Mountain Bound

You would not believe the support and kind words I have received both in blogland and the "real world". I really needed to share my feelings and concerned and am so thankful for those who validated me!

We are now looking forward to a much needed long stay in the mountains of North Carolina. It's where I've spent almost every summer of my life... Kanuga. And oh, how we are needed this time to renew our spirits and feed our senses with the smells of the mountain pines and the fellowship of my extended family. This year will be even more of a blessing to us as Mike and I have decided that our family will go a week early this year so we can attend the annual Renewal Conference, a week of Biblically (as opposed to theologically) based teaching, worship and fellowship. As I pray for this week, I know that all four of us will be blessed.

We have started packing for our journey...





The car will be crammed with everything but the kitchen sink...






And the excitement will mount with each mile...



Ah... Paradise...




Bevy

Among the Pines Upon the Mountain

I feel like I've been so out of touch as I have spent a glorious week with my extended family at Kanuga in the mountains of North Carolina.  It is here that we get to live life more simply - and therefore, fully.  When people ask me what it is like, I tell them to think the resort from the movie Dirty Dancing.  There's even a talent show at the end of the week:  "The Kanuga Follies"!  My family has spent part of every summer for the past thirty years in Cottage 3 right on the lake.

There is no air conditioning, but that doesn't matter.  The temperatures stay in the low 80s most of the time.  The breeze off of the lake whispers through the pine trees. The porch swing in this 1909 cottage creaks in motion of whomever is sitting in it. 

Kanuga is reminiscent of old times.  The Monday of each week holds a square dance, and even the coolest of coolest teenagers grab their mother or grandmother's hand and swing her around the parking lot.  The same bluegrass band entertains every year, playing and calling the same songs and dances.

Hikes around the lake are treats for Sumter and Jackson, and I love walking behind them, listening to their conversations.  The mountain laurel and ferns are everywhere with a heavenly smell that, I swear, is only at this blessed place.

Winter Wonderland

So it did happen.  And it was beautiful.  

Snow begins falling around 3:00...

 

Our house...

  

1 1/2 inches at 5:00...

No leaves in the winter, but the snow looks so magical...

And it continues through the night...

Which gave us almost 5 inches...

Our hammock is blanketed...

A new roof for the birdfeeder...

Beautiful South Boundary in Aiken, but the snow was

beginning to melt by this time...

Many of you might be wondering where Sumter and Jackson are in all of these pictures.  Sadly, they are not at home this weekend.  Mike and I are so bummed out as we wish we could witness all the fun they are having in the snow!  They are with their Mimi and G-dad in the beautiful snowy mountains of North Carolina.  We agreed to let them go as the trip had been planned, and my father has a 4-Wheel Drive SUV.  However, we got a call last evening (THEY ARE ALRIGHT!) from my mother telling me that they skidded off a mountain road into a shallow ditch and almost tipped over.  The angels were with them as my father was able to get the SUV under control and back on the road and safely arrive at Kanuga (in Hendersonville, NC).  The boys were terrified, and my mother could hear both of them praying in the back seat.  They are fine now - snowball fights and building snowmen with friends solves everything!

My prayer request for you, sweet friends, is for a SAFE AND UNEVENTFUL TRIP BACK HOME tomorrow (Sunday).  The roads will be even icier, and I will be a nervous wreck until I can see and hug them!

Tuesday's Kitchen Inspirations

In reading more and more blogs, I have noticed that many of you cute girls have a weekly "thing" that you share each week.  I know you are all so excited and are waiting with baited breath to be inspired with a new fabu recipe to share with your family.  But I am not a gourmet... and though I do enjoy it, cooking does not inspire me.

This does.  I have pictures all over my kitchen, as that is where I spend most of my time.  I add pictures.  I switch them out.  I add more.  Some are in acrylic frames.  Some are clipped to the bulletin board.  Some are on the fridge.  I love these pictures and the people in them!

So... every week, I will share one photo that is a
"Kitchen Inspiration".

 

This is my sweet Aunt Laura (Aunt LaLa to the kiddos) a few 

summers ago at our family's annual week at Kanuga, 

in the mountains of North Carolina.

She is the best... My sister and I loved her so much as little girls

and so do our children! 

I absolutely love this picture of her, Sumter and Jackson 

and their sweet little cousins.  

They were playing "band" and were having so much fun.  

My two were in shorts and Masters and Edisto t-shirts 

(typical boys)... 

Look at my cute nieces in their matching 

monogrammed dresses and monster grosgrain bows! 

Inspired...