The Live Oak

A few weeks ago, Ross and I headed down to Charleston with Tom and Val to listen to my cousin Mike Thompson sing. While we were there we decided to tour Boone Hall Plantation. For me, the best part of the tour was when we were driving up to the house under the Live Oak trees that lined the driveway.

As we drove, I imagined I was back in the 1800s, wearing a muslin dress and a bonnet upon my head , riding down the lane in an open horse drawn carriage, with my handsome suitor (Ross of course) sitting beside me. I can smell the sweet fragrance of newly budding flowers mixed with sea air. I can feel the cool breeze and bits of sun on my face, peeking through the branches. I can hear the birds singing, horses cladding, and workers chanting in the fields.

I sometimes think I was born in the wrong period of time. Although had I been born in that time period, I probably would not have been able to enjoy the daydreams as I do now.



Many believe the oak trees at Boone Hall were planted in 1843 by the Horlbeck brothers, who obtained the plantation from their uncle. Other sources state that the Boone family began the planting in 1743. The Avenue of Oaks is 3/4 of a mile long, evenly planted on both sides of the lane and lead up to the main house on the plantation. There were over 100 trees planted, but after Hurricane Hugo, only 88 remained.



When people think of a live oak tree, they imagine the Southern Live Oak, which is predominately seen in movies. The Live Oak is an evergreen tree that is found primarily in warmer areas. It was given the name Live Oak because it remains green in winter months where most other oaks are without leaves and look dead. The trees do shed their leaves, but only as new leaves are forming, so the transition is almost unrecognizable. Live Oaks require a large area to grow due to the fact that the branches grow outward. The crown can be three times as wide as the height. They are considered communal trees and when grouped together they form massive canopies.



Before iron and steel were used in ship making, Live Oak trees were used due to the short trunk and low branches to make the curved structural parts of the ship. In the curved branches, the line of grain would fall perpendicular to the stress line which in turn gives it superior strength. Ship makers would use live oak trees for parts such as knee braces. Live oak is still used today in some shipbuilding and toolmaking due to it's strength, energy absorption, and density. It is not used in furniture making because it tends to warp and twist when it dries.

I love the beauty of the tree. I love the fantasies and dreams they induce.
For me, I just want a bench under the branches, a good book, and my best friend beside me.

My son has got to be one of the biggest UGA fans ever. One look at his room, and you would think a bulldog literally vomited in there. He doesn't just dream of playing baseball at UGA, he believes he is GOING TO PLAY for UGA. In his mind he already has the commitment letter and just has to stick it out for the next 6 years until he can go.

Ross is not a bad student, but he has started to excel in the areas he has interest, and literally not care about the others. It's difficult as a mom to watch him give a half hearted attempt at schoolwork when I know he can do better. My husband says I'm too hard on him; my son thinks I don't know what I'm talking about.

In walks Jon Holsenback. A senior in our youth group, the son to Sandra, a dear friend. He sat with us one Sunday night at church. As we were talking about his college prospects, little Ross begins to ask him questions. Jon was stressing to Ross the need to work hard in school, because doing well in a sport will not get him into the college of his dreams. As I sat there and listened to Jon and Ross talk, I was overwhelmed with joy by the way God works. God put Jon with us that night for a reason! Jon was there to minister to little Ross. How awesome God is! He knows our needs, and he uses everyday people, even youth to fulfill those needs.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

For the kids

The last few months I have been in a state of depression. My kids are growing up way too fast. My son reminds me nearly everyday that next year he will be a teenager. The things they used to enjoy are no longer. My heart ached the day my daughter said she didn't like carebears anymore. When I sit and think of all the years that have gone by it seems too soon. The thought that is constant in my mind is that in 7 years they will be gone to college. My babies aren't babies anymore.

The week before christmas I decided to have a night out with the kids. We decided to take them to see the lights before christmas at the zoo. I was very excited because we had never seen them. That afternoon, I told the kids we were going somewhere special that night. They tried to guess where we were going, but never got it right. We arrived and Ross dropped us off at the entrance while he went and parked the car. We were meeting Patti and Eva and Val and Tom. At the entrance there was bubble snow falling. If you know me, you know I LOVE snow, so I was like a kid catching the snow as it fell until it happened.....

My son said, "mom why are we here? This is for kids."

For a moment all I could do was look at him and cry. In that instance I realized no matter how hard I tried, I was never going to get my wide eyed little boy back. I was moving into a new stage in their life. The days of playing in big boxes in the back yard were over. We walked over to the end of the entrance and talked and hugged until everyone had arrived. It was a beautiful moment.

Item #2 Spend two hours everyday with the kids. I may not be able to get back lost time, but I will not let them slip from my arms.

A New Year!

Every year I come up with some "things" I want to achieve or complete such as lose weight, spend more time with the kids, get things done around the house, study more of God's word. At the time they seem like legit goals, but along the way they seem to lose their meaning. And it finally dawned on me that there was no way I could have completed them. They were too vague and I didn't have a plan. There are so many things I want to do or become that it becomes overwhelming. My husband and I recently watched "The Bucket List" and it inspired me. Not so much to do wonderful grand things, but to have something at the end of the year that I can look back and reflect upon. Some items will be personal, some will involve family, friends, and friends I haven't met yet. This Blog is item #1. I have been reading my dear friend Val's blog for almost a year and have laughed, cried, and simply smiled at her many posts. Although I will never be able to write as eloquently as she does, I want to make someone else laugh, cry and simply smile, and I hope that I can. So for now goodbye and Happy New Year!!