Laurel Falls

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Great Smoky Mountain are a mountain rising along the Tennessee-North Carolina border in the southeastern United States. They are a sub range of the Appalachian Mountains.

The park was established in 1934, and, with over 9 million visits per year, it is the most-visited national park in the United States.  The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is within a day's drive of a third of the population of the U.S. making them very accessible for weekend trips and full-length holidays.

The name "Smoky" comes from the natural fog that often hangs over the range and presents as large smoke plumes from a distance. This fog, which is most common in the morning and after rainfall, is the result of warm humid air from the Gulf of Mexico cooling rapidly in the higher elevations of Southern Appalachia.

My brother Greg and his wife Kate visited the park this past spring.  They told us to head to the visitor's center first and pick up a map.  I asked a park ranger for ideas of places to visit that would be accessible and enjoyable for our young crew.  We only had the afternoon to explore.  He recommended a 2.2 mile hike to Laurel Falls.  He also said many people visit Clingman's Dome.  When I heard it was in North Carolina (I'd never been to that state before) and the Appalachian trail ran through, I knew we had to go.  The major things I wanted to do/see in the park were: The Appalachian Trail, visit North Carolina and hike a few miles since Trey needed three three-mile hikes to earn his Webelos badge.

In southern Appalachian vernacular, a gap is a low point in a mountain ridge. New Englanders call such places “notches” while westerners refer to them as mountain “passes.” At an elevation of 5,046 feet, Newfound Gap is the lowest drivable pass through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Rockefeller Memorial honors a $5 million donation from the Rockefeller Foundation to help complete land acquisitions to bring about the creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

It also is the site from where former U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt formally dedicated the park on September 2, 1940.

The Appalachian Trail crosses over Newfound Gap Road and straddles the state line between North Carolina and Tennessee for most of its length through the park.

View while driving on Clingman's Dome Road

After our hike to Clingman's Dome we drove through the park towards Gatlinburg.  The mist remained high above in the mountain tops where we came from, but below the storms had passed it was beautiful and bright.

The Smokies

August 13-14, 2010

After our brief stint in Knoxville getting a new tire put on the car, we finally made it down to the Smoky Mountains.   As you leave the highway, you have to travel about 20 miles south to the National Park.  You pass through three towns along the way: Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.  We had never been there, but had heard about it from so many different people I wasn't sure what to expect. 

Sevierville was the first city.  It was basically a small city that advertised for Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.  Billboards lined the streets informing you of what was to come. 

Pigeon Forge was next. Wow. I've never seen such a place. It was one long continuous road filled with colorful strip malls, go carts, mini-golf and pancake houses.  We quickly coined it "Kid Vegas" or "K-gas" to Trey.  It was the most fake city and the biggest tourist trap ever.  Any experience or activity a child could dream up was there.  Zip lines, indoor skydiving, museums and shops were everywhere you looked.  Dollywood is also in Pigeon Forge, though it was off the main drag so we didn't see it for ourselves.  I was very glad we weren't staying in Pigeon Forge.  You were far removed from the mountains and peace of the park.  It was crazy so we drove straight though, even though we had a chorus of children 'oohing and ahhing' in the backseat about all the fun that could be had there.

We finally made it to Gatlinburg as the sun was setting.  We had hoped to arrive a few hours earlier, but our time in Knoxville getting the tire replaced set us back a bit.  Gatlinburg is 5 miles south from Pigeon Forge and is separated by a huge forest of trees.  Gatlinburg is nestled in to the mountain side, just outside the national park entrance.  Yes, it still has that element of a tourist destination, but it is more like a lower end version of park city instead of the glitz and Las Vegas-esque feel that Pigeon Forge had.

Our hotel was the first thing we saw after the Gatlinburg sign.  We checked in, swam, relaxed and then ventured into town late that night for dinner.  The kids were in their PJ's and we were starving. 

Two things we hadn't anticipated: no free standing fast food joints anywhere and absolutely no parking.  It was the last official summer weekend in Tennessee since school was starting the following week.  The streets were jam packed with people and it reminded me of St. George over Sunshine Tournament/Spring Break.  It was nuts.  We drove through the city twice, but couldn't find one place to stop to eat. 

Disappointed we headed back to the hotel to munch on our snacks we had picked up at Wal-mart that morning.  A few went to bed with a growl in their bellies. 

