Replacing Brakes

November 13, 2015 - Noah replacing brakes on a friend's car over the weekend.

Kate's Birthday

November 6, 2015 - Today is Kate's birthday, and we had a weekend full of activities to celebrate.  We all met for some Asian cuisine.

Random fact:  Kate's spent more time in Asia than anyone else in our family.

Hey, look who's having some more sushi!

Kate handling chopsticks like a pro, while I fumble in the background.  

My Asian grandparents would be so disappointed.

Forget it...I'm just gonna hold it like a pencil.

ENTP pragmatism: If it works, do it.

And boy, did that philosophy not help me when studying pronunciations in vocabulary.

Lebanon: LEE-ban-non  

Yeah, sounds like it works to me.

Noah posing for the camera.

This guy seemed a bit incomplete without a smartphone in his right hand.

Because there aren't enough Dr. Wongs in the world.

And here we see three different ways to pose with your hands in your pockets.

Oh, and the sun was REALLY glaring into our eyes during this photo, 

but hey, squinting like that did make all of us look more Asian.

Time for some shopping!

(The exclamation point represents enthusiasm.)

We ended up spending quite some time at Janie and Jack.

I wish I could shop for MY clothes here!

This dress shirt onesie is just too awesome for words.

A crossover converse/leather/boot shoe.

The result of a designer with homozygous thoughts in his brain.

See...you should be able to learn a new word in every blog post!  

Click "homozygous" for a definition that will be so unclear 

that you'll still be in the dark as to what homozygous means.

Next Stop: Nadoz Bakery and Cafe

And this photo wasn't posed...I have a perpetual smile when I eat ice cream.

No matter what that face says, I give "Mississippi Mud" ice cream two thumbs up.

Insightful mentor. 

Patient teacher. 

Theological comrade. 

Generous giver. 

Fun-filled friend. 

Sister in Christ.

Oh, and also the "mother" of the most 'precious' dog in the world. 

(I love how Lydia was going for the inspirational stare 

into middle-distance for this photo - I just don't think she achieved it.)

I've been so blessed by having you in my life. 

I'll bear the fingerprints of your loving influence in my life until the day I die. 

Happy birthday Kate!

We ended the evening with hot dogs and chili beside the campfire.

Hiking, Waterfalls, and Searching for Peeta

October , 2015 - Well, we're nearing the end of October, so it's time for picks from our annual trip to North Carolina for the NCFIC Conference!

Our traditional 'church hike' was almost cancelled due to the rainy weather that Patricia brought to the area.  Thankfully the weather cleared up on the second day.

So, this morning most of us piled into the cars and caravanned to DuPont state park.

The trailhead of Triple Falls

Bridges...yes, there are multiple.

Our first view of Triple Falls from the trail

Thanks to the rainy weather, the falls were really gushing.

These photos really can't capture the sound of the rush of the water or the spray that was drenching us, but this track from Spotify adds a little ambience.

And here's a video showing the falls in more normal conditions.

Searching for Peeta

Yes, some scenes from the Hunger Games were filmed here at Triple Falls

and nearby at Bridal Veil Falls.

This scene was filmed from the bottom of the falls...

somewhere near that sign in the photo below.

♪ So now I come to you...

...with open arms! ♪

(Sorry, it was the first thing that popped into my head!)

High Falls

The spray from the waterfall cast water spots on my lens

Bryce exploring the falls

Micah needed some windshield wipers for his glasses

The creek and covered bridge at the top of the falls

Hooker Falls

High Falls from the trail