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Rick: Hey, welcome to a brand-new show, folks.
This is Rick Arndt.
Sorry I'm squinting into the sun, but the sun's there.
I can't move it.
But we're in the middle of Lake Hartwell, or Hartwell Lake.
It rests on the border of Georgia and South Carolina,
sort of near the towns of Lavonia, Hartwell, Clemson,
about two hours from Atlanta,
in the wilderness, just south of the mountains.
And I'm about to make a landing.
If you watched our last show, this is a follow-up of that one.
You see Paul with the loud pants?
He picked those up on the trip.
He just landed.
He looks like he's about to claim
that peninsula and name it.
David loves to name it.
I wouldn't be surprised if David tries to name this as an island,
even though it isn't an island.
But during this trip, and some of our previous trips,
every time we've landed on an island.
And what's neat about some of these lakes in this wild area --
they're kind of --
well, not just kind of --
they're uninhabited.
They're islands,
some of them as small as maybe 50 feet in diameter,
others 500 feet in diameter.
And David, every time we land on one,
as we're anticipating it, when he's in my canoe,
I'll hear him talking about,
"What do I want to name this island?"
And so I'm sure --
he's probably excited about that landing
that he just made with Mommy and with Paul.
In fact, I'm going to try to head over there.
Now, we left the dock of the place we're staying,
oh, maybe half an hour or 45 minutes ago,
and one of our canoes --
maybe it was longer, maybe an hour.
Time sort of flies when you're paddling out here.
And we left with three canoes, but only two are visible --
theirs and the one I'm in.
Way, way down there --
I would guess that's where the other one is.
And I think that canoe contains Philip, Mary-Elizabeth, and --
oh, usually, I can figure --
Nathan, I believe.
So I'm making some progress,
moving toward the shoreline here.
Hi, David!
That looks like the island we were on yesterday, doesn't it?
You wouldn't recommend me going here?
Okay.
Did you manage to land up there okay?
What about the area where your canoe is?
Were you able to get in okay there?
Perfect?
Okay.
Yeah, we had that problem when we hit the island the other day.
Anyway, they've landed.
They've located a good place to land.
One thing about these shorelines --
there's so much high sand going into them, and dirt and rock,
that you can't really bring a canoe
close to the shore in most places.
I'm getting close enough to take some pictures here.
David, you want to smile?
I've got the camera.
David: I'll help you guys land.
Rick: You want to help us land, you say?
David: Yeah.
Rick: Okay.
David: You could canoe towards me, and I'll help you.
Rick: Oh, my camera battery went out.
One good thing about this camera -- it's rugged.
I could drop it into the water right now,
and it wouldn't be a problem,
as compared to other cameras in the past.
And I brought along replacement batteries --
let me see if I can locate one --
just for a purpose like this.
Also, I have a rubber band, in case that's needed.
We have some water.
We could actually spend the night
on this semi-island if we had to.
We have plenty to drink.
Let me take a picture.
Okay, David.
Hey, you're helping us land?
Okay, you could pull the rope.
I didn't think you could do it.
David: Could you please give me that rope?
Rick: Can you reach the rope, David?
David: Yeah, but I don't want to get wet.
Rick: Don't go in the water.
Good, David.
Good.
David, maybe I can come out and help you now.
You've made a real difference here.
Now maybe I can take it from here.
David: I could get it.
Rick: I better put the camera in a pocket here.
There.
What?
Hey, Paul?
David did a great job, but maybe --
would you want to pull us in a little more?
Paul: A good, bountiful land.
Cathy: If you push your boat from that side,
push with your paddle there, push this way,
it'll get you out of the water.
Rick: Thanks, Paul, for pulling us in.
Paul: No problem.
Rick: David, thanks.
I don't think we could have done it without David,
don't you think, Paul?
Paul: Good job, Dave.
Rick: Good job.
Well, let's see what this land has to offer.
You want to name this?
David: Can I take a picture?
Rick: You could take it.
David actually is pretty steady with this.
Why don't we get one with David in it, too?
Cathy: Yay!
You want me to take a picture?
Rick: I can get that one.
Well, okay.
Why don't you get that one?
Would you mind getting one with Mommy, and Daddy, and David?
Paul: Sure.
Rick: I wonder if Columbus and the early explorers did this.
Hey, folks, this has been kind of a long segment,
but we've accomplished a lot.
We've made land.
That's always a good feeling --
landfall.
And I see our missing, mysterious third canoe.
They're working their way toward shore.
I'll give you a break while I wait for them to draw more near,
and then we'll see what happens when we meet them.
Rick: Hey, we're back, folks.
