July Trip

Photo here was shot in a local Apex restaurant. I love the atmosphere of the place (& the food). Since July 4th is around the corner, I decided to share this creative American flag piece of artwork made from softballs--American all around:)

Our family's planning a Pa. trip again this 4th.

I'm excited. I can't think of much more I enjoy than traveling & visiting the Mc Clan with my clan:) Kelley will not be able to go, so that is a big negative:( But hopefully she'll have fun doing her artistic thing in her sweet bungalow while we're gone.

Since Skye's interning in Ky. this summer we're planning to rendezvous with her in Wytheville, Va. A friend of friends has agreed to let her park her car at their home while she travels with us.

Last year over the 4th we traveled to Pa. also, minus Seth & Kelley (who were visiting best buds in Fla.), so it'll be nice to have Seth along this year. Since Keith's mom & dad are 90 & 88, we NEED to make extra trips to visit them. And we've found being in Pittsburgh during the BIG weekend is so cool:)

Keith's mom's family, the Brown's, have a July 4th family picnic where we get to catch up with many of the McFarland/Brown relatives:)

An annual car show in Keith's home town of New Castle the same weekend brings together hundreds of fans, including cousins, who drive their prized cars downtown & park them to be inspected & admired. Keith & I have been once before & hope to go again this year.

We'll visit Mom & Dad who live right in the middle of Pittsburgh as often as we can. We never stay too long--it's tiring for everyone in a place that's a beehive of activity. Mom has moved into her own apartment in the same facility since Christmas, so it'll be interesting to see her "new" place.

Last year Keith, Cameron, Skye, & I watched fireworks up "close & personal" along the Ohio River in Pittsburgh. The skyline is beautiful & the display was spectacular:) Hope to do that again:)

A change this trip; we're staying at a motel between Keith's sister's house in Beaver Falls & his parents in Pittsburgh. We have no idea how it will be, but thought we'd try it. In the last 4 years since Mom & Dad moved to the retirement home in the city, Keith's sister has graciously found friends who open their homes to us while they are away on vacation. It's been such a blessing & we've been so grateful, but, not always ideal for everybody.

At this point we're contemplating whether to take one car or two. One car is small for 5 adults, even Cameron's Subaru, but two cars seems too much?? Just not sure. (And Skye's Neon is not one that should go!)

Praying our days spent together will bring sweet times & precious memories:)

Thank you LORD for life, liberty, & the pursuit of happiness:)

God bless America:)

A Memorial Day Trip

Early Thursday afternoon, May 27th, Keith & I packed up the Cruiser, loaded up our bikes, & headed to the Virginia mountains. We planned to bike the New River Rail Trail, then travel west to bike the Guest River Gorge Trail--three days of sightseeing in the scenic area of Virginia just north of the NC line.

We'd made reservations at the Hillsville Hampton Inn for the first night. A nice motel right along Interstate 77. After unpacking, we ate supper at a local restaurant next door. Sad to say the country cooking was mediocre:(

After returning to our room, thunderstorms rolled in & the rain poured for hours.

Friday morning after breakfast, the rain began again. Our New River bike ride was out. But, we decided to scout out the trail where we would have started. It was quite isolated. I'm not sure I would have felt safe if we had been able to ride. Still, the countryside was pretty. So, under gray, wet skies, we began zig zagging through the mountains to Abingdon, Virginia, two hours away. (We even rode right by the Creeper Trail, where we've ridden three previous trips:))

After arriving we had a quick lunch & toured Abingdon. It is a pretty historic town of brick buildings & homes, typical of older Virginia towns. We toured a Craft Center, then stopped by an Arts & Crafts shop run by local artists. Met a friendly lady who was very warm & helpful:) Also saw some lovely art pieces & bought a few pretty things:)

Ate supper at the local Crackerbarrel, a delicious change from our previous evening's meal:) Sometimes there's something to be said about a dependable chain restaurant, & this was one of those times:)

Spent the night at our second Hampton Inn, even nicer than the first, since Keith had surprised me by upgrading our room to one with a whirlpool:) That jacuzzi really felt great, even after only sight-seeing all day.

Saturday dawned sunny & bright, a great biking day:)

Headed west to find our next trail, about an hour away. Guest River Gorge trail is isolated as well, but there was a parking lot, restrooms, & 5 or 6 cars, all good signs for me:) (The photo above is near the beginning of the path)

Keith & I aren't in very good physical shape this year since we haven't ridden much, so we knew we wouldn't go the entire length of the 5 mile trail, because we'd have to "climb" back out. But the scenery was worth seeing. After going through a tunnel, the trail crossed over the river via a bridge, then followed along the water the two miles we traveled; beautiful cliffs on one side, lots of shade trees, & the swift running water cascading over huge boulders...

