Ready to go home!!

Today was the last day of training! Yeah!!! It was a very good class and I really learned a lot. But after 5 days I was ready to be done. After class today, I decided to drive out and see a famous tree on another island. It was a 25 mile drive, and it was nice to see SC outside of Charleston. Most of what I saw on the way there wasn't very mentionable, but I did drive down one road where it was canopied by old oak trees. I took a picture while I was driving, and it didn't do it justice, but you can get an idea from the picture below.


The Angel Oak, as it is called, was definitely worth the drive. Here is a little information about the Tree: The Angel Oak tree is dated at 1400+ years old. The circumference of the trunk is 25 feet, and 19 ballet dancers can hide behind the trunk! It stands 65 feet high, has a diameter of spread reaching 160 feet, and covers 17,100 square feet of ground. The largest limb is 89 Feet long and 11.25 feet thick. The Tree was here for 1000 years before Columbus discovered America! If you click on the picture to enlarge it, you will see that many of the trunks are being supported by 4x4 boards, metal poles, and metal wires. I started at the trunk, and it took me 4 shots to get the full length of a branch. It is absolutely amazing, and a picture just doesn’t do it justice!

After viewing the tree, I returned the rental car to the airport, and am about to start packing for home. The locals are all a buzz here because the weather forecasters are using the four letter 'S' word!! (Snow!) The hotel shuttle driver told me that if there is as much as a flurry, everything will close. Anyway, there is a winter weather warning out for Atlanta, and a winter weather watch out for home, so I am praying I will make it home tomorrow. It could be a long day. I am just starting a new book (The Red Glove Collection, by Karen Kingsbury - thanks again Nancy!), so at least if I get stuck I will have something to help pass the time. I am so looking forward to seeing my family and sleeping in my own bed!! Below is a picture I found with a person in it to give you some perspective!

Seeing God Everywhere!

The bridges here scare me to death! Unlike the flat bridges we have at home, all of the bridges down here go way up, and then way down. The above picture is one of the smaller bridges going from Mount Pleasant out to Isle of the Palms. It goes over the Atlantic Intercoastal waterway. This one isn't so bad, but the one connecting Daniel Island to Mount Pleasant is at least twice as high. When you are going up, it feels like you are going to just drive off the end of it because you can't see the other side!

Today, we got done with training around 4:00pm, and it gets dark around 5:30pm. I hurried back to the hotel to get my tennis shoes and my sweatshirt and headed out to the ocean at Isle of Palms. I walked NE up the beach for about 40 minutes. The tide was out, compared to when we had been there on Sunday morning. Since today was the coldest day of the season so far (55 degrees), I could count the number of people on the beach with one hand! When I finally turned around to head back, the sun was just setting and I watched the sunset the whole way back.

I kept singing the Ten Shekel Shirt song in my head that has the line "there's something about the ocean, makes me stand in awe of You". I was definitely walking in awe! I had fun picking up some seashells, and found a sand dollar in the sand. I was so excited!! I had seen some pieces earlier, but this one was whole! I took a couple of steps, and found another one. Now, with three kids, I started praying that I would find a third. I had given up, but on my way back down the beach, I found a third one! The were even with the sand, and the same color as the sand, not like the white ones you see in the store.

When I got back to the hotel, I washed all of my finds and put them on a towel. It was then that I noticed that all of my sand dollars had little hairs on the bottoms of them. I thought that was really strange, and didn't really know much about them, so I looked them up on the internet. I feel really stupid, but I didn't know they were actually alive!! They have mouths and everything! Now I am sitting here feeling terrible, because I killed three sand dollars. I am trying to console myself because I prayed about finding them, so it must be OK with God, right?

Anyway, here is something that I didn't know about sand dollars that I thought was fitting for my God filled day at the beach:

THE LEGEND OF THE SAND DOLLAR
The Sand Dollar or Holy Ghost Shell is one of the most unusual specimens of marine life. The markings on the shell, to some, symbolize the Birth, Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ. On top of the shell, an outline of the Easter Lily is clearly seen. At the center of the Lily is a five pointed Star representing the Guiding Star of Bethlehem that led the Wise Men. The five narrow openings are representative of the four nail holes and the spear wound made in the body of Christ during the Crucifixion. Reversing the shell you will recognize the outline of the Poinsettia, the Christmas flower, and also the Bell. When broken, inside the shell are five little birds called the Doves of Peace. Some say they are the Angels that sang to the Shepherds the First Christmas Morning.

