It's a MOUNTAIN thang...

For all you flat-landers out there - landslides, rockslides, and all that jazz are new to you like they are to me.  Due to all the rain this past week, these landslides/rockslides have happened in several different locations and all I can say is WOW.

Pictured below is a landslide that just happened Wednesday at Newfound Gap.  It's the mountain we cross over to go into Tennessee where the TN/NC line is.  The slide was estimated to have taken out a 200-ft section of the road.  Rance and I had every intention of taking Mandy & Brandon on a hike there when they come to visit soon but I do believe plans will have to change now since the road is NO LONGER THERE and the news indicates that the road will be closed for an extended period of time.

And the pictures above just represent ONE area. 

According to the news:

The rain-soaked western mountain counties have seen a deluge of smaller landslides over roadways, with nearly 50 slope failures causing problems on DOT roads. "We've had four in Cherokee County, three in Clay County, 23 in Graham County (that's Robbinsville), eight in Haywood, 10 in Jackson, two in Macon, six in Swain and none in Henderson, Polk and Transylvania." Said Joel Setzer, district engineer for District 14, which comprises the 10 westernmost counties.

This is heading up cherohala skyway in Robbinsville

Sounds like we just need to stay home.  Blows my mind that that really happens but now that I've seen it - it's definitely FOR REAL.

A lil' under the weather!

REJOICE! :)

This junk or whatever you would like to call it has been going around Robbinsville since before Christmas!  In some cases it is the flu and in other's it's a really bad cold/cough/yucky stuff that lasts up to 5 weeks.  Yep, my friend Lisa and our aunt has had this junk for 5 weeks - seems to be the magic number.  I am honestly not sure what I have at the moment but I got quite the laugh when I looked beside my bed this morning at the conglomeration of things!



What do we have here? Mucinex, toilet paper, throat spray, cough/throat drops, water, & nyquil!

 I have no idea why but being sick always makes me think of SIN.  Sickness infects the body.  You feel weak.  You feel blah.  You feel just plain SICK.  When I think of SIN - it infects the body too.  It's yuck, it's nasty, it's sick.  When you are sick - don't you typically want RID of the sickness?  I feel the same way about SIN.  I hate it, because God hates it.  I want rid of it.  I don't want any part of it.  I pray to recognize it, confess it, receive Father's forgiveness and deal with it.  I am rejoicing in this sick junk that I have because certainly it has a purpose and I can rejoice because I don't have to be controlled by sickness just like I do NOT have to be controlled by SIN!  Why?  One word.  JESUS.

HaPPy BiRtHdAy KaiTlyN

I was SO excited when I figured out that Kaitlyn's BIRTHDAY was on a Thursday, the night of our discipleship group.  OF COURSE, that called for a cake, candles, and one of her favorite meals!  As you read in my earlier post this week - the RAIN has really interfered with things around here not to mention the forecast of SNOW too.  I got up early before work to bake a rainbow chip cake for Kaitlyn and could not wait to celebrate her.  By the afternoon, we ended up having to cancel our discipleship group because parents were concerned about the girls being on the road after dark if it was snowing, etc. WHICH I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND because my mom and dad would have been the SAME WAY.  I was concerned too.  I was slightly disappointed BUT I met Kaitlyn in town to give her the cake & wish her a happy birthday!!!  She's precious and I'm so thankful to be a part of watching her relationship with Jesus GROW!

On a side note, I forgot to get me a piece of the cake and rainbow chip is my FAVORITE! Oh well :)

*Last weekend*

Last weekend was a fun, yet RARE weekend!  Rance and I stayed home the entire weekend and even though we were going non-stop - it felt nice to be home and finally getting around to projects we have longed to do for a while now.

For example, for a really, really LONG time now, Rance and I have had every intention of reorganizing our basement and rearranging all the items down there to conserve space, purge STUFF, and even form a small study area down there.  We had no intentions of working on this Saturday but we both ended up down in the basement and worked until 8:15 Saturday night transforming it.  Our work is not complete yet but we conquered a big chunk of it. 

We also enjoyed smores & a small campfire Friday night with Rachel & Cody :)  I apologize for the blurry pictures but that's what you get when you use my phone!

Sunday afternoon between church in the morning & church in the evening - Rance and I enjoyed the kid's yard sale & fresh squeezed lemonade next door to our house.  SERIOUSLY.so.cute. 

purchasing sour gum!

 

 

Yard sale RAIN OR SHINE!

No School Today? You ask WHY?

Rain.

Rain.

Rain.

and more Rain.

And NO electricity this morning.

Crazy huh?  It is not often you hear of schools being closed due to rain but it's a true story in Robbinsville, North Carolina today.  It's been raining nonstop for a few days and not until yesterday did I realize how high the creeks have gotten, some overflowing, roads washed, and water everywhere.  Creeks are always peaceful, smooth flowing, and quite beautiful but not right now.  The creeks are GUSHING water and moving rapidly just like a river you white-water raft down.  It's unbelievable.  Rance and I had a dentist appointment in Andrews yesterday and we were astounded by the amount of water everywhere.  In fact, Andrews schools were closed yesterday because they had a bridge/road wash away. 

The pictures below do not even do it justice.  Plus we could not get close to the areas where the creeks were overflowing.





