A Wonderful Birthday Weekend!!

Well, as you've hopefully read in the last entry, my birthday weekend started out so sweet! Lots of fun, good fellowship and yummy treats and foods with great and special friends! Thank you all, again, my sweet friends!
I forgot to mention that we got to spend Saturday morning with Dan & Ashley Matteo at Oak Mountain, hiking the morning away! We did snap a couple of great pictures at Peavine Falls, just before Ashley's camera died, but I'm gonna have to sweet talk her or Dan into emailing me those. :) Arrgh, I forgot my camera! We hiked a good 2 or so hours, and I was IMPRESSED that Ashley was so energetic and fearless being 6 months pregnant! My quadriceps were shakey, and I was truly scared at several inclines and declines! I wish I could prove to you with pictures how steep and narrow parts of the trail became!! "Ashley, you impressed me!" I was both humbled and encouraged to be more courageous!
Russell and I had also taken our bikes (well, I've borrowed Dan's), so we were planning to practice a little riding after hiking. We were too pooped after the hike! So, we planned on going back to Oak Mountain with the bikes the next morning, and we did! It was perfect weather, and SO much FUN!!! I've not ridden a bike since I was probably 11 or 12 years old! That's 20 years ago, y'all! WOW! So, I took it easy getting started, learning how to shift the all-too-many gears :) for the first half hour out there. Russell is so patient and such a good teacher, so I had a quick 101 on biking, and then we took off! We went 12 miles before we knew it! It was the most invigorating outdoor workout/activity I've experienced in so long! I highly recommend it! In fact, if you want to go for a ride, let me know! I'll go!

Here are some fun pics that encouraged me to blog!

"Okay, foot (size 11!!), get into that stirrup."

Russell made riding a mountain bike look SO easy! He's on one tire!!

After a birthday morning bike ride, Russell and I went to one of our favorite brunch restaurants, Village Tavern! I got my favorite Florentine Omellette, and he indulged in the Prime Rib! We were hungry! Thank you, Rusty & Claudia (Russell's parents :)) for treating us!! :) It was so yummy, and it was fun to get all dressed up for an afternoon brunch date!

We actually met a couple of friends there...Whitney Wright (great last name!! :) no relation) and her beau, Jason. :) We had fun visiting, guys!

Again, a wonderful birthday weekend!! I am thankful for God's blessings of friends, the opportunities for fellowship and for this last year and whatever this next year may bring! Amen!