Washington DC

Cindy, Sarah, Nita in front of the White House, Washington DC



The White House - Washington DC - May 2009

May 2009 I had the opportunity to travel with 3 other realtors to Washington DC for the 2009 MidYear Women's Council of Realtors Conference. It was an amazing experience to go to all of the classes. We had a half day where we were able to tour and see some of the monuments. Our Hotel, The Capital Hilton was only 2 blocks from the front of the White House. You could step out the hotel onto the street and look down the street and have a great view of the White House.

Secret Mission Part 2

This sculpture in front of the AirBorne and Special Forces museum was made from metal from the World Trade Center disaster on 9-11. It is the first in what will be a series of 3 sculptures. The center of the sculpture is on wheels, it turns when the wind blows or when someone pushes it. It was beautiful.




Denny next to a monument that is in honor of his 82nd Airborne All America Division that he is a part of. God Bless America, God Bless the Soldiers, and God Bless my Son, xoxox.



Part 2 of the secret mission day of surprises was that Denny and Benita took us to the Airborne and Special Operations Museum at Fort Bragg, NC. Scott was so happy and really impressed to see this museum. The museum was larger than it looked from the outside. It was really interesting - and kind of humbling to see the work that the soldiers do on our behalf. We are so proud of the work that our son Denny does for our country!



The Museum of AirBorne and Special Operations - Fort Bragg, NC




This is the mode of transportation that Denny will be a part of in Afghanistan. Amazing.

Coles Pottery

Neolia Cole Womak and Kenneth George at Coles Pottery in Sanford, NC

We went on a secret mission...Denny and Benita would not tell us where the adventure would be..the first part was for me and the second part of the secret mission was for Scott. My part they could not find, the surprise was to be a quilt shop, which we found out had closed down and the building had been torn down, that is why they could not find it. But being the adventurous types that we are...they took me to a famous pottery place in Sanford, North Carolina instead.

AR Cole came to Sanford, NC January 1934 to set up his pottery shop. It was originally named Rainbow Pottery, but was changed in the early 40's to A.R. Cole Pottery. Mr. Cole made pottery at Sanford until his death in 1974. Then his daughter Neolia (photo above) took over. Neolia had always worked with her dad. Another daughter Celia, and Neolias grandson Kenneth have both taken up the trade and help Neolia. Kenneth will be a 10th generation of Coles to make pottery.
**(Kenneth's 11 year old son, Taylor is also trying his hand at the wheel.

I Loved this shop and browsed and purchased a few items. What a blast!! I loved my part of the secret mission!! Benita enjoyed visiting with Neolia - she had gone to school with some of her relatives.

Brady's Grill

These 3 ladies have all worked at Brady's grill for years and years. Helen Brady on the right is the owner - she has worked there for over 43 years. The lady in the center has been there for over 25 years, and the lady on the left was our order taker and cashier, she has been a fill in on weekends and when they need her for over 34 years. They both participated in the Relay for Life cancer walk that was in town the day before. Both ladies in the purple shirts are cancer survivors.

Denny & Benita waiting for their food to be cooked. Helen in back is putting the fries into the fryer.

Local residents will bring boxes of stuff from their gardens and leave by the door for grill patrons to purchase. These tomatoes were beautiful and huge!


Denny paying the bill....I believe the cash register is the original.


Scott and Cindy at Brady's Grill in Bennett, NC

Denny & Benita wanted to take us to their favorite diner in town, in fact it is the only diner in town. Brady's grill. It has 6 bar stools and 2 small booths. It was packed the whole time, including people standing waiting for their to go orders. This place is only opened Mon through Sat until around 2:00. It was DELICIOUS! And charming!! The prices were so reasonable. This place beats McDonalds by a long shot and the ladies who worked there were so adorable and friendly. We had a great time there. The ladies all gave their wedding congrats to Denny & Benita and wished Denny well on his deployment.

Kay's mark the spot!

Denny and Benita show off the lot near Sanford and Spring Lake that they are going to purchase. They will start building their new home when Denny returns from Afghanistan.


The view up the street from their lot.



Looking at the plat at a few other lots.



Alongside the lot is the t-box to the 13th hole of the golf course. Lots of pine and other types of trees. There will also soon be a 40 acre lake that will be made.



Looking out from the beautiful lot.

