Beyond The Red Door

Welcome to our family's blogging home - where I share life beyond our red door! I hope that you will enjoy your visit with us.

Today's Verse

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Things That Make Me Smile

Seeing the kids reading their Bibles on their own
Hearing the ocean
Smelling a cake baking
Remembering our wedding day
Singing in the church choir
Shopping for my family
Feeling good
Reading in the tub
A quiet house
Watching a funny movie with the kids
Seeing my kids playing a game together
Ron's little finger dance
Hearing my kids being excited about church
Watching Ron play with Faith (our dog)
Hearing Ron snoring beside me after he has been gone on a long trip
Chatting with special friends
Feeling hot sand under my feet on a beach somewhere
Game night with Brian & Kim and kids
Spending one on one time with Kim
Double Dating With Brian and Kim
A clean house
Sitting on my front porch in my new rockers
Walking on a cool evening with my family
Losing weight
Seeing my kids make a great play on the soccer field

About The Hunters

My dear sweet hubby, Ron, and I have been married for 20+ years. We began dating during my freshman year at Free Will Baptist Bible College in Nashville. He is my college sweetheart. We have ministered together in various ministries during our lives together. We pastored for 10 years in Florida. We moved to TN in 2000 to Co-Pastor with some friends of ours. The Lord has given me a fabulous provider whom I love more than any words I write could ever express. He is now the CEO at our denomination's publishing company, Randall House Publications. I am honored to support him.

Our oldest child is named Michael. He is now officially a teenager, although I don't think I'm old enough to have a teenager. He is a very sweet and considerate young man. He is my thinker and my reader. He absorbs every piece of new information that he comes across. He loves playing soccer, riding his bike, skateboarding, reading, watching the History Channel, the Military Channel, ESPN and any documentary on TV. I am privileged to be his Mother.

Lauren is our youngest child. She is just 15 months behind her brother in age. She is wise beyond her years. She has a sharp-witted tongue (which sometimes has to be tamed), a quick sense of humor and a heart for people and animals. She loves organizing anything and everything. She loves being with her friends, singing, talking on her cell phone and playing soccer. I am blessed to be her Mother.

Just the knowledge that a good book is awaiting one at the end of a long day makes that day happier. - Kathleen Norris

On My Nightstand

When I Lay My Isaac Down by Carol Kent
Esther: It's Tough Being A Woman by Beth Moore
NIV Life Application Study Bible

Back On The Bookshelf 2009

~Beyond The Red Door~

Jan. 5, 2008
Ski Trip Extravaganza

Posted in World Travels

This beautiful picture was taken on top of a mountain in North Carolina North of Asheville where we went skiing earlier this week. Isn't it beautiful?

When we first got there I was mesmerized by the beauty surrounding us.

This picture was taken outside of our cabin. See all the cabins on the side of the mountain?

This was taken from the top deck of our cabin. Here are some pictures of the inside of our cabin. It was really beautiful.

That room was the sitting area outside our bedroom.

The hot tub was on the bottom deck. It was about 25 degrees but Ron, the kids, Ron's Dad and Stepmom all went in it. NOT ME!! That run from the door into the hottub is a cold one.

We also had a game room in the basement. Ron and the kids had a great time playing foosball.

Ron and the kids went skiing on Tuesday. Then a snowstorm hit Tuesday evening and all day Wednesday.

It snowed so much that the slopes were actually closed. You know the weather is bad when the ski slopes close.

But the snow didn't stop the fun! Snowball fight anyone?

Grandaddy has someone in his sights.

Maybe it was Lauren.

Or maybe Lauren AND Katie!!

Payback is rough!!

Michael's turn!

Heading up to the lodge to warm up by the big fire.

Finally the slopes opened back up and it's time to get back out there! But you have to bundle up good. Any little bit of skin that is showing will freeze.

Grandaddy is ready to go!

Michael and Lauren are ready to go.

Michael with his snowboard.

Lauren with her snowboard.

Ron is bundled up!

I'm bundled up! Let's Go!!!!

Michael got really good at snowboarding.

But eventually it's time to go back inside, warm up and take a nap:

OF course, Grandaddy needed help getting his boots off.

Nanny & Grandaddy napping together.

Later it was Ron's turn to nap.

Then Lauren tried to warm up.

All the while, this was happening outside:

What you can't see here is that there are mountains behind all that white snow blowing.

The end result was all of this beautiful scenery:

We really did enjoy ourselves. The area was beautiful and Ron and the kids learned to ski. I learned that I like to stay inside by the fireplace and stay warm.

