I Still Do

Happy Anniversary, my sweet husband! 

Twenty six years ago, I walked dragged my Daddy down the aisle to get to you.   Your Uncle Phil told Daddy that I was the happiest bride he had ever married in all his years as a pastor.   There is a reason for that.  I was the happiest bride on the face of that earth.  I am still the happiest bride on the face of the earth to be married to you. 

On that day we took our vows to to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.    We meant those words when we said them.   The last twenty six years of actually living the better  and worse, richer and poorer, sickness and health have cemented those vows and made us one in the way God intended.  

You know me like no one else.   You make me laugh every single day.   We finish each others sentences and often don't need words at all.   We would rather be with each other than anyone else. 

Just like that day when we were standing in front of our family and friends, we did not know what our future held, we just knew that we were going to face it together.   Today we do that again.  I don't know what the next weeks, months and years hold for us, but I know that we will do it together, hand in hand with God holding each of us.

I love you with everything I am.  
Thank you for loving me.

I Still Do,
Deanna

Another Amazing Day In Asheville

Friday morning we woke up early to go to the Biltmore Village to eat breakfast at The Corner Kitchen.    This place was on everyone's list as a "must eat".     The Corner Kitchen is located in a home that was once occupied by an engineer that worked on the Biltmore Estate.     

I had pancakes with a blueberry compote.     Hubs ordered the Biltmore Village Breakfast.      We both agreed that it was so delicious.     Once again there was more food than either of us could eat.    

We enjoyed strolling up and down the Village streets after breakfast.    There are so many quaint little shops.

One of my favorite stores was a shop called Just Ducky.   It was clothing for children.   I really wanted to buy tons of dresses for my sweet MM and LK, but wound up not since I was so unsure of their sizes.

In the afternoon we headed back to the Biltmore to go kayaking.    The French Broad River flows straight through the middle of the estate.     We had the best time!    

It is a very easy flowing river so it was an hour and a half of very relaxing paddling.     There were so many ducks and birds and fish to see along the way.    There is also an awesome view of the estate at one point as well.      We had the best time just talking and paddling down the river.     We wanted to start all over when we got to the end.

I have always said that my hubs is one of the most romantic men ever and he proved it again while we were kayaking.     He had a message in a bottle that hidden for me to find along our kayaking route.     I was so shocked to find this bottle and this sweet romantic note from my sweet husband in the middle of our time together.     I am so blessed.     I hope he keeps me another 20 years!

After a quick shower we headed out to explore some more of Asheville.       Nine Mile was on our list for supper.     This is a Jamaican/Carribean restaurant that hubs was excited about trying.       He ordered their signature dish which included jerk chicken, roasted potatoes, squash and zucchini over basamati rice with toasted almonds.       I decided to try a Jamaican salmon dish.   It was served with grape tomatoes, kalamata olives, zucchini, square, feta cheese over linguini with a butter sauce.     Oh my it was good!

We drove through downtown to see what was going on.     Street performers of all ages were everywhere.   One street was lined with guys playing endless rounds of chess.    

Oh Asheville.... we enjoyed our time with you so much.   We'll be back again with our boys!

Afternoon Around Asheville

Walking around the Biltmore gave us quite an appetite.       We had several friends who gave us a list of restaurants that they recommended in Asheville.   One of those was "12 Bones".    We decided to give it a try for lunch.       It was one of those great places found in a old renovated gas station.     All of the locals love this place and it was packed even after the traditional lunch hour.  

They have 2-3 different flavored ribs available each day.    On the menu was their award-winning blueberry chipotle bbq ribs.    We decided we had to try it.    I decided to get jalapeno cheddar grits and cucumber salad with mine and hubs picked baked beans and corn pudding with his.

Neither of us could eat all of that food.     The ribs were delicious.    The service was so great and friendly.    I am so glad that we ate there.

With a full stomach we decided to go exploring the area.     We decided to head towards Lake Lure.    Lake Lure was where the movie, Dirty Dancing, was filmed.    Their visitor's center had a lot of framed memorabilia up in the office.     So much of Lake Lure looked exactly the way I remembered it in the movie.     The tourist center was busy planning for the Dirty Dancing Festival which will be held in September.    

