Our Weekend in Brevard

The slide at Sliding Rock State Park- we did this the 1st day. It's ice cold. Kenny and I sat out on this one.


The Toy Store

Kenny tries to keep him happy with substitute doll hair-works for a while but he knows the real thing -the mom hair

Lori(me)holding baby Joe who is hair happy

High Falls- To the left, behind the trees is an incredible sliding rock. It was shallow and warm. The whole family except the babies went again and again. No fee. No lines. We will be back.

Drinking Coffee and hanging at the cabin in Brevard, N.C,

Lisa- the biggest toy freak of them all-She confesses she would rather buy toys and books than anything. Interested in a great line of toys?-Check out PlayMobil

Pris and Candace stretching a ???

Pris the Pirate

Lily in front of the famous toy store-O.P. Taylors

-We had a marvelous time at a little cabin in Brevard over the weekend. One of the excursions that has been traditional for all who visit this cabin is to spend a few hours at the toy store downtown. It is full of interesting quality toys. Lisa is just as motivated as her kids to make the stop. The only sad thing is her baby is now 6 and doesn't seem to "get into" toys as much as her former little ones. (She is 6 going on 20) I didn't load the picture of the biggest kid of all and that was of Kenny getting on a Monster Pogo stick and just about knocking a showcase over. He only tried a few times before he realized it was a bad idea even though the kids would have never forgot that one. We at least end up buying something every time so that the employees don't seem to mind us hanging out and trying on all the hats and popping all the guns...etc. Lily always finds the elephants, John likes the swords, Sarah runs from one thing to the next, and Joseph enjoyed sitting with Kenny holding on to a doll's hair while sucking his finger. He is a hair lover.

Another activity we do is visit Sliding Rock State Park and let the kids plunge into icy water after waiting in line for the slide. They loved it until we found High Falls. The best part of the weekend was sliding down High falls. There was an area at the base of the fall that was climbable and slideable. We spent half the day but next time we want to make an entire day of it. I felt so young again as I joined my nieces and went down three times. I will try to post more pictures later. I had so many thoughts on the new heaven and earth this weekend and I am more convinced than ever we will enjoy this beautiful earth forever without all the corruption. The old will pass away.(Just reading Rev. 5 and was excitedly reminding the children that all those purchased by his blood from all nations will reign with him) It's a good reminder and a vision we should carry through life's trials. They can't be compared to the glory to come. Sober- yes, because times are tough. We have found ourselves just surviving at times. But there are still times when we say "All this.. and heaven too!" His creation is evidence of all his power and glory. Check out Heaven by Randy Alcorn. I would love to hear what any of you think.

He does a good job talking about the present heaven and the future heaven to come.

Lily's art picture of the week.

14 kids in a Big Van ...A Day Outdoors

Joshua and his cousins jumping at the Ocoee Olympic headquarters.

The boy-loving chicken fights.

Collin was delighted with the Salamanders so much so he didn't even mind the peanut butter on his face left from lunch.

Deborah and all of the eight children overlooking Parksville Lake

We had a summer vacation at home this week. This just means no school work allowing the kids to see what it may feel like to wonder- "What do I do now?" Wednesday we finally talked Deborah into getting out to the mountains one last time before they moved back to Mo. We took the day with Kenny's sister and her 8 children to go to a nearby lake and not so nearby river all in one day. So, we loaded 14 children 13 and under in a 15 passenger van and left at 8:30 a.m. It was a beautiful day and I know the children had a great time though they may have suffered mild sunburns. There is so many beautiful sights in this area. I have the mind to keep uploading pictures of them in hopes of enticing the onlookers to come for a visit. You see, I had more than one motive for starting this blog! We do miss all of you.

Over the Hill &Thru the Woods to Grandma and Grandpa's we go...

2005- The TN grandkids ( they have 5 more in MI)

Grandma serves Lemonade

We never tire of the view

The old logging road to their house

-When my mom and step-dad made the decision to retire in Tennessee instead of Florida they didn't know they would have 13 grandchildren instead of 7 living next door. They moved here in 2000 and our family came in 2002. A home came up for sale behind my sister's 14 acres that we had no intention on buying until we came for a visit and had a "knowing" that it was the right thing to do. I'll never forget the happy surprised scream my mom let out when we suddenly told her we were moving next door. All of our homes are hidden from each others preventing us from calling each other ,wondering," where were you at so late?"( we were just kidding about that the other day) It's impossible to avoid any irritation which will commonly arise between family members but even when we have a little scuffle it's just another opportunity to show grace and love toward each other in the end. It takes sensitivity from each of us to know how to read each other.