We probably met 4 or 5 people/groups along the way.

After finishing our ride & returning to the Cruiser, we turned west again, toward Natural Tunnel State Park. Another winding road trip:) Along the way we rounded a rise between mountains, & were totally surprised to see a HUGE hybrid power plant spread throughout the entire little valley!! It was enormous! Shocking in the middle of nowhere.

By early afternoon we found Natural Tunnel State Park & checked out the tunnel from an overlook. It was a steep, sharp, drop-off to the "floor" & the tunnel, so Keith took a number of photos from the overlook. We both decided against riding the cable cars to the bottom. My height phobia had kicked in big time:(

Must say the park itself is pretty--very tall shady trees, has a pool, & the campsites were full, a good sign people enjoy the area.

After finding a McDonald's in a nearby town, we ate lunch, then began our trek back to Abingdon.

On the way Keith didn't feel great, & by the time we returned to our motel, he was feeling pretty crummy:( Which lasted the rest of the evening & all night:(

Not a good memory, especially on vacation.

We suspect food poisoning--yuck:(

But, by Sunday morning he felt like he could ride, so we set off for home by 9am. Our return route took us by Wytheville, then on to I77 again, & NC. I'm sure he was ready to get home--I felt like he was flying through those mountains!

We arrived in Apex by 1:30. We had made good time.

Cameron helped us unload the bikes & bring in the luggage---conveniently he & Holly were at the house, taking care of Wyatt, when we drove in.

A strange trip. It had it's good times. We loved being in the mountains. Our lodgings were excellent:) Our bike ride was gorgeous.

But sometimes it rains, &, no one likes to be sick away from home:(

Thankfully, we made it home safe & sound, & Keith felt good enough by Sunday evening to do sound for the McKee Musical Concert (photo above). A great way to END a strange trip on Memorial Day Weekend:)

Whew:)

Softball season again--whoo hoo:)

Peace softball began in April. What a fun time of year:) Nothing like watching church softball two evenings a week. The weather's mild, the fellowship is sweet, the popcorn's delicious, & the boys have a grand time throwin' (Ole time North Carolinians would say "thowin') that softball & battin' around:)

The Peace C team were runner's up last year--that's as far as they like to go. If they win the championship they have to move up to the B League. They've done that---then got slammed back down to the C League the following year:(

So the fellas wear their Cary "Finalist" shirts with pride:)

And the boys enjoy being on the "C" Field of Dreams for an hour or so....each night praying they'll be able to play every minute & won't have to hear the coach say "Hey, you got to let all the fellas play, so it's your turn to sit the bench!

As a fan, we love every minute too...catching up on each other's news, cheering, offering advice. Sweet times:)

Yea for Peace softball team fellowship time!!!

Easter by Elizabeth Elliot

When the chief priests, temple officers, and elders came

to the Garden of Gethsemane

to arrest

Jesus,

they succeeded

only because a

sovereign God

permitted them to succeed.

Jesus pointed out that He was teaching daily in the Temple, yet

they never laid a finger on Him then.

Now they were after Him with swords and staves.

"But this is your hour, and the power of darkness is yours" (Lk 22:53 JBP).

Who gave them that hour?

Who allowed them the power to capture Him?

It was God,

without whose leave not even a

sparrow can fall to the ground.

God is omnipotent,

never slumbering,

just,

righteous, and

forever in control.

He was not taken by

surprise.

All was working then, as it is always working, into a pattern for good.

Our own difficulties often appear to be

random.

Our tragedies look wildly

uncontrolled.

They are not.

They are subject.

Limits are set.

God is quietly at work,

standing in the shadows,

ceaselessly watching over

His children.

"The light shines on in the dark, and the darkness has never mastered it" (Jn l:5 NEB).

Elisabeth Elliot, 1926 –

revised

I'm Still Here

Dear blog,

This Winter & Spring I've been a bit blue. I've decided maybe I'm dealing with empty nest syndrome...

Skye comes home less. She stays fewer days. This isn't her primary location anymore. Her important stuff is located in Boone. A good thing for her, making her way in the world. An adjustment for me.

I guess most of my identity is wrapped up in my children. I've been a mom for 37 years. A long time. And someone was right under my wing until 2009.

So, what am I doing? What is my identity?

I am blessed to have long time friends that still take time to have lunch with me about once a week:)

I work part time at Hallmark & love my co-workers.

I volunteer for a mercy ministry at church.

Love my Bible Study sisters--we meet weekly:)

Like checking out Facebook & my emails & watching TV (especially March Madness & UNC basketball).

