HELLO ? MICKEY? ARE YOU THERE?It's me again, and again, and again.....TR STARTED 6/3

[MHTeacher]

We're eating there that night too! What time is your ADR? Ours it at 5:10.

I'm going to have to go look for a Vera Bradley Backpack now. It's so cute!

How great is that? Our ADR is for 5:50! We'll probably see you!

Thanks on the VB...We have a slight problem with it at our house......... (2 teenage girls )

 

[Charleston Princess]

I think we need to see some practice shots!

 

[Brave teacher]

I know what you mean. I am like akid anytime I am waiting on FedEx/UPS to deliver something to the house. It truly is like CHristmass morning.

So, how's the camera?

 

[leamom2princesses]

Yay for getting a new camera! Can't wait to see some pics!

 

[MaryAz]

Yay for the camera. We need to see some pics now please.

 

[racefanof88]

I hope you enjoy the new toy. I love mine. I haven't taken many pictures lately, haven't had a reason .

 

[mickeystoontown]

Glad that the camera finally arrived. Hope you'll take some pictures and post 'em so we can see how good the new camera works.

 

[Queila]

I have to agree there is something special about getting our shopping goodies through the mail. Haha.

Enjoy your new camera.

Q

 

[Mommy2LittleVols]

It finally came, Julia! The UPS man drove through our circle around 6 last night. I met him at the door, before he could get on the porch! Kevin and I were like little kids on Christmas, fussing over who was going to open the box!

What about your laptop? Did you get it yet?

WOOHOO!! Too funny about you and your DH. Sounds like me and mine!

I did get my laptop! It came last Wednesday and I practically haven't put it down since.

 

[MHTeacher]

I think we need to see some practice shots!

So, how's the camera?

Yay for getting a new camera! Can't wait to see some pics!

Yay for the camera. We need to see some pics now please.

I hope you enjoy the new toy.

Glad that the camera finally arrived. Hope you'll take some pictures and post 'em so we can see how good the new camera works.

Thanks everyone! I have been taking pictures this weekend, in fact. I have them uploaded PB, but probably won't get it posted to the DIS tonight. We've had a pretty long and busy weekend. We left last Thursday night and drove to Gatlinburg, TN---which is about a six hour drive from our home. Our kids and their youth group from church participated in a huge youth rally---probably about 5,000 kids from several different states. We made it home this evening around 7 p.m. .

I had a lot of fun using the new camera (when Kevin would let me take a picture.... )--- but won't make any promises about my photography skills! In about three weeks, I can use it A LOT...without fighting over it with Kevin!

 

[MHTeacher]

I have to agree there is something special about getting our shopping goodies through the mail. Haha.

Enjoy your new camera.

Q

Thanks Quelia! I love getting goodies in the mail----especially when they're something I can use at Disney!

WOOHOO!! Too funny about you and your DH. Sounds like me and mine!

I did get my laptop! It came last Wednesday and I practically haven't put it down since.

YAY, Julia for your new laptop. So....Do you love it? I love mine--- I'm sitting on the sofa right now, watching a little tv, and catching up on my DISing!

 

[leamom2princesses]

Looking forward to some Gatlinburg pics!

 

[MaryAz]

Glad you had a fun weekend! Now bring on the pics

 

[Mommy2LittleVols]

YAY, Julia for your new laptop. So....Do you love it? I love mine--- I'm sitting on the sofa right now, watching a little tv, and catching up on my DISing!

Oh yes, I LOVE it! I'm out of the house a lot during the day taking DS to his different appts, and I love being able to take my computer with me and take advantage of free wi-fi while I'm waiting for him.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Yea for a road trip! We look forward to seeing the pics as soon as you have time to post them.

 

[MHTeacher]

Oh yes, I LOVE it! I'm out of the house a lot during the day taking DS to his different appts, and I love being able to take my computer with me and take advantage of free wi-fi while I'm waiting for him.

I'm so glad you're enjoying it, Julia! Did you get you a cute VB laptop case for it?

Yea for a road trip! We look forward to seeing the pics as soon as you have time to post them.

Thanks, Lisa! Hoping to put in a little weekend TR here today.

 

[MHTeacher]

We took a little weekend trip to Gatlinburg, TN, this past weekend. Our kids went, along with their youth group from church, for a youth rally. There were over 7,000 kids present! You know, sometimes, the media and news seem to indicate that the youth of today are involved in so many negative things, but I am here to tell you that there are A LOT of good kids out there. It is so encouraging to an “old person”, like me, to see teenagers who are striving to live a Christ-like life. It was a busy weekend, but a very fun and meaningful one.

