VACATION!

Well, praise the Lord for a wireless connection. Dial-up makes me ...oooo don't get me started! :) Anyway, it's time. *drum roll* My blog about vacation. Written by "that girl [that] can write." (If you can't lick 'em, join 'em. See the God's Revivalist.) Actually, it is going to be more of a pictorial journey. My creative juices seem to be a bit clogged at the moment. I just don't feel "funny". I mean, I feel funny but not "funny" if you know what I mean.

After my mouse incident (by the way, I never saw him again), I left Cincinnati with my brother and headed to KY to spend some time with friends. Yay! It was so great to be with Derek and Tara and their wonderful family. We also got to see the rest of the Hollingsworth's on Sunday and partake of a LOVELY meal with them. (Go, Mrs. Hollingsworth!) Old friends are so special. (Not that they, themselves are old. Oh dear. I will stop while I'm ahead.)

Tara and I wanted to take a special picture for some mutual friends. You know who you are! This is for you.

OK, enough of that. Brent and I had lots of fun with the kids. I think Tara already posted some of these pics, but I'll repeat a few.

I feel a common bond with this young lady. We both enjoy a flair for the dramatic. :)


Some really fun kids!


Yay for friends!

And so, a great time was had by all, and we left KY with much weeping and rending of garments. We arrived in Tennessee to greet our parents (rent garments and all) and there was much rejoicing. We spent a week in a cabin in the smokies.
It was truly lovely. We enjoyed the sounds of birds singing, donkeys braying, and cows sneezing and blowing loudly from their noses. Weird. Besides our time in the country, we did manage to make time for:

Dollywood, Dixie Stampede, great restaurants in Pigeon Forge,

Cade's Cove,

Ripley's Aquarium

the sky lift in Gatlinburg (wooo),
and watching my brother and a friend (who was visiting with his family) get shot skyward in a bungee swingy thingy.

The heroes of the vacation were my parents (see photo below) who planned and saved and made a very special week for their kids. And, I'm assuming, themselves as well. They seemed to enjoy it. :)

I am now back in the hot, steamy south where the sun beats down and the humidity rises. *snicker* OK, I can't do it anymore. I was trying not to rub it in. But I love it here, and I'm having a wonderful time! *dance of joy* I am a blessed person indeed to have friends in many places, and a family that understands unconditional love. I also understand how unlovable we humans can be at times (especially me), and when I think about that, I feel even more blessed to be loved by some wonderful people. *warm fuzzies all around* Feel free to share in the warm fuzzies. There are plenty. I will continue to update as my adventures continue!