This weekend Vicki and I enjoyed our Valentine's present to each other. It was a trip to Gatlinburg!
ABOUT OUR TRIP. This was sort of a short notice trip but once we planned it we were really looking forward to going. We left home Saturday morning. We stopped at Cookeville to eat lunch and Vicki made the biggest mess! I thought we had left all the mess makers at home but I was wrong. You see, there was this almost empty bottle of ketchup and Vicki didn't close the lid very well before attempting to shake the dregs down (or up?) to the mouth of the bottle. There was a trail of that stuff starting on her right cheek, continuing down her shirt, across part of the table, in her purse and on the window. We were even worried that she had spattered the patrons sitting behind her. At least we had a good laugh.
While in Knoxville we walked around the UT campus. It was the first time we had been there since I graduated. Lots of changes have taken place in the last 11 years. Vicki was concerned that we might look like prospective parents.
Then we drove in to Pigeon Forge. That night we ate at the Smokey Mountain Brewery in Gatlinburg. The food was great and they had a live band that we enjoyed.
On Sunday we walked around Gatlinburg, enjoyed Italian food at the Gondolier restaurant and shopped around Pigeon Forge. That evening we watched our wedding video and recorded our comments. I am going to put the video on DVD and add our commentary to a second audio track. It will work like the "director's cut" on DVD movies. We really enjoyed reflecting on those memories.
Yesterday we headed back home, stopping to shop in Knoxville and Cookeville. When we got home we took the kids out to eat at Cracker Barrel. As much as we enjoyed getting away it sure was a happy reunion when we returned. Thanks to all the "Grandmas" for childcare!
SHAME ON US. Before we left for our trip Jenna asked me where we would be going to church on Sunday. I confessed that we probably wouldn't go while we were away. That's when she said, "Well you make sure you take your Bible and read it--all of it."
MORE ABOUT JENNA. Jenna has taken to reading like a fish takes to water. She is reading everything. Nothing is safe from her eyes. She got some Dick and Jane books some time ago and has enjoyed reading those over in the last week.
We got a good laugh the other day when I came in from work. Usually when I come in the door the kids hear me and come to greet me. This time they did not and I stood in the kitchen talking to Vicki for several minutes before Jenna thought she heard my voice. As she walked to the kitchen, I decided to hide in the pantry. Vicki played along with the gag. After looking for me a bit she looked out the back door and saw my truck. That's when she asked, "Mommy, where's Father?" Now Jenna never calls me "father," just "daddy," so Vicki questioned her on that which caused Jenna to say, "Oooh, I've been reading too much Dick and Jane."
THE DAILY DEVOTION. Part of our daily routine includes a devotional time with the kids before they go to bed. Before we got started tonight Ben was looking at the maps of the Holy Land in the back of the Bible. That's when he said, "Mommy, show me where we live."
After reading our devotion it is time to pray together. Ben asked me and Vicki not to say very long prayers this time. I guess even a 60 second prayer is long to a four year old boy. Anyway, Vicki started teasing him claiming that she would say an extra long prayer. Then she turned to me and asked how long I would pray. Ben's eyes got real big when I said I thought I'd pray clean on 'til morning.
A STEP TOWARD RETIREMENT. My Mom has been the secretary at church since 1982. She has been thinking about retirement for a while but never wanted to just stop working. So, she has decided to start cutting back her hours after getting someone else trained. Another lady in our church, Shelly Harvey, started working part time last week. Mom will continue to work full time for a while but pretty soon she will be taking more time off. I am very happy for her.
Joe
