The Perfect Timing of Seasons

One of the many great things about living in Blue Ridge is the fact that we are fortunate to experience all four seasons. Back in South Texas where we came from, there's really only two seasons: hot and not-so-hot. So if the question were put to me, "Which season is your favorite?", I would have to say that it's a toss-up between Autumn and Spring. After the busy-ness of the summer months, the winding down, and the quiet and reflective repose of Autumn is so welcoming. After the bitterly cold winters and many days of "cabin fever",

the rebirth and freshness of springtime is quite beautiful and full of promise.




Last week was a beautifully warm week with temperatures in the 80's - feeling much like summertime already! We took advantage of the gorgeous weather and put our boat in the water for the summer. With the kids in tow, we took them for a fun spin around the lake at sunset, capturing a few photographs of this great beauty that never ceases to amaze me.


One might think that such pristine beauty would become old hat, seeing it all the time and thus, taking it for granted. But every spring, without fail, it's as though I am seeing it all for the first time.



Deeply breathing the fresh clean air, the feeling of the wind in your hair, hearing your children's laughter - it's the confident expectation, the buoyant optimism, the faithfulness of God that permeates the air.

More pictures of our Swinging Bridge outing

Rick took a picture of our family along the Toccoa River, and then we took a picture of Rick running down the Swinging Bridge, causing it to swing! Yikes!

A Fun Day at the Swinging Bridge

Before all the cold weather came down on Blue Ridge, we enjoyed a wonderful day at the Swinging Bridge with some very dear friends of ours. Rick Hughes, of Rick Hughes Evangelistic Ministries, Inc. and his family visited us and we had a most memorable time together.

The Swinging Bridge is a great place for hiking, great scenery, picnics, and in the summertime you can take the kids for a swim in the Toccoa River - there are shallow little pools at the river's edge that are perfect for small children. It's also a neat place for a romantic outing - take a picnic with a good bottle of wine and find a cozy spot near the river, listening to the rushing waters. This is one of our favorite spots in Blue Ridge.

Fun hike to the Swinging Bridge over the Toccoa River

This past weekend some friends of ours, who have a second home up here in Blue Ridge, took an afternoon hike (short and easy) to the Swinging Bridge and gave us a call on their way up. We planned dinner that evening at our house, and they said they would be done with their hike in a couple of hours or so.

That evening as they described their great time, they mentioned that that was one of their favorite hikes and they do it quite frequently. They take a backpack with some wine, grapes, cheese and crackers and have the best time. With the fall colors, they said it was just absolutely beautiful the other day. They also mentioned that in the summertime there are these little ponds that kids love to swim in. Now that our little baby boy will be almost 2 next summer, we will be sure to take our kids on that fun little adventure!