Exploration, Rest & Relaxation

Over the past few days I have had the wonderful privilege of making memories and capturing joyous moments with some of my dearest friends and loved ones. Below, you will find some of those moments frozen in time and displayed unlimitedly for all to share in our enjoyment.

Due to the fact that school is over for the year, Dara (my girlfriend) was albe to come back to Asheville, NC with me for a few days before returning to her home town. While she has been here, there has been innumerable occasions for laughter, sadness, anxiety, and love. We have explored, gone out to eat together,  shopped downtown, visited the Biltmore Estate, gone shooting at a range, and had dinner with the extensions of my family. All in all, the time that we have shared together over the past few days has been refreshing and exhilarating. God has so blessed me with a girlfriend, family, and friends who love me tenderly and compassionately. I feel overwhelmed by the happiness and comfort that I gain when I spend time in their presence.

The first photos you will see are from a Goodwill photo shoot that Dara and I fashioned one afternoon before heading home. (Just so you know, it was supposed to be an ugly photo shoot- so it is intentional that our outfits look hideous) The photos following that will be from our adventures at the Biltmore House.

I hope that you enjoy them as much as we did.

Thanks for reading! I do very much appreciate your loyalty and dedication to listening intently to my heart and mind as ascribed on this blog.

Spanx

Simply Strenuous.

I know what I want to do. I have a plan, a thought, a desire, a will. I know the basics of what it will take to accomplish this goal I have. I have all this knowledge about what I want to do with my life… Yet for some reason this thing that is so close to my heart and mind seems so very far away.

Desires accomplish nothing. Dreams accomplish nothing. It is only through actions based upon those desires that dreams may come true. As much as I would like to believe it, my dreams will not be handed to me or lie in wait behind a massive bus. Simply telling the driver to move will not give me the key to my new mansion. The majority of us are not sweepstakes winners and the majority of us will never get what we want simply by wishing for it.

I understand that in order to get somewhere I must actually go. I must walk the path. I must drive the course. The sad truth is that I must also abide by the speed limits. Try as I may, rushing things will only cause chaos. Cutting corners might very well cause my dreams to crash and burn. I understand all of these things… but having a lead foot in a life where the speed limit seems to be a constant 35mph is very frustrating.

Knowing what I want to do and not being able to do it is quite simply- strenuous.

The 'True Hobo'

One of the things that I enjoy doing is driving aimlessly in search of sights I have never seen before. I usually do this because: 1. I am frustrated and need to get away or 2. I am bored and want to go exploring.

When I go for a drive, I am typically doing a multitude of things that I love most. I am driving a truck that I have had since I got my drivers license, I am surrounding myself by nature, I am exploring, and I am usually taking photos along the way.

While on one of these random driving adventures, I came across an old caboose. It had been made into an office from which the nearby train yard could be managed. This sparked my interest. This find was an exciting one to me for a few reasons.

 For one, my grandfather collected and built miniature train sets with which I played as a child. In some ways, playing on a life-size train took me back to my early childhood. The other reason I was interested in exploring this location comes from a more recent characteristic of mine. I have more of a rustic appearance than most people where I live. It is so distinguished that many people have been inclined to compare me to a hobo. Maybe it is the worn looking clothing I wear, or perhaps it is my beard. Who knows? I don't mind. One of the things that has kept me from being known as a 'true hobo' was the idea that I had never been train hopping....

Here was my chance.

Below are some pictures from my adventure and quest towards being a true hobo. (Yes, I literally hopped from one train another, thereby completing that goal)