Off the beaten path

Bob and I decided to go for a "walk" the other night. Mind you, I asked for a slow and casual stroll. We decided to go to this nature trail nearby that had a few twists and turns. I knew what I was in for a bit. Afterall, it is the woods. Anyway, when we get there and look at the trail map it shows that part of the river trail we want to walk on is cut off by some rocky cliffs and you either have to a) turn around or b) go back behind the cliffs and then connect with another trail. Please notice that there is no option c. That is, until my husband created a third choice. I am sure you have guessed by now what route we took: c) over the cliffs. Being the adventurer that I am, I agreed to it after many "Are you sure?" questions and others of the same sort.

So as we are climbing up over and around boulders, trees and hills making our own path (without a machete), my mind cannot help but think about the possibility of one foot slipping and ending up at the bottom of the cliff. Walking wasn't even the scary part, it was that my mind wouldn't stop having grotesque pictures of my body lying at the bottom twisted into an unusual pretzel shape. Anyway, once I communicated this ever growing fear and Bob offered to turn around, the competitive side of me spoke up: I am not turning around, we are already into this. So we kept going.

Maybe the fact that we were pratically rock climbing without gear should have been a warning that this wasn't the best idea. Maybe the skeleton I found of something resembling a bobcat with fangs still intact should have made us go back. Maybe that we had to crawl on all fours to climb up a steep dirt hill, or that there was a huge black snake inches from Bob's foot, or the fact that we were climbing on territory that more animals traversed than humans should have posed a red flag. But no. We were explorers. Or really, Bob was and I was just that annoying sidekick saying "Are you sure you can get us back to the path? We are lost. It is going to be night and no one is going to find us. I am going to get in the river and swim back to our apartment."

I think there became a point where we both were feeling like "Uh-oh." But of course Bob wouldn't admit that. But I have to give it to him, just when I had reached my limit and all the weak, scared comments were starting to pour out of me, he found the path he knew was there. Gosh. If I could have only waited 5 more minutes to start my complaining then I would have arrived victorious and brave. Oh well, I guess the true side prevails again. It did end up being really fun though(for the most part). Bob says it was his most favorite hike so far. Goody! Guess that means we're doing it again?!

Creative minds

I had my first day with students last week. I can't believe it has been a year since I have been in the classroom. I love them. They are really smart and really fun and really great. I gave them an assignment before school started which included reading 3 Shel Silverstein poems (my favorite!) and responding to different prompts I gave them. They did such a great job with them that I just had to post some of what they wrote.

For one assignment, they were given the poem Homework Machine and they had to convince the reader whether or not it was a good idea and then come up with an invention that they would make for school.

One girl's invention was this: "There should be a machine which is hidden in your pencil. There could be a satellite in the eraser that connects to a hair clip, whcih you put in your hair. You simply just look all the other questions over, then the satellites will connect. After that, your pencil moves around the paper jotting down answers."

Another student: "The invention I would make to help me in school would be a machine that you could hook up to your mind and by thinking the answer the machine would type it."

The students also had to write their own Whatif poem and this was one of my faves:

"While I was daydreaming one afternoon,
Some whatifs crawled across the room.
They jumped up high into my head,
These are the kinds of things they said:
Whatif I annoy my mother?
Whatif I can't have a brother?
Whatif my piano comes to life?
Whatif my sister causes strife?
Whatif I forget my school books?
Whatif my teacher gives me dirty looks?
Whatif my backpack won't unzip?
Whatif I dislocate my hip?
Whatif my friends make fun of me?
Whatif the lunchroom's full of peas?
Whaif my dog eats my sock?
Whaif my key gets stuck in the lock?
Whatif our computer breaks down?
Whatif I can't think of a noun?
whatif I can't find my dime?
Whatif I become a mime?
The thoughts get cluttered in my brain,
And then I start to dream again."

Aren't they great?!

Teaching again!

