little work, but is definitely worth working on.  

Side of the cottage garage 

Another view of the backyard 

I love their front entryway and did you notice the place for a flag between the columns and up a little higher?
LOVE IT! 

There's our Natey...so happy for him...them!! 

Obviously I got carried away adding photos of the back yard area...oops. :) 

I would spend  a  little time hours on this swing every single day !!

Son backing up the moving trailer. He repeated this process a few times. lol. 

Sweet little granddaughter Ainsley 

This is what you see when you enter the front door!! So much character and potential for this amazing home. They want to remove the carpet and from a quick peek that my daughter-in-law and I took,  it appears that there is hardwood underneath!! Hoping and praying that is is in great condition! 

Relatively new kitchen in very nice condition.

Sorry for the indoor photos...they didn't turn out so great. 

A linen closet at the top of the stairs 

I even fell in love with their attic!! Wouldn't this be an amazing room to create in...*sigh* 

I think these two little angels came with the house. heehee 

The happy, happy, happy family!!  

I had to snap this photo quick!! *smile* 

Another feature of the home that I adore! When you walk in the front door, there is this little entry to hang coats and take off your shoes and then you enter this multiple paned door to the house. LOVE it!  

Another beautiful built in corner cabinet. Yes, there is lots of wallpaper and they want to take it down or paint over it. We will see how that goes.  Tons of lace curtains came with the home. 

Colette is so , so happy and we are very happy for them. 

If you think about it, please say a prayer for our two beautiful granddaughers Annika and Ainsley. Along with moving this weekend, they also had to leave their cats behind and Annika also starts school in a brand new school system on Thursday I believe. They also have had new babysitters for a couple weeks and that is a lot for two little gals to handle all at once. I am sure they will adapt, but if you could just breathe a prayer for them I would appreciate it so much.

A fun, but exhausting weekend and it is just beginning for them. They still have tons of stuff to unpack and put away, but I told them not to rush it. I said, "take your time"...the stuff isn't going anywhere. Of course you do know that you can unpack 20 boxes , but the ones you didn't unpack will be holding the items you need before you dash out the door.

God is so good and we are very thankful and grateful for our family!
Congratulations to Nathan, Colette, Annika and Ainsley!!

We love you more!!!!!!!!