Gem Panning

Since our Saturday plans in Blowing Rock were kind of derailed, we decided to go gem panning on Sunday on our way out of town. I personally had never been gem panning & neither had my kids. Randy was apalled that I had never been - he is a wannabe geologist. Really. And he knows his stuff! As it turns out, he had a rock / stone collection as a kid & I think Jackson might be following right in his footsteps! He is pretty intrigued with all things "outdoor." Randy was able to identify just about every gem that the kids pulled out of their trays!! They'd start out looking like this:

Our official "refiller" for the kids!
And after some washing, rinsing, & searching.... (Well, Sara Beth just wanted to rinse!!!)



They'd end up coming out looking like these:

This, my friends, was the prize of the day.... This is a ruby that Eli had in his tray! Wowsers!
After we had emptied the huge bucket of gems & dirt, we headed back inside to learn about what gems we had found.

It was a lot of fun! And I think I will definitely be back! (And maybe with that ruby! I think it needs to be cut!! :)
Thanks to Nanny for footing the bill on the ginormous bucket! It was money well spent! The kids really had a blast!

Coolest Field Trip, ever!

A couple of weeks back, Eli got to go on the coolest field trip to date! And I got to go too! Yay! His class was invited to the NC Highway Patrol Training Center which is a closed facility. I am not sure how his class got the invitation, but I think there must be a 4 year old whose parent is a Highway Patrolman. Either way, this was a cool afternoon. We got to see patrol cars going around a speedway at speeds up over 100mph. They were simulating a high speed chase & learning how to handle their cars without rolling over, etc on the turns. It was cool. I didn't get any photos because they were going so fast & all I had was my phone camera which has a delay to it. Bummer. I did however get some photos of the other thing they demonstrated for us (which was way cooler anyhow!). They simulated a helicopter rescue of a man in a high tree.
First, they flew in from behind....And then they landed in the road so they could drop their rescue gear out of the helicopter. Then they attached a rescuer to the bottom of the gear & flew back up & over to the tree. (Look closely... the yellow spot on the picture is the man hanging from underneath the helicopter).Then they had to maneuver the rescuer into the tree just based off of a second person in the helicopter telling the "driver" where to go because he can't see underneath him. It was pretty crazy to watch them rescue this guy from the tree.
Then they landed the guys & they switched off so the rescuer was the one in the tree being rescued. (So they each had the practice). It was hot, but awesome to watch!
The Highway Patrolman who was talking to us was telling us how it takes years of training elsewhere before they are even brought here to even get into a helicopter. Then it takes them about 4 years of practicing simulated events before they are ready. Apparently flying a helicopter is way harder than a plane just based of off the fact that you have to use controls to keep the tail steady, the helicopter going side to side, front to back, & up and down. I thought men couldn't multi-task!? Ha ha! But seriously, that is a LOT of training!

I enjoyed my afternoon with my little E!

Camping at Kerr Lake

It's been a couple of years since Randy & I have had a chance to camp at Kerr Lake. Jeremy & Marie invited us to go over the first weekend in October, so we went. It is our favorite of all the places to camp. There is just so much opportunity for the kids (& the dog) to roam & get their energy out, exploring & playing.

This weekend was no different, except for one thing: It was COLD. And i mean, COLD! The entire reason we went this weekend was to hopefully be able to allow the kids to still play in the water for the last time of the season. It wasn't to happen. The wind was whipping around the campsite like crazy & in the mornings, it was in the 40s. Water wasn't a great idea. It didn't stop Zack though! He had no problems running into that water for a frisbee!

Despite the very cold wind, the guys were able to fish on the shore with the boys. One of the joys of camping here is that we can have a water site which is right on the lake. At this particular site there was water on 3 sides of the camper... and a park across the street. It was fabulous. The boys could go to the park, & we could stay on the campsite & see them. Or they could play baseball on the sandy shore. All this area made up a little loop too which was perfect for the kids to bike ride. It had to have been the best site we have had yet. Again, endless possibilities for little kids to have some safe freedom & get a LOT of energy out!

