Reveling in God's Glory

Today was a beautiful day for a drive along The Blue Ridge Parkway.

I have been wanting to return to Pisgah Inn for many years now. In July of 2009 Curt, Chris and I took a day trip together for a little one on one time,  and drove along the The Blue Ridge Parkway heading west from Asheville, hoping to dine at The Pisgah Inn, one of our most favorite special restaurant’s on The Parkway with amazing glassed in 360 degree views of the mountains. The day was perfect and Chris took some lovely pictures of wildflowers, the sky, and of us. It was a wonderful day of looking at the natural beauty of the mountains and sharing precious moments together with our son. 

Curt and I cherished that day of togetherness and talked often about that day, looking forward to spending more time with our precious son. Unfortunately, it was to be our first and our last time of getting to do that drive with Chris. 
As I look back on that day and time now, I realize that those last 6 months of Curt’s life were filled with many more special adventure’s and moments like this with family. Unknowingly, we crammed in so much in that last year of his life, not knowing what was to come, but God did. No regrets, only wishing for more time.

Going forward to now, 10 years later, my friend Susan agreed to put herself in my hands for the day and we headed off early this morning for North Carolina on an adventure. Susan had never been on The Blue Ridge. This time around I wanted to take the road less traveled up to Pisgah, I had looked at the map found another road to the mountain, we got off the interstate in Canton and headed straight towards the highest peak Mount Pisgah, through beautiful farmlands, small valley's and breath taking scenery. Curt would have loved every moment of that drive, including those switch back curves on that small two-lane road  ascending towards heaven. The Dragon has nothing on this road other then it is a longer stretch of highway. The drive was amazing, we had the road to ourselves the leaves were glorious in their colorful array as the sun glinted on them through the foliage, the air was crisp and clean making you just want to holler to the heavens and say thank you Jesus for this glorious day and beauty that you have shared with us….Oh wait…Susan did do just that in her exuberance. 

When we arrived at the Parkway and the Pisgah we were greeted with an overwhelming amount of other leaf looking, Parkway sightseers…too many!  The Pisgah Inn closes at the end of this week until spring, so everyone was taking advantage of this opportunity before the weather changes. Unfortunately for Susan, she did not get to partake of the delicious food the Inn restaurant serves, a two and ½ hour wait was not on my agenda, so we took some pics of the vast and colorful mountains below us as far as the eye could see, then moved on driving west along the ridge-line. Thankfully the crowds did not follow us,  we were able to slowly make our way west, enjoying the clear blue skies, the interesting views and mountain vistas, allowing us to thoroughly enjoy the rest of our adventure. 

We left the Parkway  and went to Barber’s Orchard Fruit Stand and Bakery in Balsam, where Curt and I have been many times, when we had gone to his cousin, Bill's cabin up in Tuskasegee, got some tasty Apple treats to bring home, sampled some cider and apple donuts while waiting on line with our senses going crazy with the alluring smells wafting through the air. I could do a whole Forrest Gump thing here but with Apple treats instead of shrimp…but I won’t go there. We then drove on into Waynesville, were we stopped for  Lupper, (lunch and supper) at Bogarts, we both had the chopped steak, with fried mushrooms and onions, it was just what we needed to give us the energy to finish our journey through the North Carolina portion of the Smoky Mountains. After a good stretch it was time to weave our way back through Maggie Valley with Lake Junaluska to the east and Cherokee to the west, making our way to the ‘Big Road’ as Hunter use to call the Interstate, to fight with the 18 wheeler's taking both lanes and headed towards home to Lane Home Place. Whew what a day…but oh my goodness what a blessing to be able to have the freedom and the where with all to leisurely enjoy the beautiful surroundings of and among God’s  earthly and heavenly Glory all within a couple of hours drive from home. Dearest friend Susan your exuberance and excitement made the day even more pleasant by getting to spend it with you. Thank you…After getting home and looking at my pictures I was well pleased,  but the most rewarding to me was the sky picture so very profound and revealing to me. What do you see?

God Bless...and He has...and He will...

LSJL 10/28/19

Psalm 19:1

 The heavens declare the glory of God;
    the skies proclaim the work of his hands.