I wanted to leave you with a little piece of the sunset on the beach, I hope you enjoy!

Sunsets, Freezers, and Cookie Dough Ice Cream

Yesterday morning, we headed out to Isle of Palms, on the Atlantic Ocean. There were not very many people there, so it was really nice just to walk the beach. I could do that everyday, and never tire of it!! I took a little video with my camera just so I could enjoy the ocean a little when I get home. Also, so I could show Jenna! After visiting the ocean, we headed to Patriot's Point in Mount Pleasant. While there, we toured the USS Yorkshire. It was a huge ship, and we were told that the new ones are 4 times larger. Hard to imagine how they float?! We also walked through an old submarine, still in the water. It was a little too closterphobic for me. If I was any bigger, I'm not sure I would have made it through.

Then we boarded a boat and went out to Fort Sumter. It was about a 30 minute ride, and we got to see dolphins swimming again. This picture is from the top of the Fort looking out at the Charleston harbor. All of the canons were the original ones used in the Civil War. There are even a couple of un-exploded artillary shells still in the walls! The first shots of the Civil War were fired on this Fort and it is hard to fathom what really happened there. We were glad we took the tour. Last night we had a good southern BBQ at Sticky Fingers. It was delicious!


Matt took off for home and left me the car for the rest of the week. After training today, I headed back to Patriot's Point to watch the sunset. It was finally a clear day here, so it was very pretty. I was also able to get a clearer picture of the gorgeous bridge they have down here. It connects Mount Pleasant to Charleston, and it is 5 miles long from one end to the other. It has a bike lane and a walking lane, and there are always people out on it. It is also the longest suspension bridge in the US!

I headed back to Daniel's Island and had dinner at a quaint little Chinese Restaurant. Next door was an ice cream store called 'Moo-La's'. I couldn't resist. When I got inside, I noticed it looked like a Cold Stone Creamery. The young gal behind the counter said the were like the 'Marble Slab'. I said 'The what?'. Her first clue that I wasn't a local! Then, I solidified that by asking for cookie dough ice cream. She said 'Huh?' When I repeated my request, she simply replied 'we have cookie dough, but we certainly don't put it in our ice cream'! Her second clue that I wasn't a local. When I checked out, she asked me where I was from. When I told her, she asked me how cold it was there. I told her I had talked to Matt an hour earlier, and he said it was zero degree's when he landed. Her eyes were as big as saucers, and she said 'My goodness, that is as cold as our freezer'!! I cracked up! When I regained my composure, I said, 'We might live in a freezer, but at least there is cookie dough ice cream there. You really should try it sometime!' When I left the store chuckling to myself, I could tell she was still trying to decide if I was serious or not! It is so fun to not know anyone, and to do and say harmless things you would never do or say at home!

Winter is Relative

The locals down here think it is winter. Does the above picture look like winter to you? I guess winter is a relative term, depending on where in the country you live. You can definitely tell the tourists down here, we are the ones not all bundled up in coats! Anyway, the above is what I see each morning as I walk out of the hotel. Matt arrived around 6:30 last night. He brought his new GPS, and printed directions from mapquest to make the 10 mile 2 turn treck from the airport. Bless his heart, he got lost and called me for directions!! You gotta love it! He arrived hungry, and I had heard great things about an Italian restaurant on the island that was great. We checked it out, and I guess I'm to accustomed to Fazoli's to appreciate good Italian Fettucini. We could have eaten at Fazoli's 6 times for the price to! Oh well, at least the company was good.

