The Shack Up Weekend (5.6.2011)

Our friends Lee and Ellen Young from Montgomery invited us several years back to celebrate his birthday at The Shack Up Inn, just outside of Clarksdale, Mississippi. The weekend was so memorable that we decided to repeat it again, several years later. Not only did 25 people from Montgomery make the journey, but, more than just The Finks from Memphis came (The Campbells including Josh and The Willhites). So, what's so great about a bunch of shanty shacks sitting out in the Delta? Listen to our story.

Life Verse

Harrison came home from school with a long letter explaining that the boys were doing a project in their Bible coursework at school and needed to pick a "life verse". The letter went into detail about how the verse should be meaningful for each boy-- something that he could live and strive for. I had a conversation with my son about his chosen verse that went something like this:

Me: "Harrison, what a great thing it is to choose a life verse."
Harrison: "Yep."
Me: "Well, I'm sure you'll have to give great thought to choosing yours."
Harrison: "Mom, I've already chosen mine."
Me: (with great anticipation)
Harrison: "It's John 11:35" (which is: "Jesus wept", the shortest verse in the entire bible!)
Me: (speechless)
Harrison: "Mom, it means a great deal to me. Jesus wept. You know, he cried. Not to mention that its really short."

What a boy! I think I have a minimalist growing up in my house.

The Mighty Mississippi

We've been appreciative of the many calls we've received checking on us over the past week or so. As you might have heard through the national news coverage, The Mighty Mississippi reached a crest of 47.87 feet early Tuesday morning. Not since 1937 has the river been this high, nor wide. Usually a half-mile downtown, the river measured 3 miles across. I took the kids across the bridge so that they could be witness to this historical event. Surging downstream at a rate of 900 million gallons every minute, the water at this rate (according to the US Army Corps of Engineers) could fill a football stadium 44 feet deep in one second! So, I suppose that is worth checking on us!!! Although a tenth of the city of Memphis is under water, we and our immediate surrounding neighbors, are safe from flood damage. There are some who were not as fortunate, and the clean up will be a challenge for some time to come. Our hearts and prayers are with them.

Ocean Front Property (Part 2)

And the river keeps rising....

Ocean Front Property

If you've not been to our lake house, there's at least 20 feet of dry land at the end of these stairs where you can walk out to the dock. The dock is now completely underwater as well as our beach. We've never seen the water this high, and with all the rain, it's expected to rise even higher over the next few weeks. The flood waters may crest over the top of Kentucky Dam this week. I'm wondering if we should start to build an ark?? Or, in the very least, advertise our ocean front property.

April Showers

It's been called the worst season of severe weather in many years. We've had one storm after another over the past week with tornado sirens in full alarm at all hours of the night. The kids have slept in our room for the past week (partly due to fear of the thunder-- the remainder is that Mom's afraid of the neighbor's huge oak tree that could hit the west side of our house). We are thankful that no tornado has touched down in Midtown Memphis (yet). But, this picture is from Rhodes College, less than 3 miles from us.

Tishomingo Honey

My neighbors lost their bees last year to some type of invasive African beetle. It was a tragedy given that we had been a beneficiary of the honey harvest. A truck arrived this past week before Easter with about 10,000 new little friends. Welcome to the neighborhood! I can taste the Tishomingo honey now.