Happy Mother's Day 2013

Sunday, I wasn't cranky. I often am on Mother's day. I did get irritable while traveling with small children. But not permanently. Which just proves that my friend Ann has been praying (right after she "corrected" me - Thanks Ann).

My sweet Knee-baby woke up Sunday morning and remembering what day is was "surprised" me with the card he made for me during Mission Friends Wednesday night (I'm his teacher for Mission Friends - I helped 8 children make the same thing - he was one of those children).

GrandMaMa & Granddad

My darling Gene took the kids to Wally-world Saturday (they could have stayed gone longer - I REALLY enjoyed the quiet - except that I went walking around the yard and saw a coyote behind the pig pen - we now chaperon animal feeding time with a 22).
They bought me new cushions for my swing - I need a comfy perch - and some sweet cards.

Then we went to church and were ministered to by Laura Torres of His Earthen Vessels. And all the ladies got a light caster as a gift for Mother's day.

Then GrandMaMa and Granddad came over
and we all rode towards the hills. First, we went to Stumphouse Tunnel. It was carved in a mountain a LONG time ago in the hopes that a train would run through it. The state of SC quit funding the project and then the Civil War started so now its an impressive cave.

My gaggle with Granddad

History Lesson - The principal of Brown Home Academy
said that this was totally a field trip and counted as a school day
- if only they would listen. Thankfully they did.





This lonely train car was sitting at the top of the hill near tunnel.
The only train track on the whole mountain was under this lonely train car. 

Daddy and the Little Boys in the tunnel with flashlights

Mountain Goats - some of the bigger male goats went all the way up

Little waterfall

Same mountain goats - different location

 As we were headed back down the hill towards the van Elijah sat on a rock which reminded Granddad of a song, which he started singing. Oh, man that was precious!

Most of the kids - 7 - and I walked from the tunnel to another part of the park.

Purdy place.
The 7 big kids and I walked from the tunnel to a big water fall
and had to stop to see this. And play on it for just minute.

Isaqueena Falls (?) - really big, this is just the top

Did you know that this Stumphouse place is kept up by the city of Walhalla, SC?

It was pretty special for a city park/historic site.

 

We left the tunnel and  falls and found a Dollar General because GrandMaMa's brand new flip-flops broke. So she exchanged them, 3 people went potty, and I bought cookies and Hi-C's.

We had a our delicious and nutritious snack and then went to Oconee Station State Historic Site. (We like hysterical stuff).

These buildings date from 1795 (on the left) and 1792 (on the right).
The persons up there are somewhat more modern. (Well, maybe not Granddad).

This is a really old tree. I did know what it was but I can't remember now.

After more people went potty before we left, we found this nest full of babies.
We also found an empty nest.

I'm planning a field trip back to Oconee Station on July 4th for their Living History Day. We may also walk to another waterfall near there (maybe. I'll be out-numbered 10-1).

After all that fun we came home to eat supper.
I ran to the grocery store in Gene's thing (that's his car) and when I went to pull out of the parking space it died. Dead. Kaput. So I pulled out my handy, little, cell phone . . . and it was dead. I turned it on and had just enough juice to tell Papa, "I'm at Dill's, the Thing is dead and so is my phone." I heard him say, "I'll tell little Gene." And then I waited.
Thankfully, Gene was quick to my rescue and it was just a little problem that were were able to fix pretty cheap. So the Thing is fine.

Gene's last day of his Spring term was Friday and he got a whole two days off before beginning the short Summer term on Monday. So I'm glad we "lived it up" over the weekend.

Daddies (the good ones anyway) should really get some pats on the back on Mother's day.
If it weren't for the leadership and support and caring and help and effort and prayer that THE Daddy provides for this family, I couldn't do what I do.
And I do love my job.
And I love that Man!
"Thank you, Father, for sending him to me.
How blessed we are indeed!"