Camo Night

Tonight was "Camo Night" at our church's Awana program. The kids came dressed for battle in camouflage as they were in the Lord's army! We had a drill sergeant come and he brought an army hummer. The kids were thrilled to have a ride in it. All night long they were soldiers in the Lord's army marching while chanting a Christian march. During group time we talked about putting on the Lord's armor and being ready for battle in today's world. They each received christian dog tags courtesy of Oriental Trading Post. It was a fun theme night and hopefully brought to life in these young children how we need to stand firm in God's mighty power. Below are some pictures of the night.

Mountain City Visit

Today we went to Mountain City to see Nana and Steve, visit with our dear friends the Vissers, and attend the dedication ceremony of their new church. We met at the Visser's house and had a wonderful lunch, visiting with their now very large family....there were 9 little children running around with another grandchild on the way. Everyone looked happy and healthy. Of course I loved visiting with my girls and chatted with them most the time. They're gowing into such lovely young women! I only took a couple pictures (sorry Brenda). After lunch we all headed to Community Church for the dedication ceremony, visiting with their church family, which feels like our church family. We ended the service singing praise and worship songs and lifting our hands to the Lord. We pray God's blessings on Community Church family and may this building be a place of true worship.

Shay, Laura, Becky, Martina and Brooke.

Charles, Becky, Nana, Steve, Ethan and Scott.

The new Community Church building, Mt. City, TN

Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area

This morning on our way to Mt. City we stopped at Sycamore Shoals in Elizabethton. Every year in September they celebrate the Overmountain Victory Trail...the reinactment of the encampment by the Overmountain militia before the Battle of Kings Mountain in 1780 during the American Revolution. Ethan is taking a US History class at Cherokee High and received extra credit for attending. It just happened to be a rainy day and we were one of the few visitors to venture out. Even though we got drenched, it was still very interesting and we learned more of our history during the Revolutionary period.

Scott, Ethan and Charles in front of a statue that represents the spirit of the Overmountain men.

Ethan stopping to read about Fort Watauga.

Some of the Overmountain re-enactors let me take their picture.

Inside Fort Watauga

Outside of the fort.

Here is a typical room inside the fort.

I love To Mow The Lawn

I do love mowing the lawn....sometimes I complain about it, but I do love it. Believe it or not, it's time to myself to think, pray or what ever. When I'm finished, I look at a job well done and it gives me a sense of accomplishment. There's no better way to mow than on an x-mark with zero radius turn. Even with the large deck it still takes 1 1/2 hours to mow our 2 acre yard. This year we've had plenty of rain so the grass stayed green and we mowed weekly. One thing about the east, we don't have to water. The Lord takes care of that part Himself. I was mowing this week and Charles came out and started taking pictures..for the blog of course.

Here I am on our X-mark

Always mow with ear plugs!

Here I was twirling around, showing off the zero radius turn!

Our mowed lawn.

It's Hay Time Again

You know fall is coming when the second cutting of hay comes around. This past week our neighbor, Steve, baled our hay. The boys helped load it up on the trailer and then took it to the barn. It's been a good year for growing hay. Miss you Randy!

Ethan and Steve loading up the bales

Charles and Ethan loading up the trailer.

Charles stopping for a picture.

Steve, Charles and Ethan.

Hickory Nuts Are Falling

We took a drive to Greenville to check out a truck for Ethan (we didn't get it) and stopped along hwy 70 to check out a special hickory tree. This hickory tree has mammoth nuts, bigger nuts than any tree around. We stopped along the road and Scott and Ethan picked several of 'em up. Scott will plant them in pots later on. How Scott loves his nuts and trees... he gets it from his Dad! Whenever we head to NY we come home with hickory tree starts.

Scott and Ethan picking up the nuts.

Look how huge!

Water Transfer Printing

Scott had a guy cover his Buick valve covers with a special carbon fiber film. The guy stopped doing this type of work so Scott thought he'd try it himself. It's called water transfer printing. Below are the basic steps of the process. After he did this one, he practiced with camouflage print, dipping buckets and juice bottles (we now have a partially camouflaged 5 gallon bucket). It's really cool. He's still fine tuning the process, but every time he dips he learns more.

First you make sure the water is rather warm. Ethan and Scott lay a piece of the carbon fiber film gently on the water, making sure there are no air bubbles trapped underneath.

Next Ethan sprayed a special solution on the fiber.

Scott dips the valve cover in the middle of the film.

and quickly pulls it up out of the water.

Here is the finished product. It's a permanent covering.

Awana Crazy Hair Day

On Wednesday nights at church we meet for Awana. We try and have theme nights at least monthly. Tonight was crazy hair night. All the kids wore crazy hair styles and when they passed off their bible verses they got to put mousse in their leaders hair. The kids loved it. We focused our group time devotional on how we look on the outside, but God looks on the inside. It was a crazy fun night.



Here I am with the Sparks group (K-2 grade)

Girls in our church with crazy hair!

Here I am about ready to get moussed!

One of our leaders getting moussed.

Our 3/4 grade T&T group.

Labor Day

Charles wanted to go water skiing and we finally made it out to the lake in the evening. Got the skiis out and no rope...it was left at home. We made a call to Randy who was about to leave for Georgia and he brought over the rope. In the meantime, the men decided to go swimming. Charles and Scott eventually went skiing, but it was too dark for pictures. The water was like glass. and we had the lake pretty much to ourselves.

Charles doing a flip off the boat.

Charles showing Scott how to tread water.

My man still has it at 50♥

Charles with the"look."

One last picture of Scott and Bud.

Randy Is Home For The Weekend

Randy came home for the weekend. It sure was good to see him and hear his laugh. Scott got the old Buick out , shined her up and changed a belt. Then he and the boys hopped in the car and took her for a cruise to see how Randy's El Camino is coming along....Randy is having it restored. The next day we all drove the Buick to church in style :)

Scott, Ethan and Randy.

Ready to take her for a drive.

Randy's El Camino, stripped down. All the Little men love old cars.

Farm Clean Up Day

Today Scott and Ethan spent part of their day cleaning up the metal around the garage. Most of this junk came with the farm when we bought it years ago. It would be my desire to clean the whole farm up and get rid of lots and lots of junk...but Scott doesn't see it that way; it all has a possible use. He and the boys have numerous projects in the making. Life long projects it seems. Thanks to the Lord, I have a more relaxed attitude of things I can't control. I would, however, like to organize the junk. All farm equipment over there, watercraft over here, old cars in this area etc... You get the idea. I have more relaxing to do; apparently the Lord is not done with me yet.

Ethan's First Accident (and hopefully his last)

Ethan was in an accident this morning as he was going to school....in my car (darn). No one was injured. Traffic was bad like a normal school day with cars lined up, one after another. They were only going about 25 mph. Ethan was almost to the school when the car (three cars ahead of him) slammed on its breaks. It was like a domino chain reaction; Ethan was the 3rd car, running into the car in front of him. It was a lesson learned for Ethan about driving too close to another vehicle.