And while you were enjoying the break,
those guys didn't make very much progress.
It looks like they're kind of just chattering,
and enjoying themselves, and working against the current.
But why don't I set up this video?
Do you remember in the last show what I brought you?
Sections of footage from Mom and Dad's Corner.
It's on FamTeam.com, our website.
We have a lot of video features there.
And I'll continue with the theme that I started with
during the last show that was also filmed on this lake,
and bring you another excerpt of a conversation
that Mom and I had for a Mom and Dad's Corner taping.
And while you watch that,
we'll see if those guys can make any progress.
In fact, the more I think about it,
I think they're going to stay out there.
Maybe I should just hop in the canoe and join them.
So anyway, we're about, as I said, to leave on a trip.
I've got an open suitcase right over there.
And will you come in a little bit later
and help me fold my shirts?
Cathy: Yeah, sure.
Rick: Good.
I always have difficulty --
could you explain for me, and for our listening audience,
in case you're not here one of these times,
how do you achieve --
I have a lot of shirts like this.
How do you achieve that smooth look?
You always seem to be able to, when we pack for a trip,
have the shirts come out looking good.
Have you noticed when I pack for a trip,
we don't get the same results?
Cathy: Well, you're not supposed to
crumple them up and toss them in.
It's not a basketball game.
Rick: Oh, okay.
Cathy: No, any mommy knows.
You just put the shoulders together,
and fold in the sleeve.
It's not that difficult.
Rick: But it's not that easy, either.
In fact, Jude, I was wondering --
Jude's behind the camera.
Maybe you could get,
when you have a chance, as a prop --
could you go in the closet there and get --
Cathy: Take your shirt off, honey.
Rick: A polo shirt.
I have plenty in the closet.
You don't have to disrobe.
Cathy: Jude looks good without his shirt.
I don't know.
Rick: But I think we have to show the audience and show me.
Here's an orange one.
That looks a lot like autumn colors.
And this is perfect, because it's a fall trip.
That was Jude.
Now, this is already somewhat wrinkly.
But forgetting that --
it's pretty straight.
I guess those wrinkles fall out as you put it on, don't they?
Cathy: Well, that's where you tuck in.
I think your closet's overstuffed.
Rick: Now, see, what I was doing was going something like --
logically, just like you fold a sheet,
you go like this, and then like this, and then like this.
But then when it comes out of the suitcase, it should --
this looks pretty good, considering, doesn't it?
Cathy: Yeah, that's pretty good.
I would do it inside-out of what you're doing.
I think you're doing it inside-out, technically.
But you would keep your shoulders straight.
Rick: So how does that help?
Cathy: Well, first off, this is where your straight line is.
If you were ironing a shirt,
that's where you'd want it straight.
And so you'd want all this straight,
so you'd get that.
And that way, it keeps your collar good.
If you get a bend that's in the back of your neck,
who cares about the back of your neck as much as the front?
And then you take these sleeves
and you tuck them under straight, though,
making everything you have smooth.
Remember, you're going to have weight on it.
So when you think that they press pants --
a pants press --
they actually are just pressing them
and keeping them in that spot, and they come out flat.
This is going to be pressed,
and so you want to keep the part that's going to show your chest,
'cause you're going to tuck in your tummy anyway,
and you're going to have a jacket on.
So really, the only part that needs
to look good is the front part.
But all of it will look good with this.
Rick: Boy, that looks really good.
That's so sharp.
See, it looks just like a store-bought shirt, real crisp.
It looks better than before.
See, you just have that right touch.
Cathy: I've had a little practice with men's shirts.
Rick: Now, I could try that same thing and see if I can remember.
Cathy: You're going to put me out of business.
I'll get fired.
Rick: You started out by going like this?
Cathy: Uh-huh.
Rick: And then you went like this?
Cathy: No.
Inside-out.
You're doing it inside-out.
Rick: I go like this?
Cathy: Right, 'cause you want the front
of the collar to look good.
You're trying to protect what's going to show.
Rick: And then go like this?
Cathy: Well, you keep this --
you're trying to keep this seam together straight, okay?
Rick: Okay.
Cathy: And I wouldn't have this pointed up.
I'd have this tucked.
And let the bend go there.
Rick: Ah, that bend.
That's what I get wrong.
Oh, okay.
Then you just go like this?
Cathy: Sort of.
Rick: And then you take this and tuck it in neatly under here?
Cathy: Right, except I would go right-handed.
You went left-handed.
But yeah, that's fine.
Rick: Now, why doesn't mine look as crisp?
Cathy: 'Cause I smoothed it out as I did it.