I just wanted to share my excitement about being able to go back into the classroom for one day a week this year. Along with my UTQ research job, I will also be working for a homeschool program where students come once a week to discuss and receive assignments. I will be teaching a 5th/6th grade combo class so it is right up my alley. The people I have met whom I will be working with are wonderful and I get to meet my kiddos and their parents tonight. I am particularly excited about this job because of the no-frills aspect (since it is one day a week I don't have to decorate bulletin boards, etc.) and that it won't be the overwhelming job that 5 day a week teaching was for me. Plus the parents will be just as, if not more so, involved in their child's education than I am because they teach them the other 4 days a week. I have 7 kids in my class and am looking forward to the smaller size. School starts next Wednesday and I am really looking forward to what this will offer. I have really missed the kids since I have been out of the classroom.

Greenville

Bob and I took a trip to Greenville the last couple of days so that we could spend some time together during his time off of internship and school and because we keep hearing it is a great area so we wanted to check it out.
They have an awesome downtown with a river park in the center that you can picnic at, walk around or bike. These beautiful falls attract many people to the park. There is also a suspension bridge so that you can walk over them and look down. That part was scary, especially because when there are other people on it, it moves.

We took a hike up in the mountains and this is on an overlook that peers down into the forest. All you can see is trees--no buildings, roads, anything.

I know this is not original, but I don't think I had ever been into a Krispy Kreme before. When the sign was flashing "hot now" Bob and I pulled over on a whim. We watched the donuts get their delicious glaze while savoring each warm bite of thousands of calories. It really was good :)

We drove by an area called pumpkin mountain and of course I had to take a picture because I love anything pumpkin.

We also were able to visit a local farm where only free-range, grassfed organic meat is raised and sold as well as organic vegetables and milk. It was really neat to see how close this was to the city and that more and more people are becoming aware of the food they eat and supporting local farmers. We have been trying to find some meat near us, but it is very difficult, so this farm was encouraging.

We enjoyed just hanging and seeing a new place, as well as all of the delicous food we got to enjoy. We toured both the Bob Jones and Furman campuses which are on opposite sides of town, and let me just say, have a really different feel. The Furman campus was the most beautiful college campus I have ever seen and has so many activities to do on campus that I don't know why anyone would ever leave. There are walking and biking trails, a lake, a vegetable garden, a rose garden, a Japanese peace garden, and much more. Bob and I enjoyed biking around the campus and seeing what it had to offer.

We have been blessed to be able to take these little trips and see so much of the southeast. There are such great pockets all over the place, with great people living in them and fun adventures to be discovered.

Bob and I went camping with our friend Josh last weekend at a beautiful area up in North Georgia. We just went for one night but we spent two full days away, which was very peaceful.

Here is a picture of our humble campsite.
The waterfall.

We had a visitor at night. A bear came looking for our cooler of food and left his pawprint on Bob's truck where he jumped up to peek in. Luckily the boys were smart and left the cooler inside the truck.

Bob's favorite pasttime.

My own street sign!

My brother sent this to me the other day when he walked by it in San Luis Obispo. My namesake, on a sign (for those of you who don't know, my middle name is Lee). It is just missing the "e" on Jamie. Wonder what it is like to live on this street...:)

Snack Staple

I made this yummy granola bar recipe a couple of weeks ago and would swear by it. I love granola bars and such but refuse to buy them from the store because who wants to buy high fructose corn syrup and partially hydrogenated oils covered in a waxy coat called chocolate. No thanks. So even though these fruity granola bars have a lot going into them, it is worth it because you will make them over and over again. LOTS of ingredients=LOTS of goodness, in my book (and usually lots of time too, but not these!!). They are not too sugary because it is mostly honey. I also liked to crumble them and use them as granola in yogurt or other cereal. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. As a side note, I also made them with chocolate chips and no fruit, and they just weren't as good.

Homemade Granola Bars
2 c old fashioned oatmeal1 c sliced almonds
1 c shreddded coconut, loosely packed
1/3 c toasted wheat germ
3 Tb unsalted butter
2/3 c honey
1/4 c light brown sugar, lightly packed
1 1/2 t pure vanilla extract
1/4 t salt
1/2 c chopped pitted dates
1/2 c chopped dried apricots
1/2 c dried cranberries
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9X13-inch baking dish and line it with parchment paper.2. Toss the oatmeal, almonds, and coconut together on a sheet pan and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned. Transfer the mixture to a large mixing bowl and stir in the wheat germ. 3. Reduce the oven temperature to 300 degrees.4. Place honey, butter, brown sugar, vanilla, and salt in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook and stir for a minute, then pour over the toasted oatmeal mixture. Add the dates, apricots, and cranberrrries and stir well.5. Pour the mixture into the prepaed pan. Wet your fingers and lightly press the mixture evenly into the pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until light golden brown. Cool for at least 2-3 hours before cutting into squares. Serve at room temperature.
Recipe by Barefoot Contessa

