Arrow Academy

At long last

At long last, her childhood dream is a reality.  She has studied, saved, learned, grown.  From a shy little three  year old who wouldn't even run to mommy when she was shy, but had to dart out of a room, to a young lady who truly trusts her Father.

She's always wanted to work with Chinese Orphans.  Part of me sighs  a "finally..what she's been longing for".

Then I stand back and realize her young age.  And think "wow...to live your dream so young."

Her daddy recently said there is no safer place to be than in the center of God's will.

Asia!

My oldest baby is trying out bamboo matts on top of matresses, eating rice? for breakfeast, and trying to teach a group of South Korean students English for the next couple of weeks. 

The opportunity took us all a bit by surprise, but we quickly saw God's hand.

How could I let her go so close to one (or two....) of the many places of unrest in our world.  It's simply what my mom taught me.  She is safest where the Father wants her.

Do I wish internet was more reliable, or that I had a physical mailing address, or that she had time to write her mommy instead of falling into bed exhausted?  Before she ever left, after looking at the camp schedule, we decided that Koreans did not place a high value on sleep!  In fact, on Sunday, she skyped us at 2 am here time!  She was planning her lesson for the day.

May the Lord both use you and encourage you.  We are so pleased to see God's grace overflow in your life.  You are willing to go where he leads, even out of your comfort zone.  What treasures await, for His presence will be that more clear to you.

We don't know what the next step in your life is...but we watch you carefully grow and develop--further and further in....How we love you girlie!

Graduation

Can it be...has time passed that quickly...I remember shaking my head and wondering when she was three  Now I shake my head and marvel at God's beauty and grace...It overflows her heart into her art, music, and interactions with people.

While it seems that God placed His dream in your heart when you were seven, we await, purposefully, how HE is putting it all together.

We love you and are proud of all you have chosen, by God's grace, to become

camping at Grayson Highlands

To celebrate her upcoming graduation, dd 2 wanted to camp at one of our new wonder-spots, Grayson Highlands.  It had something to do with views like this!This is known as a moutian laurel...or a rhoden....ah, mountain laurel is easier.  They surrounded us on the path to the waterfall!Well, we are getting close to a family picture!The hike to the watefall, though not terribly difficult was exhausing for the one being carried! And we had to visit our...umm.."wild"'...ponies once again!Not to mention the night that my dh and 3 precious children camped out in the open on TOP of a HIGH SPOT...uh...wonder if they were SUPPOSE to do that!  DH said it was odd to see the milky way move across the sky everytime he woke from his windy, rocky, bed!

What an amazing time.  It was truely difficult to leave.

On Top of Ol' ....uh Grayson Highlands

Some dear friends have been patiently waiting for weeks for a hole in our schedule to take us to see Grayson Highlands.  We definitely have not gotten our fill, and are quite greatful for them  taking us through all the twists and turns to get up here!

Everyone, especially the children, were intrigued by the slope of this road!  No, we didn't travel on it , but us former mid-westerners were quite taken aback at the thought one could travel at such an angle!

The view was incredible, despite the haze!

This is one of the "wild" ponies.  Well, they are wild in the sense that they hang out and no one halter's them.  They are quite people-friendly.  I really felt a kinship with this girl.  I wanted to pull off my scrunchy, shake my head and have my picture taken with her!  And Then loan her my scrunchy!!

This was taken by our 16 year old, horse-loving, aspiring nature photographer!  Looks like a poster to me!

Over Mountain Men Reenactment

Our first battle reenactment.

Well, it was a 2 day event, so it was HALF of the battle! The next day they finished it .The boys had alot of questions as to how the reenactors knew, historically, who was where and shot who. 

The Over Mountain Men gathered from VA and TN and went to pursue the English commander who threatened to burn their land.  Over 250 miles later, one of the most significant battles of the Revolution was fought in King's Mountain, S.C.

Well, that's what they say.  We overheard one of the reenactors quip "Every battle was the turning point of the War...just act any reenactor there!"

I took "only" the five youngest.  This is the boys on the inside of a replica of the fort, on the stands built to shoot or dump rocks, hot water etc on attacking Indians

.Some of the reenactors were interested in educating us.  Others acted as though we were not there.  This was new to us, and we didn't know how much to interact, how much to simply observe.

