Two Sundays of Picnics

This is where we have spent the last two Sundays after church.

We have had picnics at the water both times.  Food tastes so good at the water, doesn't it?

Donnie taught the girls how to skip rocks. 

This man can skip some rocks like nobody's business.

We waded up and down in the ice cold water.

Can you tell that Faith thought it was cold?

More rock throwing.

There were little fish swimming all around our feet.

There were beautiful butterflies everywhere.

Faith tried very hard to catch the fish with her hands.

I love unique trees like this that are growing in such strange ways.

Very odd tree that Faith pretended like scared her.  Doesn't she look scared?

Little tiny "falls' everywhere.

Beautiful girl...beautiful water

Isn't this just gorgeous?

More gorgeousness...

People come from all around to swim here.

This beautiful lady greets you as you arrive at the falls.

I would love to know the story of this statue, how she got here and what she represents. 

 I do know that I can only take a back view and face view because her front side is uncovered.

Can I just tell you that the last two Sundays have been so relaxing and so fun as we hiked, waded, and picnicked in one of the most beautiful places around?

Can I also tell you that I absolutely, positively LOVE spending time with my family?

School Has Officially Started

We started school a little later than most people around our area, but that's okay, because we can. 

We have officially been doing school for one week now and our first week was a great one.

I can't believe this is the start of Keith's senior year.  I won't even go into how I am feeling about that right now.  You don't want to see or hear me when I get all emotional so I'll wait on that for another time.

Beth is a sophomore and Faith is second grade.

I know we all have said it many many times...but truly, where does the time go?  Life has flown by since we had our children. 

I have one thing to say...SLOW DOWN!!  I'm not ready.  I want all my children little bitty again.  Can we just start over?  I know the answer.

Bless their hearts.  I make them take the same picture every year. 

 I know it's not very creative but it shows me exactly what I want to see.

Here is Miss Faith coming into the school room for her first day of 2nd grade.  She is thrilled to be in a higher grade now.  She is loving most of her subjects.  Math seems to be a favorite and she is learning to write in cursive and is doing fantastic.

Keith reading his English Literature.  His school work is mostly done in his bedroom at his desk.

I have to sneak to get most pictures of Beth.  This time I got a smile.

She sort of looks like a school crossing guard with the blue thing over her shoulder.  She actually hurt her shoulder playing volleyball because she smacks the ball like Hercules.  The girl has some major strength.  Anyway, this is an ice pack and heating pad that she can alternate.  Works great for her.

Faith never minds posing for mom. 

 She and I do her school work together while the big kids are independent learners.

I enjoy teaching Faith.  She is a teachable kid.  Know what I mean?

Faith has reading time at the end of the school day.  She gets comfy cozy and then reads for awhile by herself.  She LOVES to read and reads wonderfully.

This summer, as we were doing our family Bible reading, she began reading out loud with us.  She was reading words I had no idea she could read.  Big words...Very proud of her.

For those of you who remember Chloe...

Need I say more....

Off to get ready for this upcoming week. 

Co-Op 2010

Faith was so excited for our homeschool co-op to begin this year because she finally gets to rotate classes. 

Big deal for a 2nd grader to not have to stay in the same classroom for four hours and to be able to actually pick the classes she wanted to be in.

Are you wondering what she picked? 

1st period...Arts and Crafts

2nd period...Karate

3rd period...Fins, Feathers, and Fur

4th period...Fun Foods

Don't all of those classes sound like lots of fun? 

Faith is beyond thrilled.

As for Keith and Beth...they would tell you that their classes are not quite so much fun. 

When you get to be in highschool, classes are for credit and labs that we don't want to have to do at home.

Of course, I have to show you what they looked like on the first day.

Keith wasn't with them because he was at Horton Haven Christian Camp finishing up his last week of working.  By the way...Keith had an awesome summer working at this camp.  It was his first year, but definitely not his last.

The Tennessee backpack was her favorite new thing of the school year. 

If you don't know what a homeschool co-op is...it is a cooperative effort by moms and dads to have classes available for our homeschoolers to take.  These classes are taught by moms and dads and even some grandparents.  It is a great opportunity for our kids to get together one day a week to learn and build relationships and take classes that they otherwise may not be able to take. 

What a Week We Had In Pigeon Forge

Beth and I got to spend the week together last week in beautiful and hot Pigeon Forge, Tn.  Beth was fortunate enough to be able to play at a World Series Softball Tournament with her team, Southern Shock.

This week was amazing watching some awesome athletes playing ball.  These girls are tough to the core.  They hung with the 100 heat on red dirt like nobody's business.  Could I have done it...I doubt it.

