A whole dumptruck load of blessing, dumped right on top of me!

Okay, I can't hold this in anymore - I gotta share it before I bust.

For starters, and as a disclaimer, Leisa doesn't really like sharing "private details", and I appreciate that. However, blessings like the ones I've been receiving cannot be held in - I absolutely HAVE to share!!!

Y'all, God's gooder than good... He's more awesome than awesome... He's something far more that mere words can describe, and the euphemisms used above don't even come remotely close to how I'm feeling about Him right now. 

No, that's not right... He IS all of those plus a whole lot more, regardless of how I "feel" about Him.. That being said, here's what's happened to me over the course of 2 days, which were 3 weeks apart.

Three weeks ago, we were blessed with what I call a "King's Gift". I realize that some of you wouldn't regard this as a "King's Gift", but those of you who don't are mostly city-folk who can't appreciate us boondock saints who heat solely with wood. We were blessed with a brand-spanking-new 35-ton wood splitter. Being somewhat "limited/incapacitated/handicapped", that was seriously a King's Gift, and it's "tons" easier on my back....

Fast foreword to today. Not many of you know that I had my Voc-Rehab case reopened a few weeks ago. (For those who don't know what Voc-Rehab is, it's a government agency that takes folks who have worked in the past, but due to disability have found themselves on SS/SSDI, get 'em training, and help 'em find a job..

So, today I met with my VR worker to go over the "plan" that's been drafted out for me... I expressed a desire to receive training as an Insurance Claims Adjuster... Y'all, this blows me away... Per the plan I signed, here's a list of what they're covering:

A.) Find & Pay for training, & books.
B.) Wardrobe for candidate training. (They're getting me new clothes, as if I really need them...)
C.) Pay for transportation to/from training. (They're paying for my gas to go to school.)
D.) Pay for state certification/licensing fees after completion of coursework.
E.) After course completion & obtaining licensing, they're gonna (again) buy me new clothes to work in, assist me in finding a job, and pay my potential employer my first 3 months' salary in order to "train" me... (They're essentially paying someone to hire me!)
F.) In order to make me presentable/desirable for potential employers, they're setting me up with a dentist to have all of my dental needs met, and they're sending me to an optometrist in order for me to have the correct optical prescription. (I won't be blind as a bat anymore.)
I've been self-employed for a few years, and the market on my work is being squeezed out, as folks just don't have money to part with anymore.... This is nothing short of a Godsend/Miracle.....

Okay, as if that wasn't enough to inflate my spiritual balloon of trust, I get home this afternoon, and my phone rings... An acquaintance (not a friend, just someone I've met a handful of times) calls me and asks if I'm home.. I answered that I was.. He said he'd be over in a few minutes, as he'd just gotten out of the woods from hunting... He gets here, reaches in his pocket, hands me an envelope, and said "The Lord laid you on my heart.. Use it for firewood or for whatever else you need." After he left, I opened the envelope.. Inside were FIVE $100 bills.........

Y'all, I can't handle anymore of this... Beyond humbled, beyond loved, beyond anything.... I'm experiencing something that I've lacked for a very, VERY long time: H-O-P-E. I can't wait to see what God's gonna build me into...

Thanks for allowing me to share.

10-14-2014


Received word today from my voc-rehab counselor that we're still on the road moving forward. I've a appointment next Wednesday that is expected to last for 3 hours - it's a "career assessment" meeting. The following Wednesday, I meet with my regular counselor to map out a course of action. I'll likely be enrolled at 2 academic institutions: Walter State Community College in Morristown fro the grant writing classes, and at University of Tennessee - Knoxville for the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf training classes.  Things are moving forward!



For the present, I am still working at Oakes Farm in Corryton at the family-friendly corn-maze, as well as at the Trail of Doom haunted attraction.

So, if you haven't seen me for a long time and would like to see me again, I'm working there on Thursdays thru Saturdays from 9am until close (which can be as late as 1am, depending on the crowds.) Most of you have my cell number, so shoot me a text if you plan on coming out. I really hope that YOU choose to come - it'd be awesome to see you again.