Personally, the one disappointing thing was the lack of Native American reeanctment.  They had a camp, but surprisingly little was going on at the appointed time.  There is a specifically noted Native American reenactment coming up there at Sycamore Schoals, but unlike this event, there is a fee connected

It's tempting to jump to American History.  We are just half way through our TOGyear 1!  We are doing alot of summerizing here.  The boys would likely never forgive me for skipping the days of knights, so we will start w/ TOG 2 next year.  I am thankful we will soon get to Am. Hist..though I never thought I'd say that! 

Living here, having the real sense of history really makes a difference.

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A Sense of History

I was busy running errands, almost late.  I had business near the courthouse, where I hadn't been much before.  As I walked the brick sidewalk, I was overcome by a sense of history.  Hmmmm...I wonder how old this sidewalk is? There IS a site of a fort just a few blocks away that dates from the time of the Revolution. I could almost see Colonial kids running down the walk, especially in front of this house here.  It'd be a good shot for a movie.

Wait.

There is a sign on this building!!

I hurriedly transacted my business, in an inappropriately blissful manner-matters of taxation usually don't elicite such demeanor!  I couldn't wait to get back to the van where my older children were supervising the youngers.  "Look," I gasped....That building..the brick one...it's. where Robert Sheffey grew up!!!!

The children who were old enough to remember watching the movie "Sheffey" in the mid-west gasped and shrieked..the youngers were wondered what all the commotion was about!  We ran out with cameras (we were on our way to some other fun event) .

That settles it.  We MUST go on a walking tour of this town!  I have probably driven by this building 50 times or more, never realizing the significance.

There were no "hours open" signs.  I'll have to contact the historical society and see just what it takes to take a step back into history!!

My 5th Teen!

My "Claim to Fame" for the next few monts is that I'm the mom of 5 teens!  I love it!  This is my first male one, however! His Daddy surprised him by taking the day off and hiking a trek on the Appalachian Trail with him!  Notice the tree roots growing over the rock in the above photo.  It was the first leg that Daddy had trekked before the rest of the family moved here.

 I was pleased that my aspiring videotographer noticed the small, as well as the large signs of spring.

They didn't always have it easy.  At one point, another hiker greeted them with "Welcome to the Appalachian River!  There had been alot of rain that week, and one of the lowest points was the trail!  The above is NOT the trail, but is usually a gently flowing stream.

What is incredible is the amount of maturity I'm seeing in my son.  He's beginning to accept correction, even when he thinks it's not justified.  And I love that he is showing the intiative in spiritual things.

I hope your life is full of adventure, Son,  in serving the Lord, rejoicing in Him, enjoying His world, but ultimately finding your joy in Him alone.

Reenacting

Another amazing thing about our current area is the history.  One Sunday afternoon we spent a couple of hours where they were doing some free reenactors.  Amazing.  We all wished we had hours more to spend with them.  They were fantastic, stayed in character, and gave us information I didn't know about the Revlolutionary War era and this area.  This was the truly "Arrogant Frenchman" who was here to tech us lowborn Americans how to make lace for his business.

This woman amazed us all.  She was a full-time reenactor, in her 70's.  She taught us a little song slave parents would teach their children to encourage them to eat as well as they could even if they were seperated.  Did you k now hoecakes were actually cornmeal cooked over a fire on a hoe when they had a break to eat lunch in the fields?  She was passonate that parents teach their children, and that children appreciate thier parents.  She challenged us to preserve our family history in any way we can.  She challenged the children to record the stories of their older relatives.  She was an amazing lady.

An Amazing Trail

I am astounded.  Amazed.  We have lived in our new area almost a year.  One thing that asounds me is just how close we are to places that folks are thrilled to visit.  One of the surpizes for me is that the Appalachian Trail is minutes from our home.  For years, I have wanted to the children to do nature notebooks.  This year, I had a vested interest.  If we HAD to do an assignment, then I  HAD to find myself out on a trail!  This year, it happened more than any year in the past!

Our children enjoy the trail and can't explore enough.  However, I wonder if they know, really know what an opportunity they have.  My two year old has walked the incredible trail that I set foot on the first time this year. 

Though the trail is within sight, at times, of the easier trail that is gorgeous and I can push a stroller on.  But there is something amazing about the A.T>  You are "out there".  The first time that my dh and I stood on the trail and I drank in the beauty with  my ears, my eyes, my very skin...I was moved to tears.  Beauty was not just seen.  My heart ached.  It was almost too much.

 I have been hesitant to take my wee ones out on the Trail now that it is Fall.  Afterall, I did see a BEAR while  I was driving down the roadwhen we came here to house-hunt  last year.  The little guys would make yummy snacks.  But I savor the beauty, and look forward to this priceless gift granted by my Creator.