Coffee CubBuster

Helen is one of our favorite places to camp, mostly because we've been there so many times and know the best spots. While all of our friends conveniently had plans during the first frost of the season, wusses, we had the distinct honor of camping with the beautiful and ever-youthful Chloe Blair! I think if I did this, people would stare. What do you think? Our camera really doesn't do the fall colors justice. It was just gorgeous! This was like try #6... Chloe is thinking, why are these guys such freaks ! She didn't seem to think we were freaks now! It was quite a chilly evening.  That's probably the last camping we'll do for 2011... Next up, fort building in our apartment! :)   ~CampinBuster

I'm so thankful that my husband has jumped on the fall bandwagon with his crazy wife. He's been humoring me for years, and I think all the humor has added to our creative carvings. Off the vine is the best way to get um! In Athens.... He felt like he picked the best one. Psh... I want to cut my own Christmas tree this year too! It might be a little tougher than this though. Aw... he's so fratastic. Gotta love him! I wanted my pumpkin to be scared of the tricker-treaters that year. I thought it was funny Stone Mountain also puts out some great ones I keep holding on to my overalls for this one day every year.  We had some good stencils that year! Matthew was mighty proud of his headless horseman. You HAVE to go to Burts. It's the mother of all patches! There aren't really words for this particluar year. Matthew decided on a Cyclopes this year. There was no changing his mind... I did Jack from Tim Burton's Ch...

Every so often I think its essential that we all get to a place with no cellular bars. Even with my small, antiquated flip phone, I still find value in disconnecting from the world. That's exactly what my hubby and I did this past Saturday. We headed north to the Tennessee/Georgia border for some much needed R&R and a bit of God's beautiful nature. The trees were just starting to turn, the air was crisp and the temperature was perfect for a campfire. Minus the bumping ground, lack of silverware, and unfortunate regret of pillow packing, we had great time! Nothing like samores and gin-rummy to make a great evening! Plus we got our pumpkins for carving (more on that later). We we saw two tent-covered wagons pulled by horses, we realized we weren't in Kansas anymore. "Oregon Trail" anyone? Matthew said we could only take what we could carry because our campsite was a couple miles into the hike. Jack's River! We didn't make it to the falls.... No...

Teaching is certainly a "calling", and one that I feel blessed to have heard and followed. However, it also has its generous portion of difficulties like any other job/career. This article: TEACHERS  was sent to me recently, and I had some definite fist pump, amen sister!  moments while reading. I heard about the article on the radio the same day, so I think it was some kind of sign: I'm not alone when I face these daily educational challenges. I pray the day I feel like shoving cow manure in a student's face, that I immediately resign. I can't let myself get burnt out, or I am truly useless and destroying America's future potential. I just have to recall all the little glorious moments experienced in my classroom: "Mrs. Smith, how do you come up with these questions. You really make us THINK!" "Mrs. Smith, I really like this Killing a Mockingbird book." "Mrs. Smith, when is Juliet gonna let her hair down from the balcony so th...

I could not have asked for a better start to fall. Anyone who has ever breathed air from the same room as me, knows that I'm obsessed with the season. While I wish it lasted longer, I also realize it wouldn't be as special if it did. So I revel in the cool nights, crisp mornings, and colorful afternoons as much as possible. It also helps that I get to celebrate my birthday in the midst of such a grand time of year.  I was kind of bumming about the fact that I have a Monday birthday this year, but it's actually been amazing so far because I'm celebrating the weekend before and after!   God truly wanted to show his love for me this year by dropping temps into the 40s!   First, I went shopping with my ever-amazing mother, which we do probably once a year if that, making it all the more special. Then, Matthew and I received FREE tickets for table "box" seats at the Verizon Wireless Ampitheater to see Third Day! It was fantastic!  Finally, Matthew surpr...