I absolutely LOVE my present job. Even though the pay is low, I am deeply appreciative to have a job that I enjoy going to, and one that provides me with a check (albeit a meager one) that I've actually EARNED.

Success isn't measured by the amount of the check earned, but by the joy experienced while earning it.

Come watch me experience the joy!!!

-Scotty
1 Corinthians 2:2

                                                October 2014

Greetings & Salutations!

Summer's gone and autumn is approaching, bringing with it a new season in our lives.

For those who haven't heard by now, my son Tyler eloped back in April. He and his bride, Taylor, are expecting their first child, a daughter they plan on naming Rosslyn, in December.

Caleb and I landed work at Oakes Farm in Corryton, Tn for the fall season. We're both working the corn maze on Fridays & Saturdays. Beginning tomorrow night, I'll be working the infamous "Trail of Doom", where I'll be losing a leg, and there's talk of lots of blood. C'mon out and enjoy the gore!

Aside from that, there's no real "news" to speak of here. Just living life, loving God, and loving people. I'm still walking....and walking.....and walking....infinity.

Not much use in wasting words here when there's really not a lot to say. Besides, I'd be really shocked/surprised to learn that anyone even visits this site anymore. So, I reckon it doesn't really matter how frequent or infrequent that I post updates, considering that I'm about the only one who reads 'em anyway.

Ciao!

05/16/2014: Went to Damascus, Va. for the annual Trail Days festivities. I spoke at the Rock School, but do not feel that I did well at all. I can't guesstimate how many were in attendance, but I feel strongly that I didn't give them my best. Each presentation is a learning experience, but I'd have to say that out of all the presentations I've done, this one would be the worst. I hope that my next one will be worth the attendee's time.

After the presentation, Leisa, the 4 boys, and myself searched for a place to pitch our tent. The plan was to overnight there in Damascus, then drive to Greyson Highlands the following day and hike. However, the weather on Friday evening started turning off rather chilly. While we were pitching our tent, it began to rain: big, COLD drops of rain. However, we managed to settle in, and slept rather comfortably. The following morning, the fellow who allowed us to camp in his yard, "Fidget" was his name, invited us inside for an awesome breakfast of pancakes. What awesome folks!!! I so enjoyed visiting with he and his wife, and look forward with great anticipation to future visits with them.

05/17/2014: We departed Damascus around noon-ish and drove on Hwy 58 to Greyson Highlands State Park. The original plan was to hike in, see the wild ponies, pitch a tent, hike some more, then go home. But it was too dang cold for camping, so we just hiked the half-mile trail that lead to the ponies. The boys really enjoyed seeing them. We drove back south, thinking about going to the Smokies and hiking some there. However, the weather didn't have a really good outlook, so we opted instead to go home and regroup - this proved to be the absolute wisest choice that we could've made. Two of the boys got really sick and ended up tossing their cookies most of the day on Sunday.

05/19/2014: By Sunday evening they were feeling much better, so we decided to drive half an hour north to Cumberland Gap State Park. After consulting with the rangers, we decided to do the Erwin Trail leading up to the White Rocks and Sand Cave.

The hike up was very strenuous - very taxing if you're out of shape like me. We made it 3/4 of the way to the summit when my leg battery died. I had a spare battery and charger in the Jeep, so I opted to hike back down and take care of the battery business.

05/20/2014: I overnighted in the Jeep while both batteries charged, then headed back up at 7:30 the following morning. I was very pleasantly surprised to find that Leisa and boys decided not to summit without me - they literally made camp right there on the trail.

We made the summit around half an hour after I met up with them. Looking at the directional signs, we decided to go to the campground first, pitch our tents, leave our stuff there, and be able to "slack pack" around the places we wanted to see.

