White Squirrels and Waterfalls

We had an amazing Easter weekend visiting Melody’s parents in beautiful Brevard, NC. Brevard is in Transylvania County, which is nicknamed “The Land of Waterfalls” because it is home to over 250 waterfalls! Brevard also is home to white squirrels. These are not albino squirrels, but a separate species altogether from the more common gray squirrel. The Brocks had two white squirrels in their backyard every morning and we got to watch them over breakfast. They were quite territorial and ran off the one gray squirrel who came near the feeder.

Here is a shot of one of Brevard’s white squirrels…

The highlight of the weekend was getting to hike Daniel Ridge Trail. Daniel Ridge is a 14 mile loop that follows the Davidson River upstream with breath-taking views around every turn. (At one point, it was in the top 5 mountain biking AND hiking trails in the US simultaneously.)

I snapped some photos below, but, because it was pretty overcast, they did not do justice to the scenery we were enjoying Click HERE to see some much better photos of the waterfalls and a great description of this wonderful trail. If you love the outdoors and find yourself in the Blue Ridge Mountains, you MUST take the time and enjoy this trail.

Here are some of the shots I took during our hike.

Carpe Diem in Greenwood, MS

I am sitting at The Crystal Grill in downtown Greenwood, MS and have just devoured some great Southern-fried chicken (white meat, of course), mashed potatoes and gravy, candied yams (with just the right amount of cinnamon and sugar), and a piece of chocolate pie with meringue so high I’m certain my server had to clear it with NASA. The meal was wonderful and I’m incredibly stuffed and in great need of a nap. (I might just head on over to The Alluvian.) The bill just arrived and my entire meal was less than 11 bucks! How in the world?

Because I needed a plug for my laptop, they led me to a separate dining room that was somewhat secluded from the rest of the restaurant. The only other patrons in this particular section of Crystal’s were 4 generations of a family eating with the owner, Mr. Ballas. Because I was by myself and they were so loud, I could not help but overhear their conversation.

Turns out Mr. Ballas came over from Italy and, as he put it, “could not speak a lick of English” when he arrived in the states. He told them about the Depression and how he worked a month as an apprentice to the dishwasher before he even started getting paid his $1 per day wage. I was captivated as he spun story after story, finishing up with the tale of how he eventually wound up in Mississippi’s Delta.

As they departed a few moments ago and said their goodbye’s, I made a decision that I want to be a better storyteller and a more observant Ragamuffin. I long for the day where my kids and their kids and maybe even their kids are all sitting around a table enjoying a meal listening to how things used to be. In the meantime, I want to live in the moment and savor each and every precious minute of life.

Planning is important, but for too long I have lived with an eye to the future and have missed special blessings happening right now. I want to seize today. Here are some photos of The Crystal Grill.

(Notice the new masthead for the site? I’d love to hear your feedback on it!)

Vacation Photos of the Fannypack Posse

We returned this afternoon from one of the most exciting vacations we have ever taken as a family. Actually, it probably was the most exciting vacation because it is the first vacation we have taken together as a family in at least 7 years. Keller was just 2 when Melody and I divorced, so she barely even remembers me being in the home, let alone vacations that we took together. On top of that, the vacations we took back then were not much to speak of because of our tight financial situation.

I can honestly say I am returning from this vacation completely rested and refreshed. The kids were great (although they spent time fighting over who had to sit in the rear seat and then fighting over who got to sit in the rear seat.) I found myself on more than one occasion simply smiling and soaking in the fact that all six of us were having an absolute blast together in Orlando. God is soooo so good!

In addition to the great time we had together as a family, we also got to reconnect with some great friends from college who now live in Dallas. They happened to be at the Magic Kingdom on the same day that we were and we had breakfast the following morning. For me this was super special because for so many years I completely isolated myself and kept people at a safe distance. Visiting and reconnecting with old friends was a vivid reminder of how different things are nowadays.

We left Orlando Thursday morning and headed 2 hours north to hang out with friends of ours from here in Birmingham who were at his parent’s lake house near Gainesville. We skied, tubed, and knee-boarded and had an absolutely fabulous BBQ dinner…eating a Boston-butt that Duck had smoked all day. I ended the day on a high note by running over the ski rope with the jet ski which sucked it up into the boat’s intake. We had to load it onto the trailer and, fortunately, were able to get underneath and cut the rope out. I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw the jet ski fire up and run without a problem. Whew!

Here are just a few of our photos from this fabulous trip. I know many are anxious to see the fannypack photos, and I reluctantly included a few. Please keep your laughter to a dull roar.

Day 1 at Universal’s Island of Adventure

We found some shade!

Keller strikes a pose!

Ryland and Tal behaving as if they actually like each other.

Gabe after a successful ride. He did not let the Bama hat go!

Keller found a new “do”.

One of the highlights of our trip was watching the Shuttle launch! Not sure we will ever be this close again.

Ok, ok…here is a shot of our super-duper deluxe fannypacks. All of the other park visitors were SOOOOO jealous.

Yes that is me hiding behind a fannypack.

This girl could no doubt dunk.

Tal getting drug by Marmaduke in Toon Lagoon.

Anyone seen Sponge Bob?

