For the past few months our family has been driving around from place to place dropping people off at different locations. Sometimes it means an unlucky child will have to skip his or her game so that we don't have to go to three different games, in three different places, at the same time. All of that to say, for at least three months we've been very busy. Now that Caroline, Ben, and Jack are all having their last games this week, I don't know if I'm glad or not. It has been nice to see one of them make connection with the ball and watch it soar away, and then take off for first base.

 Great season guys!

   Ever since Mom and Dad purchased a pop-up trailer in July, we've been anticipating a camping trip for months. Just a few weeks ago, they told us that they had reserved a week for camping.
Throughout this week, we have been gathering together our gear and any food related items.

   After a much needed time to make sure we had everything that was required for good camping experience, we loaded the Suburban and hit the road. Shortly following our arrival at the campground, we wasted no time in setting up camp before nightfall.

 

For most of our two night, three day trip, we played mini golf near the camp's entrance. We divided into four teams of two. The teams were Dad and Eli, Mom and Jack, Travis and Ben, and Caroline and me. For the first seven holes all four teams were mildly successful. Sometimes there would be a ripple of cheering as someone would win the hole with only two or three stroke. Until it came to hole eight. It was simple enough, just a straight-on hit towards the hole. But blocking the way was a big lighthouse. At the bottom of the lighthouse was a ting gap where the ball could fit through. Each team ended up with around nine strokes until it came to Travis and Ben's turn. Every time the ball would hit the lighthouse without passing through the hole, it would role backwards until it fell of the course. In the end, their team got seventeen points on hole eight. While we were there, Travis, Caroline, and I made a short film about a guy that can't seem to make a single shot. Hilariously, the movie was shot at hole eight. If you would like to watch how the greatest game of mini golf played out, click here. 

You can imagine our delight when Caroline and I realized we were in the lead by a good amount. The only team that was close to us was Dad and Eli, and even then they would need a miracle. And a miracle is what they got. In order to get your ball into the hole, you'd have to hit your ball along a ramp and over a football-like goal post and into the hole beyond it. Well that's exactly what happened. On his next turn, Dad hit his ball up the ramp, over the field goal, off the back wall, and into the hole. After his parade lap around the golf course, he slipped on the loose gravel, fell feet first and was met by his teammate.  

Evenings around the fire were probably my favorite part about our trip. With smores and cinnamon roll dough wrapped around skewers, every second was a joy.  

George Lucas

   Three years prior to today's date, director George Lucas, most famous for the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises, sold them to Disney for $4.08 billion dollars. Before selling, he stated in an interview that he would be retiring. When he did sell, the set price was so large that half of the determined amount was payed in cash and the other in Disney's stock. After purchasing the Star Wars franchise, Disney began production on the seventh Star Wars in the saga. Later that month, Disney announced that their movie, The Force Awakens will be the first in the third trilogy.

    A few years before he sold Star Wars, Lucas had written story lines for Star Wars VII, VIII, and IX. When Disney began writing the script in 2013, Director J. J. Abrams decided not to use them. Now him and his team had to completely rethink the plot. Along with Lawrence Kasdan co-writer for the Empire Strikes Back/Return of the Jedi, Abrams took command of the writing process. "There were a thousand people waiting for answers on things, and you couldn't tell them anything except, 'Yeah that guy's in it.' That was about it. That was really all we knew."

  Even before its release date, Star Wars VII has broken many records. Three months before its release date, IMAX has reported that in a 24 hour period Star Wars has raked in $6.5 million dollars in tickets. Although the storyline is completely different then Lucas', Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, and Carrie Fisher will be returning. Along with Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, and Peter Mayhew who voice the two droids C-3PO, R2-D2, and the wookie Chewbacca. New to the cast are John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, and Oscar Isaac. In August 2014,  Disney announced that Rian Johnson would direct Star Wars VIII. And exactly one year later, Colin Trevorrow was confirmed the director for Star Wars IX. For the most part Star Wars seven has the potential and the fan base to become a TV phenomenon. It probably won't blow minds like George Lucas did with A New Hope. But only time will tell. 

This year the Kyker fam is in the middle of four different sports, plus a job at Sidewall Pizza Company. Caroline is playing Softball, Ben is playing Baseball, Jack Tee-Ball, Travis is working at Sidewall pizza company, and I am doing Archery on our co-op. With all of those combined, it's only natural to have at least three different things going on at once. Which means the old divide and conquer technique is being put to good use. Usually it means Mom taking one kid, while Dad takes another. Sometimes I'm dropped off with a kid while the other kids are being shuttled around to each of their activities. Today I'm with Mom and Eli watching one of Jack's games.

When Saturdays aren't rainy, a day is usually spent mowing the yard, weed eating, or cleaning the house. Today wasn't much different. I mowed the yard while Travis attacked the weeds with the weed-eater around the house. Before that we made two different trips to the store to get two trailers of bagged soil.

    Overseeing our work was none other than Sadie and Marvel themselves. 

