My love for the Great Smoky Mountains were ingrained in me at the age of 6,  When my Mom and Dad decided to travel in a station wagon with 4 kids and a dog named Tammy to the Smoky Mountains to camp. With our big green army looking tent we took off only to find that when we got to the campground planned it was full. So they told us there was a campground on the back side of the Smokys that don't fill up ever. Later we found out why.  So here we go. also this trip was so imprinted on me at an early age don't know if it was the excitement of fear?  Probably both.  I can remember stopping every so often with the station wagon runny hot and my Dad would get out and get water out of a mud puddle on the side of the road to put in the radiator. Also before we started up the mountain we had stopped at a lunch spot to eat watermelon. 4 kids a dog Mom and Dad.  We get back in the Car all kids. Half way up the mountain its where's Tammy?  Turn around back down the mountain and there she was sitting waiting for us. See this was not the only time we had accidently left her.  Numerous camping trips she was forgotten and we had to go back for her. So its off to this campground in Cosby Tn.  Cosby Campground.  Beautiful mountain springs runny thru the area.  Also Bears all over.  I saw baby bears in trees. We saw Bears raiding garbage cans.  One raided our campsite. Yes we stayed we stayed a whole week camping with Bears.  This trip imprinted on me on all of us kids. My Mom is gone now but we often talk about this trip with my Dad and laughed.  I think this trip also Defined me in a way for the love of the woods and hiking.  I have went back to this campground twice. The last time my Husband and I camped and walked along the same paths as then.  My mind would think of how my Mom and Dad enjoyed camping with us kids.  When I went back there were no bears. Garbage cans have been replaced with steel garbage boxes that they cannot open. They still have the rule of now food left out.  I captured a picture of where I was sitting on a wooden gate that now has been replaced with a metal one. A before and after picture.  This trip left footprints on my heart both times and I left my footprints on the trails we hiked.

Whether we are Hiking, Walking or just being around people, We leave Footprints,  Some in the Dirt, Mud or sand and some footprints we leave on the Hearts of other people. Our feet can carry us miles and miles we can encounter all sorts of beauty, Waterfalls, cliffs and magnificent views. It imprints on us Gods beautiful world he created for us.  I want to hike as much and see as much as I possibly can in my years here but I also long to leave an impression on the people I come in contact with on my journey ,  Positive uplifting and helpful.  I want to point them to Gods beauty and Love so they have a greater knowledge of him.  Have I done this ?  No and Yes.  I want to do so much more.  Like the Word says I want the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to Him.  Ok so lets HIKE ON!  leaving footprints on land and hearts