Friday, August 31, 2012

Convention & Hurricane Isaac

Every year Glenn and I travel to the AAHRA Convention. He attends meetings, and I join him for dinners and luncheons. This year we traveled to Panama City Beach, Florida and stayed at Edgewater Resorts.

Not only did we need to pack for this trip but our home needed "hurricane status" preparation attention. Hurrican Isaac was headed towards the Gulf with a projected path of PCB and Dothan. Decisions, decisions.....pack and travel or prepare and stay. So I prepared our home first, then packed for our trip to the convention.

As we were traveling to Edgewater we received word via phone that the convention's Site Committee was in a meeting with the resort management to determine whether or not to cancel the convention. The decision was to continue with plans for the convention so we checked in and turned our attention to the weather channel for updates on Hurricane Isaac.

A short stroll onto the beach gave us a preview of dark cloud clustering and an eeriness of what might come our way.

 
 


The next couple of days were good ol' summer days. Some shopping and eating out with friends we see each year at the convention.



Monday morning Glenn left early as he co-chaired the Golf Tournament with our friend, Wayne. I spent the day sleeping in and walking on the beach. Our first convention function was in the evening. We all gathered together for a buffet dinner, a line dancing tutorial, and an evening of fun and fellowship with a live band.

My favorite assembly of the association members is the Scholarship Luncheon that is held the second day of the convention. At this gathering the public housing association honors student residents and students of employees with scholarships to further their education. Scholarship recipients attend, briefly speak, and receive their award. My heart swells with joyfulness for them. Most recipients were attending their college classes but three were able to attend the convention.

After the luncheon I spent some time on the beach. Hurricane Isaac had shifted westwardly but the wind band was reaching our area. Winds were approximately 20-25 mph and the Gulf was tossing 2-3 ft waves continuously.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tuesday evening Jeff and Phillip from Arthur J. Gallagher & Company invited Wayne and Sandra (Gasden), Julie (Attalla), Shaler (Florence) and us to join them at Firefly for dinner. We had a great time of fellowship and good food.

Glenn's agenda for Wednesday was packed with meetings while my agenda was getting out of the bed, changing into a bathing suit, and moving to the balcony's chaise lounge. I spent the entire day on the balcony reading, working puzzles, and sleeping. Ahhhhhhh...BLISS!!!

Our final night of the convention was a semi-formal seated dinner. Many awards were presented to various public housing developments of which Dothan was a recipient. I am so proud of my hubby for the excellent work he has accomplished at DHA with his staff.

Trip Dates: August 24 - 30, 2012
Convention Dates: August 27-30, 2012

Thursday, August 16, 2012


Today I visited the school where I once worked, and felt for the first time since May 2011 that I was really retired.

Announcing my replacement at the school wasn't until the later part of August 2011 so I volunteered to return for a day or two to set up the computer lab room. This would greatly help out the school so that the person hired could come right in and begin working without having to set up the lab. I loved Grandview and helping out in any way was my way of giving back to the school that embraced my love and skills.

My year of trials began in July 2011 with the hospitalization of my dad and another hospital stay the Wednesday after Labor Day. My world turned upside down and spiraled as my dad's health declined and then his passing. I spiraled out of control.

I've always been somewhat quiet with my deepest feelings and especially in my writings...and will continue to do so.

My life has not been easy juggling two emotionally controlled worlds but each trial that has come my way has made me a better person. I am eternally grateful for each adventure whether happy or sad. I look for the blessings, God Winks, and even consequences for the action(s) that I take.

In January, I took control and made some life-changing decisions. I'm still a progress-in-work but have, in fact, made some great journal entries into my life.

I am happy.

I am free.

I feel retired.

Saturday, August 11, 2012

~Thinking of Thinking~


As I sit in my comfy chair
at 1:45 AM on a Friday evening,
myriad flashes cross my mind and leave me
...trying to catch my breath.



Friday, August 10, 2012

Continue to Pray...

Morgan surrounded by some cousins.
Her brother, Dylan, has the cap on his head.

