Oct. 6 through October 11 ~~ Catching Up the Blog!

MONDAY, OCTOBER 6: We arrived in Gatlinburg at 3:00 p.m. It was 73 degrees with bright sunshine and simply gorgeous. On the way down, we had stopped and picked up brochures about cabin rentals in the mountains and we want to rent a cabin for our family for Christmas. I made several calls and we made plans to stop at several "offices" to check on things in person. We had 5 good possibilities with this our first brochure/telephone session.


We rent right to the first place and had a wonderful visit with the girls in that office. They had some nice places, we found out the prices, and left expecting to return there to book a place from them. We had a physical address for some of the places to went to look. They were real nice but very close together and with high steps (like 30) to get up to the front door. I wasn't so sure about with Jaden (and probably was more concerned about myself. HA!)


We went to the 2nd rental office and that girl showed us several possibilities from looking at pictures on her computer. She game us the names of 4 different places that met our criteria: to sleep 9 people (Richard, Susan, Chip, Brian, Amy, Jarrett, Isabella, Josh, and Jaden.) We left there with a physical address for one of the houses but for some reason, it didn't really hit my fancy that much when looking at it on her computer screen.


We rode out to Sevierville to look at the place called "Adele's View" and it was so pretty from the outside. It is at the end of a road and has a large yard and is so much more private that the previous places we had looked at.


We went to dinner at TGIFriday to sort out our finds while we filled our tummies. From there, we returned to our room at the River Bend Lodge in Pigeon Forge. Later that night, we determined that "Adele's View" was the place for our family for Christmas, so after sending the website to both Chip and to Brian/Amy so they could look at it and give us their thoughts, they all called saying it looked fabulous and would be a great place to stay. So, we got online, booked it, and felt very happy about finding it as late as it is getting and those places are filling up fast for Christmastime. Here is the website showing where we will spend the entire week of Christmas: http://www.blackbearlodging.com/adels-view.html


We went to bed with visions of sugarplums ~~~~~~ well, I did. Richard isn't as emotional about these matters as I am!


TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7: We lazed in this morning and got dressed and went to the Apple Barn for a late breakfast. We actually shared their big breakfast and it was a gracious plenty for us both. (We have TRIED to be be good on this trip!) We rode out again to look at "Adele" and again the week's renters were there so we didn't bother them by stopping or anything. We went to Wal-Mart to pick up a couple of things and then looked around in an Amish store.


We returned to our room to read, watch Fox News, etc. and catch up on what all had transpired the week we were on the ship. At 4:45, we went to Golden Corral to catch their dinner at lunch prices (go right before 5:00 for this deal) and enjoyed our meal. Their Brussel sprouts and mashed potatoes are my faves.


We returned to our room, watched the debate between Obama and McCain and went to bed.


WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10: We woke up to a rainy morning in Pigeon Forge so were extra thankful for the two pretty days we enjoyed there. We packed up and were out of our room at 10:40. We ate at the Cracker Barrel and then headed to Cleveland, TN. We went there to attend church and to visit someone dear to us. It was a very special evening with a nice dinner, great conversation, and a Wednesday night prayer meeting that blessed our hearts. We left Cleveland to drive to Chattanooga to spend the night with our dear friend, Peggy Pirkle. Jerry was out of town on one of his "Amazing Grace" fair ministry trips but Peggy had insisted from our previous visit that we please stay with her on our return trip home. Her friendship, love, and gracious southern hospitality were so much appreciated. She and I stayed up talking until nearly 11:00 before deciding that we both really needed some sleep. Ha!!


THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9: We were all three up and dressed and ready to go to breakfast at Cracker Barrel in Ootlewah. After treating Peggy to breakfast and thanking her again for her sweet hospitality, and also making a plan to go to Asheville to the Biltmore together on the December 27/28, we set off to make our drive to Chip's house in Huntsville. He wasn't even going to be there but was in Indiana visiting a church member from his youth pastorate days there who had had serious surgery last week. He told us we were welcome to stay at his place so we took him up on that. We arrived there at 12:30 ~~ just in time to listen to the launching of a radio talk show that Bro. Zach and Chip will be hosting every Thursday. It was a fascinating hour and a great start for their weekly radio show. If anyone would like to listen to them every Thursday at 1:00 p.m. (Central Time), here is the URL: http://www.protalk1490.com/ They will be on every Thursday so check them out. :)

We went out for a bite that evening and coming back to Chip's house, we encountered the homecoming parade for the high school that is just across the street from Chip's house. We saw it from start to finish and enjoyed it. It certainly brought back memories I had of being in the band and marching in parades. That was a nice surprise and added blessing.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10: We had decided to drive up to Blue Ridge, GA to attend a football game. We left Chip's house at 2:00 p.m. and had forgotten that we would lose an hour. Not knowing much about the route (following our Garmin), we were delighted to find ourselves driving through a portion of the Cherokee National Park of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was simply gorgeous as there was a lot of color change in the foliage and the mountains, lakes, Ococee River~~ it was all simply beautiful. We decided that we wouldn't drive back home after the game (some 4 hours of a drive) but would spend the night locally so we could drive back in the daylight hours.

On the way, I called my baby sister, Nonie, to wish her a Happy Birthday. We had a good conversation which I enjoyed tremendously.

We arrived at the game a few minutes after kick-off but enjoyed it so much and were blessed to enjoy some good company afterwards. God is good. We stayed in an "okay" motel for the night and slept well.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11: WE got up at 6:40 and were on our way back to Chip's. It was a fabulous ride back through the Cherokee National Park and we stopped along the way so that I could make pictures. On our way into Huntsville at noon, we stopped at Village Inn and picked up the pizza that Chip had ordered for our lunch. It was a sweet reunion to arrive at his house and see him. Chip is a gracious and loving son~~ we are very blessed. We enjoyed our pizza lunch and watching Texas beat Oklahoma ~~ which puts Alabama at #1 on the polls!!!!!!!!!! Needless to say, I had two happy men on my hands.

Chip doesn't have internet at home but needed to come to the church to study and do some things and invited me to come along and make sure of the church's internet. That rang my bell and I have enjoyed catching up the blog.

We will attend both services at Chip's church tomorrow and then take off for home bright and early on Monday morning. I have a dear son-in-law, precious daughter, and cherished grandchildren that I haven't seen in a month!!!! Oh what a sweet reunion that will be!!! So, I will probably finish this up on Monday night or Tuesday and that will complete our 35th Anniversary Trip Blog. I have enjoyed every week, day, hour, and minute spent with my husband for a month and thank God for the love and closeness that we share. I pray He gives us many more years together.