Rick: It looks like wilted lettuce.
Cathy: I'd say it looks more like a fallen leaf.
Rick: Well, thanks.
I came within 80 percent of yours.
Cathy: So now I'll just let you do it.
Rick: Well, I'll still feel better when you do it.
I'm going to put it down here, flat on the floor,
so it doesn't get too crunched up.
But anyway, folks, this segment --
we didn't even plan on a how-to segment.
But to open this show,
I wanted to at least bring that up,
'cause I'm going to need help later.
I have about 10 shirts I have to pack.
Hey, welcome back, folks.
It's time for us to join them.
They're getting ahead of us.
I'll get this pushed out so that Jude and I
can hop in and join them for the trip back to the house.
We're kind of on a tight schedule,
not only facing a sunset deadline --
that's not a problem,
because we're only 20 minutes away from our place --
but they want to play disc golf.
So I promised the guys, the older guys --
oh, this is drifting a little bit --
that we'll be back in time for them
to take a little disc golf outing.
Got to keep the weight low.
Well, while I wait for Jude to get in --
and he has to line up his camera equipment --
I'll give you this break,
and we'll reverse this canoe and catch up with the other two.
Rick: Hey, welcome back, folks.
I'm trying to push away from shore here.
The sand and the rocks can make that kind of tough.
There we go.
I hear the scraping kind of becoming less and less.
Also, we've got a current
that kind of drives us toward the shore here.
There we go.
Now I've got to try to catch up with them here.
And I'm going to use the wooden paddle for a little while.
So far, it's been holding up quite a bit.
I mentioned this in the last show.
I don't know if you watched the episode before this one.
But this is the paddle that I obtained 38 years ago
on a six- or seven-day-long canoe trip
into the wilderness of Quetico Provincial Park
in the province of Ontario, Canada.
And it's lasted all these 38 years.
I try to use it sparingly,
a little bit here and there on each of our family trips.
And wow, they've made great progress.
Just for the sake of the guys, I'm going to try to --
I think I'll switch to this new paddle,
because I really have to swallow up some --
I was going to say "miles,"
but it's probably a mile or less --
yeah, less than a mile back to our home dock.
I really have to make some progress,
because I did promise the guys
that they could go play disc golf,
and I would do my best to get back there in time.
And we're not really too far behind the other canoes.
Well, anyway, did you enjoy that footage?
You know, I'm glad we do those little conversations.
They're so easy to do, but sometimes it's a challenge.
Cathy's so busy, being a homeschooling mom.
And we're both busy.
And it can be a challenge to grab her
and get her in front of the camera.
She's not one who seeks a lot of publicity,
and yet has a wealth of experience --
all of these years.
And a lot of people will
email into our website and ask her questions,
so we just decided to put together
that little video feature.
And while I'm making progress here,
why don't I just go ahead and bring you some more of that?
I hope I can close this gap.
Two years ago now, I think it's been,
since we acquired a used, but very in-shape --
still a lot of use in it --
pull-along trailer for our car.
And I can't almost imagine --
how did we go on vacation trips as a family before we had that?
I mean, can you imagine?
'Cause you have that 16-by-7-foot
trailer completely packed.
Every cubic inch seems to be used wisely.
Now, of course, in the old days,
we didn't bring the bikes that we're now bringing,
and a couple of canoes, but still --
Cathy: We didn't bring the bike helmets,
or the life jackets, or the paddles,
or a lot of things that are incidental with all that.
Rick: But still, it's amazing what --
even all the big tubs that you bring.
We were crossing --
when we went to Prince Edward Island,
I remember we were crossing back into the United States.
And they waved us through, and then they thought better of it.
"Well, maybe we better inspect that 16-by-7-foot trailer."
Cathy: I think they x-rayed it, and they got worried.
Rick: But they pulled over and said,
"Better look into that."
And then when he opened the door,
the guard just laughed.
Everything was so perfectly balanced,
and labeled, and stacked.
He just laughed.
I said, "Oh, yeah, my wife -- she's really organized."
And he just said, "This is sick."
Then he goes, "Go on through."
Cathy: He said it was a sign of a sick mind.
Rick: He said,
"A clean trailer like this is a sign of a sick mind."
But I think it's a sign of a very organized mind.
And I know what goes into it.
And you have every container labeled.
And when we reach a place,
a vacation house or a cabin, late at night,
and everybody's tired after 12, 15 hours of driving,
and everybody's groping through the darkness,
it's a blessing to have those labels on there.
And we know exactly, when unloading,
where this one goes, where that one goes,
'cause on the outside, all the containers look alike.
Wow, the water seems to have become very smooth.
