Flights are booked!

Carrie's senior trip to Colorado starts on May 23, and as of tonight we have our flights! We still have some lodging to book, but things are coming together.  It's 84 days until the trip, and we usually have everything in order by now.  This year we have had to be patient because of Brandon's surgery. He is doing pretty well, and may have a second surgery in late March to re-configure his small intestine. We know Brandon probably won't be blazing the trail ahead of the group, but we are happy he & his family are going!!!

There are numerous events taking place between now and May 23. Lots of recitals for me to play - which involves many hours of practice and rehearsals.  Two graduations, and numerous "lasts" for Carrie and Alyssa. Our trip Colorado will be exciting, but at this point I want to savor these days as the girls' become the women God wants them to be, in the places He has for them!

Update on Brandon

Thanks for praying for our friend Brandon.  After 12 days at Scottish Rite in Atlanta, he was released today, and is at home by the fire!  Brandon had his large intestine removed on February 1, and will face another surgery in the summer. The second surgery will close the ileostomy and reconnect the small intestine.  As Brandon said today, he's made it through the toughest one. The 2nd surgery requires far less time to recuperate.

Brandon will have school instruction at home for about 6 weeks, several follow up visits to Atlanta, and hopefully be cleared to return to school by April.  His family is very grateful for the prayers, and the love shown by many friends.  When they returned home today they found dinner waiting. They went to get their dog from the kennel, and were delighted that Jingles had been bathed & the boarding fees paid! What a blessing!

Continue to pray for the Williams family as they take care of Brandon's physical needs without the aide of the wonderful staff at Scottish Rite! Once he has recovered, I'm sure he'll be anxious to get outside, so hopefully I'll be able to post some pictures of Brandon fishing later in the spring.

Pray for Brandon

Pray for Brandon

This blog started as a way to share our National Park trips with friends and family. These trips are taken with the Williams family. They are more than travel buddies, they are our neighbors, friends, Berry alums, and educators. Their children have spent many hours with our kids.  We share holidays together, dinner, dessert, a hike or bike ride at Berry. 

Waiting for  the bus in Boston

Brandon is 16 years old, and has endured years of  medical procedures. I call him a human pin cushion.  Without going through his whole medical history, the last 18 months have been especially trying for his family as he has dealt with intestinal issues.  Next week he will go to Scottish Rite to have a colectomy with an ileoanal j pouch.  Basically he will have a his large intestine removed, and have a temporary, which the j pouch will replace once that part of the surgery heals. The surgery will take place on Wednesday February 1. Please pray for Brandon, his doctors, nurses and his parents, Stephen & Beth.  

Brandon loves to play video games, and Aaron is always happy to  join him.  This is Brandon at age 10.

Brandon with the weasel the kids found in a house  in New Hampshire during our New England trip.  There is a story here, and no one tells a story quite like Brandon!

Beth, Brandon, Emily & Stephen in Boston

Brandon & Mom on the Golden Gate bridge

Brandon has a loving, supportive family, friends and church family.  He has a terrific outlook on the situation, but he would rather be fishing, kayaking, or watching NASCAR!  I look forward to Brandon getting to resume the activities he loves!

Colorado is calling Nobles/Williams travel crew in May, and we need Brandon ready to skip some rocks!

Alyssa's Exciting News!

 Alyssa will graduate from Berry College on May 5 with a Bachelor of Science in Education.  She is currently student teaching in 3rd grade at Elm Street Elementary.  Getting a teaching job in this economy is not easy, and Alyssa knows that.  She learned about Teach for America through the career center at Berry, and decided to pursue that program.

It's a long process, but the short story is she was accepted into the program! She found out today that she will begin her two year commitment to teach in the Mississippi Delta area.  Teach for America places teachers in poverty areas of the country.  They want them to impact the community and the school where they serve.  They give them training before they begin, they provide transitional funding and there is also money for a master's degree.

