Out with Friends

Tina had the good idea to use last weekend when we were down in Georgia as our "out with friends". We went and hung out with Brooke, Chad, Buffy, Jaime, Luke, Kristin, and Blake... and of course the dogs Benny, River, and Murphy.

We usually get there late but they're all good about staying up and greeting us. We got the fire going and the conversation juice flowing.

Chad's always working. Here he's keeping the fire alive.

Always so much fun with this crew.

 During the day we go to a private beach they call "the sand bar" on the river.

• • • • •

... and I couldn't do this post without showing some pics with our friends at home.

Out with Friends (literally)

When I separated from Connie I just kind of clammed up.  Got in my shell and hid.  I didn’t really want to talk about what happened or what was going on.  I loved getting the boys, and we did a lot together.  I had friends who checked up on my and make sure that I was alright, but I didn’t really go out with them or get together with them.

Then Catherin and I started dating.  We liked to spend time together, and she was going through a lot of the same things I was.   We didn't want to give up that time together to other people.  So it has been just us for awhile.  We have gotten together with and without the boys.  We rarely get together with friends and family, but when we do we have a really good time.

We recently went camping with friends, and as soon as we got home we planned another trip together.  

Here are pictures from that trip:

Traffic on the way to the mountains.

Arrival after dark.

Waking up COLD!

The camp site.

Breakfast.

Mark telling me how to split wood. 

The ladies impressed with my wood splitting ability.

Feeding fish at the Mark of the Potter--Shop in an old mill.  

My favorite picture of her (from the weekend).

Her favorite picture of me (from the weekend).

Why I have always opted for motels.

This is why I like walking with her.  This look of wonder is always there.

Love this picture of them.

Tourist pic.

We think so much alike that when we left, we drove about an hour and stopped to eat.  Mark and Katie stopped at the same place.  We had taken different routes to get there.

It was fun to be out with friends.  I have looked some old friends up and plan on meeting them in the near future.  

The Walk

Taking a walk.  It is strange to think of myself as a walker.  I just started walking at the beginning of this school year.  I have taken walks all my life though.  I know Papa better than any man on the planet including my own father because of the walks we took around Eatonton.  I remember walking with my father in the woods.  In the past I have hiked, trekked, strolled and wandered, but never really walked.  I have been a runner my whole adult life. Well maybe not my whole adult life, there have definitely been times when I did not exercise at all, but when I exercised I ran.  Today I walk.  I still do not consider myself as a walker though. I plan to run again.  I just didn’t want to go too fast.  So I started walking for exercise.  I have been pretty good about getting the walks in to.  I feel pretty good when I finish.  I can talk and walk, and that has improved my relationship.  It improves my relationship with Catherin when we walk together, and it improves my relationship with God when I walk alone.

Over the past 3 or so months I have walked a lot of places.  I didn’t even realize all the places that I had gone.  I have favorite spots behind my house, and memories from walks taken on sacred ground.  I have walked the dog, and cleansed the soul.  Here are few of my favorite pictures from some of the walks I have taken:

Walking in town.

 Walking in a field of yellow flowers.

Walking by the stream near dusk.

I take pictures of the things I see from time to time.  This tree is rotting but keeps standing.

Lake Meriwether.

My favorite spot behind the house.  

FDR parkKolomoki Mounds, we walked all the way to the top!!  A lot of history here.

This is were FDR picnic'ed.  The view is AWESOME.

And the best walking partner around.  She points out the beauty in this world, and shows it to me with a childlike enthusiasm and is infectious.  It makes me long for the next walk with her.