We had a great day today. We woke up extra early to head to the beach to watch the sunrise. Once we got downstairs and realized it was raining, we weren't in such a hurry, so we sat and got a history lesson from the hotel shuttle driver. He is an elderly man that reminds me a little of Grandpa Beer, and a little of Pastor Erman. He told us everything to see and do, and it was very fun talking to him. We headed to Sullivan Island and found our way to the ocean. Oh how I love the ocean. The sound, the smells, the sight, it is awesome everytime! We walked for awhile, and even picked up some seashells. After that, we made our way across an amazing bridge to downtown Charleston, and had breakfast at a great local cafe. We shopped at the old slave market, which really reminded me of Pikes Market in Seattle. We watched older african-american women weaving sea grass baskets, and that was very cool. Then we took an hour carriage ride around the historic district. We had the best tour guide. He was very informative and kept us laughing the whole time. We headed down to Waterfront Park to get a good view of the new Cooper River bridge, and instead were treated to an awesome surprise!


Yes, those fins belong to dolphins!! There were several of them, and they followed a school of fish into the harbor as the tide was coming in. I guess it is not a very common sight, but we watched them for over 1/2 an hour. We also watched pelicans diving for fish, and some other large birds, which we have yet to name. Despite the cloudy day, it was beautiful down there! We left downtown, and on the way back to the hotel, stopped at the downtown Charleston Quilt Store. It was listed in the top 10 of the country, so I really wanted to see it. It was very nice, but much smaller than I expected. It was fun to see anyway.


This city really has a southern feel, and the architecture really reflects that. A lot of trees have some kind of spanish moss growing on them and it looks really cool. Many of the old houses in the historic distric had the 2 circular staircases going up to the front door like you see in the old movies. I took a lot more pictures and hope to get them posted in a couple of days. One more day of sight seeing and Matt will head home on Monday morning, when I head back to training.

After a long day, we are relaxing in our hotel room enjoying the Packer game. GO PACKERS!! Remember, you can click on any picture to get a bigger view!

Up and Down

After a long day of travel, I made it to South Carolina. It is 63 degrees out and feels great! My hotel room was so hot, I actually had to turn the air conditioning on! I went up and down three times to get here, but the trip was uneventful and everything went great. When I left home this morning, it was very cloudy, and come to think of it, I can't remember when the last time was that I saw the sun! Once we got above the clouds, there it was! Whenever I fly and get above the clouds, I look out and tell myself to remember that even when the sun isn't shining, it really still is above the clouds. It also made me think that that is how God is. Somedays He doesn't feel very close, but he is always there, even if we think we can't see Him!

I finished reading two books on my way down here today. The first one was 'Don't Look Back' by Kathy Herman (a Christmas gift from Mom, thanks Mom!!). I have been reading her series for awhile now, and it sounds like there is only one book left. Bummer! Anyway, as I was sitting on the plane in Atlanta waiting to take off for Charleston, I was reading the Deanna Farve book. I had read about 1/2 of this book before I had my last mammogram, and when I got called back, I couldn't seem to finish it. Now that everything came back OK, I decided to bring it on my trip and finish it. I happened to look up from my book and look out the window, and the above plane was right next to me!! What a strange coincidence. I had no idea they even painted planes like this, and there it was. Too cool.

Once the shuttle got to the airport to pick me up, it was pretty much dark out, so I didn't get to see a lot of the terrain on my way to the hotel. I was happy to see these palm trees outside of my hotel though! I'm looking forward to morning when I can get out and see what things look like around here. It is pretty boring in the hotel room without the family. I think the quiet might get to me. With the writers strike, there isn't much on TV, and it's all about the primary down here anyway. Good think I brought a couple of more books, my punch needle, and my computer! I'm looking forward to my training tomorrow, and I hope I learn a lot. I'm also looking forward to doing some site seeing with Matt this weekend!

Prayer Rocks

These prayer rocks were a Christmas gift from my sister Stephanie. The poem that she included went like this:

When your loved one
That you hold dear,
Is far from you instead of near . . .
Say a little prayer for them.
Hold their rock in your hand,
Bring it close to your heart.
Close your eyes, talk to God,
And you won't feel so far apart.

Today I am holding my 'friend' rock. Our family friend Marita has been battling cancer for some time now, and was admitted to home hospice care this weekend. She is suffering from pnemonia, and her time here is short. At the same time, a man in our congregation rejoices over his miraculous healing of brain cancer. While we will never know in this life why God heals some, and not others, I still believe he is faithful, and his ultimate plan is for the good of those who love him.

