Hocking Hills with Richard - April 6, 2008

My friend Richard Bauer and I

took the first spring day to

head southeast for some hiking.

Below is the entrance to Cantwell Cliffs.

I loved finding this natural spring

coming from the rocks.

Next we made our way

to Rock House.

Our final stop was Ash Cave. It

was my favorite spot.

Thanks, Richard, for the

invitation and the memories.

Blizzard of 2008

Technically, we just had a huge

snow storm. (To be considered a

blizzard, the winds have to blow

steadily at 35 mph or greater

for three solid hours.) It was,

however, the largest snow for

Central Ohio in 20 years--a foot on

the ground and 2- to 6-ft. drifts!

"A heavy winter storm walloped Ohio's

capital city with more than 20 inches of

snow, while blizzard conditions shut down

highways and stranded air travelers across

the state and parts of Indiana on Saturday.

"High winds whipped the snow into

3-foot-tall drifts in some places and cut

visibility to less than a quarter mile,

the National Weather Service said.

"The storm, which rolled in Friday,

dumped 20.4 inches of snow on Columbus,

breaking the city's previous record of

15.3 inches set in February 1910, the

weather service said." -- from CNN.com

The Baptisms

Today my babies made a public

testimony of their faith in Christ

through baptism. Shiloh United

Methodist Church in Mantachie,

Mississippi, is the church I

attended for the first 19

years of my life: it is still

the church my immediate

family call home.

Joining Caryn and Beth at the

front of the sanctuary are--from

left to right in the photo that

follows--Papa Jim (the kids'

father's stepfather), Grandy

(Louise--their grandmother on

their father's side), my sister

Susan (their mom), my Aunt

Louise (my mother's sister and

the girls' great-aunt), and

Mama (Jo Ann).

Pastor Ronnie sprinkles

Beth first...


...and Caryn next.


Beth turns 10 tomorrow,
and Caryn turns 12
on August 1.




Below, the congregation comes
forward to welcome the girls
into the body of Christ. (I can
remember when Mrs. Ethyl Smith
shared a hug with me when
I professed Christ as Lord
thirty years ago.)



The two grandmothers share
a moment with the girls.



Aunt Louise gets a hug
in as well...

Many, many thanks to my cousin

Cindy Reynolds for taking these

photos for me and sending them

via email so quickly...Love you!