Climbing trees....

Despite our earnest efforts to camp this summer, it hasn't come to pass and so this is as close as we've come...a camp-out lunch on top of the "Ridge" at the England's farm. The site really was absolutely amazing and of course the company was fabulous too. Jeff made hamburgers and hot dogs over the camp fire and Lorraine had made cabbage salad, which was really thoughtful as a couple days before i had been talking about how much i loved it and didn't have a recipe for it.

Jeff talked about his childhood growing up on a then tobacco farm and how much hard work it was and even showed the kids a great place to play up there. As you will see below is was this awesome tree that was perfect for climbing. It reminded me of better days when I was a child and would play outside ALL DAY! We had trees in our backyard growing up that my sister, brother and i would climb. I don't actually think Immanuel had really climbed a tree before this day, which is somewhat sad to me. We've become a society that depends on technology to entertain our children, instead of them going out and finding it for themselves. Counted our world is different in that it's not as safe as i remember it being, however i believe we'd have healthier, happier children, if we'd let them out or rather pushed them out the door and told them to explore.

John and i have recently talked about how different our childhoods were from that of our children and i have been making a conscious effort to not allow the T.V. to be put on or computer games to be played. It used to be a daily thing for the t.v, which i was better about when they were little, and the computer games were several times a week, but now we are in a technology famine and i have to say it's FANTASTIC! Eden actually said to me the other day, "Mommy, i had so much fun today because we didn't watch the t.v.!" I pondered on that and how it sounded...almost like i enslaved them to watching t.v. instead of it being a privilege...and you know what, i don't think she's too off on that one. Anyway, this was a day well spent and the kids throughly enjoyed the "Ridge" and we all enjoyed spending time with good friends. Thanks Jeff for showing them the trees!

Gorgeous view! Man, i just LOVE living in Tennessee!

Jack & Brayden, great buds!

Johnni giving the kids rides on the 4-wheeler. So sweet, they loved it!

Trying to catch June Bugs! They were EVERYWHERE!!!

Poor little Maddison, so tired! My kids NEVER did that!

He doesn't smile like that when watching T.V. or playing computer games!

Priceless!

Jack even tried to climb them too...

Brayden helping Sarah after she got hurt....so cute!

A Frog Immanuel found, it totally looks like the bark of a tree, so cool!

Independence Day 2010...

This year was perhaps our most quite July 4th since we've been married, in that it was the first year we didn't see fireworks. I wasn't too happy about that, but being in a part of the country that actually has reverence for the Sabbath, AND sneaks out of fireworks on either Saturday or Monday to save themselves some money...leads to not much of anything. However next year it won't be on a Sunday and we can again go to Knoxville like we did last year (they had them in Knoxville this year, but with church etc, it would have made for a very tiring day).

In any rate we were invite to the Jones' Home and had a very nice time visiting with friends from church. These are some of the best people around and i love spending time with them. Good food, good friends, and good fun! God Bless America!

Madalyn, i love those cheeks!

Amber Passey, amazing mother!

Good times!

Of course he has balls...would he be playing with anything else?
He must have carried that orange one around with him all afternoon!

Katie, Maddox, and Britt

Sammi...at first she refused to smile saying, "Sometimes we don't do that."

But then...such a pretty smile, just like her mother!

The Long Awaited Father-Son Camp-Out...

It was a warm muggy day in early July. They were determined, but naive to the formidable opposition the forest would offer.

The journey was slow, but steady. Up they went step by step. Water was drank; the 20 10 rule was followed, they arrived at the summit. They chatted with passers by. They enjoyed companionship.

They went to the mountain beach. They enjoyed it’s inexplicable beauty.

THEN, they faced the dark night in the open air. Their sleeping bags were warm, the fire bright, but the dark night sounds were more than some Morgan men were prepared to face. The night was long, nightmares were in abundance, fear shook…. “What was that sound? Is that a bear? What was that dad?” Prayers were offered, hugs were maintained, AND….

The sun broke, a decision and a descent was made. Their hearts were filled with joy and a bond. They saw a horse named Blue and walked a long road to another hike, home… The cell phone was dead, but thumbs turned out to be the best form of transportation.

With thumbs extended, a family headed on a camping trip stopped, cookies were had and home they arrived safely to their peace and family.

Immanuel and dad. A journey, but the story will continue…. Next time they will have a water filter and a 2 man tent…. and experience. :0)

--John

The Girls saying goodbye...

Giving Jack a hug too...

Got the packs on....

...and they're ready to go...

Figuring out how to use the compass...

He looks so little with that pack on!

Do you see him? He's all the way down at the bottom.
That cave is huge! These are the Sand Caves.
Yep, a Cave with a sandy beach up in the Mountains! So incredible!

There he is again at the bottom...

The View from White Rock.