There is a first time for everything huh?  I can't help but think of Noah & the ark.  To really dwell on the fact that Noah had never seen rain yet he stepped out on faith to build this ark why?  BECAUSE GOD TOLD HIM TOO!  That's the only reason he needed.  And for years upon years upon years Noah built this ark simply TRUSTING.  I say simply but is trusting simple for you?  Is not knowing what the future holds or even tomorrow holds simple?  I have been thinking much about this lately.  What a person would actually look like if they never worried, never doubted, never needed answers because they simply trusted Father and rested in the shadow of His wings (Psalm 91)?  Can you imagine how free that person would be?  The Bible talks over and over about trusting Father yet why don't we?  Maybe we are scared.  Maybe it's a lot of things.  I encourage you to seek the Lord over this because I promise I am.  Often times we say we trust Father but we don't live like we trust Him.  We are carrying weights, burdens, fears, baggage, shame, guilt - and we hold onto these things - instead of putting them down and trusting Father to take care of it all.

I know I don't have it all figured out but I know I want to be free.  I want to trust Him every second of every day until I'm physically present with Him one day.  What will it take?

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
² I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”

Psalm 91:1-2

Leah & Leanna in NC! Say what?!?!

Treasured.

Precious.

Invaluable.

Encouraging.

Sisters.

United.

One.

These are a few of the words that come to mind when I think about the time I got to spend with Leah & Leanna on their first visit ever to North Carolina.  Culture shock maybe?  I must say they adjusted quite well.  The only MAJOR shock factor for them was the COLD temperatures.  They are use to very hot weather and to go from 80's & 90's to 40's is quite a change.  My friend Laura and I had fun providing them a new wardrobe while they were here!

They flew into Raleigh, NC on New Year's Eve.  There first full day was spent in Nahunta with my family!  What a treat it was!  We introduced them to farm life, driving tractors, the process of slaughtering pigs at Nahunta Pork Center, making feed at the mill, crow hunting (yes, they went!), country cookin', riding the rhino, and more people that talk southern besides myself!  It was one special day...

Mandy, me, Leah, Laura, and Leanna
Hanging out at the mill!

*Funny Faces*

Leah takin the wheel on the tractor!

We all fit perfectly on the rhino!

Ready for a stroll around the farm!

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.

*Welcome to Nahunta Pork Center*
Brandon & Mandy started dating after their first trip to Trinidad TOGETHER in 2010 (they had both been to Trinidad separately one time each).  Now they are married!

On our PIG slaughtering tour!

Pig Pop (aka my Uncle Mack) owner & founder of Nahunta Pork Center!  We thoroughly enjoyed the tour he gave us!



Soon to be dead pigs :)



There is a first time for everything!  This included a lot of FIRSTS for Laura too!  Speaking of Laura, if it wasn't for her asking and challenging me over Trinidad back in 2006 - all of this may not have been a part of my life.  Our friendship began at Hope Community Church years ago and has only grown since because our relationship with the Lord has radically grown and is constantly changing.  I am forever grateful for a best friend that challenges my walk with Father and always gives me biblical advice.  She is the real deal.

Group shot on some feed bags!

Leah & Leanna got to watch Rance and I meet in their country (TRINIDAD), get engaged, and get married!  They have been a part of watching God knit the entire process. 

Doesn't she look good in camo?!

Yep, we went crow hunting!

Very excited about this crow hunting excursion!

Invaluable time together.

Family photo after a FEAST cooked by Mama Gale & homemade biscuits by Rance! God is so fun!

friendships ordained by God!

The rest of the week consisted of several more firsts for them!  We introduced them to Bojangles, Chick-fil-a, bowling, Starbucks, Hope Community Church, outlet shopping, and the list goes on!

We also had an incredibly fun Trinidad reunion where several members of our past mission teams got together to hang out and bond!!!  This was just as much a reunion for me as it was for Leah & Leanna.  The evening was so fun and we all picked back up right where we left off. 

My wifey & I.
Rachel and I met on her 1st, my 2nd mission trip to Trinidad.  We have been BFF ever since.  Side note:  We are SO different yet our love for Jesus triumphs all differences! 

Photos from Rachel :)
I miss her so much!



Mandy & I were introduced on her 1st, my 3rd trip to Trinidad and guess what?  Best Friends ever since.  I'll always cherish how we initially bonded ;)  She also just married into the family!



Team picture!

Craziness!

Special bond among this group!

KISSES for Leanna!!!

Absolutely one fun evening together!

My old bible study group!  I'll never forget those times together!

My sisters. So thankful we share the same FATHER.

Sweet Laur & Leanna shoppin' it up!



We don't get much time together so we LOVED the extra special time while Leah & Leanna were in NC.




FIRST trip ever to Bojangles.  They still loved Chick-fil-a the best though!

Cuteness!

Thank you Jesus for Your provision!

Leah - her heart for the Lord is radiating!

Supporting Laura during KidCity live which is an incredible ministry one Friday night a month to encourage families to get out & bond together! 

Best of friends.

I miss my old church.

We also studied the book of Colossians while they were here.  I ask that you pray with me for both Leah & Leanna and for them to not just have the desire but to actually BE the change agents within their country for the Lord Jesus.  I have watched these girls change radically over the last 7 years!  It has been beautiful to watch and I want to see them FLOURISH. 

I love reflecting back (just like Psalm 77 when David was remembering the deeds of the Lord) and remembering all that the Lord has done through being a part of missional work and the body of Christ in Trinidad.  To think that we are all united as ONE body and no borders can change that.  Is that not fascinating?  Mind-blowing?  I thank Father for the relationships/friendships that I have been so blessed with.  I thank Father for allowing me to meet my husband in Trinidad - a man that far surpassed every prayer I had ever prayed for my husband.  I thank Father for my Trini family and the bond we share simply through our connection of JESUS CHRIST. 

  

I thank Father also that I am headed back to TRINIDAD in April with 5 other amazing sisters! :)