Chicago Mission Trip for Jake

We're excited and asking for your prayers as Jake leaves with his church youth group Saturday on a mission trip to the windy city of Chicago. He'll be there about a week reaching out thru soup kitchens and the like. Go Jake!

Vermont State Indoor Track Championship 2010

David Atkins won championship in 55 m hurdles for a personal best and FHUHS school record of 7.97 seconds. Placed second in high jump at another new personal best of 6 feet 2 inches. Winner did 6 feet 4 inches...very good for Vermont!! Congratulations to David and the Slater Track Team!

A Man and his "new" truck

The old chevy truck went over 250,000 miles and the Honda Accord had seen better days...so out of the dust rises the 2007 Chevy Silverado. Dad is in love. I got to keep my Honda CRV, so it's ok. And today Jacob also got his driver's permit. Go Jake!

Meeting Ruby Emmaline Atkins

Facebook | My Photos - Ruby Emmaline Atkins

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Ruby Emmaline Atkins born Jan 26,2010

7 lbs 8oz born to Matt and Esther Atkins

Uncle Jack Atkins

Robert (Jack) Atkins, 59, of Salem, Va. passed away Friday, September 4, 2009 at Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Memorial services were held on Monday, September 7, 2009 at Sovereign Grace Community Church in Roanoke. Rev. Bruce Clink officiated. Jack was a native of Wythe County and a graduate of Fort Chiswell High School Class of 1968. He attended and played football at Concord College in West Virginia before entering the United States Army. Jack served in the Army for 10 years, finishing service with the 82nd Airborne out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He served in Vietnam and Korea before returning to Fort Bragg. Jack was preceded in death by his parents, James and Betty Atkins, of Roanoke. He is survived by his wife of 17 years, Julie Atkins, of Salem, Va.; his son, Lawrence Patrick Atkins, of Vinton, Va. He is also survived by his brother, George Atkins, of Rutland, Vermont; and two sisters, Toni Atkins, of San Diego, California and Tenia Atkins Phillips, of Memphis, Tennessee. Jack will be laid to rest at the Davis family Cemetery in Wytheville, Va. The family appreciates the support provided by Sovereign Grace Community Church and Goodview Baptist Church. Arrangements are being handled by Lotz Funeral Home in Salem.

Family

We came together over the tragic untimely death of George's brother Jack. But the sunshine in the tragedy is seeing loved ones you haven't seen in a long long time.

Boston Getaway

This is the Onyx Hotel that we stayed at during an overnight stay in Boston to see Keith Urban in concert. If you looked out this window you could almost see TD Garden at the end of our street. We got there early via GPS directions, with no problems.... parking attendant came right out and whisked our car away. After checking in we had time to walk the neighborhoods in Boston's north end and choose a nice Italian restaurante. The concert was my first in years, and I was shocked at how many young girls were there to see an rising star called Taylor Swift. She sings about all the issues of romance that these girls could relate to: she especially sings about lessons learned from dealing with past less than perfect boyfriends. The fan girls were singing to every song she sang.... a real eye opener for me. Young stupid boys who want to impress young woman this age could take a lesson: do the right thing and speak the truth. The girls will listen!!
Aside from the teeming social issues that could fill several sociology class discussions, we had a marvelous time. Keith Urban is very talented and sings a lot of pretty songs we enjoy. The boys were at their own 4 day SoulFest concert, so we were free to enjoy a bit of a get away. Thankfully the Sox were playing in another town!!

David Atkins Vt State Track Championships 2009 pt 2

Vermont State Finals--David Atkins high hurdles-place 3rd in entire state.

Junior Prom 2009 Fair Haven Union High School

Four very nice people who are also all on the track team!

David & Alyssa National Honor Society Induction

David on guitar in Eric's old bomber hat

Night Flights

The light from her den called to me in the night,
But she was not there,
The fairie had left with her true love and flown to
exciting places yet unknown.

Her presence was felt still in her den,
But the light had grown cold.



She will return from far off places to visit us one day,
As fairies always do~
------This was a post I made last year when Amy got married. (I just added a more personalized picture this time )She did return from far off places to visit us but she is soon off again--this time to Japan. Safe flight Amy.... I trust you'll return again as fairies always do~

What are You Doing?

That was the title of the devotional on the day I walked away from a job that I've had for almost 8 years. I loved the work environment and the friends I'd made during that time. I regret giving up the position I'd gained there, and of course the incoming paycheck.But the Spirit of God still moves, just as in time of creation, and my husband George and I knew it was time for me to be home with the boys again. I've nothing but joy right now. Joy for the time to listen to family members, rest so that the creative side of homemaking is coming back, thoughts of hospitality again, teaching Bible studies again, you name it. It's all coming back. Especially time to hear God again. So what am I doing? Exactly what God wants me to do. Doing what God wants you to do?... priceless.

Merry Christmas from the Atkins Homestead!!

Family and Friends

The winter is warmer with the kindness of family and friends!!Thank you all for a lovely party.You are all a very sneaky and loving group!!

George and John Henry 2008

Bambi --Who's yur Daddy????

