Birthday Hike to the Chimneys ...

We decided to get a cabin in Townsend and hike the Chimneys on Saturday for our birthdays. We invited Curt and Dawn to join us ...


Here's the group ... fresh and ready to go!!! Had we read the sign we were standing next to, we would have discovered that the trail near the top was closed due to erosion. That meant we were in for a challenge we weren't expecting ...


Beginning our journey up the trail ...


Lovely sights to see on the way ...


Take a breather while it's flat!


I think we would all say, the camera does not do the incline justice ...


Photo-op time!


The face of the rock ... climb all the way up to get to the top ... a 1700-foot elevation from bottom to top ...


Whew! We did it!! ... but not at the top yet!






An amazing view; they don't call it the Smoky's for nothing ...


Taking a break on the way up ...


Okay, we made it!!!


The view's great from here!


Jared and I decided to not head up to the very top ... we enjoyed the squirrels and chipmunks scurrying all around us ...

So, then we made our way back down ...


With a few stops to enjoy the scenery!


Since we are here, let's get our feet wet!


Did you splash me?? That water is cold!!


Beautiful ...


Time to head on ...


The end of our journey ...

A Cabinet Maker Discovered ...

David and I decided back in the winter that it would be a great idea to build bookshelves (well okay ... maybe me more than David) instead of buying premade ones so we could use the brick space that is really wasted space in the Family Room.

Scott was gracious to let David use his tools as well as helping him get started by getting the pieces cut out of the cabinet-grade birch sheets we bought to do the job.

After the boards were cut, I got to work priming and painting ...




Frame and shelf boards ...


Top of cabinet boards ...



Frames built and routed for the shelves to go in ...


Shelves are in!!


A better view of the unit ...


The Creator and Twins ...




Getting the bottom of the cabinets finished so the doors can go on them ...


David putting up the trim ...


Here's what they look like inside ...


Aren't the beautiful!?!!


The almost finished product.

David is still working on the doors, so when they are finished, we will get a shot of them! They have been the most time consuming because he has put decorative edges on them, and there are 4 of them, so it's a little more tedious ...

This ended up being one of my birthday presents, and my favorite for sure!

Sugarwood Swim Meet July 9th

Jared was in 4 events this time around ...


Freestyle, Backstroke, Butterfly, and Freestyle Relay


Jared and his buddies hanging out waiting for their event.


A quick shot with mom ...




The sunset was absolutely beautiful!


A serious game of cards in between events; let's take a closer look ...



Jared won first place in his event for freestyle, shaving 4 seconds off his best time ... way to go Jared!!!

Fun for the 4th

Thursday morning, we headed out to Norris Dam State Park to meet up with the Bakers (friends from our previous small group at River Oaks) for a fun-filled day of pontoon boating, tubing, and swimming ... The weater was perfect!


A few pictures before we head out ...


The Baker family ~ who we enjoyed the day with ...


Just look at that water! Oh, yes, and the ducks too :))



Jared suiting up for his first tubing adventure of the day.


Garrett, Jared, and Matt enjoying a leisurely pull in Big Bertha ...


Filling up Big Bertha after she deflated a bit; cost, 50 cents. Watching Greg try to figure out how to use the vacuum cleaner on Big Bertha ... PRICELESS.


So we set out agan with Big Bertha filled up and ready to go ... who are those gorgeous girls?


He's a natural !!


Greg and Jenny enjoying their day.


Anchoring down for for a leisurely swim ...


Matt checking things out for the new arrivals.

We spent the night with the Bakers Thursday night and had a great time of catching up with each other, grilling, playing games, and the most important thing of all, sitting around the fire roasting marshmellows for Smores :)) Thanks Greg and Jenny for a marvelous time!


Friday evening, we headed over to "Camp Roberts" as Jared likes to call it, for a fun-filled evening of eating and playing ...


The kids enjoying playing with their Sparklers!


Jared's best buddies ever ... 4 of the Roberts boys ...

Happy 4th of July!

Small Group Photo

Instead of adult Sunday School, River Oaks has small groups that meet at different homes on different nights. This is our group. We spend every Wednesday night with them, so they are a very important part of our lives. We eat together and we share our lives together by learning what it means to grow in the likeness of Christ; by encouraging each other, helping each other, and just plain loving each other.


We are minus 2 people in this picture; Benssy (Christy's husband who is in Basic Training for the Navy - for more details, visit Christy and Benssy's website under "Friends and Family" to the right), and Dawn Wayman. Our younger members, Laney and Isaiah are also not present in this picture.



Jared and Laney-girl :)) We feel it is an important part of Small Group to have the children be a part as well :))



We can't have small group without have a little fun! Show me your tongue!