Gardens and Gnomes

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot.  Ecc 3:1-2

 It's time to start the gardens!!

 As we say good-bye to winter many people are starting their gardens. I love the anticipation of all the good fresh veggies. I stopped by my parents the other day and my dad was working on his seedlings. It was fun going over the seed packs with him helping him decide what to plant.

After visiting with my dad I drove over to a friends to see the gnome  "house" she had built with her seven year old son.

I wasn't sure what a gnome house would look like, but I think they did an excellent job. It's really cute.

While we were admiring his work we heard an owl that sounded like it was really close. We searched the trees and guess what we saw :)

I wasn't able to get a clear picture of it but I'm still happy with what I got. It's the closest I've been to an owl in the wild. We are planning on getting some binoculars and do some owl watching.

Spring Drive

It's hard to believe that some areas of the country are still getting snow. The evenings here have been cold but it warms up nicely in the day time. So many things are in bloom.

The purple flowers are Wisteria

The disadvantage is there is so much pollen in the air but Buster doesn't seem to mind :) She is loving the sunshine.

I love seeing my dog smile

I have started cleaning some houses in Calhoun GA, it's a little bit of a drive but it is beautiful and well worth it. It's not any quicker to take the interstate so I opt for the back roads instead.

One of my favorite parts of the drive is through the Chattahoochee Forest. I can't help but think of Alan Jackson's song :)

Usually I just drive straight through but the other day I decided to stop and explore the area. There are campsites and hiking trails.

I walked a little way up the trail, it was very peaceful.

I wanted to walk longer however I was by myself and decided that probably wasn't the wisest thing to do. Now I need to find someone with an adventurous spirit to explore the area with me. I have the trail picked out.

Just a year ago

I can't believe that a year ago I was headed to the Bahamas for the first time.

My first fresh coconut

My journey as a "full-time" missionary to another country was starting.

My first view of the ocean in the Bahamas

I was nervous and excited. I was meeting lots of new people, learning the area, and adjusting to a different culture.

Easter dinner :)

I met some amazing people and made some life long friends.

Canadian friends

 The goal was for me to train at the Adventure Learning Centre (ALC) for a year and eventually go to Haiti full time.

Office building at ALC

Unfortunately the ministry had to pull out of Haiti. Things didn't work out like I thought they would but I learned so much while I was in New Providence. I know that the time I was there taught me a lot about myself and drew me closer to God.

Out for a walk seeing the sites

I don't know what's going to happen next. My heart still longs to go to Haiti but I'd like to believe that I'm open to go wherever God sends me whether here at home or anywhere abroad.

Spring Day

The warm weather has been wonderful. For the past few days I have gone walking in the battlefield, which is a huge park from the Civil war.

It has walking paths all through it.

Yesterday morning I went walking with a friend. Our town has a little community park that has recently been renovated with a walking path.

We started early in the morning :) It was a good way to start the day.

That afternoon I watched my cousin.

Then my parents took us out for dinner ... Mexican. Yummy.

After eating we decided to go for a walk. The town we were in has a cute park with a natural spring that was used during the Civil war.

So my day started with a walk and ended with a walk. The thing that made it perfect is that it was with people I love.

Have I mentioned that I love this weather? :)

Spring

The weather is finally warming up :) I think Spring has decided to show up.

 After years of working in the operating room, which can be very cold, I was the one that was usually freezing people out. However, staying in the Bahamas last year messed me up. I got back in the states around the first of December and I have been so cold every since. This is the first time in my life that I have had to dress in layers, so when the sun came out this weekend I broke out the flip flops.  My favorite piece of clothing!!!

I took my dog out to enjoy the sunshine too.

Can you see her smiling??

I was hoping we would have a good snow this year but after getting my hopes up several times with no luck, I'm over it :) Now I'm ready to get my walking shoes out.

Rubber Tree Plantation in Thailand

Rubber tree plantation in Thailand

When I was in Thailand I learned that it is one of the largest producers of natural rubber. The work is all done by hand.

Catching the tree sap to make rubber

 I got the opportunity to visit a family that lived on a rubber farm. The life is very hard and I admire the people that live there.

driving up to our friends house

The village that we went to was way off the main road. Our friends live by the creek which is the main water source for that area and is used for everything. I wanted to take more pictures of the area but there were some people bathing at the time.

The road goes right through the creek

When there is a lot of rain the water can rise to a point that the people can't get out of the area because they don't have a bridge. This area has no running water or electricity so the lifestyle is very simple. They cook over open fires so it is done mostly outside.

The cooking area.

There is no plumbing in the house either.

The blue barrel at the back corner is a rain barrel

The area was beautiful and I am grateful that I got to catch a glimpse of this lifestyle.

Vacation

As the weather starts warming up it makes me think of vacation. Do you have a favorite vacation spot? I don't have just one favorite destination I actually have several, it really all depends on my mood.

I have never been one to lay out in the sun and tan. To put it bluntly, I dislike sunbathing. So when I say that I love going to the ocean you may ask 'Why?'. For me the best time to walk on the beach is early in the morning, very few people are out. I find it very relaxing just walking in the sand with the water washing over my feet and listening to waves. Then I like to walk on the beach in the evening basically doing the same thing. So in the peak of the day when most people are at the beach I'm somewhere else.

Another favorite destination of mine is driving in the mountains. I live fairly close to the Smokey Mountains and it is perfect for when you need to get away for a day. Any day is the perfect day to drive in the mountains.

It's hard to say what place is my favorite to go to because they are each so different but one place that gets me excited and makes my heart race is Disney World. The first time I went was with the church youth group, I was one of the leaders.

Since then I have been back twice and it's been just as fun.

These are three of my favorite vacation spots, all very different just like me :)