Hard to believe twenty one years have passed since the day we welcomed our first baby into the world! But today Ruby turns 21. Technically not until almost 11pm. 🙂
So thankful for this past year with Ruby. She had an amazing summer last year working at a camp, she overcame some pretty big obstacles and never gave up, and she has matured so much this past year! I love watching her grow into the lovely young lady she is today. She is so quick-witted, she is a loyal friend and a great conversationalist. I love when she comes home to hang out with us.
We love you, Ruby!
Her sweet room mate made a cake for her! So kind and thoughtful.
May 23, 2025 Mack Joshua Dorminy walked across the stage to receive his high school diploma.
At the start of the ceremony, the pastor welcomed everyone and then prayed. I was particularly struck by his simple sentence of gratitude, “Thank you, Lord, for getting us here.”
It meant much more than the drive from home to school for this graduation ceremony—though The Lord definitely got us there.
“Here” meant more than the many drives from home to school on those early mornings when Mack was usually not talking to me and usually annoyed with anything I happened to say—though the Lord definitely was with us each and every weekday morning.
“Thank You, Lord, for getting us here” also meant more than for the solo drives Mack took to school since the day he got his license—though the Lord graciously protected each of his drives to school. So thankful!
The Lord got us “here” through rough mornings of waking Mack up and hollering upstairs, “You better not be late again!!!” And some rough evenings when we were sure he should be doing homework rather than galavanting around town.
The Lord got us to football games near and far over these years. The Lord has been with us in wins and losses, emotional highs and lows, through injury and recovery, from rebellion to receiving a Christian Leadership Award….through all of it we can say, “Thank You, Lord, for getting us here.”
Mack’s high school years were not smooth-sailing, easy-going days. There were some of those, but few and far between. I spent many of our “here” moments wishing we were “there”—somewhere, anywhere different, peaceful, or happy.
Watching a young boy grow into a man, maturing and changing and trying to figure life out brings with it a variety of emotions, many lessons and growth for the kid and parents alike. Mack is my first and only shot at raising a son. I am one of three girls, so a lot of raising Mack was new territory. Having a brother would have educated me at least a little. So in lots of ways Mack and I grew through this season together. From the best of friends as a toddler and elementary kid to whatever you would call us in this recent season, we have both been on a sanctifying journey.
Lord-willing, there is much more life to live for us both…more challenges, more growth, more opportunities to mature. I am confident in every season we will be able to say, “Thank You, Lord, for getting us here.” It will mean much more than meets the eye. Much, much more.
Thankful we had some family in town to help us celebrate! We had dinner at our house thanks to Josh’s dad. Then, we had lunch at Noble Smoke the next day and Bossy Beulahs after graduation.
My sister snapped this photo of us—two pretty tired parents. We have been married over 24 years and are about to have a mostly empty house in the fall. Maybe we will get more rest? Gain some of our sanity back? Lower our cortisol levels? I am not sure, but I know there is no one on earth I would rather be with to raise kids and launch kids than Joshua Lee Dorminy. He is simply the best. Here’s to dreaming about our Empty Nest!
May continues on with lots of things going on so I’m going to photo dump yet again! Deep thoughts will be for post-graduation, post-guests.
I got to watch my niece and nephew graduate because of technology!
Proud of all of them—home schooling is no joke. It takes the whole family plus some. Good job!
Mack had his last exam of highschool today! We took him to get an Apple Watch since he opted out of a traditional graduation party.
And I went with him to his last high school sports banquet. I hated Josh was out of town, but I loved being with just Mack. We’ve been hanging out together for lots of years.
And we said goodbye to Coach Baucom—a great football coach.
All the kids are home this week! Ruby, Molly and I went shopping Tuesday and met Mack for brunch. I enjoyed being with all of them. A rare occurrence! Should have snapped a photo of us all but I did get them doing a silly dance together.
And the rest of these are just pictures I’ve taken as I’ve been around the house and enjoying our yard. And Rolo of course!
We have missed Josh this week; he sent these gorgeous flowers because he knows this time of year is hard. May 20, 2019 everything in our world shifted at my mom’s tragic death. So much to reflect on and so much growth in the difficulty. Thankful for my thoughtful husband.
Guests begin arriving today! Going to practice being where my feet are—praying you will do the same!
Mack is the only child of ours to attend the school he is about to graduate from. I feel a bit like an outsider at this school since Mack didn’t even start attending there until he was a sophomore. Couple that with Mack being a male (obviously), and I don’t get much information. Everything is “not that deep.” Questions are annoying to him. And he leaves each morning saying, “This is so dumb; I can’t wait for this to be over.” Senioritis at its finest.
But today was a “Senior Run” after their graduation practice. Molly and I went to watch and cheer for the seniors as they ran and high-fived the younger students.
Mack and a friend are pushing another friend in a wheelchair. I prayed the kid wouldn’t be jolted out as they hit the speed bump! It was a sweet little moment, and I am glad I didn’t miss it.
