Another Mountain top Experience

Andrew called me last night to ask if I would go to Egypt and retrieve a pair sweatpants that one of his friends left after his birthday party. Of course, I said I would run up and get them before I left for home. It rained and rained all day, never stopping before I had to leave. So when time ran out, I just put on my mountain hat and coat and took off up the side of the mountain to the place that Kate, long ago, named Egypt.

What do you know, another God-given opportunity for an adventure of the heart that I wouldn't have taken if I had any other choice!

The wet and slippery trip up the mountain challenged my body and then cleaning the place out once I got there, left me breathless…I can’t go up without sweeping up the bugs and dirt that have accumulated since the last time I made the journey. When finished with my duties, I stopped, looked around, sat in the string hammock and listened to the rain dripping on the roof. I visualized Terr, Mike, Tom and Shannon carrying the heavy building supplies up the mountain to build this sweet little box for Kate to play in. (I particularly remember poor Mike, single-handedly carrying those huge sheets of plywood up that steep hill and Shannon pulling large rocks from the soil while digging post holes. He said it was like birthing babies from the soil; all the while, Terr supervising the building of his design. I could almost see Kate (and later, Emily) painting on the walls. I thought of Mayapples, Hemlocks and symbols of God....didn't want to leave the noisy quiet....

Maybe I can bring the granddaughters up here next summer. We could redecorate! Make curtains, add a log bookcase and hang pictures of the three of them on the wall...

Life is good.

FOURTEEN

A fine example of Fourteen...

Happy Birthday Andrew!

Celebrating seventeen years together!

11/6/93 - 11/6/2010

It makes me smile to make these beautiful announcements, in the past I have not done so for fear of forgetting and leaving someone out, but when we were all together last September for Kristin and Alan's wedding it made me realize how very important it is to honor and support the very core of family life.

Mike and Mary's union, 17 years ago, not only gave me two wonderful grandchildren but also a beautiful daughter that has help to make my son a happy an successful man. I celebrate you for taking care of each other, for being part of the glue that holds us together as a extended family and I wish you a lifetime of happiness to come. Keep making history together, it makes old age so much sweeter.

Happy Anniversary you two. I love you more than you will ever know.

James and the Giant Peach

Andrew and Emily have worked so hard, for months, on the production of James and the Giant Peach but not without excellent results! Emily is paying her dues, for future staring roles, as a town's person and other parts of the play that help to tell the story to the audience. She is naturally comfortable as she glides on and off doing her various jobs. Andrew is very believable as the distinguished old Grasshopper, realistically playing his violin and delivering his lines with perfect diction. He endears himself to the audience while keeping us calm with music through out the harrowing journey on the giant peach.

They have two more shows to perform (tonight and Saturday afternoon) and then they get some well deserved rest until try outs for the next theatrical production (like in a week!).

Break-a-leg guys!

P.S. The rest of the family are also loyal participants! Tom did the programs, Kim does nightly make-up and William sits through every show, loving it as if it were his first time. :)

P.S.S. Thanks to all the grands for keeping Grandad and my weekends filled with exciting games and plays to watch and hear about. You are nine times our daily pleasure!

TWENTY YEARS! CONGRAULATION!!

In a day and age were commitment doesn't seem to be supported or at the top of most people's list, I salute the good marriages of all our children but today particularly, our pride and inspiration go to Kim and Tom as they celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary. You two are a wonderful example and inspiration of what marriage should be. Happy Anniversary!

P.S. The hand in the picture is that of young William who refused to be left out of the celebration!

P.S.S. Tom's gift to Kim...
http://vimeo.com/16480060

Halloween Weekend

The Cheerleaders dressed as Zombies at the Colts game on Saturday. The younger and older teams joined forces and put on a terrific Halloween halftime show! (Issy is the third one on the front row, then the fly-girl on the left.) I sure wish I could have gotten more of the dance on film. Issy is a delight to watch!

Joe is #82!

Note from Grandad:

(I can't get Grandad to take a camera to Ford's games but he sure loves to watch his boys play ball even though he has to sometimes split his time at the games in order to see a little of both!)

