Lessons from Lila

Today I had the good fortune to have lunch with a dear lady named Lila. Lila is 91 years young! I first met her when I was in college. She was a local piano teacher, that had recently become a widow. Several years later I moved into Lila's neighborhood. Here are things I learned from observing her and talking with her.

• Excercise is important. I saw Lila many mornings walking on her street, and I would stop to talk. She continued to walk the hill on her street until she was in her late 80's.

• She loved Jesus, and served Him faithfully. When I would see her on my walk, she would often tell me about the sermon she had heard on TV or the radio. Or she would tell me something she learned from her bible study. She taught preschool Sunday School at her church for many years.

• She always welcomed people into her home. Lila raised five children, and has LOTS of grands and great grands. There were always people coming to visit Lila, and she loved to have them in her home. She was always cooking for her family. Our music teacher's group had our annual luncheon at her home for over 20 years. She was a lovely hostess.

• Music is something that you can do for a lifetime. Lila taught piano until about the age of 89. Her students loved her, and there are many musicians because she was willing to share her love of music with them. She still plays the piano today. In fact, her piano is in her bedroom at the assisted living center where she lives!

• Lila is always smiling and laughing. She tries to see the best in everyone, but don't cross her. She isn't afraid to tell you when you are wrong and need improvement.

A few years ago, Lila moved to an assisted living home and that is where I visited with her today. She is still sharp as a tack. She still looks great...make-up and clothes just right! I hope when I'm 91 that I can be just like Lila! She has been a wonderful mentor and role model for me over the past 30 years.

Lila visiting with Martha and Catherine in her 2 room apartment at Winthrop Court.

I took this after Catherine left, and used my self timer...that accounts for the weird angle of the picture. It was a piano teacher reunion with Lila, and we must do it again soon. She is a delightful lady with a great legacy.

5 Lessons from Competitive Swimming

The past several weeks I have watched swimming on the computer here and here. Kate is a swimmer, but I have always followed swimming. I grew up the era of Mark Spitz, and Michael Phelps is the new Spitz. As the World Championships finished in Shanghai I began to ponder what I had learned from the swimmers. While there are many lessons, I will share five that I believe you can apply to life and leadership.

1. Swim your own race. You will hear that phrase when swimmers are interviewed after a race. That means they did what they came to do, and didn't worry too much about the guy in the lane next to them. Focus on your goals, and not at what those around you are doing or not doing!

2.There are a lot of fast swimmers, so you have to do your best. You can't be a slacker and win. I heard Michael Phelps say that Ryan Lochte had trained harder, and that is why Lochte beat him in several races! You may be good, even great...but there are always others that are better or working harder. Kate has a t-shirt that says, "hard work beats talent, when talent doesn't work hard."

3. One bad day at the pool isn't reason to quit. Some days the other guy is faster or has better technique. Perseverance, persistence and patience apply in or out of the pool.

4. Time matters. In the pool, races are won and lost on .01 of a second. In life, love is spelled TIME. Show your love by spending time with those that important to you.

5. Relays are fun! You get encouragement from being on a team that is working together. Everyone striving for the same goal.

What would you add to this list?

Lake Hiwassee - ladies only!

The first day of school I left town! I went to Lake Hiwassee with 3 other piano teachers. We often go to Atlanta to shop for music, and one of the ladies, Catherine, owns a lake house. I was the youngest of the four, ages 50 - 74!!

We stopped in Blue Ridge for lunch and some shopping. These ladies can shop! It's not on my priority list, but I had fun.

Lake Hiwassee is outside of Murphy, NC. Catherine's house is in Bear Paw. It's a gated community in the mountains. We were in for a real treat!

Kathryn, Catherine, Leigh & Martha getting ready for Chicken Fajitas. I took my Pampered Chef baker and fixed fajitas our second night.

The lake house is on South Paw Trail. One of the residents is baseball pitcher, Rick Hunnicutt. He was a "south paw", thus the name. He lives next door, but wasn't there. He is now a pitching coach out in LA.

Looking up from the lake. It was a hike to get to the lake and back!

This was before we went on the pontoon boat (there is a story about the pontoon boat later!)

Enjoying the lake.

Beautiful views on the lake. During the week there were very few folks out.

