Cocoa Smiles » Toccoa

The Art of Photography

AR — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:51:05 +0000

Our professor of Photography (and my good friend) Clarence Wulf explains what it means to take a good photo. He teaches students who are preparing to go to the mission field and other places of service how to use a camera. Some have never even held a DSLR camera. My Barnabas group took a few minutes yesterday to look at the work of their peers and talk with Clarence about his winterim class.

A Different World

AR — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 13:33:16 +0000

When I lived in Atlanta, I loved to go to Kennesaw Mountain on Sunday afternoon with Cocoa. There was always plenty of people there to remind me that I was in the city. But it is much different here. This photo was taken a couple of weeks ago at Camp Mikell where many of us go for a quick hiking retreat. When you are there and when you walk out into the woods, you are reminded that you are definitely not near a city. It is a world unto its own.

Train to Toccoa

AR — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:09:27 +0000

Last week an excursion train carrying visitors from as far away as New York and Virginia arrived in Toccoa for our annual Harvest Festival. We had a great time and really enjoyed the weekend—it was full of activities from Friday to Sunday afternoon. This is a photo of one of the antique cars on the train. I was shocked when I noticed the leaf color in its windows. And of course, the mayor of Toccoa cued the hawk in this photo to fly over at the perfect moment.

My Dad worked for the railroad, and I’ve always found a sense of peace in the sound of a distant train whistle or of the turning rhythm of its steel wheels on train tracks.

Then there was a wave goodbye. . . .

We’re having back to back weekend activities. This coming weekend over 300 cyclists will ride along the Tugaloo Corridor near Lake Hartwell. I’m ready for that event and for the promise of seeing some of the usually closed off native Indian property where Cherokee Indians once lived.

Fall Color: Too Perfect

AR — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:18:35 +0000

I had a friend tell me that I had lost me ability to think clearly over this photo. It was taken last Saturday of a hillside near the lake at Toccoa Falls.

Native Americans in Toccoa

AR — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 14:35:33 +0000

Our Harvest Fest took place this weekend and there was plenty for everyone to do. I was especially interested in the Native American Indians who performed on the main stage.

Leaf Color To Die For

AR — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:17:07 +0000

Yesterday I walked up to the falls with our director of landscaping, and we were talking about how beautiful the leaves are this year. The summer was hot and dry but that has just made the colors more brilliant. We both were reminded of the fact that leaves are their prettiest when they are dying. (Some of my friends will understand the analogy.) Few things are more striking than a Red Maple tree in the fall.

A Coat of Many Colors

AR — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 01:48:45 +0000

Wonder what Joseph’s coat of many colors looked like? I believe there are times when God smiles at us!

A Salute

AR — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 23:08:43 +0000

This past weekend was Currahee Military Weekend and the citizens of Stephens county gathered to honor veterans and particularly the men of Easy Company—the World War II paratroopers, who dropped into France and helped to liberate allied forces.