Adventures! Archives

October 29, 2023

Point Reyes National Seashore

We are in California visiting our family. We’ve had a fun few days. My sister-in-law recommended we go to Point Reyes National Seashore. We are so glad she did.

It was a beautiful day driving curving roads through farms and ranches and small communities. The sky was so very blue.

Bird Sanctuary

It was just a beautiful day. We saw a lot of deer and many birds on the way to the park. Did you know that over 490 different types of birds can be found here? Over 54% of all North American bird species can be found at Point Reyes. Migrating birds find it a great place to stop.

Market Day at Point Reyes Station

On the way to the seashore we stopped at Point Reyes Station. A cute town and it just happened to be Market Day. I grabbed some locally blended organic tea, Earl Grey lavender, locally made toffee, and a couple of gifts. Then we got back in the car.

Sand Dunes

The drive up the road passed through some sand dunes and dairy farms. We parked and walked to one overlook. We could see way down the coastline and deer grazing in the brush. Smelling the air was refreshing, it was so clean and clear.

Point Reyes Visitor Center

I decided to walk the half mile to the visitor center and lighthouse while the guys stayed at the lower overlook. I am a bit partial to lighthouses. Over 43 years ago I said yes to marrying Lawrence at the Umpqua Lighthouse in Oregon. I have always loved lighthouses.

It was a beautiful walk and there were a lot of people coming and going to the lighthouse. When I arrived I realized there was handicap parking available near the visitor center. I looked around the visitor center and talked with the park ranger. She said I could bring the car up so that Lawrence could enjoy the view. I looked from the top at the lighthouse below. There are 303 steps to the lighthouse. The walk up and down is equal to climbing a 30 floor building. I decided to wait.

After talking with the ranger I was excited to tell Lawrence and Daniel we could drive up. I tried to call the guys but they did not hear the call. Admiring the beautiful ocean blue a bit more before I walked the half mile back to the parking lot. I found the guys and told them the news. We opened the gate and drove through. Then we all got to enjoy the view together.

303 Steps

Down the 303 steps to the lighthouse looked a bit steep but I went. I could see whales out in the water! I was so excited. There were also some interesting birds that sort of skim the water as they take flight. They were fun to watch. More deer and some wildflowers to admire. There was a skeleton of the jaws of a whale. Lawrence and Daniel walked to the top overlooking the lighthouse. They hung around there while I walked slowly and carefully down.

The lighthouse was built in 1870. It was not an easy walk down. My legs were really feeling it but not nearly as bad as going back up the hill! My legs felt rubbery and a bit shaky and I was out of breath. I finally made it to the top after visiting the rest stops they had built along the way.

We walked toward our car and got the binoculars out and watched some more whales blowing before we proceeded back toward home.

Our fuel gauge said we should have gotten fuel. We made it back to Point Reyes Station and got fuel. We also saw a Native Group doing a dance while we were fueling up.

On our way home we stopped at Costco and got a few things. We decided to have Chicken Masala and lemon rice for dinner.

Fresh Lemons

Home! We started preparation for dinner and realized we needed lemons. We took a walk to the fire station where there is a lemon tree and picked a couple of huge lemons for the rice. Back home we finished cooking dinner and zesting our lemons. John Mark arrived and got in on the zesting. We had a scrumptious dinner together.

We had a nice day!

April 11, 2023

Visit to Scotland – Part 1

In March my husband and I had the great opportunity to visit Scotland. Our son graduated with his Master’s Degree in Philosophy, Science, and Religion from the University of Edinburgh.

Because of Covid graduations were postponed. The school set a date and invited those who had completed their work during the pandemic to come for a special graduation.

Graduation was held in the beautiful McEwan Hall. It was a wonderful day and a wonderful accomplishment. Afterwards we walked around the campus and attended a reception for the graduates. The receptions were held by department.

This was the reason we were in Scotland but there was so much more to our trip I will try to share soon.

