Burning the Candle...

At both ends...

Busy bee me is on another ambulatory care rotation. I am also trying to prepare for my Grand Rounds presentation at school next month, squeeze in a little work, keep up my running, and 

finish reading my Bible through (When I finish we are sending my Bible off to be rebound and recovered. Good motivation! This was Cole's gift to me for our anniversary. Leather is the traditional 3rd anniversary gift. So creative!!)

Cole is busy working A TON, applying for residency (can't believe how fast time flies), and ROCKING step 2 of his medical boards. So proud of him! 

Since our third anniversary has come and gone, I have come to grips with the fact that we aren't "newlyweds" anymore. However, I haven't thought of us as an old married couple yet...until this weekend! When do you become an old married couple?? Is it when you close down the gym on a Friday night? Or when you do chores together on a Saturday night? We checked both of those off this weekend! Much needed! 

A little crafting

In my month off I squeezed in a little crafting...I had a lot of ideas, but these were the only two that came to fruition. 

Prayer calendars with Brittany and Beth

I often get overwhelmed with everything I want to lift up in prayer. I love this idea of a calendar because sometimes I need a little direction in my prayers. It allows me to pray specifically for things and people throughout the week, but also the freedom skip it altogether and pour out my heart. My college one was a bit dated,  and a new one made for a fun afternoon with sweet friends at Starbucks.

Painted bud vases for Mom

I love clipping flowers and greenery from the yard.  Cole says he can tell when I've gotten the clippers to our rose bushes and black-eyed susans, but I don't believe him!  I get this from my Mom who always uses a little bit of our yard to brighten the inside. We also share a love for little tiny bud vases to put them in. Promised a few months ago, I was happy to finish these for her! 

Mount Mitchell

Our trip began with brunch at Tupelo Honey
in Asheville. I love this place!

View from the Blue Ridge Parkway

Pit stop at Craggy Gardens

Craggy Pinnacle Trail, best 360 view on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Yay for 3 years!! 

Happy to see this sign after 5 miles of gravel road with no signs!

Our campsite

South Toe River, flowed right beside our campsite

Mount Mitchell summit, highest point East of the Mississippi River 

Wild stargazer lillies

Setrock Creek Falls at the campground 

Cole made some great fires to cook our food on!

HoBo packs...these were our favorite thing we made!

Banana Boats for dessert. We wrapped these in tin foil
and let it all melt over the fire and ate it with a spoon.

Day 2, slept in and then hiked the big mountain

We made it! Exhausted after 6 miles straight uphill!
It was cold up here!

Unfortunately, this rolled in. It made for a wet few minutes 
on the descent...glad it was short-lived!

We should have heeded this advice!

After 12 miles of hiking, this was extra special! 

Apricot-glazed pork chops...
Cole ate 4 of them plus a leftover hobo pack!
The hike must have worked up an appetite! 

Orange Muffins

Surprisingly, the muffin tops rose directly into the
the top half of the orange. 

Probably our least favorite thing we made...orange peels
burned a little in the coals so the muffins had a very
strong orange zesty flavor. Still good to eat, but next
time I will put them on the rack instead of on the coals. 

Day 3, Crabtree Falls

Crabtree Falls

Lunch spot

The Olympics in Olympia

My sophomore year at Wofford I had the privilege to travel to Greece and Italy for a month during Interim. Olympia was one of the many places we visited. Enjoy the pictures below of the Olympic birthplace and ruins dating back to 776 BC. 

An Olympic torch

The original Olympic stadium

Arch entrance (sideways) to the Olympic stadium

The Temple of Hera

Archaeological Museum

Happy 3 Years!!!

August 1, 2009

"I have found the one whom my soul loves..."
Song of Songs 3:4

"For love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave.
It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.
Many water cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away.
If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned."
Song of Songs 8: 6-7

Celebrating year 1 in Savannah, GA

Celebrating year 2 at the mountain house 

Celebrating year 3 at Mount Mitchell (more to come on our trip!)