-Grandma and Grandpa sure know how to spoil us with something to drink and goodies for all ages. Besides enjoying the home they work so hard at keeping exceptionally comfortable for all of us, one of the most pleasant experiences is enjoying the spectacular view out back of Starr Mountain where the Hiawassee River runs through.

- It is amazing that all the sets of Grandparents are believers and the kids have an incredible heritage. All of the sets of grandparents have settled at least close to some of their children. These days it's not likely everyone will stay in the same state but I like this forgotten tradition of connecting acreage. We were not trying to keep any traditions of the past (when many had to practice staying close out of necessity ) but we can still see how beneficial we can really be to one another and It suits us fine.

The Dad-A Tribute

I know I am overdoing the pictures, but I couldn't help it. As I looked through our pictures to find shots of Kenny doing things with the kids I was filled with thankfulness of all the happy memories we will have of the T-I-M-E he has spent with the kids. I even had to leave out all the pictures of forts and swingsets, teeter totters, sandboxes, and basketball hoops he has built.I guess this will end up being a Father's Day tribute. So for all these pictures, well, they speak for themselves. And it does say whatsoever is..... excellent and worthy of praise, dwell on these things. (Philipians 4:8) I can't praise him enough for the relationship he has built with our kids by simply spending time and having good times together. What a man! ( and a pretty good looking one too)

1996- Playing in the sand with 3yr. old Joshua

1997-wrestling with his kids and his nieces and nephews

2002-fishing with 5 year old Paul

2003-Hiking with 2 yr. old John Isaac

2002-feeding Seaguls at the beach with Josh and Paul

2005- Making Sarah smile with the smile she only had for Dad

2000-Making snowflakes and Dad decides to wear one

1999-Swinging 4yr. old Lily at the lake

2007- On the floor with 1yr. old Sarah
Repeatable Quotes:

-This is how you can tell a father. He is a man who will play with you even though he has friends his own age to play with

-You know how a kid spells love? He spells it T-I-M-E

-My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. Mother would come out and say, "You're tearing up the grass." "We're not raising grass,"my dad would reply, "we're raising boys."

-The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.

-One father is more than a hundred schoolmasters.

-Need to know something? Ask your dad. He knows. And on the off chance he doesn't know, he'll make up something pretty good.

-A dad without coffee is like a tv without a remote

-Your children need your presence more than your presents.

-It's easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.

-Only love can be divided endlessly and still not diminish.

-Love is, above all, the gift of oneself.

-Fathers should not get too discouraged if their sons reject their advice. It will not be wasted; years later the sons will offer it to their own offspring.

-When you teach your son, you teach your son's son.

from: Wit and Wisdom of Fathers

Enough Time

Busy.....yet I know there is enough time in each day to do God's will. So... I learn to relax and be sensitive to do the important things I know need to be done. I have to remember that with 2 under 2, I can only accomplish so much extra-curricular activities. We did take the time to go on a weekend trip to Gaitlinburg with just Joseph. It is important to have a weekend together here and there. It was nice that we didn't worry about the kids at all because they seemed so eager to sleep over their cousins' house (even though they see them almost every day) Sarah did miss us the first night in spite of the fact that Kezzi was kind enough to come back to our house so Sarah could sleep in her own bed. Kezzi always seems to be able to give a little extra when it comes to Sarah. Saturday night, Uncle Ford was going to take all the kids to the rodeo but they voted for tennis and ice cream instead. Grandma and Grandpa kept the girls on Sunday and even ventured to take active Sarah to church with them. They packed all the toys they could hoping to keep her occupied but she surprised them when she fell asleep in Grandpa's arms. They thought that was humorous since they had warned their friends about her rowdiness. Anyway they always do a great job keeping the kids. As for Kenny and me, we were able to have some time away and we appreciated slowing down a little.
-Paul had his last game tonight, and Joshua is starting his baseball season which will last the month of June with three games a week. We are doing a half a day of school through the summer but we take off when we take day trips to the lake or creek. Tomorrow, we plan to go with three other families for an afternoon hike and swim. Busy- but that's okay, at least we are never bored.