The East Coast.....a strangely familiar home

You know when you've spent two hours making a travelogue of your trip and you do something like get out of the screen you're working on and loose everything? Yeah, that was just me;) so here I am, starting my post-again. I hate when I do stupid things....

I'm at the end of a 10 day journey. Chet and I got in last Wednesday into DC, rented a car and headed south towards the beautiful land of North Carolina. Four hours later at 2 am I hugged my daughter Jessica and her dogs and slept, ready to start my wonderful trip. And wonderful it was! I couldn't have asked for two better hosts than Jess and Weston.  They were very kind and generous to their parents. I will forever be grateful. Here's our picture/travelogue of our time in the Southeast. 

There are many colleges and universities in NC. But probably the best known ones in the "triangle" are Duke and UNC. We enjoyed driving around these campuses. Duke is a sprawled out piece of heaven with trees everywhere. Jessica prefers Duke because it reminds her of Hogwarts. You better have a bike on this campus or A LOT of time in between classes;) it's HUGE!!  We visited both Duke and UNC basketball arenas. Jess said tickets to this rivalry game go for over $1000. 

As we drove through Duke we came upon Erwin Street. McKenzie gave us an assignment to visit a couple of ladies at Pruitt Health that she visits weekly. She sings to them so she asked if Chet would see them and sing to them. Since I remembered that the nursing home was on Erwin Street we decided that was the time to go. These sweethearts were amazing. Here they were in less than desireable circumstances being as faithful as ever. Their beds were surrounded by family pictures, scriptures, Church magazines and hymn books. They spoke sweetly of our dear daughter and the compassion and love that she shows. They were impressed with her confidence, testimony and leadership that she shares when she is with them. I may or may not have shed a few tears. I was so proud of McKenzie. This mission has been a physical challenge for her because of her Crohns but she perseveres without complaint. This was a really special experience for me. 

We also got to see our granddogs miss Ruby and Cato. I love these two. Ruby is one loveable sweetheart that Jessica recently rescued from a shelter. I really enjoyed our evening walks behind Jessica's house on the many beautiful trails. It was good to be walking with Cato again. I've missed our hikes. 

Beautiful Lake Bass behind Jessica's House. One of the many trails that surround her. This is what sold me on NC 😉

Huge spider web with the biggest spider I've seen. Allie and Joe may not like this....

On Friday morning we were able to attend a session in the Raleigh LDS temple which is a short 15 min drive from Jessica's house. It was an awesome sight to see a zone of missionaries attending. These Elders helped us complete some family names as well as some sisters who saw that I had family cards. Thanks all!! We were able to complete some 25 family names. This would have taken Chet and I many months if not years to do. 

Love me some farmers market! These markets stay open year round and are full of the best fruit,produce and flowers I've ever seen. We had our dinner this night from our goods from the market: heirloom tomatoes, corn on the cob and watermelon. I could do this every night:)

Visiting the state capital

Just a reminder that I am in the south...

Three presidents that have roots in North Carolina. Yeah....about that....

Senate chambers 

Although a non-working capital (they have a legislative bldg across from the old capital) they have taken care of this old building. I was impressed that they still had windows with the original window panes and glass. Remember this is the east and things are very old. This building dates back to 1840 and that was the second one built. The first one built in 1788 had burned. 

House chambers

Here's hoping that history NEVER repeats itself. 

North Carolina museum of history. What a fascinating place! Great place that houses many things pertaining to the history of NC. They had to deal with pirates in their early days as well! Besides the blatant oversight on the reason for the civil war and referring to slaves as "enslaved workers" this was an interesting place to visit. 

Wrightsville Beach

When it's 85 degrees on a fall afternoon- it's imperative that one visits the beach! The beaches are a lot different here than our Pacific beaches. They are warmer, no rocks and no sea weed. Sign me up!

A big thanks to Weston for taking us to the beach after getting home at 1 am from a long flight from LA. 

What are the odds that President and Sister Bernhisel are at the Holly Springs ward the Sunday you are? This was a treat for us to be able to meet McKenzies mission president and wife. We aren't supposed to see our missionaries when they are out. It detracts from their purpose for being there.  But we were able to sense and feel the spirit of Sister Loftis as we met the people that she loves and serves here. It was as good as being with her. This was a tender mercy to see the Bernhisels. I read somewhere that "coincidences are God's way of staying anonymous" 

We took a little drive to see western North Carolina and ended up in Asheville- four hours away;) it was a very BoBo community (see David Brooks' book BoBo's in Paradise)

Took the Old Charlotte Highway back to Raleigh where we met Jess and Weston for out last night to have some wonderful North Carolina BBQ. The Pit in Raleigh is a solid 5 stars!!🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

My cousins (the Smith's: Marty, Sonya, Diana and Randy) spent their growing up years in Virginia Beach. I haven't seen them since I was a small child. I decided that on our way up to DC we would go through Virginia Beach where I met up with my cousin Sonya. We had lunch together and had a grand time! She looks more like my mother than I do! Facebook has been great to connect with people we don't see for a long time. So glad we got to see one another! 

Smithsonian Washington, D.C.  

Here we are back in DC. Chet has a conference. Yesterday I spent the day at the museums. So awesome! Although when I was in the American History museum everyone's phones were going off in this weird tone. There was a tornado warning and we were being told to take shelter. These old DC buildings remarkably seem sturdy. I felt safe. There wasn't a tornado but a severe storm. I've never seen it rain that hard. People were running in from the streets and all of a sudden business men were interested in touring the museum. It passed and then I moved over to the Gallery of Art. I tried to find something that represented each member of my family. I got everyone except Allie and Logan. I'm still looking for something for them. This is what I found:

Rachel- she loves owls

Jessica-Harry Potter

Chase- an impressionist painting of NYC

Kenzie- because she's serving in Durham

SiSi- sloths ( I know she won't like this though)

I'm still on the lookout for Allie and Logan. 

Tomorrow we return. Maybe because I've been with family so much I'm not as homesick. But I'm ready to see my other kiddos. What a great time! Glad I could be here:)