Fun at the Freeman Farm

The 4th of July has always been a big holiday in my family. Growing up, it was my sister's birthday, so it was extra special -family picnics, church picnics, fireworks, birthday cake.

When Jerry and I first married, it was a special time for all of the Dingmores to gather at the lake with family since we were all scattered at Christmas. We would camp at the lake for a couple of days, and great family times were had.

Then, in Wichita Falls (where we pastored for 9 years), there was a huge air force base there, Sheppard AFB, and during that time of getting to know, doing life with and worshipping with the men and women of our military, made me prouder than ever to be an American, and gave the celebration an entirely new meaning. They were family.

When we moved to GA, there was not a community celebration really, we spent one at Lake Tobo, a couple of sweet ones at a family picnic with friends, and one watching fireworks at the "club", but nothing stuck...until a few years ago when my friend Lucy asked us to come to the family farm for their gathering on the 3rd to cook the pig for their celebration on the 4th.

We had no idea what a tradition it would become. Now, our whole family looks forward to it every year...the family gathers at Granny and Grandaddy Freeman's farmhouse to cook the pig, and for my non-Georgia readers, yes, it is an entire pig stretched out on a grill-like pit in the ground. A fire must be kept going to the side of it so that coals can be continually heaped into the pig pit throughout the night. Meanwhile, the kids are gloriously entertained by playing with the goats, rabbits, donkeys and chickens at the farm, or swinging on a rope in the barn, or playing a giant game of Hide-n-Go Seek with all the kids from 16 years old - 5 years old, or visiting by the fire, or riding 4-wheelers...it really doesn't matter, it's family and it's simple, good, clean FUN!

The cooking of the pig takes 12-16 hours depending on the pig's size, and it has to be flipped half way through...so the Dingmores stay until the flipping, which usually takes place about 1:00-2:00 AM. It is quite a procedure to watch for this Texas girl!

I guess I got to rattling on, and I'm not sure if this makes sense. I'm just full of gratitude for what we celebrate today and for how God has always provided "family" for me when I needed it, no matter where I am.

Good intentions

What is it that they say about good intentions? Hmmm...

Well, I had good intentions of getting back into blogging...then my computer crashed, and all of my pictures are on a disk instead of being in my computer, but at least they're not lost...so I will attempt again to catch up on life in the Dingmore household. I do have a new computer, so that is a good thing...except I don't adapt to change so well sometimes, and I'm still "adapting" to my new computer. I know it's faster and better, but it doesn't work just how I want it to. Okay, okay, I know, it's technology - it's got to change.

Kenzie had a fun spring/summer season with the Noise. I will post pics soon.

Colton has one more tournament with the Storm. Asher got to play one game with the All Stars (he was thrilled).

We leave Monday for camp for a week, then home for the weekend...then finally home to Texas for two weeks. Whoop! We will miss Daddy, but so ready to get home and be with family and friends that we don't see enough!

Will try to catch up on some more summer events over the weekend...

Colton's Baseball Season

Colton had a great rec ball season. I was really proud of him. Last year had been rough, but he had come out of his slump during All Stars. In the meantime, he had fallen in love with football (me? not so much...I'm still a baseball mom at heart), so we weren't sure what to expect with baseball. But, he had a great season. We won some and lost some, but Colton really enjoyed it. He played first base, pitcher and was the cleanup hitter for the Red Sox. For him, it was probably his personal best. I loved watching him. He struggled so last year, and that's hard on a mama, so this season was much better for both of us!

These two pics of him pitching make me think of my daddy...he always had a certain way he would hold his mouth when he was working on something, and we would always joke about "holding your mouth just right to get the job done". Look at how intense Colton is and the way he holds his mouth...he is his Grandaddy made over!

Sliding into home...he loves to slide (me? i don't love doing the laundry on those pants after sliding - ha!)

During our last regular season game, the coaches let the boys all change up positions and did a reverse batting order - just for fun. Colton got to play catcher - he loved it, and thought it was fun!

another shot of him at catcher...

All in all, I'm thankful that my sweet boy loves baseball, and I'll keep praying for him to love it more than football because I don't like the tackling part of football (after all, he's my baby).

Asher's T-Ball Season

Asher had a great first season of T-Ball...he loved every minute of it, and played his little heart out! He may be small, but he has a big ole' baseball heart and gave 110% every game!

Ready position...


playing first base...

so excited - priceless pic!

Thanks to Coach Daddy, Coach Jarrod Durden, Coach Keith Hardy and Coach King Kemper for a fabulous season!

back to the pitcher - hold it up to stop the play...so proud!

I'm still here

Okay, I know, it's been 2 months since I've blogged. Pitiful. Life has just been way too busy.

I'm going to try and catch you up on what's been happening the last few months at the Dingmore's...it was a beautiful spring...the cherry blossoms in our front yard were amazing...

here's a sampling of the azaleas...

but here's how we felt alot this spring...way too busy...

too busy to even be healthy, but no time for whining because God is just too good! He has blessed us in amazing and incomprehensible ways...