The Carl Sandburg Home

Hiking around the Summit of Mt. Mitchell

Mt. Mitchell

Highest point east of the Mississippi River.....

The Hike up Mt. Pisgah

Had the darkness not begun to set in, we would have hiked to the peak of the mountain (and we hope to do just that in coming months), but the view was nonetheless beautiful and God's handiwork was profuse along the way. Mt. Pisgah, as the guidepost stated, was the place where Moses viewed the Promised Land. God has indeed given me such a gift in this new home. I am humbled and so very grateful.....

Weekend Drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway

How much we enjoyed last weekend. These are but a few of the scenes of our drive. One of our goals is to drive the entire Parkway. We made it from the southern end of the drive to Blowing Rock, NC. Along the way we enjoyed Mt. Pisgah and Mt. Mitchell and toured the Carl Sandberg home before heading home.

The Most Wonderful Time of This Year

I don't think I've ever enjoyed three days as much in my lifetime. I am so blessed by my three beautiful daughters, handsome sons-in-law, and now a gorgeous grandson. I look forward to a time when we can get together again, but I will forever hold these days in my heart. Thank you guys for the precious memories. I love you so very much.

Judi's Visit

What a blessing to have my cousin Judi from Texas come to visit for a few days. These are pictures from the first few days of her visit. We visited Ft. Mountain and Amicalola Falls.

Birds' Baths and Butterflies

Nature is not only the most peacegiving source of pleasure that I know, but it also gives me delightful moments of laughter. Watching the little goldfinches relishing their summertime baths gave me such joy! I still marvel at the goodness of my God and am increasingly thankful for His daily gifts of mercy to me.

Chattanooga Nature Center

To think that this hike is 10 minutes from our church! What a peaceful way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Becca graciously drove me here after church services this morning. Even though it was 80 degrees outside today, the shade made everything cool. The June colors were so vibrant.... I especially enjoyed watching the butterflies and two little goldfinches taking baths.... Also, a little girl was having a birthday party in the treehouse at the center (bottom row, third picture). She and her friends wore butterfly wings and were having flower cupcakes for dessert! The sight made my very heart smile.

Fall Creek Falls State Park

What a lovely way to start our summer! Becca and I took this drive yesterday afternoon, ending at Fall Creek Falls. The recent rains in the Southeast has literally brought the landscape to new life. The creeks are flowing over, the vegetation is verdant, and the wildlife is venturing out with a new boldness. We even stopped to observe a wild turkey strutting around his habitat bordering a country lane... I can hardly wait to share this with friends from Texas who will be visiting this summer. Judi, I'm off to get groceries for your visit!

Precious Baby Neil

I'm home after a wonderful Memorial Day Holiday with my beautiful grandbaby! The time was such a blessing....Neil is the joy of my life...and of course, his mother and father are such blessings to my heart, as well:) Thank you, guys, for the lovely visit! I look forward to seeing all of you soon! I love each of you!

Wednesday Morning Sunrise

I love standing in my "back yard" and watching the sun rise over the Blue Ridge. Our little town is such a peaceful, quiet place, especially at 6:00 a.m. The view of the rooftops, the town below, the hills and then the Blue Ridge, all accompanied by the songs of birds and an occasional Canadian goose, give me an uplifting coffee time and such a pleasant way to start the day....

Moose Hollow

What a beautiful, misty weekend we've had! These were pictures from an afternoon drive Becca and I took to Murphy and Hayes, North Carolina and Hiawassee, Georgia. God has given me such a tranquil lifestyle these past few years, and I know that these scenes add so much to the sense of peace and thankfulness that fills my heart. God's creative handiwork literally surrounds me, day after day. My heart is full of wonder and gratitude.....

Alabama's DeSoto Falls

What a gorgeous finale for Mother's Day! Paul shared one of his favorite spots in Alabama with us this afternoon....DeSoto Falls. The sheer beauty of the place is breathtaking, but combined with the mountain air, the delightfully cool temperatures (about 70 degrees), and the roaring falls, made the place one of the most memorable places I've seen since my move. Thank you, Paul, Elizabeth, and Rebecca, for this perfect ending to a precious weekend!

Mother's Day

What lovely surprises on this special day. Liz and Paul had sent a gorgeous bouquet of Irises and Tulips, and Becca gave me two books on Appalachian history, a book on wildflowers, and one on wildflower trails in Georgia. I'm reading Miracle of Brasstown Valley and I used the Audubon Society Wildflower book on our afternoon trip today. I'm also so happy that today is Anna's very first Mother's Day. She is such a good mother already and I am so proud of her!

Spring Place Moravian Cemetery

Becca's school began as a Moravian Mission to the Cherokee Indians in the early 1800's.

