Texas

I spent last week in a very hot state: Texas. Almost every day reached the high 90's. But what is that when one is surrounded by amazing friends?

The food was incredible. Not only the Mexican food, but also the African food which we had one day and I failed to get a good picture of.

The squirrel below was either stuck or very content watching us swim. ;)

Ahh, that was some good ice cream!

Julie, Beth, and me. 

Sometimes I see things and I want to capture it exactly how I saw it. This was one attempt. I was lying on the bed (which I did a lot. I was very lazy on this trip. ;)) with my glasses off (therefore Tara's face was quite blurry) and when I opened my eyes and saw this I thought it was too cool not to capture. Its harder than you think to get a picture of what you see.... This one did not turn out exactly like I wanted. Sigh. Never stop trying.

Below is the building from which J. F. Kennedy was shot at.

Do you know which window?

And below is the X where he was shot.

I realize the huge grin on my face is probably not so appropriate for the subject being filmed....

In the back-ground is the Reunion Tower and the hotel to which it is attached.

There are many beautiful trees in Dallas. Quite a green city, as my brother pointed out.

A random little cabin in the middle of Dallas.

Below is the Old Red Museum of Dallas.

Yes, we went all the way to the top of the tower. The floor spins! Not too fast but fast enough to see all the way around in 45 minutes while staying seated. The view was incredible!

And so were the hamburgers! :)

Don't get dizzy looking down!

I found myself a cowboy! Too bad he didn't fit in my suitcase...

The amazing people I was with all week.

Me, Tara, Julie, and Beth.

Tell her not to jump and she won't listen to you.  :p

I also got visit my brother, Jesse, the day before I left Texas. We went to the Art Museum.

He might be a model. You never know... :)

I think that the most exciting thing we did all week was go to the stockyards. I not only got to ride a horse....

Ok, that's a joke. Sadly I didn't ride any horses....

But I also got to see my first rodeo!!!! A thrilling thing indeed!

The Dallas skyline at night. I wish I had a better camera....

I am thanking God for the beautiful memories that were made on this trip and for all the laughs that will give me wrinkles when I'm old. :)
A merry heart does good, like medicine. Proverbs 17:22

Nature

Update on the Road

So you may be wondering what in the world has happened to our road!! Well wonder no longer! Though there was a little difficulty with the equipment at first, which delayed their starting date, it was all finished within two days.

Elisabeth is in the creek with her fingertips lower than the water level was at its highest.

I, sadly, was not around when they first started digging up the road. But my sisters got pictures and said it was very exciting!

They started after 2pm and were finished with one pipe-way by the end of the day. When I got home there was a make-shift dirt road across the pipe and everything was calm for the night.

The next day they were out there bright and early, and so were we.

I thought it was funny how he kept on operating the tractor
 even when talking on the phone! :)

I brought my kitten down. He didn't like all the noisy tractors!

Several hours later the road was level again!

After a little more dirt and some gravel, we were able to drive our vehicles back up to our house!

Praising God for safety!

Aquilla

I got a kitten. The cutest little thing ever! On the way home from the place I got him from he sat in my lap and didn't hardly make a sound! 

But when we let him down to explore his new home, he was all over the place!

I am in love.

I think he is too. He already follows me everywhere. And he was born on my birthday!

A Rain Storm

This morning as we prepared for class Mom got a phone call from Dad. “We've got another problem, dear.” See, last night we got 5 inches of rain. Our creek didn't just slightly overflow its banks, it completely overflowed and flooded out road as well. There are two metal pipe-ways that run under the road that are over 20 years old and they were getting a little (little?) rusty, but what could we do about that? I was just under them exploring and everything seemed fine, though the pipe was so thin in places it just crumbled under my feet.

But the rain and flooding had done their work last night: the road was starting to collapse.

 Large chunk after huge boulder fell away and splashed into the water. We got safely across and went to class.

Several hours later we got back and the area was roped off and more had fallen. But we had groceries. So we had to go across!

 Mom had to leave again, though, and when she got down there maybe half an hour later, more than half the road had caved in, apparently just minutes after I drove over.

The first picture above was taken almost at the same spot as the one below. You can no longer see through.

 It is so cool to see all the layers of dirt and rock!

This is the most excitement our road has gotten in one year in a long time! First the snowstorm that made it possible for all the neighbors to go sledding on it (yes, that much snow is not common in North Carolina, you Northern people ;)). Then the ice storm. And now this!

We are thankful no one was hurt!

Jordan Lake

Yesterday we went to Jordan Lake. It was a gorgeous day to be out! A little bit chilly to be in the water, but when the sun wasn't under a cloud, it wasn't too bad. I have been to this lake a few times (at least so my mom says) but not in a very long time. So it was like going for the first time! The water was not an even temperature, so every once in a while there was a patch of very cool water, making it feel as if the AC was turned on, blowing on my wet body. Chill bumps!! I thought about swimming to the other side of the lake. And then I thought again. I stayed on this side. ;)

 The ground was soft and squished between my toes. I love that, though its a little gross at first.

The picture below was taken on the level of the water, which makes for a cool view, I think.

 Hannah hates swimming.

Pool-Party and Bluegrass

Summer is the time for pool-parties!!!

This is such a random picture...

 After the pool party we went to a bluegrass concert!

Hiking.... Again?!

Yes! I went hiking..... again! To.... can you guess?! Hanging Rock! This time we hiked the hanging rock trail! It was gorgeous!

Hannah, Bethany, Katrina, and Michaela.

Michaela and I.

 Do you see anything odd about the picture below?

Part of the group!

All of the group! 

I love hiking! Can you tell?