In summing up Spring Break 2012, several of my items on the list will be similar to Marilyn's list. (Thanks, M, for helping me out!)

• A ladies' trip to Asheville, Gatlingburg, and Pigeon Forge in which we toured the Biltmore Mansion, the Great Smoky Mountains, the Blue Ridge mountain pass, and some cemeteries.
• We finished our income taxes to send on to the CPA.
• Rick and I camped at Texas Motor Speedway at the Good Guys car show. Enjoyed visiting with family and friends.
• I finished a nine-patch quilt top and put a border around another one--both are now ready to be quilted.
• Enjoyed watching Jonah and Glory play outside.
• Baked some cookies and a pie.
• Made a couple of trips to Sherman with Marilyn to run errands.
• Visited with Aunt Bonnie.
• God blessed us with the perfect weather all week. It was amazing!

The Wild Plum Tea Room

Gatlinburg

This was another favorite of mine on our trip. We had lunch at this special little place tucked away out in the countryside within the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts community. On the outside, it was a rustic old house with a screened porch. On the inside, it had been converted into a special and unique little eatery.  There were special little touches all around--lace tablecloths, teacups, china, and flowers.

The food was all reasonably priced and so good. The iced wild plum tea was a treat!

Then we got back out on the road......

This was our first stop on our girls' trip this past week. The highlight of this city was getting to tour the Biltmore--the beautiful estate of George Washington Vanderbilt. It was magnificent. It was not your typical tour either. Most home tours allow you to see a handful of rooms with the majority of them being closed to the public. The Vanderbilt family did just the opposite. The home consists of four acres of floor space within 250 rooms, and I think we saw at least 200 of them! We even saw the basement which houses a gymnasium, changing rooms, servants' quarters, bowling alley, kitchens, and more.

Mr. Vanderbilt moved into his "country" home around 1895 as a bachelor. He later married and raised his daughter there. His home originally sat surrounded on 125, 000 beautiful acres. After his death, it became necessary for his wife to sell most of the land to the government. The family descendants still own the home and 8,000 acres. They travel there every Christmas to meet and celebrate with the staff and their families.  What a great tradition!

A Healthy Soul

Marilyn and I put this little list in our "Notes" on our phones. It comes from Beth Moore's "James" Study. BTW, that was a great study!

So here's the deal.....

1.  Loss the victim mentality.
2.  Don't let anyone tell you there's nothing you can do.
3.  Live life with God.
4.  Pray and be prayed for by others.
5.  Confess sin.

And then just a little bonus (not from the study).....

When you stop chasing the wrong things, you give the right things a chance to catch you :)

Four-Wheeler Time

This weekend was big for Jonah. I mean BIG! He and his Papa decided it was time for him to give this little four wheeler a try--solo that is.

I was watching behind covered eyes -- no doubt -- truly carrying out my God-given rights as Nanna. (Prayer, pacing, patience, and applause!) Jonah had a blast.

Thank you, Papa, for installing a little "governor" on it.

(This is a second generation machine. I think Greg, Chad, Justin, and Jenna have some fun stories!)