No shoes no shirt no service!??

I love how I go from such deep passionate journal entries -- to this one.

All I wanted to write was that yesterday in the grocery store there was a lady shopping without shoes on! I never realized how weird it would be until I saw it. It felt really weird! I wonder if in Leland, you don't have to wear shoes to do business? I know in many places it says, 'no shoes, no shirt, no service' but I guess Leland is a LOT different than other places! She was really barely wearing a shirt too -- she was just some old country girl with really flat long feet haha.



I really do LOVE it here -- no shoes, no shirt, no problem!! :)

Happy Independence Day!!!!

I am SO thankful to have been born in this country! I am SO proud to be an American!

We had a great Independence Day together yesterday! It was one of those days where you feel that even just breathing in the fresh air will physically help you! I don't know if it really does physically help but I know it does mentally and spiritually help! It was low 80's and breezy and just GORGEOUS. The sun felt brighter yesterday, the Carolina blue skies seemed blue-er. It was just gorgeous. I think that is my favorite temperature - 84 degrees with a breeze!!

I couldn't believe how easily we got around town - it seemed like there was even less traffic than on normal weekends! I think because the 4th was in the middle of the week or something. But literally we went down to CB and there was less traffic than last weekend when we went! Then at night, we drove downtown (and ended up turning right around after we got in the parking garage because we forgot Raymond's bottle) and we didn't hit any traffic there either! Maybe it's just because of where we live now? Or maybe with the windows open, we were just too focused on how beautiful it was, we didn't even realize if there were other cars or people around!?

Either way - it was gorgeous! We stayed outside the whole day - walking around the neighborhood with Lennox, driving around, sitting on the porch, sitting at the beach and pool. Then after Raymond went to sleep, Brandon and I watched a movie and when the fireworks started around 9 we took our drinks on the screened porch and sat and had our own private show of downtown fireworks. I still believe that the best fireworks EVER are Jefferson days laying on the hill as they shoot off right over you, but these were good too. The only thing missing was funnel cake or cotton candy! but it was cool to have our own show!

So anyway - how blessed I am. For everything. Thank God for all our soldiers throughout the generations and today, who have protected the freedom we all take for granted. Today I remember PopPop especially who invaded at Normandy and who had the only working radio the week after, that would help change the course of history for thousands in Europe and Billions in the world for generations to come. PopPop went to heaven on the 4th of July 1991. I am so proud to be the granddaughter of a true HERO and I'm so proud to be a Child of the most high God who blessed us with true freedom - the ability to be personally and spiritually FREE!

Thank God for the desire we have to be free. At the core of who we are, He has created us to be creatures who have the desire to have freedom of choice (free will). Thank God He is not a puppet master, but is a God who loves us enough to let us make our own decisions - and then turn those decisions around for good when they were the wrong decision! (Romans 8:28).

I am so blessed and so appreciative for everything I have been given. I pray that what America stands for will not fall and that this country will always be a guiding light to the world of the values that God has put in all of us!!!!

Some things I don't like, Some things I do

I took Raymond to the beach today and yesterday before work and we had the best time. But as I was watching my little boy roll around all over the sand and in the water and all over the place until he looked like a shake n bake chicken --- or a seasoned porchop as MomMom calls it, I started thinking how some people would be SOO bothered by that! Some people can't STAND to have sand all over them, or on their baby - but me, I just don't care. I'm one of those type that says, make as big a mess as you can, LIVE and then we'll just clean it up ALL real good later. I don't clean as I go - I just GO and clean later! :) So sand doesn't bother me... BUT there are some things that do bother me, believe it or not:



Some things I don't like:

• When you go to take a bite of food at the beach only to realize it's all sandy and then you have that sand crunch between your teeth --- oh that sand crunch is the worst!! haha


• People who don't have a backbone (ex: when somebody is gossiping about a friend of yours and you just sit and listen or even worse join in instead of letting the gossiper know that they are mistaken about your friend, and you won't tolerate anybody speaking negative about them in your presence)


