The Lord knows best

As a family we love to go camping in the North Carolina and Tennessee mountains.  We pack up our tent and head to the woods usually at least twice a year.  Last week we did just that and headed to Cataloochee in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.  We love camping there and Sarah really wanted to go see the elk again.

It did not take long to realize that this was not going to be our normal trip.  In fact, the first sign happened the day before we even left.  While out on a photography session, my car started acting up.  That resulted in an afternoon at the garage getting a new alternator.  I had no idea at the time what a metaphor replacing the alternator would be. 

I am just thankful for two wonderful friends that made the wait so much more pleasurable and fun.  I am also grateful it happened before we left for our trip. 

Cataloochee

The day of the trip, we loaded up the car and headed out.   The trip up was wonderful.  We talked, joked and picked on Sarah (always a favorite pastime).  Everything was going as planned, but we would soon learn that our plan was not the plan we would end up following.

When we got to the campground we found out the National Park Service had made a policy change this year.  To camp at the Cataloohee campground you now have to make reservations in advance.  Nice to find that out when we get there - not.

For years we have gone there and have never made a reservation.  I am not a fan of this but, now we know and we will be making reservations in the future.  Cataloochee is the only NPS campground in our area that all sites require reservations.  If you wish to go camping there, be sure to call 1-877-444-6777 or visit www.recreation.gov before you head out to go spend the night with the elk.

Once we found out our plans on where we were going to camp had changed, we decided to head to a campground we had not stayed at before; Cosby, Tenn.  In fact, except for a brief drive through on a camping trip with a friend, I had never even been there and that was more than what Dwayne and Sarah had done.  So we took the old mountain dirt road from Cataloochee to Cosby to see what we could find.

Cosby

The ride over to Cosby was beautiful, long and even longer with a certain redhead in the backseat.  But we made it there and got us a really nice campsite and pitched the tent.

Since we were planning on staying at Cataloochee, I did not bring any of my reference books with me or even went online.  We had no clue what was around there to do.  There was no cell service, so I could not even call some friends that knew the area.

The information that was available there seemed to offer very little to do.  There was some hiking trails and no ranger campfire programs.  Those are some our favorite things. 

The creek offered some water, which is something Sarah loves.  And the campground was fairly empty, so it was really peaceful and quiet.  At least until the last night.

It quickly became obvious this was not going to be one of our normal camping trips.  It was going to be more of a relaxing one.  We did do some light hiking and saw some beautiful scenes.   Sarah and Dwayne even played in the creek.  I got to do some much put off reading while sitting on a rock out in the creek.

The rest of the time, we most just sat around the fire, talked and read.  Basically, it was a trip of relaxation and recharging my batteries.  Like the new alternator in my car keeps the battery charged, the Lord put things in place to slow us down and recharge our batteries and our relationships.

This trip was not what we planned.  It turned out even better and just what we needed.  The Lord knows best and we just have to be willing to go along for the ride.

Thanks to those at GHES

Sarah in kindergarten.

I always thought dropping your baby off at kindergarten on the first day of school was the hardest thing for a mom to do.  I found out this past week that it was just a warm up.  Sarah finished the 5^th grade on Friday and is heading to middle school next year.

It seem like just yesterday I was dropping her off in Mrs. Hurley’s classroom.  Heck, it seems like yesterday I was waddling around pregnant with her.  Can someone please tell me where the pause button is?

Graduating from the 5th grade

I clearly remember walking Sarah into the building that morning.  She was very shy, quiet and reserve.  Now, she is almost as tall as me and shows a bit more of personality.  That might be considered an understatement.

She is growing into a wonderful young lady.  The staff at GHES has a lot to do with who she is growing up to be.  They are a very special group.  They are a family and we became part of their family over these past six years.

During the Honors Chorus performance.

All of the teachers at GHES are wonderful.  They work as a team to make sure each student receives the love (yes, it shows that they love their students), support and structure that they need.  I am not going to try to name them all, because I would end up naming every one of them.  But thank you to each of you.

I know Sarah has made some friends and memories for life while at GHES.  I also think she has found something she loves in Chorus.  I was so proud when she was selected to be part of the county wide Honors Chorus.

During the Jan Chorus program

During her last Chorus program at GHES, I watched her sing and perform so focused, so serious, so well trained.  The young lady performing on the stage was a long way from the little girl that just stood there during her kindergarten performance.  Special thanks to Ms. Yoder for helping to develop the love for singing Sarah has now.

Soon Sarah will start middle school and I am sure that is going to be yet another trying milestone.  But I know she has developed a good foundation thanks to all of those at GHES.

Do you Relay?

I love walking around the track as the sun comes up and the luminaries are still glowing strong.