The campground leaves a lot to be desired. There are several suitable sites for camping, but previous campers have no clue what "Leave No Trace" is all about. There was a lot of trash! We cleaned up the area as best we could, but it'll take a hardcore maintenance crew a full day to take care of the mess up there!

After making camp and leaving our stuff, we decided to go the 1.1 mile to the Sand Cave area. The scenery on the way to the cave was beautiful - but again, trashy. There were broken beer bottles along the trail. Very sad that the youth who live in the area see this as a party haven, and leave a mess for others to find.

Sand Cave is something to behold!!! It's a cave that has something akin to beach sand lining the floor. The boys had a heyday! I didn't get too "involved" with the sand, as the mechanical workings of my prosthesis could really get messed up if sand got in there. So I enjoyed it from afar.
(There was also a lot of trash in the Sand Cave area as well. The best I can figure, and this is just me assuming, Lincoln Memorial University is fairly close. I can envision college parties taking place here - If I were young and attending college there, this is probably the area I'd choose for partying. I'm glad that I've grown & matured from my youthful days.)

There's a really nice "trickling waterfall" just outside the cave entrance. We took advantage of the falls by filling our water containers and allowing the boys to take showers. (The smelled like rancid hikers.)

Afterward, we hiked back to the camping area for the evening meal. We cooked ramen noodles, which the boys thoroughly enjoyed. Caleb had brought along some popcorn that had to be cooked either in a popper or on the stove. Leisa took one of the boilers, added some oil, and popped popcorn over the campfire - it was really neat. We had an awesome time.

05/21/2014: Sometime around 8:00am, we packed everything up and began our trek back down the mountain. Going down, for me, is a whole lot easier than going up. Instead of taking 2.5 hours like it did coming up, it took slightly over an hour coming down. (We ran into 3 young ladies who were out hiking for their health; they told us that it only took 45 minutes to make it from the summit back to the parking lot. They must've ran those 2.5 miles to make it in that amount of time!!! Then again, they were operating on 2 biological legs, so that had to have made a drastic difference in going down.)

When Caleb, Jacob, and I made it to the parking lot, I turned on the stopwatch on my watch and timed how long it took Leisa and the younger boys to rejoin us. I was surprised and shocked when they emerged some 50 minutes later. Leisa explained that it took longer because the boys wanted to stop and explore various things along the trail. Can't argue with that logic!!! Hiking has, and always will be, more about the smiles than it is about the miles.

I'm very glad that things turned out the way that they did. Cumberland Gap proved to be an excellent choice for a nice family hike that provided some awesome family time. I hope that memories were made that will be with the boys long after I've gone.

05/23/2014:  We have season passes for Dollywood. Along with the season passes, we were provided with one "bring a friend" pass with each season pass we purchased - we had 5. The 23rd was the absolute last day to use the bring a friend passes, so we assembled together 5 friends of the boys to bring with us - 3 of those had never been to Dollywood before.

Now, before I proceed with the story, let me first give you some background on my personal history with Dollywood. Back in 2012, they launched a new coaster called the "Wild Eagle". This thing looked like something I would thoroughly enjoy! However..... Dollywood and/or the ride mfgr developed some rules for the ride. Among the rules is one that says you have to have 2 functioning legs in order to board this coaster.

For 2 years, I attempted numerous times to experience this ride, but no deal. They did come up with this "safety harness" that I was told was developed for "people like me". Earlier this year, I decided to go with the safety harness, only to be told that I had to remove my prosthetic leg. I opted not to ride it. A month later, I went again, deciding not to ask anyone. I wore long baggy jeans, boarded the ride, and enjoyed it immensely!!!

Okay, so that brings us to the present. I decided against wearing jeans - this visit wasn't about proving a point - it was all about the kids. I sincerely wanted them to have a great time. In face, I told them "I want today to be the absolute BEST DAY of your lives!!!"

When we got inside the gate, we split into 3 groups, all agreeing to meet back at the gate at a certain time. Caleb and two of his buddies went one way, Leisa and Josiah went another, and the remaining 5 went with me.

