Our Family Getaway

This year we decided to scale back on the "stuff" and spend our money on quality time with the family.  The beginning of December we researched a few places and chose to go back to Ridgecrest in between Christmas and New Years.  The kids were out of school for almost 3 weeks and we had no other plans. 

Ridgecrest Conference Center has a great getaway for Pastors and their families.  As long as they are available and they are not filled up by a conference, pastors can come and stay on their property to relax and get away.  We called and made reservations the beginning of December.  Russ couldn't wait!  He absolutely LOVES the mountains and he was ready for a change of pace.

So Christmas came and went and we got up early Monday morning and took off for North Carolina with absolutely no agenda except family time.

We arrived about 4:30 or so and the place was empty!

 Inside Ridgecrest Conference Center Lobby.  How Pretty!

We unloaded all of our things and took off to Black Mountain for dinner and My Father's Pizza.  

Yummmmm......

 On Tuesday, we went back in to Black Mountain to do some shopping in all the fun local stores.  Russ found a great Cafe for us to have soup for lunch.  I can't even tell you how cold we were!  LOL!

Love this picture of Anne.  The server offered her a Tea Set to have her 7-Up in.  She thought she was big stuff!

Tuesday night we actually had snow flurries - and about an inch of snow stuck around until around 9:00 am.  Jarod said that he saw it when he woke up but the rest of us were all sleepy heads and slept in.  It was all gone when we woke up.  We had been up late playing games.

 We discovered that "Sorry" is one of our new favorites!  It gets kind of vicious in the Franklin Family.  Well - that or some of us get a little looney!  I won't mention who does what.  Also - notice the missing tooth!  That came out on Tuesday as well!  It was an eventful day!  She is such a nut!

By Wednesday, things were still a little too cold to be hiking so we took off to the NC Nature Center close by.  I thought Russ was crazy to suggest it as it didn't get out of the 30's that day and I couldn't understand what animal would be out and about in that kind of weather. But!  I was wrong!  Other than the bears - who are hibernating (of course!) - the animals were very active.  Our favorites were the otters.

Love Jarod's hair in this picture!

I took several pictures - but since I had to narrow it down for my blog post, I opted NOT to put photos of animals behind chain link fences on here so I can save room for the waterfalls.  You can thank me later.  Just know that the animals were amazing - otters, wolves, foxes, deer, etc. Everything native to North Carolina.  I really enjoyed the cougars - but I am becoming more and more partial to cats.  Uhem..... Anyway - on with the blog.  To see ALL of our photos - they are in an album on Facebook.

We believe this is Mt. Mitchell.  Russ reminded us SEVERAL times on our trip that this is the highest mountain on the east coast.  We could see it snowing up there - but everything was closed to get to it.  Sure was pretty though.

We decided to stay close to "home" on Thursday.  Ridgecrest has a few trails on property.  One is called "Rattlesnake Trail".  We have hiked it before so we knew what to expect.  We have just never done it in winter.  The mountains have a different beauty to them when all the leaves are gone and everything is brown and quiet.

 The one thing we do know about this trail is that it's mostly "UP" the entire way.  Ugh!

 I would like to say that I stayed behind on purpose to get these really cool shots of my family ahead of me, but the truth is - I was huffing and puffing this trip!  Last time I hiked this trail - I was doing Zumba 2 or 3 days a week and working out regularly.  Ya - not so much lately!  But - I made it - and got great family shots in the process.  Taking the photos gave me an excuse to stop for a few seconds.  Okay - I just told on myself.  I get some credit for that, right?

Still - it was beautiful!

Ridgecrest from our hike.  It was a mile "UP" to the top.

 And there was some snow along the way.

It got more and more difficult at the top.

 But it WAS worth it!

The summit!

 Russell wasted no time settling in and finding a "recliner".  

He would have stayed there ALL day if he could.

What a cutie!

The kids explored and found lots of things to climb on.

We rested at the top for a while, had a snack, enjoyed the view and then headed back down.

These really are only a few of my favorites!  I took so many that day. It was hard to narrow them down.  It was such a beautiful hike.

While we were coming down the mountain, Russ and I stayed behind, watching the kids ahead and talked.  We decided that we wanted to go over to Brevard the next day to some of our favorite waterfalls.  We also decided that since he had someone covering for him on Sunday at church, there really was not a need to go home on Saturday.  When we got back down to the Conference Center, we asked if we could add an extra day to our trip.  The room was available and we were thrilled that we didn't have to go home quite yet!  God is soooo good!

So Friday - we took off in search of waterfalls!

We started at the top and worked our way down this time.  Love this covered bridge.

Yep - that's the same covered bridge. Cool, huh?

 These are taken at the bottom of the same falls.

Russ had a wonderful idea of having our lunch on this rock by the falls.

 Lunch time! How cool is that?

So tell me - when did my little boy grow up?

 More falls.....

We LOVE grossing the kids out!  LOL!!!

On to the next one.....

 Sometimes, these two scare me.

 Seriously - when did he grow up?  LOVE this pic!!!

Ending the waterfall pics with my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE!!!!!

LOVE THIS MAN!!!!!

We had a marvelous day chasing waterfalls, telling stories, talking, hiking and just being together.  So thankful for such an awesome day.  It was cold - but not too cold and the day was just perfect.

On Saturday we decided to spend the day in Downtown Ashville.  We visited all of the local craft shops and then headed over to the mall.  While we were there we discovered a man at a kiosk that was selling photos that made letters.  You could spell whatever you wanted!  Jarod - while looking at the photos, spotted the "O" - which happened to be a guitar.  And he says, "Aw Man!  I wish I had an O in my name!"  I just looked at him.  Really Jarod?  How long have you been spelling your name?  We all had a good laugh from that one and I think it will be a family joke for a while!  We did allow him to make his name - he was so excited!  We found out that the D is the staircase in the St. Augustine Lighthouse!  Cool, huh?

 Then there is my hubby!  I have seen these pictures pre-made before.  Saying "Faith" or "Love".  I've been keeping my eye out for one that said "Grace" but have not come across it.  He got so excited about it and had to make one for himself.  He wrote on Facebook:
"Found a guy in Ashville selling tons of letter photos you could create words with and frame. I chose the word grace because of the impact that small word has had on me. I am so thankful for God's saving grace through Jesus Christ."

It was the perfect ending to our trip!

Thanks for your patience - I hope you enjoyed all of the photos!  There are so many more really great ones on Facebook.  This starts an incredibly busy week of baking.  Our sweet Anne Girl turns 7 on Wednesday!

More to come.......