Casting A Wishful Eye....

" And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart...and rest awhile..."

Mark 6:31

This past week, we had the pleasure of going to Canaan Land Christian Retreat to help with various projects before the regular season opened up. Some friends from our church in Kings Mountain came along as well. The natural beauty of Canaan Land is so refreshing that even the work seems like play!

When we arrived, it was somewhat rainy and stayed that way for a good part of the week.

What a welcome! : )
This is the first thing that greeted us just before we entered the gate.

Sunday, we visited two churches that we usually go to when we're in the area. It was good to see our friends that we have made over the years.

We also had the special opportunity to celebrate Mom's birthday. Unbeknownst to her, we had sneaked the ingredients for cheesecake into the van. There were a few major obstacles that we ran into along the way. The first being that the box we had packed with the pans, some ingredients, and all the cheesecake paraphernalia was left at home. All we had was the refrigerated ingredients. We crossed that hurdle on the way up the mountain and made provision for cheesecake cupcakes instead of the full blown 10" cheesecake. Then came the huge undertaking of getting everything needed to another cabin without raising Mom's suspicion. Sunday night, the refrigerated ingredients were packed into a small cooler and sent to Damascus with the Rices. Then, after almost everyone had gone to bed, Dad quietly took the food processor out to the van to make it a little easier to maneuver. As Dad was leaving the next morning, he took the food processor out of the van and put it in the truck which was parked right next to the cabin where the cheesecakes were going to be baked. Whew! That hurdle is crossed! Or so we thought.....
A few hours later, Mom's phone rang. We thought nothing of it until Mom said, "I don't know why the food processor would be in the truck, but it probably got there when everyone was unpacking." Our hearts sank. Sure enough, within a few minutes, Ray had delivered the food processor back to the kitchen counter. (Just as a side note, he had no idea what was going on. He just didn't want anything to happen to Mom's food processor.) Just as the situation seemed rather hopeless, Mom decided to visit the other side of the camp to see what work was going on at Antioch, and Dad decided he needed to take a trip back to the Lodge on the golf cart. Perfect! Everything we needed to make the cupcakes was loaded up, and Dad dropped Valerie and the "stuff" off on his way back to Antioch. Now, the only thing left in question was Why is Valerie at Damascus? Cleaning is a great excuse, and very true. There's always cleaning to do when you're cooking! : )
The end wasn't quite what we were hoping for or expecting, but one thing is for sure.....it WAS a surprise! : )

Happy Birthday, Momma! We love you tons and tons!!!!


The "birthday cake"

"Happy Birthday to you....."

Hmmmmm.....I do believe those trick candles are hard to blow out....
Seeing as how we didn't have enough room for all 21 candles ; ), we had to put something on there that would keep relighting.

Need help, Mom?

By the end, everyone was helping to blow out the candles. : )

As Monday dawned not so bright and clear, everyone rolled up their sleeves and got to work. Throughout the week there were several projects.

The train track needed leveled and adjusted....

Making sure of the alignment

"Are you tired already?!? You haven't done a thing all week!" (The camp joke....he was a hard worker!)

Ray had to show off his chainsaw....this really puts things into perspective!

Daddy worked with Merrill (rhymes with "girl) all week. Their main project was getting the loft in at Antioch.

Everything that went in had to go through the upstairs window.

The rest of us girls spent most of the week helping to clean the craft shop in the Chapel and making sure the Lodge was in tip top shape -- ready for the next campers.

While the cat's away, the mouse will play!

Washing the "Charlie Brown tree"
That wasn't it's official name. It just seemed like every time we would move it, or pass it, or really even look at it, the leaves would fall off. While it was sitting on the deck drying, the wind blew and knocked it over. We sat it back up, but there, scattered where it had fallen were half it's leaves! Poor thing! Needless to say, it was replaced before the week was out. : )

Vacuuming the cobwebs

Washing the greenery

Washing and ironing the curtains

Then hanging them

Looks like he means business...