The Unknown

My friend Gina posted this prayer by Richard Foster on her blog the other day, and I found it very fitting for what I/we are experiencing right now. I post it both to share and as a place that I can come back and read it:

Loving God, I choose this day to be a servant. I yield my right to command and demand. I give up my need to manage and control. I relinquish all schemes of manipulation...
In Jesus' name,
Amen

After one more year, Bob will graduate and we don't know where we will be, in this city, this state. No idea. I guess this is where trust in God really plays out. I have been seeing my strong sense to control my surroundings and it seems the more that gets taken from me, the more I desire to control. I am thankful that I have a neat group of women and a wonderful husband to work through these things with me. I know that so much of life is not predictable or what you hoped for or expected, but somehow I am always surprised at my disappointment.

Lesson Learned.

Bob and I "saved" this nice restaurant called Canoe for our 5th anniversary dinner because we heard it was good and that a lot of food was local. It had a beautiful atmosphere right on the river, but as soon as we sat down we realized what we really have known all along--that we are NOT gourmet diners. We shared a glass of wine, partly because we always share a glass of wine and partly because we wouldn't spend $20 on two glasses of wine. When we ordered dinner, an awkward conversation began:
Waitress: And what will you have for an appetizer?
Us: Oh, we will pass on the appetizer
Waitress: Well, everyone usually orders an appetizer, so it might take longer for your dinner to come, but I will try my best
Us: Uh, okay
As soon as the waitress left, Bob tells me we should've gone to a place where we would've spent the same amount of money and gotten a lot more. BBQ or Mexican food we decided. When our "gourmet" plates came, although looking very beautiful, we were reminded again. We hate to eat a whole meal and still go home feeling hungry. We are the people who like the thought of dressing up and going out somewhere nice, but in reality, not so much. I want to eat to my hearts content, have leftovers and enjoy it all over again. And I don't want it to matter if I spill on myself, because you know I will. On the way home, we picked up brownies and a movie. When we got home we changed into our PJs and back into ourselves. Lesson learned.

NY photos--finally!

Okay, so I am finally getting around to posting pictures from NY. Here are the highlights, but if you want to view all of them, you can find them on http://picasaweb.google.com/106338896800545130178/NewYork#
I was wandering around one day and accidentally found my way to FAO Schwartz. I was by myself which ALMOST stopped me from having a good time, but I decided to let loose, take my shoes off and play the famous keyboard with my feet. It even lit up! Sooo fun, despite the fact that everyone else playing had a child with them.

I love books and I can and do spend hours in the bookstore. This one had both new and used books and I visited it a couple of times just to hang out and read. My favorite find was a book called Secret Postmaster or something like that where blank postcards were passed out and people were to write and illustrate their biggest secret. It was so telling of the human heart. Some were funny, some deeply disturbing, and some that made you think, "Do they know me?". People shared about not feeling loved, about wanting to believe in God, about abuse, etc. I found myself really drawn to this. I also bought a book called the Compassionate Carnivore. Bob and I have been becoming more aware of where our meat comes from and how to make good decisions based on our values. It is amazing how inhumanely animals are treated their entire lives just to give us food. I have no problem with consuming meat, but I do think God has given us animals to treat with integrity while they are living and in the process of dying.

This is Wall Street. Nothing special outside.

NY is known for its bagels, so my friend Sherry and I took the trek to H&H, which is known for it's fresh bagels. The store was nothing to boast of. All they sold were bagels and then they had a fridge where you could buy packets of cream cheese or apple juice. It was nothing like the bagel shops here with varieties of cream cheese, coffee, etc. I guess the goal was just to showcase the bagel. And it did--they were awesome--warm when you bought them and they just sort of melted in your mouth. I think I could live on bread.

Here is a sweet quote that was in the park.