"On the day before Halloween, Ford's high school age baseball team played in the post-season, single elimination playoffs. Ford pitched well and made very good contact at the plate and played shortstop when he wasn't pitching, but his team went down 5-2. Next spring he will try out for the Woodward JV baseball team as a pitcher and second baseman.


Joe played both ways at end, as his travel team, the 6th grade Atlanta Colts, continued their winning ways in a nail-biter, coming out on the long end of a 48-36 score. This was an emotional game, with each team trading touchdowns, on nearly every exchange of the ball. Joe made several important blocks which led to scores, and hit hard while tackling on defense. The video shows Joe heading for a crushing sack of the White Team's quarterback. He was the long-snapper for extra points, and made many kick-offs."

Other Halloween delights...

1. Grands on their way out to Trick or Treat. (Andrew stayed home and gave out candy this year.)







2. Fiona, my neighbor's sweet granddaughter.




3. Part of our family in Christ, from Monday night Bible Study, stopped by and brought us a smile!

Hope you all had a fun filled Spookie night!

BOO!!

Chatterbox would love to post your Halloween pictures too!!!

Life in Apostlelot...

"Apostlelot" (2nd through 4th Grades): All children gather together at the end of Sunday morning classes for "Assembly" where they visit the land of "Apostlelot". The Kingdom characters (and your kids!) learn how to work through real life dilemmas each week. The drama presentation focuses on the lives of faithful men and women throughout history and the godly character evident in their lives.

From time to time I am privileged to check in on the cast from Apostlelot, located up stairs in the Children's department of the Church of the Apostles. Early on, when Emily and Andrew were old enough to be in that department, our
Tom used his skills as an actor and took on the part of the Knight from Apostlelot. Andrew later joined the team as Page, then Kim was encouraged to become a new member of the cast as Missy the nurse. Emily has also had many guest appearances as a kingdom character. The point is that for many years these actors have helped to guide the little saints of the kingdom to walk closer to God, even after graduating and moving on to STS (student to student).

Terr and I have made our way up to the 4th floor on several occasions, sat in the child sized seats, in the back of the room and watched in amazement our children and grandchildren use what God has given them to give back to Him in service.

While we were out of town this past weekend, sweet pictures were sent to me, by iPhone, of this weeks performance. Oh the joy I receive when I am sent pictures of those I love!

That email told me that Em played the part of Cookie's assistant, Muffin, in this weeks episode. She came to Apostlelot to help with the Fall Fair in Cookie's absence. Andrew graduated from Page to Squire, arriving at Apostlelot to deliver a package from the Knight, while the Knight, ie. Tom, was on an over night camping trip with young William. (They were enjoying hobo dinners and pickles in a pouch!). I quote mother, Kim, (now known as the Fair Maiden, after Missy and the Knight fell madly in love and married). "They (Andrew and Emily) did a fabulous job with all the royal goings on!"

While looking for pictures to share with you I ran across this delightful picture of other visitors who joined us in Apostlelot. Now that was a really special day!

Daddy Terr Goes Back To Law School!

The celebration of FORTY-FIVE years passing brought the graduating class of 1965 Michigan Law School together once again for reunion. I was lucky enough to accompany Terr back to Ann Arbor and to feel his quiet passion, for what he had once done so successfully, escaping ever so slightly through his dignified demeanor.

We walked the now familiar law quad, sat in old class rooms, heard stories about a unicorned donkey being somehow placed into the locked courtyard. I saw, once again, the plaque with TLC's name written on it, announcing his winning the Campbell Competition. I saw the wall in the great law library that housed his coveted office behind it. We attended a lecture on Global Warming: “Progress and Controversies”. We ate in the grand dining hall, partied in the ballroom and had a delightful breakfast with Dean Caminker… All this before even mentioning the hours we spent reconnecting with old friends.

If I didn't do anything else right in this life I bore fantastic children and I married well for three more. In 1977 I got to go to college, to law school and to see the world. It's been a wonderful education and the best part about that is that Terr and the children are still sharing with me and teaching me all I need to know.

Let's make a date for the 50th in 2015, Honey. I will even make the journey up and down the steep stadium steps to watch the Wolverines play.

GO BLUE!

All Hail the Queen!

