Jenna's First White Water

so.... Who has two thumbs and was old enough to go on the church white water rafting trip?  MY LITTLE GIRL!!!!  I'm so proud of Jenna for her first trip down Nantahala Falls!  It rained most of the way down...but it was still a lot of fun!  Jenna paddled and didn't fall out of the boat once!  Best part.... at the end she cheered "I did it! I DID IT! Mama, I did it!!!!!"

42-44 degree water... this picture was taken just after the first set of rapids, the water hit her face.... and she said "It's COLD!" hahaha. :) loved her face!

My sister Lisa's boat, with her hubby and their freinds. :)

Big Daddy Eric was right behind Jenna in the boat.

Jenna and my mom had the front of the boat- and this was a "calm" section of the river where I could actually take a picture that wasn't the back of their heads LOL

hitting the rapids!!! YES..it was very hard to hold my paddle, manage a rapid/do my part, AND take a picture...lol.. I'm just skilled!

We hit a rapid that knocked Jenna into the boat.... better than out of the boat, right? lol

My dad and I!  Dad did an awesome job guiding our boat down the river!!

Lutheran's ROCK!

Friday Dome Hallelujah

I am so proud of our church youth (Lutheran Church of Our Saviour-Greenville)!  They are singing in the background on stage at the 2012 National ELCA Gathering.  I remember when I went as a teen, and getting to participate on stage like that.... in front of over 33,000 other teens and leaders all worshiping the Lord!  You can feel God moving!!  Praise God!
What a beautiful experience!

Tifton's Peace

I wrote this poem, per a request by my mother.  My grandparents helped start a church, and I am so blessed to say they are still alive to celebrate 50 years of Peace Lutheran Church in Tifton, GA, next month.  Someone will read this poem that I wrote at the celebration. Let me know what you think!

Tifton's Peace

By: Stephanie M. Pilkenton, copyright 7/22/2012

Let me tell you a story,

About a small town in 1962.

Five families formed the first Lutheran church in Tifton,

In an old building on Love Avenue.

With Reverend Norman Smith as their Missionary

And the Holy Trinity on their side,

Their church family grew stronger,

And together purchased land to build their church in 1965.

Reverends James Byork and David Krause

In 1970 and 74 were installed, 

And In 1980, 

Reverend Earl Steffens was called.

On Tennessee Drive, in Tifton,

Peace Lutheran Church stands.

And the people inside

Still serve as God's feet and God's hands.

A fire forced the walls to change,

There's a day school to serve community need,

And the people always greet you with a smile,

Sharing the peace with others, God's love and mercy to feed.

This place is very dear to me;

My mother's family were one of the first five. 

Fifty years ago this year they started meeting there,

And have taken me to services as long as I've been alive.

So if you are ever down in Georgia,

And you want to hear "This is the feast"

Stop on by mile marker sixty four in Tifton,

And visit Tifton's Peace.

June and July 2012

It's been a BUSY summer.... Jenna went to Lutheridge camp for a full week, then had a week at our home church for LutherRoad; we've played at the pool and in the fountain downtown; AND we attended our first Braves Baseball game as a family.   These pics are all out of order- but hope you enjoy them!

Eric, Jenna, and Lexie at Turner Field!

Me and Eric ... I love that man! :)

My girls at the Elephant exhibit at our zoo....to make room for new animals, the Elephants are moving to a new home. :( We are a little sad, we are going to miss them!

Me and Eric again- this is at The Lion King on broadway

Playing in the fountain downtown

Jenna Jade and me

LOL- Jenna's outfit matches Mufasa and Sarabi!

at The Lion King...the girls LOVED it!

Me and My Best Friend Forever and ever - Twiggy G!

making monkey faces at the zoo LOL

My pretty flowers, I bought a few, but the rest were given to me by the nice young man selling the flowers.  Hubby says next time I go to the farmer's market he wants to go. hmmmm.... wonder why? haha. :)  I thought it was sweet.  The guy only gave them to me as it was the end of the day and he wanted someone to get to enjoy them.

Lexie Noelle and me

Our seats for the Braves game... we had soooo much fun!  I hope we get to do it again sometime!

Papa, Grandma, Jenna and Lexie.  Papa and Grandma got the tickets to the game.  It was my first Braves game too... I'm so glad I got to experience a first the same time my kids did! neat!

this picture is actually from Easter.... but look--- I have bangs! lol...it was  just a need to share. haha.

does this pic really need a caption?  Lexie after the game...she was wore out, snuggling on Daddy as he carried her to the car.  soooo sweet.

Proud is an Understatement

Our oldest daughter, Jenna Jade, landed her first lead role.  Jenna Pilkenton starred in "A Christmas Carol" as Tiny Tim.  It was at a community theatre downtown, The Greenville Little Theatre.  It was also her first role with lines...and she memorized all of them on her own, and she was just 6 years old.

Not only did she have lines, but she played a total of 3 characters AND had a solo at the end.  I wish more than anything I had a way to share a video of the solo.  I bought a DVD of the show and her voice still gives me chills and makes me cry. 

I'm not the only one who noticed.  A critic reviewed the show and put an article in the newspaper.... about midway through the article, he states "Jenna Pilkenton's Tiny Tim is adorable!"... 

Conversation:

Jenna: Mama, what's a "critic"?

Me: Oh, honey,  you're in trouble now! A critic is someone that writes about whether a performance is good or bad.

Jenna: Did he like me?

Me: He LOVED you.  Some critic's won't love you - but that's ok. It's a big deal to be noticed by a critic!

Jenna: Cool!!!!!!! 

Best moment of the entire experience:  we had 10 shows and at almost every show, we got a standing ovation from most or all of the audience when Scrooge came out and bowed...except for 1 show.   Jenna did well every night, but that night in particular she nailed it.  Every line was emotional and she connected with her character and NAILED her solo at the end... she was only 6!!!!!  But that show was special, because when she stepped out and bowed.... my baby girl, Jenna Jade, got a standing ovation from the entire audience.  600 strangers were on their feet... applauding my child.  

What was mama doing? Wiping away tears from behind a curtain? oh...yeah, I'm one of those mama's... Jenna just amazes me.  Every day.  She is Godly, and loving and smart... how blessed and lucky I am to be able to call her daughter.

Jenna in her Tiny Tim costume, and her friend  -- they are only 3 months apart in age... I just have a really tall child lol

This is Jenna's costume for her character: A young girl that went to school with Ebenezer Scrooge

This is Jenna's costume for her character:  A young girl working in the warehouse  when Ebenezer Scrooge was a  young man, and her boss.

Jenna and her friend

Mama snagged a photo, Jenna's first line was spoke at this moment...and this picture was taken at the last dress rehearsal....SHOW TIME!

Blink!

Oh my.... I have blinked....and an entire YEAR passed by!!

I will be posting soon I promise!