Mountain Trip

I recently went on a trip to the mountains. This is the second time we have gone during spring break so I think that means we have started a yearly ritual. There are six of us that drove up to Blue Ridge, Ga. Bill has a cousin that has a beautiful mountain home up there. She graciously invites us up to share in the beauty of the mountains and it is truly a retreat from the daily problems we face as women. We get together before we go and plan our meals. Each of us is responsible for one meal while we stay. It is really nice that you prepare one breakfast or dinner and then get to pretend you are at a Bed and Breakfast the rest of the time you are there. Well, I decided to drive my car up, because I can get seven people in it when I put up the third row seats. So, when we went into Blue Ridge or Murphy I could get everybody in one car. Driving meant I would have to drive through downtown Atlanta. This is always a challenge for me. I was driving through Atlanta a few days after Christmas when it began snowing and sleeting, so I knew this couldn't be worse than that. Well, I shouldn't have been so quick to speak, we had rain almost all the way there, but when we got into Atlanta it was just drizzling. I was making good time in the diamond lane, I love the diamond lane. Then all of the sudden a taxi came barreling right in front of me slamming on his brakes. The other car full of ladies was right behind me. Thank God I was paying attention and thank God, Vicki had gotten her brakes worked on before we left home. When I looked in my rear view mirror I saw a car with the hood up trying to make its way into the diamond lane. The hood had popped up while the car was traveling at about 60 miles and hour and they slammed on brakes and started swerving and that is why the cab had ended up in my lane. When my heart finally slowed down and came out of my throat we continued following the diamond trail through downtown Atlanta. We arrived at Jan's about 4;00 in the afternoon. It was so good to be there and it was so beautiful on Soaring Eagle Mountain. We all settled in and picked out a room. Jan always says pick any room you want. I always pick hers and we get a good laugh and then I go to my usual spot upstairs. We ate and drank for the rest of the evening. We laughed and caught up with each others lives. Carolyn was expecting her first grandchild, Jan waiting to hear about getting a home in Jax. Charlotte telling us about her grandchildren, Charlene's trip to Italy, Sylva moving into her new home on the river, and Vicki's dancing granddaughter. We tried to stay away from tough subjects after all that is why we were here, to rest our bodies and minds. There was a lot of talk of diets and calories,as we ate blueberry pancakes, grits casseroles, apple pie and lots of other fabulous food. We visited Blue Ridge and Murphy, but the best day was when we hung out at the pavilion by Jan's house. I got a happy log to get a fire started at the fire pit and we just sat around it and had a glass of wine. Vicki and Charlotte went down a ladder beside the pavilion and climbed down the side of the mountain holding onto a rope tied to a tree at the top of the hill. They made it back safely and we got some great pictures. Sometimes it is just fun to be a kid, but some of us just enjoy seeing someone be a kid especially when you have bad knees or hips. Getting old sucks....Too soon it was time to pack up and go home. It is hard to leave the tranquility of the mountains and head back into the flatlands of problems. But at least I am more rested and ready to take on whatever is ahead. God has blessed me with good friends and a loving family. He is with us through the good and the bad, I saw him in the beauty of those mountains, but I also see him in the faces of my beautiful friends and family. Thank you God for loving me....

