Fun with the Fam!

Saturday was my youngest daughter Clancy's eighteenth birthday. We spent the day with my oldest, Cassidy and my Grandson Cam. It is his first Halloween, and we wanted it to be special. We took him to have his picture made by Dana Cochran, a local photographer who is amazing! Then we went to Darnell Farms Pumpkin Patch located in Bryson City, North Carolina.

My Beautiful Daughters

Happy Eighteenth Birthday Clancy Eden Phillips!

What a treat! They not only had pumpkins, but fresh in season produce, perfect picture ops, a hayride, a corn maze, fire pit, swings, picnic tables and a spook house for older kids! A day well spent at the farm.

Then we headed to Stecoah Valley Center for the Fall Festival! Fun times, lots of food and amazing arts and crafts-music, dancing! Such a great day with beautiful fall weather. We are so blessed to live in this amazing place!

My Hope

Hope is wishing for something to come true.

Faith is belief that it will come true.

For every problem we face-God has a solution…

When we trust HIM and allow HIM to work in our lives

Happy Fall from the Hooper Bald!

Last Friday, our seventh graders and teachers took a trip to the Hooper Bald. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the Hooper Bald-it is a grassy bald mountain located in the Nantahala National Forest. The summit is 5,429 feet! After parking in an area with picnic tables, garbage cans and port-a-johns (yea they were closed-thanks government!), there is a trail that is 0.5 miles to reach the top of the summit.

Even though this beautiful scenic and historical sight is located within our county, each year we find students who have never been to the Bald. We have taken it upon ourselves as educators to let our students experience the Bald each year in the fall.

A brief history lesson: In the early 1900’s, the Whiting Manufacturing Company of England purchased the large tract of property. George Moore, an advisor for Whiting established a game reserve. Around 1911 a 500 acre lot was enclosed by a split rail fence to enclose European wild hogs. They were transported to the Hooper Bald by an ox-drawn wagon.

This is a beautiful spot in Graham County especially this time of year!

Guess which teacher was "caught being good" this week!

Mrs. Phillips

Thanks to my students for sending me snacks and  notes of appreciation :)

Blessings

I fail to realize how one woman can experience so many blessings in life. As I write this, I am sitting in a classroom full of children who are “reading”. I see one eating a pack of crackers, and I have to wonder if he has had anything to eat today. One fine gentleman is reading his book quietly, and I can’t help but smile-I haven’t seen him or not heard him I should say-this quiet since the first day of school. My sweet female students are all busy with reading and working on homework assignments. I have one day dreamer-I wonder what he is dreaming about. Another can NOT be still-not even long enough to complete an assignment.

They are mine-all of them, with their tendencies to get in trouble, lose homework, forget their book at home! Each and everyone of them a blessing, full of hopes and dreams for the future, and I get to be a small part of their lives and cheer them on to become responsible adults…..I am blessed!

It's Officially Fall!

            I love this time of year! Fall begins today, but around Mudd Manor, it began a week ago. Clancy and I have been busy dragging out our Halloween Decorations. I am torn between fall décor and Halloween décor but Clancy won out with Halloween. I plan to go out all in November to celebrate Thanksgiving with my fall findings.

            Yesterday my mother, Clancy and I walked two miles at the track and discussed our favorite seasons. I have to say that when each season rolls around it is my favorite. I have enjoyed the previous season, I am anxious for the next one to arrive. There was a crisp breeze blowing next to the creek as we walked and it just felt like fall. What a blessing to enjoy all four seasons in our mountains.

            We grilled steak and chicken for supper last night and ate out on our deck with our lanterns lit and porch lights on. Cassidy and Cam joined us. It was so nice just to sit outside in the cool night air and visit for a while.

            This is the time of year for fall festivals, church homecomings and family reunions. It is so nice to be able to slow down a bit and enjoy our year of blessings. I have a very special prayer request that God is working on and I am excited to let Him have his way. That will be another blessing to count at Thanksgiving.

Welcome to Life Lessons!
This is my first official blog and I am so excited to enter a new chapter in my life! Turning fifty has been bittersweet. I am looking back over the past years and wondering where time has gone! It is time to quit putting things off and start living each day as if it were my last.

I'm taking off my teacher hat, no rules, no lists, no syllabus! I'm just enjoying the blessings of my life! Enroll today! This classroom doesn't have a size limit! And you are guaranteed an A+!