"Peachy" Friends In The Peach State

Our first excursion in Georgia was church.  We've enjoyed being able to visit the home churches of pastors who've authored some meaningful books in our lives.  Pastor Andy Stanley wrote a study I did years ago that was really good, so I was looking forward to visiting North Point Community Church.

It is G.I.G.A.N.T.I.C. 

Scary huge. 

Anyways, they had a neat kids program after church.  We went, and got to watch LAR boogie on stage.  A little kids production at this mega-church was like watching a production on Broadway -- stage, set design, lighting, props, etc.  It was a circus -- I felt like we should have paid admission.

On the road, we are perpetual church visitors.  This experience has forced us to consider how we, as members at our home church, treat visitors.  It's also been a wonderful experience for our kids.  What a lesson they've learned to have to be "the new kid" every single week!  They've gotten quite comfortable at introducing themselves, meeting new people, and learning the art of making conversation.  There are so many hidden gifts about being plucked from our comfort zone.

We camped at Stone Mountain in Atlanta.  Stone Mountain itself is a 1,700 foot high dome of rock.  On one side is an 800 ft. face, on which there is a carving of three well-known Confederate figures:  Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee, and Jefferson Davis.  It appears small from the picture, but to put the carving in perspective, a dinner party was once held on Robert E. Lee's shoulder.

Stone Mountain also has a theme park, an Antebellum Plantation, and many great hiking trails.  It turned out to be a really fun place to plant ourselves during our stay in Atlanta.

CER petting a piglet at the plantation's farm.

CBR protecting a fair lady from the Civil War era.

The girls at the Stone Mountain Theme Park.

During our Georgia stay, my baby boy turned six.  This marks our second birthday party celebrated on the road.

CBR opening his birthday presents.  Notice this leaf he taped on the wall -- he found it in the woods, and was apparently quite smitten with it.

Birthday boy.  Atlanta, GA.

On the evening of CBR's birthday, we were able to celebrate with some dear friends.  We went over to the "M" family's home in Atlanta and enjoyed a wonderful meal, good friends, laughter, and great conversation, and they even made PEACH COBBLER.  How cool it was to be in Georgia -- The Peach State -- and have warm homemade cobbler with some "peachy" friends.

The "M" family honored CBR with the privilege of wearing their family birthday hat!

Me and my friend "J."  I can't say enough about the way this girl inspires me. (Her husband in mirror behind her head, and my husband in mirror behind my head! Ha.)

Just because we couldn't get enough of the "M" family, we met them out again for dinner later in the week.

LAR got to do her favorite thing - play mother to the younger kids.  Here she's holding their precious daughter "E."

On another evening in Atlanta, we were able to visit the home of a dear college friend of mine.  I hadn't seen my college roommate "A" in nearly 6 years, so it was such a thrill to sit in her home and enjoy a meal, and LAUGH, and catch up with each other.  "A" is hilarious . . . another "peach" of a friend.



"A" and me.  SIXTEEN YEARS after college graduation - OH MY!

Our children really enjoyed the playmates they found in "A's" children, "W" and "F".

As I mentioned, the Stone Mountain campground offers many things to do.  Our campsite was nestled in a gorgeous wooded area, and backed up to a lake that borders the base of Stone Mountain.  And of course, where there is water . . . we shall paddle board.

The most handsome RV driver in the USA.

We enjoyed playing in the woods, and even took a hike to the top of Stone Mountain.

The girls (Billie Jean included) playing in Stone Mountain Lake.

LAR while hiking up Stone Mountain.

My personal driver and the kids reaching the top of Stone Mountain.

The summit of Stone Mountain lends unobstructed views of Atlanta's downtown.

We also got to see the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, and the Civil War Museum and Cyclorama.  Both were very interesting. 

CBR received a gift card for his birthday, so we took one evening to let him go spend it.  He purchased a spy kit.  It came complete with decoder pens, sunglasses with mirrors so you can secretly watch behind you, and even a disguise . . .

CER -- shhhh, she's undercover.

Away we go . . . going the way we go.