On the Way to Visit Kevin!

I drove to NC with Guinness, leaving home at 7:45 AM, arriving at 10:00 PM. In spite of the long drive, the scenery was captivating, lifting my spirits and invigorating the soul!

In Ontario, New York, and Pennsylvania, the trees are beginning to turn.

When I reached the mountains of West Virginia, I put in a favorite CD of pipe organ and voices singing majestic hymns from Menlo Park Presbyterian Church in CA, where Karin and Steve met, and sang at the top of my lungs! I listened to the same CD three times and prayed I wouldn't be stopped for speeding.

I was reminded of driving with Karin to Greenville the summer of 1993 (I think) for the wedding of Kim Cochran-Price, Karin's friend. Karin was the harpist for the reception. We were in bliss listening to the wondrous tapes of the Furman Orchestra and Furman Singers when a cop stopped me. He was coming from the other direction, did a U turn through a median drive to catch me. He asked if I knew how fast I was going. I told him, "I have no idea, sir. We are so entranced with your beautiful state and listening to fabulous music, that I was not paying attention to my speed." When he told me (probably 80 or 85, I don't remember), I said with affected sincerity, "Thanks for stopping me!" He gave me a ticket, but, with his thick, slow accent said, "You don't have to pay this. West Virginia has no reciprocity with Canada."

Today, again, I was blessed by the glorious music, filling my heart to overflowing. The hymns reminded me of my angel daughter:

Finish, then, Thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see Thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in Thee;
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise.

and

O may this bounteous God
through all our life be near us,
with ever joyful hearts
and blessed peace to cheer us;
and keep us still in grace,
and guide us when perplexed;
and free us from all ills,
in this world and the next.

Besides the bugs on the windshield, these pictures lose something in translation, unfortunately. It was a gorgeous day to contemplate God's beauty and His goodness. The mountains shout the glories of God!







One of two tunnels through mountains in Virginia.



Of course, Kevin was sound asleep. I gave him some kisses.

Jack, Kevin's puppy is growing! He and Guinness LOVE each other!!!! They had a wonderful time playing and settled down well together.