• the sound that occurs when your dad is tying the hood on your snowsuit (I was probably 8 or 9 when my father last did this for me -- yet I STILL think of it)


• stepping in something wet with your socks on


• those silly packaging peanuts that come in shipments ---- grrr I can't get them off of me and into the garbage sometimes! When I worked at Disney World and that was my duty for the day (unpacking inventory boxes and putting items on display) I used to have all out brawls with those things


• the fact that I can sweep, vacuum and get on my hands and knees scrubbing to get Lennox's hair out of the house --- and the next night, it looks like it hasn't been cleaned in weeks :( I love Lennox the most - but that hair!!! geesh!


• people who can't explain their actions. if you do something and I don't understand why - I'm going to prove - I want to challenge people to be able to STOP and THINK. Let's not just let life float us by - let's change! God can change ANYBODY. If I ask WHY you did something, you should be able to answer that question - WHY did you do that? dig deep if you have to. WHY. Is it because you are seeking acceptance? Do you consciously make those bad decisions over and over again because you are selfish? Because you have a low self esteem and are looking for approval? Just STOP & THINK for a second --- you have to train yourself to be able to think about your actions in terms of the consequences (why is it that men in general can't seem to form this link.... women seem to always be able to link their actions with consequences but not men)


• people who don't smile! (especially if you are looking at me and I catch you. it's okay that you are looking at me - it really is - but at least SMILE if I catch you. I CAN see you and I'm smiling ! so smile back!)

I think that is all my venting for today.

Some things I do like:

• nature - everything about it. God is the ultimate artist and what beauty He has created all around us - just incredible! I can appreciate ALL types of art - every single type of music, every sort of visual art, dance, EVERYTHING. I love it all. I wasn't blessed with a lot of artistic talent - but I sure was extremely blessed in my ability to appreciate the small things in life, the big things, EVERYTHING!


• Sunsets and sunrises --- I just think the sky is the most beautiful thing God created


• No wait -- I think water is the most beautiful thing God created! Water is absolutely breathtaking when you think about it - especially the ocean - but any sort of water. What an incredible work. It can consume me sometimes when I sit and watch - even just the small little brooks & streams we have near by --- that all lead to the Cape Fear River that all lead to the Ocean - this world is just incredible


• a loyal friend who wants to lift up and give NOT always just lean on and take


• A person who can discuss. A person who can talk about things other than Paris Hilton, the latest town gossip, and their outside appearance. I don't want to hear how you are doing, the physical, superficial you, I want to talk about YOU, the SOUL YOU!
• A person who isn't so wrapped up in their own insecurities that they can actually look PAST themselves and open themselves up to others and be vulnerable enough to give of themselves.
• People who can forgive!!! People who really do LOVE others. People who can see the long term in life and realize that in the end - none of our earth "junk" really mattes!!! We are called to LOVE others. No matter what they have done to you (or you THINK they have done to you) it is your job as a christian to love and forgive and forget. Look what you did to Jesus - and He forgives you. Do the same for others. You can't truly know your maker if you are closed off to His people. You can't be for what God is for --- but against what He's for. If you are for God, you must be for what He is for. If you are against what God is for, you are against Him. If you are for what God is against, you are against Him. I don't know what all that has to do with each other - or if it even makes sense. But that is the way my brain works. I just sit at the computer and I can type as fast as I think so I just let it flow - scary isn't it.

My Angel - Part 2

I just can't express how close MomMom ("Cita", "Mamawolfe", Mom, Mommie, Mama) and I are. She truly was my best friend until I met Brandon (now they share that title along with my other immediate family members - sister Roxie, brother Ryan, dad "daddy cat"). Growing up, I literally spent more time hanging out with mom than I did any friends or peers. When I had a night off, and wanted to go do something fun - I usually decided to do something with Mom!! She's just the most fun! and I just love being with her.

