Wild Anniversary Adventure (Day 3)

First of all, thanks to everyone who stopped by yesterday and joined us in our Sarah Celebration.   It’s hard for me to fathom that it has been ten whole years since our lives were changed so irrevocably.  Eating dinner with her last night and looking across the table to see her sweet, precious face just about brought me to tears. Thankful, indeed.

We spent some time talking over what each of us remembered from her diagnosis and subsequent treatment.  She said that she was glad that she doesn’t remember a lot of it and I told her that I was glad, too.   I will never be able to forget the pain of that season but I’m so thankful that I can carry those memories and she doesn’t have to.

And now on to the  subject of today’s post . . .

We had to come home from our Wild Anniversary Adventure a day early because Steve got sick with an earache, sore throat, terrible cough, and general awfulness.  But, oh well!  We had a wonderful time while we were there.

A highlight of the trip was a bike ride we took through a gated community in Edenton.   When we stopped by the Visitor Center and asked one of the ladies about the neighborhood she basically said, “Yes, there’s a gate, but there’s room to get bikes around the side of it.”

And since she represented the town of Edenton, we felt like we’d gotten our official permission to scoot on past the gate and take one of the most serene, lovely rides I’ve ever experienced.

I can’t begin to describe how amazing this place was.  We rode for a couple of miles and saw nothing but wheat fields, trees, grass, and maybe one or two cars.  I felt like I had been picked up and plucked down in the middle of bike rider’s heaven.

To make me all the happier, we discovered a cemetery in the middle of our ride.  I wanted to get a little closer to take a few pictures but since it was enclosed in a gate . . .

. . . I didn’t think I’d be able to go inside.  Imagine my happiness when the wrought iron gate swung open!

Steve and I have always loved walking through cemeteries and this one was extra beautiful.  It had actually had tombs with inscriptions of people who had signed the United States Constitution and the Declaration of Independence!  We’re talkin’ an old, old cemetery!

This grave caught my eye especially.  As soon as I saw it I thought, “Broken, beautiful heart.”

In the midst of all the graves and tombstones, there was a tree trunk from who knows how long ago.  I loved its gentle colors and swirls.

I especially loved this tombstone inscription:  “A daughter in all things worthy of her parents.” Such a quaint, old fashioned, beautiful thing to say about a beloved daughter.

As we left the neighborhood, we crossed back over this wooden bridge . . .

. . .  which was surrounded by yet more beauty on all sides.

We pedaled away down picturesque streets back to our van parked along the
riverfront—eyes full of beauty, souls full of peace.