Thank heavens our hotel had a free continental breakfast the next morning.  We filled ourselves up until we couldn't swallow anymore.  Then went miniature golfing at the Ripley's place that was next to the hotel parking lot.  It was so much fun, even though the temperature was over 100 degrees and muggy at 11 AM. 

Just minutes after we walked into the hotel after our round of golf, the skies darkened and the heavens opened.  Sheets of rain pelted the ground and it rained steadily for 20 minutes.  After it cleared we checked out of the hotel and finally made our way to the Smoky Mountains National Park.

A Bright New Day

Every morning the dark skies slowly lighten, then begin to glow and then burst with sunshine as the magnificent sun makes its entrance declaring a new day. 

Each and every time it is a renewal.  A brand new beginning.  A gift for us to use to make a fresh start.

When I saw the orange and yellow tinted sky this morning and the sunbeams breaking through the surrounding grey storm clouds, it reminded me of Trey. 

There was a bit of darkness last week regarding his current friend situation and now the sun has boldly come forth showing us all that the night has passed and it is a new day with bright future.

Just hours after I posted my feelings from our lunch date, Trey strode in the door with a broad smile on his face and waving a paper in his outstretched arms.  He happily exclaimed that he had made the Morning Show team.  He would be broadcasting the school's news every Tuesday morning.  There were four other kids assigned to his day and one just happens to be an LDS boy, James, that is in a different ward, but in his same class.

I knew this was his chance to make some new friends.

The weekend got better when we met new families at the boys' soccer games and realized they lived just down the street from us.  More friend opportunities.

Sunday Trey was surrounded by friends at church which helped him know that there are kids that like him and want to be around him.

Monday he told me that he sat by James in the lunchroom and played with him at recess.

Tuesday night he made another new friend at Cub Scouts and discovered that he lives close to our house as well.  He is in fourth grade, but it is yet another boy who he can talk to and see at school.

Then there is the fact that Trey's 11th birthday is fast approaching, giving me a great excuse to invite these new found fellas to our house for a party.

It's incredible how much can change in one week.  We went from a low point to a high point in a very short amount of time.  But regardless of the length of the struggle, I know Trey did learn from the experience.

Friday night Trey and I had a wonderful heartfelt conversation about how he was feeling and what we could do to make the situation better.  I know Trey knew that I understood how he was feeling, but also that I knew it would get better. 

In each instance when a new friend was found, I was counting my blessings.  I know Trey was too.

It's a great feeling to see how much better the year in Cincinnati looks already for Trey.  I know he'll have a lot of fun over the next nine months.  But the most important thing I can see that has happened is that Trey will appreciate these boys and their friendships because he knows what it feels like to go without. 

I know going through tough times does make us more aware and sensitive to other people's feelings.  When you know what it feels like to be alone, it makes you more willing to let others in to your social circle. It can make you more kind, more friendly and more outgoing.  Especially when you have a nice and supportive peer group in the end.

Friendships are critical at Trey's stage of life.  And the ability to make new friends and developing the skills to be personable and friendly is an important lesson of life to learn.

Trey's world is looking quite sunny.  Often it takes a bit of darkness to fully comprehend and cherish the light.  And man, is he loving the sunshine and the new day ahead.

Life Lessons Learned

Change is so hard. 

Life is always moving, shifting and you are constantly changing your direction and pace.

But sometimes you are forced to make such an abrupt turn that you get lost.

You feel alone.

And you realize that you can't go back to where you once were.

That is when you know you have to keep pushing forward, not look back, but focus on the future.

That is the goal.  The difficult task at hand. 

With time you will chart a new course and see a bright new beginning instead of a frustrating dead end.

It is often easier to see the light at the end of a dark road when you are older.  Previous experiences and perspective gets you through, where when you were younger you might have had to slug it out a bit longer before you found your solution.

But we certainly don't go through life alone.

There are many that share our journey.

The true challenge is when it's not you who gets lost. 

It's not you that feels forgotten, but your child.

Change is hard, especially if you are a boy in fifth grade.

Where you once were surrounded by a school of friends.  Where kids would call out your name in the hallway and you had four years of shared memories and stories.  You were a social butterfly. 

