I had never heard of this place until I was looking at the map for the area Charlotte and I had planned on visiting on our trip, and saw it noted in red there.  I am so, so glad we decided to make it part of our itinerary.  We started off at the visitors center, where we saw this scale model of the entire place.  Since I’d never heard of it, I wasn’t expeting it to be just as huge and moving as it was.

Standing on the upper level of the memorial.  I’d been in tears several times during the tour by this time – just so moving.

After we finished up at the Walton’s Mountain Museum we went down to visit the Hamner House, which was where Earl Hamner, Jr, grew up, and was the model for the Waltons’ house in the TV show.  Our guide was so interesting and so much fun.  The history of the house was so interesting, including hearing all about the lady who bought it at auction to keep it from being torn down, and restored it to look as much as possible like the house in the series.  This print was hanging on the wall of John Boy’s room in a few of the episodes, and she looked for years to find one just like it.  I love that.

The night before, when we were heading back to the hotel from supper, we noticed this giant sculpture graveyard, and I just had to go back and get a picture of it. Crazy!

Sunday afternoon my dear friend Charlotte and I headed up to spend a couple of days in Virginia for our annual birthday trip.  We made a pit stop at the Virginia Welcome Center, & the lady working there suggested we get off the interstate at Fancy Gap and drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway for a while.  I am so glad she did.  We so enjoyed our stop at Mabry Mill – the most photographed spot on the Parkway, and obviously, with good reason.

We drove cross country and got to the Natural Bridge Hotel, which was our home base for the trip.  Supper was at the Pink Cadillac Diner, which was all decorated with Elvis memorabilia – perfect for Charlotte, who is a huge fan.  And the fried chicken was delicious.

This morning Jeff & I left the house early, heading to Lowell – outside Gastonia – to see Clara and her Elite soccer teammates play in the first game of their tournament.  Here she is, all smiles after a 2-1 victory in the first game.

We left after her first game and drove like maniacs to get to Rock Hill to see Charlie compete in the South Carolina State BMX Championships.  He finished third, behind his besties Maribel and Matthew – who ride for the same team.  Until this year, when they went to middle school, he and Maribel had been in the same class at school since preschool.  I think this was my favorite picture of the day.

Showing of his 3rd place plate, which he’ll have on the front of his bike for the next year.

What a special day yesterday was.  I got up & left here before daylight to head to Holly Springs to spend the morning with Nathan and Diane and their babies.  It was my first time meeting Marissa Joy!  What a joy she is, too 🙂

Nathan was even able to come by for just a few minutes while I was there, which was so special.  My intention was to leave by about 11:30, but I was having so much fun that it was after 12:30 by the time I got in the car.  Daniel (and Mia, but she didn’t make the picture) got out the train set that Gran had sent them to show me – so cute.  It was just so special.

Suzanne Thompson just sent me this picture from our Forever Young jaunt to the beach.  It’s the night we were watching “Safe Haven.” the movie that was filmed almost entirely in Southport, after our day spent there.  I’m not a huge Nicholas Sparks fan, but it was fun seeing all the sites in the movie that we’d seen earlier in the day.  Front row is Linde Lowman’s friend from work, Linda.  Second row is Meg, me, Margaret Bowman, and Becky Jackson.  Back is Louise Jackson, Cat Cockman, Mary Ann Morrison, and Betty Westmoreland.  What a crew!

This afternoon Clara & I were back in the kitchen – this time making Nutella pancakes for supper…

Then tonight kicked off the new season of the programs at the auditorium in town – The Kruger Brothers.  They were so talented, funny, and just all around entertaining.

Tuesday after  Clara got her homework done, she helped me make peanut butter pies to take to church for Wonderful Wednesday supper the next day.

After we got those in the fridge, Clara went outside to ride her bike.  When I went outside to check on her I found her blowing all the leaves off the driveway and sidewalk that Irma had brought the day before.  I told her she was such a good helper for her dad, but she said the leaves & sticks were getting on her nerves trying to ride over them 🙂

What a special Saturday we just had!  Lesley flew in from California to be here for her friend Val’s little sister, Nicole’s, memorial service, so we had breakfast together here that morning so we could get in a little bit of visiting.  Front row is Zolli, Clara, June, & Boo.  Second rowP  Meg, Mallory, LP & Shea.  Back row:  Jeff, Lindee, Leesy, & Addie. 

Then some of us went into town to see Clara’s first rec league soccer game of the season.  It’s always good to have cousin support!