The Dome

The Dome

Us in McEwan Hall

Robotics Lab

Micah receives his diploma

August 26, 2021August 26, 2021

Family Adventure to West Virginia

Family Adventure

Our family adventure to West Virginia all started with a conversation between our son Daniel (Danny) and his dad. Soon plans were made to spend a few days in West Virginia. Tickets were purchased and plans were made for those who were within driving distance to be there.

I got to West Virginia first. I dropped off our dearest family friend, D to visit her brother in the hospital. He wasn’t doing very well and she would have 3 final days with him. This was heartbreaking.

80% Chance of Rain

At one point we tethered the two boats together and had our lunch, a mixture sort of potluck style. Aunt Von was the best prepared and brought a full meal. And a huge bowl of watermelon. With an 80% chance of rain, most of us thought we would get rained out. We brought healthy snacks and a lot of Diet Coke! We all shared, no one went hungry.

After several hours on the lake, the clouds got darker and the rain started as we headed back to the marina. Huddled under the small canopy we were a little warmer from body heat. We were all drenched when we finally reached the Marina though a bit wet, not too cold.

The rain settled to a drizzle by the time we disembarked. The team at the marina loved that we were all family and having a great time together. They mentioned to me several times how wonderful it was to see a family like ours together. I thought so too! Just imagine if all of our kids and nephews had made it! God has truly blessed us with an amazing family. Is that bragging? I don’t think so! My heart is just so full sometimes it has to spill out.

Firecreek BBQ & Steak

We all headed back to the stone house to get dry clothes and take Josiah for his birthday dinner. On the way to the stone house, we stopped by this cool coffee shop, Appalachian Coffee, and got hot drinks! Emily said the coffee was so good she wanted two cups! I had a wonderful hot chai and it helped to warm me up. I am sure we made the shop smile, 15 new customers, all family.

Finally, making it to the house we quickly changed and got ready to go to dinner at Firecreek a BBQ and Steak place. The food was good and it was such a good evening together. It ended too soon. Part of the group had to leave for home after dinner. One more hug and picture before they left.

Early Bedtime

We went back to the stone house and had a fun time laughing and playing and watching some people learn to play Wingspan. John Mark had to work online and it seemed everyone wanted to keep him company. Lawrence and I were the first in bed that night. We are getting old. What can I say?

Porch Sitting

The next morning I was the first one up and most were still sleeping at 10. I cooked bacon and some eggs (most cooked their own eggs) and Lawrence made coffee. Lawrence and I sat on that wonderful porch where memories are made and read our Bibles and had morning “coffee”. It was a beautiful morning. Everyone ate in shifts and got ready for the day.

New River Gorge

We drove to the New River Gorge Bridge Visitors Center and hiked down to the overlook. It wasn’t very far down there but the return trip up the steps showed me how out of shape I had let myself get.

Next, we piled in the cars and drove down the old road beneath the bridge. We stopped at a couple of overlooks along the way and of course, the kids got too close to the edge for my comfort. We stopped for a bathroom break at the drop-off/pick-up site for white water. There were several groups enjoying the day.

Cathedral Cafe

Micah and Emily always find cool places. They found this place. On the way back from our family adventure to the New River Gorge, we stopped at the Cathedral Cafe for “coffee” and some amazing toffee brownies! It is inside this cool old church building with original stained glass windows and hardwood floors. I definitely love the building. Tiffany found some Lavender Blueberry Kombucha next door to take home. This made me want to search out my kombucha recipe and start making it again. This was an interesting little town.

Ghost Town – Thurmond, West Virginia – Population 6

Back to the stone house and fixing dinner of a taco bar and lots of ice cream and Diet Coke. We had a couple of hours before dark and Emily asked if we had ever heard of Thurmond, WV. Some had, some hadn’t. We discussed it for a few minutes and decided we would regret it if we didn’t go see the ghost town. After all, we had rave reviews from Emily’s brother, Ryan! He was right too! I am so glad we went. I love history after all!

