(by Kristen Folsom -from blog post on pinkdiggity.blogspot.com - July 2012)
well, we just returned from our annual trip to the suwannee river & we had a blast! we spent 2 weeks at camp & both weeks were fantastic. then we went to "hog heaven" (the folsom river house) & here is where our story begins...
grandaddy bought a fishing boat after they bought the river house. it's been a great boat, but in recent years has seen more repairs than actual water time. however, this trip our boat was in prime shape & we had some awesome boat time. we had our friends (the peacocks - "ca-caaaaaw!") over the first day & we did tons of boating and tubing from the boat. it was super fun. our boating/tubing continued for the next 2 days. the boat started every single time (something that was not in its recent repertoire), ran smoothly, & much enjoyment was had by all. so we decided to take a longer boat ride downstream to the santa fe river. in the past, this trip would be risky because should the boat choose to stop working, you would have to get home upstream - something we would NOT want to do. but with our boat being faithful all week, we took the trip - not even considering it a risk...and it was great. we took in the sights & sun & did tons of tubing as well. it was a good day.
as we neared our house, jonah was tubing & we noticed that the sky was growing black & a storm was a brewing. good thing we're only a minute or two away from home. thinking that it would be easier to dock the boat with jonah & the tube inside the boat rather than out, chris stopped & pulled them in. and now, for the first time all week, the boat would not start. it wouldn't turn over. nothing. we were at a loss as we sat floating away from home with a storm creeping up on us. and in the midst of this challenge, hero training began.
chris grabbed the 2 paddles that are always in the boat (i told you that it has a history of unreliability) & we began paddling upstream. after only moments, one of the paddles broke in half & sank in the suwannee. we realized very quickly that this method was going to get us nowhere. so chris directs us to the opposite shoreline (closest to where we were) & formulates a plan. after a few possibilities, he decides that he is going to take the tube & paddle himself upstream & across the river to our house, go up the dock & retrieve the kayak & some extra oars, paddle back to us, tie the boat to the kayak & then all of us would row, row, row the boat back home. his plan worked & was executed well. it was HARD! it was now pouring rain. we had been in the sun for hours before & were hot, tired, & hungry. tension & pressure were mounting in me & the boys as we waiting & fear crept in...but chris stepped up & not only rallied us to victory, but showed our boys how to be a hero.
the definition of a hero is: "a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave & noble qualities." this is chris. he models JESUS. & i pray this will also be jonah & winston. we are folsoms. and although its meaning may seem lowly ("owner of chicken coop"), we are striving to be what GOD made us to be - chicken coop heroes. "ba-baaawk!"
(stay tuned for the follow up saga of how we got the boat off the river.)
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Friday, August 19, 2011
creation
(kristen folsom - 2011...taken from her blog http://www.pinkdiggity.blogspot.com/)
creation - or nature - as we usually call it, has been an ever present reminder to me this summer of how cool my GOD is. since returning home from our vacation, i have felt the urge to share these creation encounters. so here goes...
as my faithful followers know, i'm kinda like a runner now & such. on various runs at the river house & at camp, i came ridiculously close to some of GOD's creatures that i would not normally get to see. one morning at camp, i almost ran over an armadillo - thinking it was a cat that would get out of the way. but he wasn't a cat & i am the one that changed trajectory. another early morning, as i ran through a particularly wooded area, i was feeling extra fatigued. when i'm feeling like that - like i might not make it - i've found that i have to change my gaze from the "road ahead" to the pavement immediately in front of my feet - one step at a time. so as i'm looking down, i happened to see something peripherally...it was a big ole deer...right there, like mere feet from my sweating, panting self. we eyed each other for a moment & then he (more likely a she) headed off to the tree line.
at the river house, chris & i went on a canoe ride one morning with papa. on this adventure, we saw 2 baby alligators. they were really not too big, but my thinking is that 'where there are babies, there is a mama!' we also came across a good sized turtle that had gotten himself stuck in between some rocks on the shore line. the river has been so low that i guess in his quest to reach the water, his shell got caught on the rock. so we steered over to him & chris used his paddle to pry him loose & put him in the water. (we call him the turtle hero.)
and then, what i think was the coolest finding actually came right to me. we had taken the boat to the boat ramp & then i drove our car back to the house while the boys brought the boat up the river. i went out to the dock to wait for them. the water was still & quiet. i stood there just taking in the peacefulness. and then, in an instant, the moment went from nice & regular to pretty much awe-inspiring & super cool. a manatee was right there in front of our dock. manatees have been more prevalent in the suwannee lately, but i had never seen one up close...until now. he was huge too - prob a good 10 or more feet. he just swam around there for about a minute or so & then went on his way. i tried to get some pictures, but they do not do his magnificence justice. later that week, another manatee (smaller - 6 feet or so) came up by our dock & our whole family got to see him.