A Tree Is Meant For Climbing

Last week we had a teacher planning day and I kept my grandchildren, Sydney and Hayden. They are 7 and 8 years old. I babysat both of them when their mom's went back to work. They were just infants and only a couple of months apart in age, Hayden was born in Feb. and Syd was born in May. They are extremely close and extremely competitive, but love each other to death. Hayden is so smart it is scary. We call him the fact man. If you want to know anything about bugs, snakes, lizards, or dogs, he is your man. Sydney is also very smart. She sees something one time and she can retain it. She knows every word to every song on 95.l and is quick to tell me I need to change the channel, because that song has a bad word in it. She loves dance and her friends. These two are so different yet so great together. Hayden says Sydney is so much fun, because when she is with the guys she will play chase, football, soccer, or wrestle and then when his sister Josie comes around she will play dolls, school, or house. Hayden will play if their is absolutely no way out. He is a sport....Well on this day there were just the two of them. I don't have much happening in my yard, no swing set, soccer goals, or pool, just a bunch of trees and a big yard. I went outside with them and they put in to climb my magnolia tree. It is not a huge tree, but it is pretty tall. Hayden headed up first. The small branches were tearing at his arms and legs so I went and got my hog nose clippers and snipped them off. The climb became a lot less painful. He made it to the first big branch and Sydney followed. I went in and got my camera, but they had ascended a little higher up the tree. I tried not to panic, but I think Hayden saw the fear in my face and he began trying to find his way down. He was starting to get scared when his foot missed the small branch beneath him. Leveled headed Mimi coaxed him down one branch at a time. Sydney was next. I don't think she was afraid, because Hayden did it without falling surely she could do it. When she reached one of the lower and smaller branches it snapped. She was close enough to the ground that I was able to grab her. They thought it was so much fun, they wanted to do it again. My heart was racing and I quickly said, "Not until your moms get here, now let's go get food." That usually grabs there attention and it did this time, but as soon as there moms got here they preceded to tell them of their adventure. My daughters both looked at me like I had lost my mind. Maybe I did for just a while. I think I was remembering my first time climbing a tree in my backyard and how exciting and dangerous it was. They climbed up one more time for their distressed mothers, but this time they stopped on the first branch. We took pictures to show their classmates of how courageous they were. I know I have now created a problem for myself. Every time they come over we will have a tree climbing event and I will find myself not quite enjoying the climb like I did the first time. We all know the first time is the best. I guess I might have to invest in that pool or at least a swing set,and I know food is not going to keep my monkeys out of the trees anymore.

Easter Week

I love this time of year. It is so wonderful to see trees sprouting their new green leaves. The azaleas are blooming and the dogwoods are absolutely gorgeous. I feel so joyful and hopeful in springtime. New life surrounds me and I sense the presence of God in it all. It seems so appropriate that Christ died and rose on Easter. The world was brown, dull, lifeless, and dreary. Then Jesus came into the world and he brought life, new growth, joy and hope to us all. Springtime, Jesus time.

This Easter was so busy with the kids practicing every Wed. for the Easter Pageant. We helped with the Maundy Thursday Dinner and program. It was again so meaningful and inspiring. Pastor Bob read about the disciples at the last supper with Jesus. We ate together and then the elders served Holy Communion. The service ended with Melody Thompson singing "Were You There". It was moving and many people were in tears. Then on Saturday I took Hayden, Lucas, and Sydney to the Church Easter Party. They had such a good time. They divided into groups and played lots of games. The Easter bunny came and Lucas was so excited. They got their faces painted and had their pictures taken with the Easter bunny. They decorated cupcakes and then ate them for their snack. Fun was had by all. On Sunday we brought in some fruit for the Sunday brunch. I helped Norma get things ready and then headed across the street for early church. Jill, Tray, Troy and Sydney met us there. They looked so adorable, Troy in his lavender shirt and tie and Sydney in her black and white dress and pink shoes. Bill was an usher and was serving communion to the congregation along with other ushers. The service was moving and the lilies in the windows were beautiful. The music was also fabulous. They ended the service with the Hallelujah Chorus.We went across the street to Westminster Hall for brunch and the Easter Pageant. Katy, Matt, Hayden, Josie, and Lucas were there waiting for us. They looked so cute, Hayden in his blue shirt and tie and Josie in her dress and shoes identical to Syds and Little Lucas in his plaid shorts and polo shirt. Troy was one of the narrators for the program and he did a great job. Sydney and Hayden sang and placed ornaments on the Easter Tree. Josie and Lucas sat with us in the audience. We were all so proud of them. After the program we took a lot of pictures out by the azaleas then I headed straight home to get my hams out of the oven. The family was coming for lunch at 12:30. We had Jay, Jill's family, Katy's family and Mema, Jeff and his family couldn't be there.The lunch was so good. Haleigh and Chad brought sweet potato casserole, Jill brought the baked beans, Katy brought the mac and cheese. I made some corn on the cob, fresh tomatoes, deviled eggs, ham and rolls. We had turtle pie and rice crispy treats for dessert. After lunch we hid eggs several times for the kids. It was a great day. I tried to hold onto the message for the the day Christ Is Risen, Christ Is Risen Indeed. I looked around at my precious, wonderful children and grandchildren and I thought Jesus how great it is to know that we will be together always in your heavenly home that you have prepared for us. You will be sharing in the joy of this day with us as you have today, but we will be seeing you and hearing you when this life here is over. Thank you for your love, thank you for taking away my sins and thank you that we will be sharing eternity with you someday.