Changing Seasons

The weather is changing in the mountains and it brings certain things to mind. Football, folk music, soup, and scarves come first. If you find yourself in Boone rain and midterms probably spring to mind as well. But this fall all I can seem to think about is change. As the leaves shift in color, our lives also shift. So much has changed in my life over the years and the memories of my past "falls" bring a mix of joy and pain. But with every year of life that's how it goes. With hardship comes happiness, with uncertainty comes points of clarity. Yes, one year may feel like a disappointment when compared with the last but through it all God moves. He works in ways we'll never understand. I wish I could explain why life is the way it is, but I can't. God works in us like He does the leaves. He grows them, makes them beautiful, then breaks them down. But come spring they will grow again. After the fall, after our times of beauty, we experience winter. But no matter what the spring comes next. Winter does not follow winter. God will always give us the spring, a time of growth and renewal. And that is something I can rest on.

New Obsession

I know I have been writing about books and their movie adaptations a lot lately but since it is now summer I have awoken my long dormant passion for historical fiction. My newest obsession is BBC's version of North and South (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0417349/). This story follows the life of Margaret Hale as she travels from a lovely life in a rural southern England parish to life in the industrial north in a town called Milton. At first she hates the north with its dusty air and short mannered individuals. She especially dislikes Mr. Thornton, a factory owner (who just happens to have striking eyes). As the story continues we see a more in depth picture of industrial england as well as those forced to live and work during these times. Naturally Hale and Thornton take turns being in love with each other. Throw in some intrigue, death, and deception and there you have it...a BBC drama. But I really like this one. I guess I always had a soft spot for brooding lead males and misunderstood females. What can I say? Anyway, check it out. You can watch it on Netflix. I know it is pretty long but in order to fall in love with the characters (and see them fall in love themselves) you need to catch all four episodes. Enjoy.

The Problem with Jane Austen

Jane Austen, the beloved author of classics like Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility, brings problems into the lives of her female readers. After spending an evening soaking in the tub and watching Austen movies, I find my mind again wandering to which path my life will take. Which romance couple will be most like my own? Which struggles will I have? Will my hero be introduced in the first few pages or must I wait through two hundred pages of betrayal and intrigue? Much like the Disney princess movies, the books of Jane Austen have infiltrated our minds and built undue expectations for our personal stories. After a breakup we wonder, "Am I Jane Bennett? Will my Mr. Bingley come back to me?" or we ask, "Is he simply my Mr. Willaby, and Colonel Brandon will sweep me off my feet soon enough?" My favorite has been Persuasion. In this book the loss of love of a young couple is given a second chance. Go figure. There are lessons to hold onto in these books. Austen always points out the need to further understand people, not to go simply on your first impressions. She teaches following your heart and waiting it out when necessary. So I guess it is up to you what you take out of her stories. You can take out unrealistic expectations for your love life or you can take away practical advice for any relationships, whether friendship or romantic.

Brain Mush

It's reading day eve and for those of you who are or have been in college, you know this to be the surest sign that finals are here. What this means is that the next week will consist of a considerable amount of brain explosion, studying, writing assignments ignored since January, eating absolute junk, and maybe packing (if only to avoid studying). As this time is upon me I find myself distracted. My mind drifts from the pages of my books to the now familiar confusion of my head and heart. It's been quite a semester. Maybe I need this. I've lived my life without relative sorrow, struggle, or heartache. Now is the time for God to pick me up off the floor and carry me to my next destination. Thats all I can trust. As I journey across the country on my own, I pray that God will meet me there. For those of you who want to follow my journey check out my solo blog:

samsmountaintopmusings.blogspot.com

For those of you who don't feel like reading it, you can always pray for me. Sometimes prayer is all we have. So I'll keep on.

Channeling My Inner Pioneer Woman

And now comes that beloved time in each Eubanks' girl's life: the time in which summer plans are made. Caroline, as you may have read on her other blog, is going to Croatia. Rachel, being only 15, will be limiting her travels to the southeast (or wherever potential college options are). And then there is me. It's been alluded to that I have tons of ideas but can rarely pull them together into an organized plan. This is where I find myself now, naturally. A change of scene is in order. This has been the most eventful year of my life (not always in good ways) and I need some time out in the world to clear my head and re-learn who I am. So what is the best way to do this? Travel, of course. What I want out of a trip:

-A place I've never been

-People I've never met

-Mountains I've never climbed

-Adventures I've never had

-Work I've never done

-A trip that won't drain my savings

Constraints:

-No travel buddy (can be seen as a good thing too)

-I have to be back in time for a wedding in mid june

-Train, Plane, Bus, or Car?

-The nerves of my dear parents

So here's my current ideas. I can either blow all my money on a plane/train ticket, go out west somewhere, Wyoming or Montana or something, stay in a hostel and accept whatever life throws at me. Potentially I would meet college students like myself and tag along for camping trips, mountain ascents, and dinners in local dives. Option two would be to work on a farm through WWOOF (worldwide opportunities on organic farms) and go wherever some crazy person would take me. If I go for this option I would be working long days, learning new skills, and basking in the life I idealize for myself in the future. Yes, I might be channeling my inner "Pioneer Woman" (check out the blog) but farms have always been a soft spot.

So I give it to you. What should I do? Which of these ideas sounds the least crazy or the most practical. Or, if you have another idea throw it towards me. I'm always up for new stunts. Just remember, I can't be stuck inside all day. I need time for personal reflection, and I need new faces with new stories. Thanks.

Trois Soeurs

Three sisters. Three states. Three unique voices. That's what this blog is about. If you've read my sisters' guest posts on my blog, Caroline in the City, you know that we all have very distinct perspectives.

We all started out in the suburbs of Atlanta. I am the oldest, followed two years after by Sammi and another four years by Rachel. We fought a lot when we were younger and still do. But I think we are closer now than ever.

I was the first to sprout my wings and leave for college in Charleston. This place has changed me significantly. I was naive and quirky and completely lost. I may not have it all together now, but I have discovered what I truly love: family, friends, good food, good books, traveling and this gorgeous city of mine.

Next was Sammi, who chose the polar opposite location: the mountains of Boone, North Carolina. She developed friendships and has really found a home there. From her favorite house on Howard's Knob to the delicious burritos of Black Cat, she knows Boone like the back of her hand.

And Rachel is still coming into her own in our hometown of Marietta, Georgia. She is only fifteen and has traveled through most of Europe. I know big things are coming her way. She is a great writer, actress, singer, stylist and missionary. There's no telling where she will end up, but I have a sneaking suspicion it's at the top.

So this blog is as much of a way for us to talk to each other as it is to talk to readers. I hope you enjoy.

Mountain Musings

So I spent this weekend backpacking in the Harper's Creek area of the Wilson Creek Wilderness. I needed the weekend out much more than I thought I did. I've spent much of the past couple of months debating where "following your heart" falls into God's plan. It's very hard to feel. I don't know if that makes any sense to anyone. Our hearts have this intense depth and our heads are constantly trying to censor this. Anyway, back to backpacking. This weekend, amongst all the green, the sunshine, the silly campers, the waterfalls, and the views, I realized that I've been stressing on how to cope with my heart and my practicality. But sitting in the woods with the bugs crawling over my feet it became clear that I need to just let it go. I need to let all of my stress go and just LIVE. This is hard to do, but I think it's important. When we spend all of our time thinking, we never do anything. It's time to start living again. For me at least...