Visitors!

What a nice visit and an honor to meet them!  Mr. Baxter and Ms. Ruth, the original owners and builders of the house/property, stopped by for a visit this past Sunday.  They are amazing - sharp as tacks!  They brought photo albums depicting their projects and endeavors out here - they raised horses, cows, sheep, and pigs.  They also grew pumpkins, berries, grapes, all kinds of vegetables, etc, etc.  They fed the leaders of 50 nations pumpkin soup while they attended a meeting in Colonial Williamsburg during the Reagan years.  Well, they provided the 50 pumpkins for the soup!  Such a wonderful surprise and visit.  They were so encouraging and positive about our work out here.  They are welcome back anytime!

Then on Tuesday, we had an EARTHQUAKE!  5.9!  Dawn and the kids were about to eat lunch in the kitchen when the trembling/rumbling/swaying began.  We first thought it was the washing machine way out of balance, but it's never shaken the house.  Then I thought it was low-flying fighter jets, but then I realized there was no jet noise.  A huge truck?  No....it finally occurred to me that it might be an earthquake!!!  I've never experienced one before!  I remembered my soils professor at VT comment that he was concerned about a large east coast earthquake occurring.  Scott was at work and also felt it.  My sister actually had a few items fall from shelves!  No damage seen here.  Praise God.

Now we're preparing for Hurricane Irene which is due Saturday.  Ugh.  Isabel rocked our world 8 years ago.  Praying for protection, safety, no damage...that God would weaken it and direct it back out to sea.  He is in control of everything and that includes the weather.