The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC
Doesn't everyone's staircase look like this? Wow!
Adam and me at the top of Clingman's Dome. No...not a flattering picture of either of us, but it was hard work getting up there! It was cool and cloudy at the top, but the views were still breathtaking.
Check out Elijah...he's all ready for a hike!
I love this picture of Ethan (left) and Jed (right) together at the Nantahala Outdoor Center. The boys did so well together that week. I know they got on one another's nerves at times, but it was great to watch them experience things together and play and laugh together. I love my nephews!!!
As I took this picture in Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, I was standing with my head straight back. Gorgeous!
Happy 1st Birthday Levi Michael (who is now almost 2!)
The waterfalls outside of Highlands, NC
A view from just outside of the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest
Honestly, is there anything more beautiful than God's creation? So many times it takes my breath away. Last June, Adam and I set out to spend a week in Bryson City, NC with my parents, my sister and her family, and my brother and his family. We rented a 6 bedroom, 3 story cabin just outside of Bryson City in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Our cabin overlooked Lake Fontana and provided us with beautiful surroundings. We had an amazing time and experienced so much that there is no way I can share it all with you. Even sitting here and thinking about this trip almost a year later makes me want to cry. I would love to go back to the time again. Here are just a few highlights from our amazing trip...
We celebrated Levi Rufner's 1st birthday, spent time in Bryson City and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, climbed to the top of Clingmans Dome - the highest peak in the Smoky Mountains, visited the quaint town of Highlands and the gorgeous nearby waterfalls, went tubing down Deep Creek, visited the Nantahala Outdoor Center. One highlight of the trip for Adam and me was the day the two of us visited the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest. When my brother, David, gave the message at our wedding, he read a poem called "Trees" that was written by Joyce Kilmer. Mr. Kilmer served in World War I and the forest is dedicated to him. The forest is full of trees (obviously) some of which are over 300 years old. The tallest tulip poplars are over 100 feet tall and 20 feet in circumference. It was so beautiful. The highlight of that day was when my dear husband asked me where the tulips were...it is so appropriate that the brilliant man I married didn't realize that the tulips that blossom in spring do not come from tulip poplars. Those moments are some of the most endearing with Adam...what a funny guy I married.
After an amazing, fun-filled 6 days it was time for us to all go our seperate ways. Because Adam and I had the shortest distance to drive, we decided to make a pit-stop and visit the Biltmore Estate on the way home. It was the perfect end to our trip. The house and grounds are absolutely unbelievable. If you ever have a chance to go, please do. The Biltmore was one of the most state-of-the-art homes of its time. One more funny about Adam...as we were leaving the Biltmore Estate we decided to take a tour of the winery and do a wine-tasting. After we had completed the tour went went up to the wine-tasting room and were asked to present our IDs. After shuffling through his wallet several times, Adam couldn't find his so we had to forego the wine-tasting. Ethan and Jed had been found playing with Adam's wallet a few days before, so Adam was convinced they had lost his license somewhere in our sprawling cabin. He had to eat his words however when we found his license at home that night...he hadn't had it all week!
