Friends in High Places

Well some have friends in low places, but we have friends in high places.  Once we left Myrtle Beach we were headed to Liberty, SC.  A small podunk town near Greenville and Clemson where the Randalls moved to over one year ago.  We still manage to see a decent amount of each other, but we had yet to go to their new home which boasts gorgeous mountainous regions all around.

My girls could not wait to see Abe, Emma and Kylee, and I think the reverse was true for the Randall kids.  Our first night there also happened to be Kylee's first softball game so we headed in to watch and learn what life is like in a small southern town at the ball fields.  The next day, Jer took off work so Andy and he could go golfing.  Tina's girls headed to school while Abe and Mia played and included Olivia.  I enjoyed catching up with Tina just sitting on their back porch soaking up some sun.  That evening when everyone was home we headed to graffiti rock.  I can not begin to explain how enormous this rock is as well as how much graffiti it is covered with.  Thankfully the graffiti all seems appropriate and is actually welcomed.  As fearful as the picture may look that you could plummet to your death by going off the edge.  Once you near and edge you realize it's not too far of a drop until there is more of the same rock.  Parts of the rock you can meander down until the bottom as well.  A fall would only result in some minor injuries, no death.

It was a gorgeous sight to behold, showing the truth in God's beauty.

I think Olivia looks like she's trying to be Nixon here, although I don't think she even knows who Nixon was.

Friends for life together again.

Some of the adventurous ones who walked down the slope to the bottom of the rock.

Abe and Mia were in seventh Heaven being together again.  These two never seem to get tired of each other and pick up right where they left off.  I hope their bond remains always.

Tina snapped a photo of Andy and I atop Graffiti Rock too.

I can't recall the second stop we made, but it was another gorgeous look out that you could go to the top of with various paths to take and see the scenic wonders.  There was even a bride there having wedding photos taken. 

Tina and I taking a selfie on top of the lookout.

One of the paths led us down between to rock faces.

At the bottom of this path you could see the top of the other lookout.  If you look closely you can see Olivia and Emma up there in the distance.  

Silhouettes of Abe and Mia

When we left this majestic place, I mentioned having seen a photo of a beautiful place that I didn't think was far from here at a YMCA camp.  Jer said he knew where it was and we'd head there next.  Off we went, Andy and Jer in one car with Abe and Mia, while Tina, myself and the older girls followed.  We turned on a road with a sign to where the camp was on these twisty, winding, hilly roads.  Soon the men were out of sight.  After about five miles, no sign of the men, no sign of the camp, nausea setting in, and no cell signal, we decided to turn around and head home to fire up the grill.  By the time a signal returned and we were able to communicate with the men, they told us to keep driving and we'd soon find the camp.  Well, we were well on our way home at this point and I had my head hanging out the window because of all the twists and turns, so the ladies missed the last stopped actually known as "Pretty Place."  The guys came home raving about its beauty with a few dark photos from their phones.  I guess we can go on our next visit.

The next day we headed back to Sturgis, with Tina and her kids coming for their spring break as well.  We swapped Abe for Olivia and headed on our way.  After Mia puked twice, then Abe puked twice, we managed to make it home without much more excitement.

Kylee being baptized.

The next day was Palm Sunday, where Kylee and Emma had made the decision to be baptized into Christ's loving family.  I was honored we were asked to attend such a special service and even be the "official photographer."

Emma being baptized.

What a special day.  Thank you to the Randall Family for a wonderful visit in SC and letting us be part of such a special ceremony for their loving daughters.