Whew! Another fun-filled, jam-packed weekend has passed (too quickly, as always). Late summer is one of my favorite times of year because it just brings back so many treasured memories for me. This weekend, we had a blast hiking on the Blue Ridge Parkway. We love any chance we get to show friends around Boone, N.C.

On Saturday morning, we packed a picnic, headed out early, and hiked up to a few of our favorite spots.

Then, on Sunday, we had our family reunion. On the 4th Sunday of every August, my family gathers together at my great uncle’s house in the mountains on a Christmas tree farm surrounded by beauty and fragrant trees. It’s not a big fancy house, but it’s filled with so much love and the potluck lunch is always good old southern favorites like creamed corn, biscuits, and chicken and dumplins. This year was our first year without my grandma, the oldest of the 5 sisters, and we missed her laughter and contagious spirit, because without her it just feels like we aren’t complete but I’m so thankful for the love of tradition she instilled in me, for my family who still makes days like this happen, and for the chance to all be together.

Hope ya’ll had a great weekend, too!