Workday Wander

   It was about 1:30 in the afternoon as I enjoyed the sweet sound of Ode to Joy from the little fingers of my 7-year-old student. She smiled and grinned as her performance was as sharp as her tailored school uniform. Since little instruction was necessary, my mind began to wander about my upcoming break which put me in an even better mood. I had a plan...but do I dare carry it out?

 I left as soon as the lesson was over. I gathered my things and had two and a half hours before my next stop elsewhere. There had been many times when I had seen something interesting that I had always wondered about but never gave it a second thought. But I think it is now time to stop letting that happen.

 I saw the signs and arrows pointing in that direction. Fearlessly, I turned. The road winded up a hill and I passed a police car on the way. Since this work-day adventure idea is all new to me, I felt as though I was somewhere I was not supposed to be but somehow I did not care.

 The area was quiet and my car was the only car in the lot where I parked. I approached an information board that included a map and tourist guide. I saw names such as Wildflower Trail, Gold Mine, Overlook, and....monkeys? I was very curious.

  I took an initial walk through my surroundings and the view was scenic and colorful. Flowers were in bloom adorned by butterflies, the water poured out into a small pool from the mill and I wanted to steal a pear from the pear tree. I would return later. My drive to be courageous was taking over. I was ready to go hiking.

 I had no clue what I was doing or where I was going. I was ill-prepared with sandals on and I was

Wildflower Trail

hopeful that if there were snakes, that they were more afraid of me than I was of them that day. I wanted to see every land mark, work up a sweat and hoped I would be sore the next day.

 The sign read "Millers Trail." There were many pine cones along the way and the ground was rugged with some exposed tree roots. The trail was short but quiet and enclosed by the tall trees and vines.  I could hear a distance siren from the outside world. I had found the mysterious old goldmine. The shaft was enclosed with wire and the new fall leaves covered the edges.

 My path then crossed with another leading down a different trail. It was here where I saw many pieces of history including an uncovered wigwam and Native American cooking supplies. It was also where I would find my monkeys-except it was really only a memory of them. They were killed by farmers when discovered in the area after a circus train crashed.

  I was able to find the "Wildflower Trail." There were not a lot of wild flowers this time of year but it was more open and a little less rugged than the others. I followed it for a nice long distance. I could hear a siren off in the distance from the outside world. I had come a long way and wondered if I should turn back. I decided against it. As I walked a little further, I could hear the sound of rushing waters. Just what I had hoped. The creek flowed across the rocks and the sun's reflection glistened as the waters danced.
                                                                                                         
   I walked through almost every trail at probably the distance of a mile or so. I still had plenty of time left and I was not ready to leave. I knew there was more to see but had no idea of the surprises I was
unaware that I would find. I passed by an old country store and the farm museum and around the back of the mill where the welcome center was. I had planned to stop in for literature but kept becoming distracted with more things to see. I once again saw the calming waters at the mill but had missed the ducks. And what next? Could it be for real? Chickens? Clucking chickens? It only got better after that.

   I entered the welcome center to finally collect my literature and sign the guest book. I expected  nothing more. It was like walking into a surprise party and being welcomed by unexpected guests. Snakes and different varieties of turtles greeted me from their tanks as well as many small fish and a giant bull frog. In addition to scenic trails and historic artifacts, there was a small zoo. I was delighted.

   Though I had been to places like this many times before as I had chaperoned field trips, attended birthday parties with the kids on my Saturdays or maybe had visited with my Brownie Scout troop once upon a time I can honestly say that this was probably the first time I elected to go somewhere like this on my own. So for a short time that day, I was able to set aside worries over where I would buy my gas before I ran out (there was a shortage in Georgia at this time), whether or not bill due dates would align with pay days or if I bought enough spaghetti for dinner that night. I was able to go on a little vacation in the middle of the work day in which I had invited a little bit of a Saturday to enter.

                                     Please enjoy this little slide show from my adventures.

                                       


 Place Visited: Autry Mill Nature Preserve and Heritage Center,
                       Johns Creek, GA

 Date Visited: Tuesday, September 20th, 2016 


 

                                             

I Ran!