Continuing to pray for her recovery.




Tuesday, August 7, 2012

A Very Long Day...

for a very special family. David & Mitzi's little girl, Morgan, underwent surgery this morning around 8 AM for removal of two tumors...an old and new one. Surgery was over around 7 PM tonight.

Excerpts from a Facebook Post:

"ALL VISIBLE PARTS OF THE TUMORS were taken out! The old tumor had eroded part of her jaw bone. The doctors cut that part out, put in a metal plate, and attached bone from her left leg to fix the jaw.

Morgan does have some nerve damage, as the facial nerves were "plastered" around the old tumor. One nerve was stretched thin, but has been repaired. All of the nerves were kept intact. That side of her face may droop for a few weeks or months even, but the surgeon said that none of the damage should be permanent. The neurosurgeon was not needed in the surgery, as the tumor had not gotten that far! Praise you, Lord!

She will be in ICU tonight, to keep her sedated and also to do an MRI in the morning. Mitzi and David will be able to stay with her in ICU.

It will take up to a week for the final pathology reports, and they expect to be in the hospital for upt to a week."

Thank you Lord for hearing prayers for this sweet little girl who loves you so much! Her favorite verse is Jeremiah 29:11.



 

Praying for Morgan...

Calling all Prayer Warriors!!!

This sweet little girl is having surgery today to remove 2 tumors. Her jaw may be affected too; and if so, plans are in place to handle this situation as well. The surgery will possibly be an all day affair... not that she will be having constant surgery but with all the medical personnel involved it will be a long process.

Please join me in prayer to our Heavenly Father who is Our Great Physician. I pray specifically for wisdom, guidance & direction for the surgical teams and hospital teams.

For Morgan's parents David & Mitzi, brother Dylan, and all other family members, I pray specifically for patience, peace & understanding.

We do not understand God's Ways. We just have faith & place our trust in God's plan for Morgan.


Our God Is An Awesome God!!!

Friday, August 3, 2012

Our Love Grows...(Monday, July 30, 2012)

Today is our 35th Wedding Anniversary, and there is no other place that we would want to be as we celebrate "Our Love".

Cades Cove has always been THE PLACE for us to visit in the mountains. We love the feeling of riding "The Loop" s.l.o.w. with our car windows down. We both have our side views from the car as we search through the woods for any kind of wildlife. When we see something (or not), we CALL IT OUT and slow the car down or stop along side the loop.

There is something amazing about being in the country, reflecting upon God's wonders, and seeing all the wildlife that we spy. This particular trip began around 8 AM. We road the loop 3/4 of the way, cut across the field, stopped to contemplate hiking Abrams Fall (which we didn't), continued the loop and rode the loop again. YES, we love "The Loop" that much!!!

Mountains of Majesty

Field of Wild Flowers

Fence Rails

Cut-Across

Young Cub Eating Berries on The Cut-Across

I just knew he was going to fall from the tree

I stopped counting deer after 15.

Trying to hide...

love this photograph

The next Three pictures were taken by Mike Shelton from Marshall, NC. Glenn & I met him while photographing this buck and doe. He was so kind to send me a few copies of his shots.




turkeys & red-headed woodpecker

gobble-gobble-gobble

What a full day of peace, enjoyment, and thrill! Did I mention that we LOVE Cades Cove?

After leaving the Cove mid-afternoon, we headed back to Pigeon Forge to grab a bite to eat from Five Guys. That was the best burger with a BAG of fries...yes a BAG of fries. After filling our tummies, we went back to the cabin where we would have to pack for the next day's travel back home to Dothan.

This anniversary trip was a great one. It had been a little over two years since our last visit. We will definitely not wait that long to visit again. I can't wait to return to the Great Smoky Mountains.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Our Love Grows...(Sunday, July 29, 2012)

On Sunday we decided to go horseback riding. We had been to this stable before when it was owned by another family...McCarter Riding Stables.