We went for a long drive to Fort Bragg and followed the kids around while they got all the paperwork done to put Benita on all of Denny's work papers. Denny gave us a tour and showed us around the base. It is such a big base, it was amazing. After the paperwork and tour - Denny took us to his favorite pizza place near the base that he frequents - it was delicious - I can see why he likes it! Then we drove and saw the building lot where they will be building their home next year The lot is in a beautiful gated community - a nice neighborhood where most of the residents are military and there are lots of young families. I know that they will love it there.

Outside the honeymoon cottage

Scott walking around the yard
The smokehouse/canning kitchen building in the backyard is on the right, just off the back porch.
Side view
Denny likes to catch lizards and bugs and butterflies all the time, so Benita just leaves the jar (with holes punched in the top) out on a little table for him.
The red roofed barn in the backyard.

More photos from Benita & Denny's place

Can you tell that this is a warm and loving home for the newlyweds to start their lives together.....
Master bedroom
Parlour
Guest Bath
kitchen door to darling back porch

Benita's Country farm house

Benita's little farm house is just like what you would see in a magazine. Covered porches on 3 sides of the house...all with rocking chairs, swings and cute little tables. Her home is on 7 acres with lots of beautiful bushes, huge trees and flowering perennials. We have loved sitting outside everyday - it is absolutely beautiful here in North Carolina.
The country kitchen with antique glass in the window. The flowers were a wedding congratulations gift from a good friend of Benita's.

The guest bedroom for Benita's wonderful new In-Laws!!! The guest bedroom is a requirement for my out of town kids!!
The sunroom
Antique glass

Denny's flight uniform

GI Den in his new issue flight gear. I tried lifting the vest without all the pockets filled and it was so HEAVY!!!
Looks kinda like a Power Ranger
This is Denny's flight helmet and then he also has a regular combat helmet.
Denny in front of one of the "birds" - a blackhawk helicopter. Denny is in his dress uniform.
Flight gear

The original reason that Scott and I came to North Carolina was to see our favorite son (and our only son) off to his deployment to Afghanistan. He was supposed to leave today, Saturday - May 2. But the commander has pushed back the date, so we will have a few more days to spend time with Denny and the second reason we came to North Carolina - to get to know Denny's new wife Benita a little bit better.

Denny and Benita have taken us to several of their hangouts, where Denny's apt. was, to see the base where Denny works and the town where Benita works. I am so glad that we have been able to spend this time with both Denny and Benita. I am going to miss them both terribly, but trust that God will keep both of them in safe keeping. I hope this year goes by fast. We all want to take a cruise when Denny gets back....everyone save up and we can make it a family reunion cruise!!

Wedding Previews

Filling out the paperwork that will change their lives!! (Benita thought this is where the ceremony was going to be...funny!.....)


Waiting in line....seated a few over from Denny was a "criminal" waiting to see the judge. He had been married in this same place 11 years earlier and wished Denny and Benita congratulations!!
Denny putting on his tie before going in to "Tie the Knot"
Scott getting ready in the parking lot....I thought I would be smart and get ready in the building....Nope.....no purses or cell phones allowed....only thing we could take in was our $$ and our drivers license (try combing your hair with a drivers license or a quarter!)
This was the place!!!

Wedding Bells in North Carolina

We forgot to bring rice, I guess we could have tossed orbit gum wrappers and an empty peanut bag from the flight over!

After the ceremony in front of the magistrates office building. Notice the lettering on the back wall...Detention Center and a police car to boot.
A female bail bondsman came over and offered to take our photos..I was worried at first it was a criminal who would take off with our cameras! (jk...she was a nice lady)
The ceremony...you could definitely tell that Denny and Benita are in love, just by the way that they looked into each others eyes. They are really kind and sweet with each other...that's what it should be like!
Love Birds.....

On April 28th, 2009 (Karen's birthday)....Kimberlee drove me n Scott to the airport really early in the morning. We had a layover in Phoenix, Arizona...(.interestingly enough, this is where Heidi got her mission call to!!! wahoo!!). We arrived in North Carolina around 4:00 pm and Denny and Benita picked us up and we went straight to Fayetteville (about an hour away) to see the judge.

The magistrate's office was at the area detention center. I asked Denny and Benita if they had cold feet yet....neither one did, so we waited until their turn came up to see the judge. The marriage ceremony was short and sweet....it was great being able to be there and see them married. I could see them so in love by their eyes and the smiles. Benita will be a great addition to our family. We are so thankful that Denny and Benita waited until we came here to see them get married, that means so much to me. Congrat's to the New Mr. & Mrs. Kay....Blessings to you for a long and wonderful marriage and life together!!