    I was hungry. Something about a road trip always makes me hungry. I don't eat much the rest of the time. Only when I'm on the road. Hot, spicy, greasy fried shrimp overstuffed my po-boy. I quietly snuck away into my mom's hotel room while the kids watched TV in my room. It was a greasy saucy mess with many left over shrimp which fell out of the po-boy and made for enough for breakfast the next morning. Then I realized the kids hadn't eaten. Though I was in no way willing to share any left over shrimp with them, they had to eat something. Not being from the area, I was not up to speed with the local pizza deals. I called a place that offered more of a bargain for the more you ordered. I was too full for pizza, kids were not as hungry as I thought so we had pizza. Lots of it!
    As we made our way back out on the road again the next day, I was sure the left over pizza stayed cool and that some got eaten along the way. (I am very money conscious and am usually the only one who eats the left overs in our house as I refuse to not waste food so I made sure that this principle was maintained with regards to the pizza.) It was a long drive and not much to see for about an hour until the first sign of the coast became evident-seagulls. The air grew warmer, the casinos grew, well, taller as we got closer to the city and soon we would see the white sandy coast.  Mossy trees draped over the road as well as surrounding houses and the hurricane devastated empty lots where southern mansions once stood haunted us.
    After a visit to the Dollar Tree for pails and shovels, we returned to the coast in our bathing suits and found a quiet spot on the shore. We weren't sure if the tide was ebbing or flowing but there were many pools of water surrounding the beach for us to explore. There was no one b
ut us in the area. The water was pleasant and not too warm and we began a hunt for hermit crabs. We found 3 and lined them for a crab crawl race rally. They were too afraid to come out of there shells as their little eye above their heads could see us. We filled one of our pails with sand and a little bit of water and build a habitat for our little critters and took them back with us to our hotel. Though I someday hope to Kayak across Greenland, having an appreciation for little things like this is very important for a mother of five and I always wanted a hermit crab when I was a kid but my mom said no.
   Do you see that lone palm tree in that picture? Doesn't it look it look calm and peaceful? However, just a short distance from that tree, the view is much different. We noticed that this beach houses an unusually large habitat of seagulls. Thousands. Of. Seagulls.They were content grazing among the waters if they should find anything and they would occasionally shift in flocks to  different locations. Then I remembered. I still had pizza left. Time to make some new friends
   I went to the car and grabbed the Ziploc bag and came back with the provision with the idea in mind that seagulls would be appreciative and somewhat comparable to the ducks in the duck pond when given leftover hot dog buns. The zip was still locked on the bag before I had forgotten about that scene in Finding Nemo where the seagulls all had one thought in mind-"Mine!"
   I slowly tried to move away but they slowely followed me everywhere I went. I stopped, they stopped. They hovered around me like jet fighters ready to attack but afraid enough of me to keep their distance. However, I was determined not to let this pizza go to waste. I thought to my brave stupid myself "I had better make this quick." Pandemonium struck as the first slice hit the ground. They fought, they sqwaked and made noises I never though a seagull was capable of. They knew there was more than just one slice and they persisted. There was only one thing for me to do. I dropped the bag and-I Ran! It was a miracle I was not pooped on.

We returned the hermit crabs to their home two days later.

Places visited: Mobile, Alabama, Gulfport, Mississippi
Date visited: April 4th
Provisions: The Boiling Pot, Hungry Howies (Mobile) and Whataburger

For your enjoyment:

*Please note. This song has nothing to do with pizza or seagulls. 

"I Ran" By Flock of Seagulls

    

