my watering can--part of my birthday present from Dave. ISN'T HE CUTE!!! 

the joy of silence, beauty, and the stories of our lives

buckle up folks, you may be in for a long read.
Today as Dave and I were driving back from my parent’s house, I started noticing more of what surrounds me up here in the mountains. I turned off the radio, which I don't do often when I'm not here, considering we don't get radio here because of the mountains, and just pondered inwardly. Dave had dozed off, and I was now in my own little world. The sun was heading in for the evening, and the sky was turning pink, and the mountains were just coming in to view. It was beautiful, magnificent even. The mountain air flowing through the windows--I was speechless. It was nice just to sit there driving, and just enjoy the drive for once. I didn't talk for a couple of hours, even after Dave woke up, I just wanted to enjoy the peace surrounding me, just enjoy those moments of wonder at what God has created. Then I started to watch movies in my head. Do you ever do that? I have a great imagination, and memory, for the movies. I like to watch them again in my head, and then change the story line alot. I also like to put a soundtrack to life. Something will happen, and I'll just think of a song, and maybe I'll "hum" it in my head for the next hour. While driving I was thinking about the book I'm reading right now called "Damned if I do." It's a book of short stories, and I highly recommend it so far. It's so much like life. Our life is just a big book of short stories. How many times have you written stories, books, novels, in your head?! I know I must have written hundreds by now, but would anyone want to read them, I dunno. Anyway, the book has sad and happy, funny and helpful, and even mad stories. So do we. We're not happy all the time, alot of our stories are sad, but they're written anyway. Because, if we didn't have those sad or mad stories, we wouldn't enjoy the happy, helpful ones just as much! I guess this blog today is just about enjoying life. Take the time to look around you, to see the beauty in your town. Even if it's just the wild flowers/weeds growing in the cracks of the cement--stop--breath deeply--and remember that life is worth living, every moment, if only for those few minutes that you smile, or even grin and bear it.
My mom's birthday was today, and we (my mom, my 2 sisters and I) went out shopping and to lunch. It was great! I enjoyed their company so VERY much...even when the twins were screaming through lunch at Cracker Barrel. I love you 3 wonderful women. You three are what I hope to live up to. Mom, you have given me more strength than I could even have wished for. Shannon, you were that shoulder to cry on, and the one who told me when I needed to shape up. Bethany, if I can grow to half the girl you are at 16, wow, you bless me every time I think about you. Thank you, my wonder women, for being my inspiration to push forward and live life to the fullest. I love you all SO very much. Happy birthday Mom.

p.s. my birthday is tomorrow, the 28th :)
h

HI's and LOW's

So this week started out REALLY well. I had Sunday AND Monday off, which seems like an eternity after a 57 hour week. Sunday we went to church and I had a long nap in the afternoon---oh so nice. Monday we slept in and I went to the library in the morning. Then we painted our chairs some more and picked up some movies we had wanted to see for awhile. Tuesday was back to work as usual. Except we had a group 0f 92 come in, and that wouldn't be that bad if they weren't SUPPOSE to be a group of 52. Yup, they called on Sunday, TWO days before coming, and said, oh, by the way, we're bringing 40 extra people--see ya then! Yeah, so it was a lil hectic trying to get 32 people through the swing every 2 hours--but I did it anyway. Tuesday night however, was AWESOME. NOC hosts a Raft Guide Olympics every year, and Tuesday was the day. Different teams from all different companies compete. They have to go through a pretty complicated run down the river; hitting eddies, flipping and re-flipping the boat, and slalom through different rocks. Plus, they had to run Wesser Falls, deflate their boat, put it on the truck, and run back to the rentals area. It was pretty sweet to watch. After all the competing we had a big Togo party! It was awesome. We danced until 11 and we could dance no more. Wednesday, back to guiding a group of 92 down the river--8 guided boats, 6 self-guided boats = chaos. Thursday, my last day before I go home to see my parents, work is ok, but I wanna get home to clean the house before we leave the next day. So, I'm goin a lil fast, and sorta zoning out trying to remember all the things I need to do. I usually slow down after one particular bridge when I see the speed limit sign, but I was in my own lil world when I got pulled over. It was a highway patrol car, so obviously there was no getting out of it. Yes, I got my first speeding ticket, and there's a mandatory court appearance--ugh. Anyone have any advice for me? I need to get my speed reduced to, well, keep my license. That made my day definitely suck. But, now we're back at my parents house for a weekend of visa work (finger printing and the such), wedding receptions, and birthday lunches. So hopefully it will be better than my more-lows-than-highs week. PS--my birthday is this coming Tuesday!