After driving down curvy roads to the river we crossed a bridge and arrived at the Thurmond Depot! Someone has done a great job in restoring some of the buildings. Trains still run on these tracks and we actually saw a couple of trains come into Thurmond from different directions. We walked through town on a little gravel road that ran alongside the railroad tracks. Some of the buildings featured their history. In one building there was a large timeline mural of the history of Thurmond, West Virginia.

Return to Tennessee

We made a plan for the return to Tennessee. We were going in three different directions. Our car went to Charleston, WV, and dropped off Daniel at Mawmaw’s house for his flight the next day. We had to have Husson’s Pizza before we left though and hug Mawmaw one more time.

We got to have two of the “grands” (as I call my grandchildren) make the trip with us! A few miles down the road I remembered we had Daniel’s backpack. So I called him and we turned around and he met us to retrieve his bag. Of course, I got one more hug. Wish Jess could. have come!

It was a pleasant and surprisingly quiet trip to Kentucky where we stayed the night in Beaver Dam. We wanted to be near the Friendship Church of Christ in Fordsville, Kentucky where Lawrence would preach the next morning.

Our family adventure to West Virginia turned out to be a great experience which I hope will become an annual event!

June 30, 2021July 3, 2021

6978 Miles – A Big Trip – Catching Up

We arrived home in April from Malawi and life hasn’t slowed down a bit! We had planned to make a big trip to Washington state to get our house ready to go on the market. Before we could leave for Washington we had a couple of Malawi presentations to do. We also had to celebrate a few milestones.

Esther our last born child turned 18 years old! How could that be? On the same day, our church celebrated the 2021 graduates. Not only is Esther graduating but our firstborn granddaughter is also graduating. We had a wonderful day at church together. My mom came down for the evening banquet and celebration given in the kid’s honor. The girls were showered with cards, gifts, hugs, and well wishes. It was a beautiful day for all. I feel such gratitude to those who have invested in our church kids, especially mine!

On Monday morning James and I headed for Washington state. We arrived in Tacoma just in time to meet Sarah and Eowyn for Wednesday night Bible study. It was nice to see them and our Lakeview church family!

James and I spent 5 weeks painting, cleaning, mowing, etc. getting our house ready to market. What a job! I treasured the time I got to see my kids and old friends while there. We visited our friends in Aberdeen, Tacoma, Seattle, and a couple in Everett! Treasured days!

A few opportunities allowed me to share about our work in Malawi! That is always close to my heart. I am thrilled to have friends who love God and have been such an encouragement to us through the years and continue to be even now! The response to our message was so encouraging.

It was so nice to see an old friend I hadn’t seen in almost 30 years. She was part of a Bible study group and became a Christian during this time. We were young moms last time I saw her and now we are grandmas! We talked for hours and took a nice walk around the park and enjoyed a salad lunch together.

Finally, James and I got our house on the market and we were ready for the return trip home. I had so much fun making the trip to Washington and back with James. We talked, studied, worked hard, listened to podcasts, and so much more.

We arrived home with a day to rest up before my family reunion with my cousins, in Alabama at Jasper City Park. It was so nice to see everyone after our two-year break. We had lost a few family members but we treasured the day together. My mom and her brother are the only surviving siblings of 10. It is so sad to lose this generation.

After a nice day with lots of fun and laughter, rain, and a leaking shelter, we gave our last hugs goodbye and I headed to East Tennessee to meet my husband. Lawrence was preaching the next morning at Byrdstown, Tennessee.

We enjoyed a nice morning with the church family and lunch with a sweet couple from church. Then we headed home.

A lot of miles……………………

May 28, 2021May 29, 2021

Malawi Journal – Day 59 Farewells, Heading Home

We are up early doing our last-minute packing and finishing one final stack of World Bible School lessons before we pack our laptops. Farewells are so hard. So many people have stopped by to say farewell. I am out of tears.