We talked about this in the last show,
but since this is sort of a two-part episode --
the previous show and this one --
I'll repeat and touch upon that theme of water,
and the Spirit, and the abundance here.
This was created, this lake,
Hartwell Lake or Lake Hartwell --
I've seen it both ways --
by a decision to put in a dam about 1955.
I think it took about eight years to create the whole lake.
And they learned how to capture water here and enhance it.
And there's a beautiful abundance here.
And I compared that, in our last show, to the Holy Spirit.
We see the image of water used constantly
in the New Testament regarding the Holy Spirit.
And just the fact that surrendering to God
and welcoming His Spirit keeps you in a situation like this,
where you never run dry.
Well, anyway, let's go to a break.
I'm going to try to make some more progress here.
Rick: Hi, folks.
Hey, we're going to close out the show,
and I'm also going to close out this little journey.
The two should sort of happen about the same time,
because I see our dock, oh, about 1,000 feet ahead of me.
I think there's time to bring you another clip
from Mom and Dad's Corner.
All these clips are on FamTeam.com --
not only this department,
but we have FamTeam Footage and a lot of other departments.
In the very beginning of FamTeam.com --
it was born in 2000, by the way --
we began with two main sections,
Dad's Diary and Photo of the Day.
And to this day, those two sections run every day.
And thankfully, through Luke's careful skills
at preserving all the old data,
we have all the archives going back to the year 2000.
So visit FamTeam.com sometime.
But anyway, for now, let's see another clip,
another segment of Mom and Dad's Corner.
I guess this might be a good time to talk about
the whole concept of a family trip.
Why do we pack up?
Why do we go to all this trouble
of bringing things with us?
Cathy: That's my thought.
Rick: Why not just do it here?
Cathy: We've got the prettiest house around.
Rick: But there's something about --
I don't know what it is,
but every year, when we go on a trip,
I come back and say to myself,
"Wow, God must have known we needed that,"
because I feel so refreshed.
I see everything from a different angle.
And it really does --
even though it's physically tiring at times,
it does release new things in you --
new insights, new peace.
I don't know.
It just seems to be something that God knows that people need.
I guess that's why He created a Sabbath.
Cathy: Well, that, and then when you hear the kids
talking about the trips.
They talk about them like they were just so perfect.
They don't seem to remember all the stressful times.
And there are stressful times.
We've have a broken window.
The one time up in PEI -- remember?
Rick: Prince Edward Island.
Cathy: The bike handle went right through a window.
Rick: The bike handle just fell right through
the big, expensive window in the van.
Cathy: Up at Niagara Falls, we had a flat tire,
and it was freezing cold.
I think icicles were forming on you guys
as you were changing them.
And Nathan making that goofy face through the window.
Rick: We were outside changing the tire.
It was so bitter.
And then he was smiling through the van.
Cathy: 'Cause he was warm.
The other guys were out there shivering.
Rick: But he wasn't smiling --
it was real warm, and he just smiled real cheerfully.
And it kind of cheered me up.
Cathy: Kind of brainless.
Rick: Well, he was young then.
Cathy: Well, and he had been terribly sick,
really, just earlier that day,
and he'd been sick the day before.
The kids had gotten a stomach flu, unfortunately,
right before we ended up going that way.
And we had a little trouble getting across the border.
They somehow thought it was unusual
to have so many kids in a family.
And I think they thought we were kidnapping them.
And poor Nathan had been throwing up.
He was really sick, feeling real poorly.
And I think right after that,
when we had the flat tire, he was feeling better,
and so he was pretty happy at that point.
"Hey, we're having fun."
He's warm.
And so he's just kind of like, "Oh, good. This is fun."
Rick: Wow, I can't believe it.
We're almost in mid-November --
well, November 10th as we tape --
and we're in shirtsleeves.
And compared to some of our past canoeing trips,
our autumn adventures,
it's so warm.
It's been wonderful.
Of course, some of those trips have taken us
to places like Maine --
the woods of Maine,
the Upper Peninsula region of Michigan,
and upstate New York, around Canandaigua and Naples.
And I would never give up those trips.
And we want to go back to those places.
But I'll tell you, it's been a real treat
to have temperatures of 60, 65, and 70, or even more warm,
on this trip to the southeast in the middle of November.
Well, it looks like I'm about to glide into shore.
In fact, it looks like their two canoes
are docked and roped, tied away,
and the guys, and Mom, and Mary-Elizabeth
have already headed back into the house.
It's a good time to close out the show.
If you have a moment, visit our website, FamTeam.com.
And be with me for the next episode, please.
Bye, now.