road-tripping – rootedbythewater.blog

Latest adventure of the “Hear no evil Chicks”

September 27, 20223 Comments

Just got back from a long weekend in the NC mountains with my deaf girlfriends. Quick side note about the name- we have an ongoing chat group and one friend wanted a name for us. Some of the suggestions were; Sassy Chicks, Hear no evil Chicks and Hot & Sassy. You can insert my eye roll on the last suggestion made by one of the girls Italian husband. Go figure! 😂 Since 2019 we have gone on one trip each year. This year it was hard to get everyone’s schedule together. We had talked about a day trip to pick apples but we ended up having a long weekend.

We rode up on the first day of Fall and came home on Sunday. We had perfect Fall weather. We stayed in a small place in Blowing Rock NC that said it slept 6 people but I don’t think it meant six women and a BIG sweet “Doodle-Dog”. There was just one bathroom, but it was fun and we made it work.

Our first day was gorgeous and clear skies. We took advantage of the perfect weather and went to Grandfather Mountain. Ome of my friends had never walked across the swinging bride so that’s the first thing we did. We all crossed the bridge, looked at the beautiful views, took pictures and sat on the rocks overlooking the mountainside. We also saw the animals. With my low vision I could not tell where they were but a friend took pictures and videos of the black bears, cougars, bald head eagles and river otters. It was such a perfect day.

The second day was overcast with a few showers. We decided to visit the old Mast General store in Boone. The scent of old-time fresh popcorn greeted us as we walked into the old store. One friend and I had a friendly game of checkers. The playing pieces were bottle caps. It was a bit hard for me to see but I managed and won! There were barrels full of various candies and a OLD tractor outside. I sat in the drivers seat and we took a group picture. Later on that day we went in some shops on Main Street in Blowing Rock.

Our last day we went to an apple orchard in Spruce Pine. This was my first time ever being in an apple orchard. It was amazing to me to be close enough to see all the MANY apples on the trees. We took a hayride and learned the history of the area. It was a neat experience. I think I will write a separate blog on that.

I don’t have any biological sisters but God has blessed me with some wonderful friends who are like sisters. This one particular group is a special bunch. We are all deaf. We all lost our hearing at different ages and stages in life. Three of us have cochlear implants. Two are incredible at lip reading. I’m not one of those. Low vision hinders that. We have the common connection of hearing loss and a special bond. I’m so thankful for these girls and making memories together.

When they dropped me off at home on Sunday I was exhausted physically, visually and mentally. I’m not used to watching sign language continuously for days. My husband was surprised at how tired I was. I unpacked my things, took an epson salt bath and went to sleep. So A vacations you need a vacation to recover from. That was one of those. It was an awesome time though. Fun memories made with special friends. Until next time….

To read more of my story you can find my autobiography on Amazon in hard cover, soft cover and e book formats. “Rooted by the Water” by Shannon Kenley Hinson.
Www.shannonkhinson.com

Spontaneous getaway

June 6, 2022Leave a Comment

Blogging in the car right now. Joshua was in a wedding over the weekend in Wilmington, NC so we decided to tag along. Since it was kind of last minute we couldn’t find a dog sitter and decided to just bring Joy with us. This was her first beach trip and we had no idea how she was going to respond. She is such a sweet and loving dog but her one pitfall is she is a “barker”. We took her bark collar just in case but she was amazing and didn’t have to wear it at all.

On Saturday Joshua was dressed for the rehearsal when we left home. Driving east across the Carolina’s we finally found the wedding venue.
When he was finished at the rehearsal we all were excited to take Joy to Wrightsville beach. The beach is my happy place. Anywhere near the ocean is always soothing. I was disappointed when we found out dogs are not allowed on the beach at all. Thankfully it was cool and breezy so Joy could stay in the car with the windows cracked while we took a walk on the beach. We did find a patio where she could have dinner with us.

Once back at the hotel I did a search online to see where Joy could come with us. Fort Fisher state park was the winner being dog friendly year round. We made plans to go the next morning and early afternoon before Joshua had to be at the wedding.

It was not the typical beach day at Fort Fisher. There was a beach soccer tournament going on with lots of people and dogs. There must have been three or four games going on at once. Joy was definitely overstimulated but she loved it. she was curious about the sand, wasn’t afraid of the water and cried when she couldn’t play with every dog that walked by. She loved it and was worn out when we left.

I’m glad we decided to tag along with Joshua this weekend and have family time including Joy. Joshua is grown and family get aways are rare but this was refreshing. A change of scenery and memories made together as a family is priceless.

Take that quick weekend trip. Make memories. Family time is always special. So thankful for this time away.

