Down On The Farm...

I'm not even sure how to start off this post...but to tell you in my 34 years of living...I just embarked on the best vacation I have ever experienced!!! The most amazing part...our entire family agrees...and we owe all the credit to Darin and Tami!! We love you all...and are going to MISS you like crazy!!!!!!

We left Darin and Tami's house around 12:30 on Friday afternoon and headed for the "Farm" in Virginia. It took about 2 1/2 hours to get there, but we all rode together...so it was a great time of fellowship! We pulled up in the driveway, and knew instantly if we did nothing but sit and look at the scenery... while we were there...that would be okay by all of us!! It was just simply breath-taking!!

Our first adventure was a ride through the woods(part of the 780 acres that they own!!)on "The Jeep". This vehicle was unbelievably amazing!! We went over ruts, rocks, tree limbs, up HUGE hills, down HUGE hills, over water, through fields...I think you get the idea that this thing was indescrutable!!! :0) After returning from the woods...the boys broke out their "toys" which consisted of two four wheelers, two dirt bikes, and a Ba Ha (kind of on the lines of a dune buggy). We put Hunter in the Ba Ha...which he called the "Bahama" because it had straps in it!! Glenn, Kearstin and Darin rode the four wheelers...while Tami and I enjoyed the view off of the balcony of the Lodge. Darin, his father, and all of his siblings built this Lodge themselves about a year ago. Each child of the family furnished a different room, and now the family can come and enjoy an oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the lives we live!! They did a beautiful job...as you will see from the pictures in the album below. We also took a tour of the original farm house that has been in their family for over a hundred years. The antiques were so interesting for both the kids...and Glenn and I. You will see pictures of those things in our album as well. Before dinner...Hunter was able to get in some fishing...and swimming...at the pond back in the woods. The water was SO cold that when he "came up" he was freezing in SHOCK!! Apparently it didn't bother him too terribly bad though...because he went back for more...only this time jumping off the diving board!! :) We had a weenie roast around the campfire that night...and enjoyed smores for dessert.

Saturday morning, we all got up to find the "perfect" place to do our quiet time. Kearstin and I chose to do ours by the spill way "dam" that ran off the pond. To be sitting in the middle of the forest...hearing water trickling down the spillway onto rocks...reading God's word...and talking to Him through prayer...is just so surreal to even explain!! The rest of Saturday pretty much consisted of just partaking in WHATEVER we could think of!! :) Hunter and I experienced wade fishing for the first time. Unfortunately I only had on flip flops and "lost" one in the muck along the bank. While walking back in the field...a bumblebee decided to "leave his mark" with me...so my foot is itching like crazy now!! Wouldn't you know...he chose the foot WITH the flip flop on...not my bare foot...go figure!! :) While we were fishing...Kearstin was helping Tami pick vegetables out of the garden for dinner...and Glenn was able to catch a cat nap on the porch swing. We enjoyed fresh BLT's for lunch...and then went on an ADVENTUROUS Jeep ride UP the mountain! We had to drive through the cow pasture to get there...so it was pretty cool to have the cows come up to the Jeep to "check us out"! Our ride UP the mountain was scary...fun...rocky...thorny...laughter filled...just plain AWESOME!! :0) They have a homemade "Tilt O Meter" in the jeep...and I can tell you that Miss Tami was screaming "Tilt O Meter" more than once on that trip!!!! One time...Daring Darin even had the passengers in the back of the jeep get out...just in case!! What wonderful times had by all!! :)

When we returned from our trip up the mountain..."Grandpa" was making us burgers on the grill for dinner. Instead of just ground beef in the burgers...it was mixed with deer meat as well! They were to DIE for...so yummy!! We also partook in fresh corn on the cob from the garden as well. After some sweet fellowship...we had to say our "goodbyes"...and of course...none of us were ready to leave the farm!! The memories we created there will last for a life time!

On another note...we are pretty much packed...except for the stuff we need to use on a daily basis. We can hardly believe that we are 12 short days away from our departure of this wonderful place. Our wonderful Sunday School class is having a "going away pool party" for us and another family this Friday. Please keep our family in your prayers...as this Sunday will be our last... at Life Community Church...which means "goodbyes" will have to be said to the amazing people that God has brought into our lives here in North Carolina. We ARE excited about the fact that now...we have found a wonderful vacation spot...and will even be able to attend church while we are on vacation!! :0)

Until next time...we love you!!