Our First Family Vacation

This past weekend Jonathan, Eliza, and I got away for our first family vacation! It was much needed and very enjoyed. We went to Blowing Rock, NC in the Blue Ridge mountains and oh my, it was perfect. In essence, we lazed about the cabin and connected with God, each other, and some great books. But I managed to take some pictures along the way (of course :))...

A sweet treat on the way up was being able to rendezvous with Aunt Julianne in Hickory, NC as she was on the way to a retreat for the weekend in Asheville. As you can tell from the picture below, Eliza was really happy after being in the car for three hours.

Our view from the cabin. I was reminded this weekend how much being in nature makes me connect with God. And when I say "being in nature" I mean from a safe, heated, man made home. ;)

To spend time as a family, just the three of us, with no outside influences, media, or work was bliss. How needed to be able to retreat, reconnect, and be refreshed (liking the alliteration?) together.

Eliza loved her daddy time.

And mom snuck in some overbearing hugs too.

A sweet moment in the weekend was Eliza discovering that she could put the colander on her head. Love that lil' chicken nugget.

Downtown Boone. We went to an amazing restaurant called Hob Nob Farm Cafe and if you're ever in the area I highly, highly, highly, recommend going. Delicious, eclectic, little restaurant with smack your face off good food.

Eliza loves her daddy (no seriously she does, although she does not love smiling for the camera)

Me and b bear.

This was one of our favorite scenes in a valley near the cabin and is a fitting picture for the desire of our hearts this past weekend.

"Blessed is the one... whose delight is in the law of the Lord,

who meditates on his law day and night.

That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,

which yields it's fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither-

whatever they do prospers"

Psalm 1:1-3

How easy it is to be swept away by the worries of this world. This weekend was a sweet reminder for me to fix my eyes on Jesus. He is better than anything life can give and death can take away. Lord may I be like a tree planted, rooted, and established in you. An "oak of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor" (Isaiah 61:3).