as chris & i talked about our trip, we were reminded of just how awesome & powerful GOD's creation is. things like: the rise & fall of the river's water level & the creatures & plants & land that this affects, the rain that brings life or destruction, the crazy amount of growth our yard can have after 3 non-mowed weeks... i think that man is under the impression that he has nature under his control. creation is controlled by GOD & GOD alone. man may have figured out some ways to harness it from time to time, but it's really all about doing whatever the CREATOR says. ultimately, creation longs for the return of its SAVIOR (romans 8:19-22). what an awesome example creation is for me.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Judy Tapes a Gator's Mouth Shut
(Mike Folsom - 2005)
One day, as we first arrived at the river, I went to the dock to look at the water. Low & behold, there was an alligator just off our dock in the water. Quickly Josh ran & got a rod & reel with a lure on it from the garage.
Quietly, he cast it over the alligator, slowly drew the lure up to the gator & snagged it behind the head. He guided it over to the dock & I was able to grab it by the tail & behind the head.
So now I have an alligator in my hands. I climb all the stairs & took it over to the fish cleaning table. One of the children ran & got some black electrical tape & brought it to mom. I help his mouth shut & Judy taped it shut. WOW! How many women in the United States of America or the world would have taped an alligator's mouth shut.
We had nature lessons with the kids, observing the gator cup close. They have 4 toes on their front legs & 5 on their back - and they are webbed.
We kept him in the wheelbarrow with plywood on top until Denise arrived the next day. After she had observed him, we untaped him & let him go.
One day, as we first arrived at the river, I went to the dock to look at the water. Low & behold, there was an alligator just off our dock in the water. Quickly Josh ran & got a rod & reel with a lure on it from the garage.
Quietly, he cast it over the alligator, slowly drew the lure up to the gator & snagged it behind the head. He guided it over to the dock & I was able to grab it by the tail & behind the head.
So now I have an alligator in my hands. I climb all the stairs & took it over to the fish cleaning table. One of the children ran & got some black electrical tape & brought it to mom. I help his mouth shut & Judy taped it shut. WOW! How many women in the United States of America or the world would have taped an alligator's mouth shut.
We had nature lessons with the kids, observing the gator cup close. They have 4 toes on their front legs & 5 on their back - and they are webbed.
We kept him in the wheelbarrow with plywood on top until Denise arrived the next day. After she had observed him, we untaped him & let him go.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
The Fireworks
(Mike Folsom - July 2011)
One of the highlights of the July 4th vacation is the fireworks show in Branford at the park. To be such a small town, Branford goes all out for the fourth - a parade, a mini run, duck races, etc.
For the last 14 years this has become a family tradition. Branford has a terrific fireworks show that lasts 20 - 30 minutes & has some really big displays. Everyone in Branford comes to the park. There is usually a band playing, lots of vendors selling all types of food, kids playing on the playground, & adults and teens visiting & hanging out. Lots of tattoos too.
This year mother went with us for the first time. We took lawn chairs & a blanket. Abbie & Caleb met up with Sam from Camp & we all had a blast.
Mom said it was the best fireworks show she had ever seen.
One of the highlights of the July 4th vacation is the fireworks show in Branford at the park. To be such a small town, Branford goes all out for the fourth - a parade, a mini run, duck races, etc.
For the last 14 years this has become a family tradition. Branford has a terrific fireworks show that lasts 20 - 30 minutes & has some really big displays. Everyone in Branford comes to the park. There is usually a band playing, lots of vendors selling all types of food, kids playing on the playground, & adults and teens visiting & hanging out. Lots of tattoos too.
This year mother went with us for the first time. We took lawn chairs & a blanket. Abbie & Caleb met up with Sam from Camp & we all had a blast.
Mom said it was the best fireworks show she had ever seen.
We Got Mama in the Tube
(Mike Folsom - July 5, 2011)
As you know, Mama made sure all her children took swimming lessons, but she never learned to swim. She hardly ever rode in a boat & rarely got in the water. This trip, however, she brought her suit - which she said was a hundred years old.
Tuesday morning we went down to the water to swim & sun. She walked down the sand beach to Paul's boat & sat for a while. When she got hot, she walked over to sit at the edge of the water & I encouraged her to get in the big tube (it was tied to the dock).
I slowly pushed it out into the water. There she was, floating on the tube, getting some sun, in a one hundred year old swim suit. Way to go Mom! We enjoyed you being here with us!
As you know, Mama made sure all her children took swimming lessons, but she never learned to swim. She hardly ever rode in a boat & rarely got in the water. This trip, however, she brought her suit - which she said was a hundred years old.
Tuesday morning we went down to the water to swim & sun. She walked down the sand beach to Paul's boat & sat for a while. When she got hot, she walked over to sit at the edge of the water & I encouraged her to get in the big tube (it was tied to the dock).
