Goin' Fishin'

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We were able to spend this afternoon and evening doing something, that I love. We went fishing.



It has been about a year and a half, since the last time I went. The weather was too perfect for a day like today. The sun was warm. There was a slight breeze and no bugs to aggravate. Only thing wrong, the fish weren't told that it was a perfect fishing day. We only caught about 5 small bream. But the peace and relaxation was worth not pulling in any fish.

The day was warm enough for snakes, so I was on the look out. I had been taught to look around while walking, because those critters lay just anywhere.

We did see one today, in fact, my husband tangled with it. It was the funniest thing I had ever watched. My husband is 6'3'' and about 290 lbs. Yeah, he's a big fellow, but boy can he move fast,when needed. I was watching him reel in his line when he started swinging his rod and trying to run around. I thought that he had gotten on a nest of hornets or bees that had warmed up. When I hollered at him about what he was trying to get away from. He said, that there was a snake. Now, I'm standing there, trying not to laugh, because, I'm scared to death of snakes. I just knew, that he was sending him my way. I grabbed up all my gear and started to head in the different direction. Monkey was standing there, ready to run up the hill with me.

And lo and behold, there he was a small green and yellow striped snake, trying to get away from us as fast as he could. Funny how those things, sound huge when they are sliding through the leaves, letting everything in the vicinity know, that he is coming.

What I Did...

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Actually it's what we did for my birthday. My husband and son were so excited about getting me up to open presents that I did not even have time to change out of my Winnie the Pooh Pjs.



Thank goodness, they gave me time to wash and dry my hair. They bought me a new Bible. My old one is exactly 20 years old. I had gotten it on my 18th birthday. Yep, do the math..My other big present was a Kitchenaid Mixer. Yippie!!! I had asked for one of those a a couple of years ago. I had given up on it, since I never got it.

For lunch, we went to Atlanta to The Old Spaghetti Factory. All I can say is,"Yummo!" I had the Chicken Parmigiana,(this is the best, that I have ever eaten) my husband had the Chicken Fettuccine, Monkey had the Spaghetti and giant Meatballs. For a light dessert, they brought out the complimentary 3 flavored ice cream.

From Atlanta, we drove up to Braselton, to the Mayfield Dairy and got an ice cream cone. Yeah, I know, we had just had ice cream. But hey, it was my birthday!

Then we went up to Commerce, to the Tanger Outlet Mall. There is not much there, that I like to go to, but I love to go to the $5 Christian Bookstore. I bought 4 books. I can't wait to read them. I just had a "brain bubble" and I can't remember the names of the books. I guess, that is a sign of the old age, creeping in.

We went to the Lodge store. My husband bought a 5 piece cast iron kit, that I have wanted for awhile. The kit included 2 frying pans, 10 inch Dutch oven,lid and griddle.

I ran in the Dress Barn and found 2 really cute outfits. The only draw back, I was being watched and followed by a sales lady. When I turned around, she was right on my heels. I asked her if I could help her. She said,"No." Then I tried to be nice...I asked her why was she following me. Her answer (with a shocked look on her face) ," Oh, I'm not. I'm just... I'm ..Do you need help?" I laughed, I told her never mind, I'll go to the store at Discover Mills.

I'm glad I went. I found 2 different outfits, that I just loved. These were included in my birthday loot.

I just realized, that I have not downloaded my pictures from yesterday. So I'll add them tomorrow.

I am truly blessed! I have the most wonderful husband and son. They really spoil me rotten.

We're Home...for a short time

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We got home tonight. On Thursday, we left for Cornelia, Georgia, to attend a Jubilee. After that one service, we drove to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee for a Winter Jubilee that had been held there for 16 years. We met up with our Pastor and his wife.



Yesterday afternoon, we were able to go to the Apple Barn. I love this place. They have every possible thing that you can imagine that has to do with apples. We ate at the Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant. Of all the times that I have been, Friday was the first time, we ate there. OH MY GOODNESS!!!! The food is wonderful. I ate the Chicken and Dumplings... I hate to say this, but their's blows the Cracker Barrel's out of the water. The Apple Butter is AWESOME!!!! I have never cared for apple butter, until I tasted the Apple Barn's, when my parents brought some home several years ago. Mom says that it tastes just like what my Grandmother use to make. Imagine that!!!!

We then went to the Smokey Mountain Knife Works. This is a huge store that is all about knives. I love going in this store. They have some really neat antique knifes and guns that are on display. In fact the store is pretty much a museum you can wonder through while you shop. My husband bought me a new serrated knife for cutting homemade bread.

On our way out of Pigeon Forge, we went over to Townsend. This is a quite little town that draws tourists that are making their way to Cades Cove. Today we stopped in the visitors center. We picked up a National Park Stamp for Monkey's National Parks Passport. While we were there, some of the descendants of the settlers who lived in Cades Cove, where displaying some of their family's history. I was able to talk with a descendant of the Sparks family. She told me about the old home sight and the cave that she played in while she was young. I asked about the location. Believe it or not I had seen the old road before and never walked up it. The road is blocked, so you have to walk.

To make a long story short... We went exploring for the cave -we found it. Another couple was coming up behind us. The man told us to come in with them. So we did. Now that I think about it, we could have been in a cave with an axe murderer and his accomplice and did not even know it. They could have hacked us to pieces and no one would have known about it. ---DID I EVER TELL YOU I HAVE A WILD IMAGINATION? Actually, the couple were school bus drivers, who had brought a group for a field trip recently. They came back to check out the cave without the worries of children.

