North Carolina: Chasing Fall

North Carolina captured my heart in the fall, with its charming fishing villages, rich history, and breathtaking mountains. The state's diversity is matched only by its warm hospitality. Come along as we discover the beauty of North Carolina from the comfort of our fifth wheel!

Pelican Point

Pelican Point is located on MCAS Cherry Point. Ironically enough, I believe this was the one and only Marine Base we have stayed at on our trip. Scott made fast and forever friends here with Marines at his AA meetings.

This campground was beautiful with cement pads, pull through spots, and full hook ups. At a reasonable rate of $35/night, it made a great home base as we explored New Bern and Morehead City.

Fishing Village

Morehead City is a charming coastal town, known for its seafood markets, a Civil War fort, the Maritime Museum, and a nearby aquarium. We loved walking along the waterfront, admiring the fishing boats docked in the harbor.

Historical City

New Bern is easily one of my favorite spots in North Carolina. Nestled between two rivers, this historic town features a charming clock tower and stunning fall foliage that enhances the beauty of its historic buildings and walkways.

Downtown offers a delightful mix of cozy coffee shops, creameries, toy stores, and boutiques. On our visit, we set out to explore the shops and enjoy a relaxing day, but were pleasantly surprised by sky art—planes expertly drawing smiley faces, flowers, and hearts in the sky.

As we admired the artwork overhead, we noticed a crowd gathering by the river. To our surprise, there was an air show happening! My son, who dreams of becoming a pilot, was thrilled—it felt like a special surprise from God. Our time in New Bern was truly unforgettable!

I almost forgot to mention that New Bern is actually the birthplace of Pepsi! Be sure to visit the Pepsi Store and discover its fascinating medicinal history.

"When we choose to see the world with a sense of wonder, we start to notice all the little surprises God has hidden in our daily lives."- Bob Goff

Mountains

On a previous trip, we stayed at Bandits Roost near Wilkesboro. The campground was level, with spacious sites and situated right by a large lake.

Although we didn’t stay long, we hiked Rendezvous Mountain and met a Forest Ranger who shared fascinating insights about the Blue Ridge Mountains, mainly tales of Andy Griffith, Nascar, moonshine, and Lowes.

Tip: We happened to visit on a Sunday, and the whole town was quiet for church, so we had to wait a bit for the Forest Ranger to open the gates to the trailhead.

Overall Experience

• Overall our whole family loved every part of North Carolina. The fall weather varied from cold, warm, rainy, and sunny. 

• We had our first Thanksgiving away from our extended family here. We had not planned on cooking anything, but on the way home from Scott’s meeting I had him pick up a corned beef, instant mashed potatoes, and boxed stuffing. It was not the yummy homemade cooking that we are used to, but it was perfect for our family. We had the chance to heal together on our first holiday after Scott’s sobriety, and we needed it.

• God has been so gentle and patient with our hearts, carefully mending our family back together, piece by piece. He knew we needed space and time to heal. 

• Have you ever finished a puzzle, only to accidentally knock it over and watch all your hard work scatter into pieces? That’s why puzzle glue exists. For us, God is the glue holding the broken pieces of our family together, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT)

Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

Context

This verse comes from Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church, where he talks about a “thorn in the flesh” that caused him great distress. After pleading with God to remove it, God responded with the words above. Instead of hiding his suffering, Paul chose to boast in it, knowing that God’s strength would shine through his weakness.

Reflection

• During our time in North Carolina, our family was navigating uncharted waters, with deep emotions and struggles affecting us all—both individually and together. 

• There were moments I wanted to hide from the pain, to sweep this chapter of our story away and move forward. 

• But I knew I couldn’t. I had to face the truth, the pain, and the wreckage it left behind. This meant embracing a new reality filled with AA meetings, heart-wrenching conversations, and tears and fears from the kids.

• But I had a choice—to surrender it all to God. And when I did, His grace, forgiveness, love, and kindness were revealed in ways I never imagined. He has so clearly guided our steps that I hope anyone who hears our story will unmistakably see His goodness, both in it and in us.

"Sometimes God will put a Goliath in your life, for you to find the David within you." — Unknown

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

You understand suffering more deeply than anyone, and I’m so grateful that You walk with me through every step of my pain. It’s through this that my joy becomes even more abundant and contagious. Please guide all our lives in such a way that Your goodness is undeniable through us. Thank You for handling my heart with such tenderness and care. I love You.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

• I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences, feel free to leave a comment below.

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