After leaving Lake Lure we headed to Chimney Rock Park.     It was where scenes from "Last of the Mohicans" was filmed.     This thing is high.     You take a 26 story elevator ride just to get to the hide to get up there.  

As we are climbing the steps I noticed a few steps that looked cracked.    Not small cracks, but BIG cracks.  The kind you could drop things through.     I wasn't scared until I saw that.     I refused to step on those steps and I am sure I looked hysterical.    This really short girl trying to skip steps up the side of Chimney Rock.

We finally got to the top and the first place hubs goes is to the very edge for me to take a photo of him taking a picture with this sign.  

To keep myself from hyperventilating about the thought of him plunging over the edge, I decided to take some photos of the views.     It really was gorgeous.

Then hubs asked if he could take a picture of me.    I told him that was fine as long as he didn't mind a picture of me gripping this tree. 

We started making our way down and I really got nervous about those steps.     When we got down to the bottom they announced that they were closing Chimney Rock down for maintenance.     They needed to replace DANGEROUS STEPS!      Hubs looked at the guy and said, "My wife can show you exactly which ones need to be replaced if you have any doubts."    

After a full day we wound our way back down the mountain, found a Redbox to rent a couple of movies and went back to our suite to relax.     

The Biltmore

We woke up early Thursday morning and heard the weatherman warning Asheville residents to be careful because the day was going to be the hottest day of the year.   A whopping 92 degrees.     On one hand it was kind of funny that we were there on the hottest day of the year and on the other hand it cracked us up that 92 was the hottest day of the year.     (The next day it would be back to 85.)

We had breakfast on the balcony and headed out early to the Biltmore.     The Biltmore was one of our biggest reasons for wanting to go to Asheville.      Isn't this place gorgeous?      It is the largest home in America.     This 250 room estate was built in 1895 on 8,000 acres.      The house takes up four acres of floor space, has 34 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and 65 fireplaces including an indoor swimming pool, gymnasium, bowling alley, and kitchens.

We took an audio tour of the home.      We have already decided that when we go back we will be taking the "behind the scenes" tour.     

My favorite parts of the house?     Definitely the library.    There are 10,000 books in this room alone and that is not all the books in the house.   Mr. Vanderbilt was declared the most well read man in the world during his time and if you saw all those amazing books you would know why.      There was a secret passageway from the library to Mr. Vanderbilt's bedroom so he could slip in to get a book anytime he wanted it.     Ahhh... perfection!

They had three kitchens:  a main kitchen, a pastry kitchen and a rotisserie kitchen.       Wouldn't my Little Guy be in heaven?   I can't wait to take him back so he can see it. 

After touring the house we went to see the gardens.    I was almost afraid to get too close to all those beautiful plants.     I have such a black thumb that I was afraid everything would wilt in my presence.

Frederick Law Olmsted designed all the gardens and grounds of the Biltmore.    He also designed New York's Central Park.      Out of all the things he put on this 8,000 acres, by far our favorite thing was the reflecting pond behind the estate.    He designed and put it there simply to reflect the beauty of The Biltmore for those who drove past.    

Asheville Bound

I woke up Wednesday morning to my sweet husband whispering, "Happy Anniversary!  Ready to start this adventure?"    Was I ready?    Oh yes!    We don't get time like this very often so I was so excited to have a few days just he and I.   

We packed the car and entered our destination into GoogleMaps (have I ever mentioned how much I adore GoogleMaps?)  and headed out.     About an hour into our trip we saw an outlet mall so we stopped and browsed for a little while.   

We enjoyed the beautiful drive into Asheville.    We both wondered if the people who live in that area have gotten immune to all that amazing lush mountainous beauty.   

 All these gorgeous paths to hike up and down every day...

We immediately checked into our hotel which was a beautiful all suites hotel.     If you are ever in Asheville, we highly recommend The Residences at Biltmore.  

We checked into our suite to find these cute balloons as well as a bottle of Biltmore Sparkling Grape Juice, bath crystals and a sweet note wishing us "Happy Anniversary".

Our living room with balcony overlooking the fireplace and fire pit...

Our bedroom...   Notice that there is something on the bed?

Isn't this sweet?    My sweet hubs put these cookies and card on my pillow while I was getting dressed to go out to supper.