Cadamanja

Our friend Cadamanja stopped by early. Very early but we were already up getting last-minute things done. It was decided that I would stop by the shop and double-check the color of the fabric for the nursery school uniforms. I decided to purchase the fabric for the school uniforms and let each parent pay for the sewing co-op to make their uniforms. (A compromise after our misunderstanding).

Esther and I made a quick video of Wanangwa sharing about the women’s ministries at Tombolombo. She is an amazing woman and they are blessed to have her in their church and community.

Last-Minute Details

I am leaving a huge pile of things to be distributed as they see fit. We finish the last of our packing. So little left to bring home. Five bags are now one. I am thankful for collapsable duffle bags.

We sweep our bedrooms and double-check that we have not left anything. We have a quick breakfast of tea and buns.

Hugging the sewing group ladies, several times, we hop in the car. I know I will miss them. I am so incredibly proud of these ladies!

We make a quick stop in Manyamula to drop off Wanangwa and pay Cadamanja for some fabric for the nursery school uniforms. They are going to pay the sewing co-op to make the uniforms. I deliver the fabric to Wanangwa who will get it to the correct place.

Milala

We make one final stop, Milala! After our school supply giveaway, we had several bags leftover. We decided to give them to the children at Milala. The children were very excited to receive this very small gift.

There were two expectant moms and I gave them each one of the last baby bags I had left.

Malawi Journal — Milala Church of Christ school supply giveaway

First Aid Kit

When we first arrived in Malawi one of the church leaders had asked us for a first aid kit because they are so far from the medical clinics. I could not put that together locally so I gave them all of my leftover ibuprofen, bandaids, antibiotic ointments, etc. (note for next trip!).

Selena, An Orphan Girl Without a Foot Needs a Sponsor

As we were leaving we met a young orphan girl (6 years old) named Selena. Selena was born without a foot. She lives with her grandmother because both of her parents are deceased. Every three months she has to travel to the city to get a new prosthetic.

There is never enough money to pay for the prosthetic but the hospital allows her to make minimum payments when she comes. The church helps her make these small payments. To us what seems so little can be a huge barrier to these precious people. From time to time the area churches take up funds for her to make this payment. They do not always collect enough to cover the trip and the minimum payment. I really want to find a sponsor to help Selena and her grandmother. Let me know if you are reading this and want to help with this need.

Lilongwe

With final farewells, we leave for Lilongwe.

Our trip is made without incident in good time and when we arrive Evon has wonderful dinner waiting for us. We have ended all three of our trips by staying the last night at Blessings Hospital’s Chichewa House. Evon is a familiar friend by now.

I stop by the hospital and ask about Covid testing. After talking with the staff it is decided that the best course of action is to go to the airport with our questions. Online the airlines list two possibilities, a 3-day negative Covid test or proof that we have had Covid and recovered in the last 90 days. We have the latter.

President is Coming

As we approach the airport security is spaced alongside the road and the airport is almost shut down. Surprisingly, they let us through the gate. I found out that the President was soon to arrive. One of the workers for Malawi Airlines has mercy on us. We find out they will only accept a test in the last three days, which we do not have. She gets on the phone. She has a friend at the Covid lab who will help us get an emergency test first thing in the morning. $100 US each.

Zacheus

We return to Blessings and find Zacheus has arrived! He is an old friend who has driven for us in the past. We are excited to see him.! He has been on public transport for several hours and is hungry. I am thankful we saved him a plate. Lawrence and Mbwenu start singing and then we have a short devotional before bed.

Covid Testing

We have to be at the lab across town by 7 am. We sleep well and pack up early to head across town. Thankfully Zacheus knows exactly where to go. The lab is easy to locate and we get there just in time to get our test. They tell us we can pick up the certificates at 11. We have several hours to wait. The guys ask Lawrence where he wants to eat breakfast and he jokingly tells them pizza. They head to the pizza place. Who knew?

