Florence, Alabama September 11 - 18

Saturday we traveled from Chattanooga to Florence, Alabama visiting churches in between. We met a lady from the Kimball Church of Christ in Jasper, Tennessee and she shared with us The National Cornbread Festival in South Pittsburg, Tennessee (where she works) and invited us to attend next April. Interesting about this city is the local Lodge Cast Iron Company who are famous for making iron skillets. What is common knowledge with Southerners is the best way to prepare great cornbread is in an iron skillet. Along the way we drove through what appeared to be sacred ground with several monuments and cannons for seven miles. This is the sight of the September 1863 Battle of Chickamauga, the second largest battle of the Civil War with over 34,000 casualties.
Arriving in Florence we look forward to one of our favorite nature trails where we walk over 2.5 miles with a few of its challenging slopes. It is the Tennessee Valley Authority Reservation, a TVA development area for the Wilson Dam on the Tennessee River. Along the trail we encourntered several clusters of butterflies. There were so many they landed on us as we walked through their dwelling place. Click on photo of Rick to see the butterfly on his back.

Our eldest daughter, Jody, called and informed us about an iPhone application she found to be very helpful. It is called My Fitness Pal which I agree is very good to help guide one's fitness. Our third daughter, Tonya, called us to inform us that Cameron is a GIRL, due to arrive early in February. Cameron will be our 10th grandchild.

Crossing the bridge from Muscle Shoals to Florence Rick spotted ships, old ships, but we were on our way to church, so he said we will stop at the marina later. The ships were named The Nina and Pinta (gee, that sounds familiar) based out of Wilmington, Delaware.

Visiting churches in the area and particularly the Highland Park Church of Christ in Muscle Shoals; Florence Boulevard Church of Christ in Florence to arrange for the WBS Dinner on Tuesday, November 9 at 6:30 pm; and North Highlands Church of Christ in Russellville, Alabama. Rick has an iPhone with a Global Positioning System (GPS) capabilities which has been very handy when traveling as much as we do, but...if one (me, Mary) does not put in the correct information, one may direct another person (poor Rick got stressed out) the wrong direction. Good news is that we made it into the Russellville building just in time not a moment to spare. Minutes later Rick is giving the invitation, an awesome invitation. I want to come forward to ask for forgiveness for making us arrive so late. Rick is so forgiving. I told him to tell the elders it was my fault, but he never uttered a word of blame. He is a sweetheart.

Chattanooga, Tennessee visit from September 1 through 11th

Nature greets us often while traveling on the road. At the crevice of the Smokey Mountains we anticipate the panoramic view of Lake Nickajack encompassing both sides of the thoroughfare. Soon approaching Lookout Mountain, the Creek word is--Chattanooga of the Cherokee Indians. Two years ago we visited Covenant College (which Rick thought it was a monastery), Point Park, and hand gliders run-off on the Eastern Brow of the mountain.

During the week we work industriously and look forward to take a day off to appreciate the sights and wonders of the area. Saturday we went on the Chattanooga Ducks to tour the city and on the Tennessee River, of course, being that the vehicle is totally amphibious. This is a great way to get an overview of the city and its history. After sitting through the tour we decided to walk for an hour on Chattanooga's Riverwalk, a very well maintained, walkway (also for cyclists, but walkers have right-of-way) bordering the Tennessee River.

The following Monday was Labor Day and we finally drove up to ROCK CITY atop Lookout Mountain. Along the Enchanted Trail is Fat Man's Pass, a squeeze for both of us (I had a backback camera case, Rick had frontal baggage--lol), Swing-Along Bridge, Lover's Leap, Rainbow Cave, and beautiful views and rock formations like this picture of STONE FACE! Click on photo for detail.

Forty years earlier, on our honeymoon from Michigan to Florida, we took the incline up Lookout Mountain and visited Ruby Falls. I remember "RED" spotlights on the cavern falls and the guide stated that the founder named it after his wife, Ruby.

While in the Chattanooga area we visited with several churches and a few photo opportunities such as of Jay and Dotti Jackson of the Central Church of Christ with one of their WBS workers and Rick. Right photo of Rick speaking at the East Side Church of Christ WBS group. Right of Rick is their WBS coordinator, Thomas Richman. Both congregations are located in Cleveland, Tennessee near Chattanooga.

FYI--the WORLD BIBLE SCHOOL DINNER will be at the East Ridge Church of Christ in Chattanooga, Tennessee on Monday, November 8 at 6:30pm.