Parent Visit to the South!

Last week we had a wonderful time with my parents who flew out to Birmingham to be with us.  They have always made it their goal to visit us in each of our locations, and we are so grateful that we do! My mom flew out a few days before my dad.  It was great to go on walks and of course go shopping with her.

My dad took a red-eye to Birmingham, and from the moment we picked him up from the airport, we were busy showing my parents the south! We headed down to the little town of Sylacauga where Luke works.  It is about an hour south of Birmingham, and far enough away from a city that you really can get the true southern experience.  The town is full of manufacturing plants, and that is what brings Luke out there each day. 

Luke was able to give us a tour of the plant, and he and my dad talked business the whole time.  I’ve gotten to tour a couple of the plants Luke has worked at (some do not allow visitors), and each time I am more and more impressed.  A million different parts and hundreds of hands working in unison (well, that is the goal) to make a product.

While still in Sylacauga, Luke showed us a well know BBQ place for lunch named Faye's Bar-B-Que.  It was about as southern as it gets.  This little old lady owns and runs the place.  She was the sweetest and cutest thing I have ever seen.

We've been lucky that my aunt and uncle also with in Birmingham.  It's been great to live near them and my cousins.  We're especially lucky to have my uncle serving as our bishop. We went to my aunt and uncle’s home where we celebrated my cousin Anna’s 15^th birthday! The entire time we sang the happy birthday song, I was just in disbelief that she is 15!!

On the Saturday of their visit, we took a little day trip to Atlanta! Luke and I hadn’t been since we were engaged (Luke grew up in a suburb of Atlanta and his family has since moved away). My dad had only been to Atlanta a handful of times for business and my mom had never been.  It was a beautiful day to see all of the highlights of such a great city!

We wrapped up with a fun hike through the hills to see the mines of Birmingham, including a tree house!