A while back, a site was doing an essay contest (sometime around Mother's Day) and I wanted to enter a blog about her. But of course I got sidetracked. But I had started a little 'essay' and I wanted to put it here.

My mother, Glennie Jo Wolfe, has always and will always do her best to shine God’s light. She constantly pours out love abundantly and freely that shows she is a reflection of God, who is Love. Many people call her an “angel” although we know that she is only human, but really she is, in my eyes, one of the best reflections of God I have ever seen on earth.

I believe that God is the only true source to get eternal approval, acceptance, forgiveness, and humble love. But these are the qualities that “MamaWolfe”, as so many affectionately call her, just exudes. Growing up, I had such a great picture of God through Mom. I was given incredible praise when I did right, forgivness when I did wrong, acceptance and approval always. I saw what love really meant through the love from my mom. It was humble, it was patient, it was kind, it was not self-seeking and it was always forgiving.

The light in MamaWolfe sometimes was so bright that it offended the sin in me. I believe that this is what God’s heart is all about. Offending the sin and evil in others while at the same time having acceptance and approval and forgiveness for the repentant heart! God would never offend the sinner – only the sin. MamaWolfe always tried to do the same. She had such a high standard – making sure we understood that we, as Christians, were on a different “playing field” than the rest of society. But any time we tried our best she was always there with praise to make us want to continually try harder. When we were weary, there she was to pick us up. When we felt hopeless, there she was to lead us back to the giver of Hope.

My mom has done more than physically and emotionally teach and care for me. She, along with my grandma, led me to my Savior that gave me eternal life. The world would be a different place, if everybody had a mother (and grandmother) like I did. I am ETERNALLY grateful for them and hope that they know how much I appreciate and value all they have given me.

Grandma's Eulogy

At grandma's memorial service & her graveside service both - we were given the chance to speak about grandma so I did each time. It really is not even okay with me yet that she has gone on to heaven. I LOVE to picture her there and I LOVE that she is happy and I rejoice that she is finally FREE and age-less and without pain and sorrow. But I will never really be 'okay' with her not being here with us. It's just not ... right.

I actually DON'T feel like a piece of me is missing though --- because she IS a piece of me, and I'm still fully here. If anything, a part of me, the spiritual realm is with her - but it isn't missing. Her physical presence wasn't what was a piece of me...it was HER - and so that piece is not missing. So that isn't really what I'm feeling... I'm just feeling - sad. I guess that's the only word. I just miss HER physical presence temporarily. It won't be missed for long though. Life on this earth is so short. A whole lifetime is a blink of an eye. And so being gone from her physical presence for the rest of my life is really ... weird.. BUT in the LONG RUN, the final long term, it really is okay. "When we all get to heaven"....I will realize that earth time was NOTHING and what matters most is that I will be with all my loved ones for ETERNITY! .... Anyway... that's my thoughts on that. And here were my thoughts on her passing....

Words that describe grandma: faithful, calm, peaceful, humble, strong, challenging, intelligent, compassionate, beautiful, wise

Grandma and I have such a great connection which made it very difficult for me not to be there holding her hand when she went to heaven. But in the midst of my sorrow and pain, my comfort came from the place it almost always came from in the past --- grandma. On Mother's Day, I pulled out her life history we had written in 2002 and started reading and the words we had written together brough me on my knees praying to the Lord. As always, she comforted me - as always she brought me right back to the Lord and that is where I was when she passed - on my knees praying... right where she would want me to be. After the initial shock and hysteria - I felt a calm wash over me and I felt joy. I knew where grandma was and I rejoiced with her. Thank you God for knowing exactly what was the right time - thank you that she is no longer suffering. Thank you for allowing me to have all positive memories of her.

Like I always told grandma - it just doesn't seem fair for other people - I was given the world's best mom and world's best grandmom. I always understood the value of what grandma had given me. She had given me the introduction that would lead me to eternal life. Thousands will go to heaven because of her decision to spread the gospel. [exponential growth] I look forward to seeing how God has rewarded her in heaven for all her work on earth.