See it would have been easier to take Mack’s advice and not bother to attend because, again, “it’s not that deep, Mom.”
But even that morning on a long walk I sensed God taking me deeper with Him. Asking me if I was willing to let go of some fine and good things for more of Him. I have been asking Him to show me what is true about some circumstances, this season of my life, my health, my grief, my kids, my marriage…all of it. He is the source of Truth, and I know He is willing to help me replace the lies I believe with His truth. And I want to hear it, see it, know it, experience it, live in that truth. He will help me know what is that “that deep” and what “isn’t that deep.”
On the same walk I listened to a podcast by Christy Nockels about a song she recently wrote, “Be Where Your Feet Are.” I loved the podcast, even though I shed some tears and am experiencing opposite emotions from her, despite the fact that we are in a similar season.
I needed the reminder to slow down. Pay attention to whoever is in front of you. Enjoy this season because it will be over sooner than I can imagine. I really, really needed that reminder. The tears told on me.
Just now I was scrolling through my photos from today and was struck by this photo I took. At the time I genuinely only took it because I like the blue toenail polish and wanted to send the pic to Josh at work. He has too many serious things to consider all day—a random photo of my blue piggies would be a good distraction. LOL!
How appropriate that on the very morning that God was helping me to slow down and “be where my feet are,” I would snap this silly picture.
Be where your feet are—it isn’t complicated, but man oh man, is it deep.
I Corinthians 7:17, The Message Translation:
“And don’t be wishing you were someplace else or with someone else. Where you are right now is God’s place for you. Live and obey and love and believe right there.”
Molly tries to write songs on a regular basis. I love them all. So I thought I’d start posting them here with her lyrics. Enjoy this one about intimacy with Jesus! Just click the link below:
So much has been going on around here lately. Since today is a rainy Monday, I thought I would try to update here.
First off, Mother’s Day was yesterday. Molly and Mack were here, but Ruby was still in Virginia, so I was blessed with these flowers from her. Lovely! and thoughtful.
Mack received this awesome award at the end of the year Track Party. I am so proud of him.
I also attended one of his track meets and watched him throw the discus. There is a lot going on at a track meet!
Jackson and Mack roamed around the whole field most of the time.I am glad Mack wanted to try it out for the first time his Senior Year. I mean, why not?
We went to Senior Chapel where there were some awards given out and a prayer time for the grad and his parents. A sweet memory.
Mack has chosen to attend Cape Fear Community College and transfer into UNC Wilmington next year…unless by some act of God he gets to attend before then. But I am proud of his good attitude and excitement for the next season.
Rolo got a new haircut by a groomer that actually knows how to cut a Lagotto Romagnolo, so that is exciting! She seemed please with her new cut and blow out. Don’t worry, she is back curly now.
She also loves her new spot in front of the window. She was sitting on our couch like a cat and ruining the cushion, so we had to adjust.
I asked Chat GPT to make Rolo into a human and gave it some descriptions of her personality…lol!
Josh found himself twenty minutes from Mount Rushmore, so he made the drive and snapped a photo, sent it to our family group chat and we all laughed. Mack didn’t even know Josh was out of town, so once he confirmed this picture was real, he was laughing.
Molly wrapped up her semester at Liberty and is now home for the summer! She also sang at a local church for Good Friday and Easter. I am so glad she will be around for the next couple of months! She is a very helpful young lady and lots of fun…plus, I get to hear her playing piano and singing regularly.
Ruby also wrapped up her semester and will be living in Lynchburg and working. She turns 21 in a couple of weeks!!! Crazy. And if all goes as planned, her senior year at LU will begin this fall. She is taking photos for graduates and couples and making some money. I love seeing her photos!!!
The yard has been so beautiful this spring. These are older photos, but it just keeps getting better and better. The hydrangeas are also starting to peek out—a nice blue this year.
Mack is working at AutoBell and will be picking up a lot more hours this summer!
This is my group of friends that also are in the Bible study I host…minus sweet Sara and Stephanie who couldn’t make it. But we decorated frames and clutches with seashells. Everyone is so creative! I cannot wait to gather regularly with them in the fall.
We had a painter come and paint our guest room, the kitchen and cabinets, and our back sun room. He did a great job. We also replaced the mirror over the fireplace with this painting by Maggie B. French, a local artist. I love the colors!
Irvin sent this photo of me at a shower with my mom and Josh’s mom. So sweet…I am so glad to have this photo. I miss them!!
He also sent this one. LOL! We were going to be getting rid of this nursery chair that we used for all three of them, and I said I wanted a photo of me with them in the chair. Not everyone was happy about that request. But what a sweet photo!!! Hands were full and so was my heart….these little boogers have grown me in ways I never imagined. Motherhood brings you closer to God in such a unique way. It still does even though they are now 18, 19, and 20 years old. Love them so.