So today, please join me in praising God for the healing of our congregational brother. Also, I ask that you pray for peace for Marita in her last days, and for God to wrap his arms around her husband Mark, and their daughters Lizzy and Tori.

Thank you again Stephanie for the gift!

Doublemint Gum, Alvin & The Chipmunks, and Doughnuts

You might be asking yourself what these three things have in common. Would you guess my Grandma and this Christmas? Probably not, but that is exactly it.


The gum container pictured above was a Christmas gift from my sister Ann. When we were kids, my Grandma Monson always had a box of gum in the cupboard. Hers was a cardboard box, covered in contact paper, with GUM written in black letters on the cover. Everytime we visited, without fail, there would be gum for us in the gum box in the cupboard. So, now when you visit me, I will have gum in my gum box in my cupboard. My kids are a little old, but maybe when I have grandkids, they will remember my gum box when they visit me.

This Christmas I really wanted to see the Alvin & The Chipmunks movie. Probably not a top pick on everyone's movie list! The chipmunks are sentimental to me because when I would visit my Grandma at Christmas time, she would play the chipmunks Christmas song on her old 45 record player. (45 what? my kids would say!) So when I saw the movie was coming out, I knew it was a must see. Talking my family into seeing it with me however, was another thing. Do you have any idea how embarrasing it would be for teenagers to be seen at this movie? Plus, not having heard my Grandma play the song, my kids didn't quite understand my desire to see it. Charlie's kids to the rescue!! The weekend before Christmas, we had the priviledge of babysitting Charlie and Heather's three kids for the weekend. On Friday night, I knew I was going to be home alone with them, since everyone else was busy with basketball. I was sitting at work that day wondering how I was going to keep the three kids entertained, when I thought of the chipmunks! So, I braved the theater on a Friday night with three kids. It was well worth it. All four of us loved the movie, and it was so much fun to see it with the kids.

Now on to doughnuts. My other fond memory of my Grandma is that she would always make home-made deep fried doughnuts when we would come to visit. She did this well into her late 80's! There was nothing like Grandma's doughnuts! This memory came up at Katie and Josh's gift opening, as my aunt Mary gifted them a doughnut dropper for their wedding. I'm hoping Katie picks up the tradition and makes them for us when we visit her! I remember Grandma telling me once that our family had a connection to Krispie Creme doughnuts. A close relative of hers (a brother or step-brother) was the founder of Dixie Creme doughnuts, which was later bought out by Krispie Creme. I'm not sure if the above picture is related to that same company or not, but I thought it cool none the less.

Grandma has been gone for over 3 years now, but she is definitely not forgotten!! Thanks for all the great memories Grandma!

January 1, 2008

It's a well known fact that I already have to many hobbies, but when you have to many, what's one more right? It has been fun for me to read other peoples blogs, so I thought I would finally create my own. I'm heading to South Carolina next week, so I thought this would be a good time to start so that I can share my trip. I'm getting excited, last time I checked, it is supposed to be in the 70's when I arrive. That is a far cry from the 7 degrees that it is today! I am looking forward to a little reprieve from the cold.

The above picture is from my beautiful neice Katie's wedding on Sunday. This is one of my favorite pictures from the weekend! The wedding was beautiful, and very fun. It was great to be back at Bethany and sing all the old Bethany hymns. Katie's cousin Matt was the DJ for the dance and did a great job! I did a good job of holding in the tears until Josh and Katie came to hug their parents after lighting the untiy candle. The pride on Josh's dad's face got me going. Alyssa got me going as well during her great maid of honor speech. Good job Alyssa!! As you can see, even after a very long day, Katie can't take a bad picture!!

By the way, if you want to see a picture better, you can click on it and it will enlarge in a new window. The last picture is of the wedding party, minus the flower girls and ring bearers. The little guys wouldn't stand still long enough for me to get a clear picture, and the one I took with the flower girls didn't turn out. Hopefully someone else got a good one. I have all of my pictures out on snapfish.com. I'm not sure how to post that here, so if you want a link to the photo album, send me an e-mail and I will share the album with you!

Well, that's it for my first post. Please feel free to leave me a comment!