Pizza and Ice Cream for Breakfast

We are in the big city so there is a lot of things we are used to. There is a mall nearby so we go to the food court for pizza and ice cream. It is a lot fancier than our food courts and has waiters and menus, etc. This may be our companion’s first pizza experience. The extra-large pizza is not very big but very tasty. We get strawberry soft serve ice cream before we head back to the lab.

Expired Visas

Picking up our certificates we make a rush to the airport. We fly in 2 hours. After our check through security, we go through immigration only to find out our visas have expired! How could that be? They do not have the visible expiration date I am accustomed to but we haven’t even looked at them since our arrival. The immigration official calculates and tells me it is $600 US per person. I tell him he must keep us that we have spent all of our money and do not have it. He asked me how much I have left, I say $100 each to get us home. The official keeps telling me he wants to help us out and finally stamps our passports and takes only $100 US with no receipt of course. Lesson learned: check my visas carefully.

Finally, through immigration we go through second security I have Polly Pocket left and give that to the security person for her little girl. We board our plane and leave for Addis Ababa where we will have several hours layover before we board a plane for a 14-hour flight to Washington, D.C., and then to home.

May 12, 2021May 24, 2021

Malawi Journal – Day 57 Next to Last Night in Tombolombo

This morning Gabriel picked us up to take us shopping. He frequently drives as a transport for others. He has a nice little car which I learned he paid for with the funds from his maize field. A profitable field! He ordered the car from Japan in December and it arrived about a month later. Not many own a car but this is the usual way of purchasing a car.

The original plan was to go to the schools today and give away some school supplies to the teachers and classes. The primary school is on strike again. They did not get paid during the shutdown with Covid. So they are on strike. With the exception of the class due to take annual testing. They can still go to school.

We decided we would not cancel our transport but go ahead and do some shopping. Our first stop was Manyamula to check with the printer about some replacement copies and to exchange a mini soccer ball that would not inflate. There were many people waiting in Manyamula for transport to Mzimba. We had an extra seat so we gave our okay for him to take on another passenger. He was a little concerned about how we would feel about it.

So we had a pleasant trip to Mzimba for shopping. I made several stops to pick up printer paper, oil, water, and rice. I also went to my favorite store Hesams for beef and chicken. The printer is still working on our copies and has taken the printer to his house to get more done. We will get the copies later or he will send them with someone coming to Tombolombo. We headed for home. I thanked Gabriel and paid him 10,000 K for helping us shop.

In the afternoon I decided I should have bought snacks for the sewing workshop. Raphael agreed to take me by motorcycle to Manyamula. This time he was not near as slow and easy as our first trip but we made it in good condition. I purchased some small bags so that our sewing group could sort buttons and have them ready for the clothes they were making. I also got 12 packages of cookies before we headed to the house.

Isaiah has come to the house twice today. Once this morning and again in the evening. This is no easy task as he lives several kilometers away. His study group is working hard to complete their courses before we leave Malawi.

Our friend and neighbor Cadamanja stopped by to drop off Wanangwa and say hello! It’s always nice to see him. He is so friendly and loves the work we are doing here.

I am still doing last-minute packing and sorting. This is our next to last night in Tombolombo. In two days we say goodbye and head to Lilongwe.

February 27, 2021

Malawi Journal – Day 11 & 12 Slow Days, New Clothes

Day 11 – New Clothes

As we continue our Malawi Journal, Esther and I met with the tailor next door this morning. He made me a wrap-around skirt for 1500 K which is less than $3 US. He also made me two matching masks. I showed him a picture of a dress Esther wanted to be made from some chitenge we found at the market. Both items were finished today.

Today was a. rather slow day. I played with the kids, let the kids color pictures, and read Bible stories to the neighbor kids. The kids played with the soccer ball we brought for. hours in the yard.

