Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. ~Proverbs 16:13
Danny and I have traveled for years to different Watershed cabins located in the Nantahala Mountains of North Carolina. We know the route like the backs of our hands, and we have special places we like to stop along the way.
Usually, our lunch spot is at Chick-fil-A in Ellijay, Georgia. But when Virginia a Longhorn in the vicinity, she asks if we can eat there instead. The reason? She wants to try their lava cake she's heard so much about. So, after she finishes her lunch, Papa orders one for her, not realizing the sheer size of it!
At least, the waitress brings three spoons, but even with all of us taking bites, it's impossible to conquer, much like our ice cream in downtown Kennesaw. When did establishments start over-sizing desserts?
Our next pitstop is a beautiful and serene rest area in Andrews, North Carolina. We stopped there with Virginia on her first trip with us to the cabin, Nantahala Gorgeous.
And here we are in June of this year! You can tell by the photos that it's the same season of our initial visit. Isn't it a serene and lovely place?
Unlike our first trip with Virginia, we don't stop at the Nantahala Outdoor Center to watch the rafters; it's simply way too crowded! We opt to just keep going to our destination - Big Sky Lodge.
Ironically, this is the cabin we originally stayed in when Danny's heart rate dropped so low, we ended up at the Bryson City hospital and had to be transported by ambulance to Asheville; Danny needed emergency surgery to install a life-saving pacemaker! As you can imagine, I am less than thrilled to be returning to the "scene of the crime," but this was the only cabin available during the time we'd planned for this trip. You can read all about those harrowing adventures here.
Fortunately for us, this visit is filled with happy memories and breathtaking views.
Tomorrow, we plan to pack our lunches and head out to Clingman's Dome, the highest peak in the Great Smoky Mountains! Won't you tag along with us?
Amen!
Once again, my link isn't working. Is anyone else having this issue? If you go into my archives, click on April 2017. The blog is entitled The Voice of the Lord. Thanks, friends!
It looks like great fun, Martha. (And there's something wrong with oversized desserts?)
ReplyDeleteLol, Glynn! It's a kid's dream, that's for sure. I must admit I do love sweets, but even this was too much for me.
DeleteLove and blessings!
Dearest Martha Jane,
ReplyDeleteYou indeed selected a great destination for staying at the Nantahala National Forest region!
That monster—sized lava cake would make one dislike them!
Your link in this post is not working...
So sorry that Danny ended up in the hospital of Bryson City but happy that all is well now.
Both of us loved Bryson City and the Nantahala National Forest: https://mariettesbacktobasics.blogspot.com/2020/10/great-smoky-mountains-railroad.html
Also happy to read here that you will go into our previous footsteps at Clingmans Dome: https://mariettesbacktobasics.blogspot.com/2019/05/so-proud-of-my-nonagerian.html
Big hugs,
Mariette
I'm not sure what's up with my link option, Mariette. I will actually "spell it out" at the end of this post.
DeleteI will be sure to check out your posts mentioned here. The Great Smokies are my favorite place to vacation.
Love and blessings!
🤗
DeleteMy comment's gone again ... HELP ... I may be in your spam folder.
ReplyDeleteI'll check it out, Victor. I don't know what's up with my blog!
DeleteLove and blessings!
I've said it before, but these images take my breath away! I want to visit the Great Smokies so bad, but don't know that Tom will ever feel well enough to do so. I'm so happy your previous scary memories of Big Sky have been replaced by these wonderful times. Thank you for sharing your joys!
ReplyDeleteYes, the Great Smokies are a most worthy destination, Myra. I must agree with you that I'm sorry such a trip would be too much for Tom. I'm thankful, too, that good memories have now replaced the bad ones.
DeleteLove and blessings!
What a beautiful and serene place, and trip there it appears. I should think the perfect place for a prayer-filled writing getaway. Perhaps next year, I should try to book one of these for right after BRMCWC and bring Ms. Diane along!
ReplyDeleteThat would be a great idea, J. D.! You can check out Watershed Cabins on the internet; that's how we first learned about them. No matter where we've stayed, we've yet to be disappointed.
DeleteLove and blessings!
That sounds like a wonderful trip. Making beautiful memories for a lifetime.
ReplyDeleteAmen, Nells, it was the perfect trip for the three of us. Virginia loves the mountains as much as we do.
DeleteLove and blessings!
Looks like a wonderful trip and a time to erase the bad memories and make terrific new ones! I'm so glad "the rest of the story" is all good!
ReplyDeleteIt is all good, Barbara, that's for sure! God will always give us a fresh start and an opportunity to see everything in light of His vision for our lives.
DeleteLove and blessings!
Dearest Martha Jane,
ReplyDeleteDid go back to read about your ordeal back in 2017!
