Cowboy Camping

Bob and I decided to head up to a small field above the Springer shelter to try some cowboy camping, that is, sleeping out with no shelter.

The sky is incredible! Not a cloud and very clear. The Milky Way is already visible.

God is Good!

Sunset from Springer Mtn

You just can't get this any place...
(notice in the rock in the foreground a plaque on the left and the first white blaze of the AT on the right.)

For my buddy Ralph

He was supposed to go with us on this trip. (He's the 3rd of the Three Amigos) but Brown didn't deliver the EEE's for his evolution-resistant club feet.
I hope he can make it next time.... We need a good cannin' talk every once in a while.

Where it all begins...

This is for my buddies up north. This is the VERY BEGINNING of the approach trail to the AT. Now you know what it looks like.

A three simple machine balloon-popper

With thanks to Mr. Charles at http://www.myhandymanrepairs.com/

He once was lost but now he's found

Over the Labor Day weekend we had a little family getaway to our "cabin" at the Antioch Campground in Gainesville. Since we were going to be gone for four days we loaded up the whole family, including two dogs and two cats.

The male cat is Smokey, he also has the title, "The Mighty Hunter." He often brings presents of various animal parts to our back door. It's just his way of showing us some love. However, these parts that are treasures to him are often greeted with "Eeeewwwwwwws" from a household made up predominantly of women...

Back to the story... Being that our cabin is in the middle of the woods, Smokey must have thought he'd been miraculously transported back to Eden. Truly a kid in a candy shop...

As often the case, the time comes when it is time to go. And when the time comes... no Smokey... And as sad as it is, even without Smokey we have to leave.

Fastforward 40 days. A phone call. He has been found! Six miles away from the cabin and on the other side of a major highway. And a glorious reunion.

What must it have been like for the Father in Luke 15...

Cool shoes

Well what's cool about Toms Shoes is their story. This guy discovered that children in 3rd world countries could get a foot disease that they couldn't get rid of as long as they were shoeless.

It bugged him enough that he did something about it. He created a.... movement... that makes shoes. But the cool part is, when you buy a pair of these sporty shoes, they'll personally put a pair on a kid who needs them.

And here's another cool part of the story. It's kind of a long story and no doubt a God-story, but Toms Shoes wants to partner with the student ministry at Grayson UMC. What does that mean? That means they gave us this code: SOUL1ST (that is a "one"). When ANYONE (even you) goes to www.tomsshoes.com and orders a pair of these sporty shoes, as I understands it, you won't have to pay for shipping AND the people at Toms Shoes will send GUMC student ministry 8 bucks!

So what is the student ministry at GUMC thinking about doing with all of these 8 bucks? Well... A thought is to save up a bunch of them (about 375 of them) and dig a well in Africa that will provide fresh water for a whole village!

What a great thing. I think it may be a "win trifecta": 375 kids will be cured of a foot disease by receiving a brand new pair of shoes, a village will get a well of fresh water, you get a pair of sporty shoes...

Actually there is a fourth thing: you'll get to be part of a... movement... something much bigger than just you. So, right now, get on over to www.tomsshoes.com And cut and paste SOUL1ST into the code box. Become a part....

Oh, and Christmas is coming. You know those folks on your list who have everything? Hook them up with a movement.