Thoughts for today...I hope today is a long, long day.

With the Thanksgiving season quickly approaching I've been reflecting on all the things we have to be grateful for. My heart if full but today it also hurts as the thought of Erika and Jack leaving in the morning to head back to their home in Idaho lingers in my mind. It's been so nice having them close this summer and I'm so grateful to have had this time with them -- especially the Sunday afternoons at Grandmother and Grandaddy's house. Even San Jose' is not the same when they're not here as it's one of Erika and Jack's favorites. We love you so much, Erika and Jack (and baby Maxfield) and we wish you a happy and safe ride back to Idaho. I hope the remainder of this day passes slowly and I hope tonight will be fun at your other favorite restaurant - Lugoff House of Pizza where we've planned a special going away together an early "birthday party for Erika" since she'll be back in Idaho on the 23rd. (This is the closest she's been home to her birthday since October 2003 so I hope it's a fun night for you, Erika Linsday.) I'm so grateful for my family!

It's a family a-FAIR!

Monday, October 13, 2008 - We were off to the State Fair! What a great time we had! There was Grandmother and Grandaddy, Erika and Jack, Ginger and the boys, Addison and Wesley, and Joey and me. Erika's friend, Rachel, also met us there. It's always a fun time even though it was really, really warm temperatures this year for the fair. We're glad Jack got to experience the South Carolina State Fair here with our family before they leave this week to return to Idaho. We had such a fun night. It was especially fun having Spencer, Andrew, and Carson there and watching the excitement in their eyes -- it was great!

Grandaddy and Joey in front of the sand sculpture

Tradional little ducks feeding -- trying to avoid the slide...
Will they make it without falling?????
Oops! There goes one! The boys just loved seeing the duck slide!

Spencer enjoys the pony ride...

Jack, Erika, and Spencer

Grandmother has fun watching all!

Joseph loved the billy goats and sheep...

Ginger and Carson in the lead ahead of Andrew and Mic-Mic!

(I had fun doing this!!!! Andrew is so brave - he wanted to ride

the elephant, too, but Mic-Mic is kinda chicken. Ha!)

We all enjoyed our share of fair food which is usually the most important part of the fair! We had corn dogs, beef and buffalo sticks, fried ocra, candy apple, yummy lemonade, mushrooms, pizza, french fries (which Erika loved with the vinegar), and Jack tried a deep-fried Milky Way which he said was gooey and very good!

The Dinkins Women Sisters, Aunts, and Cousins Night Out...

Saturday, October 12, 2008
(Pictured in top photo are Jennifer, Paulette, Aunt Ronella, Addison, Joeli, Aunt Jane, Aunt Teresa, Valencia, mom (Lana), Aunt Pinochio, and Tiawanna.)
In honor of Aunt Ronella who'd just had knee surgery and doing great and in honor of Grandma Tessie's Birthday this month we had a night out to Sumo's Japanese Steakhouse and then some went on to the movies to see "Nights in Rodanthe" (Richard Gere--how perfect for a girls' night out!) We look forward to the next Dinkins' girls night out!

Happiness is...

There has been so much going on lately and it seems like time is passing faster with each moment. I have a lot of catching up to do at some time for today and now I am just grateful and very happy. It has been a wonderfully perfect last few days spending time with the ones I love the most. General Conference was this past weekend and the messages given by our General Authorities left me with so much hope for a bright future and the desire to be a little better each day than the one before. I had the opportunity of spending the weekend with all our family, including a trip to Florence with Erika and Addison to surprise Ethan at RedBone Alley where he was working and was he so surprised! It was so fun! (and delicious!) Then tonight after work I got to spend some one-on-one time with just Erika and she treated me to a wonderful dinner at Sumo's - our absolute favorite! My heart if full - I have so much happiness in my heart. I love my family so much. Joey is just awesome to me and our family -- from the flowers he brings me to the clothes he folds and the hot breakfasts he cooks for our family -- he is a jewel and I love him so. My children are my rock and I love them with all my being and I am so grateful for my blessings...

Lots of things in life can make us smile and bring moments of happiness but our families and the love we share with them and living right is what brings us true and lasting happiness and joy.

My Birthday -- 39 + something!

