We went to the mountains on Saturday. We went to the Blue Ridge Parkway. It was so nice. We got to spend time together as a family and we didn't rush for once. It seems like everytime we go to the mountains we are always in a rush to get to a destination. We usually go to Skyline Drive but we didn't have our pass so we went to the Blue Ridge which is free. We had no real destination. We drove along and took in the sights. We stopped at a few overlooks. We stopped at a re-created farmstead which the girls loved and had our picnic lunch. We took a hike, a short hike. We didn't finish the trail because it was getting late. Along the trail we saw two does. There was one particular outcropping which had a wonderful view of the mountains. We stopped at this little mountain stream for almost 1/2 hour and just relaxed. The girls played in the water. Kirby and I sat on the little bridge and just talked, watched the girls and enjoyed God's creation all around us. It was so relaxing. We stopped at an overlook to watch the sunset and eat our picnic dinner and then we eventually went home once it began to get dark. It was such a wonderful day. Every time we go to the mountains it makes me want to move there more and more. I think that I was meant to live there. I feel truly at home and at peace in the mountains. It is almost as if I can feel God's presence more in the mountains. I feel like I can slow down and really enjoy life much more than in the city or the suburbs. I get a similar feeling when I visit a rural shore near the ocean or a river. Getting away from the hustle and bustle of modern life and kicking back is something that we all need to do more of, being in a rural setting makes it easier.