Matt and I went backpacking for the first time together a week ago in the Smoky Mountain National Park. We hiked about 30 miles on the Tennessee/ North Carolina border in three days and two nights. We stayed in small primitive shelters along the way with streams nearby to filter our water. We unfortunately did not bring mats to go under our sleeping bags though, which brought two very sleepless nights, but it was still great. At the shelters, they also provided a rope and pulley system to hook our food bag to in order to raise it out of reach from the bears. We actually hoped to meet a bear along the way, but we didn't (maybe it was better that way).We met some interesting people, though, along the way- families, people doing it alone, and of all ages. One man had been on the trail since July 10th hiking the southern half of the trail from Georgia to North Carolina at the age of 61.
With our work schedules so different, the time away together was priceless. The weather was beautiful, the trails were challenging, and the views were amazing. We serve a huge creator that I scarcely remember to recognize. It made scriptures about faith that moves mountains and how he numbers the stars come to life.
Here we are at the start of our journey at Newfound Gap near Gatlinburg TN. 
The amazing sunrise after the first night
Matt peering over one of the beautiful overlooks.
a mossy waterfall After our trip we paid three dollars to take a shower at a convenience store, which was a little odd, but worth every penny to be clean! We had lunch in Gatlinburg and then headed for Indianapolis. We were driving through Cincinnati and saw the lights at Great American Ballpark on, so we stopped and scalped some tickets to the Reds/Brewers game. And that lead to us ending up staying the night in a hotel and going to a water park in the morning! My parents were able to come down from Wapak to join us at The Beach for the day. How relaxing after all that hiking.
Now we're home and back to life as usual; working, enjoying our new home, and watching the Olympics :) Life is good.
