Camping in NC

October 18-21

While I was home for the wedding I had planned a trip with my Dad in the mountains of NC. Camping with no plans other than to eat at some of the 100 places to eat in 100 counties from Our State magazine. Which I regret to say didn't happen at all. We tried to stop at the one in Carrboro and it was no longer there. Looks like if more people saw it as a top 100 place to eat it would still be open :(

My little brother, Peyton, joined us for our trip as well. We stayed at one of the parks we visited growing up, Julian Price Campground on the Blue Ridge Parkway. We spent time in West Jefferson, Valle Crucis, Boone, Blowing Rock, and travelled the Parkway. It was great to be outside for a few days marveling at the beauty of our God's creation including the fall colors! Check out some of my favorite pictures...

Our Campsite

Check out the Barn Art

Loved this one in the midst of all the Christmas Trees Linn Cove Viaduct

Linnville Falls

Grandfather Mountain

Great Spot for alone time with the Lord at Price Lake

Me, Peyton, and Dad - after camping for 3 days

Julie & Richard are married!

One of my dearest friends, Julie, got married yesterday! I first met Julie in 2005, spring of our senior year of college. She was from NC State and I from Carolina were preparing to go to East Asia. Little did I know when I first met her that this friendship would continue for the rest of our lives. Our friendship grew during our time in E.A. as we learned a language and culture we were both unfamiliar with. Julie and I were roommates on many of our travels all over Thailand and even Tibet. Here are a few pictures from that time during our life...

The beginning of a great friendship at Blue Ridge - Julie is front on far right

Being silly - Julie is in pink

One of my faves - this is framed!

Christmas 2005 -Julie, Me, and Summer

Qiezi!

Base Camp of Everest - July 2006

Check out Everest behind us :)

I was priviledged to be in Julie's wedding on October 16th in Raleigh! Here are a few pictures of the wedding festivities...

Us with the Crocodile Hunter at the NC State Fair

Bridesmaids

Quick shot after the ceremony - Cassandra, Julie, Summer, and I

Julie & Richard with her parents

At the reception...

Julie & Richard,

I wish you the best in your life together. I pray that the Lord will be the basis of your relationship and life together. May "The LORD bless you , and keep you; The LORD make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; The LORD life up His countenance on you, And give you His peace." Numbers 6:26-26

AMEN!

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to be a part of your special day!

Birthday Week in Pictures

Here's to 27 being better than 26! I'd say it looks like I'm off to a good start...

BODYPUMP certification

Dinner with Friends on the actual day!

Carrie Underwood & Billy Currington concert with Lara!

Pasadena Rodeo to see Rodney Atkins, Tracy Lawrence, and Joe Nichols

Attempting to dress Gemma up in a Bat Costume with Lisa

Dinner and two-stepping!

1 year of Gemmarie

Yesterday was the one year anniversary of Gemmarie! I figured people combine names all the time we could definitely combine ours, Gemma & Emmarie. Is this a pet anniversary? birthday? I don't even know what to call it...
Last year before my birthday I was trying to decide what do you do when you turn 26? Well, I decided to get a puppy! After looking at the SPCA with my roommate at the time, Lisa, I decided to go to Petsmart to be sure I could afford a puppy. While I was there I saw a lady with a puppy that was brindle coloring and looked to be some sort of boxer/terrier mix. I told the lady that her puppy was beautiful and she instantly replied, "Do you want to adopt her? She needs a home!" I exchanged information with her and prayed about it. After praying through it I decided to meet the puppy already named Gemma. After Lisa and I met with them at a Starbucks I went home and decided to pick her up the next day. It was puppy love!

It has been such a blessing to have her. Believe it or not it has helped somewhat with work/life balance. Just knowing that I have someone at home to take care of helps me to not stay there so long. Let's be honest, we all know that is a weakness for me. Here are a few pictures from this past year!

Gemma got spayed right before Halloween last year and I had candy duty at a friend's house and decided it would be cute to take a picture with pumpkins and candy in Gemma's cone. She wasn't crazy about it as you can tell in the pictures. I'm convinced that the picture below is Gemma rolling her eyes at me. I thought it was super cute.

What a beautiful afternoon at the park!

I'm sure there will be many more posts and pictures of Gemma to come...

FALL

FALL... my favorite time of year. Crisp fall mornings, watching the leaves change colors and fall off the trees, watching football games in "football weather", my birthday need I say more!?! Living in Houston I don't get to experience all of these anymore. These are things that I definitely took for granted growing up in NC. Lucky for me I will be able to be back in NC for a friend's wedding so that I can experience my first NC fall since 2004. Wow :) I'm super excited.

With all of these things that I miss I have learned to appreciate other things about fall during the past 4 years in Houston. I tend to lean more on smells to remind me of fall... Candles, sweets, pumpkins etc.


Today to usher in fall of 2010 I decided to make my favorite fall dessert, pumpkin chocolate chip cookies! I didn't discover my love for these until I moved to Texas, and now I bake them several times each year... Here is a picture of the finished product... Ladies of GBC get excited they are coming with me on the retreat this weekend!!!
Here is Gemma trying to sneak into the kitchen to get into the baking action!

Summer Recap

Since the summer is over I am hoping to become a more regular blogger. Here are a few pics to recap my summer!

Haley, Charlie & Savannah were in Dallas for Memorial Day so I made the trek to see them. I had to take them to my favorite Mexican restaurant, CHUY'S! It was great to have NC friends in Texas!

The growth group gals~ Beth, Me, Tracy & Stacy

Roasting Marshmallows!

Me and Nicole

Me and Foxy at the grill-off at church!

Me and Tracy at the HOB for a Journey cover-band. Both of us thought we only knew one Journey song but we were quickly shown differently :)

Kathryn's 40th

My sister turned 40 on May 10th! It worked out that I could surprise her after Holly's wedding. She thought that I was flying back to Texas from NC. It was priceless to knock on the door and see her face. There were definitely tears from both of us. It was a great surprise!

We should definitely leave the cake decorating to her ;) Mackenzi and I tried... We really just put the candles on and I tried to write with the icing

Kathryn, Ben & Mackenzie

Jae, Michele & Aiden

The Fam minus Ben & Michele