Family Day in Ashville

FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS, MOM AND DAD HAD BEEN PLANNING OUR CHRISTMAS PRESENT FROM THEM. SHE DECIDED THAT WE SHOULD GO TO THE BUILTMORE HOUSE AND TO SEE THE GINGERBREAD HOUSES AT THE GROVE PARK INN. FINALLY, OUR CHRISTMAS PRESENT HAD BEEN DELIEVERED ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9TH.



THE WEEK PRIOR TO GOING WAS CRAZY AS MICHAEL AND I FOUND OUT THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO GET A NEWER ENGINE FOR THE CAR. BUT BECAUSE I HAVE AN AMAZING FATHER-N-LAW, THAT WAS NOT GOING TO BE A PROBLEM BECAUSE HE IS A RETIRED MECHANIC. THEN ON WEDNESDAY, WE FOUND OUT THAT PAUL HAD MONO. HE STAYED IN THE BED ALL DAY WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, AND PART OF FRIDAY. THEY ARRIVED SAFELY ON FRIDAY NIGHT!!



FINALLY, SATURDAY HAD ARRIVED AND WE WERE ALL VERY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO BE TOGETHER. THE FIRST EVENT OF THE DAY WAS THE BOILING SPRINGS CHRISTMAS PARADE. I WAS KIND OF EXCITED BECAUSE I HAD NOT BEEN IN ABOUT FOUR YEARS. WE WENT AND SAT IN MRS. HENDERSON'S YARD BECAUSE THE PARARDE STOPPED AT THE RED LIGHT PAST HER HOUSE.


THE NEXT DESTINATION WAS TO THE PARENTS' HOUSE TO EAT LUNCH. MOM HAD MADE A POT OF VEGETABLE SOUP FOR THE FAMILY. THEN WE WERE READY TO LEAVE!!



WE ARRIVED AT THE BUILTMORE HOUSE AROUND 2:OO. MOM HAD TICKETS FOR THE CANDELIGHT TOUR AT THE BUILTMORE HOUSE SO WE WENT AROUND THE GROUNDS AND THE GREENHOUSE.

AFTER TOURING THE GROUNDS AND ADMIRING THE BEAUTIFUL SCENERY BEHIND THE BUILTMORE HOUSE, WE DECIDED THAT WE WOULD GO AND EAT. WE ENJOYED A WONDERFUL DINING EXPERIENCE AT TEXAS ROADHOUSE (ONE OF MY VERY FAVORITE RESTAURANTS). BECAUSE WE HAD TO WAIT A LITTLE WHILE AT TEXAS ROADHOUSE, I KNEW THAT OUR TIME TO SEE THE GINGERBREAD HOUSES WOULD BE LIMITED. WE HAD ABOUT 30 MINUTES TO LOOK AT ALL THE CONTEST WINNERS. THEY WERE AMAZING AND YOU COULD TELL THAT MUCH TIME WENT INTO THE GINGERBREAD HOUSES.

AFTER THE GROVE PARK INN, IT WAS TIME FOR US TO HEAD BACK TO THE BUILTMORE HOUSE FOR OUR CANDELIGHT TOUR. OUR TOUR WAS SET FOR 9:15 AND THE TOUR LASTED FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF. BECAUSE WE WENT ON THE CANDELIGHT TOUR, WE WERE ABLE TO GET GUIDED TOURS BY WAY OF HEAD SET. THAT WAS PRETTY NEAT AND COOL TO HEAR THE DIFFERENT STORIES ABOUT EACH ROOM. THE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS WERE AMAZING AND EACH ROOM IS SO UNIQUE. I WILL POST MORE PICTURES SOON.

THIS TRIP INDEED WAS ONE OF THE BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENTS I HAVE RECEIVED. WHAT MORE COULD YOU ASK FOR: FAMILY TIME AND A CHANCE TO LEARN ABOUT HISTORY.

Grandma's surgery was a success. The doctor took part of her lymph nodes and had them read by a pathologist. They found nothing. Praise be to God!! They then removed the breast and she was quickly done with surgery. She was so awesome and had a great attitude the whole day after waiting until 4:30 (surgery scheduled for 12:30) throughout the whole process. I stayed with her Thursday night, and she was soon ready to be leaving the hospital before lunch. She has been doing great!! I am staying with her while she is at my parent's house during the day. I am not with her because she can not do much but because she wants to do too much. She has been such a huge encouragement to see because she has done so well and had a great attitude. Today, we will go to the doctor for a follow up. I am sure he will be impressed!!

Grandma's surgery

Tomorrow, My grandma will be having a masectomy. Please pray for a quick recovery in the hospital and a pleasant recovery as she stays with my parents for two weeks. God is so good and I have learned so much from her. I love you, Grandma!!

Grandma's next surgery

My grandma went to the doctor on Friday, December 1st to find out the results of her CT scan. Praise be to God that the cancer was nowhere else. After finding out the results, she decided the best thing for her was a masectomy. She is scheduled to have surgery December 14th. She will be in Spartanburg for two weeks following her surgery. Please pray for the surgery process and a quick recovery so grandma can get back to her daily activities at the Retirement center. She has been so blessed by wonderful people in Laurens and the friendships she has made there.
Hey! Soon I am going to try and put some pictures on the blog.....Watch out!!!