I slowly pushed it out into the water. There she was, floating on the tube, getting some sun, in a one hundred year old swim suit. Way to go Mom! We enjoyed you being here with us!
Monday, July 18, 2011
Hearing From God
We love the quietness of the river, and the closeness to nature(and to God) that you feel at the riverhouse.
Many years ago, we had a pastor(George Waller), that would get away for a few days around the New Year season. The purpose was to hear from God and get a prophetic word for the church. What was God saying to him personally and to the church? I had never heard of anyone doing this.
As we grew in our faith, and learned that God really does speak to us, and that we can receive a prophetic word from God, Judy and I began to do this ourselves.
So now, as regularly as we can, we like to go to the riverhouse after Christmas for a few days and set aside some time to hear from God. The way we do it is to divide our lives into sections. The ones we use are:
Family
Church
Work
Business
Personal
Relationships
Ministry
We ask for direction, we ask God what he wants us to do in each area, are there any new things He has for us, what does He want to say to us in each area. We take the areas one at a time, asking God to speak to us. When He is through, we move on to the next area.
We always take a writing pad to write down what God is saying. He usually speaks to Judy in one style and to me in a different way. When He is finished we have some words from God concerning the New Year.
Over the years, God has been faithful to guide us into what he would have us to do. What a great God we serve.
Many years ago, we had a pastor(George Waller), that would get away for a few days around the New Year season. The purpose was to hear from God and get a prophetic word for the church. What was God saying to him personally and to the church? I had never heard of anyone doing this.
As we grew in our faith, and learned that God really does speak to us, and that we can receive a prophetic word from God, Judy and I began to do this ourselves.
So now, as regularly as we can, we like to go to the riverhouse after Christmas for a few days and set aside some time to hear from God. The way we do it is to divide our lives into sections. The ones we use are:
Family
Church
Work
Business
Personal
Relationships
Ministry
We ask for direction, we ask God what he wants us to do in each area, are there any new things He has for us, what does He want to say to us in each area. We take the areas one at a time, asking God to speak to us. When He is through, we move on to the next area.
We always take a writing pad to write down what God is saying. He usually speaks to Judy in one style and to me in a different way. When He is finished we have some words from God concerning the New Year.
Over the years, God has been faithful to guide us into what he would have us to do. What a great God we serve.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
We Almost Didn't Find The Place
(Mike Folsom - 1996)
Shortly after mom & dad & Aunt Edie purchased the river house and they had been once, they asked us to go. Dad tried to give directions, but he had only been once, and Aunt Edie didn't know either, but she remembered a big satellite dish as the paved road ended. All dad could say was "turn left after a bridge and then the pavement ended." He said look for a brown fence.
Well, I knew we could call Julie if we needed to. We got a little later start than planned and soon it got dark on us and we still had a ways to go. We turned at Hatchbend, then followed the road around, but no bridge. We turned right and came down to the bridge, but missed the left turn (we couldn't see the highway marker). We drove down to the public boat ramp and could have driven into the river! So we turned around, went back across the bridge and turned right where the pavement ended. We drove down a ways, but no sign of a brown fence. So we turned around and stopped at the house at the end of the road to call Julie. She wasn't home, so we had no idea where to go. As I was talking to the lady at the house, she mentioned a road to the left after the bridge. So back we went. We drove slowly - looking for the road and finally saw it. We turned left. As the pavement ended we looked up & saw the big satellite dish. We turned right & looked to the left for a brown fence. When we saw it, I got out to see if the key would fit the lock. It did! We were here! What a relief!
Shortly after mom & dad & Aunt Edie purchased the river house and they had been once, they asked us to go. Dad tried to give directions, but he had only been once, and Aunt Edie didn't know either, but she remembered a big satellite dish as the paved road ended. All dad could say was "turn left after a bridge and then the pavement ended." He said look for a brown fence.
Well, I knew we could call Julie if we needed to. We got a little later start than planned and soon it got dark on us and we still had a ways to go. We turned at Hatchbend, then followed the road around, but no bridge. We turned right and came down to the bridge, but missed the left turn (we couldn't see the highway marker). We drove down to the public boat ramp and could have driven into the river! So we turned around, went back across the bridge and turned right where the pavement ended. We drove down a ways, but no sign of a brown fence. So we turned around and stopped at the house at the end of the road to call Julie. She wasn't home, so we had no idea where to go. As I was talking to the lady at the house, she mentioned a road to the left after the bridge. So back we went. We drove slowly - looking for the road and finally saw it. We turned left. As the pavement ended we looked up & saw the big satellite dish. We turned right & looked to the left for a brown fence. When we saw it, I got out to see if the key would fit the lock. It did! We were here! What a relief!
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