Martha relaxing in the den.

The basement was just finished this summer. Catherine is a great decorator. The house has 4 bedrooms and 3 baths.

We drove to the Natahala Outdoor Center, had lunch and watched the rafters.

Lunch with the music ladies.

After lunch we stopped in the John Campbell Folk School. We learned a little of the history and did some more shopping (I looked).

This is view from my bedroom. It was so peaceful here.

View of their cove.

View from the steps going down to the lake.

We did a LOT of talking, laughing, eating & relaxing. The porch was our favorite spot.

Several of us took a walk in the neighborhood, and Catherine pointed out this small graveyard. There were no dates on the stones, but they were very old.

Packing up to leave.

I'm not posting a picture from my injury, but I did manage to fall as I was exiting the pontoon boat. I have a nasty gash on my leg, that probably could have taken a stitch or two. I just cleaned it up, and put some band aids on it. It makes for a great conversation piece and remembrance of our trip.

The day we left, Leigh commented that she wished we could just stay. We envisioned the headline, "four piano teachers missing." We imagine our students would shout hurray! Alas, all good things must come to an end, and the students will have lessons after all.

School starts Monday

August 1 and school begins. Remember when August was still considered summertime! Here are some things that will be new at the Nobles house this school year:

Kate starts middle school, which in Rome City is 7th grade. Once they go to middle school, they belong to Randy. At orientation I introduced myself & Kate to her teachers and promptly told them if they needed anything to call Dad down the hall. I don't do middle school!

Carrie will be senior in high school. She is a section leader for the trumpets & has a solo in the fall show. She will be taking English at Georgia Highlands (joint enrollment). Neither of the older two did that! She will also be working at Chick-fil-A at the mall. Her only college choice is Berry and the Winshape program. Pray for her as she takes the ACT in September! She needs great scores to get those scholarships.

Alyssa is starting her final year at Berry. She is student teaching at Elm Street Elementary in the 3rd grade. Elm Street has a high population of Hispanics, just what she likes! She will continue to work with the children's ministry at church. What will she do after graduation? I don't know, not sure she knows, but I'm glad that God knows!

Aaron continues his quest to finish college, at his 3rd institution! He has spent the last 3 semesters at Georgia Highlands, catching up. He will start Kennesaw University in August, commuting two days a week. He will continue to work at Olive Garden & probably do some soccer refereeing. Currently he is in Orlando with a church out of Kennesaw doing some mission work through Hands & Feet Ministries. Aaron still needs direction in his life. Pray that comes soon and that he is willing to follow God's lead & not his own.

Randy is the new athletic director at Rome Middle School this year, I don't really know what that involves, but I know it will keep him extra busy. It will also give him a supplement that will help offset those furlough days. He is in year 31 teaching 8th grade social studies, and is staying to get Kate through middle school. Because of his title of AD, I told him he needed a smart phone. He needs it for weather conditions and to take care of emails when he is out on the road.

Anything new for me? YES, I have started working out at the Cage Center on the Berry campus. Kate & I have been going on the days she doesn't swim. My plan is to continue working out there 3 or 4 days a week. I will continue my walking on other days. Age 50 does ugly things to your body, so working out will help firm up the ugliness!

I'm also VERY EXCITED to go away with some piano teacher friends when school starts next week!!! We aren't going to a conference, just to the lake. One of the ladies has a house on Lake Hiwassee in North Carolina. We're going up to have fun and relax before our teaching gets under way. I'll be the youngest of the 4, but it will be great. I'll have pictures & stories to share in my next post.

Here's to August! Let the rat race begin!

Kentucky Road Trip

We have great friends that live in Kentucky, and they are nice enough to let us crash with them every few years. Loretta & Charles Darsey lived in Rome for many years, but Charles was transferred to Kentucky the year Kate was born. They went to our church, Loretta taught my kids in preschool & she kept them for me. We call Ms. Loretta their "fairy godmother"....she spoils all of them! We spent 2 wonderful days in their home last week. It was a great getaway & reunion.

On our way to Winchester (south of Lexington), we stopped at Hall's on the River to have dinner with Rod & Julia Poynter. Julia taught at Berry for several years and took piano from me. We had lots in common and struck up a long lasting relationship.

