Winds of Change

In May 2013, due to changing life circumstances, it became apparent that we could not keep up with everything we’d been doing. As we evaluated what we could do without, we realized that the traveling distance from our home to Leahaven and the amount of work required made it impractical for us to continue maintaining two farms, one a working farm with livestock that required feeding twice a day. 

Regretfully we reached the decision that we needed to sell Leahaven and find a new Leahaven closer to home.  It has been a sad process and long, but the Lord worked things out in His time, and we have finally sold Leahaven to the son of the farmer we bought it from in 2007.  Talk about the "circle of life!"  Leahaven was this young man's dream farm, and he is as thrilled to call it home as we are comforted to know that it will be treasured and loved.  

This is not the end of Leahaven, however!  The Lord has led us to Cloudland Station, “a mountain and valley community rich in amenities and the natural beauty of the North Georgia Mountains.” We’ve purchased a beautiful creekside lot there and are starting to build a house which will continue to welcome missionaries, pastors, and other full-time Christian servants.

A wet-weather creek runs about 50 feet from the back of the future house and is one of the reasons we fell in love with this spot.  We expect it to be a favorite spot of guests both young and old, whether they play in the creek or enjoy it from the back porch.

From the creek you can peer through the trees to the little “town center” in the distance. It will be an easy stroll to the communal fireplace and patio, the little green schoolhouse meeting room, and a coffee shop.



From the moment you drive through the gate at Cloudland Station, the natural beauty and wonderful amenities are evident. Near the entrance, Lake Angela is perfect for fishing and canoeing. Beyond it flows a creek that begs to be waded in as it winds past a multi-level treehouse that is every kid's dream.

For swimming, there’s a choice between the fresh water swimming hole with a floating dock and a rope swing and the “endless” salt water swimming pool surrounded by a large stone terrace. The natural beauty of a waterfall, a cave and miles of mountain trails provide opportunities to explore. Rainy days can be spent in the game barn, while numerous outdoor picnic areas invite cookouts in fine weather. The mill house by the creek is always open and is stocked with cold drinks and ice cream treats to buy on hot summer days.

Leahaven at Cloudland will be located on a short loop of Valley Rim Drive with woods on two sides, providing privacy and charm. The house design will blend with the old-fashioned architecture of Cloudland Station, which creates a feel of having stepped back in time.

For now, the house looks like this, but we hope that it will be ready to receive guests by early 2016.

The best compliment Leahaven ever got was from a little girl who called it “that heavenly place in Alabama.” We love Leahaven, and it will forever hold a treasured place in our hearts. Yet Cloudland Station is so incredible that we think guests of the new Leahaven just might call it “that heavenly place in Georgia.” While the house will look different outside, we think that when repeat visitors step inside, they’ll know they’re still at Leahaven–a place of refuge the Lord has provided to be with Him in the beauty of His Creation.

Gone with the Wind

I must say, I was warned by friends that a tornado had hit the cabin and messed it up pretty bad.

I was also warned by finding some of our neighbor's barn next to the driveway as I headed in.

Walking back to the lake, I got even more warnings from several trees in the front pasture that had piles of ripped-off limbs around them.

One stray branch was driven vertically into the ground.

It's hard to believe this was even a tree!  It looks like it was stuck into a giant shredder.

As I got back to the lake, I could tell the trees there had suffered, too.

From a distance, the cabin didn't look soooo bad . . .

. . . until I realized that this concrete "popsicle" was one of the corner piers that had been ripped up out of the ground (the hole is directly above the concrete in this photo)--and the whole cabin picked up and slammed down about 8' to the left.

Then the roof got slammed back down at an angle, smashing the cabin beneath it.

 

I didn't even go in for fear of something collapsing on me.

That's a piece of the roof wrapped around a pine tree at the far end of the lake.

I'm afraid our poor, dear cabin--scene of so many happy hours--has "gone with the wind."

Despite the ruin at the lake, a Canada goose is nesting on the pond, and the house stands untouched.
Friends were staying at the farm when this tornado hit, and we're so thankful to God for His protection, once again!

The neighbor who lost part of his barn had just been in his barn, walked to his house, turned--and saw the tornado come hopping and skipping right at the barn, taking out the very spot he'd been standing minutes earlier.

We know that accidents don't happen with God our Creator.  We aren't sure yet what His plan is for the future of the lake, but we know it is good because it is His plan.

