Back to Normal

Goodness – that weekend passed so quickly! It feels like it just started and already the work week is underway and we are making our way toward another weekend.

This weekend was the Lavish Sisterhood Conference at Ryan and I’s home church – it’s the annual women’s conference – this was my fifth year attending and every year it’s a wonderful experience! This year one of my best friends, Meridith, was able to join me and I was so excited to have her there! Friday night we worshipped together and grabbed a delicious chocolate chip cookie to go when the evening’s session was over.

I loved getting to take pictures with sweet friends – most of them were made while I’ve been attending Abundant Life and they are all so precious to me!

Saturday morning dawned bright and early – and thank goodness that the church had both coffee and an iced coffee station at the conference! I happily partook of both, ha-ha! We heard from our lead pastor’s wife (she’s a pastor in her own right) as well as the speaker and had some amazing treats for breakfast in between the sessions! I thoroughly enjoyed munching on croissants, fresh fruit and sipping my iced coffee before taking some more notes, worshipping a little bit more and just enjoying the whole experience!

The weather has started to take a turn toward feeling like Fall and so after heading home to have some leftover pork sandwiches, I got changed and Ryan and I loaded Watson into the car and wound our way up the mountainside to check out Woodstock Tower! The tower is an old fire tower on the ridgeline and the “hike” is only about 2/10 of a mile before you climb the steps and have a stunning view of the valley before you!

 

We were able to see the Shenandoah National Park and valley on one side of the tower and on the other side of the tower – the town of Woodstock! We peered across the expanse, and I eventually discovered hallmarks along the landscape that led me to our little home, perched in its circle! I was pretty impressed with myself for picking out our house from high atop the mountain ridge! We made our way back down the mountain and both ended up napping on the couch while football was on TV – it was a nice way to pass Saturday afternoon!

Because the weather was so wonderful, we whipped up some burgers, brats, taters, and fruit and loaded them into the car with Watson and a blanket and headed for Seven Bends State Park for dinner. We had our dinner right alongside the Shenandoah River and Ryan tried to convince Watson to wade into the water - but he wasn't much of a fan! I loved having dinner by the riverside; the sound of the trickling water was so peaceful and the slight chill in the air held so much promise for Autumn.

 

We had plenty of daylight left after eating, so we wandered around the state park – past some very rustly fields of corn. I don’t know if y’all are aware, but rustling corn sounds a LOT like something is walking through it to get you! We discovered an old burial ground (not even kidding) and the remains of a boy’s camp that used to be on the site of Seven Bends… and I also plucked myself some corn for decorative purposes! As the sun started to set, we headed home by way of Sheetz for a milkshake and then called it a night!

Sunday was so lovely because I was able to sleep in some – hallelujah! We headed to church and afterwards, we joined a small group for a chili lunch and some fellowship! It was a great time, and the food was so very tasty! We headed home and spent the rest of the afternoon watching football (Ryan) and reading (me) and I tried my hand at making goulash for the first time. I liked my recipe, but I also feel like it could use some tweaking – but for a first time, it wasn’t too bad!

It was such a good weekend – a very full weekend! It was also such a difference from last weekend when COVID-19 had taken over our house! I am so thankful that we recovered quickly and we were able to get back to living and loving life together!