We have found 3 ticks on us in the past week! Make sure you’re checking yourself after outdoor activities and again  before bathing.  Treat pets with the appropriate parasiticides for not only ticks, but fleas and mosquitoes/heartworm.  We suspect the ticks we found so far had attached to our treated pups and bailed ship to the untreated humans.  We will be taking better precautions for ourselves on future walks and checking everyone on our return. 

Enjoy beautiful Blount County and stay safe!

Maryville Farmers’ Market opens for the season tomorrow!

The Maryville Farmers’ Market is held every Saturday from 9:00 am through sell-out.  The Saturday market is located in the heart of downtown Maryville at Founder’s Square on Church Avenue, near CBBC Bank. The Wednesday market, located at New Providence Presbyterian Church at 703 W. Market Street, opens June 6th and its hours are 3:30 pm – 6:30 pm.  The market is a producer-only market with no wholesale or resale. Meet the people who produce the East Tennessee selections at the market every Saturday or Wednesday.

The market offers a collection of goodies straight out of East Tennessee. Shoppers can find seasonal vegetables, fruits, honey, plants, baked goods, cut flowers, free range eggs and meats.

All growers and producers have certification to sell the product (if required for product sold). Eggs, meats, potted plants and potted herbs all are certified.

For more information, call Shelly at 865-696-5107

The grand opening will feature music by Gritte Fritter, master gardeners, new vendors, coffee, baked goods, and vegetables. Smoky Mountain Wellness will be in the Harvesting Booth with free blood pressure screening and health tips. Joining in the booth will be representatives of the Foothills Striders. Blount County’s hiking, running and biking social club. Find out more about their organization and how to join or sign up for the upcoming Tour De Blount. Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization Biking Ambassadors will come to share information about biking in East Tennessee and the course offered for biking safety.

May 5th

10am-2pm 

First Baptist Church of Maryville

Collecting the following items:

Electronics, eyeglasses, hearing aids, cell phones, secure document collection for off-site shredding, used cooking oil, mercury thermometers, license plates, flourescent light bulbs ($1 charge per bulb), granola/energy bar foil wrappers

Smoky Mountain Animal Care Foundation will have dogs available for adoption.

Medic Bloodmobile on-site 9:30 am- 2:30 pm

The due date is November 17th — which coincidently is also Jessica’s birthday.  They’ve chosen the names Wyatt Edward or Ella Rose.  This is the baby’s 12-week ultrasound which was taken today.  Jessica said the baby was a wiggleworm while they were trying to check it out.  Sounds about right.  Adam could never stand still.  As a little boy, he rightfully earned and has kept the nickname “Disco”. 

We are beyond excited and cannot not wait to meet our precious blessing!

This is the first of a month-long Anniversary celebration, which will continue on Mother’s Day (Sunday 5/13) with a Free Hot Fudge Cake for all Moms when she dines with us.  And, Shoney’s will wrap up the month by offering dine-in guests a Free Slice of Strawberry Pie on Thursday 5/31.  This is one way Shoney’s can thank their long-time patrons for their continued loyalty, while opening the door to welcome a new generation of diners.  

Shoney’s was one of the first family casual dining concepts in the United States.  Its roots trace back to when Alex “Shoney” Shoenbaum opened his first restaurant next to his father’s bowling alley in Charleston, West Virginia in 1947, 65 years ago this year.  

While the Shoney’s brand celebrates 65 years, locally, Shoney’s of Knoxville, Inc. also is celebrating their 50th anniversary this year.  They join in with the Shoney’s brand to make this celebration possible.  

The popular All-American Burger has been a guest favorite since the late 1970’s.  With the symbolic low price of just 65¢ on Thursday, Shoney’s expects to serve a lot of burgers; however there is a limit of one per person, dine-in only!  No other purchase is necessary; however, guests can choose to add French Fries and a Coca-Cola®, or Shoney’s famous hand-breaded onion rings.  Of course, Shoney’s tasty soup, salad, fruit and hot vegetable buffet will also be available.  Here’s a video. 

These offers are available at all Shoney’s of Knoxville, Inc. locations while supplies last.  Shoney’s of Knoxville, Inc. is an independently owned and operated franchise with 21 restaurants in 10 East Tennessee counties.

There are too many with needs right here — why does she have to go all the way to Africa?

Our country struggles with unemployment, homelessness, hunger, addiction, limited health care … the list is indeed endless. The needs of Blount County and East Tennessee alone are staggering.  Our family has and will continue to serve our community through local ministries and programs.   However, we believe that each person’s mission field is different and some people are called to multiple fields.

Several times throughout the Bible God commands us to minister to those at home, those near, and those far.  “… in Jerusalem and in Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) We don’t get to choose who or where we serve, only if we accept God’s calling.  Whether it’s teaching Sunday School in our church, sharing the gospel with inmates at a federal prison across the country, or administering care to AIDS patients in Namibia, God predestined where and how we are to serve.  (Romans 8:29)

Kenya is so far away. Wouldn’t it be financially and logistically more sensible for God to call someone from their own country?

A few years ago, a young lady from our church joined a missions internship in Rome.  Rome?!  Home of the Pope? I was confused.  Why would God call anyone from East Tennessee to evangelize in the shadow of the Catholic Church?  Nonetheless, I committed to praying for her mission.  Through her blog updates, I was surprised to learn that a high percentage of the citizens of Rome are atheists or agnostic.  Campus Crusade for Christ describes the spiritual climate of Italy as: “Most Italians are Catholic in culture, but deeply cynical about the Church. The Church has lost many to New Age thinking, cults, the occult and materialistic secularism, yet Catholic traditions continue to permeate every aspect of life. The infamous Sicilian Mafia and Neapolitan Camorra have infiltrated every level of society.” 

With the testimony of their neighbors tainted, God wisely placed a 5-foot-nothing co-ed with an enourmous smile and adorable dimples on the streets of Rome, sharing her love for Jesus and her knowledge of scripture with anyone and everyone who would listen.  Imagine the generations of Italians who will be blessed by the seeds she planted! There are times it’s easy to doubt God’s plan. However we are told that we should not question or limit His infinite knowledge with our finite understanding.  His plan is perfect. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

And, yes, Kenya isn’t exactly an easy drive.   It’s on the other side of the globe.  It’s winter there when it’s summer here.  It’s a long, long way from East Tennessee. Yet the planet Earth is a speck in just one of the many universes God created. The scale of the distance on His map is a teeny weeny blip. (Isaiah 40:22)

How can she be sure this is God’s will and not the influence of others?

There were no burning bushes.  No one was struck blind.  As plausible as this concern is, I can’t answer it.  I trust my daughter’s spiritual maturity.  I’ve witnessed her struggle in accepting this calling.  I know her sacrifices. I believe the calling to be genuine. I can only suggest that you also pray, study, and test the motivation of your thoughts.   (1 Thessalonians 5:21, Psalm 139:1-6)

As a few of my friends and acquaintances know, I was the first to struggle with her placement.  And when I say “struggle”, I mean I FREAKED OUT for an entire weekend.  Even briefly forbade her to go. (She’s 25) I would ask that you pray for our family, friends, and church as we support Amanda in her mission.  Please pray for Amanda, The Mission Society, and the orphanage, Into Abba’s Arms, she will be serving. 

* Disclaimer: I’m not a biblical scholar.  I’m just a mom who submits to the Great Commission (Mt. 28:18-20) and who serves and worships God through Alcoa First United Methodist Church.