WBS Work

Lawrence met with the elders and the four workers and talked more about the plan for the WBS (World Bible School) work. After the meeting, Lawrence prepped for the training meeting he will conduct tomorrow for the four workers. He also ordered some more World Bible School lessons from Zomba.

I did some Bible study for my next class and then spent the afternoon organizing our belongings. I finally managed to get the mosquito nets hung.

The internet was not stable today so I could not do any work on the computer. Less technology can be frustrating at times but most of the time it is a blessing.

Esther spent the afternoon playing with the kids. They love teaching her their language. She is a much better student than I. There is a lot of laughter floating around the house.

Day 12

I was up at 6 this morning. Most days are early here. Most people follow the daylight hours for working. Many are up at 3 or 4 and into the fields. I feel lazy in comparison. This morning I wash the dishes from the night before. It is dark by the time we finish supper so the dishes are always washed in the morning. When the water is hot I take my bath.

Driving

We drive to the building to drop Lawrence off for the training meeting. Our spare tire falls off of the car. We have to call a mechanic to come from Manyamula to fix it. We pay him 2000K (about $3)

Then I drive me and Wanangwa to Manyamula to do some shopping. My shopping list may look a little weird: flip-flops, tissue, pegs, copies, sugar, notebooks, zippers, cookies, and Cokes for the training meeting. The weird part about my shopping list is that my husband wanted some flip-flops! That is a story in itself.

I am rather enjoying driving in Malawi but I am not really excited to get on the more populated roads yet. Driving on the rutted roads makes me want a jeep or something that sits up high.

It is common to be greeted from the roadside and we frequently hear asungu (white person). Today was the first time I heard them laughing saying asungu driving. It was especially humorous to them because I am a woman.

We drop the snacks off at the training meeting and I visit the bakery next door. The one lady is baking but nothing is ready for purchase yet. I will stop by later. I go home and wait for the call that the training meeting is over and Lawrence needs to be picked up.

After some time at home, Wanangwa decides she needs to take the transport to Mzimba to make purchases for her shop. I drop her off at the bus stop and stop back by the bakery just in time to purchase hot buns coming out from the oven, 300 K for 7 wonderful buns.

While waiting on my buns walked through the cornfields to speak with Edward about translating. He was spraying weed killer and my legs soon began to sting.

Lawrence completed his training meeting and gave each man a WBS Bible, pen, and notebook to do his work with besides the lessons.

A good day. If you have any questions about our Malawi journal or the work please send me a message or post your question in the comments.

August 14, 2020November 3, 2020

Weather Balloon Launching

Weather balloon launching? What? For my husband’s birthday last year, our children bought him a group gift! A weather balloon. Somewhere there is a video of him receiving his gift. This is an unusual gift I think. I have never known anyone to receive a weather balloon for their birthday. I am not sure where the original idea came from but Gabriel was the instigator to come up with a plan to make it happen. Everyone else pitched in and it became a reality. Little did I know this was no easy thing to launch a weather balloon. More about the process Lawrence went through later. Now for some Redding history.

The beginning of our balloon launches.

We have had a lot of balloon launches over the years. I believe it all started in the 80s with Azteca Mexican Restaurant in Burien, Washington. Our family has never eaten out very much through the years but Azteca made it very appealing for a family our size. Back then we only had four children. Anyway, back to the story. Azteca had .99 children’s meals on Sundays. The adult meals were large and sometimes Lawrence and I would even share a meal. Every Sunday as we would exit Azteca they would hand each child a balloon. My husband is very creative. Our children probably thought their dad was just a lot of fun. He is a lot of fun but this was his way of getting rid of balloons and having fun. Balloons can last a while until their helium is finally exhausted! So he turned it into a launch party!

Over the years we have had many launches and many stories have come from those launches. Our kids used to put our address or phone number on a card and attach it to their balloons. Sometimes they would add launch times. One year on John Mark’s birthday, we launched a balloon from Redding Mountain. Six hours later I received a call from a teacher in Washington D. C. who found his balloon. So, we have a long history of launching balloons.