The Poynter's & the Nobles. Friends from our early married years! We actually share the same anniversary from 1981. We don't see them often, but it's always great to catch up. Randy refers to Julia as his second wife...but that's another story!

Loretta's home is popular, and one reason is the pool. It's great to enjoy the sun, and relax while reading a book or chatting. The weather was lovely during our visit, lots of sun and LOW humidity.

The water temperature never got over 73 degrees, but Kate spent lots of time in the pool.

Kate working on her tan!

One thing my family loves about Kentucky...Ale 8. It's only sold in three states. Too much sugar for me, but it's definitely something we look forward to getting when visiting the Darsey's.

Pitter Pat, the cat!


Friday night we went into Lexington and ate at Culver's. It's a great burger joint that you can find in Kentucky. After dinner we did some shopping at a half price bookstore & Target.

Our wonderful friends, Loretta & Charles. Of course, Loretta spoiled Kate rotten since she was the only child that came to visit. The other kids had to work.

On our way back to Georgia we took a side trip to Slade Kentucky. This is located in the Daniel Boone National Forest & home to Natural Bridge State Park & Red River Gorge. It has a one lane tunnel & lots of curvy roads. There were many trails, but the ones we really wanted to hike (with waterfalls) were a bit further than we had time for.

Suspension Bridge over the creek in Red River Gorge. Kate enjoyed making it move - A LOT!

A cabin in the Gladie Community, circa 1874.

Mountain Laurel are in bloom throughout the park.

Whistler's Arch...a short hike from the parking lot

Kate & Randy at Whistler's Arch.

View from the Hemlock Lodge at Natural Bridge State Park. Maybe one day we'll return and stay at the lodge.

If you make it to Slade & this area of Kentucky make sure you get lunch at Miguel's Pizza. It is a a "hole in the wall" with great pizza. They also sell Ale 8 to quench your thirst. This area is popular with climbers & Miguel's also sells climbing equipment if want to give it a try.

We enjoyed our journey and especially the fellowship with our dear friends.

A Fourth Tradition

I'm not sure how long we have been making the USA cake, but it came from a 1997 Crayola Kids magazine. When I can find red hots we mark major cities, which usually include our latest National Park trip. The Mississippi River is over flowing its' banks due to flooding & Kate! Actually the icing was yucky, so it bled. Randy's the geography guy, but he takes no credit for how it turns out. He just enjoys eating it.

Here's the how-to:

2 boxes of white cake mix...I use 1 1/2 boxes and use 1 1/2 amounts of oil, water & eggs.

vanilla icing

green sugar (food coloring & sugar)

cinnamon sugar (cinnamon & sugar)

pecans

chocolate chips

Chocolate kisses

blue writing icing

Make your cake according to the package. Find a LARGE pan to bake it in. To make it easier to remove from the pan use cooking spray, then wax paper, then cooking spray on wax paper. Pour the batter on the "sprayed wax paper". Bake and let cool. Remove from pan and pull away the wax paper. I put my cake on a tupperware cake carrier, but you could just put it on a large platter. NOW, it's time to cut out the USA. I made my pattern by tracing a puzzle the kids have. The extra pieces that you cut away become Hawaii & Alaska...or that is what we call them. Ice your cake & let the decorating begin. You have grasslands, desert, mountains, rivers, lakes & cities (red hots, or other bright candy).

My kids LOVE making this cake. It's cheesy, but it's not the 4th without it. We have made this cake when we visited friends on the 4th! Alyssa is out of town visiting a friend & she texted me today about the cake. She told me not to eat it all. I told her we could make another when she came home to which she texted "YAY!".

Number 3

Carrie is the 3rd Nobles child to work at Chick-fil-A. Aaron was first, working for Richard Yadkowski & later Grant Wells. Alyssa began a few years later. They actually worked together for awhile. Alyssa left to get the full Berry experience of working on campus. Aaron would work when he came home on breaks from GCSU. Aaron now works at Olive Garden, another fine company even though they are open on Sundays.

MY PLEASURE!

Chick-fil-A has been a wonderful experience for all of our children. As Carrie enters her senior year she will try & juggle all her extra curricular activities and work. Her ultimate goal is to get into the Winshape College program! So far she LOVES working at Chick-fil-A.