Amazing Magnetics

The boys discovered they could hang their creations from the slats under Ian's top bunk. Pretty cool! They could even spin them and they'd still stay on.

The Newest Cub Scout! (and most handsome)

It's official! Ian is a Tiger Cub Scout in Pack 107. He's been waiting and waiting for this day. He went to his first meeting on Monday and we have our first "go and see" to the Greer Heritage Museum this coming Monday. He's got his dad's Cub Scout knife all sharpened and ready. Doesn't he look sharp?!

My "Sunshine" Tree

We are blessed with an abundance of wonderful shade in our yard during the hot summer months. In the fall, this becomes a double blessing as the leaves turn colors. This tree in our front yard literally stopped me in my tracks the other day as I pulled out of the driveway. The brilliance of the yellows and lime greens brought me to tears at the creativity of our God. It was one of those moments where I felt like He "painted" this tree into my front yard just for me--to bless me with a view of His awesome lovingkindness "just because". As the days have passed, the colors mellowed into an abundance of deep yellows and oranges. I couldn't help but take another shot of it. It seemed to fill the whole house with its yellow glow (we're also blessed with a couple big windows in the front too!).

Yesterday it rained. I knew it was coming. The leaves were falling fast and hard. In fact, this was the last of the trees to hang onto its leaves. The rain continued throughout the night and I awoke to a sad sight this morning--a bare tree, its stark and empty branches stretching heavenward, a thick carpet of yellow covering our front yard. Tonight, the leaves are all bagged up awaiting the trash truck. And my house no longer glows with yellow...

But the lessons remain in my heart. God can take something that is dying and make it so beautiful. But it's never for our glory--only His. Just when we begin to think there's something special in us, He strips it even further, just to be sure that underneath we are stretching and growing heavenward. Pointing to our Creator, pressing on to know our Lord, despite our emptiness. Spring will come with its "times of refreshing". But for now, I will raise my empty, barren branches to my Father, clinging to Him, worshipping Him, waiting on His perfect timing and full restoration.

Isaac Stephen

Ian Frazier

Proof:

No, we're not THAT hard core. We drove most of the way up the mountain.

The Devil's Kitchen...

... is the name of this narrow passage through the rocks at Ceasar's Head. Isaac especially thought this was really "ins-tresting" (sic).

Awe inspiring

We stopped on our way back down the mountain to climb out onto Ceasar's Head--a rocky outcropping that supposedly looks like Ceasar's profile. This was the view we were rewarded with! That's Table Rock and Table Rock Reservoir, and also Pinnacle Mountain, the highest peak entirely in SC. Any question as to why they're called the Blue Ridge Mountains?

Trees

Are you jealous yet?





I have a love affair with the colors of fall! The fact that God would create such beauty simply for our pleasure stops me in my tracks. I love to drink in the scent and sight of the fall kaliedoscope. Even better, the fact that God can so beautify something that is dying--truly miraculous!

A few more shots from the trail...

Ian and Isaac were pretending to be spies sneaking up on me as I rested on a big rock outcropping.

Big Leaves!

 

No "perspective" tricks here--these leaves really were as big as their heads. We'll be studying the Blue Ridge Mountains next week in school, so I intend to search through our "Foliage of the Blue Ridge" book to discover what kind of tree these things came from. Anyone know already?

Worth the hike!

 

Today the boys and I decided to do some serious hiking (well, actually, I decided and dragged them along). We headed to the northwestern corner of South Carolina to the Mountain Bridge Wilderness area. Raven's Cliff Falls was our goal and we made it! Three solid hours of hiking, rewarded with this magnificent view of the falls. The water drops 400 feet! We were a quarter of a mile away and it was still breathtaking. We laughed a lot along the way and enjoyed the gorgeous fall colors still blanketing the Blue Ridge. After being reluctant when I announced our plans for the day, we ended with Ian saying, "Well, today was sure a great day!"

Birthday Highlights

Happy 7th Birthday, Ian!

We celebrated with the usual presents here at home, but also included his friends this year with a skateboard themed party at our church. His buddy Andrew also turns 7 this week, so we had fun celebrating both of them. The kids brought their wheels and had the run of the parking lot. Andrew's mom had lots of great games planned for the kids and everyone had such a fun time.

I can't believe how quickly the years have passed. Ian seems to be getting taller and smarter every day. He looks so long lying in his bed asleep each night. I can't believe that the boy I once carried so easily in one arm is now almost too heavy for me to lift.

