good tidings

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like Autumn leaves. 
-- John Muir (1838-1914) American Naturalist and founder of the Sierra Club

This past Sunday, the girls and I were fortunate enough to venture out to the Blue Hole located just outside of Elizabethton in the Stony Creek area of East Tennessee. It was such a beautiful day, I could not waste it sitting at home even though there's still so much to do there. I heard about the Blue Hole from friends but have never been able to make it out there until now. I wish there was a little bit more water but it was still beautiful nonetheless. The hike is short but tiring to say the least, especially when you have a 30 lb child on your back, lol. Pictured above isn't the actual "Blue Hole." The actual "Blue Hole" was very crowded and did not present the shot without someone swimming in the ice cold water. However, the upper falls pictured is my favorite!

author of something beautiful

One of life's quiet excitements is to stand somewhat apart from yourself and watch yourself softly becoming the author of something beautiful even if it's only a floating ash. 

-- Norman Maclean (1902-1990) American Author: A River Runs Through It

The quote above by Norman Maclean is absolutely right. Every single one of us are authors of our very own beautiful book; the book of life! I think one of the best things about the book of life is that it's always changing and it's also always right. Yes through life we make wrong decisions but that's why it's so beautiful. It's beautiful because we are continuously learning and growing from our mistakes. In the photo above is a picture of my girls taking a stroll on the covered bridge in Elizabethon, one in which life I created. God has blessed me with the little one on the right with her mom and big sister. However, I am not just blessed through her, I'm blessed with all 3 of them and every other person in my life who has been there for me!  

nothing worth having is easy

My father was very sure about certain matters pertaining to the universe. To him, all good things - trout as well as eternal salvation came by grace; and grace comes by art; and art does not come easy. 

-- Norman Maclean: A River Runs Through It (1992)

The other week, the girls and I went over to beautiful Sycamore Shoals in Elizabethton, TN. The park stretches along the Watauga River and offers a trail you can easily navigate by walking, running, or even biking. Sycamore is a great place to take the kids because they can actually walk without have to worry about them falling off a cliff. Above is a shot of a bridge that stretches across one of the streams that the Watauga feeds and to the left is a shot of a garden of Black Eyed Susans. Beware, the water is ice cold!!

a snails pace

By perseverance, the snail reached the ark. 

-- Charles H Spurgeon (1834-1892) British Particular Baptist preacher

The girls and I ran up on this snail at Limestone Cove in Unicoi, TN. Either the heavy rains brought it to where it was, a good 100 ft. from the stream, or it got there by perseverance. If I had half as much fight in me to persevere through life's difficulties I would be unstoppable in everything I did.  This just goes to show how the willingness to succeed overcomes the willingness to fail and failing my friends is unacceptable but it may take you a while so keep on trucking! 

the mountains have called

The mountains are calling and I must go. 

-- John Muir (1838-1914) Advocate of preservation of wilderness in the United States

The mountains have been calling me and finally, 3 years after I moved away, I'm back in the hills of Tennessee. I had almost forgotten how beautiful this place was. Needless to say, it's good to be back. Hopefully now, I can keep my blog up like I want to. This is a photo of Red Fork Falls towards the base of Unaka Mountain in beautiful Unicoi County, Tennessee near Johnson City. Y'all should have seen me and my girls. Emilia was wearing flip flops, Brittani was carrying my camera and as always the "snack pack", and I had Madelyn in the Hip Hammock on my back. Key word there is "hip." Needless to say it was quite a struggle, climbing up and down rock after rock with a 30 lb child hanging on for dear life and loving every minute of it. Oh yeah, forgot to mention it was RAINING!! Luckily the rain quit for a few minutes so I could take a quick pic. Haha, check out Madelyn on my back!! So much fun! Can't wait to go back!