How far would YOU go …to get out of using soap?

This is not a story to tell to the young. Viewer discretion is advised

Tonight I learned a new thing about my husband folks, and I jump at the chance to tell you. Yes folks, he has a foot fetish. Now before you recoil in horror, listen to the story I’m about to weave. Tonight we were about to head to bed, but quickly remembered we had just put clean sheets on the bed. Well, there’s little to nothing better than clean sheets….when you’re clean. However, our feet were pretty dirty from walkin around a bit in flip-flops today. SO, instead of going to bed dirty or having to take a full shower, we opt for just washing the feet. To Dave, “washing” as a term, is used lightly. If you can't SEE the dirt, it’s obviously clean (no matter how many times it’s been used). So, he turns on the water, rinses them off, and dries. I say, “aren’t you going to use soap? If you don’t use soap, they just LOOK clean.” He claims they are clean, “Look at them,” he says, “they’re clean!” So I say, “Well, if they’re clean, lick ‘em then.” Now, this wasn’t just a touch them with the tongue then quickly recoil thing. This was a, lick ‘em from heal to toe and in-between the toes type of deal. So, what does he do…he whips out the tongue and quickly obliges. All I can say between laughter and being grossed out is ‘ewww’. “They’re clean” he states again, and walks outta the bathroom.
For all Nelson family reading this, I'm sorry you had to find this out. It must be a great awakening. Or, you either knew he was like this, in that case....YOU NEVER TOLD ME???? Well, I will leave you to your nightmares of Dave licking his feet. Goodnight all.

The South will RISE AGAIN!!!  

most EXCELLENT adventure

Well, I promised to tell you more about the tubing, so here's a short synopsis. On Monday, my day off this week, Dave and I decided to go tubing in Deep Creek. It was TONS of fun --till it started to storm and the rain started to hurt. Then we were trying to get the tubes back on the top of the car in the pouring rain w/o soaking the car INSIDE and needless to say we ended up getting soaked even more while laughing too hard to actually tie on the tubes. But it was fun. A church group was watching us w/ this ordeal from their dry van, guess we were a good show.

Yesterday I had THE most awesome raft trip group EVER. They were a couple of highschoolers and one or two college students. They were GREAT! We got stuck on THREE rocks AFTER the last rapid cause I was laughing so hard I couldn't even guide! GREAT day. Well, I gotta get outta here now, I gotta go do the same group on the Alpine tower, should be another good day, if the mosqitos would leave us alone and it doesn't pour too hard, lol

ps my shoulder is doing much better thanks to a friend in massage therapy.

cool shot of the side--ps dave took all these...GOOD HEY!!! 

the buddha painting 

the infamous chairs 

remember this Candice? 

what shall I do today>.....TUBE!

I LOVE TUBING IN DEEP CREEK!
more to follow, but most go host a group now, just thought i'd give ya a taster.

for Molly---i'm still here and kickin

This post is dedicated to Molly. Just so you know I'm still here, and I read your posts tri-weekly if not daily.
Well, since my last blog I've been trying fruitlessly to recover. The problem w/ my recovery program is that...well...I don't really have one. I've been working as normal and raft guiding even more. So, my shoulder has steadily declined. I woke the other morning (i use that term loosely, it was around 2 am) in great amounts of pain. I haven't been sleeping since then because my muscles seem to like to tighten alot during the night...I think they are playing tug of war. So, I finally called my boss and said "I'll take the workmens comp., thanks." So I'm hoping to go to a massage therapist soon. And that's all of my aches and pains we shall discuss.

Dave and I did finally end of strawberry picking. They are delicious...I especially like having them on waffles w/ whipcream...mmmmmmm. We're still painting our chairs too. I have tried to put things that mean alot to me on there. Buddha is a big part of my chair. About now my family and all Christian friends are freaking out thinking I have converted to Buddhism, but I have not. So...I will explain.

During the time Dave and I were on our honeymoon in Hawaii, we went to a Buddhist temple just to site see (they're VERY beautiful and elaborate). I was amazed at the quiet and reverence in which these temples were set! There was just an "awe" about the place. You were advised to take your shoes off at the door and light a stick of incense for a loved one at the feet of Buddha. My spirit was so quieted. I thought, "How different Christian churches would be, if we would just take ONE hour out of our week, and be THIS reverent to our God." I left there feeling very convicted to seek those quiet moments with God at all cost. And so, I have a picture of Buddha on my chair, and every time I see it, it reminds me to listen to the verse, "BE STILL and know that I AM God."

