Birthdays and Hiking

So since the Biltmore, our home has been a little bit more quite. We spent most of our time cooking, watching movies or tv shows, having birthdays, and hanging out with friends. Having Birthdays?! Haha. Yes. We celebrate two within a month of each other. Carolyn's on Dec. 26 and Dad's on Jan. 13. Carolyn wanted carrot cake for her birthday so Mom and I made a dance for her (but not a cake, we bought that! haha). Its called the "Carrot Cake." And for Dad's birthday we played board games and listened to some very old comedians. I am beyond blessed to have both of them in my life. I think God gave us an extra helping of blessings when He formed our family. To say the least I have a wonderful father, a joyful mother and sweet sister, all of whom I have been able to share some wonderful memories with.

Next, hanging out with friends! Oh we had so much fun!!! For example:

At a friend's wedding with a bunch of CIU'ers'

L-R: Mrs. Day, Me, Carolyn and Millie :)

Today we hiked a little of Congaree National Park but were presented with a small challenge.

Oh look what a beautiful day

The sun is shining, the is air is crisp...

...and the board walk is WET?

Oh its not just wet, its submerged.

We walked in this cold mess for about 15-20 minutes

We had fun despite the numbness in our feet.

And made it out alive!

Well that about does it for our recent adventures. Here is one of those old comedians we listened too (on Dad's Birthday): The Chauffeur and The Professor by Jerry Clower (this is one of my favorites)

6 Months Later

I can hardly believe it has been 6 months since I arrived back in the States after an amazing summer in South America. I want to reflect on how the time spent there has impacted me.

1. Prayer. I am often not sure how to pray for my South American friends. So many of my prayers sound like some silly person rambling off names and places then saying "Lord, you know what they need, whatever that maybe, please provide it. Amen."

2. Finances. I give to short term missions, Inca Link or other mission related ministry when I can and do my best to hold nothing back. After all it is not mine to handle as I wish but God's, who decides where it goes.

3. A changed Heart. In these past few weeks of being home for (my last) Christmas break, God has opened my eyes to see that my gifts and talents are not mine but His. And He has given them to me so I might bring Him glory. For example, I love to crochet and am a semi ok photographer. Both of which God has used to bless my family. In addition, there are ministries that would love someone to crochet baby blankets or donate blankets and so on. 

These 3 things God has placed on my heart in ways that I can serve short term missions in a long term way.

Luke 12:34 " For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Here are a few links and videos to see what is happening with Inca Link:

There are new soccer teams and sports being formed in Ecuador: Click here for a promo video

One of my friends in Peru visited the Jungle taking skim boards with him as a ministry tool: click here for his video or  here to check out Inca Thakhi's facebook page

The Biltmore

Such beautiful landscape

Can you tell we are sisters?

After the Biltmore we went to a place called Elk Garden...

... and saw these guys on our way out

And of course since we were so close to downtown Asheville...

...we had to pay visit to one of my Dad's favorite restaurants...

...It's now a favorite for the whole family

It was a cold in Asheville but we had a lot of fun.

Our trip to the mountains was packed full of adventures. Everything from touring the Biltmore to seeing old high school friends to shopping in the Biltmore village. Not only did we have lots to keep us busy we also found time to relax and enjoying spending time together as a family.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Here we go head first into 2014! I can't wait to see what God has in-store from our family this year!

Plans Change

Before my family and I went to Florence, we sat down talked about all the traveling my sister and I were doing. And we decided that it might be best for us not to go to Philly but Florence, Asheville (to see the Biltmore) and Greenville were still on the agenda. But who knows plans may change again. 

As of recently, the family and I are home after visiting the Grandparents in Florence and a wonderful vacation to the Biltmore. First, lets take a glance at what happens when the Turbeville family get together. My sister and I headed down early to start all the baking extravaganza.

First you bake the cookies

Next, you eat the cookies

Then you decorate the ones you and your grandpa missed

My Grandpa help decorate (aka: add peanut butter, icing and dump sprinkles and marshmallows on all the cookies. haha.)

I got fed up with mess I was making from the spoon so I used the next best thing, MY FINGERS!

Yep, my Grandparents have an old record player that still works

Mr. & Mrs. Turbeville :)

Going to Christmas Eve Service (to which we arrived 30 minutes late haha.)

Check out those shirts, just sayin'

We had a wonderful Christmas, just cooking, baking and spending time with each other. After all, God gave us the best Christmas gift EVER! And my family and I did our best to honor Him in our words and actions. It seems that family is the hardest to show love too but when you allow Christ's love to flow though you, it is much easier.

I hope you had a very Merry Christmas and a even Happier New Year. Pictures from the Biltmore will come soon until then please check out this very appropriate song video on Christmas cookies:
George Strait - Christmas Cookies

What are you doing for Christmas?

That seems like a relatively easy question to answer but when asking me or my sister... Let's just say we are doing a bit of traveling. Carolyn and I will be using our last Christmas break to visit friends, go to weddings, hang out with family and see far away places. She and I will both graduate in May, Carolyn will graduate with her Masters in Speech Language Pathology and I will have my Bachelors in Youth Ministry. YAY! So as our last Christmas break, we decided to go out with a BANG!
Here are all the stops:

1. Atlanta, GA - for a wedding of an old high school friend (this wedding was on Saturday)

2. Greenville, SC - Carolyn's roommates (Millie and Sarah) both live there and showed us around the lovely city

3. Charlotte, NC - to spend much needed time with Mom and Dad (can't wait to be home :)

4. Florence, SC - We will be spending Christmas with the grandparents (naturally there will be lots of baking and yummy Christmas treats to enjoy) ...

5. Asheville, NC - Carolyn and I have never been to the Biltmore so what a better time to see it than during the Holidays

6. Philadelphia, PA - My sister and I will be driving up to hang out with Millie (Carolyn's roommate who grew up there) and hopefully will make it in time for New Year's

7. Charlotte, NC - a friend from CIU is getting married

8. Greenville, SC - to hangout with the roommies again and just for fun

After Greenville school will start back up and Carolyn and I will have to part ways... But look at all we get to do together! I am so excited to spend my Christmas break with my big sister!

So here we go!

The Lovely Bride

My Best Friends from High School (love these girls more than life)

We just can't get enough of each other ...

... especially when we only see each other every 3-5 yrs

The Atlanta Aquarium

"SANTA!!! I KNOW HIM!" (Elf)

I really don't like fish or being under water that much....

...BUT...

It was absolutely beautiful!!!!!

oh, ya know just having fun with the Coke Cola statues

The Atlanta State house

Goodbye Atalanta, GA & hello Greenville SC

Sarah & Carolyn (roommies)

Me, Sarah and Carolyn

It was our goal to see as many falls as we could (I think we saw about 5:)

Carolyn and Millie

I fell in love with the city! It was so beautiful and super close to the mountains

What a classy lady and her coffee (it's 7 o'clock some where :)

  

Have a very Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year, if we don't see you before then