Wanderlust:Roundabout-Round Two

I left the house on that sunny spring day. No plans in particular. I had a place in mind that I wanted to go to that day and thought it might be a good idea to map it on Google but I didn't. I knew it was there if I needed it. After 20 minutes in the car going north I only imagined where I would be in an hour. No matter where I would go that day, I knew I would there was a possibility I would see water. I had my daughter Emma with me, who out of the five, has the sense of adventure. Whatever I did, I knew I had to make it good.
  While hoping to get as many unknown number of miles I had left on my 10 year old minivan, the main road led me about 70 miles outside of town then to smaller road I had been down before. The cool mountain breeze met us as we made our way to an old country store. Emma's says "I don't like old." Well I guess I struck out there but might be able to make it right with a package of Starbursts. A scenic view was also a part of the package while visiting this general store. We opened the door to the patio which overlooked the view. What I saw reminded me of a particular day never to forget which led to a conversation I had with Emma about the day I almost met Jesus. In person!
   It was mid-July in 1991 and I had been invited to go on this adventurous date to a place I had never heard of. Apparently the person who invited me (we'll call him Sam.) assumed that I was some sort of experienced hiker which I was not. So Sam as well as a few more of his friends arrived to this very spot and he asked me if I brought my hiking shoes. Hiking shoes? Just then, I realized my little white slip-ons were likely not going to be suitable but we proceeded anyway. As daring as I can be, if only I had known. It is a story I tell often but my own mother still has never heard.
   Slowly we walked down a stairway of about 600 feet to the bottom of an abyss surrounded by trees and rock cliffs in 90 degree weather. The river at the bottom was refreshing and ended where it flowed down a dome shaped rock into the pool below. The water level was dense enough for us to slide easily down the rock for some fun filled outdoor water play. The problem was, unlike the typical water park, there is no where else to go once you slide down. There's you, the water and the steep rock you just slid down. That is it. So I made the difficult climb up the slippery rock and somehow managed to conjure up the courage to slide down a second time.
    Luckily a nearby camper wearing a Speedo was set up near the rock and had a first aid kit. He told me that the dressing on my chin would only hold for now until I returned home for stitches. I had to forget about my pain as I had to venture on with the group.
   Amazingly, my flimsy shoes held up pretty well as we climbed over rocks, around bushes, through spider webs.... and along the edges of cliffs. I was fine as long as I wasn't thinking too hard about what I was actually doing. After the two mile hike, we finally reached our oasis with a cascading 500 ft water fall in full view. I rested on the rocks while the rest of the group went swimming in the pool where the waters fell. I was in awe of the view and tried not to think about my exhaustion and how we had to hike back the two miles we had come.
   I don't remember a whole lot about the journey back except I learned that exhaustion in 90 degree heat can mess with your concentration. I realized this after I got spooked while crawling along a very narrow edge of a sheet of rock on which there was room for only me and nothing else. I didn't know how many feet the drop was below but I was aware that there was a drop and that I was going to die if I didn't make it across to the other side. I slowly inched my way across and maintained balance with supernatural strength. That same strength also carried me through when we finally reached the end of the hike the where the 600-foot stairs which were at one point descending now a long ascend awaited. I believed all my angels were real that day. Even the ones who wore Speedos. 
   
It was a quiet ride home in the car with Sam. He never called me again after that day.

  The scar on my chin faded away over the years. Today as I stared at the view below and remembered how proud I was to have my day that I got to follow Indiana Jones. I also remembered the archeologist from Raiders of the Lost Arc who stood at the entrance of the snake pit informing Jones that "We are way more comfortable up here." As terrified as I was that day, I was in awe of that view of the falls but was way more comfortable with that alone and did feel like I needed to be some kind of a hero where it had to be so strenuous.     
   About 20 miles or so back in the direction we came would take us to a place we had not yet ever gone. We turned down a nine mile country road which can at times seem very long when you are somewhere you've never been and the scenery is minimal. We turned when we saw the sign. As spontaneous as I was that day, Emma never once questioned my judgement and seemed oblivious to the fact that I did not know what I was doing some of the time. We pulled in to the parking lot of the welcome center where there was a small gift shop and visitor information. All Emma really wanted to do that day was to buy a sketchpad notebook at Walmart or something. We found one in the gift shop then checked in at the visitors desk to pay admission. We conversed with polite young men who were the attendants that day. They had asked us if we had ever visited or if we lived in the area. We told them that we were from out of town and that we did not have any actual plans for the day and that our visit was rather spontaneous. He replied by telling us that those are the best adventures you can have.
   We exited out the back door which led us to a short white gravel trail. We could hear the rushing waters off in the distance but we knew we were close. After just a short bend in the river, the falls were now visible to us. They fell 186 feet leaving a gentle mist as they hit the water below. Many others who were there took pictures on the large rocks around the waters edge, some walked leisurely about and explored their surroundings while some were there for hours just basking in the therapy of just gazing at the beauty. Without a hike.

Emma's Sketchpad put to good use.

Places Visited:

The Tallullah Gorge was formed by the Tallulah river which flows through the geological dome rock formation. It became a national state park which was initiated by Georgia governor Zell Miller and Georgia Power. It has been known to be a location for a tight rope act featuring Karl Wallenda and the waters within the gorge are raised a few times a year for kayaking and whitewater rafting. A permit is now required for hikers who wish to explore the floor of the gorge and regulations have since been established for proper hiking gear.

Toccoa Falls is located in Toccoa Georgia. Tragically, the falls were formed when a dam broke over the city on November 6th, 1977 killing 33 people. As sad as it may seem, the victims of this disaster would be proud that a beautiful memorial for them was formed in it's wake and continues to flow in their honor today. 
  