So very similar to our story, except that Pieter had a quadruple bypass + stent placed in his neck. Friend Ellie with her husband would arrive that day from The Netherlands. Pieter would be driving to the airport and would drive back. Their Delta flight got delayed, so Pieter, who felt miserable the evening before and still not well, drove to our doctor. I had a migraine, always a sign that something is going to happen with a loved one... While trying to get over that migraine, got a call from our doctor that Pieter only had a pulse of 30 and needed to be rushed to the hospital.
Friends die pick up Ellie and her husband and we had to cancel our entire trip to Ontario where we would attend a 25th Wedding Anniversary with Ellie's cousin. And further tour with them for an entire week+.
Had to cancel all hotels and Ellie did not want to go on her own with her husband, they stayed with us.
The same friend for 57 years where I've stayed during my final trip to The Netherlands, all of my previous posts are about that.
Life can take strange turns.
Happy that you now managed to go back!!!
Hugs,
Mariette
Oh, Mariette, thanks so much for taking the time to share the ordeal that Pieter and you endured! I'm so very glad it all turned out well for you both, and your friends, in the end. God is so very good, and will always help us to make fresh starts and to count our innumerable blessings granted to us.
ReplyDeleteI haven't checked out your links yet, but will do so by tomorrow.
Love and blessings!
No Martha, it did not turn out for our friends... none of their plans got realized for the 2010 trip. Sad for missing your cousin's 25th wedding anniversary and for being with family all together.
DeleteBut life goes on...
Your cabin sure looks wonderful and I'm glad happy memories are over-writing the anxious/sad ones from your previous visit!! Those sunsets are amazing and Virginia is beautiful!! God is so good!! xo
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind words here, Terri! Yes, I'm so glad we could leave the cabin this time around with happy memories. I know I'm biased, but I think Virginia is beautiful, too.
DeleteLove and blessings!
Aw, it looks like you all are having a grand time together! I can't believe how much bigger Virginia is now than in the former pictures. They grow way too fast. It is just wonderful that you all had that precious time, and I trust the Lord will bless you with many more such moments together.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe how much she's grown, too, Cheryl. And yes, we had nothing but fun for the two weeks Virginia was with us. Just wish they didn't live so far away.
DeleteLove and blessings!
Virginia is one "lucky" little girl to have you two for her grandparents! What a wonderful time you all had together!! Oh my, that "lava cake" looks huge and delicious! Wow! Glad you all shared. It would definitely be too much for one! And the views are amazing from your cabin. I'm sorry it triggered unpleasant memories for you, but I see that you conquered them in watching the joy in Virginia's eyes as she enjoyed the hot tub and everything else there was to do there. It all sounds so delightful to me! Like I said before, I wish I could be your granddaughter! LOL.
ReplyDeleteI guess we do spoil Virginia, Pamela, but we figure it's okay because we don't get to see her like we used to. At least that's my stance, and I'm sticking to it! :) And as for the bad memories, Virginia certainly helped in erasing those for both of us. She's still talking about her wonderful adventures with us.
DeleteLove and blessings!
I certainly will tag along Martha. And I'm with Glynn on the "what's wrong with oversized desserts?" thought. :)
ReplyDeleteGlynn and you should have been at the table with us, Bill - lol! I'll bet there wouldn't have been a crumb left.
DeleteGlad you'll be back here soon.
Love and blessings!
I love traveling, Martha, especially when I don't have to make the drive Thanks again for bringing us along and allowing us not only to share your geographical location, but also the inspiring contents of your hear.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you are enjoying "coming along for the ride," Ron! I'm so happy that Danny does all the driving on our various trips; personally, I can't handle expressways behind the wheel. And travelling can be so much fun, yet exhausting, too.
DeleteLove and blessings!
Sounds like a wonderful trip, Martha. Our family likes Longhorn and my husband and I ate there after church today. We love the wild west shrimp on the appetizer menu and the chicken tenders, the bread and salads, and yes, we have even had the lava cakes before. :-) We recently made a video in Bryson city for our YouTube Channel. God bless!
ReplyDeleteI do try to check on your videos at least every other day, Karen - they are wonderful!!! Maybe the next time we head to the mountains, we'll find a place in or near Gatlinburg. Who knows? We might could arrange to meet up with y'all!
DeleteYes, Longhorn is always a winner with us. I usually get the soup and salad combo.
Love and blessings!
what a wonderful time full of blessings, That ice cream is huge! I love seeing her smile and knowing you are smiling too!
ReplyDeleteI sure am smiling, Jean! I only wish we could have had more time together.
DeleteLove and blessings!
What a difference between 2017 and 2022--in the same location! So glad this trip was joy from beginning to end. Hubby and I just returned home from the same area, meeting up with FL friends (summering in NC)) in Gatlinburg, TN. We may have been in the area at the same time!!
ReplyDeleteSound like a wonderful trip, Martha.
ReplyDeleteThe cabin looks amazing!
And that ice-cream is huge.