Happy New Year!

I just got back this afternoon from spending time at my father’s home spending some time with him.

This year I determined to give my children and grandchildren “memories not money”! (My youngest daughter couldn’t go because her son was ill. – We missed her terribly.) I took them to visit my father – stay in his home, which they didn’t remember doing, see it all decorated for Christmas and sleep in the attic like I did. (It’s a nice attic.)

We drove up to Boone, NC to have lunch with Franklin and Jane and some of their family then got a tour of Samaritan’s Purse. They had never been there and it had been years since I was there. It has grown!! Very impressive.That evening we had dinner with Franklin’s eldest, Will, and enjoyed him.

The next day we toured The Biltmore House – all decorated for Christmas. It was a mob scene – you almost couldn’t see the house for all the people! It had been years since I was there. Lots of changes and new rooms open. I got a copy of “The Lady on the Hill” – all about the preservation efforts by the Cecil family to keep it going – and robustly. Interesting, to say the least.

We had an ice storm so the kids got snowed in at “Daddy Bill’s”. Fun.

They loved exploring around the house – seeing all the little cubby holes and “secret” places. A kid’s place for sure. They hiked the mountain – it’s different in the winter with a frozen pond and streams. They had so much fun discovering the place for themselves and I know my mother was looking down enjoying them enjoying the place she built for her family.

My son took me out for a lovely lunch at a “ta da” restaurant in Asheville. Some of the best food I have ever put in my mouth. We had a really nice time.

We visited with our “Korean” cousins. One of the girls was hospitalized briefly in Asheville so Noelle and I bombed in to see her and caught glimpse of even more cousins.

My youngest brother and his wife flew in the 31st. We hadn’t seen each other in years. And drat! we did not take a photo.

I saw a niece and nephew as well as a great nephew and his wife, celebrating their 3rd anniversary. And others…

So…mission accomplished. Memories not money!