We actually drove to Gatlinburg Thursday evening when Kevin got off work. It is about a six hour drive, not to mention that we lose an hour traveling east. We got to our hotel around 12:30 a.m., and fell into bed. We slept in the next morning, and planned to walk over to one of our favorite places---Pancake Pantry. It is right on the main street in Gatlinburg, and it’s a tradition for us to eat there. Unfortunately, Rachel was not feeling too well. (She had missed school the previous Wednesday, with a stomach virus, but had not been sick since Wed. morning. She had gone back to school on Thursday and had started eating again. ) She woke up feeling sick to her stomach again, and since it was check-out time, she had to get up and come with us to the restaurant. We walked over and got a table.

No need to ever look at the menu……We always order the same thing! I had one egg, with a side of bacon, and a strawberry waffle. YUM!

Kevin eats almost the same thing as me, but he always wants a chocolate chip waffle. Elizabeth ate one too!

Rachel was still not feeling well, so she just sipped on her water and kept her head down. When breakfast was finished, we were leaving, and Rachel gave me that look and asked me to go with her to the restroom. UH-OH!!!! Without providing anymore gross details, I will just say that she made it in time!

Walking back to our car, we went through the little shops area behind the Pancake Pantry. It is a little area called “The Village”. It’s really neat, with brick-paved, curved sidewalks, with little shops.

It was sunny that morning, but still felt pretty cold. In fact we took a picture of this fountain, with the frozen water.

Kevin took this one of Rachel sitting on the other side of the fountain.

When he ran to the restroom, I finally got the camera and tried my hand at taking some pictures. I saw this smaller fountain, and decided to take its picture.

When I got closer, I saw how the water had sprayed back on the brick wall behind it and frozen and thought it looked neat enough to take a picture of it, too.

We decided to drive back through Pigeon Forge to Sevierville to go to an outlet mall there. It was almost 12 local time, and we needed to get somewhere and park---Kevin had a conference call with different managers that was going to last 1 ½ -2 hours. Elizabeth and I left him in the car to “work”, and we decided to shop. Rachel decided she would just try to rest, and she stayed with her dad. It didn’t take me long to find a little store we all know and love!

Saw these little fellows, all ready for Easter---

They had some t-shirts on a clearance table ---adults were $3.99, and the kids were $2.99. I bought one for the girls, Reid, and Kevin.

For Elizabeth and Rachel:

For Kevin and Reid:

I couldn’t find one I liked in the right size, seemed as if they had lots of XS or XXL---So I settled for a cute little reusable bag for $1.19.

continued in next post

 

[MHTeacher]

By that time, it was time to meet up with the youth group at a chalet our church group had rented for the weekend. Here is a view from the house:

We then proceeded on a very busy-activity filled weekend. As I mentioned before, it was a very uplifting weekend. There was one man who spoke Saturday morning, who has CP and is wheelchair-bound. He spoke about not letting things stop us from sharing our faith. He told us a story about how years ago; he decided he wanted to go to Portugal on a mission trip. People told him that he couldn’t do it, that he couldn’t even speak English, much less Portuguese. But he went, and taught many people about the church. He met a lady there and was able to teach her, and later wound up marrying her. It was just a really moving and inspirational story. It makes me realize how blessed I am, and how I really don’t have any excuses for the things I fail to do.


All too soon, the weekend was over, and it was time to head home. Here’s a picture of Kevin and me Saturday evening, before the last session.

Before we headed home, we stopped at a place in Pigeon Forge, called Christmas Place.

Here’s the entrance:

This place is amazing---room after room decorated in different themes, with all the things you need to complete the look at your own house.

Saw these little fellows in different rooms:

After grabbing some lunch at Calhouns (--YUMMY ribs!), it was time to make the drive home. We got home around 6:30 p.m. Today, it’s back to the real world, with laundry included!

On a happy note----I can now officially say, that “I am going to Disney World this month!!”

 

[mickeystoontown]

You may recall that my daughter, Lacey, is a missionary college student. If not, I just reminded you. Anyway, she attends these kinds of conferences/rallies all year long. She said the same thing as you....if you think that all youth, now-a-days, are just into drugs and sex and lies, come to one of the conferences and your faith will be restored!

Now, on to the pictures. Wait.....I wanted to ask if Rachel is feeling better. There's nothing worse than being away from home and having an upset tummy/bug.

Okay, back to the pictures. Wow! I love the pictures of the fountains the best. So cool the way the water was frozen.

 

[SoonerGirl]

Your pictures are great! I too, really like the ones of the fountains - very cool.

I'm sorry Rachel wasn't feeling well, I hope it didn't last all weekend.