                                                              "Roundabout"-Yes, 1971

                                                      

Mission Trip 2016-The Launch

    The Launch

                                                                                                                                                                                    

I could not get there fast enough.
I only live a mile or so away from where the

meeting was. However, there are two very long
red lights and a very short green arrow for the left turn. Additionally they were serving dinner and I was hungry. I just missed the green arrow so I turned right instead and made a U turn in the hopes that the other light at the cross road was shorter. I think I may have accidentally cut someone off but I hoped not. As I waited at the red light, I could see the other line cars from were I was. The light had turned green and they all turned left as I sadly watched them. I've heard many stories about things going awry before and during mission trips even though this was a fail of my own doing.
     I enjoyed braised beef, roasted veggies and hummus in a large room filled with hundreds of other prospective missionaries. Some may have been there just wanting information while some had already gone and were returning. And then, some may have been like me who had never been but the decision had already been made regardless of funding, life circumstances or whether or not I got to eat braised beef....but still, I was hungry. 
     I arrived that night with positively no plans as I did not know yet what country I would be led to or what type of work I would do. I was very eager to know what was out there. After dinner we heard many stories to include a day in the life with a family in Kenya where the missionary would become a part of a Kenyan family. If it were a 3 mile walk to retrieve water, we go with them. If it takes 3 hours to see a doctor we wait with them. We were told that natives of Kenya are so grateful to be able to see a doctor, none of them complained about a 3 hour wait. Other projects included a medical team to Cambodia, building relationships in the Haitian communities, even providing pedicures to women in Jericho. After I went home it was time to make this very precious decision.
     On August 12th of 2015, I went back to work full time. Life has been very crazy but I knew that after being home and working independently part-time for 10 years and my youngest little daughter starting school, it was time. For months I spent hours on-line filling out applications, waiting for emails or phone calls and going to interviews. I even wasted a whole entire morning with a group of other hopeful applicants as efforts were made to recruit us into selling insurance.
As I knew I would be enrolling my baby into preschool soon, I had planned to make a call to the little school where her older sisters went. One morning while in prayer on the same spot where my knees have worn down the carpet, I thought about that little school. I made the phone call. After many mornings of being served and warmly greeted at the carpool line, it would now be my job. Mission trips require preparation, and this new job of mine would play a role in the work of introducing the English Language to children of Gori in the Republic of Georgia. (I have to say "The Republic of" since I live in Georgia. If I just tell someone "I'm going on a mission trip to Georgia" They will be confused and wondering why it's necessary for me to "go" anywhere.)
      My application has been sent, my first initial fees paid, the first meeting team is scheduled and I am guarding my passport with my life.
    
      My song begins. It's time to dance.


If you would like to donate, here is the link.

paypal.me/SamanthaFair

Unwritten-Mission Trip 2016

         Up until just a few years ago, going on a mission trip was not on my radar. Not that I was opposed to the idea, I guess I had been distracted with so many other things and it did not seem realistic with young children at home. Additionally I always felt I was where I needed to be and doing what needed to be done at the time.
    Back in 2009 while working as a choir director in a small country church in rural Georgia. A mission team had been formed and was sent to Nicaragua. The day before they were to leave, the pastor called them to the alter for a blessing. Some were adults, there were some that were in their teens and for most of them, it was their first mission trip experience. As I saw them standing at the alter I was profoundly amazed by their decision to do something way bigger than themselves and the stories they would have once they returned. They were sent off with hugs as sang the hymn "Here I Am, Lord."
     The Summer of 2012 was when I had made a very important decision. I remember it was after I had lost my beloved sister-in-law Karen to cancer. She was the same age as I was and had dedicated her life to raising her family. I had grown closer to her the most during her last few final years. I miss the sound of her laugh, her tongue in cheek sense of humor, and her presence during Thanksgiving dinners. However, it was during the long drive home from the funeral when I came to a
troubling realization....she was just far too young.
    It's one thing to have a story but it is also something that everyone should be entitled to. I was saddened that Karen's story was too short. But because I loved her, I had made the decision to believe that it is okay to live your life on someone else behalf. It was not only a decision to believe this but to actually pursue it.
  
 Life is a journey. Why not let it be an amazing one?

Following her passing, my children were growing older and I began to have more of a sense of freedom and had somehow urge to travel. When my daughter graduated from middle school in 2013, I took her to London and returned again in 2014 when her younger sister graduated. It messed with me. I fell in love with the whole rush of being on planes taking off and landing, rushing to get to the train on time for our next flight and reaching our long awaited destination. I have since spent hours on Expedia browsing for package deals for places such as Denmark, Patagonia and Iceland-places I still hope I will someday visit. But in the midst of all the enthusiasm, I couldn't help but hear the soft voice of my Heavenly Father saying:

"Do it for me." It then became imminent. It's time.

Please pray for me as I begin this incredible trip to the Republic of Georgia for which I planning for this June.

                                                        "Unwritten"-Natasha Beddingfield