Another year down, another year past —
We’ll wrap it all up, and we’ll wrap it up fast.
The first three months were a bit like a dream.
On Valentine’s Day, David aged to fifteen
With a pinball museum after a week full of snow.
Then in March to convention our family did go.
After quartets and poetry and “Jerusalem Undertakers,”
We finished food chemistry and became better bakers.
U.S. studies and missions and a homeschool field day
After years full of learnin’ Stephen graduated in May.
(We experienced a few other things in the spring.
Isaac was baptized and we heard Mac Powell sing.)
In summer we started our Tennessee exploration.
We came to the conclusion it’s the best place in the nation.
We hiked Fall Creek Falls and Standing Stone dam
The seven-arch bridge at Cumberland Mountain was grand!
Natural Bridge and Hazard Cave at Pickett State Park,
Indian Rockhouse — we sauntered from dawn until dark.
With Alvin York’s trenches and then Frozen Head,
There’s no telling how many miles we tread.
Ozone Falls, Stinging Fork, and Welch’s Overlook —
Then a spontaneous road trip to West Virginia we took.
We returned to the start of our 50 states goal:
New River Gorge and the Beckley Mine full of coal.
We trekked a new trail called Castle Rock
With walls of rock stacked like a big bunch of blocks.
But summer wasn’t just full of waterfall tours.
Isaac turned seven and Stephen turned more.
At the end of July: a Ferrell family campout
At the Great Smoky Mountains — no runnin’ water? No doubt!
But we waded in creeks and marched up Clingman’s Dome.
Stephen started Tenn Tech when we returned home.
In fall, white water rafting on Ocoee we went
And in HDS the boys played American immigrants.
Then October marked a significant feat:
The Virgin Falls hike, but, boy! What a treat!
To the bottom of Burgess we also canoed
And Bee Rock Overlook boasted good views.
That brings us to December: Levi turned thirteen.
We toured Dollywood and did the whole Christmas thing.
Through all of our journeys and travels and such
We’ve beheld the beauty of the Great Maker’s touch.
At Christmas we consider this Creator of all
Came down as a baby, lowly and small,
With the gift of redemption to cleanse all our sin
Bringing forth peace and goodwill toward men.
…Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:10-14
Merry Christmas! Gary, Brandy, Stephen, David, Levi, and Isaac Ferrell