Last Day in the Park

So the last day I did the trail we will probably do second next year. We always do the first part of Chestnut Top at the Townsend Y as soon as we get to Townsend. Next year we will do the trail to White Oak sink as our first long hike.

 

"The trailhead for Whiteoak sink is located on the left just past the Turkeypen Ridge Trail junction on Schoolhouse Gap Trail, approximately 1.1 miles from the parking area on Laurel Creek Road. You will know you are at the Whiteoak Sink trailhead because entrance is blocked by a gate which allows hikers to pass through but stops horse traffic.

The first 1.1 miles on the Schoolhouse Gap trail is a moderate climb. The trail was originally a road so it's easy to follow with lots of room.

At 1.1 miles on the Schoolhouse Gap trail, turn left through the gate just above the Turkeypen Ridge trail junction. The next 0.3 miles is an easy walk down to a flat open area. At this point the trail seems to split. Take the left across the wet boggy/creek area."

We also went above the gate at the Turkeypen Ridge junction. We were certain we had seen pink Lady's Slippers there one year, but alas, we could not find them this time. :-(

 

Here are a few of our finds. We will not say how many flowers we saw that were not in bloom yet. Oh my! I was amazed and kept reminding myself and Bob these were just the ones we knew how to get to! I wonder how many God had blooming in areas where no human eye would see them?

 

I was exhausted and sore the rest of the day and the next day, too! But it was worth it to see the splendor of His hand in the Park.

 

 

 

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Music in Cades Cove

While Bob drove me through the Smoky Mountain National Park this melody welled up from deep within my soul. The recording on my mP3 player was entitled Träumerei. Turns out it has nothing to do with TRAUMA - the word is German for day dreaming.

The drive through Cade's Cove was often like a day dream. We always compare hunting the trails for wildflowers to looking on the beach for certain shells or working a jigsaw puzzle. Your eye begins to pick out the needed piece as you enter day 2 and day 3.

 

So as you listen to the music, see our photos below!

 

 

You round the corner on a trail and wonder "Could that be a flower up there?"

 

 

And sure enough, the Long Spurred Violet is nesting in the tree!

 

Then the competition (of sorts) was on to see who could get the best shot of it!

 

Cades Cove is a special delight when you get to see a bear, or a mom with triplet cubs!!

 

You, and all the other tourists!

 

 

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Matt Maher

 

 

This is one of my theme songs these long days of itching misery.

 

 

 

 

Lord, I come, I confess
Bowing here I find my rest
Without You I fall apart
You're the One that guides my heart

Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You

Where sin runs deep Your grace is more
Where grace is found is where You are
And where You are, Lord, I am free
Holiness is Christ in me

Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You

Teach my song to rise to You
When temptation comes my way
And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You
Jesus, You're my hope and stay

Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You

You're my one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You

I need His help and your prayers to rise above this mud puddle of a brain. His grace never fails us.

 

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Shawn McDonald

He sings my current dilemma, so much like I wrote in the poem December, 1988. It seems this is the time to live what I wrote then saying

 

"​And then, I'll rise a phoenix intercessor on behalf of God's children engaged perhaps in the biggest battle of my life to date. With bones cracking, muscles aching, nerves shooting red hot signals to nowhere and everywhere

​outer body diminishing

​while inner woman draws upon her experience with

a living, dynamic, omnipotent Father

​she is renewed, remade in His image

​inhabited daily, hourly, in every cell of her being

​by His Holy Spirit

​overshadowed, indwelt

​in spite of all this carnal container can develop -

​a woman of God

​passing through

​journeying towards a home

​where all sorrow, all tears, and

​all pain will be no more.

Forever inhabited by His Spirit

​in rapturous adoration

​of His glory, peace, and mercy.

Even so, Lord Jesus, I offer my self a living sacrifice unto You. Renew my mind according to Your word and transform even this pain."

 

Enjoy one of my new favorite songs!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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WHERE SHE GO !?!?

Recently, Rowan was in the car with us. I asked Bob to drop me off at the grocery while he ran Rowan home. When I got out of the car and told Rowan goodbye he began to cry. About a block later he demanded to know from Bob, "Where she go?!" Bob was startled to hear him declare an almost sentence!

 

 

The saying goes that misery loves company. The physicians are practicing their medical arts upon me. While they practice I am the guinea pig for their experiments. They decided the company for itching misery should be removal of all medications and over the counter vitamins and supplements. MAYBE one of those is responsible for the itching?? The misery of an itching body has been joined by a body in pain. Tonight I am down to one capsule of a drug that effects my brain chemistry for pain relief. After one or two nights, no more of that one.

 

To ad insult to injury the weather burst into spring with highs in the low 80's (which pretty well killed off the early daffodils). The forecast the next two nights is low in the 30's. If my body reacts as it has during the past 15 years, chronic pain and osteoarthritic symptoms may soon rule me. I will be the one asking "Where she go!?" Or I might be mumbling @#(*@$^(*$&!&^!_(*$&#!!!

 

I have been told not to think this way. Hum, when you are 62 years old, have had a chronic pain condition for over 20 years and developed osteoarthritis in that time too, well, I am not thinking myself into a bad state. These are physical facts I live with. If the Lord would like to heal me right now, He knows I am ready and eager for His touch. Barring that, He has assured me I am doing what I am supposed to be doing.

 

So I guess 'Scratching Agony' should be my current moniker? I am on drugs that are supposed to either stop the itching or make me so I am not so anxious about itching. We are now into month #3 since I reached the point I could not stand this and sought medical help. If you count the coping on my own we are in month #4.

 

In the parking lot at Sam's today another woman and I agreed that the younger generation has NO IDEA what they are in for! Growing old is Not for sissies!

 

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The Promise was not in vain ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Wonder if this true?

I tried briefly to look this up on line. Do not know that it is true, but gave me pause for thought. I don't usually look to James Patterson and Maxine Paetro for my life philosophy, but they wrote in The Sixth Target, quoting a physician:

"Claire once told me this thing about brain chemistry, the nub of it being that when you're feeling good, you can' t ever imagine feeling bad again. And when you're feeling bad, it's impossible to imagine a time when you won't be circling the drain."

I find parts of that true. When I have been through a bad spell, I swear I will be eternally grateful for the simple things I used to do with no thought of what it took to perform those things. Then when my strength returns I eventually give no thought to 'taking things for granted' including the things I could not do earlier. Do I fail to give thanks more often because I cannot imagine losing strength and "mundane abilities?"

I need to keep all that in balance.