P.S. Chris---Dave and I went to see Star Wars III just because of your recommendation! I was a lil skeptical at first (because of the first one) but it was REALLY REALLY GOOD! Thanks Chris! Hope you had a great time in Bon Echo!!!

Bruises were immanent, death was assumed

This past Thursday we had a trip of 44 duckies. On these duckies were children in the 6th grade. If you calculate right...that means we had 44 6th graders...good job. Imagine, a sea of yellow w/ paddles flying everywhere, and trying to heard these masses off of ALL the rocks, trees, and rapid holes on the river. Yes folks, that was my day. I was assumed it would not be a fun filled day, because I was the sweep. I hate being in the back, you always get stuck w/ the teacher/kid that just CAN'T figure out how to paddle, no matter how many times you tell them they're hold their paddle backwards. Well, the day got even better when we got in the area of "turtle rock." Turtle rock is one of the most dangerous rocks on the Nanty. It looks all cute and shaped like a turtle, but it's undercut, which means the water goes under the rock. Several people have died under this rock, really. They float under it and can't float back out. Well a kid in a duckie gets stuck right ON this rock. So I go over to push him off before he tips over. I get him off, and then the current tips MY boat over and pins it on the rock. While trying to push my boat off and not get sucked under I'm banging around and it was just NOT nice. I finally get my boat un-stuck and get back into it. My left shin looks like a pinllata(sp? spell check just didn't have it!) it has so many colors, and my neck turns to the right...sometimes. So there's my saga...i have to go back to work now. Just thought I'd entertain you w/ my life for a few minutes. Sure sure...enjoy yourself while I'm in pain...thanx alot.

the LDP way....

today was my day off, something I had looked forward to since I found out I would have a full day off. I had it all planned out. We would sleep late, make a full Southern breakfast of eggs, grits, and bacon, biscuts on the side (and throw in a good cup 'o tea for Dave)and then painting and strawberry picking in the afternoon. Sounds glorious huh? Yes, it would have been. But at 10:00 this morning, while the grits were simmering and the biscuts were burning, my wonderful boss Cindy calls. She wants to know if I can guide this afternoon because a huge group is showing up and they're short a few guides (try 5). At first I think, "No, I'm not giving up my wonderful day w/ my husband"...but then the money starts to talk, "You're not getting many hours this week, and last month's start up phone bill still has to be paid!" So, what do I say? Yes, I would love to, I need the hours. I sorrowfully smile and my wonderful husband, who is completely understanding, and says it was a choice he understands, and that there is plenty of time for strawberry picking later. So, we have till 1 pm to spend time together. We ditch the dishes (which are already 3 days old but stacked neatly in a huge, dirty pile...so sorry mom), and go to ACE Hardware to buy some paint. See, we got these old wooden chairs from my grandmother, and the only restraint was that we MUST NOT bring them back. Then we got this funky idea to make them chairs that resembled what our fun side, or what we really liked, would be like. So, we're both painting them bright colors w/ lots of pictures, then adding our favorite magazine cut-outs. Dave's will probably have lots of rock climbing and kyaking involvment, and mine will be a lot of Glamour magazine and hippie stuff (along w/ some kyaking and rock climbing, lol). After the painting, off to work I went, and he came along and rock climbed while I guided some Puerto Ricans and Floridians down the river. It was a mulitguided trip, as my co-worker Stephan would say, because the Puerto Rican man in front of me kept trying to steer the boat, but what can ya do, he's on his vacation and you can only tell him politely once that you can't steer when he is doing that. It was a good afternoon all in all; then we hung out at the Paddler's Pub and watched "Absolutely Fabulous" (a show which you BBC lovers would probably appreciate). So that's my day. Sorry I didn't fill ya in on the last week, since it's been since then since I wrote, but hey, I'm married now, I gotta have a FEW secrets. ~off into the mystery I ride....on my raft~

