We started the day off watching Adam compete in a big track meet in Rock Hill. It wasn’t his best showing, but it was still fun watching him in action. I got this picture of him afterwards.

After we got home from the track meet, I went over to Meg and Mike’s house, where Hope was getting engaged that day – a surprise to her! They were so happy. I got this picture while they were talking to her best friend, who lives in California, and who asked if she could pray for the happy couple while they were talking. So sweet and such a perfect way to begin their engagement time.

We started the day out at Lake Junaluska, visiting the cross before heading to attend the Sunday morning service at the small United Methodist Church there. It is such a special place, especially for us that grew up going to Lake Junaluska.

After church Meg & I headed to King, for Zollie & Renee’s granddaughter Frankie’s 5th birthday party. It was held at a gymnastics place there in town, and all of the kids just seemed to have so much fun. I got this picture of Frankie’s big sister, Mary, who is – I think – seven years old now as she was getting ready to get up on the balance beam.

Frankie with her mom and dad, Rachel & Cooper, getting ready to blow out her candles. Mary had made the cake with just a little bit of help from one of her grandmothers. So, so cute.

Last Friday after we finished up our tour with Mallory, Boo, Meg & I headed to Lake Junaluska, where we met Andy, Amy, and Sherri for a siblings weekend. We sure missed Zollie a lot. Saturday morning they were having a trash pickup around the lake, and those who were bodily healthy enough participated in that. Sherri with her broken back and me with my sick knees stayed at the Air BnB & had fun catching up. That afternoon after lunch we all went on a drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway, from where we got on near there to where it ended in Cherokee. It was so, so pretty. We stopped at several overlooks, and every time we kept saying that the pictures would never do the view justice, and we were right. Here are a couple, though.

The library where Mallory works a couple of hours a day, transcribing oral histories that are on file there. Of course they are very good about working around her schedule, etc. It has been a great experience for her.

Our final stop of the day was to tour her sorority house. She didn’t even know this picture was on display, of the Philanthropy team from last year. This year she is the director. It was just a great day.

Friday morning Meg & I drove down to meet Boo at Mallory’s apartment, so she could take us on a tour of the USC Campus. What a great day we had. She was an absolutely fantastic tour guide. I got this picture at the first USC we saw.

She took us first to the side of campus where she has most of her classes, then to one of her favorite coffee shops in town for scones and chai tea (others did, in fact, have coffee), and then to the legendary Horseshoe – the oldest part of campus. She knew I wanted to see the Desegregation Statue, and it did not disappoint.

In her archaeology class this semester, Mallory is working with some of the artifacts that were found when they excavated the site of the kitchen building that went with the original President’s house. She is really enjoying that – I love hearing about all the treasures they found.

I knew that Mason was going to play pickleball with his bestie Jonah yesterday afternoon after church, but they surprised us with a visit after they finished up. Such a fun time hanging out with them for a while. Jeff said he felt like a dwarf standing with them 🙂