Benware Visit

(A Little Delayed!)


One benefit to living in the mountains, a little further from civilization... well, really family... is the amount of visitors we have received! We love it; not the being far away from our love ones but the amount of guests who've come our way. Recently we had the chance to spend a week with Brenton's parents. They made it in time for two home soccer games, both rainy and viewed from inside the car. Good for bonding time, that is except for when the ball came too near our net.

Unfortunately, their visit was at the end of August before my work schedule slowed down, so I missed out on some of the fun. The beautiful courtard of flowers is from their visit to the Biltmore home. Transition time at the Biltmore home; from flowers to garland.

The pups always love visits from the Benwares who give them good lovin'. Lexi has always perked up a little when Daddy "B" is around. The two both fought for attention most the time; loving every bit of their play dates and walks.

So This Is Christmas...

I would make a slight argument that it is "that time of year"! Christmas music in on a number of stations in the Great Smokeys... and by the way, on my way to work this past Friday, I was listening to a Christmas classic when I saw Christmas right infront of me! There was a huge truck loaded down with Christmas trees. Can it get any better? Let me answer that for you; "NO"!!!

Brenton and I had our first free day in weeks this past Saturday. We slept in, had a free meal in the cafeteria, went to Biltmore, and got our Christmas tree. Biltmore has all its Christmas decor up and the most massive lit tree I have ever seen. Brenton and I did a speedy tour of the inside, bypassing all the guests with headphones.




















I can almost guarantee we were the first to get our tree from the tree lot on Tunnel Road this season. The poor family camping out while selling trees; they were bundled up as Asheville's temperatures have been dropping. We decided to make a "classy" tree this year, to match our main floor decor. Got my tree topper idea from some artificial flowers I had sitting around and from my in-laws (mother and sisters) tree toppers.























After hopping back in the car from a movie that was sold out; we decided to stop by Duncan Doughnuts which just happened to be closing... SCORE!!! We asked for a few doughnuts and walked out with a dozen and a half, plus a bag of doughnut holes for $2.69. My advise; go to your neighboring doughnut shop right before closing. You might find that they're extra generous at night. Brenton, just about, took a bite of every doughnut before our next stop.

Sunday Sunset

Enjoying our place when we get a chance and loving the views. Thinking this is our favorite time of year with the scenic view of mountains and city lights. We're ready to throw on our tennies and run down the hillside; though I'm pretty sure that'd only cause us to tumble down and return uphill with bumps on our noggins.

We sat on our little bench and watched the sunset, with chicken grilling and the pups a runnin'. And I mean a runnin'! The pups came back to our apartment, out cold, and were unnervingly still.

The Montreat Cavaliers' Soccer team finished second in tournament... and as I read in an email to the college, "with a heart-breaking loss to Bryan College, 2-1 in overtime." Our boys were playing worn out in the last game; a broken big toe, an open sliced cheek, inner bleeding leg, and aching bodies. Both colleges played tough, though worn. And the record I count, once most the starters were allowed to play, 7-3-1 was the record for the second half of the men's soccer season. The Cavaliers put up a good fight this year.

Puppy Update...

So I think I experienced, in a very small way, what it is like to be a mother this week. I was the proudest, cheekiest employee at The Cove, when I came across an email from Red's owners. I couldn't focus; I was so excited to see MY babies... though they are not and were never really mine! I found some pictures of our little Runtie too; who I think now is much bigger than Bentley. Truly Amazing!

Thinking back, Runtie was a definite amount smaller than any of the other pups, with Bentley following right behind. Our boy is long, lanky and just under seven months. These pictures of the other pups are a little out of date and they still look so much bigger and more filled out! And, if you didn't notice, Runtie still has his gorgeous blue eyes and is now named Boone.

Both pups are in capable hands and with such good families; both owners young couples and so sweet. Red's name is now Bailey, that makes three Baileys out of the bunch... one yellow, one chocolate, and one black lab. Kinda fun, eh?!

A New Morning

Pictures here in the mountains never do justice to the majestic scenery. Or maybe it is quality of our camera; what a thought! But in all seriousness; I cannot grasp how large and high the mountain tops are, how brilliant the colors, how peaceful the days, or how rejunvenating the chilly mountain air. Montreat is an exhilarting place to live; so high up and so gorgeous every morning. Just like the verse...

"Let morning bring word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul." Psalm 143:8

And so it is, each morning a new start... so full of hope. The Montreat Cavaliers have finished their season and won the first game in Conference Tournament. After such a year, it would be a blessing for B and the boys to take tournament to a whole new level! We'll soon see the outcome... Life has been good but, yet again, busy. I've probably mentioned before, but my new timeline is Thanksgiving. Life will slow down immensely in a few weeks! The fall leaves have come and gone, though not as brilliant this year. McGregor Hall has had an IHOC(International House of Coffee and Tea), Punkin' Party, Clothes Swap, Chick Flick Marathon, and is now moving on to holiday festivities. The Cove's seminar season is coming to an end with Anne Graham Lotz, Kay Arthur and her son; then moving into Christmas at The Cove with the original Billy Graham crew (Cliff Barrows, George Beverly Shea).

The pups are adjusting well to dorm life and Bentley is now getting time out of his kennel... the pup is growin' up! We are doing well and looking forward to some holidays!!!

Updates should be a little more regular as time is more available... sorry we've been out-of-pocket. Yet, I know you understand!