More from the Summer Vaca

Where were we last? Still with my folks, I think. On Monday, Mom and Dad drove us to San Antonio, from which we flew to Houston before arriving at Raleigh/Durham. Passing through airport security, we were delighted to find ourselves alongside a friend and familiar face from St. Helena's - Mitzi! It was good to see Mitzi, and she was a God-send as we tried to navigate the conveyor belt with Annie's small army of luggage.

Once in RDU, we booked a rental car and began reclaiming the once-familiar roads. We passed the Marriott that had hosted our wedding reception. We marveled at the loblolly pines as they hid the horizon and pointed us up to the clouds. I remember remarking that the trees were taller than any hills we had back home.

We spent the first night with the Scoggins (much more on them later), and left after lunch the next day for Winston-Salem and our dear friends Jared and Laura. At one point, Jared and I lived in the same town, hall, or room for something like five or six consecutive years. Jared and Laura even housed me for six months before Rebekah and I got married. They are remarkably themselves all the time and rooted deeply and visibly in the love and faith of the triune God. While with them in "the Dash", Jared observed that we don't really catch-up when we get together; we hang out. Jared was finishing up his mission statement for his upcoming residency interviews. Laura, for her part, made an amazing Greek meal - gyros and baklava! - and made my heart at home when she invited us to pray at the end of the day. It was a quick 26 hours or so, and then it was back to Durham, and while the Gallahers would show up later, we were blessed by this short time with them.

The Gallaher home in "the Dash".

This is so much 'them,' for reasons I can't explain.

Beautiful painting overhanging our bed - by Laura.

Bek and Annie in the living room.