They played great and got 9th place out of 36 teams.  Not bad, in my opinion. Actually, great, in my opinion.   I think Southern Shock ROCKS!  I think Beth rocks!!!

Beth had a great week at bat.  She had a stand up triple, stand up double and other great hits.  Love to watch her bat.

Beth is one of the catchers on the team and does a great job but is new to this position.

This is Beth's first time to play with this team so she will tell you that she is at the bottom of the totem pole.  She doesn't care though, she says she will work her way up.  She loves the challenge.

Notice Beth's hand touching her helmet.  This is what she does everytime she gets up to bat.  On the photo below, you can see Phil. 4:13 on her helmet.  She knows that she can do all things through Christ.

Somebody asked her one time who Phil was.  What a great opportunity to share Christ with that one question.

This girl can run.  Goodness...who does she get that from?

This is what Beth and all the other girls did when they weren't playing.

  Of course, she had her UT pillow and blanket with her.

Okay, be forewarned that the next picture is nasty but I had to document it because this is one of the best parts to Beth.  She loves her some war wounds...

Sorry, I know it's gross and this is actually a small one for her.  YUK!

Have I told you that Beth says it doesn't get any better than red dirt mixed with peppermint chewing gum?

That's my girl...actually, that's her daddy's girl.  I don't like dirt and gum mixed together.  And the only strawberries I want are the red ones in my tummy.

Beth said at the end of the tournament that this was one of the best weeks of her whole life.  I am so thrilled that she enjoyed it that much.  I know that mom sure had a blast being there with her, sitting out in the heat and watching her play some awesome softball.   

Sweet memories. 

Friends Forever

I love forever friends.  You know them.  Those friends that you know will be with you until Jesus comes.  The ones who are sticky.  They will stick with you through all things; big, small, ugly, and pretty.

My family got to spend the weekend with some of our forever friends and, as always, it was awesome.  They are actually more than friends, they are our family.  Mary is my sister even if not by blood.

The whole family. 

Shad is a minister in Georgia but they came into town to do a wedding. 

Me and Mary...

To add to the story a little...

Before Mary moved to Georgia, there were several of us ladies who went to church together and were "doing life together".  We were all very tight.  Several of us still go to church together but several have moved elsewhere.  We are all still very close friends though.  Kindred spirits...know what I mean?

Two of those ladies that I am still very close friends with are Daffney and Veronica.  They are also forever friends.  I love when we can all get back together. 

Meet three of my very best friends in the whole wide world..  Okay, you already met Mary on the right but you haven't met Veronica and Daffney yet.  I hate to exclude my precious other friends, but they don't go to church with us so I wasn't able to get their pictures.  Hopefully next time we can all get together.

Enjoyed sharing my friends with you today.  I promise you would love them as much as I do.

Farewell Big D

We sadly say goodbye to our favorite, enormously huge rooster, Big D, who died very unexpectedly last week.  One minute he was eating happily and loving on (terrorizing) all of my hens, and the next minute he was gone...dead...on his back with his legs straight up in the air.  For real, within a thirty minute period of time, he was gone.  It was pretty crazy.

We really are sad to see him go because he was sort of a novelty at our home.  He was so much bigger than all of the rest of our chickens and our other rooster.  I think his size is what finally did him in.  Just my thought, though.

Funny thing was that as soon as he died, Boots, our smaller rooster, began crowing very stong and loud.  He knew that his new role had begun.  He is now the top rooster; the only rooster.

Maybe my sweet hens will be able to grow their feathers back now...Just sayin....

Drive-In Tradition

I love summer for lots of reasons.  One of those reasons includes my family, lawn chairs, and drive-in movies.

Toy Story was our choice of movies this time and it was a great choice. 

What a fun, sweet and even tear jerker movie.  Yes, I cried and cried and cried more at the end.  You just have to trust me that this movie was so sad at the end.  Sad in a sweet way.  Go see it and you'll see what I mean.

This is what we look like when we go to the movies. 

Keith brings speakers from home and sets them up outside the van.  He always has the media under control for us.

Take a look at Faith during Toy Story...

And now check her out when Prince of Persia came on...

Can you tell that this movie didn't hold her interest very well?

And, yes, we made sure she was safe even though she was laying in the parking lot of the drive-in theater sound asleep.  Boy, kids and men can sleep anywhere, can't they?

If there were more family friendly movies, we would be there more often.  Drive-ins are cheaper than the regular theater and, to us, they are much more fun.

If you lived closer, we would ask you to join us with your lawn chairs and blankets and you could experience all the fun that we get to have.