Free Feast!

This past Saturday my mom, sisters, and I decided to go on a shopping trip to Knoxville.

We were having a jolly good time,

and then lunch time rolled around.

We couldn't agree on a restaurant,

but we finally ended up at a Longhorn Steakhouse.

Now, here comes the amazing part...

When we got to the door, they said you could only come in if you had an invitation.

The restaurant was new, and they were training their employees.

For some unknown reason,

they let us in!

That meant that we all got FREE meals, drinks, and a dessert!

Check out the size of my steak! 

Don't worry, I didn't eat the whole thing.

I split it with Jessica.

(I use the word "split" to make myself feel better.  :) )

Anyways, it was a happy, happy feast!

Luau!

During the last week of camp,

the staff had a luau at the pool.

Lydia didn't like being quite so hot,

but we had to get her in that cute suit! 

Aunt Jessica is really good at getting Lydia to relax!

During our first week at home (after the beach trip), 

I would sometimes think to myself, "if only Jessica was here!" 

Future CSBC camper! :)  

Maybe she'll learn to swim in this pool, just like I did!

Beach Trip!

If you'll remember back to the story of Lydia's birth, you might remember reason #3 of why I wanted to be induced...so that we could go on vacation!  We came home on Saturday from the hospital and left home on Monday, headed for Charleston, South Carolina!  We must have been outside of our minds.  I'm sure I was!  It was supposed to be a 7 1/2 hour trip.  It took us 11 because of all the stops to feed Lydia.  Overall, it was a very smooth trip!  We were both exhausted when we arrived, but it really couldn't have gone any better.  Once we got to the beach house, we were able to kick back and relax.  It was really great to have so many people to take turns holding Lydia.  I don't think anyone minded too much.  I was able to take naps and shower in peace.  It was lovely!  Well, really I was a bit stressed, but I think it would have been much worse if I was home.  So, although we stayed inside the house nearly the entire week, I'd say it was a wonderful vacation.  I'm so happy we were able to go and spend time with my family! 

 

Disney On Ice!

Last fall sometime I got to go to Disney On Ice with my nephews.

It was magical! 

I cried from start to finish.

I mean, how could you not when you see

GOOFY

skate onto the ice!?!  :)  

There were bubbles, snow, and all kinds of wonderful-ness! 

It was a spectacular show!



Wicked!

Since I haven't been posting regularly,

I've found a bunch of pictures that I never posted.

So you'll be getting a few blasts from the past!

Last November, my mom, sisters, and I went to Nashville

to see the Broadway musical "Wicked."

It is the story of "The Wizard of Oz"

told from the wicked witch's perspective.

Turns out, she's not so wicked after all!

We had a wonderful time!

I love musicals!

Virginia Creeper Trail!

Join me on a ride down the Virginia Creeper Trail!

It is a 17 mile bike trip!

Almost all of it is downhill! 

(my kinda ride!)

Daddy found a beaver stick. 

Mother Dear.

Joel. 

We all made it down with zero crashes.

It was lots of fun!

Plus,

we got to stay in a super-deluxe cabin! 

It was a wonderful way to spend fall break!

The Apple Barn!

A couple weeks ago we took a trip to Wooden's Apples

on Dayton Mountain.

We picked out a few pumpkins. 

Then we went inside for some snackeroos.

Apple fritters!

And apple dumplings!  YUM!

Now here's a funny story for ya:

Josiah wanted an apple really badly. 

I was walking around with him,

and he somehow weasled his way in front of a crowd of people picking out apples.

In just a second I see him grab a tomato.

(He thought it was an apple.)

He took a big bite out of it,

and then, realizing it was a tomato, threw it on the ground!

I grabbed him and the tomato.

He proceeded to throw a fit.

Oh heavens!

So, Ashley ended up buying a tomato and an apple for Josiah.

He ate almost the whole thing.

Anyways, it was funny!

Happy November!

Go Vols!

I love going to UT games with my friend Ashley!

They are so much fun!!!

At this particular game,

the Dobyns-Bennett High School band was there.

They're from Kingsport

(one of my favorite places,

because it is home to my grandparents!).

They did an amazing half time show! 

And we even got to hang out with Anna!

It was a wonderful day!

Go Vols!

Nard!

This is what our schedule looks like for the week. 

	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri
8:30-9:00	Devotions	Devotions	Devotions	Devotions	Devotions
9:00-9:50	Vision 2025	Phonetics	Phonetics	Phonology	Translation & Sem.
9:50-10:00	MORNING SNACK BREAKS EACH DAY
10:00-10:50	Phonetics	Grammar	Grammar	Gram. Test	Phonology Test
11:00-11:50	Grammar	Phonetics	Phonology	Trans. & Sem.	Trans. & Sem.
11:50-1:00	LUNCH	LUNCH	LUNCH	LUNCH	LUNCH
1:00-1:50	Phonetics	Lang. Learn.	Lang. Learn.	Lang. Learn.	Debrief & Conclusion
2:00-2:50	Lang. Learn.	Phonology	Trans. & Sem.	Trans. & Sem.
2:50-3:00	AFTERNOON SNACK BREAKS EACH DAY
3:00-3:50	Trans. & Sem.	Field Reports	Grammar	Field Reports
4:00-4:50	Anthropology	Translation	Anthropology	Translation
6:00-7:00	ETHNIC DINNER	ETH. DINNER	ETH. DINNER	ETH. DINNER
7:00-8:00	SPEAKER	SPEAKER	SPEAKER	SPEAKER
8:00-9:30	HANG OUT TIME & HELP WITH HOMEWORK, IF NEEDED

It's something like that.  There's actually some different types of classes about technology now, and we also got a guided tour of the whole JAARS center.  We got to see the air strip and watch planes take off! 
The first night we heard a story from a man named Nard from the Philippines.  He had become a Christian by reading part of the Bible in his own language.  Well, the translator who was there working in Nard's village had not yet finished the whole new testament, but Nard decided to go to the U.S. to be trained to become a Wycliffe pilot.  Right when he became an official pilot, the New Testament was translated and ready to be given out to his tribe.  Nard got to be the one who flew the New Testaments into his tribe!  Very neat story!  Oh, one other thing...when Nard first began to speak, he said (with a thick accent), "You all are the reason I now have to wear clothes and shoes."   ha!

 He also says his favorite foods are bilingual goat and bilingual chicken, which is dog and cat!  Let's hear it for another "ha"!