After arriving and getting settled on our horses, Poppy & Mosely, we began our one and a half hour journey with a good-natured guide who was very, very laid back & country. Calvin, a 21 year old father, had a good heart & loved the outdoors. 



Below you will see a picture of the horses we rode...Poppy & Mosely. We enjoyed our ride as we viewed God's awesomeness in nature all around us. We even saw a young cub only because the guide horse alerted us.


We always enjoy riding horses whenever we can while we visit the mountains.


After our mid-morning to lunch ride, we headed towards Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail to do a little car sight-seeing. We also thought we'd do a short hike to a waterfall. This is a wonderful motor trail.


We decided to hike Grotto Falls and so did everyone else on the trail. We looked and looked for a parking spot. Upon seeing one, we decided to pull in. Little did we know that this parking spot would cause us great trouble. After unsuccessful attempts on our own to get our car out of this spot, several guys stopped and helped us out. In the end we were pulled out with a pull-strap. Thanking the Lord that no major damage was done, our car was drivable, and no one was hurt.

And no...we did not hike to Grotto Falls. 


We made it back to the cabin, cleaned ourselves up, went to eat, and headed to "Country Tonite" for an evening of music and celebration.



Monday's adventure is next.

Our Love Grows...(Saturday, July 28, 2012)

Our first adventure was Foxfire Mountain Zip Lines. Foxfire was recommended to me and it was a great place for fun and excitement. Everyone was great and made us first timers very comfortable. Not sure what to expect, I didn't carry my camera along with me. Now I know... definitely a camera will go with me next time!

Tim and Caleb were our zippin' guides. They made sure that we understood all the necessary signs we needed to watch for as we zipped along the lines.

On the third line I officially joined in the fun and placed myself upside down..."butt up!" as I was zippin' along the line. WOW!!! So much fun...I loved it! Then I watched as the last guide on one of the lines zipped over to our stand, and he was spinning like an upside down turtle. I HAD TO TRY THIS! So he prepared my line before I left the stand and instructed me as to what I should do once I left the stand.

As I began zippin' on the line, I couldn't get to spinning and then I did. It was G*R*E*A*T!!! Sure wish I had taken my camera - :(


(Not us in the top three photos but we did zip this way.)

Foxfire Mountain Grounds



Foxfire Mountain Grounds


After zippin', flipping & twirling, Glenn and I walked across the Bridge to Prosperity. This bridge is over 4' wide and over 400' long and will hold over 24,000 lbs. This swinging bridge is the longest one in America. Bridges such as this type was used by mountain folk to go from one mountain to another as the shortest route.


As we crossed the bridge, we stepped onto Prosperity Mountain . A little sitting area was set up and a small covered bridge was located on the right. As you walked around the sitting area, you would see cairns (set of artistically balanced stones) that people had completed. In the picture below you will see two sets of cairn pictures. The pictures top right are of the cairn that Glenn completed. The pictures on the bottom are of the cairn that I completed.

The bottom right three pictures of Glenn and myself with colorful streamers are actually written wishes of people. You would write your wish at the main office, carry your wish across the bridge and hang your wish among the many, many wishes under the cover of the small wooden bridge. Our wish..."Wishes for a Cancer Cure"...thinking of Morgan Hasty and others on our heart.



We decided after hanging our "wish" to hike the small distance to a waterfall. Hiking is a fun, yet tiring activity and sometimes very challenging.



From this point of viewing the waterfall we could see a zip line stand and some other zippers. Waterfalls are a favorite scenery...some more breathtaking than others... others more relaxing to us just for the mear fact that it was a challenge to reach the fall. I even tried out the hammock even our walk to the waterfull was a short and an easy walk.


Sunday's adventure next.

Our Love Grows...(July 27, 2012)

We celebrated our 35th Anniversary in Tennessee and
loved every minute. The mountains have always been
a very special area for us because
we love nature and wildlife. Cades Cove is one place
we will always when we visit the mountains.



*******
This little cabin was perfect for just the two of us.





More of our story to come.