Dave and I arrived at Ridgecrest close to 1am. We are so excited to be here as this is such a special place to both of us.

I can remember coming to Ridgecrest for family vacation for as long as I can remember. As a child I remember when my parent’s bought the cabin from my mother’s aunt and we spent 2 weeks up here renovating the place. Wesley and I were young kids and wanted to be involved in the painting process but it ended up being a total mess with two small kids involved! I’m sure my parent’s remember that well!

I can remember building forts in the woods out back with cousins and spending countless hours out there playing.

I remember Wesley and I came up with just Daddy and the three of us along with some hired help put a new roof on the cottage, shingle by shingle. This time, Wesley and I were more of a help than a hindrance!

I remember numerous nights of playing cards around the table. I remember many nights of sitting on the huge front porch and listening to the crickets chirping at night.

There are happy memories and sad ones. One happy memory is when Josh and Angele announced they were expecting their second baby. A sad memory is the day Daddy and Wesley had to go to Asheville with our 15-year-old dog. Poor April’s health was rapidly declining and it was time to end her misery. When they returned we buried April in the woods behind the cottage - a place she loved to be.

I remember every summer all through highschool, college and my four years of teaching, I would always sneak away to one of my favorite places on the Nature Trail and pray for the upcoming school year and all that was to happen. It was also a time when I could thank God for the previous year and relish in His faithfulness through the good times and the bad. It was a time of renewal for me - physically, emotionally and spiritually.

And now Ridgecrest has become even more special as this is where Dave and I began dating, were engaged and then went on our honeymoon.

I am grateful to God for giving us Ridgecrest and the Cowsert Cottage to enjoy with family while on this earth. I am grateful to God that my great-grandfather bought the Cowsert Cottage just two weeks before he died. Little did he know what he had done for family members yet to even be born.

It’s just a special place for many reasons. A very special place. And I am so elated to be here!

- Elaine