Grandma had so much to be proud of, but she seldom talked about all her accomplishments. When I asked her what she was most proud of (was it skipping so many grades in school, being a chemist, a professor, a computer scientist) she didn't name any one of those, she said without hesitation, "I'm most proud of your mother". [in other words she was most proud of her role as mother]. And then she added, "and helping to raise my grandkids". How appropriate that gradma would go to heaven on Mtoher's Day - a day she was most proud of. Just like PopPop went to heaven on 4th of July - the day of celebration of things he was most proud of -- freedom, country and tradition.

It's a challenge to live up to the standard that grandma set for her family and those around her. When God came and picked her up on Sunday, I know He exclaimed well done my good and faithful servant! Thank you GOD for grandma - she has changed the course of my life for eternity and for generatinos to come. She never gave up on any of us even when we lost our way and I believe her prayers kept us protected and lead us back to the right path.

I just want to end with what grandma told me in 2002 was her life philosophy - Matthew 6:33 - but seek first His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.

What I love about Brandon - Post # 5

Brandon turns 27 tomorrow and as each birthday passes, I always reflect back on the other birthdates we have celebrated together. The first birthday we had today Brandon turned 22 (2002). On his 23rd birthday, our relationship really was serious (I was still down in Disney World finishing my internship) and he was in Wilmington taking summer classes. I came up to visit him and I left for him a bag of 23 Hershey kisses. In each Hershey kiss, I had taken out the Hershey paper and put in my own paper with 1 "Reason I Love B". So there was 23 in all!! Then he was able to open one a day while I was gone back to Disney.


I pulled this bag of Hershey's notes out today from our "Brandon & Randi Box" and I was just cracking up at some of the things I had written. But first of all I have got to give myself a pat on the back for that gift! How creative! Man, no wonder he fell in love with me haha. But like I told him, I courted him so good when we were dating --- now that we're married, it's his turn!!! haha So here they are: 23 reasons I Love B (year 2003)

1. Loves music! Loves to dance! (and boy can he dance!! I LOVE watching him dance! We just have FUN!!! So important! We can sit and appreciate all kinds of music together - we just like to have a good time! All the weddings we go to - we don't even drink and are the first ones on the floor - everybody else has to be drunk it seems to have fun - but not us! We don't care how young or silly we look - we love fun!)
2. He's not afraid to hold my hand anymore (YES the boy would not even hold my hand in public at one point! OH how times have changed!)
3. His original phrases and how he says them (which I am too embarassed to repeat here)
4. He's got the BIGGEST heart - but tries to hide it (for some reason he did used to try to hide it! But he felt safe with me and after time, he understood that being vulnerable is a good thing. The light he has is a gift and he was holding him for himself and it was selfish.)
5. He's a wise ol owl (how appropriate I used this in my vows!). He really is so wise -- that will be post # 6
6. Holds me so tight when I'm about to cry (and yes even after we had only been dating less than 2 years I had a lot of tears in front of him! I was 11 hours away from my family for the first time in my life!)
7. He keeps his nails clean and neat (long story haha)
8. Because we'll be together for eternity (I think that in 2003 Brandon really started to believe that too)
9. I've never met anybody like him (SO TRUE!)
10. He's the best teacher I've ever had (YES! I really think he should have been a teacher, a coach or a pastor as a profession. BUT in so many ways he is each of those - it is just not his profession. I can't wait to see what he chooses to do with his talent - he is going to change so many lives!)
11. No matter what, I feel so safe & content when he's next to me (and yeap, I still feel this way. I always loved that he was a man's man. I knew he could always protective me - physically, spiritually, mentally - that was so important to me and was something all my previous love interests lacked)
12. Because God has great plans for him (I always did believe this and still do. There's something about him. Everybody sees it. We can't wait to see exactly what path he chooses)
13. That butt! Those muscles! (hehe :) )
14. He's so supportive (to everybody, not just me. He is a great friend to so many)
15. Best listener ever!!!!! (I can't post this loud enough!)
16. His laugh (man, I love making him have a good laugh - I love being silly together)
17. soft feet (he has the softest feet - I was always amazed by that haha but also the most sensitive geesh! The man can't even walk outside without shoes haha)
18. his tiny (sexy) lips! ( Enoguh said)
19. Everybody respects & listens to him (yeap -- because of # 15 and because of my previous posts)
20. Always means what he says (which I can't say is true for myself)
21. thinks before he speaks (# 20)
22. Talks to ME more than anybody (I love this. I loved it back then and I love it now - that I am his best confidante. I love that we know each other secret's and nobody will ever know more about us than each other. That's so cool when you think about it)
23. Because he took the bait! Just kidding! (haha we can't figure out who through the bait that first night but it doesn't matter - somebody took it!)