Poor Bambi is parentless again and my husband George is driving around Rutland showing off his Daddy!!!

Bad day for Republicans--great event for all Americans

I lived thru the sixties and watched the injustices on race during my lifetime. Southern relatives of mine still used the N word .I admired the folks of long ago that participated in the underground railroad. Today I am very proud to be an American. The hallowed halls have a black Afro-American President with small children and lovely articulate wife moving in. I am so thankful that at least some of the folks who suffered thru the civil rights movements are still alive to celebrate this event. If God is so awesome to do this, He is also able to still work thru a Democrat.

Bye to football for another year--

David got to carry the ball here at the Poultney game. Unfortunately Slaters lost but next year is another fresh start and even Jacob is hoping to put on some bulk and play next year also. Uh oh--crazy parents on the sidelines making complete idiots out of themselves for one more year! Isn't it a wonderful life???? Pretty soon Sammy will also be kicking the soccer ball around the field. My schedule is going to be very full and very outside!

Just click your ruby slippers and you're home--

I love Fall. This picture is almost a perfect image of my back yard now. When the world seems to be unpredictable and biting, the beauty of the earth soothes my spirit. Thank God He already knows what is truly important in our lives. Now if we all could only get a clue, we'd know we're already very rich.....

Go Slaters!!!

David Atkins #44 makes solid yardage as Slaters advance (in the rain) to victory over Otter Valley 26-15.
Dad, Ellen , Jacob, Yubby and Grant were on the sidelines to cheer them on.

Flying or Dying

Everytime I am taking off in a plane the same things flash thru my brain...ie the status of my will, what was I thinking when I booked both parents on the same flight, DNA retrieval and identification (oh yeah) and things like that....

But all is said and done and I'm gloriously soaking up the sun and surf in exactly this location and I am loving it!!

Here's a question: As a parent of two teen boys back in VT with their sisters, am I free to totally relax or do I need to worry so nothing bad will happen? Dumb question but every mother knows what I mean. Well this year I am going to do the totally relax experiment and see how that goes. I've good kids and and a very big God, so here goes.... I've already strolled the beach--walked up to the Ocean Deck to eat a leisurely lunch on the ocean.. walked back down the beach to Starbucks for the long awaited caffeine fix and then took a nice nap with the surf in my earshot. I think I am getting the hang of this particular experiment... no calls please, Amy or Yubby!

Admiration

When Mom is gone who will admire your flowers at the front door? My cheerleading squad is gone and I miss her today.

Beam Me Up, Scottie!

The rain here is relentless and yet I have this dry spot --this non creative blip -in my journaling; which has nothing to do with the rainy day after rainy day we are having here in Vermont. I'm reading Michael Crichton's book "TimeLine". I found out he also wrote one of my favorite early sci fi books/movies " Andromeda Strain." Yes, you either hate it or love it but I loved it so! Needless to say I was looking forward to reading "Time Line" all the more. It's about quantum physics and moving into another sphere of the earth by replicating molecules. Yes, beam me up type stuff but not quite. He writes so convincingly and has so many references that you're challenged to figure out what part is fiction!! Just when I think I've a handle on it, I notice a small news notation amidst the Phelps gold medals and Russia trying to annihilate the Republic of Georgia. It's about a device being announced in the scientific journals that renders you invisible.
Where are we in the world when that is a small news note on a large page? It's comforting and interesting to know that amidst my "dry spot" there is still lots of creative energy out there....

Happy 17th Birthday David!!!

Happy Birthday Jacob!!!

San Diego with Aunt Toni (recent Deputy Mayor, San Diego!)

Thanks Toni for such great hospitality to our newlywed couple!!

Happy 8th Grade Graduation Jacob!!!!

Say What??????????

mastodon?mastitis? 0h--Mastoiditis!!!!

One large shot of antibiotics in the dieriere and a week of horse size pills and the good news is Mastoiditis, loss of hearing and a side of meningitis
does not seem to be in my future.

I hate to go to the doctor so when I do it's usually rather serious and on the edge of common sense living. Fortunately my trip to the doctor this time saved me from something very unpleasant ---ie: not being able to hear the voices of my husband, kids, grandbabies , extended family, and friends. One good thing though I was reminded of during that time is that I will never cease to hear from God. He doesn't need my ears to speak to me!!!!!!!
But being on this earth I am soo glad to hear the voices of those I love .....

God's Angels

I've been remembering a touching story I read years ago. Please forgive the paraphrase..

A young women's husband died unexpectedly one day. Friends quickly drew around with needed words of comfort from the Bible, casseroles for her freezer, help with the children etc. The love of friends was apparent, as she struggled to arrange for the funeral.

Weeks later, the day to day became hard for her, and on one particularly hard day there was a knock at the door. Opening the door, she saw her daughter's little classmate.

"I'm sorry, ''Casey, Kathy can't come out to play today. She's at her grandmothers' house."

"That's ok, Mrs. Johnson. I didn't some to see Kathy. I came to see you."

"What can I do for you Casey?"

"Oh nothing....I just wanted to come and cry with you today...."

This post is dedicated to Jimmy and his family who lost their beloved sister Chrissy.