Kids with Woody and his female friend. The female Woody liked Gabe’s Bama hat and started doing the hand motions to “Roll Tide” just after this photo was taken.

This was a trick photo that worked perfectly!

Junkanoo (Junk-A-New!)

Before our trip to the Bahamas last week, Melody and I had prayed that God would give us a restful and relaxing time and that he would make us super-sensitive to moments of grace that we might otherwise miss. (After both of us read Cathleen Falsani’s Sin Boldly, we started calling this “gracespotting.”)

Well let’s just say that we spotted lots of grace during the trip. One example was last Thursday, night, our last night in the Bahamas. We had an event on the beach that was absolutely spectacular. Our CEO said some brief words, then announced that he had a surprise for us. Almost immediately we began to hear the sound of drums, cowbells, whistles, and trumpets in the darkness. As the commotion stepped into the light, we saw 8-10 native Bahamians dressed in colorful, elaborate, celebratory costumes with some of the largest head-dresses I had ever seen. Here is a good example…

The leader grabbed the mic and began to explain to us about Junkanoo, a celebration of uncertain origins that was basically a day off for slaves held on Boxer Day, December 26th. I didn’t get a video of the scene we witnessed on the beach, but I did find this sample on YouTube…

We had such a blast watching this troupe entertain and even heard them play U2′s I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For and Amazing Grace. Both of those songs are amazing in their own right, but words can’t describe the scene as we listened with white sand between our toes, a gentle Caribbean breeze on our faces, seafood in our bellies, and those magical tunes dancing in the air. When I heard the deep drums start Amazing Grace, I closed my eyes and worshipped as many of my co-workers danced on the beach. In that moment I started thinking about the thawing of Narnia and how one day soon we will be enjoying the feast that Papa is preparing for us. There will be dancing. There will be musical instruments of all kinds. There will be feasting. There will be beauty all around us. There will be smiles, giggles, and hugs as Papa watches us enjoy what He has created for us.

And as I watched the costumed musicians swaying back and forth, I spotted grace. The name of the Bahamian street festival came to mind…Junkanoo. Junk A-new! A tear streamed down my face as I celebrated the fact that I am new junk that has been transformed by a Father who specializes in making beautiful things out of broken pieces.

Photos from the Bahamas

The only challenge getting back from the Bahamas is dealing with re-entry. Luckily I have today off for President’s Day.

Melody and I had lots of time to reflect and journal and we even spent some time working on the outline for our book. The beauty that surrounded us on the island of Exuma was exhilarating…almost like God was showing out. Here are a few of our photos from the trip. (I realize that these photos are cut off and am working on a solution.)

Find more photos like this on RansomedHeart.NET

All We Need Is Love

Melody and I are having an absolute blast here in gorgeous Great Exuma, Bahamas at the Four Seasons Resort and Spa. We left our camera cord at home, so we are not able to get the incredible photographs that we have taken thus far to the computer, but they will follow soon.

We came through the Miami International Airport this past Saturday, and, as we rounded a corner headed to our gate in the “D” terminal, our attention was arrested by an unexpected gift of grace. In preparation for Valentine’s Day, I suppose, the airport had created a display with the words “ALL WE NEED IS LOVE” spelled out with letters that were at least 8 feet tall and that were covered with thousands and thousands of fresh flowers.

It was absolutely breath-taking.

I took out our camera and started snapping photos…trying my best to get the entire display into one frame.
As I was steadying the camera to take the shot, I heard the reactions of other travelers (in at least 4 different languages) as they first caught site of the display. I lowered the camera and spent the next few minutes watching expressions as individuals rounded the corner and the stunning display came into full view. Individual travelers, families, and young and old couples alike all stopped to admire the beauty and take pictures of their own. We met a young couple headed to Cancun who asked us to take a photo of them in front of the word “LOVE” and chatted with them for a few minutes. We asked them to take one of us as well…and here it is.

I was still thinking about the message of this display the next morning as I was reading and journaling. The myriad of fresh, vibrant-colored flowers were gorgeous and the display would have been breath-taking even if the display had just been blocks of square Styrofoam. But the fact that the message of LOVE was so huge and so gorgeous and absolutely stopped people in their tracks was such a God thing.

I started looking up verses…

A new command I give to you: “Love one another.” John 13:34

This is my command: “Love each other.” John 15:17

The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Galations 5:14

The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscious and a sincere faith. 1 Timothy 1:5

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?” Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40

I think Jesus agrees…all we need is love. As I reflected on the message of the Miami Airport display, I was convicted of the many times I have been anything but loving…even in the name of Christ. How many times have I come across brash and arrogant and narrow-minded in an effort to be doctrinally sound? How many opportunities have I missed to share God’s love because I have been so focused on my plans and my agenda? That night, I looked up the Beatles tune on YouTube and let it play over and over again. Here it is…enjoy and join me in becoming a better agent of God’s love.

"Airstream Reunion"

“Airstream Reunion”
Originally uploaded by TLovvorn

Was in Clarksdale, MS for meetings today and saw this while pulling through a downtown traffic light. I call it “Airstream Reunion”. I think I will call the Guinness folks because you KNOW that has to be a world record for number of Airstream RVs on one lot. Someone needs to send this to Texaco for a creative ad campaign. Now you know why Alabamians say “Thank God for Mississippi.”