Do you Relay?  I do.  I have already done one Relay and tomorrow night I do another.  On the studio blog I have posted a short video of just a few images from the Burke County Relay For Life event.  Please go watch it.  It will help you understand why I Relay. 

Relay Time

A special moment from the 2010 Valdese Relay For Life

I wanted to share a link to a blog post I just posted on the studio blog called "Let's Relay" about tonight's Burke County Relay For Life.  Relay is special to me and it is an honor to be the photographer for such a great event.  Hope to see you at the Relay!

Failing the EOGs

Sarah and her classmates are taking their 5^th grade Science EOGs today.  Next week they have the rest of the EOGs.  That means two weeks of stress and worry for these students and teachers.

If you don’t know what EOG stands for, it is End of Grade testing.  Depending on how the student does on the EOGs could mean if they pass or fail the grade.  There are also implications for the teacher and school as well on how the students do on their EOGs.

I don’t know about you, but I hate test.  I understand they are important, but I still hate them.  Then add all of the pressure of the EOGs could mean pass or fail; well that is simply ridiculous.

I have no clue who came up with the idea of the EOGs and the power they have, but I have some news for you.  I give them a big fat “F”.  You know as in failed.

There is no sense in relying so much on the EOGs to determine how well a student has learned.  What kind of a lesson is that teaching the students?  To me it says it does not matter if you really understand it as long as you can memorize enough to pass a test.  Great way to go through life.

We have good teachers that are well educated and that care about the students in the classroom.  Let them do their job and truly teach the students and not just teach for a test. 

These teachers know when a student has learned the lessons or if they need to be held back a year.  Plus, without the stress of the EOGs, the teachers could focus more on teaching each student at each student’s level.  Let them do their job they have been trained for and that we (the taxpayers) pay them to do.

It is time for a change.  There is no sense in placing this kind of pressure on these young students or their teachers.  Our country did not become the number one country in the world because of a stupid (oh yes I did go there) test.  We became number one because we developed a society of people that were willing to work, knew how to use their brains to figure things out and believed in themselves. 

That is what we need to be teaching and stressing to our children.  Not the pressure of the EOGs.   Regardless of how well the student has done all year; one bad test can make them feel stupid and that they cannot do anything.

Do you think I am kidding?  Ask them and see what you think of the EOGs then.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the EOGs.  Please share them.

Happy baby/toddler photo contest

Here is one of the cuties I am talking about.

I found out about this photo contest and thought I would pass it along to you.  Since I have the pleasure of photographing so many cute and adorable kids, I know many cuties that could easily win this photo contest.

The photo contest is being held by Food Lion the grocery chain based right here out of North Carolina.  The contest is show off your happy baby or toddler and they are giving away some nice prizes too.

The grand prize winner will receive a year supply of both diapers and baby food.  In addition to the grand prize, the 10 finalist will win $100 Food Lion Gift Cards.  Not bad prizes.

There are three phases to this contest.  Phase 1 ends May 31^st and that is the deadline for all enters to be submitted.  So if you are interested in entering this photo contest, you have till the end of the month.  During the second phase, 10 finalist will be selected that will then be voted on by the public through a facebook campaign in phase three.

I took the time to read over the rules and I recommend you do too. There are 4 small print pages, but you should read them before entering.  Here are a few key points I got out of the rules.

-          You can only enter once

-          The photo must have been taken 1/1/2011 and 5/31/2011

-          You baby or toddler must be between the ages of newborn to 3 years old

-          Only the baby/toddler you are entering can be in the photo, with the exceptions of twins, triplets or multiples.  They will be considered as one entry.

-          No professional photography is allowed and you give away all copyright and ownership to Food Lion of that image.  This is something a lot of contests are going to and I don’t like it.  There is no reason for it.  They could just say they can use the image to promote the contest or future contests instead of wanting it all.  I am sure someone gave them the advice to do this, but it prevents me from entering photo contests when I am eligible. 

-          This is a facebook contest, which means you and anyone you ask to vote for your kid’s picture must “like” the Food Lion’s facebook page to enter or vote.

There is a quick summary of the Food Lion happy baby/toddlerphoto contest.  If you enter let me. 

Unconditional Love - Happy Mother's Day

When I think of my mom, I think the words “unconditional love”.  Before I became a mother myself, I never understood how she put up with so much from me.  Now I do.

A mother’s love is unconditional.  It is stronger than anything. 

I am thankful I have a mom that has loved me unconditionally regardless what I have done.  And I hope I am half the mother she has been.

Love you mom, Happy Mother’s Day!!!

Making the decision to have a child is momentous.  It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.  ~Elizabeth Stone