A little "rock climbing"...

fishing...

Kaleb was the first one to brave putting his feet in...

I also think that this is Zack's favorite place to camp! He doesn't love being on a lead, but he isn't on it too much, here. There is so much more room to roam free here rather than at a campground like a KOA. I guess each has it's perks, but being able to run & play is Zack's thing, so he loves it here. Plus, once we are here for a few hours, he tends to understand where his "territory" is & hangs close to us.

On the first night there, the campers next to us moved in & they had an American bulldog. It was instant friendship!His name was Zeke! So Zack & Zeke played together all weekend!Where's the frisbee??
Searching high & low for anything the boys would toss in the lake for him!
We had a great time despite the cold weather. I wish we had more opportunity to camp at Kerr Lake throughout the year. But those sites fill up quickly & it is hard to get in! Maybe next year we will have better luck!

Heart Walk 2011

Sunday afternoon, our family participated in the Triangle Heart Walk. This was my first time walking in this event & when my friend, Joye, sent out information about joining their team- I just knew I wanted to join! Not only does her son, Ethan, hold a special place in my heart, (i mean- seriously- the most adorable & fun 2 year old ever!), but the topic of Congenital Heart Defects runs really close to home. As in, we live with that here every day. Randy was born with a CHD known as Pulmonary Stenosis & we visit Duke each year for a physical & usually a cardiac MRI and/or EKGs, Echocardiagrams, etc! We are happy to say that so far, Randy has surpassed all odds when it comes to his heart valve! When he had his heart valve replaced when he was 12, they told him to expect a new one within 10-15 years tops. Ahem, he is 36 years old! He has had that same pulmonary valve for 24 years and still going strong! Yay, Randy! And thanks, Duke!!

We also have so much to be thankful for in terms of Heart Disease in this family. Back in 2009, my dad gave us a really big scare & ended up being rushed to the hospital & having 5 bypasses within 48 hours of his admittance! Then 6 months later, Randy's dad was in the hospital for the same thing- only his was a triple bypass. It was a scary year! BUT they are survivors. The story could have gone either way & I am blessed that the Lord didn't take them from us.

It's reasons like this that I decided I wanted to walk in the event. As my friend Joye put it, "It's all about raising awareness" and if I can do even a little to raise awareness of CHDs then I will do that. Seriously, did you know that nearly 1 in every 100 babies born has a Congenital Heart Defect? I was floored when I learned this. 1 in 100! That number is astonishing. I think it makes me realize that I take these sweet boys health for granted...

Our whole family of 4 walked, as well as Rebecca & her girls, and my father-in-law joined in as well! We all walked as part of Team Ethan who is quite the special boy with quite the special story! He is the true meaning of the word survivor & his story reminds me so much of our cousin, Whittni who passed away the very same day Jackson entered into this world. I guess Heaven was making room that day.

Here is one of my favorite pictures of Whittni, who passed away age 8 after a long complicated battle with her own CHD. This was her at my high school graduation party...

You need to read Ethan's story to get a true sense of how special life is & see just how the Lord can work in mysterious ways. He may have a lot of scars under his shirt, & a very special broken heart, but he is so incredibly full of life & may I mention, smart!!! ?? Oh, my! Go here to read all about Ethan!

It may have only been a 3 mile walk (or a 1 mile walk if you were Randy & the kids!) but it was moving to see so many people in one place for a common cause. And it was humbling to see all the red "survivor" hats in the ocean of people! Survivor.... I am blessed to know so many on that side of Heart Disease! I love you ALL!

The sweetest little walker (or rider!)

Go here to see the video news clip covering Team Ethan!

Another Pinterest Success!

I am loving Pinterest these days! There are just so many ideas out there & not enough time to do them!

The day before school started, I "interviewed" the boys because I had seen a great idea on Pinterest that I wanted to copy! And since I recieved a coupon code for 50 free photo prints from Shutterfly, it forced me to go ahead & edit the photos to add the text! Here are the results! (you can click on them & it will enlarge!)

