Smokey Mountain Getaway... 52 weeks-week???

This past weekend we took a little trip with my family to the Smokey Mountains. My grandparents traveled with us and my parents... and my uncle and aunt joined us at the cabin in Tennessee. We had a nice time enjoying the quiet, beauty, and quality time together. Declan had a fun time splashing in the pool that overlooked the mountains, we ate some great meals, and we played a fun Rook tourney(we LOST bad!). The best part was the AMAZING view from the deck of our cabin. The majesty and splendor of our Creator's handiwork was all around us... and I could not help but feel His presence as I gazed out upon the mountains!
On a side note... we actually managed to get a photo of our little family with me in it! I know I've really gotten behind lately with the 52 weeks submissions... but finally here's one! Thanks Mom for getting a quick shot of us before it got way too dark!

My Mom and Dad

Declan playing peek-a-boo...

Dad and Grandad chatting on the porch at sunrise!


...below are some photos of the early morning fog in the Smokeys... these were all taken from the porch of our cabin!

the road to our cabin...

...here are just some random detail shots that I found interesting...

Hope you enjoyed a little glimpse of our beautiful getaway!

Hello Wise!

Leaving Radford, I headed straight to my hometown of Wise, Virginia. My parents had come to Radford and taken Declan home with them a few days earlier... so I was especially anxious to be home so that I could see his sweet little face. The drive was actually pretty nice, even though I was quite exhausted. It rained a little... but once I was close to home, the rain stopped and the sun and fog made a beautiful combination with the mountains and bright green trees. I stopped a few times when I was closer to home so that I could take some photos of the last bit of the trip.

...just five minutes from home... and i ended up being stopped for over 15 min. at the railroad crossing!!!

...coal train...

my parents' driveway...

the house... (with my brother's girlfriend's bright yellow car out front!)

...and finally the sight I had sooo longed to see... the face that made it all worth while!!! my sweet little D!!! I was so excited to hold him again!!! How could you not want to be close to a face this cute!!!

Goodbye Radford... among other things...

A little over a week ago, we said goodbye to the humble home we had made for ourselves in Radford, VA! We are still awaiting the final word on the new ministry opportunity we've been working towards... but our lease ran up at the end of July... so we had to go ahead and move out of our home! Although I had thought that I was SOOO ready to leave, I was met with a flood of mixed emotions as I finally said goodbye to our little house and all the memories it holds. Jimmy and I moved to Radford in Nov. of 2005. In January 2007, we introduced our sweet little "D" to his home with us. Now... a few years later and I hope a bit wiser, we have said goodbye! I will always think fondly on the fun we had there with our students, friends from "N-star" small-group, and of course with our family! We've hosted many gatherings, including a fun Pampered Chef Party... and my favorite... impromptu coffee-talk moments! I truly enjoyed cooking some great meals on my gas range, rocking Declan in his cheery teal and green jungle room (that our small group helped put together), watching movies in our cozy den, entertaining in our cute living room, and cuddling up for Sunday afternoon naps in the bedroom! We had plenty of fun in our lovely yard as well... grilling out, blowing bubbles under the huge shady trees, and taking Declan to check the mail several times a day (one of his favorite things to do)! I won't miss the dust, repairs and discomforts that come with an old, small home... but when I look back I'm sure I'll remember more of the good... and less of the little inconveniences! Aside from saying goodbye to our home... during the moving process I was forced to say goodbye to a few other little treasures. Their pictures are below along with explanations! Hope you enjoy the final shots from our home on Second Street in Radford... I surely enjoyed taking these!




this is what's left of a beautiful clay globe candle-holder I bought from a young boy in Nicaragua... I was so sad that it broke while packing... but I hope to return there one day to buy another!

this picture may seem strange... but it has a special story... this is NO ordinary can of green beans... not long before she passed away, my Mamaw sent me this can of beans... she told me that she was getting too old to keep canning, but that she wanted me to have her VERY Last can of green beans (my favorite)... she unexpectedly passed away not long after that... when Jimmy and I were married and moved in together, I couldn't bear to part with this treasure, so I packed it up and brought it with me... when we moved this time, however, I realized that it was time to let go... so I took this photo to remember this special gift and will display it proudly as "artwork" in my next kitchen!

we also decided to say goodbye to our pet turtle, Splash! one of Declan's first words was turtle, and although we love her, we decided that for Declan's health and safety and for Splash's well-being we should let her go... Jimmy took her down to the New River and released her into the "wild."

the front of our home

"the street we live on" (a little sesame street reference!)

below are some photos from the start of my journey "home" to Wise

self-portrait...

last glimpse out the rear-view mirror

all signs pointing to a fresh new start!


...TO BE CONTINUED!

Beach Part 2

Here are a few more photos from our great time at the beach! Enjoy!

Here's a couple of Declan's cousin... "A."

Some of the "W" family.

Here's our Scrabble board at the end of a fun game! Look closely to see some interesting word choices!

view of the sunset from the front of the house... overlooking the inter-coastal waterway...

late night moon-lit photo...