Wilds Wedding in the Forrest

I mentioned last blog that I went to a wedding in Asheville, NC. Actually, it was in the Pisgah National Forrest. Dathan proposed to my friend Regan (whom I met at Kanakuk over 10 years ago) there and they decided to get married there. He went out the night before and built a small alter. We all walked about a mile down a hiking trail to a waterfall. The weather was threatening but was dry ... until the wedding was almost over then, God Himself being in attendance, rained down "showers of blessing" on Mr. and Mrs. Wilds.



After a little shower, we carpooled to a place close to downtown Asheville called Homewood. It was built in 1927 and is located in the Historic Montford neighborhood. It was a beautiful place to celebrate with all the friends of the bride and groom.

Regan works at Grace Community Church as a counselor and Dathan is going to school at UNC Asheville. Congratulations Regan and Dathan Wilds...it was a beautiful, yet wet, wedding and a reception that celebrated your UNION.
Happy Honeymoon!

GWC & FCA

A common cliche' is to "take a stroll down memory lane." This weekend I did just that. I flew to Charlotte, NC and spent Thursday with my friend Hope West. We met each other at Kanakuk 11 years ago. Here is a picture of Hope (who is 19 weeks GWC) and Jed (her 18 month old son). Her husband Keith, was at work. They actually live in Denver, but they relocate for 4 months to work. The rest of the year, they do odds and ends and spent alot of time together...at least a month in Hawaii. GWC means Great With Child.

Friday, I drove to find the Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain, North Carolina. It is just outside of Asheville. My main purpose for this trip was a wedding of another dear Kanakuk friend in Asheville. Almost 30 years ago, I went to FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) Camp at the Blue Ridge Assembly. I was 16 and it was really the first time I realized that God wanted all parts of my life, including the sports part. He could be found in nature, in competition, in teammates, and in sports. I was going to be the Captain of our Midway High School FCA Huddle.


In these pictures you can see the Robert E. Lee building as it is today and as it was all those years ago. Now, don't think I am weird, but I (for some strange reason) kept that FCA shirt. I have the picture of me in it on the steps of the Robert E. Lee building.


It was fun to see that my memory served me well. One of the things I remembered specifically was that we would run down a trail through the pine trees to come out on a field cut right out of the trees. Some things never do change...and I am glad...this is one of the first places I knew that the best place for me to meet God was through nature.