On our way home last night we passed the old Moravian Cemetery, where the missionaries and many of their converts are buried in unmarked graves. It had just rained and the golden light of the sunset gave the entire area an ethereal air. Daisies and primroses and some sort of purple flower unfamiliar to me grew in profusion outside the old wooden fence surrounding the sacred place. I thought how different Heaven's economy is from ours....that the least truly will be the greatest some day and that the unknown will be names of renown in that land. I knew that I was standing on Holy Ground of great Saints.

Knowing that the Trail of Tears started about 10 miles from my home, I wondered how many of those exiled pilgrims from our own country's history found their true resting place with God due to the efforts and sacrifice of these missionaries.

Murphy, North Carolina

After we left Ocoee, we stopped at a gas station, where we learned we were three miles from North Carolina. Paul had not been to North Carolina in years, so off we went to Murphy, which was about 30 miles past the state line. And how thankful I am that Paul and Liz are adventuresome types. We ate lunch at Rib Country and then set off. What a lovely town! We stopped at an old church there and explored the cemetery, the town itself, and an old train depot! What a delightful ending to a beautiful day! Thanks, Liz and Paul, for coming and for a wonderful Saturday!

Olympic Center at Ocoee

Next Paul drove us to the site of the 1996 Olympic Whitewater Event Center at Ocoee. It boggles my mind some days to realize that this is about 30 minutes from my little home.

And the Earth Displays His Handiwork...

I am constantly amazed at the minute details of God's wondrous creation. The sheer beauty of these mountains seems never ending. I've heard that Appalachia holds more botanical species than anywhere else in North America, and I'm not at all surprised by this. With almost every step of every hike that I take, I find a new reason to be in awe of our Creator God. His attention to every single segment of His world, His expression of diversity, and His lavish gifts of beauty all bring me to my knees..... Thank you, Lord, for sharing your creation with us and for giving us all five senses with which to observe your handiwork...

Ocoee

This weekend was so full and such a blessing that one post will, in no way, even scratch the surface...
Paul and Elizabeth came Friday night and then took me on a driving adventure Saturday. Our first stop was Ocoee, Tennessee. These are views atop one of the many mountains in the area. We found a trail next to one of the overlooks and took a short hike through a lovely forrested mountainside. It had rained Saturday morning, and the rich greens and dark woods were simply beautiful. And nothing...nothing....tops the smells of fresh mountain air after a rain. We even found a wild peach tree loaded with new peaches!

The Brag Book

A Rite of Passage....
For my entire life I'd only been the observer of that ancient species....."Proud Grandparent".....and now, I find myself a full-fledged member of its race.....
For Christmas, Joy gave me this precious granny albumn for future pictures of my life's greatest treasure....Neil Benjamin. Today I put this wonderful gift to full use at the office.... What absolute bliss! Anna, thank you SO much for the beautiful pictures! Those not currently framed are finding a home within the pages of this very book! (and being whipped out at every convenient moment:) Baby Neil, how much I love you!

Thank you Rachel Earle and Jane Knudtson

What a delightful way to spend a rainy Saturday morning. And what clear memories rushed back to my heart. Bear Trap Ranch, Colorado.... Drizzling rain.... Jane, ever the leader and trail blazer for our motley group.... Searching for the elusive Golden Lady Slipper.... I can still see Rachel, rain dripping down the bill of her parka.... Laughing from sheer delight over God's creation.... Hopefully I will continue to follow in their hiking boot trail prints for as long as I can make it up mountains..... Today, was such a time trekking up Ft. Mountain.... Ferns abounded....I learned to spot New York Fern, Christmas Fern, Cinnamon Fern.... Wild mountain geraniums abounded as borders for our trail.... Common Wood Violets and Bird's Foot Violets sprang up, here and there, alongside May Apples....And there was even an abundance of Sassafrass...... All was misty and ethereal until the final mile or so...when torrents of rain showed up for our parade.... But all of us were undaunted and enjoyed the time to the end of the trail! Thank you, Lord, for Your matchless creation!

Summertime Clothes for Baby Neil

I think the grandmother part of my heart has totally taken over:) I was out today and passed the Osh Kosh Outlet. These were the result. I just fell in love with the little sandals. And of course Neil needs summertime shorts as well! What absolute fun!

Two Years Ago....

Pictures taken today from atop Ft. Mountain....overlooking Murray County below.

My cousin, Judi, called today, telling me that it was two years ago today that I sold my house in Baytown. What a nightmare of a time....and yet, my gracious Lord was there with me in the midst of what were to become the darkest days of my life. I know for certainty that He led me through the Valley of the Shadow of Death during that time....death of relationship, home, family as I knew it, career, everything familiar and dear.....real death to what had become my identity and my life. But what New Life He had in store! He does give us beauty for ashes. He has proven Himself to be Husband and Father and Friend. He has been my Rock and Fortress and my Deliverer. And He has led me through the wilderness to a vast, open Land of Promise. He has led me Home.....and though I'm very much aware that I'm a broken Pilgrim, how I trust Him with my life and look forward to a future that He holds for me.....in His loving, nail-scarred hands....