NC is Heaven on Earth

       Several weekends ago Mountain Man and I made a trip to North Carolina for his grandmother's 83rd birthday! I was so excited for the weekend because I really needed the get away before school started back up. So, we packed up the truck and the pup and headed on our way!

Pup ready to go!

       The weekend was already full of planned events. We headed north and met up with Mountain Mans parents where we had a wonderful lunch in downtown highlands. (Which was so cute btw.) Then we made it to grandmas house! It was so nice to finally meet her because we stayed at her home in FL and I have heard so much about her. To get acquainted with each other we all sat on the back porch and chatted away. It was so peaceful already, and the weekend had just begun. We had a fabulous dinner at the club and headed home to have vegan carrot cake for grandmas birthday! Which is the BEST cake ever. 

 

Happy Birthday!

    

Uncle C had been talking about this hike that he takes every time he visits, and invited Mountain Man and I to tag along. Now, part of the deal was waking up at 5:00 and having coffee at the top of the mountain. If you know me you know that I am most certainly NOT any sort of morning person. : ) I get it from my momma.

      The next morning came to soon. Mountain Man struggled to get me out of bed. He lovingly suggested I take a shower to wake up. In which I politely replied "Why do I need to take a shower?! I'm about to go hiking!!!" I don't think before I speak first thing in the morning. I'll work on that. Luckily he laughed at my bitter response.

     I manage to wake up and get up stairs BEFORE Mountain Man. Little did I know he was giving the pup and emergency bath because she managed to roll in bear poop when he let her out. IT REEKED. Our pup is a hunter, and you just can't take that sort of thing out of a dog.

      So we make it to the bottom of the mountain and I'm handed a flashlight. It was pitch black. Then Uncle C gives me a safety lesson on what to do if we run into a BEAR. SERIOUSLY???!!! OMG, what did I get myself into.

        The first half of the trail was a breeze! Then, it was like climbing rocks to the top. I had to take a moment and stop because I thought my breakfast...well, you know. We finally made it to the top! It was sooooooo worth it. Uncle C managed to get one picture of Mountain Man and I before his camera died. Then we sat and watched the sun rise. Gods creation is so amazing. I sat on the side of a mountain by myself in wonder. Just looking at the hills, valley's, rolling trees and cliffs of rock. Not to mention the vastness of the sky. It was perfect.

       We continued the day with a large breakfast, a nap and a fun game of tennis. Along with a tennis lesson from Mountains Man's dad!!! That was the first time I had played tennis after having one lesson. Mountain Man was so impressed because I played so naturally. : ) (I'm really competitive, so that was nice to hear!) Then we got rained on. It was really fun!

Mountain Man feeding balls to his dad.

       The rain cleared and I got to go play my first round of golf with Mountain Man and Uncle C. Which again, Mountain Man could not believe I played so well. his dad came and saw my last drive.. "Was that YOU that hit that last drive?! lol. OMG!!!" : ) I surprised myself!

After our round of Golf!!!

       The next morning we all left early. Mountain man and I had to make a stop at the grocery store because a little bird told me that I could get Cheerwine AND old school Fun Fetti Icing there!!! I could!!! I also got some chocolate graham crackers so we could make it a snack for the ride home. SO YUMMIE. Best Weekend Ever.

Kenya, to be or not to be?

                    Wow, there is so much to update you all on!  Preparing for Kenya is coming along! However,  I think I'm going to have to fund myself here pretty soon. I keep waiting and praying and praying and praying, and this year it's just NOT coming together, financially. So, I've decided to hold out a bit longer. We have several fund raising events coming up, and I'm planning one of my own. I can assure you NOTHING will stop me from going. It does make me step back and question things, and I've run into many obstacles this year. I refuse to let my heart drift away from  what I feel called to do with my life.

          There is such peace associated with serving in Kenya, and Kenya comes up in my life daily! I am so excited to go back!!!!!! I've gotten the itinerary, and it is exactly like the trip I went on last year. I'm thrilled at the thought of seeing people that I met last year, and continuing fellowship with them.

                When I got home last time I got very sick. (Partially because my heart was broken from not being in Kenya!) I went through extreme culture shock as well as the rest of my team. Its amazing to see how we are all involved, in Kenya in one way or another, still. Believe it or not, I'm looking forward to that again. I don't anticipate it will be as hard to get back in the groove because I've done it before. I do anticipate the burn for something more with in me. That was such a powerful experience, and I pray that my team this year will come back that that fire. Anywho, please support us in prayer, and watch out on facebook for opportunities to get involved!

 With His Love,

KB