After an afternoon of heavy labor, we gathered sticks for a fire outside. With hot dogs, Lay's potato chips, and juice boxes we set-up camp down by our fire-pit. 

For a few weeks Poetry Tea has been a regular occurrence around the Kyker home. Today, the Keigley's invited us over for an outside poetry and tea get together to welcome autumn with the one condition that we bring an autumn poem a pastry or dessert to share. Gladly, we excepted. One by one people would stand and recite/read their poems, and the onlookers listened while sipping mugs of tea.

Last Sunday CNN host Jake Tapper interviewed presidential candidate Ben Carson on his statement about whether or not a Muslim should be president. When asked to go further into his statement, Carson told Tapper that a Muslim should not be president. Why does Carson think this? If the United States Constitution was put side by side with the Muslims Sharia Law then you would know. Every single law that makes up the Sharia Law goes completely against everything that the Constitution stands for. Carson believes that an American citizen cannot agree with the Constitution if he is an avid supporter of Islam and the Quran. The Sharia Law is exactly the opposite of the Constitution.  When Tapper told Carson that there were many American Muslims who's feelings were hurt, Carson replied with, 

"Is it possible that maybe the media thinks that it is a bigger deal? Because American people, the majority of them, agree and they understand exactly what I'm saying." 
From a Christian stand point I couldn't agree more with Carson. America is already spiraling down into a bottomless pit. The last thing we needs is to have a person as president who goes completely against the Constitution. I'm sure that there are plenty of Muslims out there that our very loyal to the US. But if they follow the Sharia Law then they shouldn't be trusted in the White House. In the interview, Tapper was in my opinion, completely against Carson. The Interview lasted a couple minutes longer before Carson's campaign manager, Armstrong Williams spoke out.
"This interview is over."  

A typical rainy Saturday around the Kyker's usually consists of late breakfasts ( which are always brunches ) and lots and lots of board and card games. Today you can say we did all of those. We had a late breakfast which acted as our lunch as well, and we play a few games. But we also got to spend an hour at a book store down by Haywood Mall with presidential candidate Ben Carson. Thanks to Dr. Carson's website, we found out that he was coming to Greenville. This year Dr. Carson released his twelfth book and for the rest the year is taking book tour along with his campaigning. In the book, Dr. Carson talks about the United States Constitution and what it means to be an American citizen. Today Carson's tour took him through Columbia, SC, Rock Hill, SC, and now here in Greenville. For information click here. 

I'm so thrilled to be able to have the chance to meet two presidential candidates. Thank you Dr. Carson and your team for making this happen! 

Last year Mom devised an ingenious idea. If we did six weeks of school without stopping, then the seventh week would be our week off. With such a magnificent idea as this, we carried it with us into this year. As impossible as it sounds, we have already been doing school for six weeks and this is our seventh. When Mom created her idea, she said that our week off would be devoted to crafts and things of that nature. Over the course of this week, we have made board games out of poster board and markers, made forts out of logs outside, and recovered pillows. Today, however, was different. After a couple of hours of building forts, we gathered together several backpacks and filled them high with water bottles and a picnic lunch. Today the destination for our glorious picnicking was Paris Mountain state park.

As we walked by the very familiar sight of the man-made waterfall, Eli had to stop for a moment to take a long look at the churning water in front of him.

Along the way we encountered an abnormally large squirrel and a turtle whose family and gender were unknown.

It seems that this little leaf is changing colors faster than its companions. Fall walks through Paris Mountain couldn't be prettier. I can't wait till all of the leaves start changing. 

   A few days ago, a friend from Travis' co-op told him that Jeb Bush was coming to a local restaurant on Friday. Since then I've been imagining myself standing next to him while we shook hands. While on his way to Miami, Florida, Bush stopped through Greenville with his campaign crew and a few scattered news reporters. At 11:45 this morning, Mom took Travis, Caroline, my friend James and me out to meet Mr. Bush. As we walked through the doors, I could already see big cameras and lights being set up.

   About thirty minutes later, while we were eating, a small precession of nicely dressed men walked in. At that moment I knew he was here. Hurriedly I scrambled up out of my seat and rushed over to where he was walking in. As I picked my way through some of the men, I noticed Mr. Bush looking down at me. When I looked up he said, "That's a nice camera." It took me a minute to realize that he was actually talking to me! All I thought to say at that moment was, "Thanks." Then he leaned forward, shook my hand, and said, "My name is Jeb, nice to meet you." After returning the gesture, I slid out of the way to make room for him to pass by. 

   About ten minutes later, I saw him walking over to our table. From then on it was all a big explosion in my mind. Governor Bush told his campaign intern to let me film with his video camera. Where ever he went I would follow him around filming. Before he left, I was told to pack my bags and come be his camera guy in Miami. The whole experience was really amazing and I highly recommend doing something like it more often.

Thanks Jeb Bush, his campaign staff, and the WYFF news reporters for an amazing experience.