High as a kite...but not on Hokah

Well, today I FINALLY got to do the famed NOC ropes course. I have been helping run groups through, but I actually got officially trained today. So, I conquered the ropes course...although I have to say, the swing at the end still took my heartbeat up a couple of notches. I had to count to three and then just close my eyes and go...scary stuff, but cool I could still get the rush. I also scalded my shoulders and neck, so now I'm a redneck...it only took 21 and 3/4 years, but it finally happened (my younger brother has been waiting for this day).
So, for all of you who like me are nieve and don't know what Hokah is, I shall tell you (because I didn't know till, oh...Sunday afternoon). But I must tell you the story that preceedes it first, it's only fair. So we walk into this shop in Asheville, a very cool shop I must say, and just start browsing. I immediately started looking at the really cool throw pillows (the housewife in me is kickin in). Then I noticed the "drug" parafanellia (sp?)...or at least that's what it LOOKED like. There were these MASSIVE water bongs. However (or at least this is what my obviously very 'in the know' husband tells me) they would not actually work on pot. Hokah (you get to find out now...excited???) is an instrament in which you smoke very wet (sometimes flavoured) tobacco. This store actually had tons of different flavors, including: grape, apple, margarita, taquilla...etc etc. The guy even said he could mix the flavours so you could get an Apple Margarita! So downstairs from this shop was the actual Hokah bar. And there ya have it folks, now ya know. There was also some cool mullet shampoo that I thought Shawn Pyle would love to have had, and a cool mullet care kit...I still may send it up to him, but he would have LOVED to see it...here's to you Shawn, one who is always infinately fascinated w/ mullets.
tomorrow I clean life jackets in the morning because the dam on the river is still not fixed...fun stuff. sianara! I know that's misspelled, give me a break, I was homeschooled! lol WARNING!: the previous joke is only to be replicated by homeschoolers. If otherwised stated by another party, aforementioned homeschooler will turn into mad, defensive, homeschool monster and claw eyes out.

a beautiful walk in the park.....

well, we didn't get to go in the duckies on Saturday...cause the dam was broken! Yup, when we got to NOC all ready to go, we looked at the water...and well...there wasn't much to look at. There were lots of lil kids floatin in the non-existant rapids. Even Wesser Falls (the grade 5 rapid) looked pretty dinky. But, we waded in the river and skipped rocks, and Dave found me a VW Matchbox bus, so it was all good. Then we went up to Cherakee and walked around too, good stuff. Then that night we went to Dave's photo shop where he volunteers and he took pix of us in old-timey clothes. It was so fun! It reminded me of playing dress-up w/ B as a kid. Good stuff.
Yesterday we dropped Bethany off to mom and dad, and then spent the rest of the day just walkin around Asheville. We saw some of the most incredible art work and really cool shops. We ate lunch in a park, and Dave fought off the dirty pigeons for me very valiantly. Then we walked into a privately owned, non-chain related bookstore of a pretty good size (amazing hey? it wasn't a Barnes & Nobles!!!) and bought a magnetic poetry set! We've both wanted one for quite some time, so it was neat that we finally bought one. Then we found a coffee shop called "Old Europe" and had some deliteful coffee and the MOST enticely delicious keylime pie I've EVER tasted. We drank our coffee and played w/ our magnetic poetry set on the silver tray that where our delicasies sat. It was wonderful. Then I got a really cool silk hat! And we met a traveling artist on the curb (we gave him our change, and he gaves us some poetry!). It was a great day, I'll let Dave tell ya about the guy that stopped us in the street to tell us about his dead mother and a really amazing church and that he likes to party...OH and the Hokah bar...but that's his story to tell :). beautiful day.

sis is here!

Bethany and family finally arrived yesterday around 3:30. Mom did a quick scope of the place and we got advice from the Everettes on TV antennas and they were off to the Wild's for the weekend. So, now it's just B, Dave, and I, left to our own devices.
Last night Dave cooked spaghetti and B and I prepared the salad and extras, then we were off to see Monster-N-Law at the movies. Yes, that IS the one w/ Jennifer Lopez in it, and no, I'm NOT a huge fan of hers. BUT, B was the guest, so we let her pick...and boy are we glad! Cause it was HILARIOUS! Yes folks, J Lo picked a good script this time (maybe it has something to do w/ her NOT putting one of her fiance's/ husbands in the film, but who knows...I pitty Mark Anthony..ahem..her husband, jeez you people are NOT up on your movies stars are ya now). So, if you're looking for a funny, NON chick-flick comedy, go see it! Dave and I both loved it!
So in about an hour we're off to take some duckies down the river! Neither Dave nor B have gone on duckies before, so I'm excited...I just hope the ducky's don't get too tired, that always sorta sux...lol...I'm hilarious. I'll keep yas posted!! Toodles!

Good times...