OH WOW I just realized I did more than 23! There's more!

24. He makes me laugh
25. He's my family (so true. Being so far away from my family - we were each other's family very soon after dating)
26. His honesty (see previous post)
27. He's the most patient being ever (This may have been true in 2003 - but I think I've worn off on him and he's a little less patient --- but he's still WAY more patient than the average person)
28. His beautiful blue eyes (!!! I can stare at them forever. Some of my favorite life memories involve doing nothing but looking into those eyes. It's appropriate I'm writing this because one of my favorite memories of him is the way he looked at me before I gave him this gift. That was the first time he looked at me and I knew he was in love with me. He just had the look of love on him. One of my other favorite memories is each summer looking into each other's eyes while holding each other in the water (either the pool at the Blockade Runner or the ocean). ahhhh)

So there you go it really was 28 things! and I know I could keep going - but I'll leave it at that - the original 28 things I loved about "B"

What I love about Brandon - Post # 4

Well - I don't really have one specific quality to talk about today. So I just want to write a 4th post about Brandon (TOMORROW is his 27th birthday so I will let him read all these blogs as a birthday present!).

I LOVE how Brandon loves me. I love his way with words. I love the vows he made for me on our wedding day and I LOVE that he has kept them or tries his hardest to if he has fallen short. I am going to share them on here. I can count on him and I know his love for me is true, pure, and for eternity. Raymond has such a stable foundation because he can look at our relationship and see that we are his rock. I LOVE that Brandon loves his wife and is proud of it!

Brandon's Vows to Randi:
I, Brandon, take you Randi to be my sunshine, my good times, my Heaven in the form of a girl. I thank you for bringing out the best in me, and I promise to always bring out the best in you. I promise to accept you for who you are, but to always challenge you to be all that God wants you to be. And just as iron sharpens iron, I will not shy away from friction and tension, for I know this is how we grow stronger. I will celebrate with you in times of victory, and I will comfort you in times of loss. I will dry your tears and feel your emotions without wondering how I can solve things. I will be faithful to you and faithful to our God forever. I will battle for you each day and when you are too tired, I will pray for you at night. And most of all, I promise to love you more today than I did yesterday and I promise to do the same tomorrow.

Randi's Vows to Brandon:
Brandon, I admire and respect you so much, you are my steady rock and my wise ole owl and I can’t wait to share you with the world. You are the man God has been preparing me for and I know He has an absolutely incredible plan for our future. I will be with you in sickness and in health, through the hard times and victories, times of joy and times of pain, I will never leave your side. I will make you so happy and I promise to always smile when I see you. I will bring out the best in you and be your biggest cheerleader. I promise to be the wind in your sails, as you steer us to prosperity. I have so much faith in you and I promise to always uplift you to our friends and family, never letting anything come between us. I am committed to endure, committed to grow, committed to love and most importantly committed to always forgive. When nobody else believes in you, in us, or our dreams, I always will. Today, I willingly commit myself to you as your best friend, your greatest fan and your exclusive lover forever. I am so proud and excited to be your wife. I love you.