Back to weather balloon launching.

Anyway, back to the weather balloon launching. Over the last year, Lawrence has studied how to use this weather balloon and its equipment. At one point he experimented using the tracker by putting it on my car and tracking my movements. It would send him an email with my coordinates and pin on a map each stop.

Not only did Lawrence have to learn to use the tracker and the service. He also had to study to make sure we would not get in the flight patterns at BNA airport. What legalities if any were involved? He had to assemble the frame which would carry the tracker and device which would record the altitude and other measurements as well as the camera to record what was happening from the air. He also had to take into account what the weather would be like. So this was a very in-depth project.

Launch day arrives.

We set the launch date for Sunday afternoon August 9th. The week before we checked out the park and got permission for the launch. Lawrence had conference meetings with individual team members about different aspects and needs of the launch. We notified the Redding Team to meet up at the park for a 1 pm launch. ! It was a very hot afternoon and I was not on the field 5 minutes before I found my first tick. So we got out the Thistle Farms natural insect repellant and sprayed everyone’s ankles. We had a few to decline.

Job assignments were dispersed and filling and attaching the balloon was soon accomplished!. After almost an hour of assembly time and turning the camera and tracker on we were finally ready to launch! Emily Redding the numbers girl was to do the count down. So we counted more than once and cheered and finally launched the giant weather balloon.

In all the study of jet streams and other things to take into consideration, we never once thought there was a possibility of it flying west! And yes it traveled east just a bit and then straight west.

The balloon landed in Primm Springs, Tennessee and we were able to use the tracker and coordinates and go right to the retrieval point. Of course, we ask the homeowner’s permission before we went trespassing on his property. It landed down a steep bank and up the other side where it got caught in a tree on the way down.

We were able to find it fairly quickly with all this techy stuff. Soon all three vehicles were flying down the road where we eventually met up with some of the launch party that did not join in for the retrieval.

We were able to put the SD card in the computer and watch the pictures taken from the flight. We found out that the balloon had ascended 96,500 feet before it burst and headed down with the help of the parachute. Unfortunately, the camera didn’t do as well as expected. There were great footage and clear footage of the land below. The camera stopped before reaching the full altitude. I am not sure whether they figured out why the camera stopped so soon or not. It had new batteries. One theory I think I overheard was maybe the temperature of the batteries caused a problem. Either way, the film was amazing and we had a wonderful day!

I hope you enjoy some of the pictures from our day!

June 9, 2020June 10, 2020

Choosing Your Path or Letting it Choose You

Choosing Your Path

Choosing your path in life seems like a very practical thing. It seems logical. Right? Proactive, yes! All successful people do this, don’t they?

Have you always known what you were going to do? When you were a small child and someone asked you, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Did you have an immediate answer?

I think my first answer was probably, “I want to be a mom!” That was a given from the early years when I was running around in my yard and climbing trees and chasing piglets. I knew I wanted to be a mom. I had a picture in my mind of what that would look like. So I practiced on my little sister and neighbor friends. I would clean the house and make them Kool-Aid and snacks. I still had plenty of time to play with them too though.

High School Years

By the time I was 13 years old and in seventh grade, I knew I wanted to be the President of the United States. I was sure I could make a difference in the world. The kids at school had a great time making fun of me about that one.

As I finished my high school years I thought I knew how life was going to go. I had abandoned the idea of becoming the President of the United States of American by the time I graduated from Mortimer Jordan High School in 1977.

I thought I would marry my high school sweetheart but he never asked so I went on with Plan B to go to college. I thought I knew which college I wanted to attend. I applied to Auburn University (AU) and waited for that acceptance letter. Meanwhile, I was invited to spend the weekend at another college in southern Alabama, Alabama Christian College (ACC) a small two-year school. That weekend I chose my path and the direction of my life. I made the decision to attend ACC. The acceptance letter to AU arrived the next day.

