In my first week after SOUL, I wasn't sure how I was gonna feel or what I was gonna do with myself for that matter! Luckily, my family strategically planned a trip to the Smokey Mts. which proved to be exactly what I needed...
We left at 6am on Fri. and got to Pigeon Forge, TN around 11:30. My first reaction: i hated it. There were stores and restaurants and just gaudiness everywhere--not ANYTHING like the layed-back-no-worry mountain getaway I was imagining. Luckily, the cabin we stayed in wasn't in town...
This is what I mean;/We stayed on Kero Mt. (pretty far up in the Smokies) in the Sunshine House--the same exact cabin my parents stayed in on their honeymoon 26 years ago. Yes. I know. I was creeped out too! haha. My parents though it was a great idea!:P It really was great, though. It's this little place on the mountain that has an incredible view off the porch...especially for sunsets:)
Feel the love!Still going strong after 26 years:)
There's a pond near it so Gina (my little sis) and I went row boating while my dad fished and my mom relaxed on the deck.
Mom, Gina, and I went and explored some trails around the place and--funny story!!!!!--ended up getting completely lost and the sun was setting and we ended up having to be driven back by this random family that just happened to be driving by on this isolated mountain road and just happened to be from Dayton too...talk about a God moment!!!!! Facebook message me/email me for the whole story!!
You would think we would've realized we were on the wrong trail when we had to climb thru stuff like this!Gina had the map tho and she was on a mission--let's just say it was a GREAT learning experience!
Each day we went to a knew part of the Smokies and found knew trails and even hiked to some waterfalls--ah:) Breathtaking. We saw deer (right on the trail!), wild turkeys, and even a couple of black bear cubs!
Abrham's Falls in Cades Cove (Smoky Mt. Nt'l Park)We also visited this Indian reservation and I got to do some Indian dancing with them!
The guy behind me speaks Spanish and we talked to each other--it was SO cool!One of the coolest things we did was go to Cherokee National Park in NC and i got to hike part of the Appalachian Trail!!!!!!!! Omg, it was SOOOOOOO amazing. I felt like such a mountain woman! lol.
On the trail--it was rough, but AWESOME!We also visited many historic cabins, churches, and other structures through the mountains. I felt like I was Laura Ingles Wilder--right out of Little House on the Prairie!!!!!
It's a good thing i didn't live during these times--I wouldn't have fit!!! One down-fall of being tall:PBeing in nature and especially in the secluded mountains gave me a lot of time to think and reflect and pray...and really just be able to live in the moment. I felt like i was in constant conversation with God and He was guiding me and giving me so much peace.
I did a lot of drawing and wrote some poetry and even sang. It was so strange bc one night I was sitting by myself on the porch watching the sunset and I just started singing. I don't even know why--it was like it wasn't even my voice! The next night i went up to this swing that's on a high part of the mountain that overlooks this incredible valley and just swang and sang again. It was so great to just be still.
At first I thought it was kinda weird that my parents chose this place for their honeymoon, but after being there, I know why. It was so cool to see how happy they still are and how they show their love to each other, especially being back at this place. I guess I had never really noticed it so explicitly before. The mountains are so full of beauty and mystery...
(See my facebook page for MANY more pics!!!)
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