This past week-end we continued our new tradition of spending New Year's Eve and New Year's Day in a secluded cabin in Townsend with our daughter, Laura, Louis, her husband, and Elle. On New Year's Day our grandson Christian joined us to eat ham, black-eyed peas, and greens. We sat around the table and enjoyed being together once again. After KP duty, we were off to the outlet malls in Pigeon Forge. Of course we realized that no one else had that idea as Louis drove around to find a parking space. Everyone took off in their own direction with a plan to meet back at the car at a given time. All of us found bargains that we thought we could not live without except Christian, who held on to his money for something of significance.
We went back to the cabin for a short stop and then on to Maryville to eat at Christian's restaurant of choice, a Mexican restaurant that had a bit different menu from those we frequent around here. We all enjoyed once again the comraderie of being together as a family. After dinner it was time for Christian to go back home; back to the cabin we went.
Yesterday Dennis and I meandered getting home again. We saw some snow falling as we came upon the Cumberland Plateau. It did not deter us from stopping at the VF Outlet Mall in Crossville. Again, we found things we did not know we really needed at wonderful sale prices. The lure of the hunt is just too much for us. After a lunch of soup and salad at Longhorn in Cookeville, we mananged to come home to be greeted by our pups as well as our two grand-pups. They all love us unconditionally.
Today has been quiet as we have been drinking coffee and reading while the doggies snuggle up to us. There is warmth in our home even though outside it is so cold. It brings me to such thankfulness that I am here and such prayer for those who do not have warm homes and hearts to comfort them. Lord, make me an instrument of your service to others in some way!
Wishing you laughter, love, and compassion for others as we navigate 2012!
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