Hearing and Seeing God

I went down to Leahaven yesterday to check on things, and after I finished my work I treated myself to a drive back to the lake.  As usual, there was plenty to photograph.  Later, as I looked at my favorite photos of the day, it occurred to me that a common theme unites them:  Hearing and Seeing God.

As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."
Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." 

Luke 9:57-58 (NIV)

"See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. . . . So do not worry, saying 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For . . . your heavenly Father knows that you need [these things]." 

Matt. 6:28-32 (NIV)

There is beauty even in the winter-dark water of the lake that reminds me of Daniel's words to Nebuchadnezzar:

"Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his.
He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them.
He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.
He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him." 

Dan. 2:20-22 (NIV)

I was already turning the truck to leave when the wind kicked up, stirring the still, dark water into silvery ripples and rustling the grass at the edge of the lake.  I had to stop and jump out with my camera to capture this image of Jesus' words to Nicodemus:

"The wind blows wherever it pleases.  You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.  So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." 

John 3:8 (NIV)

Annual Collegian Cookout

The collegian ministry at our church has established the annual tradition of a cookout at Leahaven in the fall.  This year we broke tradition with a beautiful, sunny day for a change.  It was a great day for a hay ride around the property.

 It was also a great day for kayaking, and several kids tried it for the first time.  A couple splashed themselves pretty wet, but we weren't worried about the upholstery for the ride back to the house.

The only two guys present ended up paddling several passengers all over the lake.  There's just something about a lake, a canoe and fall foliage that makes a day unforgettable.

A Fine November Day

We had a full work day Saturday getting Leahaven ready for the next guest.  We hadn't been out since before our trip to Scotland to visit our kids, but that did not deter Autumn from doing her thing!  Herb spent several hours blowing leaves while I cleaned the house from top to bottom.

By late afternoon the house was clean, the yard was mowed, and we were ready to leave.

The beautiful November weather called to us, however, and we just had to walk out to the lake before we left.  Zephyr and Herb waited for me as I locked up the house; Hero was off hunting in the fields.  We bring the dogs when we come to work because they love being outdoors, and it keeps them from spending all day cooped up back at home.

The back field near the lake was brilliant with goldenrod, rain-greened grass, and colorful leaves still clinging to the trees.

Near the cabin we found evidence of a raccoon visitor.  It almost looked like a tiny baby had been there!

The lake was peaceful and quiet in the soft light of late afternoon.

A harder light, unsoftened by mist rising over water, set trees aglow in the front pasture as we headed back to the truck.  In the driveway we stopped and picked up fresh-fallen pecans to take home to our pigs.

Once again, Leahaven has surprised and delighted us with so much beauty.  What a perfect illustration of Genesis 2:9, "And the Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground--trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food."

Our Annual Collegian Outing

The Collegian group from St. Elmo Presbyterian Church came out to Leahaven the end of September.  That was right before we went to Scotland for 2 weeks so it took me a while to get the pictures posted.  Better late than never!

 The whole gang enjoys a cookout on straw-bale benches under the sycamore tree.  And yes, those boards do act like see-saws if people stand up in the wrong order!

Setting out on a hayride.

Misty jumped off the wagon and tried to keep up.

 We had a beautiful, sunny day.

It's a toss-up which job Herb enjoys most: grilling the meat or driving the tractor for the hay ride.

 Everybody piled off the wagon at the lake and took advantage of the beautiful weather.

 Zephyr barks frantically at the kids in the boat--after all, she's a shepherd!--and Misty grabs her tail to try to haul her back.  After all, she's a guardian!  The poor girls just want to land their canoe!

Our daughter Kara reacts as Herb belly flops into the lake.

The kayaks are perfect for racing or companionable moments.

After dessert, good-byes, and a clean-up of the house, we leave Leahaven ready for the next people who want to enjoy all that God has blessed it with.

Reflections on the Lake

These pictures were taken in September while we were relaxing at the lake after a long, hard work day getting Leahaven ready to welcome our church's collegian group. They make me think of these verses from Isaiah . . .

"This is what the Lord says:
'In the time of my favor I will answer you,

 and in the day of salvation I will help you;

I will keep you and make you to be a covenant for the people,

to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritances,

to say to the captives, "Come out," and to those in darkness, "Be free!"

They will feed beside the roads and find pasture on every barren hill.

 They will neither hunger nor thirst, nor will the desert heat or the sun beat upon them.

He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water."

Isaiah 49:8-10