Bowling Party 2

Yesterday, we went bowling with the kids and adults. It was fun, especially when we all were able to beat one church member in the last game. He’s a Kentucky state trooper, and he has big biceps. Naturally one would think he would beat all of us. After bowling, we ate at the local pizza restaurant. Then, Rob and the Kentucky state trooper joined the kids in the arcade area, while we ladies sat and chatted. It was a nice bonding time for all of us. We plan to have other outings such as fishing trip and a cookout.

Forest Fire

Last night, we were driving home from the bowling party in Pikeville. On US 119, we saw this unusual light further down the road, and we weren’t quite sure what it was. As we got closer, we realized that it was a forest fire on a side of a mountain. It was our first time seeing a forest fire live. Of course, we were able to smell the smoke after we passed the fire.

Today, I tried to find information about the forest fire online via newspapers and blogs, except WYMT news blurb on a forest fire in another county. So apparently, there were several yesterday. Sometimes that these fires are deliberately set. Stupid people! Last week, two houses were burned down in another county about 100 miles away. Kentucky has an outdoor burning ban during daytime hours from February to the end of April, because this is forest fire hazard season. Tonight, it is forcasted that we’re getting a thunderstorm.

The Irony in My Job

Let me start with describing my job a little bit more. I work in three school districts and sometimes, they have different schedules. That’s the fun in coordinating schedules. I’m going to give each school district an alias to make things easier to explain.

Farthest School District, about 65 miles away from home
Home School District
City School District, about 15 miles away from home

Remember the first snow? Home School District had a snow day, but Farthest School District was open. I still went to work. This morning, I woke up and saw just plain ugly brown mud and grass, wet from yesterday’s rain. I got ready for work at the Farthest School District, but I had a hunch that I should check the news before I leave the house. Lo and behold, Farthest School District is closed, even though there is nothing on the ground outside my window. (Home School District had one hour delay.)

Ironic, isn’t it?

Handmade Cards

Thanks to my new friend here in Kentucky, I’ve started creating greeting cards, such as thank yous and thinking of you cards. I’ve made cards in the past, but it was something that I did once in a great while. Leia invited me to a stamping party, and I had a lot of fun. We picked paper, folded, cut, glued, and stamped. Voila! Cards! I had forgotten how much I really enjoy making things and creating art.

Today at church, there was a bake sale and silent auction, which was a success. I donated some of my handmade cards for the silent auction. Here are the photos of these cards. I did not use rubber stamps on these cards.

"Just a Note" Card (the heart holds the flap)

Thinking of You Card

Thank You Card

Another Thank You Card

More Pictures of Snow

I got up this morning with a pleasant smile. I looked out the bedroom window, and there was more snow. I grabbed my camera and took more pictures. I think the church in the snow is beautiful.

Rob wishes pastors get snow days, like teachers and school employees get. But all he has to do is walk to the church and work on his sermon, Sunday School lesson, and Advent preparation. (That does sound like a lot of work to do. No wonder why he asked me to cook today.) Anyhow, the picture of the church is taken from our front porch, so you can see how close we are to the church. On a side note, I’m working at home, too, catching up on documentation and lesson plans. Oh well, such is the life of a pastor and a teacher here in Kentucky (and anywhere else in the world).

Church in Snow

Church in Snow -- A Close Up View

Snow on Small Mountain/Big Foothill

Snow on Another Small Mountain/Big Foothill

Snow! Snow!

Snow in Our Front Yard -- That big blob of white is the snowflake.

When Rob came home from church, there were white dots on his dark brown hair. I exclaimed, “Snow!?!” “Yes, it’s snowing out there,” said Rob. Hmm… School tomorrow? This school district just canceled earlier this week. Probably not. (Yippie! I can finally catch up on paperwork!) But I’m not keeping my hopes up.

Anyhoo, here are a couple of quick photos that I just shot tonight. I learned that it’s a challenge to shoot in the dark.

Snowflakes in the Light - Again, the Big White Blob is the Snowflake

First Snow of the Season

Two days ago, I smelled snow just like Lorelai of the Gilmore Girls. I knew it was coming. And it came today! Beautiful white sheet covered the ground. White topped trees and bushes. White roofs. Smoking chimneys. Snow-covered cars and trucks.

Local school district announced a two hour delay, which eventually cancelled the schools for the day. Some of the back roads in these mountains are so narrow, steep, and crooked. Black ice were on roads and bridges. However, this was not my day to work in that school district. (Rats!) Since we live close to the major highway, I was able to go to work at another school district about 65 miles away. There, snow was almost no where to be seen. Just a little dust here and there.

I didn’t get a chance to take pictures of the snow this morning. Hopefully, next time.

Dear Third Presbyterian Church

Open Letter to the Church in Staunton, Virginia:

Dear Third Presbyterian Church,

Since the move, we are slowly getting settled into our new lives in Kentucky. Most of the boxes are unpacked. We still have a few left. Rob is getting used to the routine of writing a sermon every week. We are learning more and more about small, friendly, cozy community called Canada. I am becoming comfortable with this new role: an itinerant teacher. A lot of driving, I must say. But I love the kids I’m working with.

As the season of thanksgiving is coming upon us, we would like to take the time to thank you for all you have done for us for the past six years. Without your loving open hand and guidance, we would not be where we are today. As Jack said in his sermon on the last Sunday we were there, you opened your hands and hearts, not knowing what the journey would be like and not knowing all the answers. You did it anyway. You gave us a home for us to go through the ups and downs of our journey. You gave us opportunities to use our talents to do ministry, especially for Rob as an elder. You gave us a place for us to get married and supported us in the early years of marriage. You put up with Rob’s tenor in the choir and Rob’s long hair. You picked on us and made sure that we are being taken care of. Most of all, you were family.

There are pictures of Rob’s ordination posted on here. You can also read about it, too. Feel free to read other entries. We plan to update it as often as we can.

May God Bless,

Love, Beth and Rob

This picture is a little crooked, and this was taken at the time of our wedding. We didn’t own a digital camera then. When we come back and visit, we’ll take a better one. Or someone can email us with a better picture.

More Pictures of Beautiful Mountains

Part of my new job is traveling to schools. On average, I’m driving 100 miles round trip. At first, I really didn’t like it, because at my old job, I was driving barely 4 miles round trip. I’m also taking my office, which is really a rolling suitcase with compartments, everywhere with me. I have to remember to bring certain curriculum materials for that particular student at that specific school. It’s not an easy task to do. This is a huge change for me.

Yet, one of the pleasures of this new job is driving along one of the most beautiful parts of the country. Sometimes, I take pictures if I have the camera with me and if I have time to stop and shoot. Enjoy.

The following pictures are taken from the scenic outlook at Pikeville, Kentucky. One of the pictures show the “cut-through”, which means that part of the mountain was blasted off and dug out in order to make room for roads and development. This particular “cut-through” is the largest man-made movement of rocks and dirt besides the Panama Canal. Engineers moved the river and the railroads out of downtown Pikeville to this “cut-through” to make room for development and for better roads.

City of Pikeville

“The Cut-Through”

Mountains Around Pikeville

Trip to Breaks Interstate Park

In early October, we also took a trip to Breaks Interstate Park, which is on the border of Kentucky and Virginia. The former pastor and his wife invited us along to the restaurant at the park. It was a nice outing. After getting stuffed, they rested on the porch of the lodge while we walked on a short trail to see the gorge. I’ll let the pictures tell the story.

Yep! That’s my feet.
I’m sitting on the rock looking down the gorge.