Friday, April 29, 2011

Mystery Diagnosis

Let's play a little game. I am going to describe two different scenarios of behaviors that can be readily observed around my home and you see if you can identify the appropriate diagnosis.






Scenario #1: It's April. The sun is shining. My kids are itching for adventure. That's when this happens below. Before I know it they are in the lake - I mean IN THE LAKE - fully immersed. It's like a baptism of sorts for the childhood soul.












Now, take a good look at these kids. I mean, they are practically

foaming at the mouth

(or is that just dirty lake water??).




Look at the reckless abandon with which the throw themselves into the water.



Feel the JOY . . .


the LOVE . . .



the WILD ABANDON . . .



the sheer bliss of just being a kid.


They are happy, exhilerated . . .DIRTY.



It's time for a shower.


So, what's your diagnosis?
(Answer: Spring Fever)



Scenario #2:

Now, take a careful look at this kid.


This one may be a little more difficult to correctly diagnose, so I will walk yout through.


Notice: the hair (that's a faux hawk gone bad)


the slouch against the porch post


the Ipod in his hands (you almost missed that didnt' you?)


the slight grimace in his expression


the way he looks at you as if to say, "What are you lookin' at?!"


Have you got it figured out??


(Answer: adolescence)


That's right. We have an adolescent among us.

He can go from sullen to smiles in a matter of minutes and with now real reason or explanation.


It's a good thing we love him so much!


April 20th - The Easter Egg Hunt at Child's World

If you are familiar with the events at Child's World, then you know that this is one of the great traditions - possibly the most anticipated event of the year! This year was particularly meanigful as it was the last time that I would have a child to run that beautiful green lawn at Ms. Scott's house and revel in the bliss of childhood treasures.

Enjoy - I need a tissue . . .




























































Friday, April 22, 2011

Waterfall #2 - Telelulah Falls

4 curious kids, over 600 steps, 1 suspension bridge, 4 overlooks, a glorious waterfall, a magnificent dam = 6 hours of Adventure at Telulah Gorge

































































































































Wednesday, April 20, 2011

I have always loved a sunrise service. Every Easter that I can remember, my family would get up at 4:00am, throw on some old warm clothes, and head over to Stone Mountain for an annual trek up the mountain to watch the sunrise, listen to a sermon, and (my favorite part) to sing "Christ the Lord is Risen Today".

WE WILL relive that tradition one year with our own family, but I knew it wasn't going to happen this year. So, I was thrilled when Chuck suggested that we have our own sunrise service at Mulberry Park. We sent out the email to all of our neighbors and plans were made. Here are a couple of shots of our first annual Cleft Easter Sunrise Service.








Arriving at Mulberry (6:20am)







(walking up the overlook path - 6:30am)



Here it comes . . . (6:57am)






I absolutely love this picture of my children enjoying God's handiwork - a new day has begun!












Chuck and Wesley were the first team to read from our resurrection eggs.








Chuck and Will














Chuck and Riley Catherine







Ty



7:55am - service has ended. Time to rush home, eat, get dressed, and get to church!







9:10am - We really need to be going. . . but they are so beautiful. Just one more picture!









9:15 am - It's getting later . . .










9:20am - Okay, we are going to be late. Must go.












Happy Easter!!





























Friday, April 15, 2011

Will's 10th birthday






Okay, so this is my first time trying out a slide show. Didn't go so well - nothing is in the order that I saved it, but hopefully you can get a taste of what the day was like anyway.
Album 1 - slideshow dvd

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Things you see at the Cleft . . .

Things you see at the Cleft that you might not see anywhere else . . . 1. A bonfire on an 80 degree day. My husband is a pyromaniac. As long as I can remember he has had a fascination with fire, truly flames of any kind. He loves candles (we have a whole cabinet dedicated to them), he loves the pretty flames that light up our gas logs in the den, he is particularly fond of the masonry fireplace in the basement which can force even the coldest of creatures to shed clothing after Chuck gets finished stoking it. But, his favorite flames of all have to be those from an outdoors bonfire. He is unhindered by the seasons, and chooses to indulge whenever the hankering hits! On Saturday, our boys cleaned out the woods and used some of the rocks (leftover from our masonry fireplace) to build a ring around the firepit in our backyard. So, on Sunday, Chuck wasted no time throwing all of the branches and the bramble into the circle and lighting it up. Like flies drawn to the flame, the children came running, the adults came to investigate, the Mocks drove over in their pick-up truck (with Christa and Katie Beth literally lounging in the back) bringing supplies for S'mores. It was a glorious evening and Chuck was beaming - from pride, pleasure, or general heat damage we don't know, but it was great fun nonetheless!



Friday, April 1, 2011

Great Ideas . . .

I love having boys! I love the things that they come up with when looking for something to do. Basketball is the most popular diversion around here. In fact, it isn't an uncommon thing to here the basketball pounding on the pavement at 7:00 in the morning. This particular day, I went out to call the boys in for dinner and found them in an all out dunking contest. They run up to the ramp at full speed, fling themselves fearlessly into the air and with nice form and pretty good accuracy, hit the rim and dunk the ball. I LOVE IT!