My Special Person - Denise Basta

The Bastas
Me and the boys visiting NY
Us in Canada Girl time with me, Denise, her daughter, and her sister
I decided to do my challenge photo today, since I will not be able to post again until Monday. My special person is my best friend Denise. We met when we were both 18. She had just gotten married and her husband was in the MCAS and stationed in Beaufort. We both worked at Rose's Department store. She was in a new town with a new job and a husband deployed for 6 weeks. We hit it off immediately and have been best friends ever since. Denise is now back home in New York. I try not to hold it against her that she is a Yankee!! We have great fun with the fact that I'm a southerner and she is a Yankee. We try to visit each other at least every other year. Our families have even bonded over the years and miles. She is special to me b/c she is a true blue friend. Always the same, nothing about her person ever changes. She is the same yesterday , today, and tomorrow! She has been with me thru alot, even if it's from the other end of the phone sometimes! We don't get to see each other as often as we would like but we have remained close anyway. We have made a pact to do a cruise together when we both turn 40 (that's not to far off!) True friends like her are hard to find!! I Love Girl!!

Beautiful People

My post today is on my nephew John Dallas and his beautiful family. These are pictures that his wife has taken. I wanted to share them with yall. These people are BEAUTIFUL, and I'm not just saying that b/c they are my family. Look at them! They look like models, they live in a beautiful location (Hawaii) and the cat is even beautiful. John is the son of my sister Lisa who died at age 29 in 1992. Lisa was married to Dean Pittinger they lived in Early Branch. Their family has seen alot of tragedy. Lisa and Dean lost their 1st child (DJ) when he was 2 years old. He drowned in a family pond that we all grew up around. Lisa was 9mths pregnant with John Dallas when DJ died. DJ died on March 14th and John was born on March 26th. Lisa died in a car accident and not even a year later her children's grandfather also died in a car wreck. Dean raised these boys by himself and quite well I might add. Dustin who is the youngest is in college at Lander and John is in the Army. I know my sister would be so proud of them. She would be bragging on these BEAUTIFUL grand children for sure!!

Go Rebels

Well I survived Shane's 1st ballgame. We played Dorchester Acad. and won 32 to 6. WooHoo!! Go Rebels! The only bad thing is one of our guys broke his arm in 2 places (right at his elbow) That did not help this Mom's gitters any!! That kid was so tough he wanted to go back in the game! Of course all the other players think his broken arm 's pretty cool, that's boys for ya!

Faith

Because of my faith in Jesus Christ, I can face each new day knowing I am never alone. Every new day brings renewed hope and peace in knowing that no matter how bad yesterday was or what happens today the Lord is with me. I have had many trials and tribulations in my life but they have shaped me and molded into who I am. Some days my walk with the Lord is closer than others. Each new sunrise brings another chance at getting closer to being the person God created me to be. So this is my picture of today's sunrise and how it reminds me of my FAITH!

If you look closely at the clouds, it looks like the wings of a dove. All week I was thinking of using a picture of a dove for this challenge. This morning on my way to work I saw this sunrise and changed my mind. When I snapped the pic I did not notice the dove. Once I blogged the photo it appeared to me, the Lord sent me my dove! Can you see it?

Bailey At Sunset

Caught these yesterday. I know I've already done Bailey, but this sunset was so beautiful I couldn't resist.

Back To School

The kids started back to school today! Which teacher are you feeling sorry for? It's scary how grown up Shane looks. The good thing about them being back in school is now the house stays a little cleaner!

Gurl Time

I got to spend some quality time with my brother's girls this weekend! Alishia is the blonde the other one is Jessie. When they were younger they used to spend alot of time at my house. We would hang out and watch movies, paint our nails and talk about boys!! Now that we are older and busy with familes of our on we don't get to do this as much. It was nice too catch up. I am very proud of them both. Jess is very laid back, sweet and easy going. Alishia on the other hand the is the crazy, out spoken, free spirited one! I love them both very much and hope to do some more girl time soon!!

Great Aunt Again

We have new additions in the Smith Family! John Alston Pittinger is 4 weeks old. He is my sister Lisa's grandson. His dad, John Dallas (my nephew) is in the Army and stationed in Hawaii. He is on our prayer list at church, he spent a year in Iraq but is home safe now! They are expecting to get transferred back this way soon.