 The Residences gave us a $50 gift certificate to a local restaurant for our anniversary so we decided to go there for supper.   Frankie Bones is a classic American-Italian style place.     The entire place is so sleek.    Decorated entirely in black and silver and high back burgundy leather booths with FB monogrammed on them.      Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack memorabilia is everywhere and Frank's music is playing in the background.    

The food was amazing.     Their signature dish was a coffee marinated ribeye so we had to order that.   We also decided to try their Savannah Tilapia.    We couldn't decided which we liked more.    Our waiter highly recommended their signature appetizer: twice baked potato spring rolls.    Oh my gravy!     We wound up taking half of that food back to the suite with us, but it was worth it.      Before we left the manager brought us two absolutely HUGE chocolate dipped strawberries and wished us a Happy Anniversary.    

Several friends told us that we had to go to the Grove Park Inn so we headed up the mountain to watch the sunset from their famous terrace.      This place is gorgeous and so were the views.    What a great place to watch the sunset.

What a great first day in Asheville.  

Still... The Only One

 

Happy Anniversary, Sweetheart!

I am so proud to be your wife.    

The past 19 years as your wife 

have been the happiest of my lifetime.

You're still the one 

I want to love forever.

You're still the one 

I want to wake up with every morning

and snuggle with every night.

The one I want to share my dreams with, 

build castles in the air with,

the one whose hand I want to hold when I'm afraid,

whose shoulder I want to lean on when I need support.

You're still the one 

I want to encourage to make your own dreams come true,

the one I want to comfort when you need a source of strength,

the one I want to hold close always.

You're still the one,

the only one,

I want to love forever!

Deanna

He Did It Again

My hubs is sweet to me all the time.    He spoils me on holidays and on my birthday and Mother' Day.   He makes sure I have time to relax and don't have to cook.    But when it comes to our anniversary he considers it "our" day.     


As you read this our boys are at their Grandma and Grandpa's house.    We are in Memphis for some time together.       Hubs planned this time together.      My special surprise?     We are going to see "WICKED"! 

 

I have wanted to see this musical for quite a while now.    If you know hubs you would know what a gift this truly is.      Musicals are not at the top of his list of favorite things to do, but because he loves me and wanted to do something special for me he bought me tickets.       

I intend to wickedly spoil him for this special gift!!

Happy Anniversary!!

Happy One Year Anniversary, Barry & Jennifer!

Traditional Gift: paper
Modern Gift: clocks

Mad About You

Eighteen years ago I gripped onto my Daddy's arm and waited for the doors of the sanctuary to open. "Walk slow, Daddy, I want to remember this moment forever." I said. Once those doors opened and I saw your face I couldn't wait to join you. After the ceremony was over my Daddy teased me that I nearly dragged/ran him down the aisle to meet you.

We made traditional vows... love and cherish, honor and obey, richer or poorer... but one vow that you made to me was to make me laugh every day. You have kept that promise and it has made our marriage all the stronger. Not necessarily silly goofy laughter, but just seeing the joy in moments that otherwise would have sucked the life out of us.

Thank you for the two precious boys you gave me. They reflect you and ultimately God because of all the time you invest in their lives. I love watching you three play, wrestle, giggle, read, talk and even nap.

Happy Anniversary, JB! I love the way you love me. I'm simply mad about you.

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad

My parents are celebrating their 41st anniversary today. I use the word "celebrating" loosely because they will be spending the day supporting one of my family members who needs it. That pretty much summarizes my parents. They are a couple who are constantly giving and have done so for their entire marriage. It is impossible for me to think of my Mom without my Dad or my Dad without my Mom. They are definitely a married couple.

Everything that is good about my marriage today is because of God and the Godly example that my parents lived in front of me growing up. My parents love each other unconditionally. They also love on each other like they are newlyweds... even after 41 years of marriage.

Despite the fact that I have almost been with my parents for their entire marriage (I was born one year after they were married), it is still hard for me to believe that they have been married this long.

41 years = 14,965 days of saying goodnight and good morning to the same person

Each of those days were a choice. Why? Because as Gary Smalley says, "Love is a choice." My sisters and I are blessed to have parents who made that choice because they have given us an amazing legacy and heritage that nothing can replace.

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad! I love you.