If you’d like to read more of my story please check out my autobiography “Rooted by the Water”. It’s a true story of how God has enabled me to overcome great difficulties, not by my own strength but through His strength made perfect in my weaknesses. You can find it on Amazon and many other online retailers such as Barnes & Noble, Books a Million, Target and Walmart.

Www.shannonkenleyhinson.com

This Child of Mine

May 2, 20224 Comments

As I type this right now, our son Joshua and his buddy Coleman are road tripping across the country, in tents at national parks from Arizona to South Carolina. He told me the names of the parks they planned to camp at. I connected those destinations on a map and sent it to him asking if that was the tentative route. I’m sure he was rolling those green eyes as he texted back, “Pretty much”. Right before they left they added the Sedona Desert as their first camping spot. I thought what in the world, tent camping in The Sedona Desert at a national park! I texted him and said, “Don’t bring any scorpions home!”

Once a mom, always a mom. Your child is also always you baby no matter how old or big he gets. He has grown into one courageous, kind hearted and stunning person.

As he told me of their road trip plans, I felt my anxiety start to rise. Joshua texted me telling me not to sweat it and they would be fine. I told him he would be the subject of my next book. He said, “No but Coleman wants to be in the next one.” I have plenty of material. All joking aside, it can be nerve racking having an adventurous son. Almost two years ago, Joshua and a group of friends, including three of Coleman’s siblings, hiked a big waterfall. They took theirs shoes off at the bottom and hiked their way up the falls through the water. Once it became too steep they stopped except for two brothers who kept going. One of them slipped way up on a rock, falling into the falls. He never made it home alive. I remember that night like it was yesterday. When the group didn’t arrive back when they said they would, we began making calls. Joshua did come home wearing one of the rescue teams t-shirt. He threw it away not wanting to remember.

God knows our days before we are born. He knows when we will breathe our last breath. We have to trust God with the safety of our children, knowing everything is in His hands. God has seen Joshua through many trials and adventures in life. It’s my prayer that he sees God’s hand guiding him forth. We cover him in prayer daily and his friends as well. I pray on this road trip they will experience God like never before in the majesty of His creation. In the meantime I will keep praying as he is on and off the grid of connection by cell phone. I’m going to be one happy momma when he walks through the door in a few days. Keep them in your prayers.

One chapter in my autobiography is about Joshua. Before publishing my book, “ Rooted by the Water” I asked his permission to include the chapter. I watched his face as he read, pausing, thinking and reading again. He finally said, “I’m glad you’re doing this.” To read more of my story, “Rooted by the Water” you can find it on Amazon and other online retailers. It’s in ebook format and hard and soft cover as well.
Www.shannonkenleyhinson.com

Flying the Coop

November 3, 20214 Comments

5:30 am October 29, 2021. Joshua and his friend Coleman heading for Phoenix.

Almost one week ago half of my heart left for a long road trip to Phoenix with no set plans on returning. He just said, “I will be home for the holidays.” While as parents we were and still are excited for Joshua. The whole point of raising children is so they can be independent. Letting go is such a struggle though. The first few days my emotions were a rollercoaster; happy sad, so so and sad again. I’ve always been a “hands on” Mom. The last driving day of his road trip I texted him to tell him I was saying extra prayers for an extra long day on the road. He texted me back saying “extra prayers yes please. Not extra texts,”. Knowing that he and his friend have reached their destination lifts the load and makes my heart feel lighter. He seems to be adjusting and happy.

Having an empty nest is a strange thing. It’s like I need to reinvent myself or find a new purpose Joshua and Ron told me to write another book. I told Josh and his friend Coleman they gave me lots of stories to write about but it would be counter productive. Josh said “ Do it! It would be a comedy!”. I said,” Not from a mothers perspective”. I do remember being that age though and sometimes experience is a very good teacher.

I’ve had some powerful times with the Lord since Joshua left almost a week ago. As I was looking in my notes on my iPad I came across one titled “On the Wall”. I had forgotten it was still on my iPad. When he was in his late teens we went though a rough patch with him. He stayed with his grandparents for a short time. While he was there we repainted his room so when he came home it would be a fresh start. Our friend Charles was doing the painting and I asked him if I could write scriptures on the walls first before he painted. Under the paint on Joshuas bedroom walls, I wrote scriptures that I pray over him. I put all those scriptures in a note on my iPad and revisited it this week praying the scriptures over Joshua again.

This week my scripture I am praying for him is 2 Thessalonians‬ ‭1:11‬ “With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith.” NIV

While he is on the other side of the country, I know God is right there with him. I’m so thankful for our Abba Fathers love for us. God is faithful always!

To read more about my story living with hearing and visual limitations check out my autobiography “Rooted by the Water”. Available on many online retailers such as : Amazon, Barnes &Noble, Books a Million, Target, Walmart and Westbowpress.com.