Even the Firetrucks are Carolina Blue!!

I still remember the joy of my first few days on campus as a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill freshman. So clueless. So little. But taking up courage in the fact that any place where the sky smiles down at you in that same beautiful light blue couldn't be all that scary. Now, 6 years later, my heart smiles at the thought of going back to that little piece of Heaven on Earth. I am so thankful that this past weekend, I got to pack my bags and head back to good ol' N-C-U for a whirlwind visit. I apologize to Laura, who almost wrecked her car several times as I let out random screeches of delight as I passed through campus, remembering the sweet smells and sights that warm my heart so dearly. Growing up, I never thought I would be able to call another place "home" but Hendersonville, NC. I never moved houses during my childhood, much less towns or states. When I moved to college, this whole "moving" thing was very foreign to me. Who would have known that a few short (too short!) years later I would be moving halfway across the country to call Iowa my new "home". Although I realize that this is my home now, in the sense that this is where I live and work and have my husband and new, very dear friends, in my heart, when I go back and see all that Carolina blue, I know my heart remains in NC.

As I walked through campus, through the quad, by the bell tower and into Kenan Stadium to watch my Heels play, I was able to remember a big piece of who I am. It is so easy to get distracted by all the craziness that life throws you, but when, for a short weekend you are allowed to just slow down and enjoy the goodness of life, that's when you realize how great we have it here. I have been blessed with AMAZING friends, an AMAZING husband and an AMAZING family. What more could I ever ask for??

After a couple of crazy days/nights with the girl loves of my life, a win for Tar Heel football and a quick lunch with my favorite sister and brother-in-law, I boarded the plane back to Iowa. And, as silly as it sounds, the beauty of Chapel Hill has carried back into my life here as I see things through a different lens. Everything has beauty and value, it is only what we make out of our time that counts. I don't know how much longer Graham and I will be in Iowa, but whether it is months or even years down the road, we will enjoy every second of our time here. And then, one day when it is the right time, we will make it back to where the sky, street signs and even the firetrucks are all Carolina Blue.

Pictures to come...