Florida, Georgia, Tennessee.
We found ourselves driving up to Fayetteville, GA (our hometown) to visit some long-time friends. That mini (unplanned) reunion was so good for the soul for many reasons. I’ll say that I am a bit jealous of this group of his because they have been friends since elementary school. I don’t have that; I barely keep in touch with high-school or college friends, tbh. But this group took me in during our college years, and it is never a dull moment. Truth be told, we were there to attend a memorial for a friend’s father. That truly sad, reverent event turned into reminiscing and laughing through the entire afternoon and into the evening. Most of the guys live around Atlanta, and we are the farthest away in FL. But those guys get together and it’s like no time has passed at all. I swear, they haven’t changed a bit, and I absolutely love that. The way I laughed until cheeks hurt – there were even happy tears at some points. Cheers to long, deeply rooted friendships, the kind where you drop what you’re doing because someone needs you in that moment, and cheers to memories both old and new! But I digress…
Hubs decided we should extend the trip and drive up to … wait for it … Paris … Tennessee, and visit his Dad who is quickly approaching 89! All that to say, I must be “influencing” my road-trip partner because he planned little stops along the way (gasp). No rushing out the door early with the sunrise, and we stopped at a local coffee shop before leaving town. That was enough to make my heart happy, but then he tells me he has some minor detours planned too. I couldn’t believe it, but I am totally here for it!
The first stop was at The Rock Garden, built and maintained by the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Calhoun, GA. Btw, this is not our religion; regardless I can appreciate the beauty and wonder of something so special! We really didn’t know what to expect, but it far surpassed my imagination of what it could be. There were little towns, castles, and bridges all built with stones, marbles, shells, etc. There were tiny plaques with Bible verses inscribed; some paths had verses built into them with individually (and precisely) placed stones. There was a little creek in the back with castles and bridges stretching out over the water. I can’t find the words to describe it other than truly magical! One family with young children arrived as we were nearing the end of the circular path, and the little boy yelled, “there’s tiny wittle building and tiny wittle pools!” His sister yells back, “this is the best place I’ve ever been!” Couldn’t have said it better myself 😉
”The garden became an iconic and imaginative place of castles and medieval villages, flowers and plantings. It is indeed a place of art and wonder. It was later renamed The ROCK Garden because our ROCK is Christ, Jesus. (1 Corinthians 10:4)”
The Rock Garden visitors’ guide.
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