Today, at the annual Floyd Family Reunion my siblings (and I!) are creating sort of jubilee for the Queen of our lives...Gwendolyn, Gwen, Queenie, Honey, Mama, Mother, Nana; whatever the favorite name you have given her, today she will be none the less the Queen!

Because I could not be there in person, Judy, Hugh and I rigged up a comical routine, filmed it and they are presenting it with a coronation today at the reunion. No body knows how much I hate missing this display of adoration (except my husband!) better than my mother, but I know I am well represented by two other best...my sister and brother.

So Mama, all hail to you! I am doing what you taught me...The King comes before all other oblations. ;)

For the Honor of Mother from Croft on Vimeo.

Kate arrives safe and sound in Nicaragua

I know you, like me, are interested to know what our Kate is up to these days. So I will try to keep you informed when I get news or pictures. Dad (Terr) and I talked to her before she left for Nicaragua the 12th of this month and we heard from her upon her arrival to her destination...

"Arrived safe and sound! I am at the Hostel Tortuga Booluda in Leon, which is very quiet and peaceful. $7 a night gets me a bed, a locker for my stuff, a gorgeous patio full of flowers, internet, pancakes in the morning and open kitchen to prepare my own meals, if I'm so inclined. The sun is setting now, all pink, with the moon just a sliver. I'm tired and happy to be here."

Join me in daily prayers for Kate's journey, her happiness and for her safety.

Buen Viaje, Kate,Te amamos. Hope I didn't get that all wrong!

Comfort Food

Was it because they wanted to give the children a treat and nothing else was available or was it because they too had a sweet tooth that needed filling that prompted Mom and Dad to break out the canned biscuits, butter, sugar and coco? I don’t know but it happened to me tonight and I went to work trying to fill my hunger for something sweet to put in my mouth as well as to comfort my hunger for family...Sometimes being in the mountains alone, happily, triggers these ideas and the necessity for such ingenuity.

In my recollection it seems to me that it was Daddy that often got Mama up and in the kitchen to make chocolate fried pies, but it was one of the few things (along with winter’s snow cream and popcorn) that was his specialty and it was one of the few things that could be made with ingredients that were most always on hand.

I remembered: They would roll out the dough of the biscuit until thin, put a heaping spoonful of coco and sugar mixture in the along one side, dot it with a couple pats of butter, fold one side over to meet the other, crimp it with a fork and fry it in a black skillet bubbling with butter…

Yep, that’s what I remembered…and my hunger is now satisfied.

TOM HAS A BIRTHDAY!

Happy Birthday to one of the finest!

Among, I'm sure, other precious gifts, Tom received (and proudly wore to church) a great duct tape tie made by Emily. The family also celebrated Tom's birthday by attending a lively outdoor Christian concert that included some of their favorite singers. (Grandad and I were lucky enough to have William spend the night with us during the late night event.) Our wish is for many, many happy returns of the day!

Back to the Smoky Mountains

I started to write a long, nostalgic blog about how I felt during my recent trip to attend my Uncle Robert's funeral, but after putting together this video, I have decided to let it tell my story. You should know that I made the journey alone with lots of time to reflect and wonder. I stayed at my brother and his wife's mountain home, where I was treated like royalty with lovely accommodations and a night on the town.

The following day I was joined by sister, Judy, her husband and our mother. After a bit of time with Louis skillfully taking down a couple of dead trees, while Hugh sawed the logs and Natali stacked, we took off up the mountain to visit the places of our youth. For me, there was a definite, strong sense of belonging in these surroundings.

Before leaving, we made our way to Alcoa, Tennessee to say goodbye to my father's brother, Robert William Patton. He would have been 94 the following day. He left behind two children, a grandson and the love of his life for 67 years, his wife, Jean.

This was life as it should be; family connections, gaining strength through each other, good memories that made us what we are and enough love and faith to see each other through to the end. This is my wish for all of you.

Back to the Smoky Mountains

September 19, 1966 is a day to remember....

Kimberly was born, and she hasn't changed a bit!
She is still Mama's angel.

Happy Birthday #1 daughter.
I see you, inside, all that you are.
I love you,
Mama

Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 2010

We hope you all had a slow, peaceful, sun shine filled, Labor Day week end;
especially Isabelle on her birthday! (We really enjoyed seeing you on Skype, Issy!)