This second little cutie is Mackinsey Lynn Baker and she is 12 weeks old. She is the daughter of my niece Jessie. Jessie is my brother Barry's daughter, and they live in Walterboro. I know we should not have favorites, but Jess has always been mine!! I am very proud of her, she has grown into a very sweet and strong lady! She is great mother!

Both of these additions make #3 for Jessie and John. I don't know how these young moms do it!!

So I have been a great Aunt 11 times now and there is still one more on the way!!

Spider!

I woke up this morning to find this guy hanging outside the kitchen window. He was not there last night when I went to bed. I guess he heard we were running a zoo and checked himself in. This is one pet I don't want. I told Russell he has to be gone when I get home. Russ says I should let him stay b/c he eats the mosquitoes. So since my kitchen window is over the sink, I say he can stay if Russell is doing dishes from here on out!!

More Pets

Meet Winkie the goldfish. My mother gave the boys her fish and the tank when she got sick last year. She was not able to take care of the tank anymore and she had had the fish for a long time. He did not have a name when we got him. The boys decided to name him after my dad. My dads real name was Winston, but his nickname was Winkie and that's what everyone called him. My kids called him Papa Wink. Even though my parents divorced over 40 years ago my mom still liked the name the boys picked. So anyway now we have a fish in memory of my mom and dad.

Blue and Belle

Blue
Belle

Meet Blue and Belle. One year for BH's birthday everyone chipped in to buy him a beagle which was Blue. We picked him up on a Friday night from Mr. Nettles in Ridgeland. We had to keep him until Sunday when we were having BH's party. Well.....Bret fell in love with him in those 2 days and cried his eyes out when it was time to give him to BH. So naturally BH did not want to take the dog and break the child's heart. We had to call up Mr. Nettles and luck had it that Belle was the last beagle left, so we ended up buying 2 dogs!!! Blue loves to go over to BH's to visit with his sister. Blue is also a "Working dog" with a purpose. We have a dang gone zoo at our house. I'll have to post some of our other pets soon.

Keep on the Sunny Side

I love to ride down to the sunflower field in the mornings, when they are all facing the sun. You can't see them and not feel happy. This will become a dove field soon and be filled with brown and green camo, so I try and enjoy it while I can!

RELAXATION

How is this for relaxed? I cheated a little, b/c this picture was taken back in May. I've been wanting to use it and this seemed like an appropriate time. Bret had been on a field trip with Mrs. Rogers his 2nd grade teacher. Their trip was to downtown Beaufort. Mrs Rogers mother lives down on The Point. They had lunch at her home and she told them some old stories about Beaufort. They walked around the Point and down to the National Cemetery. I'm told this is an annual event she does every year for her students. Bret loved it, and was totally exhausted afterwards! Russell picked him up from Thomas Heyward that afternoon in his work truck. My boy was so wiped out he didn't even make it out of Ridgeland before he was catching zzzz's. He loves being in Dad's work truck. Always such cool things in there, hence the yellow hard hat!

Ball Boy

Well Bret could not stand it!! He just had to get in on the action. When they showed up for practice yesterday the coaches presented Bret with a jersey and declared him official "Ball Boy". Russell said he was on cloud nine, grinning from ear to ear! Needless to say though, Shane is not very impressed with all this.

Update on the Angel Kitty

Well she did it, Vikki won Russell's heart! The boys and I were a little worried when we left to go to Columbia that Russ would take her to the Animal Shelter. By the time we got back she had won him over. She now curls up in his lap at night and just purrs and purrs!! She has been a constant source of enjoyment, she makes me laugh everyday!

My Rebel

Shane has started football for the Thomas Heyward B Team. His dad took him to practice yesterday, Moms not ready to watch her baby get punished just yet! He looks so intimidating in the 1st shot. Bret could not stand the fact that I was taking pictures of Shane, so he planted himself in just as I snapped the camera. He is so Rotten!

Details

I have changed my mind several times for this blog. I thought I was all set with my picture, and then as I was getting to the office this morning my new subject presented itself.

A Surprise

I was down loading some pics off my camera today and found these two. I think most of you will recognize this character. I keep my camera in the car now in case I run across a good blog subject. Shane and James decided to take some random photos, I had no idea. What goofs!!!

Gaggle of Geese

I ran across this gaggle of geese on my way home for lunch a few days ago. They were swimming in Bailey Pond, so I stopped in the middle of the road to take a picture. Thank goodness there is not much traffic on Baily Road!!