My group and I went to the "ride accessibility office" to obtain the pass that allows me to bypass the long lines via the handicapped entrance for each ride. (The kids LOVED this pass, as they were able to ride 3 coasters in the time that it takes for one person to get from the end of the line to the actual ride itself, if that makes any sense.)

We rode each ride we came upon (they wouldn't allow me to board the "Barnstormer" - it is one of the 3 or 4 prohibited coasters for me). The kids were kind of put off that I wasn't "allowed" to join them, but they accepted it and rode the Barnstormer without me.

We were having the time of our life. My mood couldn't possibly have been any better: I was upbeat, and never once gave a second thought about the folks gawking at my prosthetic leg. (I'm 16 years into this - the stares doesn't bother me nearly as much as it used to.)

We approached the Wild Eagle, and the kids started to squeal - they all wanted to ride it, and they wanted to ride it with me! So I pulled them aside and thoroughly explained to them what would be required of me in order to get on the ride. They begged me to do it, so off we went.

When I got up to the ride, one of the workers came over to me and told me they would have to call down to the safety office to have a harness brought up. (Why can't they keep the harnesses at the ride they were designed for?) So, we waited... and waited.... and waited. The kids were awesome - they only asked once or twice how much longer it would be. 20-25 minutes later, here comes the safety dude with the harness.

I was instructed to remove my leg, to which I complied. Now mind you, this was all in full view of the folks waiting in line to board the Wild Eagle. There was ZERO privacy offered or afforded me. The safety guy, without asking or informing me, decide to use me as a practical block of instruction for the ride attendant, and allowed her to put the harness on me. This took what seemed to me to be an exceptionally long time. She'd make a mistake, and the safety guy would instruct her to undo what she'd just done and do it again the proper way.

As this was going on, my self esteem was plummeting. Knowing that others were watching, and even filming me with their IPhones was a very humiliating experience.

After the harness was applied, I was wheeled in a wheelchair over to the ride itself. Again, bear in mind that scores, if not hundreds, of folks waiting in line were intently watching what was going on. I was instructed to get into a specific seat in the middle of the ride - the only seat on the ride capable of accommodating the safety harness. I saw hands raised IPhones recording me from the waiting line. To say that I was at the height of humiliation would be the understatement of the century. Before long, I had tears streaming down my face. At that point in time, I wanted so badly just to become invisible.

Knowing that the kids I'd brought with me on this ride were privy to what was going on, I didn't cause a scene or make my true feelings known. I zeroed in on the rails that the ride was attached to and just stared at them - away from the direction of the waiting "crowd".

Attaching me to the ride did take a very long time - in excess of 20 minutes. More than once, Jacob (who was sitting next to me on the ride, but could not see my face) reached out, touched my hand, and asked "Daddy, are you okay?". Knowing that if I'd uttered a sound, the flood of emotions I was experiencing would burst forth, I could only nod - which he could not see.

That set my mood for the whole ride - the entire time, I stared at that same rail that the ride was attached to. Not an ounce of enjoyment for me.

When the ride was finished, a different worker came to me, got right in my face, and giddily asked "How'd your like it, Sir?"

I looked him straight in his eyes and said "It was the single-most humiliating experience of my entire life!"

His happy demeanor quickly changed, and he said "I'm so sorry."

I gathered the kids, put my leg back on, and with tail tucked between my legs, left the Wild Eagle.

My mood was severely altered after that.

One of the kids with me, a girl age 8, stopped me, threw her arms around me, and said "Thank you so much for going through that so we could ride the Wild Eagle!"

That felt good, but I was still seriously down in the dumps.

About that time, Leisa rejoined us to see what we wanted to do next. I pulled her to the side and quietly explained to her what had happened on the Wild Eagle.

Her eyes grew large, and very excitedly, she said "That explains a WHOLE lot!"

