Facebook 10 Days of Senior (Sam)

From Magan's Facebook feed...No, I didn't get close to all of them...but did capture the amount of emojis she typically uses in facebook posts.  She shared 10 days of "Senior Parent Challenge"...

I remember how proud I was to hang his first year picture frame. 

He had 22 months of being an only child and teaching me how to be a mom.  We cried together, laughed together, and realized we have to take it one day at a time together.  

We have way less than 22 months left before we have to learn how to do all of this apart. 😭

I had to do some scanning for these, back before phone pics were a thing 😂. 

I have never ever made 10 posts 10 days in a row 😂. Only 2 more days and I’ll leave y’all alone for a while.  Here are two of my most favorite videos of the boys though 🥰. Davis with his bee watching and Sam with his sweet little voice.  Also Davis remembers to hold on in the monster truck b/c Sam flipped the monster truck down the hill the last time he rode with him 😂😳🤣

This is it!  Last day, thanks for hanging in there on this trip down memory lane.  Your newsfeed will be free of Sam for at least a few weeks 😂

Sam, in my heart, you’ll always be my squishy sweet little buddy til forever.  Even when you are old like your mom 😁

Climbing towards Self Reflection

A Saturday morning all to myself.   Not really planned this way, I was hoping my new friend Timmy would be able to join me, but I think his knees are worse than mine, so he bowed out the previous night.  Maybe next time.  I think Sam and Davis also had activities on this morning, so off I went grabbing a ChickFilA biscuit then hitting the trail by 7:30AM.   And guess what, it was free Alabama State Park day, so my trip was getting better all the time.   

My plan was to move at a snail's pace, as I am planning to bring the youth up here to Kings Chair later in Novermber, and I wanted to get a good feel of the time it would take them.  My first lesson on this trip was that the 1st uphill part out of the trailhead is the hardest.   Maybe because the knees were just not ready yet, but maybe because it is a very steep climb to get started with.   But at this slower pace, I did not have to watch each footstep as close, which allowed me to look around, enjoy the scenery.

The Blue trail runs from the North Trailhead all the way to the South passing Peavine Falls in the South.   I have been on that portion many times with the kids.   And even this section was one of our first family outings during the COVID days.  It seems so strange how there was almost a cringe when you came upon other people on a trail.   No one was masked, but we new that COVID was all around, and could be hiding out in Oak Mountain.  But now, it is nice to see other hikers, wave, and chat about the beautiful weather.  The trail is marked well, but I notice two areas where the trail seemed to come to a complete end, but once you got to that point, you would find another marker, and see the path continue forward hidden from the previous section of trail.

And then it was there, the King's Chair lookout.  Not many people there when I arrived, so I found a spot to sip my water, and read Isaiah 40:9-31.   When I was young and in Bible Drill, this was a key passage one year, it was called "The Greatness of God".   And from this height, it was a good place to reflect on all the many blessings our family has received.  And recognize that God is great and mighty, yet cares for us so small on this little hill in Alabama.  

I was not ready for this hike to end, so back to the blue trail, I continued forward to Shackleford Pass...areas I have never seen before, all a beautiful somewhat flat passage along the ridge of at least of  the double Oak mountains.  At the Red/Blue connecter, I finally turned towards home.  No snakes on this trip, only two minor knee pains, a total of about 4.5 miles, and a wonderful time of peace and seclusion away from the stress of day to day life.  

I shared my adventure with the small group on that following Sunday, picking on Timmy a bit for not joining me.  I spoke of the difficulty getting started sometimes, but the importance of getting moving and enjoying the things God has created all around us.  The markers and signs are all about us, and will guide us to the top, where we can look out and see and know God's greatness.  And what is the time to King's Chair at a snail pace of a 31 minute mile?...exactly 1 hour and 3 minutes.   

Fun with AHG

Operation Christmas Child is always one of the girls favorite events, and again, Magan had loads and loads of clearance items found that the girls could pack many many boxes for kids overseas and in need.   

Anabelle is now in the PIPA group and learning some Native American heritage items for the badge.  She also went with Magan to get CPR trained.   The videos were pretty humorous as the instructor kept telling them to take a break, their dummy was not doing well.  

I finally was able to connect with little Diana Cool, who has been super shy, but I finally got her to hang out and have some fun with Mr. Scott.  

And Ruby is in her last year as a Tenderheart working on Arts and Crafts, and some Book Adventurer requirements.