Back at the Ranch

We made it back to the Ranch just in time for the rodeo.  

It was a fun way to end the week. 

 Rebekah made record time jumping on the horses back.

Rebekah & Sarah were strongly encouraged by 

the campers (and maybe a few sisters:) to join in the 

pig chase.  It was so funny to watch them.  They 

didn't really want to do it, but once they put their 

minds to it, that pig didn't have a chance!

2010 Deaf Campers & Counselors

We ate all our meals with the BRR staff.  We shared a table

with Mrs. Webber most nights. She was so funny!

Caylee, Alonya & Briee came over after dinner one night.

Abby did a great job telling stories. They were so 

interesting even the big kids enjoyed them.

Deborah & Rebekah singing in the deaf choir the last night.

Rebekah and a few of her friends from the Ranch.

 Our staff evangelist's wife, Mary Lynn Van Gelderen,
was in Tennessee when she had some pregnancy
complications.  The Ranch offered a place for their
little girl to be buried in their cemetery near another
relative.  We were able to see the tombstone and
take some flowers while we were there.

Knoxville

We met the Webbs in Knoxville while we were 

in Tennessee.  It was a very quick trip but 

we enjoyed our time together!

We went to the World's Fair Park while we were there.

We got "stuck" in the elevator for 2 whole

minutes while going up in the sunsphere.

  Mrs. Webb & Georgia were smart 

and waited downstairs for us.

We had fun singing and putting on shows at the amphitheater.

The fountains were beautiful!

 

We had to evacuate the hotel during breakfast.

You would have thought there was some big fire, 

but it was only a little smoke from a cigarette. 

Thanks to the hotel staff for being so 

observant and catching it in time. :)

We all enjoyed fresh Krispy Kreme donuts to end the trip.

More Fun In Tennessee

Jo & Tab decided to go on a hike the other day.  If you 

didn't know, Joanna is not much of a hiker and she is a 

hypochondriac. The two do not mix. : )  She thought she 

was going to die the second we walked out of the 

apartment.  Surely she was going to get attacked by a 

snake.  Or perhaps she would get a tick.  We reassured 

her nothing would think to come near her -  she is quite 

loud and would have scared anything away!  You all 

can be thankful pictures don't have sound. : )

She grabbed her water bottle and started drinking 

like we were lost in a desert the second 

we walked out of the door.

We weren't even to the trail and she grabbed a granola bar

from the bag.  She was dying of starvation!!  Dramatic?! : )

As we were hiking, I wondered why my bag felt so heavy. 

I looked down to see Joanna hanging on for dear life.

I don't know if it was to help her up the trail or to save 

her from the big lions and bears we faced ahead? : )

We didn't get very far but we had fun.  Thankfully we made

it back in one piece.  Just barely though...we had a couple 

of attacks from very mean, wild, vicious butterflies. : ) 

Might as well have been a bear the way Joanna reacted!

Rebekah does an awesome job teaching the deaf girls.

Ronnie Rice had fun playing Abby's phone as a harmonica. : )

He was trying to teach Joanna how to finger spell 

cat & dog at the same time.  Try it - it's hard!

Bill & Mary Rice invited us over for ice cream after 

the Wednesday evening service.  They have a beautiful 

log cabin.  We enjoyed our time with them and hearing 

all of their interesting stories!  We could have listened 

to them talk all night!  As we were leaving, Joanna 

was thanking them and telling them how much we 

enjoyed being there.  She walked right out of 

the house without her shoes. : ) 

Fun In Tennessee

We have been having a blast here in Tennessee. 

Can't believe the week is almost over. : (  Rebekah 

gave her testimony to several teens in chapel 

yesterday morning. She did such a nice job. 

Abby was just chatting away with Joanna 

not knowing what was about to happen...

Hey - it was a hot day and she deserved it! : )

Everything is more fun when working with a friend. : )

Joanna was just walking along in her own little world

when the girls went zooming by in the golf cart.

She freaked out and tried to run out of the way. Not 

fast enough though!  She got splashed by the puddle.

This picture doesn't do it justice.  It was hilarious!

Caylie loves to come over to Deborah's house. 

She is quite spoiled!  She got to eat jelly beans while

watching cartoons and having her toes painted.

We've had fun getting to know some of the staff kids.

They are adorable!  Seth was so excited when 

Abby offered him one of her cherries. 

Rebekah and another counselor, Emily

Nathan & Abby