A list of those that died in the 911 attack at the museum that Bob and I went to.

This is a Japanese oragami peace chain hanging in the museum. The great significance of this is that it was donated by a Japanese man whose family had died in the bombing of Hiroshima. He gave it as a gift after 911, which I found very humbling after the pain he had suffered at US hands.

An elementary school nearby had made a quilt for firefighters at one of the first responding stations. These cannot be read without at least getting teary eyed, for the heart of a child is an immeasurable thing. There is so much hope, life, and understanding that exudes from little ones. Each of the squares started with somewhere today... and the one above was one of my favorites.

Rebuilding ground zero. They are turning it into a memorial site including waterfalls into the foundations and they are also building new buildings around.

A wall of pictures of the people who died. Heartbreaking.

Bob and I taking a picture in front of the Statue of Liberty. Oops! I guess we are blocking it :) Too bad the guy taking the picture didn't bother to tell us.

Riding bikes in Central Park.

Me eating the best gyro I have ever had (and the cheapest, nonetheless). It was from a stand on the side of the road. I still crave gyros from NY and have to settle for ones in Atlanta.

We walked the Brooklyn Bridge and ended up at a homemade ice cream shop on the other side. Yum!

There is nothing special about this picture except for the funny story behind it. The fountain was pretty so I wanted to take a picture and Bob started talking about how to choose the right person to take our picture--something like someone you could run faster than if they decided to take our camera. He was laying out all these theories as we were looking around for someone to take our picture. This guy was walking toward us really fast, alone, with his hair a mess and looking kind of frazzled. Don't ask me why because he would be the last person that I asked any question to, but Bob asked him to take our picture. Denied! The guy actually said no, which astonished me, even in NY, because I had never had that happen before. Luckily a girl nearby saw this and felt sorry for us, offering to take our picture. If not for her, we probably would not have a picture by the fountain because it would've taken a while to work up the guts to ask someone again. Not really, but pretty funny.

Mexico Anniversary

Bob and I went to the Mayan Riviera to celebrate our 5th anniversary. We had a wonderful time and enjoyed the culture, people, food and activities. Bob and I brushed up on our Spanish while we were there. We spend a lot of time snorkeling, laying around and eating chips and salsa. The great part about our resort is that it had like 10 sister resorts in the area so we could go to a different one and hang out each day. We went to Cozumel one day and visited many different beaches. The hotel we stayed at was an ecological reserve, so it was almost like a zoo--they had monkeys, deer (we got to feed them), birds, and other animals. We also got to visit Chichenitza and other Mayan ruins. If you want to see more pictures from our trip, here is the website: http://picasaweb.google.com/106338896800545130178/Mexico2010#

Below are a few of our favorites.

This was the kiddie pool. Although there was a sign for 12 and under, it could not stop Bob and I. All those fun slides and stairs called to us. We paid for it though when at the end of the slide you landed in water about 2 feet deep and either got a wedgie or a pool floor burn. Not good, but well worth the fun.

We went to a show that highlighted the Mayan ball game and other activities at a place called Xcaret. We snorkled through caves during the day and then at night we got to see the show. The people in the show dressed up in some of these crazy costumes.

Our hotel had been a booming place in the past but had been ruined a few years back by a hurricane. After that some of the land was sold and a man sits in this lifeguard tower to guard it. It is such a beautiful area.

Snorkeling!

Wish you were here! Totally inappropriate, I know, for me to even be posting on my blog, but just too funny to pass up. Bob and I went for a walk on the beach and were stopped abruptly by this image--a man, missing some clothes as you can see (he may have gotten confused and took the wrong piece off) facing the ocean. The best part was, there was a boat out in the distance that he was facing. Anyway, I didn't feel comfortable walking past him but Bob just had to take a picture, saying he wanted to make it into postcards to send to people saying "Wish you were here". So consider this your post card ;)

Botanical Gardens

Each month our apartment complex offers what they call a cultural enrichment where they pick a place (the zoo, a museum, etc.) that you can go to that month and they pay 90% of it. It has been a great way for Bob and I to do some things in Atlanta that we might not have done otherwise. A couple months ago we went to the Botanical Gardens. Here are some of our favorite pictures.