Mountain Musings

When Four Little Munchkins Visit...

I'm somewhat late in posting May activities...but I couldn't let this opportunity pass without documenting on the blog that the sweetest grandchildren ever came to visit us on Memorial Day weekend.

Grampa and Granny go slightly crazy coming up with fun activities for them to enjoy and remember...hoping they'll tell their parents they want to go to Granny's house in Virginia more often! :)

The weekend turned out to be a little on the chilly side so we picked the warmest day for the Slip 'N Slide: Birthday water guns were a big hit, and the buddies wanted to "let's get Aunt Hannah!"

The kiddies always love Grampa's yellow wagon rides. This time the grand-girlie enjoyed riding for the first time! Here's the sweet girl waiting for Grampa to start his tractor!

All around the property they drove...and the kids loved it!

Granny Deb had the idea for a Garden Scavenger Hunt, and Aunt Hannah came up with all the items to find. Here are the little guys before they took off to the garden with their lists:

And away they go! "I found a birdhouse!"  "I see a red flower!" "I found a frog!" That game kept them occupied for a good while, plus it was fun!

Grampa had another activity up his sleeve...helping the grandsons make something in Grampa's Work Shop! Oooh, this was a favorite!

Grampa explained to this cute threesome what they would be making:

They were excited to pound nails, saw wood, and use Grampa's vacuum to clean up. Everyone had a turn!

Such excitement to cut the letters (with Grampa's help!) for their initial plaques!

Forming the letters:

Let's call Grampa's project a happy success!

We were so thankful that Great Granny was feeling well enough to enjoy their visit since she was in the ER for hours the night they arrived. Sarah was glad to see her enjoying her great-grandchildren:

Great Granny contributed to the activity ideas too! She suggested that she wanted to purchase roller skates for the boys and have them skate on the deck so she could watch. Great idea! And we included the helmets for this new adventure: They became old pros pretty quickly and skated around the deck and picnic table with no fear at all!

These two sisters took time out to walk around the property for some miles to add to their Spring 100 goal:

After all that activity, some much needed quiet reading time was the order of the day. Here's Grampa reading to the guys on Sunday morning before church:

Aunt Hannah always had a crowd around her, too!
And last, but not least, Great Granny absolutely loved holding this girlie, her only great-granddaughter!

Memorial Day Weekend around the Mountain Musings homestead could not have been any better with the munchkins here! 

Now, we're looking forward to the 4th of July weekend when we'll see another little two-year-old grandson coming from the opposite direction who will help me celebrate my birthday and shoot off some fireworks!

Fun times ahead!

~Deb

Theology of the Family conference

Our annual trip to Asheville, NC took place in May instead of October this time, and spring was another beautiful time of year to visit Ridgecrest Conference Center:

Our lodgings looked out on the rolling hills near Black Mountain:

Since Mom stayed behind at home with Granny, we tried to send her plenty of pictures so she would feel somewhat included in our days:

Mom always loves catching up with various friends who also are attending this conference, so that was a part she was sad to miss. We ran into many familiar faces and met several new ones, too.

These 2 Jonathans caught up on each other's lives:

We heard tales of these young ladies' exciting travels and business ventures:

Our first evening's session was delivered by Paul Washer, who spoke about Fallen Families...a very sobering but encouraging message to start off the weekend:

Meanwhile, Mom back at home picked our quickly-ripening strawberries for me:

During lunch in the dining hall, we chatted with a sibling group from MI and got to know them better:

Free time one afternoon allowed for several of us to drive off-campus to enjoy a short hike together:

Catawba Falls had an upper and lower falls, and we spent some time exploring and relaxing:

My friend Hannah and I, who is also participating in the Spring100 challenge, added some miles to our totals.

As the conference came to a close, we said goodbye to various friends old and new:

2 brothers took a break from their Army duties to spend the weekend with their family:

We made dinner plans with friends from TN and found a local recommended BBQ restaurant.

It was an enjoyable time sharing conversation and a meal together.

When we returned to the conference center, the rest of the night was spent in fellowship with different groups of people who had gathered for an evening of music and talking.

These young men joined in piano and voice for a new version of "Only Trust Him", which was a fitting closing for the event:

We arrived back home to Virginia and regaled Mom and Granny with stories of our time away.

What is our hope in life and death?
Christ alone, Christ alone
What is our only confidence?
That our souls to him belong
Who holds our days within his hand?
What comes, apart from his command?
And what will keep us to the end?
The love of Christ, in which we stand.

~Hannah