Country Time

I've been thinking a lot about my native North Carolina and the beautiful rurality of my area, which I call "my country." The trees, moon-rises, sunsets, sky, birds, squirrels, dirt roads, creeks, moss... I love it and always will, no matter where I am. Sometimes I find it hard to believe that I was actually born in that house up on the hill. An unmistakable jewel for sure.

Join me in my recollections of my time home for a month in winter. Bare with me, there are a LOT of pictures! Thirty-three to be exact.

1

Kitchen window view

2

Nothing like an old, gravel, dirt road

3

Our creek

4

I don't think I will ever tire of seeing this road, my road. 

5

Fresh, spring-like green in winter.

6

The country porch

7

Not many people can sit on their front porch and see this. 

8

Practically completely country 

9

The swirling, twisting mountain road

10

Home-bred girl from North Carolina 

11

Dirty feet

12

Winter color

13

Let's go over that hill and see what adventure awaits us...

14

View out my bedroom window

15

Back in the day when we had a tree in our driveway. 

16

Growing up in the country, being born in the upstairs room where those two windows are, and having the family I have are some of the most amazing gifts I've been given. 

17

Country color

18

I call it southern sugar: orange, gooey sweetness.

19

We're sisters, country sisters; don't mess with us. 

20

Reflections in a country creek

21

Moss and water, green and blue

22

Yes, I was born here.

23

Nothing really extraordinary about this except that it was in North Carolina. 

24

Some reason, this reminds me of Africa, but it's practically my backyard (besides, I've never been to Africa, so how should I know?).

25

Ice

26

Grackle time

27

I'm convinced that snow is prettier in the country. 

28

Snow day.

29

The neighborhood favorite.

30

Snowy Country Road

31

A fairly common occurrence in North Carolina winters.

32

The forest bids me come. 

33

The rain makes everything greener, not drearier. 

Well, there it is, my home. My country in 33 pictures. Do you have a favorite?

I thank God for His gifts to me. 

I didn't choose this,

I was born here. 

Rejoice and Remember

Rejoice for the cross

Rejoice in the loss

Rejoice in His grace

Though this be a hard place

Remember He's here

Remember, draw near

Remember the song

Though this road be long

Rejoice in His gifts

Rejoice in the rifts

Rejoice because He's good

Even in the wormwood

Remember you're not alone

Remember He's on His throne

Remember He's the King

Even when you can't sing

Rejoice, dance along

Rejoice, sing His song

Rejoice, He's great

He's never too late

Remember you're His child

Remember you're reconciled

Remember He's got you

He has bought you

So when you're in the valley of sorrow

Rejoice and Remember there's always tomorrow.

"The Little Girl is Here Again"

Thought the big city.

And I thought, "Yike!"

Anyway, it is true that I am here in the north and big city once more. I got back just about a week ago. That was my first flying experience without anyone I knew. Priscilla picked me up and brought me straight to Tyler's where they were having a game night. I went to bed late, got up in the morning and went to church. There I helped in the kitchen, went to the 9:00 service, hung around, got tea, and hung out with three cool people in the bookstore. After going home and sitting in the living room with my housemates, I eventually went with two of the cool people and another cool person to a house. There we played games and ate and I obtained two new cool friends. 

My day was busy and wonderful. That was my first full day in Minnesota.

Then, coboomy!

The Bethlehem Pastor's Conference began on Monday and I helped. Those three days blur together as one big, fun week. I enjoyed working with my friends and hanging out with hilarious, fun kids like Anna and Zach (or Zacheroni). 

And then it was done. After a visit to my sister-in-law, I was really beginning to feel the reality of being in school again. 

Oh, well. Good times, bad times, it's good to remember life is from our good Father.

Reunion

This past weekend I was able to be reunited with most of my camp staff friends from this summer. I had been missing them for months, and it was so great to be together and, as Kelly said, "Pick up where we left off." We were able to reminisce about old stories and summer inside jokes. I also got to hike up Long Arm, one of my favorite things to do last summer.

Soon after I got to camp on Friday afternoon, I went down to the lake. It was frozen all the way across! That might be normal for Minnesota but not North Carolina. 

We didn't stay in our basement, but we still had a great time. Here is Jae, Jessica, Rebecca, and Kelly. 

Carson, probably one of the craziest boys I know, brought this little unicycle. 

On Saturday morning, I went for a cold hike up Long Arm. Later I heard that it was about 7 degrees; I didn't know it was that cold. 

It was beautiful but chilly. 

The Uwharie Mountains and the surrounding country. 

Later we went roller skating. I had a blast. 

It's hard to tell, but there are people in this picture. 

I saw this beautiful hawk near our cabin. 

We did hang out in our basement before leaving and had a good couch talk. 

My hummingbirds: Jesse, Kelly, Becca, me, Jae, and Jessica. Sadly, my prayer buddy, Kaleigh, didn't make it. We missed you, Kaleigh!

I love you, Friends!

Elisabeth