Family Time

Let's just say that the time it has taken me to update this blog is a clear indication of how insanely crazy busy life has gotten since moving back to Tennessee.  We are so incredibly blessed and so happy, but wow, has it been busy.  But this week, oh this week, is a chance to take a deep breath and regain our grounded feet of being a family of 4 with time dedicated to no one else but each other.

Today begins our vacation in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.  May I just say, I was raised in this part of the country, lived most of my life within an hour of North Carolina and spent a lot of time in North Carolina - and still do! But the beauty of this state was never fully revealed until today. I saw mountains that were full of God's glory today - breathtaking water falls, gorgeous rapids, slated, majestic rock edges gushing down from mountain tops.  I am in love with this place.  I am in love with Highlands, Cashier, the small two lane winding road along the most beautiful body of water and the most stunning waterfalls I've seen in a long, long time.  Breathtaking!  I can safely say that after only being here for a half day, we will be returning to this place again.

So the vacation.  My girls are growing so fast.  They are so excited to be here -- they jumped out of the car, grabbed their boating life jackets (we hope to use on the paddle boats if it warms up) and ran into our lodge screaming!

After they saw us unloading their bikes, their Candy Land game, etc, etc, they ran around squealing "YAY!  YAY!!" all through the place.


Before arriving, all they have been talking about is going swimming out here.  We had told them there was an indoor pool here, and that's literally all they have talked about ever since.  So, tonight, after finally getting settled in, the girls whispered to each other "Do you want to go swimming or ride bikes. What do you want to do?"  "Swimming."  "Swimming?"  "Yes, swimming.  Then we come back here and ride bikes."  

Mommy:  "Girls, it's late, and once we get back, we can't ride bikes tonight.  You pick one or the other tonight, and tomorrow we can do both."

They look at each other with big bright eyes and say "Ok.  Only 1.  Pick only 1."  "Swimming.  Then come back here mommy and go night night?"  "Yes." "Ok."   

Plan solved!  Plan solved by 2 very smart, very engaging 3 year olds that are becoming more grown up by the SECOND!  

It gets even more scary.  We get to the pool, and put the girls in their swim floaties.  They quickly became little champs in the pool - treading water, both screaming "Mommy look at me!  Daddy look at me!!" as they literally swam the length of the pool, with no help, in their oversized floaties keeping their tiny little arms and bodies afloat.  Madeline began jumping into the water, going under, coming up, and swimming back over to the stairs with me cheering her on each time.  After doing this many, many times, she jumps and looks at me and says "I don't need you anymore mamma!"  Say what?  What?? Oh she was so proud....and I was too...even though I still feel the lump in my throat as I write this story.  And yes, of course, mamma is very nearby, watching her every move, not letting her out of my sight, but knowing that no, she (nor Savannah) doesn't need me - as much as - she (they) did when we first went swimming so many (short) years ago.  

And to top this day off, the girls are now sound asleep in their own bedroom, with 2 twin beds, both sleeping separately in a big girl bed.  No pack n' plays, no pallet on the floor, just one little girl in one big girl bed each, big girl style.  

Thank God we are here this week to enjoy this time together and slow down long enough to realize how quickly life can pass you by when it gets insanely crazy busy, and literally stop and smell the roses, flowers, woods, trees, campfires, and everything else imaginable out in this little piece of heaven on earth.

  

  And if I don't blog about this while we're here...it will never get done when we get home.  *Sigh*