Today is my birthday and it's been a fabulous one. We've been celebrating since Sunday night when my sweetheart came home after working 12 hours, got ready and swept me off to Charlotte for the night and a full day of shopping and browsing all day Monday at Concord Mills. We stayed Sunday night at the Courtyard by Marriott (highly recommend--it was so nice!!!) and had a great time all day Monday. He is such a great buddy to shop with and is so complimentary about everything! I really feel like such a princess to have a such a wonderful husband who is also my best buddy. He was too funny, though, because Derek called him just before we checked out of the hotel and he told Derek about our plans and that we were headed to the Bass Pro Shop. Of course they were lining up a hunting trip for next weekend and Joey said, "I know, Derek, I told my sweetheart I'd get her anything she wanted for her birthday as long as it came from the Bass Pro Shop!" laughing the whole time. He is so much fun! We talked and laughed the entire day and he bought me some new beautiful silver earrings for my birthday. (not from Bass Pro Shop -- ha!)

We got home around 10 PM last night and had fun catching up with Addison and Chloe when we came in. Then I had the day off today and Joey had the morning off before beginning night shift tonight so we enjoyed another wonderful day together. We went up to the hunting club so Joey could check and bait his stands and it felt so good riding the 4-wheeler in the crisp air in the woods. It definitely felt like autumn this morning and I just love it! We later enjoyed a fun lunch date before Joey got a nap and Addison and I escaped to the store for some groceries. She and I had enjoyed our time together shopping and making some menu choices for the next week or so. She was especially interested in the pork knuckles and gizzards in the meat section at the commissary!!! Ha! Just kidding! (We were both a little grossed out even when a patron was telling us how she'd prepare them and all -- ewwwww, yuck!!!)

Tonight some of the family met us at San Jose' for dinner which seems to be the traditional birthday place and it was great. Mom made a homemade caramel cake for my birthday and it was enjoyed by all present!!! Thanks, Mom, you're the best.

I truly have been so blessed by such a wonderful family. My parents are healthy and happy and enjoy our family so much. My sister is a jewel and is so good to so many and is such an example for me. My nieces and nephews are awesome - Ginger and Jenny are so precious and Brandon, well, he's my oldest and funnest nephew and I feel like I sorta grew up with Brandon and Ginger even though I'm much older in years than them they are so important in my life. I guess you could say they are more like my little sister and brother than niece and nephew...I love them so. Now with Ginger and Shaun having 3 little boys it is so fun and those boys keep us all young! They are so fun to be around. My children are so dear to me and I am so proud of them and their accomplishments. Erika and Jack gave me the best gift of all just over a week ago when they announced they are expecting a baby in May and I just about fainted. I'm still in shock I think and so VERY EXCITED and happy!!! Joey and I are going to be grandparents!!! (Wow, Joey says he did pretty good to get married and then a month later find out he's going to be a grandpa!) I love my sweet husband and our family more than words can ever express and I am so thankful for their love and support and what they mean to me.

I'm truly 39+ and holding tight -- actually in all honesty I'm 42 today, but it's only a number and I'm very proud of the accomplishments I've seen in my life of only 42 years. I hope next 50 are just as good. Thanks to all for the phone calls and the sweet cards - it's been a beautiful 3 days!

I'm going to be a GRANDMOTHER!!!

What a surprise! Erika called me at around 6 AM last Friday (9/12) to tell me she couldn't wait another week and a half for my birthday to give me the news - it'd be an early birthday present and she and Jack are having a baby! Looks like the due date will be mid-May! She asked me not to say anything until they came for the weekend and she and Jack wanted to tell my parents in person so it was hard to keep it to myself. However, I did have to go to Walmart and buy a little something and actually picked up 2 boy things and 2 girl things. Aren't the July 4th outfits cute for next year?!?! Joey and I are so excited!

Happy Birthday Weekend, Ginger!

I can't believe my dear sweet niece is 29!!! Sorry, Ginger, but to me (Mic-Mic) you'll always be my sweet little GG. You are such a beautiful and talented young woman and such a wonderful mother to your three precious little boys and a dear wife to Shaun. You have so many talents and you touch the lives of so many every day with the things you do and say. I am so grateful to be your aunt and so thankful to be your friend. Hope this year will the best yet! We had fun celebrating with you at Grandmother's yesterday and the boys were too cute about the cake! Love you bunches!!!