Fonceas in Atlanta

Kristy's former roommate at Ole Miss, Julie (Allen) Foncea and her family (Husband, Pablo, and children, Jacob and Janie (Jane Ann) were in Atlanta this weekend from Maryville, TN, for Jacob's soccer tournament. We met them for supper on Saturday night in Dunwoody at La Madeleine's french bakery and bistro. It was so great to hang out and catch up!

Katrina's 3 Year Anniversary

This is the three year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which, to date, is the most devastating natural disaster in United States history. For a photo gallery of the hurricane's aftermath along the MS coast, go here.

The historic Dantzler House before...


and after Katrina.

First U12 Soccer Practice & the Cherokee Rose

Today I spent most of the day working in Dahlonega, but came back in time to coach Schaeffer's soccer team, the Rangers. Ten of eleven boys showed up for a perfect weather, early evening practice. Schaeffer has been waiting all summer for soccer to start, and had a GREAT time... even stayed after to shoot on goal with a couple of his teammates. 

The highlight of Ann Ferris' day was going to the library with Sarah McDonald to do research for a paper on the Georgia state flower, the Cherokee Rose, which, as it turns out, is a wildflower.

The Drought Killer

It looks like Tropical Storm/Depression Fay may be renamed The Drought Killer. Folks in Georgia are so thankful that she has lingered over the mountains for the past couple of days, dropping upwards of 15 inches of rain in some places—wow! At almost 40,000 acres, Lake Lanier, the primary reservoir for the Atlanta area, has already risen by a foot and is expected to rise even more. It is the kind of rain Georgians have been waiting for for three years, having lived under severe drought conditions. Thank the Lord. Literally.

First Day in 4-K

This morning Sarah Wynn got dressed and ready for her first official day of 4-K. Although we've been doing school for almost three weeks at home, today was Classical Conversations' kick off for 4-K through sixth grade (seventh and up began two weeks ago). Anyway, she loves her "hand me down" backpack from Ann Ferris- which is holding her snack, an extra pair of sandals and her "B-lah" (her special blanket) that she is going to use for show and tell. I can't wait to pick her up at 12:30, take her to lunch and ask her all about the big day.

POST UPDATE: On our way home from CC, I took Sarah Wynn by the suburban zoo (Pet Smart) down the street from our house for a mini-field trip. She loved the snakes, bullfrogs, lizards, gerbils, rats, birds, fish, etc. 

One small step for Sarah Wynn. One giant leap for 4-K.

 

Evening with Friends

Last night our friends, the McDonalds, hosted us for some BBQ and Olympics. The kids climbed trees, played football and dress-up. I wish I'd gotten the picture of Sarah Wynn in the princess dress. She felt so at home in it! After a game of football in the front yard, Schaeffer and Coleman put on military garb and took out the enemy while Ann Ferris and Sarah played private eye and enjoyed the "player" piano.

 

Emeril and Rachel Ray Caston

This morning I woke up and discovered two young chefs, Emeril and Rachel Ray Caston, making pancakes for breakfast. She stirred. He flipped. Notice the apron on Sarah Wynn. :0)

Coach Caston

Today I agreed to coach Schaeffer's U-12 soccer team this year with ASA (the Atlanta Soccer Academy). It will be a great way to spend time with him, meet folks along the 400 corridor (which leads to Dahlonega) and maybe influence some kids. Schaeffer and I are really fired up. Practice for The Rangers begins Tuesday, with games on Saturdays at the Polo fields in Cumming, GA. Go Rangers!

Trampoline-Ball

Today while Kristy and Ann Ferris were at CC at Periemter, I was at home enjoying a reading day. While I was in my chair in the backyard, Sarah Wynn and Schaeffer played Trampoline-Ball (a bouncy version of short field football).

Weekend update: Since Randy Pope was at the Men's Retreat on Saturday, I was asked to preach for the Saturday night service. Believe me, I am the lowest rung on the totem pole, so they were desperate. Nonetheless, it was a unique experience speaking in an auditorium with 2,500 seats (even if they weren't all full!). And even if they didn't get the greatest sermon in the world, the music part of the service was unreal. Way to go Perimeter worship team. Wow!

Anyway, here are some highlights from Trampoline-ball:

The "field"

Schaeffer lunges for a touchdown

His post-score celebration move

Just glad to be outside playing with "Brother"

House of Cards

Ann Ferris very delicately crafted a "house of cards" on the dresser beside her bed. Considering that Sarah Wynn was in the room makes the feat all the more amazing!

Homestyle Olympics

Over the past few days, our kids have engaged in a variety of Olympic games... homestyle. From events on the putting green to the trampoline, they have all been going for the gold. Schaeffer hopes to match Michael Phelp's run for 8! Anyway, here is a pic of Schaeffer and Ann Ferris in a grudge match of "driveway tennis."

