Captured Moments at GWC National Monument

The fam outside the visitor center/museum...

One of GW Carver's Prayers

Eli running towards us on the trail.

One of Chris' nature pics.

Eden taking her oath to protect our national parks.

One of my nature pics. :)

Posing by the statue of GWC as a boy.


Family pic by the coolest tree ever outside the home of Moses & Sarah Carter. Wish my kids could have climbed it.

My New Favorite Person in History

Our family recently enjoyed a "mini" vacation. Really we spent the 4th of July Holiday with my parents where we watched some home fireworks (the kids enjoyed doing some of their own firecrackers), rested & roasted marshmallows, & attempted to fish (again the kids enjoyed playing w/ the minnow bait more than the actual fishing), and on Wednesday we decided to be tourists. We headed a few miles west of Carthage to George Washington Carver National Park & Monument. Besides the fact that Tobe was not quite old enough to enjoy it, it seems that the rest of us thoroghly enjoyed it. Eli loved the nature trail and Eden became a Junior Park Ranger (which was hard work) & even had to take an oath to protect our national parks. There was also a lot of other interactive things to do in the museum. I had been to this park when I was maybe in the 5th grade. But it was nothing that I remember. It has been so well preserved. Chris also enjoyed the trail walk & took some "nature" photos. I loved reading the quotes from GWC that they had all over the museum and some carved in marble along the trail. It is amazing how humble of a man GWC really was. What he could have gotten for his talent & skills and what he got are on opposite sides of the spectrum. This man leaned on his faith at all times. GWC is a prime example that science & faith can mesh together and proves that they are intertwined quite nicely, I am sure as God intended for them to be.

Somewhere over near Branson......

We had a great Halloween weekend this year. We enjoyed time with dear friends, the Gerdels (& the Tapley's, & Maggie & Lane) & the Langs----and our wonderful family. Chris, Greg, Evan, & Nathan ran in the Bass Pro 5K and did great. Missy & her sister in law ran in the half marathon on Sunday and also did amazing. The pumpkin patch was tons of fun even though it was in tin-buck-tu. I had wanted Chris & I to dress up along with the kiddos, but the day just got away from us and our plans were changed and therefore we did not. But I would have been Glenda, the good witch of the North, and Chris would have been the Scarecrow. Eden LOVED being Dorothy, Eli LOVED being a lion, not necessarily the lion from the Wizard of Oz. I think he wanted to be Simba from the Lion King, and Tobe could care less. Although I thought Tobe's was the most fun costume to put together....The other two were borrowed outfits of which I am grateful, but I loved adding the heart to Tobe's outfit (minor details). Anyways I love this pic my friend captured.....I think it depicts the friendship among my kiddos and although they occassionally drive me crazy getting on each other's nerves and mine at the same time, I know they love each other, just like the dear friends in the movie who were there for each other the whole time.

Beautiful Branson

So I am a little behind...but better late than never. Right? Over the New Year Holiday we got to go to our friends' cabin in Branson and ring in the new year with them. (The above picture is Eden & Eli and the Gerdel clan ringing in the New Year at 10 PM CST. They were pretty excited to get to toast and stay up till then.) The Gerdel's are our best friends here in Washington and have a cabin in Branson (no offense to my best friends in Phoenix or my best friends in Branson or my other best friends all over the country). Normally when we've gone somewhere with the Gerdels it has been camping at the Meramac State Park during the heat of summer, so needless to say, Eden was confused. She asked if she could bring her bike to ride. I had to say no, because riding your bike in 40 degree weather isn't as fun. Then she asked the funniest thing. "Is Branson full of nature?" Having lived in Branson for a year, we told her yes. It is a beautiful town full of nature. I guess it is a little sad, that she doesn't recognize Washington as being "full of nature". (Because it also is a beautiful town on the most southern tip of the Missouri River). She thinks in order to view nature, it must be a long trip that we have to pack for, rather than looking for nature in our own backyard. I guess I need to highlight God's creation a little more often at our own home. We did have a great time and the weather actually was in the mid-60's. It truly was gorgeous nature weather. We got to go to the fish hatchery under Tablerock Dam, the Branson Landing, explore around the cabin, see at least 8 deer from their back door, and visit some other best friends as well. All in all, it was a great trip: very relaxing, lots of laughing, making new friends and keeping the old, ringing in the new year, and of course enjoying nature! Thank you, Missy and Andrew, for including us in your family and allowing us to ring in the new year with you and in your wonderful cabin.