There was a lot of mulching to do around camp

Especially at the playground

There were flowers to plant...

...and holes to dig...

...and a dam to build. Pastor Herchenroder was building it, but he needed help getting the 150 lb. pans drilled and moved.

The new addition since our last visit was a Noah's Ark playground.

All Aboard!

Anchors Aweigh!

Check out below deck!

Gotta love the shirt!

Wednesday night, instead of traveling down the mountain to go to church, everyone in camp (excepting one family) met at the Chapel for a service. There was a fun time of singing "favorites", our family provided the special music, and Daddy preached. The only thing missing was the offering! : )

Then afterwards, we stayed around for fun and fellowship.

Phoos Ball

and ping pong

Nathan even made a best friend! : )

Throughout the week, we also had some opportunities for everyone to get together for fun, food, and fellowship. One morning, the Herchenroders had everyone over to their cabin for pancakes.

Then, Thursday evening our family had everyone down to the Lodge for supper. Such fun!

After the leftovers were put away, most of the ladies sat down to a game of Monopoly Deal. This game was new to one of the ladies, so we began to explain the rules. "Now, do you buy and sell properties?" "No....you steal them!" Wow! what a concept! : )

This kept us busy until it was time to trek over to the bonfire.

This is always such a sweet time of fellowship and singing.

Brothers.....

The Ogdens

Dad and Mom, Merrill and Pansy

It was a lot of fun pulling out some of our a capella songs.

The sweet part : )

Our surprise visitor

Friday morning we awoke to a sky threatening rain. We made it through an early morning hike, with a little bit of drizzle reminding us of pending rain. Not long after our return from Greenland Creek Falls, the heavens opened and let it pour. A water fight had been in the planning, but the rain and cold front put somewhat of a damper on the idea. The girls took this opportunity to ready their weapons. By afternoon, the rain had subsided, and the troops took their positions.

A spectator wanting desperately to be in the action

The battlefield

Not a Hummer, but maybe a water fight's equivalent to one. : )
The rain made baling a must.

When the ship had been cleared and the challenge made, three not-so-certain contestants showed up to the battle. The first segment of the showdown was rather puny, but it wasn't long before the battle raged, and both teams were soaked.

The first encounter

Now it's starting to get a bit interesting

O.K. Jeremiah, who's winning?

Jeremiah wasn't able to get wet due to the chill in the air, so we put him to work filling the bottles and passing them to his sister as she emptied them onto the opposing forces. As he was valiantly performing his duties, the enemy watercraft landed and let Melissa out. Hannah emptied her water bottle onto her, then ran to get a full one from Jeremiah. The only problem was that Jeremiah wasn't supposed to get wet, and Melissa, loaded with three water bottles, was right behind her. Jeremiah took off with the full bottle trying to hide behind his mother, Hannah ran after him to get her only weapon, and Melissa was hot on her heels dousing her with water. What a chase! : )

Now it's getting serious! The enemy got quite a few buckets of water poured over them until "The boat is sinking! We have to bale!" was heard coming from the near drowned passengers.
The boat crew thinks they won because they captured all the bottles and the bucket (after the boat was full), but judging by the looks..... Anyone want to give their input???

Who's number one???

In amongst all the other activities, we also found some time to do some hiking.

Greenland Creek Falls

Daddy didn't get too near the water. Seems like he remembers a small, brown headed girl pushing him in once... : )

School House Falls

This is a fun hike because you can go behind the falls.

Nathan and Ray enjoyed the nice "cool and refreshing" water. (It's 55 degrees year round.) They didn't stay in but for a few minutes.... ; )

Cana led us the whole way.

"Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth. Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding."

Isaiah 40:26, 28

Dad and Mr. Ogden at Little Green Mountain

What a view!

The Lord reminded us once again of His protecting Hand. Praise the Lord for how He watches over His children!

Friends...

The Corbetts

Ya'll come back now! Ya hear??? : )

"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."

Psalm 1:1-3