Mid-Week Upate

I'm sitting in a cafe on the square in Dahlonega today, taking things a bit slower than my marathon day yesterday, when I left the house around 6am and went non-stop until I returned home after 9pm. Whew... Anyway, since I am preaching at Periemter's saturday night service in the main auditorium and then teaching at East Lanier Community Church on Sunday, I thought I'd get away and let the sermon and teaching lesson soak in a bit. And what better place to soak than in the mountains! :0) Of course, I'm also getting some other work done, but mainly task stuff. Not people intensive. So my battery is getting to recharge. 

By the way, school is off to a great start. Everyone is loving it, and Kristy has been really energized by teaching chemistry and algebra 2 at Classical Conversations. She simply amazes me.

As much as she enjoys her home-centered education, Ann Ferris is so glad to be back in the classroom, and Schaeffer, who still has a couple of weeks before his class begins, is coming alive in almost every subject. Way to go, Schaeffer!  Sarah Wynn is now in the mix, too, which makes for a full, but rich day of discipleship at home.

Back to School

Although school at home began last week, Ann Ferris' Classical Conversations challenge class begins today (while Schaeffer and Sarah Wynn's classes begin in two weeks). Ann Ferris is really excited, and here is posing in a new "back to school" outfit. 

Autrey Mill Field Trip

Since Ann Ferris was invited to an end of the summer all-girl's swim party on Friday afternoon, I took Schaeffer and Sarah Wynn on a field trip to the Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and Heritage Center. After feeding the ducks, we enjoyed live frogs, snakes, lizards, tarantulas, emperor scorpions and more. Sarah Wynn was a bit skittish of the (stuffed) black bear. :0)  And thanks to Lori Smith for the VBS t-shirt!

Katydid

Check out this Katydid that hung out on the front porch of our cottage in Monteagle last week. Unreal how it could blend in with leaves on a tree. Looks like intelligent design to me.

Monteagle in July- Water Games

Sarah Wynn loves Friday "Water Games" at Monteagle. Here are some highlights of our her recent water games experience:

Raccoon

The other day we had a visitor in the backyard. At first I thought he was the neighbor's cat, but then I noticed that he had a non-feline swagger. Needless to say, the kids were really fired up.

Monteagle in July- Swimming Hole, Pt. 2

Here are a few more pics from the Firey Gizzard swimming hole. Schaeffer and Graham search and find the monster crawdad!

Monteagle in July- Swimming Hole, Pt. 1

While we were in Mississippi for Kristy's reunion, I received an e-mail from the general manager of the Monteagle Assembly asking if I could return to the mountain and lead a mid-week chapel service. After rearranging my schedule and getting permission from the encouraging folks at Perimeter, the family returned to Atlanta for a day and then headed back to Tennessee from Tuesday, July 29-Saturday, August 2. This first post is of the trip we took to the first swimming hole on the Firey Gizzard trail.

Back to Atlanta 2.0

Well, we had planned to return to Atlanta last night, but were talked into staying by some good friends of ours from Nashville, Sydney and Larry Catlett. Tom Key, who owns a theatrical group in d'town Atlanta, was in the Assembly last night to perform a one-man stage play of C.S. Lewis.  The Catlett's had a huge supper for Tom, his wife and about 12 other folks, then we enjoyed the presentation in the chapel, which was absolutely fantastic! Afterward we stayed up talking with Tom about acting, memorization, etc. Since it was so late, we ended up staying at Sydney and Larry's cottage overnight and just got back to Atlanta early this afternoon.  Tomorrow we drive over to Kennesaw/Acworth where I will be preaching at Christ Community Church. I think we are ready to stay put for a while, and are considering putting a ban on road trips during the month of August. :0)

Back to Atlanta

These past few weeks have largely been lived "on the road." Our time in Mississippi and Tennessee has been wonderful, but we are looking forward to getting back in the home-saddle. We head back home tonight from a return visit to Monteagle, TN, where we have been since Tuesday. I was asked at the last minute to fill in for a mid-week chapel service at the Assembly that night, so I reworked my schedule and, after being at home for about 24 hours from our trip to Kristy's 20 year HS reunion, we headed back to the mountain. 

The folks up here have been so gracious, giving us a cottage for the rest of the week (even though I only preached one night)! At any rate, we have had a blast and are rested and ready for the new school year to crank up, as well as a year of support raising for the church plant next summer.  

Also, we've got lots more pictures to post (especially from a really fun hike to the first swimming hole on the Fiery Gizzard trail), so be looking for them in the next couple of days. :0)