The Vinson Family

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Go Gamecocks!

This weekend we (Rachel, Josh, and I) went tailgating to USC's Homecoming Game.

We had a great time and got lots of practice cheering for the Gamecocks!

As you might notice from the pictures, the kids have more than one costume. No, we are not going trick-or-treating twice in two different outfits. We just ended up with this many from a friend. So, we decided to try them on to see which ones fit best for Halloween. Josh had his Preschool Halloween Party on Tuesday and they got to dress-up for this as well. I think Rachel will wear the pumpkin on Saturday and the monkey costume is long gone. It was way too small for Josh so we loaned it to someone else. Hope you have a fun Halloween!

Rachel enjoying the pumpkin costume,
but not the hat

Josh and his ripped muscles

Our little fairy

Brother and sisterly love

At Josh's school

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Happy Fall

This is my favorite time of year for so many reasons. I LOVE the colors of fall, the cooler weather, the food prepared (apples, pumpkins, turkey), and the celebrations (my birthday, Halloween, and Thanksgiving). This provides so much to be happy about and so many reasons to thank God for all of His creation. Thank be to God!

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Ireland

We are back from a wonderful week plus two days long trip to Ireland for a wedding and vacation. Jason and I left the kids with his parents and hopped aboard a plane to the Emerald Isle. Our first destination was Dublin. Soon after this, we meet up with Jason's co-worker, Bob, and his wife, Mary Anne, in Galway. We then traveled together by car visiting some towns and ultimately made it to Sligo for a wedding. The following day, we took the train to Dublin and flew home after that.

I just realized I probably should not have posted this many pictures but instead provided a link to a folder in picasa, but oh well. We have many more photos as you can imagine but these provide a little story and time line of our travels. Enjoy viewing!

Got Guinness?

Visiting the Guinness Storehouse

Fresh oysters in Galway

Walking in Galway

Near the Spainish Arc in Galway

Limestone rocks by the sea in Connemara

The Cliffs of Moher

Dungaire Castle

View in County Mayo

Cappuccinos

Pub food

Ballynahinch Castle

The view from our room

Kylemore Abbey

Hiking near the castle

Jason and Bob

All of us- Me, Jason, Mary Anne, and Bob

The view from The Bervie, my favorite place.

Achill Island

Keem Bay

Sheep, sheep, everywhere were sheep!

Diana and Fintan's Wedding 10-3-09

The church

Kiteboarding near the reception at The Sligo Yacht Club

Jason, Bob, Fintan, and Mike at the reception.

Walking in Dublin

Our car ride home with the kids.

We missed them dearly!

Monday, September 21, 2009

Remembering Ace

My niece, Laurel, just turned 15. I wasn't there to celebrate with her, but I wanted to share a beautiful tribute of her Dad that she posted on facebook.; Laurel, I hope you don't mind. I wanted to save this somewhere and share more about your Daddy and your words were so wonderful and perfect. I love you!

God got tired of taking old people.
He needed a strong handy man with a gold heart.
My daddy was perfect for the job.

It's crazy how quickly life can turn around. I've learned not to hold grudges; don't be mad at anyone for long, it may be the last time you see them. I would rather have a dad, and be mad at him, then not have one at all. I don't have my daddy to walk me down the isle, or have my daddy take me fishing again. I don't have my daddys' rough but gentle hands to hold. I haven't seen my dad in a year, and i know he missed me. Well now he can see me all the time, looking down from heaven, guiding me. He's the best guardian angel i could ask for. I'd give anything to get one more hug, and hear one more i love you. He told everyone that i was the only one he would kill for, the only one he would sacrifice his life for. I was daddy's little girl, his Pride & Joy. He did so many things for me, and to make sure i loved life. He had a heart 10 sizes too big. He always wanted to help someone, no matter what is meant he lost. He told me, that one day if he died, that he didn't want anyone crying at his funeral. He didn't want it to be a moment of sadness and loss. He said he wanted people to celebrate his life. And celebrate him being in a better place. I tried my hardest to make his wish come true, but as the tears fell, i also smiled for him like he wanted me to. He always told me about the song " My sacrifice " by Creed; and the lyrics that go " When your with me, i'm free, i'm careless, i believe. " Well daddy, now you can be free, you can be careless, and you can believe it. Because you'll be with me every day of my life now. Beside me. Guiding me. I knew my daddy was standing right beside me the whole time. I knew he was holding my hand. He was there, he was. And he'll always be with me. 08/09/09 is a day i'll always remember now on, and it won't be a happy holiday. I miss you & love you Daddy.

Updates on us

There have been several reasons why I haven't posted in the past few months. The primary reason was that I didn't have our pictures from our annual beach trip uploaded and accessible on my computer. Months have gone by and I still don't have the pictures from our trip, but I'm going to write a post anyway because too much has happened to wait on them.

"I am the Lord your God, who holds your right hand,
and I tell you, 'Don't be afraid. I will help you." Isiah 41:13

A lot has happened in the past few months- good and bad. It's hard to even begin with the bad for I start to cry just thinking about it. My brother Jan "Ace" Hanes died in a car accident on August 9, 2009. I was at my Mom's house when we found out the news and am so thankful I was there to be with her and she was there for me too. We were speechless and couldn't believe the news as the coroner spoke, "I'm sorry ma'am, but your son passed away this morning."

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
Psalm 34:18

I remember the day as if it were yesterday; words shared with family and friends, planning the funeral, what we placed in his casket, the details of the service, the whole nine yards. It would be a paper if I wrote it all. But, what I want to share is what I'm praying for. Since the morning I received the news, my constant pray has been that God will be glorified in my brother's death. That somehow God would speak to those who do not know Him and that they would be changed. I may never know til I reach His celestial place what impact Ace's death made on others, but I pray for my family, for my friends, and for Ace's friends. I pray that God will be glorified and that they will find rest in Him.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy burdened and I will find you rest."

Matthew 11:28