On top of Old Smoky

Ryan, Robin, and I headed to Gatlinburg Friday for a Johnson family get together in honor of Papaw's 80th birthday. Here's the cabin we all stayed in:

View from the porch

Hill of a thousand cabins

Luke and Chelsea wait for the others on the way up to the Chimneys on Sabbath

Semi-fresh

At the top, Whitni and I started to climb up the back face but the rocks were too hot and it was too steep so we went around to the front and took the easier route

The views were just INCREDIBLE! Take this and make it 360 degrees around you.

from L to R (with their relationship to Ryan):
Whitni (cousin), Ross (brother), Aunt Vicki, ME, Gramma Johnson, Robin (sister), Ryan, Aaron (Whitni's husband), Uncle Andy (sitting)

Refreshing rest on the way down

Festivities back at the cabin with catering by Zach McDonald (Ryan's cousin)
Family came from far and wide to celebrate, even cousins from Ohio


Ryan and Robin played in All-night Softball Saturday night. Both of their teams got to the final game AGAIN... but lost... The games ended at 8:30 AM this year. So it really was ALL night.



Dr. King (Dean of the School of Religion) on first, Mickey Gammenthaler (first base coach), Ryan pitching (in batman pants)

The team

Engaged!

Ryan took me to Tony's tonight (finally, since I lost a bet with him about the Red Sox vs Braves game in June, except I was supposed to pay if the Sox lost... so maybe we'll have to go again in the future...)

Self-portrait by the Hunter Art museum

Then Ryan wanted to hike out to Sunset Rock and watch the sun go down... he brought a coat "in case it is windy" as it had been very much so once when we were there before. He has been sick after all. I was also told to bring my camera on this trip for some reason. Hmmm...

And then he told me the real reason for our trip... and asked me to marry him.
So there you have it!

Post wedding relaxation

On Monday morning Carrie, Ryan H, and I took a trip to the Biltmore House. What an amazing residence! Even though some of the stuff in this house has the same look as those we saw in England you can tell its much younger (and a little bigger)!

My favorite part of the house were the staircases. This is the view of the main staircase from the outside.

The first one leaves the nest...

We all made the pilgrimage to Asheville for Tara's wedding this weekend. We all thought she'd be the last to jump into matrimony, but what a surprise that she's the first! The wedding was very beautiful, with perfect weather, lots of good girl-time, family time, and many wonderful memories. Here are some pictures from the weekend (there are too many to choose from!):

On Friday the bridesmaids got their nails done, we practiced at rehearsal and had the rehearsal dinner - check Carrie's blog for pictures. Saturday evening after a big picnic at the Peterson's house, we had a shower for Tara at La Paz.

Karen (Tara's mom) with a few of Tara's gifts



Karen and her "girls"

And then came the big day...

Pre hairdo

Post hairdo








"But I just want to see what's going on!"














Our exit was a little unorthodox, but lots of fun. It was the song that goes, "Celebrate good times, come on!"










Ryan and Ryan came up for the festivities






Our former academy chaplain, Mark Witas did the hitchin'

Sure... we know what we're doing...

Thank God for girlfriends

Carrie and I took a quick trip to the lake with the Heilmans after my furniture got here on Friday.

Sabbath afternoon we headed to the Riverwalk for a big group picnic with the Heilmans, Grandpa Rilea (Carrie's), Hollie, Brooks, and the Ryans. How nice to be able to spend a little more time with Tara before the big day. Its rarely that we're all together!


On the way back we spontaneously decided to donate blood at the Collegedale church


This morning was the annual Southern Union Pancake feed. Ryan's dad, Stanley came too!







Here's the self-portrait of the weekend.