Friday, October 25, 2024

50th Anniversary

 Happy Anniversary to us!  50 years with this amazing man. We celebrated on a River Cruise on Viking and experienced so many amazing memories.  The trip was filled with travel problems, we lost a day to delayed flights, lost luggage and sickness. We arrived to our hotel in Italy at midnight.  


We were so exhausted and excited to be here. The staff stayed up for us and sent up food and wine. Thank goodness for a hot shower, food and a bed. 

We spent 3 lovely nights in Italy touring 




We were celebrated on the cruise ship with a wonderful cake, no it wasn’t our birthday but our anniversary!


Our beautiful Aunt Gennie and wonderful cousin Scott joined us. This is our 3rd cruise together and the fun never stops. 

Family is the gift that keeps giving!
More to come
Di



Appalachian Strong

 It’s been awhile since I have shared anything, I was enjoying retirement.  Then, Western North Carolina was hit by Hurricane Helene on my birthday.  At first we thought we would just have rain as we prayed for our friends and families in Florida.  Then the devastation and reality came.  No power, no water, trees done on our main road in Jupiter, NC outside Weaverville, 20 minutes away from Downtown Asheville.

We were physically fine but our daughter, who lives up the hill, had trees fall, and flooding in her basement bedrooms.  The day was filled with towels and worry.  We were completely blindsided to hear our small neighboring communities were destroyed and there was so much loss.  

 

My mind was filled with worry for my friends in Swannanoa, Black Mtn., Burnsville, Marshall, Hot Springs and Asheville.  As we reached out to friends and neighbors, we shared stories and tears.  The stories were sad and the losses many.  I felt guilty for having everything we had and wanting to get out and help.  We donated clothes, water, food but the suffering in the communities was unbelievable.


Volunteers responded to cut up the trees  they worked 10 hours.  We asked them to stop so the stump would not roll back and damage the storage shed or septic field.  

  They then asked if could pray and we joined them. 
It was a day of blessings and prayers.


Again, we felt overwhelmed with the day. But grateful 

Continue to pray and help the communities that were destroyed.  We just started getting out to go to appointments and are seeing the devastation and are dealing with loss around us. 
Appalachian Strong we remain.
Di