Jim, Our Brother in Christ!

Last Saturday, we were excited to welcome Jim Caminata to our home for the night and learn how we can better pray for him as a disciple-maker in Italy as well as share what Father has been teaching us the last few months about the Church and a team!  It's always refreshing getting to see IN PERSON those you are faithfully praying for.  Jim has an energy and obedience to Christ that is fascinating.  Jim is a USA citizen but was called to share the gospel and make disciples in Italy many, many years ago.  We thoroughly enjoyed our time with him and are excited to pray for him as he seeks to build a team in Italy for the glory of God. 

After church on Sunday, we headed to the Nantahala River to enjoy some good food by the river and the amazing weather. 
Of course I have a few pictures so that you can take part in our afternoon with us :)

We enjoyed calling him "JIMMY" too :)



Hamilton & Frank joined us for lunch & the afternoon!



We forced Jim to put his feet in this
FREEZING COLD water!

Boo bear resting his messed up leg...

Of course, they had to play a game of cornhole!

Frank & Hamilton making me nervous by the FALLS!

Pulling over on the way home to enjoy this view!

Jim thoroughly enjoying the ride in Frank's NEW JEEP!



This picture just cracks me up!  The jeep & lil Frank!



Time at Fontana Lake

A couple of Saturday's ago, Rance and I headed out after I finished up working to spend a few hours canoeing on the lake just a few miles down the road from our house.  Fontana Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes I have ever seen.  The water is so incredibly beautiful and it's a gorgeous place to spend a quiet afternoon enjoying Father.

We paddled, we ate, we fished, we stopped and walked through the woods, we laughed, we took pictures (imagine that!), we dwelled on how blessed we are to live where we do, we spent great quality time together and we RESTED!

Beautiful day!

Seriously?  I'll never get over looking at this...

Rance even did a little fishing!

Of course we stopped and got out of our canoe
for a little hiking around!

Rogue River is good to us!





Amazing, peaceful day...



And we picked out a camping spot for next time...

 

 
Lord I'm amazed by you...

*2013 ROBBINSVILLE SOGGY BOTTOM XC RACE*

I have been behind reporting on the cross country team this year!  Practice began at the beginning of August and they have been going strong ever since with several Saturday races and a couple of school races so far.  They are having a fun season even in the midst of several injuries on the team thus far including my husband! 

Last Wednesday, Robbinsville hosted the school race which my husband coined the "Robbinsville Soggy Bottom" 2013 XC race.  Rance worked hard mapping out a new course that would be fun, safe, yet still be 'cross country'!  Over halfway through the course, there is a creek crossing which is where the name 'soggy bottom' came from.

The day before the race, Rance, some of the guys, and myself were working together to finish laying carpet across the creek for the race when Rance's injury happened.  We needed another piece of carpet to finish covering the creek crossing and were directed to the baseball field.  As you can see in the pictures below, this carpet was basically buried in the ground.  It took a lot of work digging it up and it was EXTREMELY heavy.  Once the guys began dragging it into the trailer to haul back to the school, Rance slipped and fell - hitting the inside of his right leg at the calf muscle and busting it open.  Within seconds, his leg literally looked as if a baseball had been glued on the side of it.  He punctured blood vessels which caused the HUGE swelling and minutes later he blacked out. 



Pulling the carpet out of the ground!



Teamwork!



Dragging into the trailer...
right when the accident happened


Needless to say, this was a HUGE test considering the HOME XC race was the following day and as head coach, Rance is in charge of the race preparations.  Thankfully, we were reminded what having a TEAM is all about.  Ben spent the entire day at the school the next day helping Rance mark the course and set out cones and prepare for the home race that afternoon.  It's incredible because Ben just recently became a DAD (remember Wyatt?!) and his wife, Jess, willingly gave up her husband for the day to assist Rance.  WE ARE BEYOND BLESSED by them!

Here are a few pictures of the 2013 Robbinsville Soggy Bottom XC Race:



Varisty Team Picture before the race




Middle School team picture



Coaches meeting before the race



Middle School girls ready to run!



Coach announcing the 1st race!

At the starting line...



A viewing of the creek crossing!



Byron ready to take pictures!



LOVED watching these kids run through the creek!  Tom Sawyer was such a HUGE help during the race too!



love watching him coach - even though his leg was angry for him being up on it!

parents watching...



soaking them legs in the creek after their race



GO CHAZ!

...and ELI!

...and JACOB!

 I love the sequence of the next few pictures of Frank as he enters the creek to when he exits the creek!



Here he goes...



DETERMINED!

Check out that face!

He's on it...

 

XC FANS!

COACHING!

Shawnda coming through...

Ashlyn splashing big!

 

 

Jess & Ben & Wyatt supporting XC team! 
THANK YOU BEN FOR ALL YOUR HELP!

I had to save the BEST FOR LAST! Cutest XC fan ever!
Rance is convinced Wyatt has runners legs :)

That's all for now folks!

HE IS HERE!!!

Wyatt Benjamin Thacker was born at 8:30am on Wednesday, September 4th weighing 8 lbs and 7 ozs!  This little fella did not cooperate on my timing for him but I love his little handsome heart anyways.  Jess was in labor last Wednesday morning as I was having to LEAVE Robbinsville and drive to Raleigh for work for the rest of the week.  How about that timing?!  I trust God's provision and while the waiting period felt like an eternity - I am thankful God knows what is best!


Drum roll please......................



I am proud to welcome WYATT to the world!!!!!!!

Heart is melting...

Coming home from the hospital!



I received this picture as I was working in Raleigh!  Thankful my other half got to love on him for me!

Rance took this picture of the first family outting on Sunday at the WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP at the Nantahala River! Meet Jess' parents!



 FINALLY meeting Wyatt! 
Look at those eyes!!!  I think he loves me! :) 

 

Children are a gift from the Lord; 

They are a reward from Him. 

Psalm 127:3