When I pressed her for an explanation, she offered: 

I was passed this family on the way here. They had 3 boys who looked to be around Josiah's age or younger. (Josiah is 9.) One of the boys was very excitedly talking to his parents about the "awesome man with the bionic leg.........he was walking everywhere!..........he took his leg off and rode the Wild Eagle - he OWNED that ride!...............If he can do it, then Ned can when he learns to walk again!!!" 

Evidently, this kid has a friend named Ned who recently lost a leg, and seeing me made him think about Ned. Now, what would his viewpoint be had I caused a scene and let folks know how I really felt?

This incident, as humiliating as it was, caused me to realize something very important: I had no choice in what happened to me 16 years ago that resulted in the loss of my leg. I am not an amputee by choice. There are aspects about being an amputee that I just cannot, or I guess you could say that I refuse to, accept. However, by exercising a measure of self-control, I can make a difference in the lives of other people, and I hope that I am.

What Leisa shared with me gave me back what I'd had before getting on the Wild Eagle: an upbeat attitude and the desire to have the absolute best day ever. And that is exactly what I had.

Hiking stuff...

On Friday May 16th, the family and I drove up to Damascus, Va. for their annual "Trail Days" weekend celebration. I'd been invited to deliver a presentation about my hike and my life since, so I obliged. The presentation didn't go quite as well as I'd hoped, but I don't reckon that you could call it a total failure either. (But I do personally consider it to be the worst one I've done to date.)

In preparing for Trail Days, Leisa and I planned on camping one night there in Damascus, then drive to Greyson Highlands the following day. The plan was to hike, let the boys see the wild ponies, camp, then hike some more. The weather, however, did not coincide with our itinerary. 


Friday night, it started raining as we were setting up our tent. Cold rain. Not just cold rain, but also cold weather! Greyson Highlands wasn't much better either. We did hike in and see the ponies, but retreated soon after. We drove home, which ended up being the right decision, as 2 of the boys got sick and tossed their cookies for more than half a day before feeling better.

I'd been telling the boys that I was going to take them hiking, and they really were looking forward to it. With that in mind, on Monday May 19th, we again loaded up the Jeep and drove half an hour over to Cumberland Gap National Park. There, we chose the

Random Thoughts about Life, Leisure, and Love for Family

"Random Thoughts"

To say that life has been eventful around here would be the understatement of the century.

On April 3rd, Tyler, who at age 23 is not just my oldest son, but also my oldest child, went to the courthouse and married the love of his life, Taylor Carr. Around a week later, he shared the news with us that we are to be grandparents. I'm happy that there will be a new life in our family, and overjoyed that Tyler will get to experience firsthand the absolute true joy that being a daddy is all about. What I can't offer happiness over, nor can I wrap my mind around, is this whole "grandpa" thing. To me, it's evidence that I'm no longer a young man - that middle age has silently crept up on me and taken over. But, it is what it is. The baby will arrive on or about December 10 of this year.

A couple of weeks back, I developed this horrific headache - far worse than any migraine that I'd ever experienced. I have hypertension, and my body throws up red flags when my blood pressure is too high - the primary warning system being headaches. In times past, I could pop a couple of extra-strength tylenol, lie down, and the headache would disappear. This time, however, nothing worked - not tylenol, not goodies powders, not sleep - nothing.

I suffered with this headache for almost 2 weeks, and finally caved in and called my doctor. I told him that I was going to pay the emergency room a visit - he instructed me to keep him informed. (I should stop here and tell you that I am very compliant with all of my medications - I never miss a dose.) I contacted a friend requesting prayers, and informed them of what was going on. The response was "Take a teaspoon of cayenne pepper right now. Don't ask questions, just trust me." I figured "What have I got to lose?" and took the cayenne pepper, along with a ton of milk to eradicate the painful burning on my tongue as a result of taking powdered cayenne pepper.... Within an hour, everything was back to normal. Gone was the headache that had been an unwanted/undesired guest residing in my head.

