Going Fishing

This morning when I looked at my facebook page, I had to laugh.  My recent posts include photos of my hike in Fall Creek Falls, a comment about a four-foot snakeskin that Jim found in our backyard on Saturday, and photos of our family's first fishing trip.  We are definitely Tennessee folks now!

For years Brennan has been begging to go fishing, and this weekend we went on our first ever fishing trip with our sweet friends, the Warfels and the Boyds.  Byron Boyd is an avid fisherman, and he helped show us the ropes fishing line.  

We had six adults and seven kids all gathered at a perfect little fishing spot on Percy Priest Lake, only 20 minutes from our house.  It's a wonder we didn't scare away all of the fish (especially with all of the rocks the kids kept throwing in the water), but we did actually catch a few.  

I think Jim ended up enjoying fishing more than he thought he would.  While everyone else sat around in camping chairs eating a picnic dinner, Byron and Jim wolfed down their food and headed back to the water to fish some more.  

Jim caught four fish with one worm, and Byron joked that even for a Dave Ramsey guy, that is pretty extreme and frugal!  :-)

Brennan was a little surprised at how much time had to be spent untangling lines, putting on worms, and preparing to fish, as opposed to just fishing.  But he was pretty patient for a five-year-old, and I think he would enjoy going again.  

I have no interest in touching fish or worms, but I wouldn't mind going again just to see the beautiful lake and watch my family having fun.

It is definitely more fun with friends...

... and Hope and I are already hoping to plan a joint family weekend trip for next fall so our six seven(!) kids can spend more quality time together in the great outdoors.

Fall Creek Falls

I love the outdoors, and I love transitional seasons.  There is something incredibly comforting about fresh air and trees.  You've probably heard me say it before, but I don't know how I lived for eight years in concrete city, with a near absence of trees.  It isn't enough to have a well-placed tree or two in my yard.  I need lots of trees - forests, really, with canopies of leaves and colors and light filtering through in sunny patches. And I need access to forests and hills and streams in order to stay healthy.  Maybe it is the fact that I was born in western New York and went to college in PA.  Maybe it is the fact that I was a camp counselor for years.  Maybe it's just the way God made me.  Whatever the reason, I need nature.

Last Saturday, three friends and I escaped to nature at Fall Creek Falls State Park.  Oh my word.  That is seriously one of the most beautiful places I have ever been in my life.  The minute I got home, I wanted to go back.  I kept trying to think of excuses to justify the 2.5 hour drive with my kids very soon.  The fact of the matter is, our lives are busy and our weekends are full until the weather gets cold, and in the spring we will welcome another baby.  But as soon as I can get back there, I will.

I spent thirteen hours away from my family last Saturday, and five of those hours were spent on the road.  It was totally worth it.  I came back refreshed, revitalized, and recharged, and I was a better wife and mother, at least for a little while.

I am so thankful that God is creative and loves us enough to give us beautiful things that money can't buy.