I can’t get over how much God has allowed my life in my total 33 years. 29 years ago and some days, I was having my most recent cardiac repair through open heart surgery. And in less than a month I’ll be having a cardiac catheter pulmonary valve replacement procedure- a case that up until recently was always supposed to be open heart as well. But technology has advanced, praise God, and I do meet the criteria to be a candidate for trans-catheter PV replacement. That’s God!
With my 29 past years since my last repair I have become a surgical technologist, married the love of my life, have had two healthy babies, backpacked 40 miles and climbed Half Dome with cables down, climbed countless mountains and miles, ran marathons and races, and have taken on many life challenges and blessings. I’ve done things doctors told my parents I’d never live to see, nor that I could ever hope to do. But they didn’t know what God can do.
Because I have been able by the power of God to accomplish and physically do so much, I wanted to send this heart off with a final hoorah before she undergoes her newest maintenance (which will help her perform even better!) I wanted to praise God and honor his gift of life to me by pushing myself one more big time before this procedure- one last chance to do what God has allowed me to do with my heart as it is now.
Eric got us the cutest little charming rustic cabin in Linville to rest and relax in when we weren’t out having an adventure. It was so delightful and made for a true get-away.
We began our journey at Linville Caverns. This has been on my list for a really long time and I finally got to do it! The tour is 40 minutes long and very entertaining and educational. The cave was 52 degrees and so welcomed after 100+ degree days.
From the caverns, we went to Hawksbill Mountain. A 2.4 mile hike that has been on my list also for years, now! It felt so good to climb and see the blue ridge stretch for miles. We took in the view, enjoyed an incredible breeze, ate lunch, then away we went to our next destination.
Grandfather mountain vineyard is totally our spot! If we had had the kids, we would have been stationed by the creek, sipping wine and eating cheese and crackers while the kids splashed and hopped along the creek! It was beautiful. Great live music, wonderful atmosphere, and tasty wines. We got a souvenir bottle as we always do to add to our collection.
Then on our way to get dinner, we drove by Banner Elk winery so of course we pulled in for a tasting. The wine was terribleeeeee - laughingly so - I didn’t even finish out tasting it was the worst I’ve ever had but - it was truly laughable and fun to make the memory and joke over it. We sat on the covered porch during a major torrential downpour and laughed and talked together.
Dinner was at Bayou Banner Elk. SO DANG GOOD. We had brisket quesadillas, nachos, and a queso burger. Son. That’s good. Then we got ice cream in the rain, 66 degrees outside, freezing, we ran to the car and turned on seat heat and listened to hits from our younger days, dancing and eating a sweet treat.
Back to the cabin - we barely stayed awake to 7pm. (We had gotten up at 5am). As a matter of fact, I actually fell asleep on the way to the cabin - only 20 minutes from the restaurant. Then I fell asleep twice more before 9pm on the couch. We were tired and cuddly and cozy.
The next day was our Grandfather Mountain day! I have been pining to climb this technical trail for years but I’ve always been pregnant or the park was closed for high winds. This hike is the most strenuous and technical in the southeast. It’s the most technical without needing to add any of your own gear. There are ladders and cables. Though, admittedly, after climbing half dome with cables down, it felt really easy for Eric and I but none the less a leg burner for sure! It’s not for a beginner, I will say. We climbed to the highest peak and took in the view, praising God for the ability to do this. Then we began our descent to the mile high swinging bridge. As we knew would be the case, we were there on a holiday Saturday. So many people. I’ll just say - we are truly introverts and there’s a reason we tend to go on weekdays…ha! Coming from the solitude of a quiet mountain top to tourist zone on steroids is a little cray. But what a neat experience- Ellie and Elias would have loved this. We will bring them back one day! Then we went to the nature center to see the animals. Then I ran where Forrest Gump ran because oh my gosh, so cool! Runners’ bucket list item unlocked!
From Grandfather Mountain we went to Rough Ridge to get the views there. Easy overlook hike. Then we got some food - honey, I got some queso chili fries and I was in heaven! We got freshened up at the cabin and spent the rest of our day at Linville Falls Winery. Now this is also a spot for our fam. They have great live music, a great venue as they are not only a winery but a Christmas tree farm as well. There is a pond where your kids can fish and wonderful seating all around and throughout the entire venue. Eric and I did a tasting and rested our muscles before we got sangria slushies (which come with free refills!) …and then walked the farm. Christmas in July! We left at closing time after just resting in the shade of river birches and listening to bull frogs and watching fish jump. Off to the Tin Trout for dinner where we got trout and salmon with crab salsa and a trio of chip dips. The evening was then spent with reading and resting.
Our final day, I wanted Eric to see one of my favorite waterfalls - Crabtree Falls in Marion, NC. Mountain views and waterfalls are where my heart lives and finds respite. We hiked in and had it all to ourselves! We sat and prayed over one another. Eric thanked God for bringing me to where my heart lives and prayed for our upcoming surgical adventure. He thanked God so much for His hand in my life and His grace. I prayed over Eric as well and it was an amazing time for connection with our King and with one another. The cool mist and breeze of the falls was healing. We had church right there in the mist of the roaring falls.
We hiked out and headed toward Asheville to get Sierra Nevada eats and a brew. We had the beer cheese pretzel, Cubano fries, and split a wood fire pizza. Then we walked the gardens before heading home to get our boy! (Ellie is staying with her cousins for the week.)
This trip, this “heart-moon” helped to ease the shock and pain of this season in our lives where there is a lot of unknowns, a lot of uncertainty, and a lot of hurdles to constantly jump. I’ve said before and I claim it’s truth again, without the Holy Spirit, there is no hope. Because He resides in my soul, I am alive and have eternal life. Because He is mine, I have hope, joy, and peace in these less than perfect times life inevitably presents. I am immeasurably grateful for a risen Savior, all powerful, mighty to save, perfect in His plan, sovereign God. This trip has brought emotional healing, now let’s get that physical healing.