It will not be an easy assignment, but I know Alyssa will be ready.  She'll need our encouragement and our prayers.  We are so proud of her, and know God will use her mightily in this new environment.

Christmas 2011

Nobles Christmas card photo

Christmas tree that we cut at the local tree farm, it's a November tradition

 Since Christmas was on a Sunday, the traditions were definitely broken.  We went out to lunch with Randy's mom on Friday before Christmas, then back to her house to exchange gifts.  Sunday morning the kids opened stockings (mostly candy) and then we went to 10:30 service.  Typically Calvary has a praise band, but for Christmas morning it was traditional Christmas carols with me at the piano.  Alyssa is serving as an intern in the children's ministry so she read from Luke 2 and Matthew 2 as some of the children acted out the story.

After worship we returned home for a non-traditional Christmas lunch of Chicken Marengo, which is a pasta dish. Randy's mom ate with us and watched as we exchanged gifts with one another.  It definitely made Christmas last longer, because typically all the gifts are opened by 10.  Maybe we have started a new tradition...wait until after lunch to open gifts!

Kate opening a new Wii game. We got our first gaming system last year, and it has been fun!

Alyssa knew this was a planner from Staples.com, so I didn't bother wrapping it.
Kate said, "she got one of those last year"  Obviously she isn't aware that they only last for one year!

Aaron opening the book "Radical"...hoping he'll read it.

Alyssa opening one of her MANY kitchen gifts. She graduates in May, and we anticipate her moving on
and needing  to cook for herself!

Carrie and her new backpack and Kavu rope bag.  She is set for college, minus the tuition!

 The day after Christmas 5 of 6 Nobles loaded in the van to visit my family in Florida.  Aaron stayed in Rome to work and take care of the cats.   My parents are in their late 80's, and still live on the family farm.  During the winter there is an abundance of citrus and pecans.  We look forward to helping them juice oranges, shell pecans and generally lend a hand for a few days.

Papa and Kate juicing oranges under the carport. We picked 5 buckets of oranges,and that didn't even make a dent on what is on the trees around the house!

 My eldest brother and his wife live 20 minutes from the farm, so we got to spend time with them each evening during our visit.  I'm so grateful for all they do for our parents.  They help manage the finances, take them to the doctors, to the grocery store and so much more.  When I visit I cook meals, and put them in the freezer for them to enjoy later.  I learned to cook from my mom, but she doesn't do it much anymore, it's too much for her to deal with.

My niece, Leslie, was home for Christmas from Soviet Georgia.  She is spending the year teaching English in a rural village near Turkey.  It was fun to see her, and hear about her experiences.  You can read about it at her blog.  We enjoyed playing Catch Phrase (even Papa answered a few) and Name 5 with her.  We also exchanged a few other games that require only silverware and your mind!

Carrie washing dishes, and cousin Leslie.

Alyssa and Kate chauffeured Nannie & Papa to the grocery store.  That is always an experience, because Nannie uses a walker and Papa a cane...it's a slow go.  The girls are very patient, loving & respectful of their elderly grandparents.  Alyssa left to go to Campus Outreach Conference after one full day at the farm, but I'm glad she got to visit.

Alyssa and the bowl of pecans she shelled.

Warm temperatures encouraged Carrie to try to juggle.  Yes, those are oranges!

We picked the low fruit, and used a ladder to get higher.  The rest of these Chinese Honeys need a cherry picker!
 Chinese Honeys are a treat that you can only find in central FL!

What do you do with rotten fruit? Batter UP!

Carrie pitches, Kate hits (hopefully), and the fruit flies

We are indeed blessed to have family with which to share the holidays!

Sunday before Christmas - new tradition

Last year on the Sunday before Christmas the family threw a surprise birthday party for me. The party was so much fun, that we decided to do it again...except it wasn't a birthday party or a surprise.  The same folks were invited to a gathering at the Landis' home in Kennesaw.  Those on the list were Berry grads who had been involved in the college ministry at Calvary.