I saw my doctor the following Monday, and I reported what had gotten rid of the headache. After prescribing me different medication, he said "I can't officially tell you this, but it wouldn't hurt to add a pinch of cayenne pepper to your daily diet." I reckon that's why the license on his wall specifically states "License to PRACTICE Medicine". He's a top notch physician, not to mention a great personal friend, and I'm glad that he's open to alternative medicine.

This Friday, I'm speaking at the annual Trail Days festival in Damascus, Va. - this is my first time since 2005 speaking at this particular venue. Leisa and the kids will be joining me.

On Saturday, we're going to head off onto the trail for an extended hike - lasting until next Tuesday or Wednesday. I'm very much looking forward to it - it'll go a great distance in taking my mind off of everything else. I'm so looking forward to hitting the trail with Leisa and the boys - this is my most absolute favorite thing to do. You can have Dollywood; you can have Six-Flags; and you can certainly have the beach... Give me a few days of total solitude on the trail, and life's problems cease to exist. There's no rat race, there's no waiting for hours in a line to ride a 2-minute roller coaster, and there's certainly no hot sand burning your foot (okay, for you it'd be FEET) while you're walking to the beachfront water. It's just you and whomever your with out in the great outdoors enjoying nature as God intended it.

It's going to be a great time - and I wish it were for more time than just 5 days. 5 days is just a good start.

Okay folks, mark your calendars.

Friday, May 16, 2014, I will be speaking at the 2014 Trail Days in Damascus, Va. I'll be at the Rock School speaking from 5-6pm.

The title of my program is " Lessons Learned in the Shadow of the Appalachian Trail".

I am really looking forward to being there, and I sincerely hope to see some of you there.

If you are able to make it, and you have the ability to video the program for me, please let me know.

Y'all have a great day, and don't forget to honor the One who made it possible.

http://www.traildays.us/

                                                        April 05, 2014

Today, I engaged in an act of civil disobedience, and broke numerous rules in the process. Do I feel bad or guilty about doing so? Nope, not even a little.

In February of 2012, Dollywood in Pigeon Forge unveiled its "Wild Eagle" roller coaster. I'd read about it, saw the videos, and wanted to ride it in the absolute worst way!

Playing by their rules, I tried to go about riding it the 'proper way', only to be turned away, with the excuse that it was a "safety issue".

The following year, I tried again to ride it. This time, I was told that there were new safety harnesses specifically for "folks like me", so I tried to ride it, only to be turned away when I refused to remove my prosthetic leg.

Now, before I go any further, let me say that I understand that there are rules in place for specific reasons - but folks, some rules are just stupid, and this is one of those.

In 2011, Army Iraq war hero/veteran James Hackemer was thrown to his death from a 208-foot tall coaster in New York state. Sgt. Hackemer was a double amputee who was not wearing prosthetic legs. There were rules in place that prohibited him from even boarding the ride, but ride operators didn't question him, allowed him to ride, and he died. His survivors went on to win a 7-figure settlement from the park that operated the ride.

In 2013, Rose Irene Ayala-Gaona, a 52 year-old able-bodied woman in Texas, slipped from her restraints and was thrown to her death from a coaster at Six Flags. No doubt that her survivors will also go on to win a 7-figure settlement from Six Flags.

My point in all of this is that rules obviously do not apply to everyone - nothing should ever be carved into stone. You have 2 stories of folks being thrown to their deaths while riding a coaster - one without legs, and the other with all 4 limbs intact.

The veteran with no legs had no business on the coaster in the first place. At a bare minimum, he should've been wearing his prosthetic legs - that likely would have prevented his being thrown from the coaster in the first place. Whether or not he ignored the warnings (there's much debate over that one), the ride operators, who're supposed to be trained in safety procedures, totally ignored said procedures and allowed him to continue on the ride. There were rules in place, but it wasn't he who ignored them - it was the ride operators. I mean, come on, who is gonna not notice a no-legged fellow on a roller coaster?

