Saturday, April 6, 2024, left for Raleigh, ended up going to Charlotte because found out that where the main Elevation Church is, went to 5 Guys to eat, did some shopping, went to Walmart, Lowe’s, Home Depot and 7-11 to try to get eclipse glasses. Lowe’s were sold out and no one else had them, this made 3 trips into South Carolina for us, even though we didn’t know it was so close to us, back to our hotel to relax and talk on the phone with Vikki and Melissa

Breakfast this morning at our hotel before we lef

Beautiful driving to Charlotte 

Beautiful buildings in Charlotte 

Yay! Elevation Church!

Can’t wait to go to church here tomorrow morning!

Our hotel room is very nice

Ballantyne NC  is a beautiful city

We walked all around this area, ate at 5 Guys, and went in some shops. 

Afterward we went to Walmart and saw this sign saying we were entering South Carolina.  Walmart was just past it.  We left and Bill took me back by the sign si I could get a picture.  Then we ended going back again to go rob Lowe’s because they were supposed to have glasses to watch the eclipse for sale.  They didn’t!

Paul!s 40th Birthday party.  Vikki, Kimmy, Eli, Peyton and Rehvyn all went.  I felt bad I had to miss it.

Happy Birthday Paul!!!

Peyton, Paul and Vikki

We went down and had the continental breakfast at our hotel. Then we loaded our stuff and headed to Rahleigh.  I was looking up the Elevation campuses and noticed it said Stevin Furtik preaches at the one in Ballantyne.  I told Bill it was by Charlotte and it was west of where we were at the time.  He still thought it was the church at Raleigh, so we went there and went to the address.  It must be in a nice school campus because that’s where the GPS took us.  We decided it was worth the drive to go to the other one.  We got there and the city is just beautiful.  We found the church right away and it is just beautiful too.  We found a nice but reasonable hotel close by and checked in.  I asked the girl checking us in if she had ever been to Elevation Church and she said yes.  She said we would love it! 

We relaxed for a while.  Bill drove most of the way today and I drove about 3 hours.  When he was driving, traffic got backed up.  An ambulance came through and when we got up a couple of miles farther, there were around 15 cars piled up. Another ambulance was there and a fire truck.  So many cars crunched in front he front and in the back too.  We knew traffic on that side would be at a stand still for a long time.  Yikes!  We have never seen that before except on the news.

After we relaxed, we enjoyed burgers, fries and peanuts at 5 guys.  It was 63 and we enjoyed walking around too!  When we got back I talked with Vikki and Melissa.  

We booked a room at the same motel Melissa, Bruce and family are staying at for tomorrow. It’s going to be so much fun.

 

Friday, April 5,2024, Christopher’s 20 year retirement from the Marine Corps Ceremony, reception and get together at his house afterwards. Very moving ceremony and very fun day!

Our Great Nephew, Christopher Rhodes, had his retirement ceremony from the Marine Corps today!  God was glorified through the whole ceremony, Christopher was honored for his amazing service to our country, and it was such a blessing that so many family members were there and also so many of Chris’s friends and fellow Marines.  It was an awesome and moving service. So happy to celebrate with him! We are so proud of him and very thankful for his 20 years of service!

Cherry Point Military Base in N. Carolina.  Sunny 63 degree day.

Chris, Angie, Carla, Kylon, Angie, Emberly, Zayden, Jean, Mike in first row
Dalton, Ray, Bill, Shani, Haley, Bob, Dick, and Pam in second row

Opening prayer

Honoring Chris’s wife Angie for being a loving and supportive wife to Chris during his service 

Emberly 

GG and Emberly

Receiving the flag after the flag ceremony 

Family picture 

Me, Chris and Bill

Angie, Carla, Chris, Angie and little Emberly

Bob, Mike, Chris and Bill

All the Marines in our family saluting, except Bob because they aren’t supposed to salute without a covering 

Bob, Angie, Chris and Carla

Jean, Chris and Mike

Shani and Chris

Dick meeting Chris for the first time. 

Beautiful cedar Marine keepsake box his fellow marines gave him

Ray, Angie, Dick and Pam at reception afterwards

Bob, Hailey, Carla and Shani

Grandma Jean and Kylon.  All three kids were so loving and gave us all so many hugs.  They were just precious!

My sweet Rehvyn I’m missing so much!

After the ceremony, they had a reception next door with yummy finger foods.  We all had a nice time visiting.  Only took a few pictures.  The cake was delicious!  We went back to our hotel and changed, then headed to Chris and Angie’s home to hang out together more and eat.  It was so much fun and good seeing family from out of state we don’t get to see often! The food was amazing!  We loved how Christopher and Angie’s love for the Lord sines through them.  We had fun playing with their sweet kids too! We got ready to leave and thankfully Bill remembered to get the beautiful Marine ornament gift set she sent with us to give him.