What an amazing weekend! I struggled with getting this all scheduled and planned and organized. I went from let's skip it, to I do not have time for one more activity, to everyone is depending on me to do this for them. So, you see what won out, we had a great weekend together........funny how God knew we needed a reason to get together and hug each other, share some time in fellowship and enjoy the great outdoors. He knew that and he gave Misty and I the perseverence to get it all together. While our numbers were small this year our fun and our joy was HUGE! Reiteration of the knowledge that if God is in it He will be glorified, just wait and see.
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| Can you tell them apart? |
So, if you missed it or if you were there and want to relive it, I am summerizing a weekend of fun here in hope that maybe one or two will be curious enough to join us next time. Last week was a mad dash to get all food, instructors, prizes and manpower in place for the event. Often more difficult than anyone knows, people will say "I will teach that, or do this or be there" but suddenly no they won't or no they can't. In comes the survival scramble, the "I work well under pressure" mode. And as always it all works out. Friday, get the clubhouse ready and the food prep started, many thanks to Tracy Swann, could not have done it without you. A few ladies arrived from Alabama Friday afternoon to get a jump on the fun. I haven't seen them in two years and yet feel like we are the closest of friends, wonderful group of ladies! Saturday morning.... let the fun begin,except for I wake with the worst headache I have had in quite some time, complete with nausea and vomiting! GREAT! So slowly and purposefully I manage to get up, dressed, car loaded and off to the event. Luckily for me registration was a smooth process and all the first classes were covered. The ladies began to arrive filled with excitement for the adventures waiting. We met briefly for a quick greeting and then off to the great outdoors! There were shotguns, handguns, bows and arrows, kayaks and paddles, dutch ovens and flames, rod and reels, boats and atvs, clay and pottery wheels. The weather was fantastic for outdoor activites. The ladies spend two hours in session one brushing up on their skills. Then with the help of the dutch oven class we had delicious chilli and grilled cheese for lunch. Now off to session two and three in the most beautiful spring weather! A couple of the ladies convinced their guides to get a jump on the turkey hunting on Saturday afternoon. There was also the much anticipated visit from Kym Abernathy, we haven't seen her in FOREVER. We enjoyed a time of visiting and making beautiful dreamcatchers. We picked up right where we left off talking and laughing. Our evening meal was delicious BBQ chicken, thank you to all the guys for cooking for us again. This was a time for the ladies to all share stories of the things they had learned in the day. So fun to hear them talking among themselves and laughing at how they shot the target with all the arrows or they shot three different handguns or how many clays they busted, or even how relaxing it is to sit on the porch overlooking the lake. After dinner, my favorite part of the day.........night hike, a tradition for this event, traipsing through the night with flash lights and black lights. We look at the night sky and listen to the night creatures and giggle and talk more. Campfire required, guitar and singing required to end the day.
Sunday morning up and breakfast cooked for the 6AM arrival of the turkey hunters and guides. After sending them off a brief spell of coffee in the porch swing for me and Stacey, good grief the turkeys were gobbling everywhere. Beautiful spring Sunday morning song. Later in the morning the late rising campers make the way to the clubhouse for bible study, and let me tell you God was so working in our little group. I had a plan for a particular devotion from a particular book which was in my car. When I went to get it to review my notes, I realized the door was locked and my keys were in the atv glove box, and the atv was with the turkey hunters. Great, now what, well I had a book in my everything bag and decided we could use the first chapter of this book. I had recently done a Bible study using this book and knew it would suit the bill. Well, as God often does he proved that this was the devotion we needed for this group. The group as I said was small but we prayed and shared and discussed things in an amazing way. We cried together and laughed together, what woman doesn't need that. I stand amazed at the strength of these women in the things they face and the places they come from. For a weekend we come together and grow and learn in so many ways. I thank God for each of them and what they all mean to me.  |
| rest break |
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| first session handgun, lookout sister! |
Now the hunters return, no turkeys just more opportunity to learn. We wrapped up with one last session of shotgun sports then a lunch together and departure. I end this by saying I had a great time, recieved a blessing from every lady there and look forward to another opportunity to be in their presence. Like I said on Sunday evening "If you missed it, you missed alot!"
A big Thank you to the board at Floyd County Wildlife Association for always supporting this event and being there for us. Thank you to Grammy and Poppa for hosting the Nutter babies all weekend so momma could run around with the girls. Thank you Misty Waits for everything, I love working with you! Thank you Tracy Swann, I am so proud of you!
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| Sherry and Travles recapping the fun day of shotgun sports. |