Ms. Ayala-Gaona, on the other hand, had no rules preventing her from riding the coaster, yet she was still thrown from the ride, and ultimately ended up dead as a result.

My point is this: Applying a rule for ALL amputees, thinking along the same logic, is the same as saying that all Mexicans residing/working in the United States are illegal, or saying that all African Americans are thieves, low-lifes, and welfare recipients.

I've been missing my left leg for 16 years. During that time, I've learned what I can and cannot do. I know how far to push the envelope, and I know that there are boundaries that I simply cannot cross. If I didn't think that I were physically capable of doing certain things, then believe-you-me, I wouldn't even try.

But I know that riding a roller coaster is something that I can do without jeopardizing the safety of myself or the safety of other folks around me. I realize that the possibility exists that my leg could become detached and go flying off due to the centrifugal force, so I've taken precautions to ensure that my leg stays firmly attached to my body. (Yes, there are products available for amputees to make sure that their leg(s) do not fall off or otherwise become detached from their bodies.)

That being said, today, I rode all of the prohibited rides that Dollywood has. Of those rides, the only one that I will not ever get on again is the Thunderhead, but not because of amputee-related issues. It's a wooden roller coaster that is best described as an epileptic seizure. I heard many able-bodied riders say "I won't ever do that again" after exiting the same ride that I'd just gotten off of.

But for the Wild Eagle, that Holy Grail I'd long sought after, definitely yes, I will ride that one again, and again, and again, and again......... It was worth breaking the rules for. And, NO, my leg didn't fall off.

My wife asked me "What is this teaching the kids?" - and this is something that I have given a LOT of thought to. And you know what? I now see things through my children's eyes.

Sometimes we adults do do things that do not make any sense. We do have rules that are unnecessary. And, sometimes, it is okay to ask "why?" - and, sometimes, it is okay to be proven wrong.

It's not about insubordination, disobedience, or otherwise doing things out of spite - it's about realizing that capabilities can sometimes far exceed expectations.

Yeah, I had a great day.

http://youtu.be/teWc8_WIllY

Ten years - a decade -  is a very long time. A lot can happen in ten years: 2 presidential terms and half of a third will have already transpired. The Duggars could have an additional 10 members to add to their family!

Today marks a decade since I officially set foot on the Appalachian Trail for the hike that I've become known for. All I can say is "WOW!". The book that I've been promising for years remains unfinished - I need someone to help me with it - know anyone interested in the job?

I vividly remember the mindset I'd had prior to starting the trail, and how much it changed 180 degrees by the time that I finally completed it. The things that I thought were important in the beginning had completely dissipated by the end.

The trail was an amazing experience. One that I'm not sorry that I did, but would not do again. Of course, I'm now a decade older, and my body isn't as resilient as it was 10 years ago. 

In the decade since, I've still not finished the now-infamous book that was started so many years ago... Anyone want to help me with it?? (I'm serious - I really need help with it!)

In the years since, I've enjoyed the occasional hike - getting out and enjoying the great outdoors with my sons. In fact, we're going to hike a stretch next month that will take us 10 days to complete. So, if you're anywhere near the Smokies & you see us out & about, feel free to join us - hike a bit, enjoy a meal, or just say hello. I love meeting new people!!

If you're reading along, please take the time to drop me a comment letting me know that you're reading this - not for my ego, but to let me know that my time in writing this hasn't been in vain.

See y'all up the trail!

03/05/2014

Now reconnected to the internet after a 2 year hiatus.

In July of 2013, I gained a new son-in-law! In late 2010, Hannah (age 21) moved in with her uncle down in Georgia following the death of his wife. She met a young man named David Watson, and started dating him. After dating for over 2 years, they were married on July 26, 2013. They are living in Milledgeville, Georgia - which is my hometown. They're living about 4 miles from my parents. She's working full-time at the hospital where I was born, and is also attending college full-time, so her plate is very full.

Casey (age 19) successfully completed her CNA training, and is presently employed with a nursing home in Rutledge, Tn. She's attempting to develop a caseload of private sitting jobs so that she can work for herself.