Love watching Peace softball games, hanging out with dear church friends (April-June)

Love reading my Kindle!!

Enjoy walking.

Love my Wyatt:)

Love doing a painting project or bike or have lunch with my family.

Love that Cameron & Seth & Kelley live CLOSE:)

Love to travel & visit extended family:)

Love my hubby--who doesn't care that I don't like to cook anymore:)

It's cathartic to lists all those blessings:)

My health is good, even though I need to be more diligent with my diet.

Lord willing, I'll overcome this dry time, in time:)

Hopefully journaling will return.

Don't give up on me blog!

March Sadness/Madness Notes

I haven't written much lately.

Little inspiration nudging me to put my thoughts down.

Late winter & spring have been a bit of a downer for me for some reason...nothing to put my finger on.

But, in the past few weeks since March 11th I've been obsessed with world news, specifically anything to do with Japan's tragic earthquake & tsumani. CNN has replaced HGTV in my life--whoa! Serious, heartbreaking, life-changing, TV, as it was in Indonesia & Haiti & New Orleans & of course 9/11. Life crisis on a grand scale.

I've been mesmerized:(

Add to that the opposite; fun hair-raising, nail-biting March Madness, with UNC & Duke going to the Sweet Sixteen & my UNC team making it to the Elite Eight. Watching both teams play great ball has been exhilarating:) A great feat since Keith & I have taken two weekend trips out of town since the Madness began! You should try finding sports stations on a car radio traveling through numerous states or trying to find a TV at each place you visit which is broadcasting your game!!

Well, this afternoon Kentucky ended UNC's ride. UNC began their season looking pretty pitiful, but ended it going further than the 2010 NCAA champs' Duke!

Way to go Heels:)

But I will miss watching/hearing your every move, keeping me on edge, making me feel like I might have a heart attack, for 2 solid hours per game.

(Also cheered wildly for Duke until they were stopped in their tracks last week. They did well too:))

An exciting tournament this year!

I've been mesmerized:)

As for Japan & their people, I hope & pray they will come out of their desperate situation somehow better than before, yet knowing with thousands dying, March 11th will go down in history as one of the tragic dates filled with unbearable sadness.

In these times, we never tire of the countless heroic stories. Hope springs eternal in the deepest of pits.

What will nuclear power plants do in the future to prepare for the safety of people during a crisis?

How can we prepare for a tsumani?

How can the world help?

How can one individual help--One contribution, one kindness, one prayer, at a time.

A Family Project

Last Saturday, spurred on by DIL Kelley's offer to help, I invited all the family to join me in a painting party, painting our living room, stairwell, & second floor landing:)

A great idea because it felt pretty daunting to do such an undertaking on my own:)

After the family pitched in to help me paint our bedroom for Mother's Day 2 years ago, & it turned out looking super fine, I figured I was in good hands:)

I asked Kelley what day suited her & she answered immediately that March 5th was good for her. Good for extra "womanpower" too, since Skye would be home:)

So, the previous Tuesday & Thursday I stripped the border off the living room walls (took 2 hours to put up & 6 hours to remove!) & taped off the trim work.

Saturday morning Cameron, Seth, Kelley, & Three arrived about 9am. Cameron had picked up Bojangles' biscuits to "fortify" us for our day's work--a bit heavy cholesterol-wise, but oh so good:)! Armed with coffee and a sausage & egg biscuit, I was ready to tackle the project:)

Kelley, Skye, & I grabbed our brushes & rollers & began painting the living room walls gray--Evening Twilight by Velspar. Went on like cream:) It has primer in it & covered in one coat like a dream:)

I do recommend it!

While we painted, the guys were discussing how to rig up the ladder to reach the stairwell ceiling, a real bugaboo:( That discussion & figuring out the solution lasted about as long as it took us girls to finish painting the living room!

But, the logistics were ironed out, a trip to Lowe's was involved, & Skye volunteered to "scale the heights" of the tall ladder to do the trim brush work along the ceiling while Cameron held the ladder.

Cameron rolled part of the stairwell, Seth rolled the last wall of the living room while Kelley zipped out the landing (with a little help from me), & finished rolling the stairwell with Seth's help.

And Keith did the dirty job of cleaning the brushes & pans & rollers:)!

Great teamwork:)

Kelley, I so appreciate your offer to help. It wouldn't have happened without you!

PS. Seth looked after Three-Three & Wyatt during all this commotion:) Plus ordered pizza for lunch:)

By 3, all was FINISHED:)!! The walls looked clean & fabulous!!

We were all TIRED!

But I must say there's no better way to get a project done:)

Thank you, Kelley, Seth, Cameron, Skye & Keith:)