Saturday was one of those rare rainy days when Toccoa Falls  really began to churn as the water poured over it. Later that afternoon, the clouds broke up and the sun came out and so did the butterflies.

And the students came out, too Here’s Jacob taking time to walk to the falls and enjoy it’s beauty.

I love these doors. I finally stopped yesterday afternoon and took a photo of them. They have been restored, and I think that they are so simple that they are elegant. The church is beautiful. I also had a chance to go inside and see where the founder of Toccoa Falls College preached for so many years. Dr. R. A. Forrest (pictured below) was the pastor from 1925 until 1950.

“In 1925, the First Presbyterian Church issued him a call to become their pastor. After much consideration and with the understanding that he would be able to continue his evangelistic work throughout the United States and Canada, he accepted the call and served as pastor of this church for twenty-five years. During his pastorate a beautiful brick edifice was built, and the church membership increased. It is of interest to note that, though he felt several times that he should resign because of the pressure of his other duties. The church refused to allow this until he reached the age of retirement.” —Taken from the book: Achieving The Impossible with God.

Here’s another view of the doors. I love the lamp post, too!

Ferns are everywhere—little ferns and big ferns. But these are babies compared to the ones that border the streams in this area. I’ll have to photograph those. For now, these are just plain sweet.

Bright green lets you know that this fern has just “opened up or unrolled.” I had to add the photo below because I love . . .

Mountain Laurel. It is so southern and native to this part of northeast Georgia.

You know how I often say that the college owns over 1,100 acres of land that back up to a National Forest? Well, we also have an original Indian footpath that runs through part of our campus. It called the Unicoi Trail and at one time it was used only by the Cherokee Indians. Later, thousands of settlers traveled it as they moved north. It even became a “toll” path.Today, it leads to a couple of beautiful waterfalls and then on to Helen, Georgia.

Commencement is in the morning, and I think I have finally mastered my flash. (It has only taken me six months!) The campus is almost empty except for graduating seniors and their families. I can’t explain what comes over me whenever I attend commencement services. I cry. I want to cheer, hug everyone, and I feel a sense of relief, which makes no sense because I’m not the one who has done anything other than show up and take a couple of crazy photos like this one of one of our deans, Dr. Brian Shelton, who has a ton of titles and degrees (none of which I’m going to list on my personal Web site). In this photo he is “standing in” for the college president Dr. Gardner, who will hand out diplomas in the morning.

Serious stuff . . . I had to mind my “P’s and Q’s” and not do anything radical. I was able to do that . . . so I’m rather proud of myself. Notice the gloves these guys are wearing. Sort of a British thing, don’t you think?