Honey From A Thorn

Life is like licking honey off a thorn

I heard this quote recently and it resonated with me on so many levels.  It put into a word picture all of our present and past experiences.  The sweetness of life has been complicated by some of the struggles we've been through.  Yet, I would say that the honey, the good things have been satisfyingly sweet at times.  And we are the better for the struggles we've walked through.

Last weekend Jon had a three day break and we decided to make another trip to North Carolina before the madness of his CNA course began.  Before we headed west through the mountains to North Carolina, we made our way to Tennessee to make some preparations for the bee hive.  Jon spent a couple of hours cutting grass and leveling out a spot for our soon to arrive hive.  During this time we were able to get over to our property and walk around the outside of our home.  It was surreal to be back again, standing amidst acres of grass and the two trees that we planted for Hannah and Eli.  I am reminded of how God allowed such a generous blessing from a difficult tragedy.  Beauty from ashes, honey from a thorn.

 This girl loves to run!  I couldn't get a shot of Hannah standing still!  The moment we hit the property she was off.  Three acres of level grassy field had to be conquered, and so she ran and ran and ran.

 

  Eli Discovering a caterpillar and standing by 'his' tree that we planted in 2008

After a short jaunt to Tennessee we made our way over to see friends in North Carolina and to enjoy once again a place that feels so much like home.  Over the last 2 years we have developed a true love for the Western NC area, it is like home to us in so many ways.  God really poured out a blessing as we were able to visit and catch up with so many who we lived life with during out time there. 

Our first stop was to see Nick.  Nick became apart of our lives almost from the moment we first moved to the area.  I remember Jon telling me that as 'part of his job' at the college he and this guy, Nick had to go mountain biking and check out some trails.  Are you buying any of this?  Really, mountain biking and get paid?!  Yep, and so it started.  This work (if that's what you want to call it) relationship developed into a friendship.  Nick and Jon spent hours together boating, climbing, caving, biking, building, goofing off, and the list goes on...

Jon and Nick.  Jon and Nick.  Jon and Nick... sound repetitive?  That's what I heard constantly all last year.  These two were inseparable. It was a running joke that Nick saw Jon more than I did!

 Eli scoring a big rock from Nick

Don't  even consider separating these two.

"Sir, please do not kick the swans. " 

If you're wondering about this caption, ask Jon.

Our next stop was to visit our dear friends, Aaron and Megan.  They recently moved and had plenty of room for the four of us to invade their space for a little while.  It was such a joy and it was incredibly refreshing to hang out with them and be pampered by their hospitality.  Two amazing breakfasts and a day hiking and lounging by the river were just what we needed.

 Hannah loved hiking with Megan

 Our destination,

 Standing behind the waterfall

 Trillium 

 One of my favorite spring wildflowers

 Two hours of hanging out on a beach at the river,

 watching the kids entertain themselves 

= one happy mama!

 Megan and Aaron + One on the Way!

 A trip to the Looking Glass area wouldn't be complete without ice cream. 

Raspberry truffel and chocolate cake.  Can we say, ah-mazing?

 SUGAR RUSH

Something Jon and I really enjoyed doing during our time living in WNC was to go downtown.  Asheville, is a vibrant and varied place.  I've been in the summer heat and the cold of winter, and there almost always seems to be some type of entertainment going on there.  From hula hooping to living statues, there is always something that catches the eye.  And of course musicians are scattered everywhere, its an artisan mecca, a musical buffet.  

Waiting for pizza at Mellow Mushroom

Still waiting for pizza

 Pack Place

 Water love 

This particular fountain has always been a favorite for Eli

EASTER!

We had the opportunity to spend another Easter with Aaron and Megan.  

We joined them at their new church and were reminded of why we have hope!   

 Kiss

 Being Silly

 Okay, enough with the pictures 

As a mentioned above, God worked an amazing treat for us as we were able to meet up with so many of our friends.  We spent a couple of hours catching up with Brandon and Martha and their new little girl.  It was again such a blessing to sit in their home perched up on a mountain and enjoy some sweet fellowship (sorry, no pictures.  I sort of dropped the ball on that).  

At the end of our time.  We were able to track down and see our dear friend, Sophie.  This truly was a gift as this amazing woman has her hands full working at a busy and thriving wilderness therapy camp.  She is usually off on some incredible trip (costa rica, key west, etc), but for this moment our worlds were able to collide.  We are so enriched by her presence, her smile, and her ability to all-out love people.  We are honored to know her.  I so enjoy watching God work through this beautiful jar of clay.

 So what, you may ask is the thorn in all this?  Well, I would put it simply, it was leaving.  We had such a great time and our hearts were reignited with our love for the area and the people there.  As we climbed back into the car and drove off, we were filled with that bitter sweet reminder of what we left behind.  Perhaps someday we will have the opportunity to go back.  But as a follower of One who writes the story for us, I am not sure I can confidently say what the next chapter will hold - only the Author knows that.

Regardless of the distance, 

the road leading away from friends is a long one.