So Mother's Day weekend at home was great. I really enjoyed seeing the family, and I think my mom was actually pretty surprised!!! Cool deal.
Now I'm back at work waiting for dinner time to roll around so I can go host my group...well...Stephan's group, but we switched, so whatever. I was out on the ropes course all day today, and BUDDY was it hot. I was melting! Just thought I'd tell ya that Buddy. Buddy's not use to warm weather, he lives in Alaska, I just like making him jealous....HA HA SUCKA!!! Anyways, tomorrow I'm back on the river w/ a corporate group. We're doin something really cool too! It's called a "team building raft trip." There are 4 parts to the Nanty that they will guide...they get to decide who in the group will guide. The leaders and I aren't in the boats, we're in lil duckies along side of them. At certain points on the river they get to choose whether or not to do different challenges, like guiding blindfolded, hitting rocks and spinning, or catching eddies. I think it'll be cool!
Most importantly tomorrow, MY LIL SIS IS COMING TO SEE OUR NEW PLACE AND STAY THE WEEKEND! I'm really excited to spend some time w/ Bethany, I really miss not seein her all the time. I'm gonna take her on a duckie trip on Saturday too! WUHOO! Well, I better not make this blog much longer...so i just wanted to tell you guys that our wedding pictures should be up on www.1photofactory.com pretty soon! So check 'em out! LOVE YAS!

Happy Mother's Day

Don't forget people! Tomorrow is MOTHER'S DAY. And if you did forget, send flowers and a nice card...ASAP! And if it's really bad, send a gift certificate for a massage or manicure...that should definitely help. I'm back at my parents house this weekend. I surprised my mom by showing up at my nephews b-day party today and am staying for the mother's day dinner tomorrow night! Anyways, I just wanted to blog quickly....but I had this thing on my mind that I read from "a mommy's blog" (the link on my page to a random mom's blog). She was talking about unlikely angels coinciding w/ past relationships. A few years ago I had been through some tough relationships that ended up making me feel pretty worthless when all was said and done. Then, I started dating one of my friends that I had known for a lil over a year. He was the first non-Christian I ever dated officially, and he was the nicest guy I had yet to date at that time. He treated me with respect, he protected me, let me cry when I needed to, we hung out with his parents (who I actually really loved--and they loved me too...of course!). We just hung out, and talked LOTS about everything in our every day lives, and things we wanted to do, and what we really believed in (sometimes spiritual sometimes not). It was a short relationship, it lasted for that summer. Actually, the end was decided before we started dating. Weird huh? We just decided we would date for the summer because he was going to college, and I was going away too. I came out of that summer w/ a lot more courage and respect for myself than I went into it. He was and is still a wonderful person whom I admire very much for his strong, moral character, but I couldn't share my faith w/ him. That summer my faith was very weak, I really didn't care about it much. But the funny thing w/ God is, once we give ourselves to Him, He's not just gonna give us up just because we're walking away from Him. He's going to pull us steadily back towards Him, and keep reminding us that "hey, I love you, and you belong to Me." Well, what I wanted to say here is that that guy was sorta like my unlikely angel. He made me believe in good guys again. He made me believe in good friends again. And even though he wasn't a Christian, he helped push me back to my faith. To you summer boyfriend, I will forever remember you, and continue to pray for you.

Ants!!! ¬not the movie¬

statement: I hate ants
truer statement: i hate ants in my kitchen, crawling all over my sink!!!
We have ants. I have squished many an ant in the past week. I have drowned, salted, and poisoned ants this week....and yet....we still have ants. I need some heavy duty ant killers people...suggestions?
So, I'm feeling better, if any of you were wondering, your sleepless nights are over.
The LDP chilli night went wonderfully, thanx to my mom for supplying the recipe. The LDP loved it! They scraped the crock-pot clean! And of course we supplied them w/ lots of corn bread, and...sshhhh, don't tell Spicer....ice cream for dessert! We had a blast hangin out and swapin horror stories of a 10 month Medeba journey...:)...lol. Then most of them piled into our living room and watched "Bourne Identity", while Emily tried to explain to Michael where they were going the next day. She kept asking him, "so do you know where it is now?" And he would say "no, somewhere around Asheville." Ah Michael, still as clueless as ever. So, it was fun anyways.
And that's my news folks. If you are wondering why you haven't seen any wedding pix yet, it is because...well...NEITHER HAVE WE! Whenever we can get back to my parents area and finally look at them, then I'll tell ya a site you can look at them on.
Now I must go back to my slaughter of the ants....~BATTLE CRY~ AAAAAAAHHHH