Wow! Is the first thing I can think of...

...Our weekend was so fun! Saturday Morning we headed out to visit with my Grandma Marie and spent the night in Orlando with her.

We ate Lunch at Rainforest Cafe and walked through Disney Village, just chillin in the little shops. We also went to the Gap...Thank you Grandma for my purse! I love it!

Then we road a rollercoaster, go-carts, and watched bungy jumping! We tried to convince my Dad to do it but, he wouldn't. Oh and we saw a neat looking licensce plate!

Thank-you Grandma for such a fun day! I love spending time with you! and I am so glad you invited us to come over!

On sunday we went to the most amazing Drivers Edge thing! It was so fun and educating!

At first when my mom wanted me to go, I thought to myself" this is going to be so boring, all they are going to do is give lectures, and show videos that I have already seen before", boy was I wrong! They did give a few lectures, but they actully let you drive and show you how to get out of dangerous situations.

The first thing I got to do there was learn how to get out of a skid. First the instructor (which was professional race car driver) drove us on the course and the car lost traction, skidded and jerked! Then he had me drive the car! It was a little scary at first! But if my car ever does lose traction, I was taught what to do. It definately boosted my confidence in driving on a highway.

The seconed thing they had us learn about was different things about the car. One thing that really helped me was "Wash Boats". Wash meaning Window washer fluid, B is brake fluid, O is oil, a is anti freeze, T is transmission fluid, and S is steering fluid.

Back out to a different corse they taught what ABS brakes are and let us test them, by flooring the gas and then the instructer would yell "NOW" then we would have to slam on the brakes! The next part in that course was road hazzards. I wasn't good at this part. We had to drive a long stretch and then swerve quickly at an object and pretend that it was a large object and try to avoid it. My instructer was so nice! He took me back out on the course and showed me what I was doing wrong and explained it to me, and had me keep doing it till I was able to do it without hitting any of the cones, he also gave me a trophy for being the most improved on that course that was really neat!

I have heard so many things to do and what not to when your car skids out of control and I was so confused I would of freaked out because I wouldn't of known what to do if my car ever did skid, or if I had to swerve around somthing going 60 MPH. but this really, really helped me!

If you ever have the chance to go I strongly encourage every teenager to do this! and It was all paid for by donations and by government funding so it was all free even the t-shirts, hats and jumper cable car kit and a bunch more things!

I could barely sleep last night because I was so excited!

...Libby...

Our Vacation has come to an end....life is back to normal....

Well....all good things must come to an end.....We pulled in about 10:00 last night. We were tired, but rested....We had a wonderful drive home and even ran into some celebration attenders at the gas station in Gainesville! aww...we were sad we missed it!
We slept in late, laid around, and had to return the rental car today....here are the last of our pictures from the trip....
Great memories...great times...great friends....and a heartful of thanks! God has been so good to us....We will reminisce about this trip for years to come....
A wonderful time to be had by all....

Vacation Post #2

We are having a great time, very relaxing. We are in town right now and I am sitting in a little cafe while the gang is out looking at books and little shops....We came into town through fog that was so thick, we couldn't see in front of us...I was so scared coming down that mountain! yikes!

We have been to the apple orchard, pumpkin patch and everywhere in between. We have seen the most beautiful scenery and ate so much food, I think I might pop!

We have had the best time and we hate to see it end....But we know that our beautiful life is at home and we hate to go, but we can't wait to be back at home, where our life and friends are...

Thank-you God for your kindness on our week and all the wonderful memories that we have made in the process....

We look forward to the time we can do it again! Thanks Rick and Patty for one of the best memories! We love you! and Justin and Krista, it was not the same without you here :( Krista, your dad has been eating donuts, I will try and save you some, but it will be hard ~smile~

We're here!

We left bright and early Monday morning and arrived early evening! What a beautiful ride up and what fun we are having so far!

We had a wonderful dinner at the cabin on Monday-roasted hotdogs and smores! We then spent Tuesday exploring and just resting. It was such a nice day. The weather was beautiful and we had some great times just reminiscing and enjoying each others company...The best part of the day was our outdoor movie on the porch! We pulled out the tv and dvd player and made an outdoor fire and watched "The Last Sin Eater" to the sounds of the nature all around us! Oh it was so nice...and I was a little scared that something would get us! Joe blocked off the porch entrances so nothing would get me....(I recommend that movie if you have not seen it! a great one!)

Today we are in Blue Ridge, Georgia. We had lunch here and shopped some stores and are now headed to eat lots of apples!

The apple eating mom, over and out...

oh...and if you see Rick, ask him about the food he ate while we were gone ~wink~

And what to our wandering eyes should appear?

But a snake and a poisonous one I fear!!

Yes, the news of the day is a baby pygmy rattle snake was on our porch. Libby sent Emmy over to get it and realized it was a snake. Joe corraled it into the jar and we were on our way to finding out what it was....Boy it was mean too.....He was shaking his tail and striking over and over again at whatever it could....

About a month ago we had found a baby black widow on our water faucet outside....oh my!

I hate to think that we are a breeding ground for poisonous critters :0


Well...it did make for an interesting day!

Fall is in the air........

Fall is in the air...I feel it....I am starting to dream about being in the leaves...I can smell them in the air....I can feel the coolness that fall brings...and I am longing for it.....

I get this way..about this time every year..... and this year is no different..except for one thing......

This year...I get to go!! We all get to go! We are going to the North Georgia Mountains for 7 beautifully glorious days! I am beyond excited....I am longing for it..... Crazy as it sounds...I never felt more near to God, than when I am in the mountains....There is something about time standing still that changes me.....I actually get still.....and like it....no I don't just like it....
I love it.....I am anticipating long walks...Long lingering quiet times... Hillcrest orchards, rainbow trout at the Apple festival, long drives, long talks, smores, apple tasting...Barts Pumpkin Patch, Good times with Good friends.....More good times with good friends....Great times with my family....memories born and made.....
Deep fried Pickles at the Apple Festival....Country drives down long windy roads with Autumn in New England playing through the car.....

Apple Cider Donuts from Hillcrest Orchards....Trying 20 different kinds of apples...apple smell....apple tastes....mmmmm......

Pumpkin Roll from Barts Pumpkin Patch.....yummo...It is a joke in our family that every memory I have is about a food I ate and where I ate it....it's true.... about the food.....but it is about so much more....

There is just something about going up there..to the moutains that refreshes my soul.....a time when my insides sit still....my mind takes a break...I see God's hand everywhere....I feel Him everywhere...I love going because I am reminded of God's love for me.....and I leave....changed by that....

I leave with a memory that God met us there....I leave refreshed....recharged....reinivisioned....ready for life at home....

12 days and counting......

Thank-you God for providing every penny.... for providing a beautiful place....and Thank-you most of all for a reason to praise you for what your hand has made.....and it is beautiful.....and I love you...and Thank-you.......again and again.....