Kelli helped plan this year's gathering

Adam & Florence Greene made it again this year!

Alyssa, Kate & Aaron chill on the couch....Broncos vs. Patriots on the big screen!

Ever spontaneous, the Pascual's came after I called to say  we missed them at the party!

The host couple, Drew & Emily

Nobles & Landis families

It was wonderful to spend time with these young adults & catch up with them.  Hailey, Jacin & Jackson Burns left before I got my camera out, but it was great to visit with them too. Thanks to Drew & Emily for so graciously hosting the event.

Once again it was the Sunday before Christmas, and the a cappella group, Straight No Chaser was performing in Atlanta.  I love this group and I'm what is affectionately known as a Chaser. Why? Because it's cool story (record deal because their YouTube video went viral) & they are an exceptionally talented group of guys.  This is our third time to see them live.  This year at the Atlanta Civic Center.  Here's a video to give you a taste.

Their shows are high energy, family friendly, and top notch.  Get tickets if they are ever in your area, you will not be disappointed.  I hope to see them again next year on the Sunday before Christmas!

Swim Fans!

I've been a fan of swimming since the days of Mark Spitz (see 1976 Olympics). I think it's an exciting sport & provides an excellent form of exercise. Plus it's a lifetime sport!  

Kate started swimming in 1st grade, and she LOVES it. Everyone at our house follows the swim culture. We watch it on the computer, on TV and read about it in Kate's Splash magazine.  Kate's a member of USA swimming, same as Michael Phelps.  I doubt Kate will be an Olympic swimmer, but she has fun with it and it has provided her with a lot of self confidence.  She is strong physically and mentally.  She loves the competition, and is getting faster every week.  She trains with Three Rivers Swim Club (TRSC) at Rome High.  Her coach is Brooks Coville & he teaches super technique while keeping it low key and fun for the kids.  He is also the father of Alex Coville, who will be at the Olympic Trials in 2012 - hoping to make the USA team in the sprints.

TRSC swimmers with Alex Coville (4th from left)

The first weekend in December was AT &T Winter Nationals at Georgia Tech.  Many high profile swimmers were there, and some that needed to make qualifying times for the Olympic Trials.  Alex and some of his Stanford teammates were there.  Kate, Carrie & Randy went to watch the finals on the 3rd night.  There were quite a few from Kate's swim club that attended.  

The next weekend was the annual Jingle Bell meet in Dalton Georgia.  This is a fun meet & Kate looks forward to it because the high-powered Atlanta swimmers don't typically attend.  This means she can get some hardware!  She came home with 3 medals and 2 ribbons. She also lowered her times in all 5 events, always good for a swimmer. 

Kate ready to step up on the blocks

 The following video is the 50 backstroke.  Kate is in the lane 2nd from the bottom.  She finished 2nd in the heat and overall in her age group!!

On December 16 & 17 Mutual of Omaha brought the Duel in the Pool to Atlanta.  So, back to Georgia Tech we go for more swimming.  This time I went with Kate & Carrie. It was Team USA vs. Team Europe.  We attended the Saturday afternoon session.  We had great seats, and saw some excellent swimming.  There was at least one world record, and several American records set at the meet.  Michael Phelps was not attendance, but many other famous & fabulous swimmers kept us cheering.

Missy Franklin is the newest star of swimming.  She turned 16 this summer. & is so fast.

Team USA 

Start of the 100 backstroke. Ryan Lochte in lane 4

London Calling!

USA! USA! USA!

Doors going into the pool had these great transparent posters. Soni is  Olympic breaststroker.

At the end of the meet we were able to get autographs from Missy Franklin and Brendan Hansen.  Hansen is 30 years old, and coming back to swimming after doing triathlons.  Look for him in the breaststroke in London.  You can be sure that we will be watching & cheering for Team USA.