Inside we saw, small brown bats, small stalactites and one huge stalagmite. Since the park rangers had gated off most of the large room that you walk into, we had to peek through to see the opening of the other large room. This was amazing to see. We did not have to pay to see this wonderful creation of our Lord.

We went into one of the old churches in the cove. It was the Missionary Baptist Church. I always get a neat feeling, when we walk into the churches. I like to sit in one of the pews and wonder what person sat there a hundred years ago. What they must have been like, what kind of worries were on their minds, what kind of home life they lived. Then I like to stand behind the pulpit and look out on the pews and wonder what types of faces would have been looking back at me.

While we were at the pulpit, we noticed that people left Bibles there, in honour of loved ones. I think it is so people will write their names on the inside flyleaf instead of all over the pulpit and walls. While I turned through a Bible, I came across a note that was left. It said, " Thank you Father for saving my soul. Thank you Father for Jesus Christ. Thank you for my family, please save those that are lost." When I picked it up and read it, I fought back a tear. There was no name written on the paper, just a simple Thank you. What a sweet testimony that someone could share with others, without being known.

Well, we are going to be at our church in the morning. Then we have to run to the Men's Warehouse to pick up my husband's 2 new suits. Then we will be driving to LaGrange, Georgia, for a service tomorrow evening.

I hope you all have had a good weekend.

A Year of Blogging

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It's official I've been a blogger for a year. I really thought that I would be able to come up with something REALLY interesting to blog about today. My mind has been in outer space this week. I even waited until this evening to see if I could come up with something really neat. I guess these will have to do.



I'm not ashamed to say "In God I Trust." How about you?

On the funny side of things.

A preacher was completing a temperance sermon: with great expression he said, "If I had all the beer in the world, I'd take it and throw it into the river." With even greater emphasis, he said, "And if I had all the wine in the world, I'd take it and throw it into the river." And then, finally, he said, "And if I had all the whiskey in the world, I'd take it and throw it into the river." He sat down. The song leader then stood very cautiously and announced with a pleasant smile, "For our closing song, let us sing Hymn #365: 'Shall We Gather At the River.'"

During the minister's prayer one Sunday, there was a loud whistle from one of the back pews. Gary's mother was horrified. She pinched him into Silence,and after church, asked: "Gary, whatever made you do such a thing?" Gary answered soberly: "I asked God to teach me to whistle... And He just then did!

From church bulletins:
Bertha Belch, a missionary from Africa, will be speaking tonight at Calvary Methodist. Come hear Bertha Belch all the way from Africa.

Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Don't forget your husbands.

Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.

Home Sweet Homeschool -Sue Maakestad

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I love the library! You can find a book pertaining to just about anything - and they're FREE to borrow! The only hang up about the library - you have to give the good ones back :) I also look at the library as being a preview read, before I spend the money on it. This is one of those books, I had to buy after finding it at the library. 

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I was at the library on Saturday and picked up several books for History and Science. I came across the section on test preparations in that section is all the "home school manual." I usually don't look at these because they are basically what worked for their family. Since every family is different,well each book is different.
As I was looking through the shelves, I came across this book Home Sweet Home-School: A Survivor's Gide to Giving Your Kids a Quality Education by Sue Maakestad. I read through some of the pages, just to see what it was about - I loved what I read, so the book came home with me.
This book is perfect for those of us who are not perfect. I don't know anyone who home schools and has a perfect day. Even when I taught school, I did not have any perfect days. There is always something that is going to go wrong. This is not the type of book that tells you what type of schooling methods to use. This is a book that encourages parents to get up and take control of their children's lives. If we parents don't do it, no one else will.
The thing that really hit me - I CAN'T DO THIS ALONE. I have to pray and ask God to help me, but not only me, my son also. This is something that has to be done every morning, before school starts. I can't take for granted that my day is going to go smoothly.
You can purchase your own copy.

Resolutions -Love 'Em/Hate 'Em

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Earlier this week, my husband and I had talked about making New Year Resolutions and how everyone speaks their mind about doing this or that. Then by the end of February, those resolutions have been forgotten about.



RESOLUTIONS

Since we have been married I learned from my husband, to either not make any or keep your resolutions private. Especially when it comes to doing something like, losing weight or exercising more. Those are the 2 hardest resolutions to keep up with because everyone you tell is WATCHING you and WAITING to see if you do it.
I remember when I was younger, I made the resolution about my weight. And sure enough when I told someone about it, they would always remind me that I am not sticking to it, or say something negative when I put something in my mouth. Or they made this remark,"Well that diet sure isn't working for you. I can't tell you've lost any weight." That was a real kicker for me. Even to this day, I remember a person saying those words to me, after losing 25 pounds. That hurt and it still does.
I dislike the word resolution. I try to use the word "goal" for myself.
If I decide to make a goal I don't tell anyone except for my husband. I have found, that he is the most supportive of whatever I choose to do. He is the only one that I can talk to about it, without hearing a lecture. He will do whatever to help me get going and stay with the action of reaching that goal. And he is the last person to ever say anything about me not sticking with a goal or completely failing at it. He’s a keeper, I tell you!
I can't help but think about these verses in the Bible, Proverbs 10:19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise. Proverbs 17:28 Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is counted wise: and he that shuts his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
I am not saying that you should not tell anyone about what you have decided to do. Be selective in whom you tell. Find a friend that is working on the same resolution as you. Be an encouragement to each other. Some people have to have that moral support to follow through. Then there are those, like me who like keep it a secret and then one day,"SURPRISE".
I am not a perfect person. I tend to fall off the goal wagon. When I wake up each morning, I know that I have a new day to start over with.
For those of you who have made resolutions for this New Year, just remember -Psalm 118:24 This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. 
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
We can meet that goal!