Thank You!

I received this in the mail last week from Mildred.  She awarded it to me when I "wrote" a song for her sweet Harriet.  You will see that little ditty in the comments section.  I have a sweet missionary friend who loves tea rooms.  When she is home on furlough, I will gift her with this because I know she will enjoy it, too.  It will be the gift that keeps on giving!

Not only is the magazine beautiful with great decorating ideas and delicious recipes but it was also accompanied by this equally beautiful note card.  Thank you, Mildred for making a regular day a special day!

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.  2 Corinthians 9:15

Foothills Fair

 

Friday was my husband's birthday.  We went to the Foothills Fair which is about 10 miles from our house.  My husband has been conscientious about the foods he eats but he loves corn dogs - - - so that is what he had for supper.

I only wanted popcorn because I had eaten pasta for lunch.

We did not ride any rides.  In younger days, they were a thrill but when you are close to over the hill, your body prefers smooth, solid ground.

Our main reason for going was to visit our daughter who was selling her homemade earrings.

Remember when we went to visit her on Labor Day weekend?  Besides having a nice day in the mountains, we helped her package her creations.

Her husband was busy that day pressure washing the house in preparation to re-apply stain and sealant. Obviously the lighter brown is the "washed" color.  He had already applied the stain inside the screened-in porch and it looked great.

And jumping back to the fair, these are some chickens we saw on the way to our car.  I had never seen a Silkie - - and the black outline on the other is very pretty.   These chickens are actually pets of a retired couple.  The fair organizers asked them to bring them for people - - like us - - to see.

And remember the link to my friend's blog in my last post?   I saw her name in the paper today for some winning entries at the fair for many homemade canned goods!

She . . . willingly works with her hands.   Proverbs 31:13b

Walk to the New Church

Many of you know we have built a new church facility.  Last Sunday was our last service in our downtown facility.  Our buildings and property were purchased by Lee University.

Rather than post pictures - - - - since I did NOT carry my camera on our 4.5 mile walk, I am giving you a link to my friend's blog.  Please visit it and see what my husband and I completed.  Then try and find us in the crowd.   ha ha ha
(I will post pictures of the interior within the next few blogs.)

He who says he abides in HIM ought himself also to walk just as HE walked.  1 John 2:6 

34 Years

One week and 34 years ago today, my husband and I were married on a Saturday evening.  Last weekend, we celebrated our anniversary with a night at Whitestone Inn.  Generally most people travel there by the interstate but this time we decided to do some sightseeing along the "back roads".  One of our stops was at Watts Bar.

 

As you can see by the link, it is still the TVA power system and once again, their waterways provide recreation.  Here is a white sand beach with a swimming area roped off in front of it.

This was some of our scenery from Watts Bar to Whitestone.

(Guess I could have cropped these two first so you didn't see car parts. . . )

We were traveling at least 45 mph when I took the barn & silo shot.  My Sony camera is at least 3 or 4 years old  and does a great job, doesn't it?

At Whitestone, we stayed in the Indigo Bunting Room in back of the schoolhouse.  Some of the buildings are patterned to look like a New England Style Village.

The rooms are beautiful but the entire "village" is so peaceful.  You totally unwind from the world when you are there.  This was a much needed rest for me especially as it came in the middle of our library move - - more about that in another blog.  The anniversary takes priority.  The views here are spectacular.

The chapel you see is on the property.  There was a wedding there on Sunday.  The reception was held in the building on the left which also has rooms for overnight stays.   Meals for the guests are in the Farmhouse.  The food is fabulous.  Their breakfast was a feast!

This is a special getaway place for us.  It is the second time we have celebrated an anniversary here.  We had a great discount for our stay so that made it even more enjoyable!

As you can tell from my last three posts, we had a WONDERFUL Labor Day Weekend.

And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.  Revelation 2:17b

Whitewater Center

Further "down the road" from the rafting pictures on the last post, you come to the Whitewater Center.   As mentioned before, it was the site of some of the 1996 Summer Olympics Water Sports.  Here is the front of the welcome center.

To the right of the entrance is this beautiful "water feature".

To the left of the front of this building are these stairs going down.  (Obviously I was going up when I took the picture.)

The stairs lead to this bridge.

From the bridge, you can see the back of the welcome center.  It contains a gift shop and maybe a snack bar and clean restrooms.

There is a large parking lot in front where you can park the entire day for only three dollars.  You could bring a picnic lunch or use a grill and then either sit beside the water and watch rafters - - or maybe you'd rather walk a nature trail - - or my favorite is the paved path beside the water - - - - as seen to the left in this picture that was taken from the bridge.  Our daughter and her husband had their engagement pictures taken at this location two years ago.

And for those who asked about me rafting now or in the future - - that would be a NO.  I am almost 60 and have some arthritis in my lower back due to a fall onto concrete when I was in elementary school.  I don't think the rapids would cure that!

And the last picture was taken beside the river, looking upstream towards the bridge.  As you saw, it is suspended by heavy metal cables.  It does move a bit in the wind or when someone is walking on it but it is still very solid feeling.

He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.  John 7:38

Rafting

My older daughter and I went to visit her younger sister today.  It is an hour from our house.  The most direct route takes us around the Ocoee River.  I have mentioned before that this was the site of the 1996 Summer Olympics water events for canoe and kayak.  Before and since the Olympics, it has been a popular place for rafting the rapids.  We stopped at a couple of places along the way today to take pictures. 

The first three pictures show the rafters waiting their turn to "put in" the rapids.  You can see the calm area that will take them into the rapids right past the water that has been released over the dam.

  

The next seems a bit fuzzy due to the mist blowing off the waterfall.  The water looks a beautiful blue but it is more of a green.

Obviously, the rafters have successfully launched and are able to navigate well.

This bridge is over the waterfall at the dam.  These waterways are part of the TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority).  The website tells you TVA is government run and provides electricity to over 9 million people in parts of seven southeastern states.  When our older daughter was an intern with TVA one summer, she walked over this bridge.

Perhaps you remember us discussing the rockslide in this area last winter.  It completely blocked the road for almost half a year.  The next picture is above the road behind the rafters.  You can see the anchors that were drilled through the remaining rock to help stabilize it.

My next post may contain pictures of the Whitewater Olympic Center.

HE cutteth out rivers among the rocks; and HIS eye seeth every precious thing.  Job 28:10

The Move

The last day our church library was open at our downtown location was Tuesday.  On Wednesday, the packing began.  The books were moved in these crates.  The ones you see here are empty.

They were numbered and labeled to make reshelving at our new location easier.

On Wednesday, 60 crates were packed with books, moved to the new library, unpacked and reshelved.  On Thursday, 140 were completed in like manner!  All we have left to do are the children's sections next week.  Here are some of the empty shelves.

Here are some of the "filled" shelves at our new location.

The office where I am privileged to work has a live plant to help clean the air of the "newness" (chemicals from carpet, etc.).   Also, the picture of my husband is ready for me to view over my computer! 

By next weekend, I hope to have pictures of the outside of both buildings as well as some interior shots.

And since it was obvious we labored hard this week, I am going to definitely enjoy my weekend free from labor!

Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.  Colossians 3:23