Tyler (age 23) is still working in the maintenance department for Koch Foods in Morristown, Tn. Still living at home, he's now 23 and in his last year of a 6-year commitment with the Tennessee National Guard. He says that he's not going to sign another contract with them, so he'll be a "free man". Last September, he met a nice young lady named Taylor, and last night, he proposed to her. So I'll be gaining a daughter-in-law sometime in the future.

Caleb (age 16) is a self-described "hillbilly's hillbilly". If he loves nothing else, he loves to hunt & fish. He'd rather be out in the woods than anywhere else. He's also very involved with the youth ministry at our new church, as well as learning to play the guitar, which he's gotten very good at.

Jacob (age 12) is now in the 7th grade and doing well. He's at that stage where he's no longer a little boy, but not yet the teen he so desperately wants to be. He's active in the mime and sign-language classes at Trinity Christian Academy, the homeschool co-op we're members of.

Elijah (age 11) is in the 4th grade and is very, very, VERY active/busy/energetic. He'll tell people "I have ADH - oh look at that kitty!" You've not met a kid like this one! He's the comedian of our group -- he'll see a man walking across a parking lot, and start shouting "Dad!! Dad!!! I'm over here! Please don't leave me, Dad!" He loves to make people laugh.

Josiah (age 8 - our "trail baby") in the 3rd grade and while he might be the youngest, he's not about to let you forget that he's in the house. He's doing the same coursework as Elijah, and loves to read. He also loves making others laugh.

Leisa (age **) is doing absolutely wonderful. In June, she and I will be married for 24 years - and those 24 years have gone by so fast! She's been homeschooling now for 16 years with another 9 to go. Additionally, she's taking classes to have her teaching certificate reinstated, as well as working for a grant program that offers after-school tutoring for at-risk kids. She often feels scatterbrained, but with everything she's trying to hold together, it's easy to understand how she feels that way.


It goes without saying that our house is a very, very busy place. In addition to the above, we've also had "The Yankee" living with us since August. Quintin, an 18-year old young man, was in a bad living situation, so we took him in, because that's what we do. He'll be leaving us next Monday to return to New York State, which is both good and bad, but something that he needs to do.

We have others who pop in several times a year. They'll stay anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. We've done this throughout the history of our marriage - and again, it's just what we do. We claim Jesus as Lord, which means that we claim to be His. So, if we are His,then what's ours is His -- our time, our talent, our home, our possessions, etc.... We may not have a lot in this world, but we're going to use what we do have for Him. It doesn't come close to "easy" - nothing worthwhile ever is. But the investments we make in the lives of others aren't measured in terms like "easy". And we may never know the payoff of our investments until we reach Heaven.

The last bit of "news" surrounds our church move. A little over a year ago, we left the church we'd been in for 7 years and started going to Corryton Church. ( www.corrytonchurch.com ) The move has been phenomenal. Corryton has blown out of the water everything I believed to be true about "mega-churches". It's a Southern Baptist Church, and is unlike any other church I've been a part of at any point in my life. There is so much I want to share with you about the church, but this post has already grown larger than I thought it would be, so I'll save the sharing for another time.

I recently learned of the death of someone very dear and very instrumental to me. Bill Irwin, the only blind person to hike the Appalachian Trail unassisted, died this past Saturday. Bill was highly instrumental in my decision to hike the Appalachian Trail. When I traveled by bus to Maine in order to start the north - south portion of my hike, I stayed with Bill & his wife Debra for about a week, and so enjoyed the fellowship - not just the fellowship of a fellow hiker, but more importantly, the fellowship of a co-believer. I was very saddened to learn of his death, but so very glad (and a wee bit jealous) that he's able to stand before Lord Jesus face-to-face and SEE Him! He's survived by wife Debra, daughter Marianne, and sons Billy & Jeff. Rest in peace, old friend, and I WILL see you again!