Now these aren't quite as cute since I had to mark through some info. I don't really want just anyone knowing where my kids go to school & all for safety reasons. But I plan on scrapping these pictures at the next scrap retreat & will also add them to the boys "school albums". I have started one for each kiddo & have done something similar (no interview) in the past years. I have always taken a first day of school picture & then added their own handwritten name to the page so they can see how it changes over the years! Fun stuff!

Supporting Our Troops

Hello, everyone! This post is going to be one of those where I ask for your help! :)

I was driving through the bank line today when I saw a posted sign advertising a drive to collect supplies to send to our troops. My mom happens to work at this same bank (obviously at a location in her town), so it hit me right then! Why not get the word out & ask others to help & I can help collect as well. So that is precisely what I plan to do!

SECU Supports the Troops 2011! If you would like to help, just browse the list below & pick up a few items for the troops. It can be as simple as a travel size toothpaste or as fun as a deck of cards or a travel size game. You might even have some extra soaps, etc hanging out under your bathroom sink! Any SECU bank is a drop site for these items, but I thought I would take a big load to them from those of you who want to help. So, if you want to donate, bring me your items by Wednesday, Oct 19th. I will be seeing my mom that weekend (yay, for the mountains!!) & I will give her the collection to take back to work with her. Sound great!?

Thanks for your support in advance! I know the troops will appreciate it too :)

PS- please know that there will be another collection at a later time that will be Todd specific... these supplies will go to troops all over.

Here is the list straight from State Employees Credit Union:

2011 • WISH LIST • 2011
for
“SECU Supports the Troops!”

All donations should be new and must be able to fit in a 10” x 10” x 5” box.
We need travel size products only to maximize the number of items we can include!
Please note: We cannot send any items in pressurized (aerosol) cans or glass containers.

Food Items

Snacks (individual packages of crackers, cookies, trail mix, protein bars, dried fruit,
nuts, beef jerky, hard candy – no chocolate that can melt)
Powdered drink mixes (small, individually sealed packages)

Toiletries

Shampoo
Deodorant
Bar soap
Lotion
Toothpaste
Toothbrushes (individual packages)
Dental floss
Disposable razors (small packs)
Moist towelettes
Sunscreen (SPF 50)
Insect repellent wipes with Deet

Medicine/First Aid

Band-aids
Antacids (small packages)
Tylenol/Advil/Aleve (small bottles/packages)

Clothing

Socks – above the ankle/crew (white or black)
Toboggans

Entertainment/Miscellaneous

Decks of cards
Travel games (small handheld size only)
Puzzle books (small handheld size only)
Post card size stationery/pens/pencils (no full-size notebooks or paper)

Things to Ponder

About 6-9 months ago, I read a book called Crazy Love, by Frances Chan.

It was life changing.

It made me look at my life- living for Christ in a completely different way.

It was humbling.

It was uncomfortable.

It was convicting.

It took me out of my comfort zone.

It made me realize just how selfish I really was. And it made me see that there was more to life than this pretty little "American Dream". What is that, really, anyway? What is the point? HE wants more from us. Who cares about a cush house to live in & a pretty little savings account? God wants us to strive for more (or depending on how you look at it- less). He wants service, devotion, and love. Not just for Him, but for others that are less fortunate. He wants us to show HIS love through our love of others & less love of ourselves. THAT is tough cookie to swallow.

I have been wanting to read another book called Radical by David Platt that I knew was along the same lines or at least a good complement to Crazy Love & then I stumbled upon this blog post tonight while reading through some blogs i follow. It was like I was led there for a reason. I have been struggling with the same questions and trying to see the picture that God has in store for my life & not the picture I have in store for my life. That's an even tougher cookie to swallow.

Take a moment to read Patrice's post. I promise you won't regret it.

I have been trying to make baby steps into getting out of my comfort zone. Taking the kids with me to buy a cold drink & a snack & take it to a homeless man on the corner... you know.. things like that. But really, I know I can do more. The challenge is now to decide what.?? I know God has more things in store for me if I will just open my heart & listen!

Next up on my reading list....

Anyone have a copy to loan? :)