Ian, you have grown into a precious young man. I love your big smile and bright eyes. I makes my heart sing to hear your laughter, especially when we're having a good "tickle torture" session. You bring joy to me with your servant's heart, tender spirit, and generous nature. I love to see the ways you care for and look out for your little brother. I pray you will always be each other's best friend. You have such a sweet hunger for God and His Word. Sometimes your understanding of the things of God amazes me. Always keep that hunger and passion. He is truly your life and your everything. Trust in Him. Lean on Him. Learn of Him. I love you!

There's no place like HOME school!

I am humbled that the God of the universe would stoop to hear our hearts' cries. My boys will be coming back home for school! I've known for several weeks that God was working out the details to make this possible; today I finally got to tell Ian and Isaac. What fun! They are so excited. Isaac said he was so happy that even his crayons were smiling! Ian's only complaint was this, "Oh man, I wish I could bring home my hymn book. I love those songs." I was quick to let him know I have a hymn book (and a piano) and we can sing hymns every morning if he wants to. God is good!

P.S. The big "present" is actually the door to our school room, all wrapped up.

Could they look any sweeter?

 

After a long day of school, an evening of backyard fun, and an after-dinner "tickle torture" session, it didn't take long for their busy minds and bodies to succomb to sleep. They both sleep best when they're snuggled up next to each other. Rest well, my precious babies.

You might be a redneck if...

 

...this is your idea of an evening on the golf course. I looked up to see the boys doing this and exclaiming, "Mom, we're playing golf!" Fancy club there, culled from our growing "stick pile". And that green ball? Tiger Woods may want to try out these fallen beauties from the tree in our backyard! Classic! (especially when you add the bike helmet and sweat bands).

I said, "Smile, Ian!"

A few of my favorite things!

Happy 5 1/2, Isaac!

Looks innocent enough, but when I did the laundry, I found a large amount of chocolate frosting all down the back of Isaac's shirt!?! How do they manage to make these messes? Thank goodness for Shout!

Wonderful Wildebeests!

Ian had his first big "science project" due at school shortly after we returned from Cincy. Fresh on his mind was the IMAX movie about the African Serengeti. So when he had to pick any animal, tame or wild, to research, he chose wildebeests! We were able to find some great pictures off the internet (thank goodness, cuz I sure didn't have any on my memory card!) and he remembered a lot of the facts from the movie about their amazing annual migration north. He also had to draw his own picture of his chosen animal. When I asked him the next day if his teacher liked his poster, he said, "Yes. She said it was the best wildebeest poster she had ever seen!" I'm sure it was!

Got her!

I even managed to sneak in a quick breakfast rendevous with my precious sister, Susan, and sweet Emily. The only downside to our time was that I inadvertantly left my Bible at First Watch in Cincinnati--and didn't realize it until I got home to SC the next day! They were kind enough to Fed Ex it back to me quite quickly.

Jammin' with Uncle Greg

Grandfather's brother, Greg, is quite the talented guitar player and song writer. Saturday night we all invaded his house for a "Jam Session"--Frank even carted a drum kit up the hill for the evening. The boys tried their hand at the drums under Grandfather's tutelege. What a fun evening. Greg on guitar, Frank on drums, Kim and I on the keyboards. The boys also enjoyed getting up close and personal with a real drag racer. It was LOUD!

Cincinnati, OH

We made a quick trip up to Ohio two weeks ago for a very monumental celebration. The boys' great-grandpa, Frank Fritsch, turned 90, and we couldn't pass up the chance to join in the festivities. Grandfather drove all the way from Wyoming, so it was a treat to see him again too. The boys had a great time playing with Grandfather and hearing Great-Grandpa's stories from life in the early 1900's. He bought his first car for $7! We went to the Cincinnati Children's Museum, housed in the old Union Terminal. What a treat! Lots of things to explore and an amazing IMAX movie on the Serengeti plains of Africa. We managed to pull off the surprise party for Great-Grandpa at Ryan's--though the poor man was so busy catching up with friends and family that he never got to eat! The boys also got to play at an awesome playground in a park where Grandfather played when he was a little boy. Great memories!

As a humorous aside, I was really having a hard time deciding whether or not to go. With gas prices being what they are, and the short nature of the trip (I drove up on Thursday and returned Sunday), I was hesitating about going. Wednesday night I was praying about it and said, "There's just no verse in the Bible that will tell me, 'Drive to Cincinnati tomorrow!' Thursday morning I opened "My Utmost for His Highest" to find this verse, "If someone compels you to go one mile, go with him two." I took that as my answer! (though I told Frank it didn't say anything about the other 420 miles!) I'm so glad we went! And so glad God guides us every step of the way.