On Thursday, April 14th the crew pictured below headed out on the annual Camping for Christ trip. I took this picture in the Ingles parking lot as they all gathered to leave!
Just a few days prior to Rance leaving for 4 days, I was surprised with some SWEET news. Brooke decided to head to the mountains to hang with Jayden and I for a few days. I was BEYOND excited. She arrived on Thursday and the next few days were such a blessing to my heart.
There are SO many things to do, adventures to have, places to see, hikes to make, and food to eat whether in Robbinsville or the surrounding areas from Bryson City, Cherokee, Gatlinburg, Asheville, Pigeon Forge, Knoxville, and the list goes on. We are pretty much within an hour and a half or less from all places listed above. Rance and I have a list of things that we hope to one day do but the problem is the free time to do so!
Brooke, Jayden and I spent our time adventuring and enjoying the most precious quality time together. We were able to do some of the things I've wanted to do since I moved here and that are much more fun SHARED with someone versus with just me and little man!
We of course enjoyed LOTS of outside time!
My heart is totally content with the time Jayden and I spend alone together on evening rides between cooking dinner for others and late night studies but being able to SHARE this time with someone else was near and dear to my heart. It was so refreshing to have Brooke join our excursions and be a part of our playground fun, cow watching, chicken stops, and horse feedings!
On Friday, we plus Jasmine headed to Bryson City for the afternoon to walk around this quaint little city, stop and eat desserts, walk in and out of shops (which we bought nothing haha), and play on the trains all along the way.
Then we headed to the River's End restaurant on the Nantahala River for some of the best food for dinner! This is a FAVORITE of all of ours!
Jasmine's kind heart celebrated Brooke's birthday a few days ahead of time!
I love this little guy!
On Saturday morning, we rolled out first thing to head to Clingman's Dome! We were all so giddy to hike and see the views that were ahead of us. This trip did NOT disappoint.
No picture does justice all that we saw!
Little snack time in the parking lot before hiking up to the DOME - which is known for the ability to see into 7 states on a clear day over 100 miles away!
Brooke took one for the team and tackled hiking plus hauling a 32+ pound load on her back - aka JAYBIRD!
Just keepin' it real - Jayden had a breakdown on the top - why you ask? Because he did not get his way (I would not allow him to get down and run around)!
I took a million pictures of this day but I won't overwhelm you ;) plus I have not uploaded them all yet!
We stopped for ice cream in Cherokee on our way home, grabbed pizza from the River's End, and relaxed at home for the night! Thank you MOMA for the blessing of dinners out and no cooking for a couple of days.
This weekend was refreshing to me in more ways than I can describe plus being with Brooke is always a blessing ~ I'll never get over her continual growth spiritually these last couple of years - HALLELUJAH!
