My answer, being yes

Pilot Mountain, elevation 5,084 feet, in the Shining Rock Wilderness area of Pisgah National Forest affords a nearly 360 degree view of my beloved Blue Ridge Mountains. When I think about Heaven, I think about this mountain.

View from the top of Pilot Mountain

The first time I climbed Pilot Mountain was with Kevin a week after our first date. It was a beautiful sunny spring day. I was left breathless once we reached the top. Mostly because of the amazing view, but also mostly because we had just spent an hour hiking straight up this mountain. It was on that day, at the top of that mountain with Kevin, that I heard God whisper to my heart "this one".

Flash forward to January 22, 2006. Kevin had asked the day before if I'd be interested in making the trek once again. Of course I said yes. That was our "spot". We left Charlotte that morning in the cold rain. The closer we got to the foothills, the more I began to rethink our hike. The rain hadn't let up and it was cold y'all! We stopped at a McDonald's in Forest City to use the restroom and get some food (don't judge). I went into the ladies bathroom and as I bent over to see if anyone was in the stall, I heard it. Riiiiip. The already torn jeans I had chosen to wear tore some more. Only this wasn't a small tear. The little rip at the top of one of the pockets turned my jeans into a denim replica of the Grand Canyon. I'm talking pocket to upper thigh. Fortunately I had a long sleeve shirt on under my sweatshirt so I was able to tie that around my waist so I wouldn't moon the other patrons. I came out of the bathroom, told Kevin what had happened, and said I was throwing in the towel on our trip. He insisted that we continue on and I pouted the rest of the way.

Once we made it to the trail head it was still drizzling and it was even chillier than it had been in Charlotte. We started the hike up the muddy mountainside and once we hit our stride I was thankful for the new built in air conditioner in my jeans. Once we reached the summit I was disappointed that the rain clouds blocked the view, but it was just nice to be there. After we rested from the hike up for a few minutes Kevin told me he really hadn't brought me to the top for the views. He held up his hand, which had a diamond ring midway down his pinkie, and said "I brought you up here for this". He then asked me to be his bride, and immediately after I said yes the rain stopped and the sun came out. Ok, it was still raining, but it sure felt like it did. It was a precious moment in my life. How fitting that he would propose marriage in the exact spot that my Father laid it on my heart that Kevin would one day be my husband?!

The last time we were on top of that mountain was just a couple weeks shy of our five year wedding anniversary while I was thirteen weeks pregnant with our third son. I hope to make that hike many more times, with our children (when they're much older and more sure-footed).

Looking Glass Rock from the top of Pilot mountain.