Note: Date is wrong on the slide show, should be 9/5-6 .

Isabelle turns Ten

Isabelle means "God's promise"...and she is indeed a gift from God.

Happy Birthday, Issy!

A Time with Kate

A Time with Kate from Croft on Vimeo.

Since Grayton Beach, for almost two weeks, Kate returned to Northcroft for a visit. We picked fresh fruits, made jelly and apple sauce, visited Mrs. Oliver and helped where we could. We made dozens of pictures of humming birds and butterflies and walked the mountain roads to visit other neighbors. We bought fresh vegetables from Wendell’s vegetable stand on Lucius Road, ate them and served them to Terr when he came up of the week end.

The following week Kate and I revisited an old favorite pastime; hunting through the woods for natural materials to build fairy houses, then spending hours creating the whimsical buildings and landscaping them. Between these activities we played endless games of Rummikub and had our heads in the light of our computers reading email and watching a film series called Seven Up.

The final days took us to the shack where we painted a mural on the large piece of plywood that I had installed on top of the worn-out bathtub. We studied fish pictures and lily pads and set to work with high expectations. We were proud of the endeavor and ever so pleased with the results.

Today, I tried to trap her with the very net she used (several times) to chase a pesky flying squirrel that was trying to eat the cabin, but alas, I had to let her go back to New York and to her own life.

When she was gone I was sad, but the beauty of this place was left with me. I walked around savoring the moments of reflection. When entering the house, a butterfly and a simple moth reminded me of life’s wonderful blessings and purpose.

Safe travels, Kate. I’m glad we had this time, in this place of your childhood, to play again and to reconnect. My thoughts and prayers will be with you wherever you may go.

P.S. It will be nice to get back to Atlanta and catch up with all of you there. I’ve missed you.

Aidan turns NINE!

The last 9 years, August 25 has blessed this family in more ways than one; today Mike shares his birthday with our blue eyed, California wonder, Aidan. Have a great day sweet boy and know that we are thinking about you today here in Atlanta.

"Little" Mike, my first born...

August 25, 1965, the day that changed my life forever...and I mean that in a good way! You have always been a blessing in my life, my rock and my pride and joy. Happy Birthday, Son. I love you forever.

Catching up Before the Grayton Explosion!

Things have been so incredibly busy for the last few weeks that Chatterbox postings have been neglected. I can't even remember all the things I wanted to put in our memory bank, except for a few very special events that stand out in my mind...One is that FORD GOT HIS LEARNER'S PERMIT! Can you believe it? How fast our young ones are growing up. I pray God puts angels all around him every time he gets in a car and he will be a really safe driver. Congratulations Ford.

Andrew had a successful audition and earned a position as a cast member in the Atlanta Workshop Players company! This is in addition to being a member of the Wesleyan Players at his school. Congratulations Andrew!

Also, good wishes are in order to Andrew and Emily, because they tried out for cast of James and the Giant Peach today. I heard that their auditions went GREAT, but the cast is very small. Fingers crossed!

Let's see...Check out Regas Interiors in the September issue of Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles! Kim's Decorator Showhouse room made the pages of this popular magazine. It should be on news stands next week. Congratulations Kimberly!

Grandad and I had a wonderful time watching Morgan, Molly and Ford rock climb at their new Rock Climbing facility, then afterwards taking them out for dinner and a double birthday celebration for Molly and Ford.

Issy and Joe had wonderful overnight camp experiences in North GA before our trip to Grayton Beach.

The Pedersen/Kelley family came to visit a few days before leaving for the beach. It was so good to spend some extra time with them. Kate surprised us with an early arrival, too; and we haven't stopped cooking yet! It has been so good to have all of you close.

AND...A huge Happy Birthday to our August-born children and grandchild! Mike (25th), Beth (16th) and Aidan (25th); God bless you and keep you always.

Now, for the beach trip...I'm going to do this a little backwards this year. I have hundreds of pictures to sort through; but for now, until I get some pressing things done, I will leave you with our traditional, family beach-ending song and dance to ponder. After days together, when things are coming to an end, someone starts the music, and all hurry to join in the Day-O conga line of goodbye. It was a glorious Fweakijam 2010. More to follow, but until then...Enjoy!