You felt at home.  You were accepted.  You were completely happy.  Blissful almost.  You loved school.  You were a chatter box with endless details about so and so and this and that everyday when you walked in the door.

Then you moved.  And the school wasn't the same.  You were the new kid.  Probably the only one in fifth grade. 

You feel lost in the shuffle.

As a mother, your heart aches.  Your eyes weep and your stomach is in knots.  You feel their pain and wish you could absorb it.  Heal their wounds.  Make them whole.

Your mind races with questions.  What can I do?  What should I do?  What will the outcome be?

It's only been a few weeks, but as I sat across the lunch room table from him today and he told me how he usually sits in any open spot, usually on the 'loner table' I struggled with what to say. 

A few days before he told me he had sat alone.  I promised him I would come to school every day and join him for lunch.  If it would help.  He smiled, but I knew that would not be the fix he needed.

I asked about his friend Micah.  Trey said he often goes through the line first and there are no seats by him when Trey gets his food. 

As I sat next to him, we were surrounded by a sea of new faces, strangers really.   I wished I could see one real friend that would appreciate my son for who he is.   That would be there for him.

I am hopeful that will happen.

Trey certainly has put himself out there.  He went to the student council meeting and is planning on running.  He tried out for the morning show before school today.  He has great friends down the street.  His teacher even told me last night he was tall and confident and seemed to be adjusting well.

Those are the answers to my prayers.  The words I cling to when I hear about another lonely day, or the dread of the length of the school year, or the plea that our next school will be different.

Trey's a great kid.  I know he'll make it through. 

But at that moment in the lunchroom, as I stared at his blue eyes, his messy sandy blond hair, his lanky skinny frame, I saw MY little boy.  My baby that have loved from the minute he was born. 

In that brief moment, I thought of him as a baby sleeping in his carrier while I worked at my dad's office.  I pictured a wiggly little fella strapped in his high chair at Cafe Rio while my mom and I had our weekly lunch date.  I saw that toddler who gave me hugs and kisses when we first moved to Kentucky and I was lonely for home.  I saw that small five year old who would hold court at preschool and tell the class the 'real story' about Jesus.  The teacher called him her 'Preacher Man'. 

I saw the young man that I love.  That I know is wonderful.  Who loves to laugh.  Who loves to read.  Who loves to learn.  Who loves to have fun.  Who really is a lot like ME.

I wondered how I can often be so hard. I can demand a lot at times, especially when you're the oldest of six. I need an example. I need help. I need Trey to rise to the occasion and at times when he doesn't quiet get there, I need to help him through those last few steps instead of pulling him down and making him start again.

I also could see the man I hope he can become.  One who can do hard things.  Who doesn't give up.  Who will trek through his area knocking door after door on his mission.  Who sees the value of hard work.  Who gained knowledge from tough times and used it to make him a better person.  Who has empathy for others.  Who will lend a helping hand to those who need a lift.

When I left the lunch room, so many thoughts were racing through my mind. I was trying to keep my emotions in check. 

As time has passed and I've tried to sort it all out, I can see a more broad picture thn I did at first glance.

Trey's a great kid and I am sure this will pass.  The school year is young and I know he'll make new friends, it might just take a little longer than I had hoped.

Our current situation is temporary. This might be a brief rough patch in life, but it will get smoother. Life will get better.

He will always have those precious memories of the great times in Lexington.  It really was a magical place.

My real hope is that this test will help mold Trey.  It will make him more flexible.  It will make him stronger.  It will stretch him so he can do more later.  Love more.  Laugh more. Work more.  Help more.  It will help him become that person that I know he can be.  That Heavenly Father wants him to become.

Change is hard.  Life is hard. 

But Trey can do hard things. 

Especially when you have a big heart.  A bright smile.  A fun personality. A HUGE cheering section at home.  And a Heavenly Father that knows what we need and will help us through.

Coca-Cola Museum

Our last stop on our days long adventure was at a family owned Coca-Cola Museum.  It was just down the street from the car museum and I had also read about it online.  It took less than an hour to walk through and I did like seeing the items.  I laughed at the Max Headroom poster (look it up and you'll remember too....).  Matt loved the Star Wars stuff.  Zach appreciated it when I let him down so he could crawl.  We ended by driking nickle Cokes at the counter.  We were all glad we went.