The Harper Elves

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Veterans Day Parade

On Tuesday, I took Beckett and Helen to the Veterans Day parade in Knoxville. We had a great time. It was a good opportunity for all of us to learn a little more about branches of the military, heroes of war, what it means to serve our country and why we do it! Check out Beckett's blog to read what he learned that day!

D A D

I know a little girl who is SO excited that she can write her daddy's name! Tonight she learned how to make an "A" and a "D"! Put those together....and she can write DAD! We even learned a "Y" so she could make "daddy"! She absolutely cannot wait for Daddy and Beckett to get home from BSF so she can show them! She keeps writing it over and over and over. In between writing it each time she jumps up and down and grins from ear to ear! It has been so precious! What a sweet memory!

Every year when the leaves begin to turn colors, I have taken pictures of the kids under some pretty trees in our neighbors backyard. So, this year I tried to be like my friend Olivia and "think outside the box" when I took the pictures! I love the pictures that she takes! They might be off center or a little crooked, but they always look so great! I'm guessing that she also has a really cool camera! Anyway, here are some pictures of my attempt to not make everything line up perfectly and be symmetrical! That is a real stretch for me! Ha! Anyway, I don't really understand the flash on my camera either, so this was the best I could do! I did have some pretty cute subjects if I do say so myself!

Autumn in East Tennessee

Last Saturday, we spent the day in the Cherokee National Forest enjoying the beauty of this Fall season! It was an absolutely gorgeous day! We drove up the Cherohala Skyway and hiked out to Huckleberry Bald. We were listening to a Chris Tomlin CD on our drive and this song was just perfect for the day. I've put it on my playlist and I want to share the lyrics with you as well! Indescribable! You are amazing God!

A couple of pictures taken from the car.

It was warm in the sun on top of Huckleberry Bald and Beckett felt the need to take his shirt off! It is a boy thing! Although, Helen wanted to as well! :)
There is a grave on top of the bald and Helen was very interested in the story of the gentleman buried there. I thought this was a sweet picture! As a side note, (and a kind of a yucky note) the man's body had been mauled by wild animals. As I read the inscription on the gravestone, I wondered if it was something that I should have shared with her, but it was already "out there"! Now that she knows what "mauled" is....it has come up in many of her stories. So, if you happen to be around Helen in the near future and she begins talking about animals eating up people's bodies, please know that we aren't some kind of canibalistic family! Just shared a little too much info with our 3 and a half year old! :) Can you imagine what is going on in that little head of hers? Oh my!Helen and her daddy walking along the trail!
This was not posed, I promise! Beckett had reached out and grabbed Helen's hand and they walked along that way for a while! Love it!

Indescribable
From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea

Creation's revealing Your majesty

From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring

Every creature unique in the song that it sings

All exclaiming: Indescribable, uncontainable,

You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.

You are amazing God

All powerful, untameable,

Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim You are amazing God

Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go

Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow

Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light

Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night

None can fathom

Indescribable, uncontainable,

You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name

You are amazing God

All powerful, untameable,

Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim You are amazing God

You are amazing God

Indescribable, uncontainable,

You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.

You are amazing God

All powerful, untameable,

Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim

You are amazing God

Indescribable, uncontainable,

You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.

You are amazing God

Incomparable, unchangeable

You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same

You are amazing God You are amazing God

Fall Family Frenzy

Here is a picture of Beckett and Helen behind our trunk that we decorated for Fall Family Frenzy! I also added a picture of our church on the evening of the event! I borrowed it from my friend Olivia's blog because I thought it was such a cool perspective! We arrived to set up at 5:00 before everyone got there and then we didn't leave until after 10:00 so we never saw how packed it looked from the road! It was a fantastic "frenzy"!

This picture was taken of the front of our church from across the road. The whole front parking lot is PACKED!

We took a field trip last Thursday to Maple Lane Farm for a hayride and to pick out some pumpkins. We came home from the farm and did "pumpkin math" which included many estimating activities. It was a beautiful day and the kids enjoyed the hayride, corn maze and having a picnic on the farm! On Friday evening, we went to the Fall Family Frenzy at our church. This was the first time our church has put on this community outreach event and it was fantastic! Over 2,000 people came through the event and it was awesome! Our growth group was responsible for two games and we also decorated our trunk and handed out candy. (Thanks to Marilyn for all of our decorations!) Helen had fun riding the ponies and jumping in the inflatable jumpy things! Beckett was all about the climbing wall! He also played lots of games and came home with tons of candy! Check out The Slam for a video clip of Beckett in action! The following slideshow shows a few pictures from our pumpkin day and our Fall Frenzy event on Halloween!