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Nov. 25, 2007
Thanksgiving Vacation

Posted in World Travels

We had a wonderful trip this year to Fall Creek Falls State Park. This year we stayed in a cabin on the lake. I didn't feel so great so I didn't get to go hiking like I wanted to. But Ron and the kids went. We played games and watched movies. We had Thanksgiving dinner in the restaurant. Oh my goodness it was sooooo yummy!!!!! The dressing just melted in your mouth. The mashed potatoes were the real thing and tasted like a dream. The corn tasted like it was fresh off the cob. The green beans tasted like Heaven. Friday night they have a seafood buffet. And they keep the crab legs HOT HOT HOT!!! It was so wonderful. Interestingly enough Mary Winkler happened to be eating dinner there Friday night as well. That certainly gave us plenty to talk about. She lives in a town close by. She was with a family - husband, wife, one of their moms and a teenage boy. It was a surprise - that's for sure.

Well, we took soooooooooooooo many pictures that I decided to put them all into a slideshow instead of trying to put them all into this blog entry one at a time. Hopefully this will work. Cross your fingers.

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Nov. 7, 2007
Recent Trip to Washington DC

Posted in World Travels

I've pretty much been out of it today. But I had said that I would get our pictures up from our weekend away. So, while the kids are gone to church (I wasn't up to going) I thought I would do that real quick.

We have been to DC on a family vacation before. But if you have ever been you know that when you leave - you leave with a list of things to come back and spend more time doing in the future. This was our second trip. Ron has been twice since we went as a family. So, he said that this trip was about me and what I wanted to see/do. Well, it didn't quite work out that way because of time allowances. But I appreciated the sentiment and had a good time anyway.

Keep in mind that pictures will not do any of these sites justice. It was phenomenal in all aspects. With that said - let the show begin.

The first time we went I didn't get to see the Jefferson Memorial. It sits facing the Potomac River. It was a truly spectacular sight to behold. Here is a picture of the entire sight.

This picture was taken next to the River. I want to research and learn about the history behind building it. I haven't done that yet. But it certainly intrigued me.

When we were walking up the steps Ron made sure that I didn't see the statue of Jefferson until I got to the top. It absolutely took my breath away. It was a spiritual experience actually.

It is so big. In the first picture you can get an idea of the size by seeing the people standing around. It just takes your breath away.

There is my man - who also takes my breath away.

This picture was taken by the same column as Ron's above - just in the opposite direction. This picture turned out pretty well so I didn't delete it. Most of the pictures with me in them I deleted. Don't you? Oh - and you can see the Washington Monument behind me. And that is the Potomac River seperating us.

The other thing that we did was go to these monuments at night. Washington is so much more beautiful at night. obviously you can tell that this was taken from the other side of the Potomac. That is the Jefferson memorial.

The rest of the pictures will be night pictures.

This is the Lincoln Memorial. It is also quite breath taking.

WOW - is it magnificent?

This picture was taken from the top of the steps at the Lincoln Memorial. It is the Washington Monument and it's reflection in the reflection pool. What you can't see is the Capitol that is directly behind it. This is one end of the Mall.

Now you can see the capitol (although you wouldn't know that is what it is if I didn't tell you) to the left of the Washington Monument. It is also reflected in the Reflection Pool.

Behind the trees on the left in the picture above you will find the Vietnam Memorial. It is a very somber and heartbreaking place really. To walk along the wall and grasp the magnitude of the number of names engraved on it is very moving. We took a couple of pictures of it but they didn't turn out. It wasn't very well lit.

Behind the trees to the right of the picture above you find the Korean War Memorial.

There is a wall just out of the picture to the left that has hundreds of faces etched in it. It's beautiful but would not have shown up in a nighttime picture. Are the statues haunting? The bright spot to the right of the picture is the Lincoln Memorial.

About 2 miles away, near Arlington National Cemetery, is the Battle of Iwo Jima Memorial.

It is so big and very moving. See the capitol to the left and then the Washington Monument next to it?

Here is the Washington Monument. See the flags all around the bottom. That gives you an idea of the size of it. I haven't been to the top of it yet. That's on the list for a future trip.

And here is the Capitol and it's reflection in the reflection pool.

The next trip I hope to go to Mount Vernon. We went this trip but we got there 10 minutes after they closed the gate. So, it will be the primary stop next time.

I hope you enjoyed the night tour of the Washington monuments.

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