College Life

My freshman year was filled with wonderful new friends and experiences. As a Communications major, I was given the opportunity to interview experts for our school radio program. I also wrote for the school newspaper. Being a member of the Phi Lambda social club and student government brought another dimension to college life. Meanwhile, my role as Freshman Class Representative took me to Abilene, Texas. Abilene has to be one of the windiest places I have ever been to. I learned very quickly to hold my skirt down while trying to walk across campus.

Abilene, Texas

I did not know until a few years later what Abilene, Texas would give me. I was attending a conference with people from all over the U.S. I met two young men I would never see again nor remember their names. Yet they had a BIG impact on my life. These two young men were from Freed-Hardeman College (FHC). They assured me that FHC was the greatest school! ACC was a 2 year school when I was there. So when the time came for me to transfer I transferred to FHC.

ACC (Faulkner University) is a Christian college so that brought my heart to a deeper focus on spiritual matters. Devotionals, Bible classes, and my first mission trip opened up a whole new world for me. This love for God would stay with me as I transferred to FHC and for the rest of my life.

My first date at FHC was with a handsome blond boy named Lawrence Redding who was born in Abilene, Texas and that story continues to this day.

So did I choose my path or did my path choose me?

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

Proverbs 16:9

May 18, 2020May 15, 2020

25 Random Things About Me

25 random things about me. Where did this come from? I read a lot. Occasionally, I see these lists and find them fun and interesting. So I decided to make a list of a few random things about me.

Born in Birmingham and raised near Morris, Alabama.
Baptized believer of Jesus Christ.
I love spending time with God’s people, my people!
Teaching people the scriptures brings me joy.
Married to the best husband in the world, happy wife to Lawrence for 40 years!
Mother to 11 children YES! (8 boys and 3 girls).
Grandmother to 5 and potential.
Stay at home mom for over 35 years.
Homeschool teacher for over 35 years.
New Doula – I have birthed at home, birth centers, and the hospital. Looking for a doula call me!
Extrovert – I love people and I can talk to almost anyone.
My favorite color is BLUE.
Learning the old crafts and skills my grandmothers knew makes me feel a connection to generations past.
Read real books! Kindles do provide me with instant gratification though.
Teacups and teapots make me happy. Don’t you just say ahh when you sit down with a nice cup of tea?
PG Tips is my favorite black tea with a little milk and sugar of course.
Diet Coke is the real thing!
My favorite sweet is Dark Chocolate.
Come on over. I love cooking and feeding people.
Growing and use herbs is rewarding.
Learning to grow lavender is hard at least for me but I am not giving up.
Picking and receiving wildflower bouquets is pure joy.
I attended Majestic Elementary School, Mortimer Jordan High School, Alabama Christian College, and Freed-Hardeman College a very long time ago.
I have been to all 50 of the United States, Singapore, Malaysia, Malawi, and Canada.
Collector of stories – please tell me yours.

Bird Sanctuary

Market Day at Point Reyes Station

Sand Dunes

Point Reyes Visitor Center

303 Steps

Fresh Lemons

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Family Adventure

80% Chance of Rain

Firecreek BBQ & Steak

Early Bedtime

Porch Sitting

Cathedral Cafe

Ghost Town – Thurmond, West Virginia – Population 6

Return to Tennessee

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Cadamanja

Last-Minute Details

Milala

First Aid Kit

Selena, An Orphan Girl Without a Foot Needs a Sponsor

Lilongwe

President is Coming

Zacheus

Covid Testing

Pizza and Ice Cream for Breakfast

Expired Visas

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Day 11 – New Clothes

WBS Work

Day 12

Driving

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The beginning of our balloon launches.

Back to weather balloon launching.

Launch day arrives.

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Choosing Your Path

High School Years

College Life

Abilene, Texas

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