North Carolina part 1

My parents are serving as missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  I am so proud of them for choosing to serve.  It is a huge sacrifice for them. They miss their grandchildren very much.   They get homesick.  They are teaching the gospel and trying to reactivate the less active members. I am so thankful for the example they are setting for my kids.  I wouldn't have them do anything else BUT...I miss them like crazy.  So...when my sister called to see if I could go to South Carolina to stay with her kids while she and her husband go to Italy I say YES and I can go visit Mom and Dad too.  A few days after Christmas we flew out to visit.  It was worth every penny and minute of traveling just to get a hug.  This is a beautiful part of the country even in winter.  I cannot imagine how beautiful it must be every other time of year.  There is a large Cherokee influence here which is really cool

 We visited a replica of a little Cherokee Village.

 I love this little freezing face.

 Some Cherokee writing.  I am trying to convince Cameron to learn the Cherokee alphabet.

 We visited Field of the Woods.  It was a very strange place.  They have a "replica" of the tomb and of Golgotha.  There is a baptismal font outside in the middle of the place so when you feel the Spirit you can get baptized. For some this is a very sacred place.  They come here from all over the world.  I didn't feel the Spirit at all.  I thought it was a little odd which made it fun to visit.

 Cameron was super excited to go to two new states that he had never visited before.

He didn't know we would be going to Tennessee.  It was a surprise.

These two found cats. They stayed outside and played with them ALL DAY LONG.

This is the site of the "possum drop".  If it isn't famous to you then you should google it.  Funny place!!!

 Lake Chatugue

 There was an old woman who lived in a shoe...

 The cat

 My parents are fortunate enough to serve where they have a chapel.  This is where branch next to theirs meets.

 Cameron thought this shoe was just his size.

 The swinging bridge in the Nanahala gorge.  I want to come back here in the spring, summer and fall.

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 Dave gave me a "big girl" camera for my birthday.  I am looking forward to taking more pictures like these.  Can I photo shop green trees in to the background?

 Cameron and Grandad playing "motorcycle"

 The Nanahala river.

 My little poser.

 I think Grandad is telling Clara all the reasons she shouldn't jump into the river.  She was thinking about it.
 
 Dave taught the kids how to skip rocks.  Cameron got to be very good at it.

 A few little pointers.

 The happy missionaries.

 In Cherokee, North Carolina we saw some Cherokee dancers.  The kids were super excited to see a "real" Indian.

 It took me forever to convince my kids that this buffalo isn't real.  We need to get out of the city more often.

All the signs in Cherokee are in English and Cherokee.

visiting the Smoky Mountains. 

All the s